Ben Goessling! - Bumper to Bumper 11/14/25 Hour Two

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
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Speaker 2 (00:57):
This isn't really, at least from my vantage point of
complicated scenario here as it pertains to how to view
the twenty twenty five Golden Gophers season. We've laid this
out extensively on Sunday sermons, and we may do so
again this week, especially depending on how the Vike the

(01:17):
Gophers fair tonight at the University of Oregon. But I
think Chipskogins did a pretty good job of distilling what
is at stake this evening and the significance of this game.
The Gophers have three games left. Last game of the

(01:39):
year they host Wisconsin. The week before that, they're at
Northwestern I think actually technically at Wrigley Field against Northwestern,
and this week tonight against Oregon. Only one of those
three games represents a litmus test that to me will

(02:00):
distinguish whether we'll sort of determine whether this has been
a good season or not. Can't be called a bad
season on the number of victories. I get it, But
we pointed this out a while ago, and Ship got
into this. People don't like hearing it. They do the all, well,
it's not our fault who we've played, it's not our

(02:22):
fault how those particular teams are faring. The Gophers are
six and three overall, four and two in the Big Ten.
But it's undeniable that when the four Big Ten teams
you've beaten have a combined Big Ten record of six
and twenty one, that's not going to get anybody's attention

(02:44):
in trying to convince people that this has been a
really good season. Right you've had up till now. I
think you could argue four chances to do that, and
you failed in three of those four. The first would

(03:08):
be at col not necessarily a litmus tests because they're
a great team. In fact, they've turned out to be
a pretty ordinary team. But I put that early as
one of those games that if you are going to
give yourself a chance to have a special season, you
just have to win. You just have to put it
on the win column. And Minnesota lost there twenty seven

(03:30):
to fourteen. Your second chance was in Columbus. Maybe unfair
to even call that a chance, given how good Ohio
State continues to be. I will still maintain that the
Gophers reached a level of non competitiveness in that game
that should have been alarming to people at forty two
to three. Despite that, I think we scored, didn't we

(03:54):
I think the way the first time we had the
ball we drove down for a field goal, and people
are like hey, And that was the extent of our
our ability to compete. The third opportunity was hosting Nebraska
past that test with flying colors. At the time, Nebraska

(04:14):
was ranked twenty fifth. I don't know what they're ranked now,
but it was a thorough demolition of the Huskers offense
and defense, especially if the line of scrimmage very good.
Twenty four to six. Again was that final and the
fourth litmus test opportunity at Iowa the following week, And
as we said after the Nebraska game, expectations here are

(04:39):
such that I don't think many of us were demanding
the Gophers go to Iowa and win the game. But
it should not have been too much to ask that
that be a competitive game. And I believe at one
point in the second quarter the competitive scores were Gophers

(05:04):
one yard total offense, Iowa thirty one points. Final scores
forty one to three. Not a competitive performance at all.
In what is now, I believe for the head coach,
year nine, this is I think your fifth and last

(05:25):
opportunity to at least give the sense that pretty damn
good season, your last chance to say to show people
that when the head coach keeps saying, as Goggins points
out about the Gophers, this is a really good football team.

(05:48):
You can say that all you want, but it's not
a really good football team if you lose this game,
especially if you lose it in non competitive fashion. And
that's again the standards we're playing to these days. Skoggin's
at the end of his piece doesn't even say that
the Gophers have to win. He only writes it's not

(06:08):
too much to ask for the Gophers to be in
the fight. Bye week for the Gophers, Oregon short week,
traveling across the country, or at least halfway across the country,
because they played Saturday in Iowa City. Admit it. Yes
they're hosting. It's a tough place to play. We grant
all of that point, but if you want me to
take this season seriously beyond oh, you know, we're happy

(06:31):
for you that you beat Rutgers, and you beat Purdue,
and you beat it, came from behind to beat Michigan State,
and maybe and we assume you're going to beat Wisconsin
this year and even win at Northwestern, which would be
a little better but still nothing special. You have to
at the very least finally compete in a game against

(06:53):
a good opponent, period, end of story. There's no I
don't think any There's just no way around that. And
you know, again, the problem with the Gopher apologists is
that they'll turn this into well, you guys, well, I
don't know who you want here. It sounds like you
want them fired. They play that game. They create straw
men argument that if you dare to evaluate or criticize

(07:17):
a given season, that you're all but saying, you're all
but trying to run a guy out of town. And
obviously the debate becomes easy then, but we should be
able to do both. And as I mentioned, and Isskoggin's
mentions in this piece nine years in. And that's not

(07:38):
a good look. If you go to Oregon and get
wiped after getting wiped previously in Iowa and iguinst Ohio State,
who's kidding who? It's an okay season. You can end
up with the fat number of victories because you started

(08:00):
the season with Buffalo and Northwestern State or whatever the
hell that team was that we beat sixty six to nothing.
But I don't think we're going to be fooled at all.
So let's see. You know, they maybe they put together
the best game of the season. That's probably what they
will need. I think Oregon's good. I don't think Oregon

(08:22):
is quite as good as people think. But they're good.
And they're at home where they're very, very tough. That's
a considered a pretty tough place to play. But let's
see it. The really good team stuff isn't just the
ability to come from behind against the Michigan States and
the Rutgers and the Purdues of the world. Better to

(08:43):
win than to lose. That was another thing I'm hearing
now is well, the truth is this team isn't as
talented as last year's team or the last couple, And
I'm thinking, if you want to accept that premise, and
then I guess the comeback question would be, well, why

(09:03):
not nine years in, why don't we have more talent?
I mean, I've actually heard some people tried to turn
this into PJ should receive credit for what he's gotten
out of this team that's not all that talented. And
I'm going, man, we really are even by Minnesota standards,
lowering the standards to a degree that I don't even

(09:24):
begin to understand. But it's it's beautiful for the head
coach because apparently it's gonna never be his fault. It's
going to be well, if he doesn't have the talent,
that's not up to him. And if he has a talent, well,
it's really not fair to expect this team to compete
with Ohio State, University of Iowa, or later tonight, Oregon.

(09:49):
So this is a great opportunity, and I would say
the last opportunity this team has to get anybody's attention
in a town where there's casual interests the Gophers, but
it's never going to reach anything like critical mass unless
you have the occasional game where you at the least
are competitive in a game like tonight, and at most

(10:11):
you actually have you actually dare to win the game.

Speaker 1 (10:13):
Here's the text we got to the brade ONW Bryant
Kavan text line that just explains it all. Six' five
to one guy eight win season is overachieving and it's
not fairly. Close it is small nil. Program let's face,
it what kid out of state wants to come up
here and play? Football eight is overachieving. Period this message
brought to you by THE. Pj Fleck.

Speaker 2 (10:32):
Foundation, okay come, on, okay, YEAH i, mean LIKE i said,
that on that, basis why WOULD. Pj fleck ever want
to leave? Here and he probably won't as a result of.
That the issue is do individuals have the ability to
actually watch games and then evaluate within a given, game because,

(10:57):
AGAIN i don't THINK i demanding that The gophers Beat Ohio.
STATE i wasn't demanding that they Beat, iowa even though
you could argue every once in a while more often
THAN pj has they should even on the. Road they
weren't even in these, games not even close to being

(11:21):
in these. Games and if you can't see, that then you,
know spend more time On Gopher hole that's ALL i
can tell, you because There i'm assuming that they'll be
more than happy to, say, man you look at look at,
it and it's always by the, way, again the number
of victories now that we some of us grew up
with with a football season that was ten games, long

(11:42):
and so we still have these stupid comparisons being made
about number of victories In gopher history when now we're
playing on a minimum of two more games a. Season
this isn't. Complicated EVEN i can do that math that
you got a greater chance to win eight games if you.
Play and part of it should the. Evaluation part of

(12:04):
the evaluation should be how Many big Ten west titles
do we? Win the answer is? Zero the question should,
be well where are we in the big ten? Standings
that should be part of the. Conversation, HELL pj was
the guy who said be delusional this year and implied
in that was why can't we be The indiana of this?

(12:26):
Season now we're supposed to forget all, that apparently because
it's not convenient for the apologists who want apparently another contract.
Extension that, man you see the talent he's, got it's
unbelievable what he's accomplished with this. Team, okay go right.
Ahead nobody on this show is calling for his. Head

(12:48):
you might. Be i'm. Not i'm not not even close
to doing, that but we should be able to. Evaluate
and what we've said, is if you're a program like,
this most of us are realistic enough to unders that
you're not going to be going for a big ten
titles very, often, Right but the idea is to do
more often than what we. Do what has happened over

(13:10):
the last thirty years At, iowa At, wisconsin At, Northwestern,
hell At purdue for a while maximizing when you have,
something maximizing. It and we got close to that the
year we Beat Penn, state but then we couldn't finish that. Job,

(13:31):
ultimately that was a very good, season not a good.
SEASON i called it a very good, season but it
was you look back on it was there more meat
on the. Bone and that's what we tend to. Do
and this year we haven't, even LIKE i, said been
there hasn't even a chance to discuss what did he
run too much in this game or pass too much
in this. Game they've been so non competitive against several

(13:53):
litmus test opponents that it hasn't even. Mattered so they
have another opportunity to do something about that. Tonight they
Really i've always said the players have the last. Word
they have that opportunity. Tonight again it's on the. Road but,
Again oregon is on a short. Week they allegedly AND
i didn't even realize. This according, ship they're down like
about eight wide. Receivers so let's at least make them.

(14:16):
Sweat how's that for a? Mantra that's how what's that?
For how's that for a? Demand not demanding a. Victory
i'm not even demanding that it was a one point.
Game how about making them? Sweat Make oregon work for
it a little. Bit i'm sure that'll be turned into.
Egoes berrero again demanding that The gophers win every game
they play and the head coach to to make the

(14:39):
National championship game and finish, first, second or third in
The Big. Ten so fire away bons bonus bucks right. Now,
yes The fan and.

Speaker 1 (14:46):
Two minute A Junk truck want to give you a
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(15:08):
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Speaker 2 (15:10):
Truck let's Revisit Brett Blake moore the block of The
week For gerby BECAUSE I i THINK i did a
pretty poor job of explaining how folks can. Participate so
instead of going to cafan dot, com you go to
The iHeartRadio. App, right you Find kfan on the, app

(15:35):
that's where you'll find the microphone logo or, insignia whatever
you want to call. It that's what you click. On
then you offer Up gurby's lock of the week was or,
is and then you are you are eligible to potentially
win a pair of tickets to see The vikings take
on The monsters in The midway This. Sunday so don't

(15:57):
do cafan dot. Com go to the app if you
already have, It, iHeartRadio type in cafe in and you
tell me that's what will come. Up, right the microphone
insignia will come, up and then you'll have that opportunity
SO i, WANT i hope for all our marketing people
they'll give folks still another chance to get in on
the fun before this show is. DONE a number of

(16:19):
people have been asking about that because a lot of
people want to go to the. Ballgame the apologists keep coming,
in And i'm not at all. Surprised here's the new
one that's. This this is supposed to make people feel
better about what hasn't happened here in a couple of
other places in The big. Ten well we got to Get,

(16:41):
yeah it turned It, indiana but they Got Mark. Cuban
here's what you need to know about The Mark cuban.
Angle Mark cuban only now has. Started he just talked
about this a while, ago offering up when it comes
to the football, program big money. Contributions in other, Words,

(17:01):
cuban to a certain, extent has jumped on a bandwagon
in which a lot of the winning a year ago
was already established and even some this. Year so if
it makes you feel better to think that this has
got nothing to do with, coaching nothing to do with
vision at. All it just has to do with getting
a fat cat who will help us steal. Players Kurt

(17:24):
signetti has been stealing players or getting the right players
Before Mark, cuban AN iu guy has spent any kind
of significant money on the. Program is it help that
he's doing it? Now, Yes but this is how people placate.
Themselves they medicate themselves in, well there's No, well we
can't who's Our. Mark we don't Have Mark. Cuban so

(17:46):
instead of just analyg just acknowledging that that something extraordinary
is happening In indiana for a lot of different reasons
that may may that may make it mean that it
could happen a lot of, places including. Here if you
get the right person and the right you, know the
right gulash put together that you cook up the right
kind of. Stew it's that's a little because somebody, SAID

(18:08):
i a little an eight win season, overachieving not really,
close small nil program when a kid out of state
wants to come up, here and what kid wants to
come up here and play football from out of? State,
again you can live in that. World but we have
example after example over the last thirty, years even BEFORE,

(18:29):
nil of programs, that at least for a stretch when
they had something going out of the, ordinary maximized. It
once upon a time went To Rose bowls with, it
which we have not. DONE i Am i'm continually amazed
at how PEOPLE i guess they this is how, you,

(18:52):
LIKE i, say you medicate yourself Into, Well i'm not
going to get that frustrated because it's there's no way
we can do anything about. It it's just we are
what we. Are that's the end of the. Story we
said it at the start of the. Season i'll stand by.
It Stardi mune had a great. Headline we already know
and have acknowledged THAT. Pj fleck has raised the floor

(19:13):
for this program undeniable BECAUSE i was here for a
lot of the seasons when the floor was rock. Bottom,
baby to Quote Kevin, McHale he's raised that. Floor there's
no question about, that, undeniable and that's part of what
you want a coach to. Do the question was how
much can he raise the? Ceiling AND i just think

(19:34):
nine ten years, in we now know the answer to
that question just a, little not a. Lot and if
you want to go at the eight, victories you have
to factor in how many games are being played now
compared to the ten ten game, seasons and even who
you're beating and how often you're pulling off the kind
of upset like they did Against Penn. State but how
many years ago is that at this? Point so, again

(19:57):
you could talk yourself out of anything if that's the
direct you want to. GO i just don't think. IT
i don't think it's facing. Reality BUT i think some
people don't want to face reality or they want to, say,
well that's there and they got their billionaire taking care of.
Things when Everybody i've talked to there At Indian university say,

(20:18):
yeah they're they're Loving cuban's help financially at this. Point
but it wasn't like When Kurt signetti got, There cuban was,
LIKE i get my check, book how much you? Need
it didn't work that. Way he's helped on some other,
stuff for. Sure but it's it's it's not the proper.
Sequence you can make it that if if it's an

(20:39):
easier for you to finesse why it's happening one, place
and and this doesn't have to be the place where
it's happening to that. Degree, uh break bottom of the.
Hour let's get back To vikings. Conversation Ben gessling is
picking The vikings to rebound with a victory over The Chicago.
Bears we will have him explain what he uh thinks

(21:01):
is gonna happen or why he is picking The vikings to.
Win does he view this again as another one of
those plant your feet moments for The vikings where there
might not be a tomorrow if they do not get
it done at. Home all of that and more With
guestling next.

Speaker 1 (21:16):
Time now for The Vikings report on The fan presented
By Miller. Lyte vikings wide Receiver Adam thielen joins Danbur.

Speaker 2 (21:24):
Rairo, next the fan of The vikings are teaming up
for toys for.

Speaker 1 (21:30):
Tots join us live At shields and Edon Prairie, Tuesday december,
second five thirty am to six thirty pm for our
annual broadcast presented By. Unreal bring a, toy spread some,
joy and if you're one of the first fifty donors
to each, show you score a Sweet Kfan Unreal winter.
Beanie full. Details kfan dot, Com Slash.

Speaker 2 (21:48):
Toy Standard heating and Air conditioning brings Us Ben gestling
every week he joins now via The Connectico systems. Hotline
you have Predicted viastarthibune dot com that The vikings will
indeed bounce back in a close game twenty four to

(22:10):
twenty one over The. Bears guardin AND i are talking
about this for THE tv, Show and here's what's interesting
about this game to, Me above and beyond who wins who,
Loses i'm getting the sense That bears, fans who have
not had much to cheer, about you, know they've had
a lot of really crappy, seasons are sitting at six and.

(22:33):
Three it might be a phony six and, three but
at six and, three which hasn't happened in a, while
and that they're coming to town to try to take
over the THE i was about to say The dome
of The people stadium as much as. Possible and if
The vikings don't do what you're predicting that you think
they will do in a close, GAME i think there's

(22:54):
a recipe here for a lot of bad feeling in
that building and things turning quite a. Bit. Right this
is a game that The vikings have to be very careful,
about do they, Not.

Speaker 3 (23:06):
YES i would agree with. THAT i think the powder
keg last week against The ravens was pretty well. PACKED
i would say there was quite a bit of gunpowder
in that. Thing AND i think another loss like that
one would kind of set it, off especially in the,
division because they really cannot afford to lose ANOTHER nfc.
Game they can't afford to fall further back in THE Nfc.

(23:28):
North but more than, THAT i think they just can't
afford to look like they are a step behind a
team that they've been fairly competent and had very good
reason to be confident that they could be for a long.
TIME i, Mean kevin O'Connell i believe is has only
lost to The bears once in his career as The
viking said, coach and that's been the team that they've

(23:51):
been the. Best, again to, YOU i always used to
be The, lions but that has certainly, changed and The
bears have been the team The vikings have, Said, wow
we can usually get too against, them and it's not
anything worry. About so these two teams are always interesting
to be because they went through the rebuild process at
exactly the same time they were talking to the same
people for THE gm jobs in twenty twenty, two the

(24:11):
heard head coaches at the same time they took quarterbacks
in the same, Draft so there's kind of this parallel
track thing between The vikings And. Bears, Obviously i've taken
different approaches to the rebuild or the competitive. REBUILD i guess,
quitch you Of implemento would call. It but it is
a fascinating kind of side by side. Comparison and, yeah
even if The bears are six and, three because they've
beaten a lot of bad, teams they're six and, three,

(24:33):
yeah AND i think they will come to town feeling
a little different than they have in the.

Speaker 2 (24:37):
Past key injury report. STUFF i want to get to here.
Early So grenard is, out, Correct Jonathan garnard And Ryan.
Kelly that's both those are those designations are both? Official? Correct?
Correct what is The what does The grenard loss? Do
how significant in your mind is?

Speaker 3 (24:58):
THAT i think it's a big. DEAL i think he
has certainly been their most consistent pass, rusher and he's
also a guy that teams don't like to run at very.
MUCH i think When Dallas turner went into that game last,
week you saw teams or you saw The, RAVENS i
should say take advantage of that a little bit and
try to exploit him a little bit in the run.
Game So gernard not being, THERE i do think he's

(25:20):
a big. DEAL i think they Need Dallas turner to
show up and have a significant contribution to this. Game
we'll steal a lot Of Eric, wilson will obviously See
andrew Van, ginkel but they need their first round, pick
their second first round pick last year that they've spent
so much to go off and get to start to
make some plays and have an. Impact AND i, think
especially in a game With Caleb, williams you need all

(25:43):
of the bodies you can to chase him because you've
seen it every time they face. Him he can get
out and make things happen with his feed or you,
know make throws on the, run AND i think being
able to pursue him effectively without giving him escape lanes
is going to be a big part of this. Too
So bernard has had some had some moments this year
where he's missed and certainly it's had a lot of
pressure where he wasn't able to finish the deal or you,

(26:05):
know kind of over pursued and misses the chance of
bringing a ball carrier or a quarterback. Down but he
is their most consistent source of pressure AND i think
not having him IS i think it. HURTS i think
this is a big loss to, them AND i think
they'll STILL i, MEAN i have predicted them to win,
obviously SO i think they'll still find a way to
get it. Done BUT i think that's a lot to

(26:26):
come back from when you don't have him all.

Speaker 2 (26:28):
Right on the other side of the injury, LEDGER i BELIEVE.
Tj edwards is out for The, bears WHICH i do
think hurts. Them brisker is listed to defensive. Back Brisker
Ja Kwon brisker is listed is questionable. Now Jalen, johnson
who's been out for extended, period is listed as questionable
with the groin has just started. Practicing do we is

(26:51):
the feeling that The bears might be able to use
him as soon as this game or what are we hearing?

Speaker 3 (26:58):
THERE i guess GUESS i would be a little surprised
if he's back that. Soon when he HAD i think
a limited practice today On, friday the first day that
they opened up his, window that would seem like they
want to take him through a little more work before
they're confident enough to say even they'll play a full.
GAME i GUESS i would be surprised by that. One
and Then, brisker we'll see he didn't Practice Wednesday thursday

(27:19):
this week and just was limited On friday as, Well
and they really have not had those two guys together
on the field the entire. SEASON i don't think that's.
True they were missing those guys That week one game,
too SO i think that is significant if they get
either of them. BACK i just don't know if the,
timetable especially For Jalen, johnson would be quite suitable for

(27:40):
that to happen for this one.

Speaker 2 (27:41):
Well and that's Where i'm not anyone who's going to discount.
Injuries they do factor, in but it's WHERE i tire
of constantly making about who we have missing or anyone
team has missing because we don't spend as much time
in this market on significant players of other teams been missing,
much if not, all of the. Season it's just it's

(28:04):
it's part of the. Deal and The bears have had
those issues as, well some, injuries not all, issues not.
Injuries all, INJURIES i should, say are. Equal but it's
JUST i think it's just a losing game at some,
point either deal with it or you don't deal with.
It and AND i think we have to accept that
a little more and understand that we're not alone when

(28:24):
it comes to, injury some teams might be less lucky
than others in a given, season especially at the quarterback. Position,
obviously when you're you're the guy you wanted to have
out there from the beginning has only been out there
part of the. Time BUT i think that's why we
got to not fall into that trap About, wow we
haven't argued we didn't have our offensive line for a.
While The, bears whatever their defense, is they. Haven't they've
never had their complete defense, together even even more so

(28:47):
than you can say with The.

Speaker 3 (28:48):
Vikings, Right, YEAH i, mean it is a factive life
in THE. Nfl the sport has one hundred percent, injury
Right every team is going to deal with it at
certain points of the. Year even guys that don't miss
games By, november most of them are playing through. Something you,
know if you see a guy on the field On
sunday and It's i've won this over the, years and,

(29:09):
hey this guy doesn't look like he's as nimble as
we thought he. Was what's going on with? Him it's
like the first question you should ask, Is, okay when
did he get? Hurt because that's probably the case more
often then we appreciate around the. League and, yes it
is part of the. Deal it's part of what every
team goes. Through there are certain, YEARS i think where

(29:29):
teams are more fortuitous with it than, others AND i
think twenty twenty four was one of those years for
The vikings where they were fairly healthy most of the
way through, it and you kind of it seems like
sometimes that rubber vand stats back a little bit the
next year and you kind of go through. It but
it seems like every team is going to have a
moment at some point where it's there's a lot of

(29:50):
injuries in one spot or it's just hard to manage them.
All and it is just it's a violent, game and
that's part of what you deal with and what you
sign up for when you play, it because the rosters
are not unlimited and you have to forget how to manage.

Speaker 2 (30:04):
It exactly it you raise in your skying. REPORT i
think another decent storyline in this. Game The bears have
used three wide receivers a, lot and that means testing
the depth that The vikings have available at defensive. Back.

Speaker 3 (30:22):
Correct, Yeah, yeah they've spread things out a lot more
since they came back from their bye. Week it's been
a lot more through receiver. STUFF i think basically about
two thirds of the time they are in three receiver.
Sets and when you look at The vikings, secondary where
they are going to be Without Jeff okue, certainly and
Then Byron murphy has struggled a little bit this, year

(30:42):
And Isaiah rodgers has after the electric, start has not
been quite as good the last few weeks. Either SO
i would imagine that group's going to get. Tested Deo
jackson will come back from that concussion On, sunday so
they'll be back to the three safeties if they want
to use them how they like to do. It but
this is a team THAT i think has struggled with mobile,

(31:03):
quarterbacks both because they can run and because they can
extend Place we've seen that. Happen Certainly Jalen hurts did
it to. THEM i Think Justin herbert probably did a
little bit as. Well where if your corners have to
cover for five or six, seconds sure it becomes a
lot more, difficult and every team deals with. That BUT
i think you've seen this secondary get picked on in
some of those, situations AND i think the way The

(31:24):
bears have gone about things in recent weeks means The
vikings are going to spend a lot of time trying
to match to spread sets and playing with a lot
of defensive, backs and when you get into that group
with the depth being as big of a concern as it,
IS i don't think that part of the matchup is
one that will be terribly easy for them to.

Speaker 2 (31:43):
Handle let me play my broken, record BECAUSE i don't
want to disappoint anyone who is tired of me talking
about the running. Game but the NUMBERS i have in
front of, me And i'm sure you have, more but
the NUMBERS i have in front of me is that
The bears defense against the run ranks twenty five if
in yards allowed per game a static could be a

(32:03):
little misleading depending on the nature of, games but also
twenty ninth in yards per attempt in the league at
five point two yards a carry their giving, up which
would seem to indicate to me, again this might be
the ultimate litmus test that if the head coach is
still gonna stay stubborn about well first and, fifteen you
can't do much on the. Ground OR i love that

(32:25):
the pass on third and one because we got, man you,
know we got one on one coverage that he's just
never Gonna he's never gonna go away from what he
thinks his philosophy is going to. Be because this would
seem to, me leaving aside the struggles for his quarterback
in terms, of you, know passing, consistency that this would
be the game of all games where you, say not

(32:48):
on every, play but we got to have a steady
diet of. Runs we got to challenge them with, runs,
especially make them prove they can stop our run if
it's going.

Speaker 3 (32:56):
Good what do you, Think, yeah it certainly is a
litmus test for. THAT i think this is one where
running the ball is an effective way to go about.
Things AND i asked him about that a little bit this.
Week just do you need the easy button sometimes FOR
jj McCarthy because we've seen it in games where he
starts to run a little hot and he gets fired
up and he's competitive and we get, that but some

(33:18):
of the plays that he, MAKES i think his accuracy
suffers a little bit and you see him probably needing
to just have a play where he's turning around and
handing the ball off and it's a little bit of
a breather for. Him and O'Connell, said there certainly are
moments for, That BUT i think a couple of things
tend to move them in the direction where running the.
Ball AND i WAS i, said at the beginning of the,

(33:39):
SEASON i thought they'd be more committed to it than they've. Been,
so you, KNOW i will admit That i've probably underestimated
a degree to which they would throw it as. Well
but when they've got so many package plays where they
have a pass option in there if they like, it
they have SOME rpo stuff in. There now there are
times where even if a run is, called they have

(33:59):
kind of a the escape hatch to get out of
it if they see a look they like. Better AND
i think the general principle that the head coach subscribes
to is if you can get chunk, plays you're going
to be better off than if you're trying to just go.
Downfield the problem with that is if you're not getting
the chunk, plays or, worse you're creating turnovers in the chunk,
plays it doesn't do you any good. Either so a

(34:20):
lot of this is kind of this discussion of what's
better on a global level if you're talking about thousands of,
snaps you, know is we talk about this in baseball at,
time and then it becomes difficult in the, playoffs where
it's not thousands of snaps or thousands of that bath.
Anymore it's one moment that you have to. Decide so
the small sample size of FOOTBALL i think makes this

(34:40):
a little tricky as. Well AND i think they generally
say passing is, better it's more, efficient but there are
times where there's probably a little more nuanced to, it
and this may be one of those moments where we
get a sense of if they're going to do it or,
not Because you're, right there is an opportunity to do it,
here and it'll be interesting to see how they go about.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
It the part That i've never understood with, Him I've
i've tried to talk about this is THAT i do,
believe AND i think many other coaches from the same
tree appreciate and revel in the fact that a good
running game enhances the opportunity to make those kind of
passing plays that you, love that you live, for you,
know that look cooler and are more chunk. Plays that's

(35:18):
the part that's the. Disconnect i'm looking also at. Numbers
these are team rushing attempts per, game And i've got
here's your top Six, Buffalo, Seattle, Chicago carolina not a
very good, team but not an awful team this, Year
detroit And New. ENGLAND i, mean five of those six

(35:42):
teams are combined thirty four and, thirteen and they all pass,
well but they obviously are able to use the running.
Game AND i got the purple right now if this
number is accurate at thirtieth in The National Football league
in rushing attempts per. Game now, again in the fourth,
quarter when you're down fourteen or fifteen, points we all
understand you have to. Throw end of the first, half
you got to. Throw but every number to me on

(36:05):
both sides of the ledger just screamed for, something especially
with the fact that you've got as much as you
might like this young, quarterback a guy who's having trouble
being very consistent in terms of his.

Speaker 3 (36:15):
Accuracy, yeah AND i, THINK i, mean you bring it
up a little bit. There there is kind of the
self fulfilling prophecy in the sense that if you're a good,
team you're probably, ahead and you're probably running the ball
right till the clock lay in the. Game so some
of those things go into. It but, YEAH i think
it's a fair point because you see a team like The,
rams and that's obviously the north star For kevin o'connall
as much as anybody kind of what With sean McVay

(36:37):
Do The rams have been more committed to the run
and reached years kind of with a power running, Game
no question they previously, were SO i think some of
that you've seen the shift For sean. McVay AND i
do think that's where O'Connell's a little bit different than
some of these coaches from this tree in the sense
that he wants the downfield plays more. Often and you

(36:58):
see when they have a good, quarterback when they have
an experienced quarterback that has, WORKED i Mean Sham darnold
and with The Pro bowls with. It the problem right
now is they don't have, that and that's where this
is so. FASCINATING i wrote about this For sunday and
Asked Wes phillips about it earlier this week that do
you have to balance McCarthy's relative youth with what you
want to, Do and he said it wouldn't be fair

(37:20):
to the rest of the guys if we start pulling
back on, things because we expect that this offense is
going to work a certain, way and we don't need
to dumb it down for the. Quarterback the quarterback needs
to be able to handle everything that we're putting on his.
Plate so it becomes this kind of fascinating loop where
how much do you change things because of, him and
how much do you, say, no this is what we

(37:41):
run and you've got to be up to the. Task
and McCarthy, said, YEAH i understand THAT i have to do,
it AND i wouldn't want it the other. Way but
it is asking a. LOT i think O'Connell, admitted when
he is this young and you have this much on his,
PLATE i, mean it's the multiple, cadences it's package, plays
it's hard, time it's. Motion there's a lot for him
to direct at the, line and this is not a

(38:04):
quarterback that had to do a lot of that in.
College so all of that is it's a hard climb
to get to where they want him to, be AND
i think there's a belief that he will take it,
on but there's also just need time and that's where
this becomes.

Speaker 2 (38:19):
Tricky you mentioned also in the scouting report The bears pass,
rush which was NOT i don't think was particularly effective
in the first time when these teams met in the
opener and they're down another defensive, END i. Believe so you,
know now we may be arguing for, well that's a

(38:40):
reason to throw because there may be an opportunity THE
qb might have some time to throw. That that is
going to be worth watching as. Well what kind of
protection The vikings are going to be able to have
for their for their OWN.

Speaker 3 (38:55):
Qb, yeah, yeah they did a pretty good. JOB i
think he only was pressured on about twenty percent of
the dropbacks in that first, game AND i think was
sacked three, times but none of it was on blitzed.
That they did a good job picking those things, up
and that was back when they didn't Have Christian, Darisov
SO i would expect that to do a decent job
protecting him On. Sunday but, yeah the other piece of
this that comes into it is this defense has spent

(39:17):
a lot of time on the field this, year and
if your run game becomes a way to Keep Cable
williams on the, SIDELINE i don't think that's a bad thing.
Either it's another way to help your defense. Win you're
Without Jonathan grinard and that secondary is going to get
tested a little, bit so some of these. Things, it's
LIKE i, said it's this fascinating discussion of what's better

(39:37):
on a kind of a neutral playing, field and how
much do you change things given the fact that it's not, neutral,
right a young. Quarterback it's a team that has certain
things that it needs to be successful in this particular,
moment and there's a lot of ways to skin that,
CAT i, suppose but it is when you've got a
twenty two year old starter who's playing in this fifth,
game it is all it's a very interesting era to

(40:00):
see how they go about. It there's no doubt about.

Speaker 2 (40:02):
That. YEAH i mean you look at again some of
these teams at the, top and you're. Right so in
terms of, running it can be they got to lead
late and now they're just so they're running a lot
told on to. It but you know as well AS
i do that several of, them Certainly detroit, Included New england,
included they like running all, along they like establishing that
along the. WAY i just think they end up being very,

(40:24):
balanced and certainly that's the case with The. Bears it's
and to me That's Ben. Johnson that's another guy who
has said as much as he likes the, razzle dazzle
and the fancy, plays he has no compunction running it
on second and. Ten you, know he doesn't the idea
that that's got to be a passing, down WHICH i
think In koc's, eyes that's just a passing. Down nothing

(40:48):
to talk about. Here if it's first or first to
fifteen or second and, ten how about a six yard.
Run if it's second and ten and you get, six
you got third and Makable AND i think that's where
that's how a lot of these teams play and help
their own, cause because it's it's hard man to sustained
rise in this league unless you got obviously maybe you
know some of the best two or three.

Speaker 3 (41:08):
Quarterbacks it, Is AND i think you, know the other
piece of it for The vikings is how well is
their offensive line executing. Things are they able to open
up gaps or is it just doing it for the
sake of doing? It AS i think o'connellson this, Week and,
YEAH i Remember Gary kubiak when he was calling. Plays
there were a lot of second and ten runs and
everybody back then with, hey the's not. Working they have

(41:29):
to get into different. SITUATIONS i think a lot of
it does come down to can you win your Matchups
if it's second and ten and you can open holes
and get six yards, Consistently, yeah that's an absolutely viable.
Option it's just this question of execution as much as anything.
Else AND i think it's in this, game in this.
SETTING i think there's going to be opportunities for them

(41:50):
to run, it and we will see how much they
commit to. That but you can make the argument that
that would be helpful for them to kind of manage
the game flow and Give jaj McCarthy some. Help IT'S
i think there's opportunities to commit to. That we'll see
if this is the, moment like you say, it's it's
gonna be a little missteps for it for.

Speaker 2 (42:07):
Sure, yeah there's no doubt that The bears have profited
from the easiest part of a last place, schedule and
now we'll, see you, know are they up to it
when they play at least slightly better teams and then
the rest of the season as. Well but somebody said
this to me the other. DAY i don't know who it,
was that here's the thing that's. Weird sometimes you just you,
gain even if it's a little bit of false. Commons

(42:27):
you gain confidence if it's a losing program and you
just keep finding ways to. Win at some, point if
you do it often, enough you stop thinking about who
it was. Against you start, saying, hey you know, what
we might be pretty. Good and that's where it can
get a little bit on the dangerous. Side so we'll.
SEE i look forward To, sunday AND i know you do.
Too thanks as always for the. Help my friend will
talk next.

Speaker 3 (42:47):
Week sounds, Good, thanks.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
Ma'am That's Ben. Guestling start To viewing Dot, com brought
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