November 20, 2025 • 22 mins
Mike Holmgren sits down with Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain at the 520 Bar & Grill to talk about the Seahawks loss to the Rams, Sam Darnold’s poor performance, the Titans coming up next in a very winnable game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen, and Pete Carroll.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As part of our non stop coverage of the NFL,
Your home for the twelfth Man proudly presents former Seahawks
head coach and Super Bowl champion Mike Combgrin. Brought to
you by Toyota of Kirkland. The championship team at Toyota
of Kirkland does all the little things that exceed your
expectations and that's what makes Toyota of Kirkland so special.
(00:20):
And by R and R Foundation specialist serving Western Washington
for over twenty years now. From the five twenty Bar
and Grail in Bellevue, Mike Hombgrin with SOFTI and.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Did all right.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Typically this guy would join us at to four o'clock
while we're off the here a little bit earlier today
because of Krack and Hockey, we had to adjustice contract
and throw them a couple of bucks to come in
here and join us at three forty five. But Jackson,
I got news for You're not getting paid until the
first of the year because we're going to compensate Mike
a little bit extra.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Well, thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
They're coming at three forty five.
Speaker 5 (00:51):
Hey, Jackson, thank you about that move?
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (00:53):
Do you feel bad? Poor Jackson?
Speaker 6 (00:54):
Not gonna have Christmas no, So, guys, I'd like to
talk about my employment with iHeart of this.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
No Christmas for Jackson Felts because Mike wanted to come
in here early. Well, let's talk about what we saw
last Sunday. First of all against the Rams, right, a
lot of stuff to talk about. The interceptions the final
driver of the game. Obviously, defense I thought was great.
Offense not so much obviously, but they did compromise themselves
(01:22):
with the turnovers.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
What did you make of what you saw last Sunday, Mike.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Well, that was the key, David. You know, we've talked
about it before. You know, you look at the If
you look at the box score and notice the numbers,
you know, passing yards, all this kind of time of possession,
first down, you'd say which team won? If you didn't know, right,
you say this team has to win. Yeah, they lost?
Why because of the four interceptions? That's why you know
(01:47):
they're They're against a really good team. The Rams are good.
So it was a heck of a game. I'm sorry
that the Seahawks didn't win, but uh, you know, it
just makes for another great game coming up against the Rams.
That'll probably decide things it'll come right down to the wire.
But you can't look at and no one knows this
better than Sam Darnold. You know you can't have a
(02:10):
game like that. You can't throw four interceptions and think
it's going to come out good. You can't.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
Well, Softie texted me after the game, and I had
the exact thought that he had, which is always scary
when we agree on something. But and that was we
feel better about the Seahawks Super Bowl chances after that
loss than we did before the game started, just about.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
How well they played other than the turnovers.
Speaker 6 (02:32):
Do you do you feel like Seahawks fans should be
bullied by what they saw in that game?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Well, you know what, you could look at it that way.
If you're the eternal optimist, you.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Know you're just a negative sob.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
So yeah, you know what I mean. You know I
played the position in four of course. You know my
first game in college as a college coach BYU against
Georgia they won the national championship. Steve Young my first
game new quarterback coach, through six interceptions.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
He turned out to be okay.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
That he turned out to be okay, he was so
So here's my thing, Sam will be okay, six picks? Yeah, no, No,
he wasn't very good.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Wh didn't he get pulled?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I don't know that somebody had money on the game.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I was just trying to survive. I go, this is
going to be I'm going to be the shortest ten
year coach in BYU history. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Well, I remember asking you last week.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I'm looking through my notes from the Cardinal game at
all the moments in time where Sam Darnold had turnovers.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Remember that?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, and I asked you, Hey, you know, are you
okay with these turnovers if they come when you're up
thirty three to fifteen or what?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
He said?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Nope, absolutely not. Then he goes out and throws four.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Picks in very meaningful situations, every single one of them.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Yea.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Now, all of a sudden, guys, Sam Darnold's got seven
turnovers in two games, seven two fumbles and five interceptions.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Are you worried about his confidence?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
A little bit when you have that many turnovers in
two games?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Maybe a little bit, but not a lot. You know,
I think, what happen to happen?
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Though?
Speaker 4 (04:01):
What has to happen? He's been playing very well, okay,
and then but he has the turnover is hurt. Right, Okay, Now,
when you're playing a team in your head thirty five
to nothing, it doesn't matter. It never usually should matter.
But like in that game, that costs of the game.
You have got to have a really good talk with
Sam about this. Why is it happening? What are you seeing?
(04:25):
What are you thinking? You know, and be honest, both
of you, be honest about what the situation is. Yeah, yeah,
and say listen, you're doing great, We're counting on you.
Nothing's changing, But tell me about these plays, you know,
and then and then see if you can fix it
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Did you see a guy that had a problem handling
pressure on Sunday? Because his numbers against the Stafford's numbers
against the Blitz are very good. Sam's numbers against the
Blitz are not very good. And I think a lot
of people would say that they provided some kind of
a blueprint. Now you gotta be able to execute the blueprint.
Did you see though, a RAM team that provided a
blueprint on how to get to this guy?
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Well, I think it proved to your point, which is
real that under pressure, some quarterbacks handled it better than others.
And right now, based on that game, he didn't handle
it very well. Yeah, And you know, when you're teaching
the quarterback about a particular play, he has to know
before the snap of the ball where his problems are.
(05:22):
If this happens, these are all going on in a second,
second and a half. Where do I go with the ball.
But if I'm winding up holding it too long and
I'm feeling pressure, I don't throw it. I take the
sack or throw it into the ground. Live for another day,
because the worst thing that can happen happened. And on
(05:43):
those four throws, well, it's.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Clear that he's unfhazed after throwing interceptions because he just
keeps chucking.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
He doesn't go into a shell.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Is that a good trait for a quarterback to have
or a bit of a worrisome trait for a quarterback
to have?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Well, you know, people, when you look at it, you
saying it doesn't seem to bother him because he just
keeps going. I think that you have to find out why.
It's why you got to know why it happened. What
did you see? Do you see him open? Were you late?
You know where you're feeling the pressure? What about the play?
(06:18):
All these things and get and be honest. Eck, just
let's be honest on the table. I remember talking to
Brett fav and I've told you guys the story before.
At the end of the season, I met with the
quarterbacks about what we can improve upon to be better
next year, right, And I number number of things with
him and he goes, Mike, that's just how I play.
(06:39):
And I'd say, you want to go to super Bowl?
You want to be nine and seven every year? Yeah,
you know, and he goes, I want to go to
the super Bowl. Quay, then work with me on this, dude,
change this, and his credit he did. So you have
tough con you know what. I love my players, but
you having a tough conversation about a key guy like
your quarterback, right, you gotta have that conversation.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, you love your players. I do all of them.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
No. See.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
By the way, Kracking Chris and Jack Cracking in Chicago
are coming up tonight. It's Cracking Game Day, brought to
you by blood Works Northwest Free Chowder Fridays is here.
Support local hospitals by giving blood with blood Works on
Fridays in November and get a cup of ivers clam chowder.
Offer available in centers and mobile blood drives between Everett
(07:27):
and Tacoma. Learn more at bloodworksnw dot org. Slash music,
do we have a problem with Sam Darnold When the
lights are brightest? We got to come back and chat
about that. Look ahead to the Titans game. We got
the Bills and the Texans tonight, the Chiefs, your buddy
Andy Reid kind of in a desperate situation this week
against Daniel Jones and the Colts, and then hockey Mike's
(07:48):
sucond favorite sport pregame four to thirty Face Off five
from Chicago coming up on ninety three three KJRFM. We're
back here at the five twenty bar and grill. We
got hockey at four thirty on ninety three to three KJRFM.
We got NFL football at five o'clock over on nine
to fifty am. But right now we got Mike home,
grin for another twenty minutes or so, fifteen minutes or
so before we say goodbye. And we talked about this
(08:09):
last segment that there's a lot of folks that have
the RAM game in mind, Mike. They've got the Lion
game that decided the NFC Central in mind. They have
the RAM playoff game in mind, and they're wondering that
Sam Darnold turning into a guy that can't handle the
bright lights when the games get big.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
What do you think I.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Would say, don't worry. He's going to be fine. He's
going to be fine. This, if anything take away from
this game for him. Yep, I think I think, actually,
as painful as it was, he's going to be fine.
Speaker 6 (08:44):
There was a lot of talk even on the broadcast
from Greg Olsen, who was doing the color commentary, how
do you balance being patient and yet getting into the
right play in the right formation quickly and still trying
to save clock because there was a lot of talk
about they wasted too much time in the last last
two drives.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Well, when it seemed to me, Dick, when I was
watching that, it was stuff was coming in from the sideline,
you know, and and I just we just didn't do
it that way. You know, you got you gotta drive,
You got a minute and whatever left. Okay, here's your
two many you practice this. Here are your sixth place. Yeah,
you got it, you got it. You're not wasting any
(09:24):
time with communicating from the sideline. You know, if anything happens,
you got your personnel on. You're not changing a lot
of personnel. The guys are out there playing because right
then the most important thing is the timing right and
saving what you need or things like that. So you
(09:44):
think about that during the week. So when it happens, boom,
here it is.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Here's the package, and I understand.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
The first play of that last drive left to go,
Rams got an incredible punt that pins him at the
one yard finals, which is just that, as my dad
would say.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
A pisser right, unbelievable punt.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Yeah, just unbelievable. Amazing job by him. And then they
got a hard time getting lined up with Rashid Shiheed,
who's a brand new guy over to Darnold's left right.
And I mean, I guess that's the price you pay
when you're putting a guy in the game that's been
there for a week and a half. I mean, you
don't like to see things like that happen, but it
explains it.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Yeah, there's it. Would it would. However, I wouldn't like it.
If you know, if he's going to be in that situation,
you practice that situation. He should know. I'm not going
to listen to a bunch of excuses on that one, right,
really not right?
Speaker 6 (10:37):
Well, Mike McDonald said after the game, he says, it's
very clear we have a great team. And I think
that's the first time he said that we have a
great team. So maybe he got moved kind of like
softy and I did.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
What do you agree? Is this a great football team?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I think it's a it's a very good football team,
and it's a playoff caliber football team. And there's a
couple of things I would like to see happen. One
we can you know, this is digressing slightly, but give
Walker the ball more, get him involved, find out if
(11:12):
they love this receiver a lot. Get him involved. Cup
only caught one ball in that game. I think, right,
get him involved, you know, offensively, defensively. I think you've
seen how good they can be, and they're going to
be that way all season. I think now let's control
things a little bit more on offense.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Well, the Kenny Walker thing to me is perplexing. I
just I don't get it. I brought it up with
Hugh I think on Monday. We talked about it last week.
You know, McDonald's saying, now the Kenny Walker has shown
he deserves more carries, to which I would say, what's
he done to not deserve more carries? Maybe it's the
injury thing. Maybe they just want to keep him as
healthy as possible for the stretch run. Dick and I
talked about that, that, hey, if he's healthy in the
(11:52):
final month of the year and he's a huge impact,
then they might look like geniuses.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Right.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
They got into seven and three in some ways kind
of almost at him being really dominant. But he's only
three hundred and ninety whatever yards away from a thousand
yard season, still very much there for him.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
But why do you think it's been going down this way?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Why are they so hesitant to really, like the last
drive of the game, Kenny Walker's not even out there right,
Why are they not using him more?
Speaker 4 (12:19):
You know, Dave, I don't know. I think you touched
on it a little bit, the injury thing. Maybe they're
nervous about that. I always contend that, you know, and
you know, I'm not a big analytics guy, but in
the preparation for how many carries he should get, how
how they should play, those things are all analyzed and
the numbers are given. Then some guy with a little
(12:41):
glasses hand you a note.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
You were glasses?
Speaker 4 (12:44):
I know, but not like those. Okay, not.
Speaker 5 (12:47):
The big thick bottle cap black rims.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
Yeah, no, so pocket protector too.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
I don't have a good answer for you. I would
play him and then spell him if he gets tired, right,
you know, I go back. But it's different now, Sewn
Alexander would played him. Momore's came in when he got tired.
Most teams now do alternate have two backs and they're going,
They're going, it's only they're only playing one more game
(13:15):
a year than we did. So I don't know. I
can't give you a good answer on that. I hope
they I hope they give him the ball more coach.
Speaker 6 (13:23):
If you ask the ten smartest football analysts in the country, maybe.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
Hum millan, ten hum millions.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
Yeah, and you asked him who's the best team in
the NFL this one year, they might have ten different
answers in what the truth?
Speaker 5 (13:41):
Like why do you think that is? And is is
this going to be a trend? I like, do you
think this is?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
We're going to see more parody driven ten twelve teams
can compete for a Super Bowl championship deep into November.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
Well, you know what, there was a time when the
forty nine ers and I happened to I was a
part of that, were kind of dominant for a stretch there.
Then the Cowboys were dominant for a stretch there, the
Packers early on, and the Patriots dominant now. Actually, actually
I kind of like it. I kind of like it
because strange things happen. Miami's won a couple of games.
(14:17):
I never thought they could had a chance of winning, right,
I don't think Tennessee has a chance of winning. I
really don't. Yeah, so I hope I'm right, But it's
just different now. And the teams that have the quarterbacks,
they're the teams are going to wind up up here
on the top.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Well, you mentioned Tennessee and the Hawks are huge favorites.
I think you said, Dick, They've never been this big
a favorite ever on the road in franchise history.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Thirteen and a half point favorites on the road.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I mean the NFL obviously, you know games are typically close,
but Vegas thinks this is going to be a slaughter.
They'd be seventeen point favorites, if not more, if they
played at home. Do you ever catch guys looking past people.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
In the NFL?
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Absolutely, we did in your locker room. Yeah, we did.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, tell me about it.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
The year we played Indianapolis, we were eleven and one.
They were one and eleven. Wow, And their coach got
fired at the end of the year. And we went
into an Indianapolis and we scored forty two points. It
was the highest per play yardage I ever had in
any game. We did, never punted, and we lost forty
(15:21):
five forty two with a third string quarterback. Their number
two guys are hurt. Now, how does that happen? You know?
And a Fritz Sherman and I had a really good
discussion about it the next day, you know, but it
was about we weren't we overlooked it. We weren't. That's
my fault. I never thought I'd have a team that
just the fire wasn't there because they thought we could
(15:44):
just go in and play. And honestly, and it's staying.
It's often you have to be ready to play again
every week, every week other strange otherwise strange things can happen.
Is what happened to me.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Is the letdown game less likely to happen because you
just had a tough loss that you played really well.
Is it easier to kind of get get the team
back up after a loss versus if they, you know,
want to beat somebody by twenty.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
I think you have a good point tick. I think
they they yeah, they can point to that and said, Okay,
we're not on an eight game winning streak here. You know,
we've got some work to do and we got to
take care of business. And then just know that. And
I'm sure he said this, knowing Mike a little bit
how he operates. You got to be ready to play
(16:32):
every week. You got to be fired up emotionally because
every two you're gonna play against the guy that wants it.
And you know what, forget about the record. And I
think he's going to approach it that way. I don't think.
I don't think we have to worry about that. The
emotion of this defense, how his defense plays, yep, yeah, no,
and don't throw interceptions and you should win the ball game.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
How about your buddy Andy?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
In Kansas City, they haven't lost three in a rows
before Mahomes showed up. Yeah, and they have to in
a row to Buffalo and Denver, both pretty good teams,
and now they have another good team and the Coults.
I mean, their schedule is not easy Man, Buffalo, Denver, Indianapolis.
Then they go to Dallas and then Houston, then the Chargers.
I mean it's not easy, but they're kind of desperate,
(17:14):
aren't they to win this game on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
They lose this game, they might be done.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
No, they have to know you're right. And then this
is very uncharacteristic for his team's there. I think I
believe their running game is really suspect. They've got had
some injuries, which affects everybody, right, and then you know,
sometimes I call it the Taylor swift. Ooh, you know
(17:41):
it's you go all of a sudden, that's the focus
and all this is the fff. You know, Andy came
on the radio show, you know, the one time with
me and you, and then I asked him about that.
He goes, no, no, you know, you know that's not
even an issue, and it probably isn't an issue. But something,
something's not clicking the way it's been clicking for them
(18:04):
for five years or five years in a row.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
Now, well, you got Josh Allen Tonight coach, and he
just does some magical things.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
He had six touchdowns last week.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Yeah, where is he?
Speaker 6 (18:17):
As far as not not greatest quarterbacks of all time,
because I think you need to win super Bowls to
be considered one of the greatest. But where is he
amongst the most talented quarterbacks you've ever seen?
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Yeah, he is unbelievable. He is really unbelievable. And once
he kind of there's a good example. I think early
in his career, you know, he would throw interception, he
would do he would do stuff. Then he's grown out
of that, in my opinion, and he makes really good
decisions even though and he's a great runner, I mean good,
(18:47):
he's a load, you know. So I picked that was
you talk about who's going to be there at the end.
In the beginning of the season, I said, Buffalo.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
That was my team, and I had Buffalo in Green
Bay and is not holding up their end.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Of the No, no, no, green That's another team that
seems to be yeah, no, no. To your point, teams
are there's just a miss mash of teams now that
you could kind of and who would expect the New
England to be nine and two eight and two whatever
they are? Right? You know? Right?
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Well, he just mentioned something interesting that you think you
think you got to be at Super Bowl champion to
be a great quarterback Da Marino considered the greatest of
all time?
Speaker 5 (19:26):
To be the greatest or one of the greatest of
all is.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Dan Marino one of the greatest of all time?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Yep?
Speaker 3 (19:31):
In your mind yep through fourner and twenty touchdowns before
the turn of the century.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Is which nobody did that?
Speaker 6 (19:36):
When I think there's a difference between greatest and most talented,
because I think the word okay, I think greatest encompasses Well, also.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
What's gen do get his take? Is Dan Marino one
of the greatest quarterbacks of all time? Yes, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
I agree. In fact, that was one of my first
games of the forty nine ers. We went over to
London and played a playoff game, preseason game. My quarterbacks,
Joe Montana, their quarterbacks, Dan Marino. I'm standing there in
the middle of the field and Bill Walls comes over
because come here, you know, I'm new some oh you know.
He goes watch this guy, and I didn't going. He's
(20:14):
pointing to Marino. He's not talking. I'm not pointing in
Montana and he goes, just watch how he throws, Watch
how he does this. Wow, I go And it turns
out one of my daughters wanted me to get an autograph,
not from Joe. I could have gotten one from Joe
from Marino and he gave me one. We were in
the same hotel.
Speaker 6 (20:31):
Well, speaking of the Dolphins, I had to text you
after that Miami Washington game on Sunday when both coaches,
both coaches turned down potential game winning field goals in
the final minutes of the game to go for it
on fourth and goal.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
What is going on in this world?
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Coach glasses, thick glasses, analytic nerds. You know what? The
idea of going on for it on fourth down in
a tie game could probably have counted on two hands
the number of times I did that in twenty five years. Yeah,
and now it just they do it. So someone's told
(21:08):
him it'll work. You know the numbers, it'll work.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Oh yeah, Hey, before you go, let me get a
quick thought from you on your favorite topic, and that's
Pete Carroll. Yeah, two and eight with the Raiders. Never
went two and eight in his NFL career. Yeah until
now and struggling down there in in Las Vegas.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Put yourself in Pete Carroll's.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Shoes, would you be thinking, man, this is this may
have been a mistake to take this job.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Maybe I should have just retired. Maybe it's passed me by.
I don't know. How would you handle this, you think
at that age?
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Well, I think I think once you make the decision
to take the job, right, no, you're in, you commit right,
you know? And so he and he's knowing him the
way I know him. He's gonna say next year, you know,
he'll he's too energetic. But once you make you know,
once you make the commitment to that team, you're in
unless they unless they fire you.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Well, and we got like thirty seconds. Do you think
Mark Davis would pull the plug after a year on him?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Is he like that?
Speaker 4 (22:05):
No?
Speaker 6 (22:05):
No?
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Okay, well he Marks Mark's a little you know she
ever seen his haircut?
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Yeah, it's terrible.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
Yeah, uh no, but he's he has pulled the trigger
on coaches, yep, but he won't do it on this one.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
All right, good stuff? Hey man, we're not going to
see you next week. Have a great Thanksgiving?
Speaker 2 (22:22):
All right?
Speaker 5 (22:23):
What do you mean two weeks?
Speaker 4 (22:24):
We've got nothing listening?
Speaker 6 (22:25):
Week?
Speaker 2 (22:26):
You want to work on Thanksgiving? We'll see you here.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
How much Jackson, well Park, how much Jackson's done He's
done through Chris, we had to pay you. He's finished,
all right, good stuff man, all right, Thanks Mike, Mike
homgrin with us. We're gonna break cracking hockey with a
black Hawks pregame show with Mikey b Coming next.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
See if by
As part of our non stop coverage of the NFL,
Your home for the twelfth Man proudly presents former Seahawks
head coach and Super Bowl champion Mike Combgrin. Brought to
you by Toyota of Kirkland. The championship team at Toyota
of Kirkland does all the little things that exceed your
expectations and that's what makes Toyota of Kirkland so special.
(00:20):
And by R and R Foundation specialist serving Western Washington
for over twenty years now. From the five twenty Bar
and Grail in Bellevue, Mike Hombgrin with SOFTI and.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Did all right.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Typically this guy would join us at to four o'clock
while we're off the here a little bit earlier today
because of Krack and Hockey, we had to adjustice contract
and throw them a couple of bucks to come in
here and join us at three forty five. But Jackson,
I got news for You're not getting paid until the
first of the year because we're going to compensate Mike
a little bit extra.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Well, thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
They're coming at three forty five.
Speaker 5 (00:51):
Hey, Jackson, thank you about that move?
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (00:53):
Do you feel bad? Poor Jackson?
Speaker 6 (00:54):
Not gonna have Christmas no, So, guys, I'd like to
talk about my employment with iHeart of this.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
No Christmas for Jackson Felts because Mike wanted to come
in here early. Well, let's talk about what we saw
last Sunday. First of all against the Rams, right, a
lot of stuff to talk about. The interceptions the final
driver of the game. Obviously, defense I thought was great.
Offense not so much obviously, but they did compromise themselves
(01:22):
with the turnovers.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
What did you make of what you saw last Sunday, Mike.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
Well, that was the key, David. You know, we've talked
about it before. You know, you look at the If
you look at the box score and notice the numbers,
you know, passing yards, all this kind of time of possession,
first down, you'd say which team won? If you didn't know, right,
you say this team has to win. Yeah, they lost?
Why because of the four interceptions? That's why you know
(01:47):
they're They're against a really good team. The Rams are good.
So it was a heck of a game. I'm sorry
that the Seahawks didn't win, but uh, you know, it
just makes for another great game coming up against the Rams.
That'll probably decide things it'll come right down to the wire.
But you can't look at and no one knows this
better than Sam Darnold. You know you can't have a
(02:10):
game like that. You can't throw four interceptions and think
it's going to come out good. You can't.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
Well, Softie texted me after the game, and I had
the exact thought that he had, which is always scary
when we agree on something. But and that was we
feel better about the Seahawks Super Bowl chances after that
loss than we did before the game started, just about.
Speaker 5 (02:29):
How well they played other than the turnovers.
Speaker 6 (02:32):
Do you do you feel like Seahawks fans should be
bullied by what they saw in that game?
Speaker 4 (02:36):
Well, you know what, you could look at it that way.
If you're the eternal optimist, you.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Know you're just a negative sob.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
So yeah, you know what I mean. You know I
played the position in four of course. You know my
first game in college as a college coach BYU against
Georgia they won the national championship. Steve Young my first
game new quarterback coach, through six interceptions.
Speaker 5 (03:03):
He turned out to be okay.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
That he turned out to be okay, he was so
So here's my thing, Sam will be okay, six picks? Yeah, no, No,
he wasn't very good.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Wh didn't he get pulled?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I don't know that somebody had money on the game.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I was just trying to survive. I go, this is
going to be I'm going to be the shortest ten
year coach in BYU history. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Well, I remember asking you last week.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I'm looking through my notes from the Cardinal game at
all the moments in time where Sam Darnold had turnovers.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Remember that?
Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, and I asked you, Hey, you know, are you
okay with these turnovers if they come when you're up
thirty three to fifteen or what?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
He said?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Nope, absolutely not. Then he goes out and throws four.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Picks in very meaningful situations, every single one of them.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
Yea.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Now, all of a sudden, guys, Sam Darnold's got seven
turnovers in two games, seven two fumbles and five interceptions.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Are you worried about his confidence?
Speaker 3 (03:51):
A little bit when you have that many turnovers in
two games?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Maybe a little bit, but not a lot. You know,
I think, what happen to happen?
Speaker 5 (04:00):
Though?
Speaker 4 (04:01):
What has to happen? He's been playing very well, okay,
and then but he has the turnover is hurt. Right, Okay, Now,
when you're playing a team in your head thirty five
to nothing, it doesn't matter. It never usually should matter.
But like in that game, that costs of the game.
You have got to have a really good talk with
Sam about this. Why is it happening? What are you seeing?
(04:25):
What are you thinking? You know, and be honest, both
of you, be honest about what the situation is. Yeah, yeah,
and say listen, you're doing great, We're counting on you.
Nothing's changing, But tell me about these plays, you know,
and then and then see if you can fix it
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Did you see a guy that had a problem handling
pressure on Sunday? Because his numbers against the Stafford's numbers
against the Blitz are very good. Sam's numbers against the
Blitz are not very good. And I think a lot
of people would say that they provided some kind of
a blueprint. Now you gotta be able to execute the blueprint.
Did you see though, a RAM team that provided a
blueprint on how to get to this guy?
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Well, I think it proved to your point, which is
real that under pressure, some quarterbacks handled it better than others.
And right now, based on that game, he didn't handle
it very well. Yeah, And you know, when you're teaching
the quarterback about a particular play, he has to know
before the snap of the ball where his problems are.
(05:22):
If this happens, these are all going on in a second,
second and a half. Where do I go with the ball.
But if I'm winding up holding it too long and
I'm feeling pressure, I don't throw it. I take the
sack or throw it into the ground. Live for another day,
because the worst thing that can happen happened. And on
(05:43):
those four throws, well, it's.
Speaker 6 (05:45):
Clear that he's unfhazed after throwing interceptions because he just
keeps chucking.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
He doesn't go into a shell.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
Is that a good trait for a quarterback to have
or a bit of a worrisome trait for a quarterback
to have?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Well, you know, people, when you look at it, you
saying it doesn't seem to bother him because he just
keeps going. I think that you have to find out why.
It's why you got to know why it happened. What
did you see? Do you see him open? Were you late?
You know where you're feeling the pressure? What about the play?
(06:18):
All these things and get and be honest. Eck, just
let's be honest on the table. I remember talking to
Brett fav and I've told you guys the story before.
At the end of the season, I met with the
quarterbacks about what we can improve upon to be better
next year, right, And I number number of things with
him and he goes, Mike, that's just how I play.
(06:39):
And I'd say, you want to go to super Bowl?
You want to be nine and seven every year? Yeah,
you know, and he goes, I want to go to
the super Bowl. Quay, then work with me on this, dude,
change this, and his credit he did. So you have
tough con you know what. I love my players, but
you having a tough conversation about a key guy like
your quarterback, right, you gotta have that conversation.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, you love your players. I do all of them.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
No. See.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
By the way, Kracking Chris and Jack Cracking in Chicago
are coming up tonight. It's Cracking Game Day, brought to
you by blood Works Northwest Free Chowder Fridays is here.
Support local hospitals by giving blood with blood Works on
Fridays in November and get a cup of ivers clam chowder.
Offer available in centers and mobile blood drives between Everett
(07:27):
and Tacoma. Learn more at bloodworksnw dot org. Slash music,
do we have a problem with Sam Darnold When the
lights are brightest? We got to come back and chat
about that. Look ahead to the Titans game. We got
the Bills and the Texans tonight, the Chiefs, your buddy
Andy Reid kind of in a desperate situation this week
against Daniel Jones and the Colts, and then hockey Mike's
(07:48):
sucond favorite sport pregame four to thirty Face Off five
from Chicago coming up on ninety three three KJRFM. We're
back here at the five twenty bar and grill. We
got hockey at four thirty on ninety three to three KJRFM.
We got NFL football at five o'clock over on nine
to fifty am. But right now we got Mike home,
grin for another twenty minutes or so, fifteen minutes or
so before we say goodbye. And we talked about this
(08:09):
last segment that there's a lot of folks that have
the RAM game in mind, Mike. They've got the Lion
game that decided the NFC Central in mind. They have
the RAM playoff game in mind, and they're wondering that
Sam Darnold turning into a guy that can't handle the
bright lights when the games get big.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
What do you think I.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Would say, don't worry. He's going to be fine. He's
going to be fine. This, if anything take away from
this game for him. Yep, I think I think, actually,
as painful as it was, he's going to be fine.
Speaker 6 (08:44):
There was a lot of talk even on the broadcast
from Greg Olsen, who was doing the color commentary, how
do you balance being patient and yet getting into the
right play in the right formation quickly and still trying
to save clock because there was a lot of talk
about they wasted too much time in the last last
two drives.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
Well, when it seemed to me, Dick, when I was
watching that, it was stuff was coming in from the sideline,
you know, and and I just we just didn't do
it that way. You know, you got you gotta drive,
You got a minute and whatever left. Okay, here's your
two many you practice this. Here are your sixth place. Yeah,
you got it, you got it. You're not wasting any
(09:24):
time with communicating from the sideline. You know, if anything happens,
you got your personnel on. You're not changing a lot
of personnel. The guys are out there playing because right
then the most important thing is the timing right and
saving what you need or things like that. So you
(09:44):
think about that during the week. So when it happens, boom,
here it is.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Here's the package, and I understand.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
The first play of that last drive left to go,
Rams got an incredible punt that pins him at the
one yard finals, which is just that, as my dad
would say.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
A pisser right, unbelievable punt.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Yeah, just unbelievable. Amazing job by him. And then they
got a hard time getting lined up with Rashid Shiheed,
who's a brand new guy over to Darnold's left right.
And I mean, I guess that's the price you pay
when you're putting a guy in the game that's been
there for a week and a half. I mean, you
don't like to see things like that happen, but it
explains it.
Speaker 4 (10:21):
Yeah, there's it. Would it would. However, I wouldn't like it.
If you know, if he's going to be in that situation,
you practice that situation. He should know. I'm not going
to listen to a bunch of excuses on that one, right,
really not right?
Speaker 6 (10:37):
Well, Mike McDonald said after the game, he says, it's
very clear we have a great team. And I think
that's the first time he said that we have a
great team. So maybe he got moved kind of like
softy and I did.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
What do you agree? Is this a great football team?
Speaker 4 (10:51):
I think it's a it's a very good football team,
and it's a playoff caliber football team. And there's a
couple of things I would like to see happen. One
we can you know, this is digressing slightly, but give
Walker the ball more, get him involved, find out if
(11:12):
they love this receiver a lot. Get him involved. Cup
only caught one ball in that game. I think, right,
get him involved, you know, offensively, defensively. I think you've
seen how good they can be, and they're going to
be that way all season. I think now let's control
things a little bit more on offense.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Well, the Kenny Walker thing to me is perplexing. I
just I don't get it. I brought it up with
Hugh I think on Monday. We talked about it last week.
You know, McDonald's saying, now the Kenny Walker has shown
he deserves more carries, to which I would say, what's
he done to not deserve more carries? Maybe it's the
injury thing. Maybe they just want to keep him as
healthy as possible for the stretch run. Dick and I
talked about that, that, hey, if he's healthy in the
(11:52):
final month of the year and he's a huge impact,
then they might look like geniuses.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
Right.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
They got into seven and three in some ways kind
of almost at him being really dominant. But he's only
three hundred and ninety whatever yards away from a thousand
yard season, still very much there for him.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
But why do you think it's been going down this way?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Why are they so hesitant to really, like the last
drive of the game, Kenny Walker's not even out there right,
Why are they not using him more?
Speaker 4 (12:19):
You know, Dave, I don't know. I think you touched
on it a little bit, the injury thing. Maybe they're
nervous about that. I always contend that, you know, and
you know, I'm not a big analytics guy, but in
the preparation for how many carries he should get, how
how they should play, those things are all analyzed and
the numbers are given. Then some guy with a little
(12:41):
glasses hand you a note.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
You were glasses?
Speaker 4 (12:44):
I know, but not like those. Okay, not.
Speaker 5 (12:47):
The big thick bottle cap black rims.
Speaker 6 (12:49):
Yeah, no, so pocket protector too.
Speaker 4 (12:54):
I don't have a good answer for you. I would
play him and then spell him if he gets tired, right,
you know, I go back. But it's different now, Sewn
Alexander would played him. Momore's came in when he got tired.
Most teams now do alternate have two backs and they're going,
They're going, it's only they're only playing one more game
(13:15):
a year than we did. So I don't know. I
can't give you a good answer on that. I hope
they I hope they give him the ball more coach.
Speaker 6 (13:23):
If you ask the ten smartest football analysts in the country, maybe.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
Hum millan, ten hum millions.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
Yeah, and you asked him who's the best team in
the NFL this one year, they might have ten different
answers in what the truth?
Speaker 5 (13:41):
Like why do you think that is? And is is
this going to be a trend? I like, do you
think this is?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
We're going to see more parody driven ten twelve teams
can compete for a Super Bowl championship deep into November.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
Well, you know what, there was a time when the
forty nine ers and I happened to I was a
part of that, were kind of dominant for a stretch there.
Then the Cowboys were dominant for a stretch there, the
Packers early on, and the Patriots dominant now. Actually, actually
I kind of like it. I kind of like it
because strange things happen. Miami's won a couple of games.
(14:17):
I never thought they could had a chance of winning, right,
I don't think Tennessee has a chance of winning. I
really don't. Yeah, so I hope I'm right, But it's
just different now. And the teams that have the quarterbacks,
they're the teams are going to wind up up here
on the top.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Well, you mentioned Tennessee and the Hawks are huge favorites.
I think you said, Dick, They've never been this big
a favorite ever on the road in franchise history.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Thirteen and a half point favorites on the road.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
I mean the NFL obviously, you know games are typically close,
but Vegas thinks this is going to be a slaughter.
They'd be seventeen point favorites, if not more, if they
played at home. Do you ever catch guys looking past people.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
In the NFL?
Speaker 4 (14:55):
Absolutely, we did in your locker room. Yeah, we did.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah, tell me about it.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
The year we played Indianapolis, we were eleven and one.
They were one and eleven. Wow, And their coach got
fired at the end of the year. And we went
into an Indianapolis and we scored forty two points. It
was the highest per play yardage I ever had in
any game. We did, never punted, and we lost forty
(15:21):
five forty two with a third string quarterback. Their number
two guys are hurt. Now, how does that happen? You know?
And a Fritz Sherman and I had a really good
discussion about it the next day, you know, but it
was about we weren't we overlooked it. We weren't. That's
my fault. I never thought I'd have a team that
just the fire wasn't there because they thought we could
(15:44):
just go in and play. And honestly, and it's staying.
It's often you have to be ready to play again
every week, every week other strange otherwise strange things can happen.
Is what happened to me.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
Is the letdown game less likely to happen because you
just had a tough loss that you played really well.
Is it easier to kind of get get the team
back up after a loss versus if they, you know,
want to beat somebody by twenty.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
I think you have a good point tick. I think
they they yeah, they can point to that and said, Okay,
we're not on an eight game winning streak here. You know,
we've got some work to do and we got to
take care of business. And then just know that. And
I'm sure he said this, knowing Mike a little bit
how he operates. You got to be ready to play
(16:32):
every week. You got to be fired up emotionally because
every two you're gonna play against the guy that wants it.
And you know what, forget about the record. And I
think he's going to approach it that way. I don't think.
I don't think we have to worry about that. The
emotion of this defense, how his defense plays, yep, yeah, no,
and don't throw interceptions and you should win the ball game.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
How about your buddy Andy?
Speaker 3 (16:54):
In Kansas City, they haven't lost three in a rows
before Mahomes showed up. Yeah, and they have to in
a row to Buffalo and Denver, both pretty good teams,
and now they have another good team and the Coults.
I mean, their schedule is not easy Man, Buffalo, Denver, Indianapolis.
Then they go to Dallas and then Houston, then the Chargers.
I mean it's not easy, but they're kind of desperate,
(17:14):
aren't they to win this game on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
They lose this game, they might be done.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
No, they have to know you're right. And then this
is very uncharacteristic for his team's there. I think I
believe their running game is really suspect. They've got had
some injuries, which affects everybody, right, and then you know,
sometimes I call it the Taylor swift. Ooh, you know
(17:41):
it's you go all of a sudden, that's the focus
and all this is the fff. You know, Andy came
on the radio show, you know, the one time with
me and you, and then I asked him about that.
He goes, no, no, you know, you know that's not
even an issue, and it probably isn't an issue. But something,
something's not clicking the way it's been clicking for them
(18:04):
for five years or five years in a row.
Speaker 6 (18:08):
Now, well, you got Josh Allen Tonight coach, and he
just does some magical things.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
He had six touchdowns last week.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
Yeah, where is he?
Speaker 6 (18:17):
As far as not not greatest quarterbacks of all time,
because I think you need to win super Bowls to
be considered one of the greatest. But where is he
amongst the most talented quarterbacks you've ever seen?
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Yeah, he is unbelievable. He is really unbelievable. And once
he kind of there's a good example. I think early
in his career, you know, he would throw interception, he
would do he would do stuff. Then he's grown out
of that, in my opinion, and he makes really good
decisions even though and he's a great runner, I mean good,
(18:47):
he's a load, you know. So I picked that was
you talk about who's going to be there at the end.
In the beginning of the season, I said, Buffalo.
Speaker 6 (18:56):
That was my team, and I had Buffalo in Green
Bay and is not holding up their end.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Of the No, no, no, green That's another team that
seems to be yeah, no, no. To your point, teams
are there's just a miss mash of teams now that
you could kind of and who would expect the New
England to be nine and two eight and two whatever
they are? Right? You know? Right?
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Well, he just mentioned something interesting that you think you
think you got to be at Super Bowl champion to
be a great quarterback Da Marino considered the greatest of
all time?
Speaker 5 (19:26):
To be the greatest or one of the greatest of
all is.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Dan Marino one of the greatest of all time?
Speaker 4 (19:31):
Yep?
Speaker 3 (19:31):
In your mind yep through fourner and twenty touchdowns before
the turn of the century.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Is which nobody did that?
Speaker 6 (19:36):
When I think there's a difference between greatest and most talented,
because I think the word okay, I think greatest encompasses Well, also.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
What's gen do get his take? Is Dan Marino one
of the greatest quarterbacks of all time? Yes, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 4 (19:52):
I agree. In fact, that was one of my first
games of the forty nine ers. We went over to
London and played a playoff game, preseason game. My quarterbacks,
Joe Montana, their quarterbacks, Dan Marino. I'm standing there in
the middle of the field and Bill Walls comes over
because come here, you know, I'm new some oh you know.
He goes watch this guy, and I didn't going. He's
(20:14):
pointing to Marino. He's not talking. I'm not pointing in
Montana and he goes, just watch how he throws, Watch
how he does this. Wow, I go And it turns
out one of my daughters wanted me to get an autograph,
not from Joe. I could have gotten one from Joe
from Marino and he gave me one. We were in
the same hotel.
Speaker 6 (20:31):
Well, speaking of the Dolphins, I had to text you
after that Miami Washington game on Sunday when both coaches,
both coaches turned down potential game winning field goals in
the final minutes of the game to go for it
on fourth and goal.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
What is going on in this world?
Speaker 4 (20:47):
Coach glasses, thick glasses, analytic nerds. You know what? The
idea of going on for it on fourth down in
a tie game could probably have counted on two hands
the number of times I did that in twenty five years. Yeah,
and now it just they do it. So someone's told
(21:08):
him it'll work. You know the numbers, it'll work.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Oh yeah, Hey, before you go, let me get a
quick thought from you on your favorite topic, and that's
Pete Carroll. Yeah, two and eight with the Raiders. Never
went two and eight in his NFL career. Yeah until
now and struggling down there in in Las Vegas.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Put yourself in Pete Carroll's.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Shoes, would you be thinking, man, this is this may
have been a mistake to take this job.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
Maybe I should have just retired. Maybe it's passed me by.
I don't know. How would you handle this, you think
at that age?
Speaker 4 (21:39):
Well, I think I think once you make the decision
to take the job, right, no, you're in, you commit right,
you know? And so he and he's knowing him the
way I know him. He's gonna say next year, you know,
he'll he's too energetic. But once you make you know,
once you make the commitment to that team, you're in
unless they unless they fire you.
Speaker 3 (22:00):
Well, and we got like thirty seconds. Do you think
Mark Davis would pull the plug after a year on him?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Is he like that?
Speaker 4 (22:05):
No?
Speaker 6 (22:05):
No?
Speaker 4 (22:06):
Okay, well he Marks Mark's a little you know she
ever seen his haircut?
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Yeah, it's terrible.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
Yeah, uh no, but he's he has pulled the trigger
on coaches, yep, but he won't do it on this one.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
All right, good stuff? Hey man, we're not going to
see you next week. Have a great Thanksgiving?
Speaker 2 (22:22):
All right?
Speaker 5 (22:23):
What do you mean two weeks?
Speaker 4 (22:24):
We've got nothing listening?
Speaker 6 (22:25):
Week?
Speaker 2 (22:26):
You want to work on Thanksgiving? We'll see you here.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
How much Jackson, well Park, how much Jackson's done He's
done through Chris, we had to pay you. He's finished,
all right, good stuff man, all right, Thanks Mike, Mike
homgrin with us. We're gonna break cracking hockey with a
black Hawks pregame show with Mikey b Coming next.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
See if by
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Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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.