October 29, 2025 • 38 mins
Lions vox Dan Miller joins for an extended segment, then some conversation on what excites us about seeing JJ McCarthy again before the show wraps!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dan Miller.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
He is into his twenty first season boxing calling Detroit
Lions football on the radio, and also his talent and
sports director for Detroit's Fox affiliate. He's the best and
he joins us. Now, Hey, Dan, Paul Allen, what's going
on with your brother?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Things good?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Pete always good man. Great to hear your voice. PS.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Likewise, almost thirty years working the Detroit sports scene for you,
is it more than thirty?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
It's twenty eight this year?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Okay, almost thirty? Almost three decades working that Detroit sports scene.
Who was the most popular team in the state when
you started at box two in ninety seven?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
And is it the same now?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
So? When I started in ninety seven, the Wings were
in between their back to back championships, so they owned
the town at that point. And I would say, now,
when baseball and football are good, I think this is
a baseball in football town. It's nothing against basketball, nothing
(01:10):
against the Wings, but just Tiger roots run deep. And
I think Lions maybe because of the history and the
hope that people have and the emotion they have tied
to this, I still think it's the shield in the
NFL that rules, as I do in so many cities
and then just that this is such a strong baseball
town that I feel like I'd put them one two.
(01:32):
But believe me, when the Wings were winning and the
Pistons won their championship and oh four, I mean they
were rock stars. Man, it was something else. So I'd
say for longevity, if you ask me just to rate it,
I'd say football baseball are one to two. And then
you know, not to take anything away from the success
that the other organizations have had, because man, those runs
(01:54):
were something else. The parades were amazing and everybody just
wrapped their arms around them.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
All right.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So where does Michigan football rank in the pantheon of popularity?
Because I mean back you know, with the Big House man,
back to the bo Sham Beckler days, Desmond Howard and
the Heisman, Po's and everything. I mean, Michigan Wolverines football.
It's super popular there. I know that, But like, where
would you rank it in the pantheon.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
It's hard because there's an automatic division right at the start,
because you have half the people that are Michigan State,
right and they can't stand anything about Michigan, So you
don't have that division when it comes to the Tigers,
the Red Wings, of the Pistons or alliance. But you
have an automatic no way for a great percentage of
(02:43):
the people just because they have ties to Michigan State
or maybe Central Michigan, Western Michigan, East to Michigan, whatever
it might be. But there's not the complete buy in
because there's no competition for our professional teams, but they're
strong competition when it comes to Michigan. Look, it's big.
I would rank it behind though, if you're just saying
just pure number popularity, I'd rank it behind the pro
(03:06):
team just because you have so many people that would
just never fall in line with amazing blue championship because
they're just never going to appreciate anything about them, just
because the rivalry.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
All Right, down memory lane, we go with Dan Miller,
the radio play by play voice for the Detroit Lions,
works with Lomas Brown, and going down memory lane is
fine with you, ma'am, other side of the equation. Eight?
Speaker 1 (03:34):
All right, eight? What was it like calling a winless season?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
You know, it's Jim brand Satter and I worked that together,
and we had we had a saying as we got
into that thing, and it became apparent that this was
going to be beautiful and we would look at each
other and Thieble must have said it a thousand times.
We would look at each other and we'd just say,
call the next play, Just call the next play. And
(04:02):
it was you know, people say to me, how did
you do those games when they're zero to sixteen? And
I think you'll appreciate this. The game wasn't the hard
part because there's something happening in front of you, and
all you're doing is saying, here's what happened, here's why
it happened, and moving out of the next play, you've
got a rhythm to it. The hardest part was everything
(04:23):
you had to do during the week, right because like you,
I have to turn out a lot of you know,
content during the week, and you're sitting down with coaches
and players that are absolutely miserable. They don't have any
answers to the questions that you're asking them. If they did,
they'd do something about it. And they're hearing the same
things over and over again. And just to dive deeper
into that, these are men that have dedicated their lives
(04:45):
to something and every week they're being told and endeavor,
you're not good enough and you're failing what you're trying
to do in terms of winning and losing, and it
was that that was the hardest part to me anytime
you're in a bad season. Look, the game's not easy,
but it's a story that kind of takes care of
(05:06):
itself and let it develop. You tell the story, and
then you sign off and you're done. The hard part
is during the week when you're sitting down and nobody
wants to laugh, nobody has to smile, nobody wants to
to you know, buy into, you know, having a good
time and a little levity and doing something that fans
will enjoy. That's the hardest part. And that's what I
remember about Oait was just dealing with the coaches and
(05:27):
the players when they were just going through it.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Man, that is so accurately stated. Dawn Memory Lane.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
We go with Dan Miller box for the for the Lions.
All right, let's see a couple more here then we'll
get into the current team. Uh the three oh four
NBA Playoffs? Okay, uh the so yeah, the the the
Pistons won the championship and Chauncey Billups was the MVP.
How about how about this gambling bit that busted out
(05:56):
involving Chauncey, are you kidding me?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah, I think that's what we all said. Did not
see that coming. I mean, obviously we have known about
Rosier Malik Beasley, who's a Piston, has been involved in this,
although not charged, right, But Chauncey, I mean, it was like,
that's one of the coolest dudes I've ever been around.
(06:20):
Just watching him take that ride and being part of
that covering those teams, it just I don't even know
how to put my shock into words at seeing him
and disappointment and seeing him involved in that. And look,
I don't know what it is yet. He deserves his
innocence until proven guilty. But I mean when you start
(06:43):
hearing mafia and fixed poker games and things like that,
it's just it's nuts. And the question that comes to
mind is why. But he would not be anywhere on
a list of people that I've covered, I would have
said would have been involved in something like that. And
again we don't know the whole story, but to the
(07:03):
shock value of his name coming out in connection with that,
I think this whole city who absolutely revers him was
rocked well.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
And and you, you and I are close to the
same age. You know, we're both from the the Maryland Washington,
DC area, and we're old schoolers. I mean, it's tough
to shock us with with with I mean because we've
just seen under heard so much. Shoot, we we lived
in or around Washington, d C. When Marion Barry was
the mayor. I always love that one. It took me
(07:35):
a while.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
No, we saw some things with that, no doubt, and
it's yeah, but it's it's I think when it just
comes completely out of left field and ta, it's not
even it's not.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Even this this this basketball fixing that we're talking about,
which if you read the some of the court documents,
he may be involved in as well, but it's it's
just you start reading my and mob and New York
families and involved in an illegal poker It's like, no, how, why,
(08:09):
and it just yeah, I just I just think it's
one of those things that that we wake up one
morning and see something come across Twitter and you're like,
what in the world, And that one, that one took
a couple of clicks to read through to figure out
and still not knowing, but to figure out, Wow, how
(08:30):
in the heck did this guy get involved in that?
And again we will more facts will come out on that,
but but overall, like you said, just one you did
not see coming and one that just kind of smacks
and you are just you were Wow.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Yeah I didn't.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
I didn't even know La Closa Nostro was still a
thing fuck until after that home popped out. It's crazy,
all right, Dann the man on the fan. The Lions
absolutely can get to the Super Bowl this year. You're
getting your safeties back for Sunday, aren't you. And that
defense has been pretty good, you know, for the most
part this year, despite being down a bunch of players
(09:05):
as usual at times. But getting those safeties back, that's
good for you guys, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
It is not sure about Kirby. I didn't practice yesterday,
so we'll know more about him as we get towards
the weekend. That knee has been bothering him. He had
to leave the game last time out, then came back
and then or last time he played and then came
back and they did not play against Tampa, So I
(09:31):
don't know about him. Obviously, Branch being in suspension, he
should be back, Terry and Arnold should be back, so
that secondary starting to get some guys back. It would
be big for them if Avonte Maddox is ready to go,
because you can slide him to either Nickel or the
other safety if Kirby's not there. So I think it'll
look more like what we expect than what they had
(09:54):
out there against Tampa. And credit those guys they acquitted
themselves well. But look, overall, this defense has been good
against the run for several years now. That hasn't changed.
They're better against the pass if you just look at
their raw numbers the past couple of years, they've been
like twenty seventh or thirtieth in terms of passing yards
given up, which can be at times misleading, but it
was also pretty consistent that they were down at the
(10:16):
bottom of the league. And then you measure that with
being a top ten defense in in terms of points
given up, and you kind of scratch your head and say,
what do I do with this? And I'm not sure,
but they're taking the ball away more than they did
last year, so doing things better than they did a
year ago, and I think they feel good about that.
Here's the thing they're going to Unlike last year, when
(10:37):
they were not just losing guys, but losing guys for
the season. DJ Reid will be back, Davenport will be back,
Rodriguez is coming back. So most of the guys that
they've lost over the next three to four weeks will
be coming back. And I think that's one thing that
has them excited is just that, you know, after what
they went through last year where guys were hurt and gone,
(10:59):
this year there's hope that, you know, as they get
into December and you don't know what's gonna happen between
now and then, they could be back at her near
full strength and that would certainly be different than it
was a year ago where they were just kind of
spitting oil down the stretch.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
So with your squad, Dan, what's what's dramatically or just
what's different about the team now compared to the one
that's lost opening weekend to the Lambeau.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
That was just a game that they didn't finish anything.
If you look at that game, they gave up I
think it was the first four to third down conversions
to Green Bay's offense, and they had them right where
they wanted them. They had them third and six, third
and nine, third and ten and couldn't get off the field.
(11:45):
And then I think they had a streak of Lake
six in row. I think Green Bay might have finished
like four out of ten on third down something like that.
But point being, they started poorly, then they were getting
off the field, and then offensively they got into the
red zone a couple and just didn't finish. They didn't
get in the end zone. They just weren't doing what
they normally do. And the offensive line was just not
(12:08):
good that day. The communication was bad. I got two
offensive linemen in the booths with me and they'res pointing out,
you got guys going in the wrong direction here. They're
not playing cohesively as a unit, and really credit to them.
It kind of flipped after that and that offensive line,
their communication improved. They got better. They've just been That
(12:29):
game was just kind of a one off to the
mistakes that they made. And you know, offensively, I think
they tell you the last two weeks they feel like
they've left some things out there, but still third in
the league in scoring, and defensively, they've started taking the
ball away and giving it to the offense short fields
(12:50):
and giving them more opportunities. And when this team does that,
they're hard to beat, because when that offense gets rolling,
it can be tough to stop. So I just think
that was that was a strange game where you could
see the makings of something, but they just didn't finish anything.
All right.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So Aiden Hutchinson, who who's one of the two best
defensive ends in the NFL along with Miles Garrett, he
gets this nice extension, all right, big fat extension.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
So I'm like, cool.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
You know, the Brad Holmes and the Lions are just
really good about compensating their own before. Like in Dallas,
things get done with Michael Parsons, ce d Lamb and
Dak Prescott and so on. It that's rarely the case
in the Motor City. But you know that's money on
top of Jared Goff and Aman Ross, Saint Brown and
so on. They're just a list of those who have
(13:38):
gotten extended. Okay, that's cool, that's good business. The thing
that gets me, Dan, how in the heck are the
Lions still twenty four million under the cap with all
this money that's been dispersed. Are you what kind of
a Ponzi scheme you're running up there?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Well, I think if you look at the numbers, they
start to kick in a lot of these contracts next year.
So there's gonna be some of mastics that need to
be done here between now and when these contracts all
start to you know, really mature and come into Big Bucks.
And I'm confident they have a plan on how to
do it. I couldn't tell you what it is, but
(14:15):
it is. You know, guys have pointed out this morning
on Twitter with this contract at aid and decide it's
nearly a billion dollars in second contract and there's a
couple things there. One. Yeah, I do think at some
point this is going to be difficult to maintain as
all these contracts start to kick in and you still
have Laporta, you still have branch that at some point
(14:36):
will need to be extended. But I think the thing
that feels good here Pa is just that you didn't
used to get second contracts in Detroit because the guys
that you drafted just flamed out and weren't deserving of them.
And what we've seen now is this regime has come
in and built something. They've developed these players, they're keeping
(15:00):
their players. There's an emotional attachment to these players, not
just because they wear the uniform, but because they're really good.
I think you can look at at the bulk of
these guys too, and say, you know what an a'min
Ross Saint Brown, A Kirby Joseph and Aiden Hutchinson, a
Panay Suol, Jared Goff who's obviously a trade but got
an extension as well these guys. And let me throw
(15:22):
Jack Hambellton there as well as a guy that's going
to need an extension at some point. But these guys
are added near the top of their position groups. I mean,
these are really good players. These aren't, you know, second
contracts that are being given out just because they're here.
They're second contracts given out because these guys have proven
themselves and that's just new here. We haven't had anybody
(15:46):
that's done this with this football team in a long time.
So it's exciting. I Like, you wonder how they're going
to keep all this stuff together when these contracts really
start getting into some of the bigger numbers. But I
think these guys have earned equity in terms of having
a plan and believing in their vision and we'll see
how it all works out. But it's fun, it's exciting.
(16:08):
It's nice to see how other teams have done it
the right way and be a part of that now
and it's been really cool to kind of sit back
and watch these guys operate.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Time for two more with Dan Miller play by play
voice on the radio for the Detroit Lions, also on
air talent and sports director for Fox two in the
Motor City twenty one years calling Lions football.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
That's really cool. What makes Dan Campbell a good coach.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Consistency. He doesn't change. He is the same guy if
you're talking to him in the corner drinking a beer,
if you're standing in the lobby of a hotel, or
if he's addressing his team. And I think the players
appreciate that there is no hitting agenda with him. He
will tell you exactly where you stand and there's a
(16:58):
trust factor that builds up in that. And on top
of that, and I think this is where a lot
of people got him wrong. It's really really smart football coach.
And he has an ability to put a staff together
that can develop players. And I think that that shouldn't
be lost because you can. It's easy to say draft well,
(17:21):
but it doesn't matter if you don't bring him in
and teach him how to play in this league, because
guys don't show up knowing that you have to teach
them what it is to be a pro and what
it is to be a pro in your system, and
he has done a great job of hiring coaches that
have done that. Just look at all the contracts we
just talked about. Those are homegrown guys that have come
in and learned what it is to be in this league.
(17:42):
But he is just and one thing that stands out
to PA's got a wonderful ability to understand exactly what
his team needs, whether it's a kick in the butt,
whether he needs to let loose on the rains a
little bit and just kind of let him, you know, coast.
He gets them ready to play. They don't have very
many off weeks where you say, man, what happened to
(18:03):
them this week? Everybody has them, but more often than not,
they're ready to go. He just has a way of
feeling what his team needs to get them ready for
that week. And again I'll throw this stat out there.
They have not lost two games in a row in
fifty one games October thirtieth, twenty twenty two, and no
(18:23):
team in the league is close to that. Has an
ability I think, to not let anything beat him twice
to get his teams ready to bounce back, and I
just think there's a you know that to me, says
a lot about him and his ability to work week
to week and understand what they need.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Wait a minute, Bocks, they lost to Washington in the
playoffs than Green Bay week one, So you mean regular.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Season, right, I'm not going with the Tiger Woods slam here.
I'm just talking regular games, week week to week.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Okay, go back to back losses yep.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
So that so clearly that needs to get into the
radio call here between the coin toss and the boom.
So October thirtieth, twenty twenty two, that's the last time
fifty one consecutive you said.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Fifty one consecutive game, losing two in a row.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yep, that's terrific.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
All right, last one, what kind of reception do you
do you expect JJ McCarthy to get?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Oh, good question. You know Michigan guys normally get some applause. Again,
it's it's divided, so you're gonna have some people that
are that are spartans in there that don't care for
him at all. There will certainly be respect there, but
I would say probably lukewarm is my guest, But there
(19:48):
will be. There will be plenty of Wolverines fans that
have an appreciation for the fact that this guy brought
a national championship to them and that will never be forgotten.
He is. You know, when you do that, you are
part of the fabric of you know, a city and
a state, and you know that will never change. But
it just goes back to what I said, there is
a division there of people that will never ever, you know,
(20:13):
really appreciate that for what it is.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, unless it's Aiden Hutchinson, who's getting you fifteen sacks
at key times, right.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
I guess he said. He texted JJ after he got
drafted and said he promised not to drive me to
the ground, but kind of roll over softly on him.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
If you get the pants on him, You're fantastic. I
really look forward to seeing you this weekend. I'll stop
by your box and appreciate the time there.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Dan, have a good day, same with me, a PA
safe travels man. Look forward to seeing you.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
See you About Dan Miller twenty one year played by
play voice for the Detroit Lions, aiding us with our
Steve's Appliance's Marathon segment. Go to Steve's appliances dot Com.
Learn more about fast delivery, free recycling, guaranteed low prices,
and the clearance event that is taking place right now.
So if you need appliances, they have a clearance event.
(21:02):
They are fantastic people who work for Steve's Appliances led
by Sarah and Bryan, the owners Steves Appliances dot Com
and the clearance event.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Check it out right now. Cash thing and here they are.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
The Fan along with two men in a junk truck,
want to give you a chance to put a grand
in your hand and win some bonus bucks with the
National Cash Contest. Go to KFA dot com enter the
keyword bills. The keyword is bills and you can enter
that at kfan dot com.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Welcome Back.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Penultimate segment is pa would say nine to noon. It's
eleven thirty one am, and I mentioned it during Vikes bites.
But you know, we turn the page and change our
faces and all of these things. The team's three and
four and the most recent edition of our favorite football
team was an absolute throttling at the hands of Justin
Herbert and the Chargers and Harbaughts so far a Thursday ago.
(21:53):
I get that, but we do have to kind of
remind ourselves here is that at one point it was
a season.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
At one point we were full of optimism.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
At one point on the front end of the season,
we were excited to see the plan laid out. The
plan would be revitalizing the offensive line, adding some defensive pieces,
and setting the stage moving on from a Sam Darnold,
setting the stage for a first round pick from a
couple seasons ago, now healthy and now active and now available.
(22:29):
And we wanted to see what things would play out,
how things would play out in twenty twenty five. So
I just feel like in some ways we have to
remind ourselves, as JJ the twenty twenty five edition, JJ
McCarthy take two starts to unfold this week via practice
and in the end him starting at Ford Field on Sunday,
that there are some things that we were to be
(22:51):
excited about into Week one at Soldier Field and should
be excited about seeing Sunday in Detroit. And I want
to start here the kid using his legs PA first.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Down for the Vikings at the Bears twenty seven McCarthy
play action out of the shot that looks for run
to the right, turns up the middle of the twenty
dives ahead to the fifteen and the athletic prowess of j. J.
McCarthy on display with a run of twelve and a
first down for the Vikings.
Speaker 6 (23:18):
Paul, that's the first step I think we've seen with
both Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason in the game, so
both running backs.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
As we get into.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
This red zone in the backfield at.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
The same time and before the season, and we say
a lot of things nine to new and you had
thrown this out there, Pa, kind of the idea of
what you know, some mandates, not even mandates that's too strong,
but the idea of the kid QB using his legs,
and you threw out a number three first downs for instance,
over the course of a game. You want to see
maybe that the Vikings moving the chains, let's say three
(23:48):
times with JJ's legs, and we could argue, well, I mean,
maybe it's closer to two or maybe it's close to four.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
We can do that all day. That's not the point.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
The point is the athleticism that JJ McCarthy presents was
one of the part of the allure of getting to
see the kid QB handle his business and do his thing.
And when we got to see it, albeit in a vacuum,
and frankly opening night at Soldier Field when we got
to see the kid using his legs.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
You heard that highlight. There some good things happen.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Thirdly, one from the Bear's fourteen McCarthy out of the shotgun,
milking a three point lead.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
It is a run pass option.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
McCarthy takes off to the right stand to.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
The stunner steps at the five touchdown.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Peace JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
So as I look forward to Ford Field and as
I get really really pumped up to see number nine
on the field again, there is one part of this
the athleticism, that element of this offense at the QB
position that we have not had seeing that as an
option again. No, I don't want to see him running
for his life. We want to see poise. We want
(24:59):
to se he improved play up front in front of him.
That includes the bookended tackles. But the athleticism is something
that I think we have to start to be pumped
up to see if that is real and it can
come to fruition again.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
I can't wait to watch him play a game after
game after game after game, and that's something I've said
the last few days is I mean, who knows what
he's going to be when he gets twenty to thirty
starts underneath that belt. Yep, But what do we know now?
We know, we see him, we like him, and then
(25:37):
he's gone, and then we see him again and we
like him.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Then he's gone. So that just has to stop. That
just has to stop.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Indeed, and nobody's saying somebody so he's a He's a
hockey kid, So the toughness is not a problem. I
don't believe in luck, so therefore I'm not going to
put him on bad luck. But the facts are is
saw you against the Raiders, dug it, Oh what happened?
And Falcons game probably everybody probably could have done better.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Oh wow, you're gone again.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
So that's first and foremost for me, getting out of
the game the right way in one piece and playing
in the Ravens game. Now, from an athletics standpoint, that
that is, I mean, that's part of the reason that
you drafted him is you're able to move with him naturally,
(26:29):
he's comfortable doing it. You can call plays and dial
things up like that masterpiece that they had on the
on the Reid option to win the Bears game. It
was a phenomenal play call and phenomenal execution, not only
by McCarthy, but I think it was Jefferson. Maybe somebody
was down Hackinson, somebody was down by the goal line.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
With a great block. It may have been Hawkinson. Actually,
that just kind of helped molde him into the end
zone to just blocking the bleep out of somebody. So
that covenant was good. Well, here we go again, all right,
And it doesn't need to be pedaled to the medal
right out of the gate. People can have whatever expectations
they want.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
That's great. It may not mess with mine, but that
doesn't mean mine or right. But my expectations for McCarthy
beginning now is first and foremost, get out of this
thing alive. Secondly, run for some first downs. Thirdly, show
the NFL and Dan Campbell that wow.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
I mean when you when you when you.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Had Wentz or when you had some of these other guys,
you never did that off the boot leg and it works.
And I bet you when we see you later in
the season, you're probably going to try to pass out
of it.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
So things that we haven't seen that we know we
will like, and and and response when things go poorly
to wit was a Tyreek Stevenson whomever he threw the
ball to in the Bears game and it went for
a pick six. Oh, Nashan Naseean Wright, Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Nashan?
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Right?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Wow? All right?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Three?
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Two?
Speaker 2 (28:04):
How did he bounce back? He won the game? So
oh wow, the kid did that? Yeah, he just must
have been devastated. First NFL star, Yeah he was, but
he owned the whole fourth quarter, was better than every
player on the field, and he won the game pretty
much by himself. So he has that to him, but
he also has the pick six to him.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
So you got to start. You need to start somewhere.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
And the athletic part is something that the ankle has
to be right to be able to do it. And
it's going to be part of the calling card for
JJ McCarthy noon Sunday boom.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Yeah, And we talked about it earlier.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Hyperbolic, hyperaccurate, just kind of where Jefferson, justin Jefferson's role
lies in all of this. Certainly best wide receiver, one
of the best offensive players in the NFL, and you
want to see that connection.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Justin Jefferson one catch four yards, he goes in motion
to the left.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
He's changed his by the way, they're now purple. McCarthy
back to.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Pass the rose left, caught JJ. Make that caught Justin
Jefferson from JJ at the eighteen yard line. That's a
connection of seventeen yards in a first down. The Vikings
are inside the red zone, and it's hard to believe.
Speaker 5 (29:15):
I think it was later that drive he would find
his only touchdown of the year.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
We have a Tim Jones sighting wide receiver left, three
receivers right, third and five from the Bears thirteen Chicago
rush is four.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
McCarthy's great drop to the end zone and tuckdown.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Justin Jefferson catches JJ McCarthy's first National Football League touchdown.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
And it's seventeen twelve.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
So I want to see I want to see nine
to eighteen for six, right. I want to see Jefferson
in the end zone. But it goes back to what
we were talking about earlier, the connectivity of him, JJ
McCarthy and these receivers.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Will he have a favorite?
Speaker 5 (29:58):
Will it be I'm going to find my star Justin
Jefferson and it's going to be ten, twelve, thirteen targets
or will it be Jordan Addison in the chemistry that
the two built up during training camp is at a
function of coverage, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
You've talked about Hawkinson.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
That the key for me what I want to see
on Sunday, something I'm excited about. I want to see
this offense on time, in in rhythm. The reason I
picked that particular reception to Jefferson is, albeit the first
two games it was tough finding anything offensively that was
on time and in rhythm. But when it was, it
looked so damn good. Pa and his ability to find
(30:37):
even opposite side of the field to the boundary, his
ability to make those throws in small doses shined through.
And so that's something specifically against the Lions. If we're
going to have to keep pace with these kiddies on
time in rhythm.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
I want to see that from number nine and I'm
pumped to see it.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Well, Dan Miller, they're played by play voice. I didn't
think Terry on Arnold the Alabama corner, Well, I think
he's fast, he's good, he's all right. I mean, we'll see,
he still has a lot of career in front of him.
I didn't think he was coming back this week, Miller
made us sound like he might. Yeah, kitty kitty, Okay, Niah,
kitty kitty ball should be going your way about fifteen
(31:17):
times during the course of the game. If you're coming
back from an injury, this coaching staff picks on you
until you show it.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
You don't need to be picked on. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
See Dray Greenlaw. A few years ago for the Niners
on Monday Night football man hadn't played for like a month.
O'Connell put him on six consecutive shallow crosses, running across
the field from the numbers to the numbers. He kept
getting beat. So I don't care who your quarterback is
in that situation. That's how you play the game. That's
how you push the envelope, and that's how you play
(31:49):
the game. You make the hurt guys who just came back,
you make them make plays. I would fully expect the
Lions to run at Van Ginkle. Why wouldn't they? Why
wouldn't you put If Van Ginkle plays, why wouldn't you put?
You know it's Van Ginkle generally plays the piney sool
side of the equation. All right, so you probably don't
need this, But why wouldn't you put Dan Skipper next
(32:12):
to Piney Sool and stretch right to Jamiir Gibbs and
just smash Van Ginkele.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Why wouldn't you do that? He hasn't played in a month.
I would.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
So all of that is going to come to roost
this weekend. Yeah, and all of that plays into what
McCarthy can or can't do. You know, he's going back
to Michigan he played. I think it's forty five minutes
to an hour. I think it's northwest from Detroit at
ann Arbor at the Big House. Uh, he's never played
(32:43):
at Ford Field. I'm not even sure he's been to
Ford Field, but I know he hasn't played there. So
this is going to be big for McCarthy. You know,
it's family friends, the return bally Hood, you got on
the call, you got Tom Brady's going to be in
the building, all things big, Yes, all things big.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
I can't wait to watch him, quite honestly, And just.
Speaker 5 (33:05):
One other aspect of this that I am excited to
see from JJ McCarthy this Sunday, And you kind of
alluded to it in terms of what he was able
to do rise to the occasion in the fourth quarter,
whether the head coach wants to call him weighty downs.
The kid comes through on third and long.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Twelfth play of a possession that's gone just thirty yards,
Minnesota three to five. On third down, empty backfield, McCarthy's
seven step throve Buyers right side and the eighteen yard line.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Adam feelin caught it. He caught it for.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
A twenty yard connection first down. Now the ball was
knocked out after he was declared down. Adam feeling hearing
it from the crowd. Detroit Lake's go crazy. This is
his first game at US Banks Stadium since Christmas Eve
twenty twenty two, when Great Joseph walked off on the Giants.
Speaker 6 (33:57):
What a great throw by McCarthy, by the way, just
that deep out from on the opposite side of the field.
So again, when we get our one on one matchups
with these dB Paul, DB's Paul, we're beating.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
When he's protected. One of the keys of that highlight.
Speaker 5 (34:10):
The reason I included it the seven seven step drop PA.
That has been a talker whether we play the talkbacks,
it's the texts. Hey should Kevin O'Connell even call plays anymore?
He keeps doing these five and seven step drops and
he's getting the QB killed. Well, here's what I'll tell you.
I know it's tough to forget that, and it may
be easy to forget. I should say how bad this
(34:32):
old line was the first two games, and we can
we can celebrate what School and Joe Huber and and
and Brandell did in London and finding that victory there,
justin School on the left side those first two games
was an actual, real problem. And he has the right
to get better, and he's performed better, sure, But when
(34:53):
JJ McCarthy had time, when he was not immediately feeling
the heat from the interior or around his backside edge
in the left side, JJ McCarthy throws freaking flames, my friend,
he absolutely does. He has the arm strength, and you
give him two and a half three seconds to see it,
any reasonable amount of time to see it.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
And he's a rookie.
Speaker 5 (35:16):
He's gonna make mistakes, he's gonna screw up, he's going
to frustrate us. If you give him time, you will
see more fastballs like he tossed a feeling on that
third and eighteen, and he will move chains and he
will perform in the moments that matter.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
I hope you're right, because for those of us who
were at Ford Field January fifth, earlier this year, a
professional the p in PTSD's professional.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
It's professional. It's PTSD. It just I just.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Hope no matter how any of this works out, we
don't hear stuff like this.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
Burton won't put us up in re receivers right and
nailor to the left. Joe could the left the darnold
out of the shotgun.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Lions come with a massive blintz Sam that right at
the end zone. Income plaint I can't believe that he
overshot Jefferson. He overthrew Justin Jefferson back right of the
end zone and JJ was wide open.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
Well, this has to stop. This is ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Go ahead and multiply that by four and hopefully we
don't hear that. And we're probably gonna hear one of these.
Hopefully it's not markedly more than one like that like
earlier this year.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Yeah, first and goal from.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
The three and Jaredoff goes out of the shotgun, gives
it to Gibbs looking for touchdown.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Number four flows up the middle into play.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Cashman really and Jamier Dabbs really absolutely.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Pushed everything that is purple and gold into the end zone.
Speaker 3 (36:42):
And now he's.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Hit the super fact off four touchdowns for Jamiir Gibbs
and it's thirty to nine Detroit.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
All right, we'll be right back out.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Alrighty, that's nine to noon for a Wednesday. Thank you
ver much much for listening. The program is around the
corner tomorrow, nine to noon. Let's get a Wolve's victory
tonight so we can get some positivity into this covenant,
because we start tomorrow's radio show with Finchy Benchy FINCHI
Chris Finch, nine to noon tomorrow. Right out of the gate,
I'm Paul Allen. Here comes Big Daddy Khan to put
that wrap on the shp.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
Oh boys back. The game is.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Now?
Speaker 1 (37:25):
What did what did I do wrong? H Man?
Speaker 5 (37:29):
It's clear that Halloween must be near. Hiding my eyes
behind my hands.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
I'm stricken with fear watching our teams lose with some
form of hope. Every night, games full of jump, scares, gore,
and much fright.
Speaker 5 (37:40):
We try to flee in We're running in a hurry,
can't escape third quarters in Jamal Murray.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
Carson Wentz makes us wins and he scares us to
the core. I'd rather be forced to watch Saw Part four.
Speaker 5 (37:51):
Clockword Orange and my Liz are wide open, Nita psychiatrist,
We're all left coping.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
Sure it's just sports. Maybe I should stop the whining
first periods.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
Wow Games has been thinking of the shining and it
wouldn't be complete without Pj's team Nightmare near Oak Street?
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Could it be the kere to this disease?
Speaker 5 (38:09):
McCarthy at poor Field dressed like Jason Voorhees.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
JJ podcast Today's Paul Allen Show, Or listen back to
previous show and interviews
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Like going to the iHeartRadio app or kfan dot com
Dan Miller.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
He is into his twenty first season boxing calling Detroit
Lions football on the radio, and also his talent and
sports director for Detroit's Fox affiliate. He's the best and
he joins us. Now, Hey, Dan, Paul Allen, what's going
on with your brother?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
Things good?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Pete always good man. Great to hear your voice. PS.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Likewise, almost thirty years working the Detroit sports scene for you,
is it more than thirty?
Speaker 3 (00:31):
It's twenty eight this year?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Okay, almost thirty? Almost three decades working that Detroit sports scene.
Who was the most popular team in the state when
you started at box two in ninety seven?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
And is it the same now?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
So? When I started in ninety seven, the Wings were
in between their back to back championships, so they owned
the town at that point. And I would say, now,
when baseball and football are good, I think this is
a baseball in football town. It's nothing against basketball, nothing
(01:10):
against the Wings, but just Tiger roots run deep. And
I think Lions maybe because of the history and the
hope that people have and the emotion they have tied
to this, I still think it's the shield in the
NFL that rules, as I do in so many cities
and then just that this is such a strong baseball
town that I feel like I'd put them one two.
(01:32):
But believe me, when the Wings were winning and the
Pistons won their championship and oh four, I mean they
were rock stars. Man, it was something else. So I'd
say for longevity, if you ask me just to rate it,
I'd say football baseball are one to two. And then
you know, not to take anything away from the success
that the other organizations have had, because man, those runs
(01:54):
were something else. The parades were amazing and everybody just
wrapped their arms around them.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
All right.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So where does Michigan football rank in the pantheon of popularity?
Because I mean back you know, with the Big House man,
back to the bo Sham Beckler days, Desmond Howard and
the Heisman, Po's and everything. I mean, Michigan Wolverines football.
It's super popular there. I know that, But like, where
would you rank it in the pantheon.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
It's hard because there's an automatic division right at the start,
because you have half the people that are Michigan State,
right and they can't stand anything about Michigan, So you
don't have that division when it comes to the Tigers,
the Red Wings, of the Pistons or alliance. But you
have an automatic no way for a great percentage of
(02:43):
the people just because they have ties to Michigan State
or maybe Central Michigan, Western Michigan, East to Michigan, whatever
it might be. But there's not the complete buy in
because there's no competition for our professional teams, but they're
strong competition when it comes to Michigan. Look, it's big.
I would rank it behind though, if you're just saying
just pure number popularity, I'd rank it behind the pro
(03:06):
team just because you have so many people that would
just never fall in line with amazing blue championship because
they're just never going to appreciate anything about them, just
because the rivalry.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
All Right, down memory lane, we go with Dan Miller,
the radio play by play voice for the Detroit Lions,
works with Lomas Brown, and going down memory lane is
fine with you, ma'am, other side of the equation. Eight?
Speaker 1 (03:34):
All right, eight? What was it like calling a winless season?
Speaker 3 (03:40):
You know, it's Jim brand Satter and I worked that together,
and we had we had a saying as we got
into that thing, and it became apparent that this was
going to be beautiful and we would look at each
other and Thieble must have said it a thousand times.
We would look at each other and we'd just say,
call the next play, Just call the next play. And
(04:02):
it was you know, people say to me, how did
you do those games when they're zero to sixteen? And
I think you'll appreciate this. The game wasn't the hard
part because there's something happening in front of you, and
all you're doing is saying, here's what happened, here's why
it happened, and moving out of the next play, you've
got a rhythm to it. The hardest part was everything
(04:23):
you had to do during the week, right because like you,
I have to turn out a lot of you know,
content during the week, and you're sitting down with coaches
and players that are absolutely miserable. They don't have any
answers to the questions that you're asking them. If they did,
they'd do something about it. And they're hearing the same
things over and over again. And just to dive deeper
into that, these are men that have dedicated their lives
(04:45):
to something and every week they're being told and endeavor,
you're not good enough and you're failing what you're trying
to do in terms of winning and losing, and it
was that that was the hardest part to me anytime
you're in a bad season. Look, the game's not easy,
but it's a story that kind of takes care of
(05:06):
itself and let it develop. You tell the story, and
then you sign off and you're done. The hard part
is during the week when you're sitting down and nobody
wants to laugh, nobody has to smile, nobody wants to
to you know, buy into, you know, having a good
time and a little levity and doing something that fans
will enjoy. That's the hardest part. And that's what I
remember about Oait was just dealing with the coaches and
(05:27):
the players when they were just going through it.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Man, that is so accurately stated. Dawn Memory Lane.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
We go with Dan Miller box for the for the Lions.
All right, let's see a couple more here then we'll
get into the current team. Uh the three oh four
NBA Playoffs? Okay, uh the so yeah, the the the
Pistons won the championship and Chauncey Billups was the MVP.
How about how about this gambling bit that busted out
(05:56):
involving Chauncey, are you kidding me?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Yeah, I think that's what we all said. Did not
see that coming. I mean, obviously we have known about
Rosier Malik Beasley, who's a Piston, has been involved in this,
although not charged, right, But Chauncey, I mean, it was like,
that's one of the coolest dudes I've ever been around.
(06:20):
Just watching him take that ride and being part of
that covering those teams, it just I don't even know
how to put my shock into words at seeing him
and disappointment and seeing him involved in that. And look,
I don't know what it is yet. He deserves his
innocence until proven guilty. But I mean when you start
(06:43):
hearing mafia and fixed poker games and things like that,
it's just it's nuts. And the question that comes to
mind is why. But he would not be anywhere on
a list of people that I've covered, I would have
said would have been involved in something like that. And
again we don't know the whole story, but to the
(07:03):
shock value of his name coming out in connection with that,
I think this whole city who absolutely revers him was
rocked well.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
And and you, you and I are close to the
same age. You know, we're both from the the Maryland Washington,
DC area, and we're old schoolers. I mean, it's tough
to shock us with with with I mean because we've
just seen under heard so much. Shoot, we we lived
in or around Washington, d C. When Marion Barry was
the mayor. I always love that one. It took me
(07:35):
a while.
Speaker 4 (07:35):
No, we saw some things with that, no doubt, and
it's yeah, but it's it's I think when it just
comes completely out of left field and ta, it's not
even it's not.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Even this this this basketball fixing that we're talking about,
which if you read the some of the court documents,
he may be involved in as well, but it's it's
just you start reading my and mob and New York
families and involved in an illegal poker It's like, no, how, why,
(08:09):
and it just yeah, I just I just think it's
one of those things that that we wake up one
morning and see something come across Twitter and you're like,
what in the world, And that one, that one took
a couple of clicks to read through to figure out
and still not knowing, but to figure out, Wow, how
(08:30):
in the heck did this guy get involved in that?
And again we will more facts will come out on that,
but but overall, like you said, just one you did
not see coming and one that just kind of smacks
and you are just you were Wow.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Yeah I didn't.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
I didn't even know La Closa Nostro was still a
thing fuck until after that home popped out. It's crazy,
all right, Dann the man on the fan. The Lions
absolutely can get to the Super Bowl this year. You're
getting your safeties back for Sunday, aren't you. And that
defense has been pretty good, you know, for the most
part this year, despite being down a bunch of players
(09:05):
as usual at times. But getting those safeties back, that's
good for you guys, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
It is not sure about Kirby. I didn't practice yesterday,
so we'll know more about him as we get towards
the weekend. That knee has been bothering him. He had
to leave the game last time out, then came back
and then or last time he played and then came
back and they did not play against Tampa, So I
(09:31):
don't know about him. Obviously, Branch being in suspension, he
should be back, Terry and Arnold should be back, so
that secondary starting to get some guys back. It would
be big for them if Avonte Maddox is ready to go,
because you can slide him to either Nickel or the
other safety if Kirby's not there. So I think it'll
look more like what we expect than what they had
(09:54):
out there against Tampa. And credit those guys they acquitted
themselves well. But look, overall, this defense has been good
against the run for several years now. That hasn't changed.
They're better against the pass if you just look at
their raw numbers the past couple of years, they've been
like twenty seventh or thirtieth in terms of passing yards
given up, which can be at times misleading, but it
was also pretty consistent that they were down at the
(10:16):
bottom of the league. And then you measure that with
being a top ten defense in in terms of points
given up, and you kind of scratch your head and say,
what do I do with this? And I'm not sure,
but they're taking the ball away more than they did
last year, so doing things better than they did a
year ago, and I think they feel good about that.
Here's the thing they're going to Unlike last year, when
(10:37):
they were not just losing guys, but losing guys for
the season. DJ Reid will be back, Davenport will be back,
Rodriguez is coming back. So most of the guys that
they've lost over the next three to four weeks will
be coming back. And I think that's one thing that
has them excited is just that, you know, after what
they went through last year where guys were hurt and gone,
(10:59):
this year there's hope that, you know, as they get
into December and you don't know what's gonna happen between
now and then, they could be back at her near
full strength and that would certainly be different than it
was a year ago where they were just kind of
spitting oil down the stretch.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
So with your squad, Dan, what's what's dramatically or just
what's different about the team now compared to the one
that's lost opening weekend to the Lambeau.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
That was just a game that they didn't finish anything.
If you look at that game, they gave up I
think it was the first four to third down conversions
to Green Bay's offense, and they had them right where
they wanted them. They had them third and six, third
and nine, third and ten and couldn't get off the field.
(11:45):
And then I think they had a streak of Lake
six in row. I think Green Bay might have finished
like four out of ten on third down something like that.
But point being, they started poorly, then they were getting
off the field, and then offensively they got into the
red zone a couple and just didn't finish. They didn't
get in the end zone. They just weren't doing what
they normally do. And the offensive line was just not
(12:08):
good that day. The communication was bad. I got two
offensive linemen in the booths with me and they'res pointing out,
you got guys going in the wrong direction here. They're
not playing cohesively as a unit, and really credit to them.
It kind of flipped after that and that offensive line,
their communication improved. They got better. They've just been That
(12:29):
game was just kind of a one off to the
mistakes that they made. And you know, offensively, I think
they tell you the last two weeks they feel like
they've left some things out there, but still third in
the league in scoring, and defensively, they've started taking the
ball away and giving it to the offense short fields
(12:50):
and giving them more opportunities. And when this team does that,
they're hard to beat, because when that offense gets rolling,
it can be tough to stop. So I just think
that was that was a strange game where you could
see the makings of something, but they just didn't finish anything.
All right.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So Aiden Hutchinson, who who's one of the two best
defensive ends in the NFL along with Miles Garrett, he
gets this nice extension, all right, big fat extension.
Speaker 1 (13:17):
So I'm like, cool.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
You know, the Brad Holmes and the Lions are just
really good about compensating their own before. Like in Dallas,
things get done with Michael Parsons, ce d Lamb and
Dak Prescott and so on. It that's rarely the case
in the Motor City. But you know that's money on
top of Jared Goff and Aman Ross, Saint Brown and
so on. They're just a list of those who have
(13:38):
gotten extended. Okay, that's cool, that's good business. The thing
that gets me, Dan, how in the heck are the
Lions still twenty four million under the cap with all
this money that's been dispersed. Are you what kind of
a Ponzi scheme you're running up there?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
Well, I think if you look at the numbers, they
start to kick in a lot of these contracts next year.
So there's gonna be some of mastics that need to
be done here between now and when these contracts all
start to you know, really mature and come into Big Bucks.
And I'm confident they have a plan on how to
do it. I couldn't tell you what it is, but
(14:15):
it is. You know, guys have pointed out this morning
on Twitter with this contract at aid and decide it's
nearly a billion dollars in second contract and there's a
couple things there. One. Yeah, I do think at some
point this is going to be difficult to maintain as
all these contracts start to kick in and you still
have Laporta, you still have branch that at some point
(14:36):
will need to be extended. But I think the thing
that feels good here Pa is just that you didn't
used to get second contracts in Detroit because the guys
that you drafted just flamed out and weren't deserving of them.
And what we've seen now is this regime has come
in and built something. They've developed these players, they're keeping
(15:00):
their players. There's an emotional attachment to these players, not
just because they wear the uniform, but because they're really good.
I think you can look at at the bulk of
these guys too, and say, you know what an a'min
Ross Saint Brown, A Kirby Joseph and Aiden Hutchinson, a
Panay Suol, Jared Goff who's obviously a trade but got
an extension as well these guys. And let me throw
(15:22):
Jack Hambellton there as well as a guy that's going
to need an extension at some point. But these guys
are added near the top of their position groups. I mean,
these are really good players. These aren't, you know, second
contracts that are being given out just because they're here.
They're second contracts given out because these guys have proven
themselves and that's just new here. We haven't had anybody
(15:46):
that's done this with this football team in a long time.
So it's exciting. I Like, you wonder how they're going
to keep all this stuff together when these contracts really
start getting into some of the bigger numbers. But I
think these guys have earned equity in terms of having
a plan and believing in their vision and we'll see
how it all works out. But it's fun, it's exciting.
(16:08):
It's nice to see how other teams have done it
the right way and be a part of that now
and it's been really cool to kind of sit back
and watch these guys operate.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Time for two more with Dan Miller play by play
voice on the radio for the Detroit Lions, also on
air talent and sports director for Fox two in the
Motor City twenty one years calling Lions football.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
That's really cool. What makes Dan Campbell a good coach.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Consistency. He doesn't change. He is the same guy if
you're talking to him in the corner drinking a beer,
if you're standing in the lobby of a hotel, or
if he's addressing his team. And I think the players
appreciate that there is no hitting agenda with him. He
will tell you exactly where you stand and there's a
(16:58):
trust factor that builds up in that. And on top
of that, and I think this is where a lot
of people got him wrong. It's really really smart football coach.
And he has an ability to put a staff together
that can develop players. And I think that that shouldn't
be lost because you can. It's easy to say draft well,
(17:21):
but it doesn't matter if you don't bring him in
and teach him how to play in this league, because
guys don't show up knowing that you have to teach
them what it is to be a pro and what
it is to be a pro in your system, and
he has done a great job of hiring coaches that
have done that. Just look at all the contracts we
just talked about. Those are homegrown guys that have come
in and learned what it is to be in this league.
(17:42):
But he is just and one thing that stands out
to PA's got a wonderful ability to understand exactly what
his team needs, whether it's a kick in the butt,
whether he needs to let loose on the rains a
little bit and just kind of let him, you know, coast.
He gets them ready to play. They don't have very
many off weeks where you say, man, what happened to
(18:03):
them this week? Everybody has them, but more often than not,
they're ready to go. He just has a way of
feeling what his team needs to get them ready for
that week. And again I'll throw this stat out there.
They have not lost two games in a row in
fifty one games October thirtieth, twenty twenty two, and no
(18:23):
team in the league is close to that. Has an
ability I think, to not let anything beat him twice
to get his teams ready to bounce back, and I
just think there's a you know that to me, says
a lot about him and his ability to work week
to week and understand what they need.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Wait a minute, Bocks, they lost to Washington in the
playoffs than Green Bay week one, So you mean regular.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Season, right, I'm not going with the Tiger Woods slam here.
I'm just talking regular games, week week to week.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Okay, go back to back losses yep.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
So that so clearly that needs to get into the
radio call here between the coin toss and the boom.
So October thirtieth, twenty twenty two, that's the last time
fifty one consecutive you said.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Fifty one consecutive game, losing two in a row.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Yep, that's terrific.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
All right, last one, what kind of reception do you
do you expect JJ McCarthy to get?
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Oh, good question. You know Michigan guys normally get some applause. Again,
it's it's divided, so you're gonna have some people that
are that are spartans in there that don't care for
him at all. There will certainly be respect there, but
I would say probably lukewarm is my guest, But there
(19:48):
will be. There will be plenty of Wolverines fans that
have an appreciation for the fact that this guy brought
a national championship to them and that will never be forgotten.
He is. You know, when you do that, you are
part of the fabric of you know, a city and
a state, and you know that will never change. But
it just goes back to what I said, there is
a division there of people that will never ever, you know,
(20:13):
really appreciate that for what it is.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, unless it's Aiden Hutchinson, who's getting you fifteen sacks
at key times, right.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
I guess he said. He texted JJ after he got
drafted and said he promised not to drive me to
the ground, but kind of roll over softly on him.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
If you get the pants on him, You're fantastic. I
really look forward to seeing you this weekend. I'll stop
by your box and appreciate the time there.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Dan, have a good day, same with me, a PA
safe travels man. Look forward to seeing you.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
See you About Dan Miller twenty one year played by
play voice for the Detroit Lions, aiding us with our
Steve's Appliance's Marathon segment. Go to Steve's appliances dot Com.
Learn more about fast delivery, free recycling, guaranteed low prices,
and the clearance event that is taking place right now.
So if you need appliances, they have a clearance event.
(21:02):
They are fantastic people who work for Steve's Appliances led
by Sarah and Bryan, the owners Steves Appliances dot Com
and the clearance event.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Check it out right now. Cash thing and here they are.
Speaker 5 (21:14):
The Fan along with two men in a junk truck,
want to give you a chance to put a grand
in your hand and win some bonus bucks with the
National Cash Contest. Go to KFA dot com enter the
keyword bills. The keyword is bills and you can enter
that at kfan dot com.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
Welcome Back.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
Penultimate segment is pa would say nine to noon. It's
eleven thirty one am, and I mentioned it during Vikes bites.
But you know, we turn the page and change our
faces and all of these things. The team's three and
four and the most recent edition of our favorite football
team was an absolute throttling at the hands of Justin
Herbert and the Chargers and Harbaughts so far a Thursday ago.
(21:53):
I get that, but we do have to kind of
remind ourselves here is that at one point it was
a season.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
At one point we were full of optimism.
Speaker 5 (22:06):
At one point on the front end of the season,
we were excited to see the plan laid out. The
plan would be revitalizing the offensive line, adding some defensive pieces,
and setting the stage moving on from a Sam Darnold,
setting the stage for a first round pick from a
couple seasons ago, now healthy and now active and now available.
(22:29):
And we wanted to see what things would play out,
how things would play out in twenty twenty five. So
I just feel like in some ways we have to
remind ourselves, as JJ the twenty twenty five edition, JJ
McCarthy take two starts to unfold this week via practice
and in the end him starting at Ford Field on Sunday,
that there are some things that we were to be
(22:51):
excited about into Week one at Soldier Field and should
be excited about seeing Sunday in Detroit. And I want
to start here the kid using his legs PA first.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Down for the Vikings at the Bears twenty seven McCarthy
play action out of the shot that looks for run
to the right, turns up the middle of the twenty
dives ahead to the fifteen and the athletic prowess of j. J.
McCarthy on display with a run of twelve and a
first down for the Vikings.
Speaker 6 (23:18):
Paul, that's the first step I think we've seen with
both Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason in the game, so
both running backs.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
As we get into.
Speaker 6 (23:25):
This red zone in the backfield at.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
The same time and before the season, and we say
a lot of things nine to new and you had
thrown this out there, Pa, kind of the idea of
what you know, some mandates, not even mandates that's too strong,
but the idea of the kid QB using his legs,
and you threw out a number three first downs for instance,
over the course of a game. You want to see
maybe that the Vikings moving the chains, let's say three
(23:48):
times with JJ's legs, and we could argue, well, I mean,
maybe it's closer to two or maybe it's close to four.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
We can do that all day. That's not the point.
Speaker 5 (23:55):
The point is the athleticism that JJ McCarthy presents was
one of the part of the allure of getting to
see the kid QB handle his business and do his thing.
And when we got to see it, albeit in a vacuum,
and frankly opening night at Soldier Field when we got
to see the kid using his legs.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
You heard that highlight. There some good things happen.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Thirdly, one from the Bear's fourteen McCarthy out of the shotgun,
milking a three point lead.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
It is a run pass option.
Speaker 2 (24:26):
McCarthy takes off to the right stand to.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
The stunner steps at the five touchdown.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Peace JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
So as I look forward to Ford Field and as
I get really really pumped up to see number nine
on the field again, there is one part of this
the athleticism, that element of this offense at the QB
position that we have not had seeing that as an
option again. No, I don't want to see him running
for his life. We want to see poise. We want
(24:59):
to se he improved play up front in front of him.
That includes the bookended tackles. But the athleticism is something
that I think we have to start to be pumped
up to see if that is real and it can
come to fruition again.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
I can't wait to watch him play a game after
game after game after game, and that's something I've said
the last few days is I mean, who knows what
he's going to be when he gets twenty to thirty
starts underneath that belt. Yep, But what do we know now?
We know, we see him, we like him, and then
(25:37):
he's gone, and then we see him again and we
like him.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
Then he's gone. So that just has to stop. That
just has to stop.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Indeed, and nobody's saying somebody so he's a He's a
hockey kid, So the toughness is not a problem. I
don't believe in luck, so therefore I'm not going to
put him on bad luck. But the facts are is
saw you against the Raiders, dug it, Oh what happened?
And Falcons game probably everybody probably could have done better.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Oh wow, you're gone again.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
So that's first and foremost for me, getting out of
the game the right way in one piece and playing
in the Ravens game. Now, from an athletics standpoint, that
that is, I mean, that's part of the reason that
you drafted him is you're able to move with him naturally,
(26:29):
he's comfortable doing it. You can call plays and dial
things up like that masterpiece that they had on the
on the Reid option to win the Bears game. It
was a phenomenal play call and phenomenal execution, not only
by McCarthy, but I think it was Jefferson. Maybe somebody
was down Hackinson, somebody was down by the goal line.
Speaker 5 (26:49):
With a great block. It may have been Hawkinson. Actually,
that just kind of helped molde him into the end
zone to just blocking the bleep out of somebody. So
that covenant was good. Well, here we go again, all right,
And it doesn't need to be pedaled to the medal
right out of the gate. People can have whatever expectations
they want.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
That's great. It may not mess with mine, but that
doesn't mean mine or right. But my expectations for McCarthy
beginning now is first and foremost, get out of this
thing alive. Secondly, run for some first downs. Thirdly, show
the NFL and Dan Campbell that wow.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
I mean when you when you when you.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
Had Wentz or when you had some of these other guys,
you never did that off the boot leg and it works.
And I bet you when we see you later in
the season, you're probably going to try to pass out
of it.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
So things that we haven't seen that we know we
will like, and and and response when things go poorly
to wit was a Tyreek Stevenson whomever he threw the
ball to in the Bears game and it went for
a pick six. Oh, Nashan Naseean Wright, Are you kidding me?
Speaker 1 (28:01):
Nashan?
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Right?
Speaker 1 (28:02):
Wow? All right?
Speaker 2 (28:03):
Three?
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Two?
Speaker 2 (28:04):
How did he bounce back? He won the game? So
oh wow, the kid did that? Yeah, he just must
have been devastated. First NFL star, Yeah he was, but
he owned the whole fourth quarter, was better than every
player on the field, and he won the game pretty
much by himself. So he has that to him, but
he also has the pick six to him.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
So you got to start. You need to start somewhere.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
And the athletic part is something that the ankle has
to be right to be able to do it. And
it's going to be part of the calling card for
JJ McCarthy noon Sunday boom.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
Yeah, And we talked about it earlier.
Speaker 5 (28:40):
Hyperbolic, hyperaccurate, just kind of where Jefferson, justin Jefferson's role
lies in all of this. Certainly best wide receiver, one
of the best offensive players in the NFL, and you
want to see that connection.
Speaker 2 (28:52):
Justin Jefferson one catch four yards, he goes in motion
to the left.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
He's changed his by the way, they're now purple. McCarthy
back to.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
Pass the rose left, caught JJ. Make that caught Justin
Jefferson from JJ at the eighteen yard line. That's a
connection of seventeen yards in a first down. The Vikings
are inside the red zone, and it's hard to believe.
Speaker 5 (29:15):
I think it was later that drive he would find
his only touchdown of the year.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
We have a Tim Jones sighting wide receiver left, three
receivers right, third and five from the Bears thirteen Chicago
rush is four.
Speaker 1 (29:25):
McCarthy's great drop to the end zone and tuckdown.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Justin Jefferson catches JJ McCarthy's first National Football League touchdown.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
And it's seventeen twelve.
Speaker 5 (29:42):
So I want to see I want to see nine
to eighteen for six, right. I want to see Jefferson
in the end zone. But it goes back to what
we were talking about earlier, the connectivity of him, JJ
McCarthy and these receivers.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Will he have a favorite?
Speaker 5 (29:58):
Will it be I'm going to find my star Justin
Jefferson and it's going to be ten, twelve, thirteen targets
or will it be Jordan Addison in the chemistry that
the two built up during training camp is at a
function of coverage, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
You've talked about Hawkinson.
Speaker 5 (30:15):
That the key for me what I want to see
on Sunday, something I'm excited about. I want to see
this offense on time, in in rhythm. The reason I
picked that particular reception to Jefferson is, albeit the first
two games it was tough finding anything offensively that was
on time and in rhythm. But when it was, it
looked so damn good. Pa and his ability to find
(30:37):
even opposite side of the field to the boundary, his
ability to make those throws in small doses shined through.
And so that's something specifically against the Lions. If we're
going to have to keep pace with these kiddies on
time in rhythm.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
I want to see that from number nine and I'm
pumped to see it.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Well, Dan Miller, they're played by play voice. I didn't
think Terry on Arnold the Alabama corner, Well, I think
he's fast, he's good, he's all right. I mean, we'll see,
he still has a lot of career in front of him.
I didn't think he was coming back this week, Miller
made us sound like he might. Yeah, kitty kitty, Okay, Niah,
kitty kitty ball should be going your way about fifteen
(31:17):
times during the course of the game. If you're coming
back from an injury, this coaching staff picks on you
until you show it.
Speaker 1 (31:26):
You don't need to be picked on. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
See Dray Greenlaw. A few years ago for the Niners
on Monday Night football man hadn't played for like a month.
O'Connell put him on six consecutive shallow crosses, running across
the field from the numbers to the numbers. He kept
getting beat. So I don't care who your quarterback is
in that situation. That's how you play the game. That's
how you push the envelope, and that's how you play
(31:49):
the game. You make the hurt guys who just came back,
you make them make plays. I would fully expect the
Lions to run at Van Ginkle. Why wouldn't they? Why
wouldn't you put If Van Ginkle plays, why wouldn't you put?
You know it's Van Ginkle generally plays the piney sool
side of the equation. All right, so you probably don't
need this, But why wouldn't you put Dan Skipper next
(32:12):
to Piney Sool and stretch right to Jamiir Gibbs and
just smash Van Ginkele.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Why wouldn't you do that? He hasn't played in a month.
I would.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
So all of that is going to come to roost
this weekend. Yeah, and all of that plays into what
McCarthy can or can't do. You know, he's going back
to Michigan he played. I think it's forty five minutes
to an hour. I think it's northwest from Detroit at
ann Arbor at the Big House. Uh, he's never played
(32:43):
at Ford Field. I'm not even sure he's been to
Ford Field, but I know he hasn't played there. So
this is going to be big for McCarthy. You know,
it's family friends, the return bally Hood, you got on
the call, you got Tom Brady's going to be in
the building, all things big, Yes, all things big.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
I can't wait to watch him, quite honestly, And just.
Speaker 5 (33:05):
One other aspect of this that I am excited to
see from JJ McCarthy this Sunday, And you kind of
alluded to it in terms of what he was able
to do rise to the occasion in the fourth quarter,
whether the head coach wants to call him weighty downs.
The kid comes through on third and long.
Speaker 2 (33:22):
Twelfth play of a possession that's gone just thirty yards,
Minnesota three to five. On third down, empty backfield, McCarthy's
seven step throve Buyers right side and the eighteen yard line.
Speaker 1 (33:34):
Adam feelin caught it. He caught it for.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
A twenty yard connection first down. Now the ball was
knocked out after he was declared down. Adam feeling hearing
it from the crowd. Detroit Lake's go crazy. This is
his first game at US Banks Stadium since Christmas Eve
twenty twenty two, when Great Joseph walked off on the Giants.
Speaker 6 (33:57):
What a great throw by McCarthy, by the way, just
that deep out from on the opposite side of the field.
So again, when we get our one on one matchups
with these dB Paul, DB's Paul, we're beating.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
When he's protected. One of the keys of that highlight.
Speaker 5 (34:10):
The reason I included it the seven seven step drop PA.
That has been a talker whether we play the talkbacks,
it's the texts. Hey should Kevin O'Connell even call plays anymore?
He keeps doing these five and seven step drops and
he's getting the QB killed. Well, here's what I'll tell you.
I know it's tough to forget that, and it may
be easy to forget. I should say how bad this
(34:32):
old line was the first two games, and we can
we can celebrate what School and Joe Huber and and
and Brandell did in London and finding that victory there,
justin School on the left side those first two games
was an actual, real problem. And he has the right
to get better, and he's performed better, sure, But when
(34:53):
JJ McCarthy had time, when he was not immediately feeling
the heat from the interior or around his backside edge
in the left side, JJ McCarthy throws freaking flames, my friend,
he absolutely does. He has the arm strength, and you
give him two and a half three seconds to see it,
any reasonable amount of time to see it.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
And he's a rookie.
Speaker 5 (35:16):
He's gonna make mistakes, he's gonna screw up, he's going
to frustrate us. If you give him time, you will
see more fastballs like he tossed a feeling on that
third and eighteen, and he will move chains and he
will perform in the moments that matter.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
I hope you're right, because for those of us who
were at Ford Field January fifth, earlier this year, a
professional the p in PTSD's professional.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
It's professional. It's PTSD. It just I just.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Hope no matter how any of this works out, we
don't hear stuff like this.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
Burton won't put us up in re receivers right and
nailor to the left. Joe could the left the darnold
out of the shotgun.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Lions come with a massive blintz Sam that right at
the end zone. Income plaint I can't believe that he
overshot Jefferson. He overthrew Justin Jefferson back right of the
end zone and JJ was wide open.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
Well, this has to stop. This is ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Go ahead and multiply that by four and hopefully we
don't hear that. And we're probably gonna hear one of these.
Hopefully it's not markedly more than one like that like
earlier this year.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Yeah, first and goal from.
Speaker 2 (36:27):
The three and Jaredoff goes out of the shotgun, gives
it to Gibbs looking for touchdown.
Speaker 1 (36:32):
Number four flows up the middle into play.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Cashman really and Jamier Dabbs really absolutely.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Pushed everything that is purple and gold into the end zone.
Speaker 3 (36:42):
And now he's.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Hit the super fact off four touchdowns for Jamiir Gibbs
and it's thirty to nine Detroit.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
All right, we'll be right back out.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Alrighty, that's nine to noon for a Wednesday. Thank you
ver much much for listening. The program is around the
corner tomorrow, nine to noon. Let's get a Wolve's victory
tonight so we can get some positivity into this covenant,
because we start tomorrow's radio show with Finchy Benchy FINCHI
Chris Finch, nine to noon tomorrow. Right out of the gate,
I'm Paul Allen. Here comes Big Daddy Khan to put
that wrap on the shp.
Speaker 1 (37:20):
Oh boys back. The game is.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Now?
Speaker 1 (37:25):
What did what did I do wrong? H Man?
Speaker 5 (37:29):
It's clear that Halloween must be near. Hiding my eyes
behind my hands.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
I'm stricken with fear watching our teams lose with some
form of hope. Every night, games full of jump, scares, gore,
and much fright.
Speaker 5 (37:40):
We try to flee in We're running in a hurry,
can't escape third quarters in Jamal Murray.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
Carson Wentz makes us wins and he scares us to
the core. I'd rather be forced to watch Saw Part four.
Speaker 5 (37:51):
Clockword Orange and my Liz are wide open, Nita psychiatrist,
We're all left coping.
Speaker 1 (37:56):
Sure it's just sports. Maybe I should stop the whining
first periods.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
Wow Games has been thinking of the shining and it
wouldn't be complete without Pj's team Nightmare near Oak Street?
Speaker 1 (38:07):
Could it be the kere to this disease?
Speaker 5 (38:09):
McCarthy at poor Field dressed like Jason Voorhees.
Speaker 3 (38:14):
JJ podcast Today's Paul Allen Show, Or listen back to
previous show and interviews
Speaker 1 (38:21):
Like going to the iHeartRadio app or kfan dot com
Popular Podcasts
Spooky Podcasts from iHeartRadio
Whether you’re a scaredy-cat or a brave bat, this collection of episodes from iHeartPodcasts will put you in the Halloween spirit. Binge stories, frights, and more that may keep you up at night!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.