October 3, 2025 • 38 mins
Alec Lewis joins the show to talk about the Vikings upcoming game vs the Browns, including what Jordan Addison brings to the Vikings offense, and how the Vikings defense will attack Browns Rookie Quarterback Dillion Gabriel. Then PA is joined by Vikings Wide Reciever Coach Keenan McCardell
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Joining me now from London. Alec Lewis of the athletic
at Alec Underscore. Lewis via X of course co host
during the Friday football feasts at Buffalo Wild Wings locations
throughout the land, and he's always brought to you by Steves,
which maybe we just make this as Steve's Appliances Marathon segment.
How you doing over there, Alec?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Pretty good? No, No, I'm on a bus. It's raining.
Gray just left the Hanbury Manor where the Vikings are
staying and they practice third today and have a game
in a couple of days, looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
I'm doing incredibly well. I'm pumped up. It's the feast.
I've kind of talked my way into the idea that
despite Joe Huber and Blake Brandell and justin School starting
for the Vikings offensive line, there's just no freaking way
that we're going to let the Browns beat us. This
team has only played with the lead for two total
snaps all season through four games. There's no way we're
(00:57):
going to roll into Tottenham and get out foxed. I Stefanski,
regardless of our health issues, where's your head at on
all of this? Am I being to Pollyanna Ish into
Sunday's game.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, I mean, I think that's a that's a pretty
fair take. Look, this Brown's offense leaves a lot to
be desired. They've had injury issues. That tackle Dylan Gabriel
is a smaller guy who has a good army and process.
But you know, just like I do against Brian Flores,
with the amount of droppers and rushers and disguises, it's
(01:32):
pretty difficult. So I I like where your heads that
I do have questions obviously, like what the Vikings offensive
plan is gonna be if you don't have three offensive linemen, uh,
and you're on your you're on to your third string
left guard and your third string center and back up
right tackle and you don't want to be in third
and long and you're a hard time running. The one
(01:54):
is the path to move the balls Like a lot
of it's probably gonna be quick passing game.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Think some of it is going.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
To be some special teams wizardery and.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Do some of that.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
And I think you put yourself in a solid position
in a game that I mean the over under I
think it's like thirty five and a half, So we're talking.
I mean this is not a game that's going to
probably generate thousands of European NFL fans, but who knows,
maybe it will.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Now this is probably it feels like it'll be the
lowest scoring game of the weekend, but maybe we'll see
something different. Not a carsoning company, you think, just out
of respect in the tenure that he had here, like
if we're in a tough spot and not gone lambin
a slash would slash whatever this thing is here in
the six five one carpet studio that if we do
(02:40):
have an issue and we needed to know Lineman, would
would they just like, would Stefanski just let Cam Robinson
walk across the field? We get a quick uniform change,
and he'd just let us use Cam Robinson if needed.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I think that's a great question. It might have been
part of the trade package to acquire him. Where you
did you know pick swaps you got, you got sind
across the field. Yeah, it's not bad a thought. I
honestly didn't think about that. Can plug them in a guard.
People wanted that to happen this offseason.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
What is throughout the week? You mentioned kind of the
dreary weather today, but what was the mood and the
vibe that you were able to capture one way or
the other from a two and two team haven't been
able to stop the run and either of their losses,
but it's still I mean, we're talking thirteen games left here.
It's where we're not right in eulogies quite yet, Just
kind of the idea of this team knowing maybe they
(03:31):
let one slip through their fingers, the ability to bounce
back regardless of health, Like where where where's the mentality
sitting here into the weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Yeah, I think you know a lot of a lot
of this team, especially the younger guys. I think they've
enjoyed just the goofy nature of what this trip has been.
I think you got some guys probably miss their families
and probably ready to give back. But I just feel
like overall, I mean, Josh Untell said walk out of
the press conference in Dublin after the Pittsburgh lost, He's like,
(04:05):
I hope you guys are going to London because we're
gonna put on a better performance than that. So I
just think there is a very high level motivation right
now to get one in this spot here and go
into the bye with a little wave of momentum just
having I mean, it's like they've been in the headwind
going moving into a headwind. It feels like this entire season.
So to get to the by start to get a
(04:25):
lot a little healthier win this game. I do think
that that's kind of just squarely where everyone's minds are
in this game. Again, I do think it's going to
be really interesting offensively to see what if anything they
can like the easy button that they can try to
push in this game, because it's just it's hard to
find a pass. But potentially I kind of feel like
(04:51):
Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Has this game.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
He will be as dialed in to make sure they
win this game as he's been probably at some time,
because if you lose it, the vibes going back become
quite quite difficult.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So I'm going to I'm going to play back some
of some of Kevin O'Connell's press conference a little later
on this morning, but you were there. He spoke to
the media this morning or technically earlier this afternoon London time,
but I think he mentioned maybe CJ. Ham is going
to be questionable into this game, and for a guy
that's played roughly a third even less than that really
(05:25):
of snaps, you know in the offense under O'Connell, is
is that part of you know, it's like, I wonder
what this offense is going to look like, I'm with
you in lockstep there, Like does getting a guy like
CJ hamback help, whether it's protection schemes and just kind
of how he could potentially be used to keep Carson
Wentz upright.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, he's questionable and I would not be surprised at
all if he plays in this game. He's practiced all
week coming back from a little knee thing that happened
in camp. But yeah, there's no question brow a protection standpoint,
whether he's aligning at fullback and he's chipping on the
interior the X tier on the way out, or whether
he's in like a wing position next to the attack
(06:09):
or next to tight end and he can just.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Get a nudge on Miles Garrett.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I mean, look this, this this Brown's defensive front. Miles
Garrett will get all of the pub and he should
because he's a special, special player. But they they signed
this spring a guy Malik Collins who's kind of been
a journeyman and he had the highest pass r US
win rate among any interior defender in the NFL, he
can be a problem. What they do a lot with
(06:33):
these interior guys, they'll stunt them, and so you'll see
Malink Collins taking out Mason Graham's matchup and Mason Graham
looping over. And so I think any possible way that
you can just enhance your protection, you got to you got.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
To push that button.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
You've got to try to do that. I definitely think
c J ham has proven with the way they've used
them last couple of years that that is an avenue.
So definitely a nice spot for him to be back.
And then I think like if the game goes how
it feels like it's going to go, any type of
separation that the receivers can create early in the down
feels like it could be huge. And then Carson Wentzon's
(07:11):
decidesive this and actually the hit then guy and I
will also say this, I mean as little as they can,
I mean as much as they can prevent Carson Wentz
from getting hit in this game, it's going to be critical.
You saw how much of a beating he took last weekend,
and I just you just wonder how sustainable any type
of extreme punishment on him in the pocket, and you
(07:33):
just wonder how much he can absorb given what he
already absorbed last weekend.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Yeah, you know, you mentioned the leak a lot of
size across that defensive front there, and I was kind
of laughing, you know, you know how my guy is
like pa a couple of times a seak he mentioned,
you know, kind of digging into the Browns, like, really,
haven't heard a lot about Mason Graham. You know, I
wonder what's up with the I wonder what's up with
the Michigan rookie, highly touted, highly drafted. Just haven't really
through four heard much about Mason Graham. And then I'm
(07:59):
thinking to myself, well, okay, enter the equation. Joe Huber
and Blake Brandell taking your first snaps at center. I
hope we continue to not hear about Mason Graham. But Malik,
I'm glad you mentioned him as well, because that that
is going to be the a topic into this weekend.
And it's just, you know, it's it's fun, it's it's
(08:19):
awful in terms of you want your preferred players out there,
your health issues be damned. It's just it's it's been
a frustrating slog in some respects that everyone's kind of feeling.
But in the end, like, what an opportunity for those
guys against this front with a lot of reps in practice.
You just hope you see something special from one of
those guys to stand up against these Browns.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
No question. And then the other aspect that I've mentioned
here is the Browns have been the best at contacting
running backs behind the line of scrimmage in the NFL. Like,
I think the number is sixty two runs against the
Browns they contact the opposing running back behind the line
of scrimmers. That's the most of any NFL team through
four weeks since twenty seventeen. Part of that is because
(09:05):
their linebacking core is very, very good. They drafted this
UCLA rookie Carson Swettinger, who's probably one of the most
underrated rookies drafted and producing right now in the NFL.
And then Devin Bush is all over the place, Grant
Dealt with the safety will run and hit, So yeah,
I mean it's it's all hands on deck, and I'd say, yeah,
(09:27):
Joe Huber and Blake Brandell, who's never played center in
a game, he said those guys at their work cutoff
for him, and if they can get the work done,
they should be celebrated.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Yeah, you know when when we do the feasts Alec
and got a. We gotta work on the name for
this bid doctor doc. It just doesn't hit me. But
but you send this creative enough. No I don't. I
don't really like it. It is alliterative, which fits with
the fan culture, but still it's it's kind of an
awful name. We'll fix it. We got the bye week,
just like anybody else. During the bye week, we get healthier,
we get better. Uh, how do how do we run
(10:01):
against this team you mentioned? I think the number is
it's like sixty You broke up, so I'm talking to
the listening audience here. It's like sixty some percent of
rushing attempts is it's that they're contacted before the line
of scrimmage. That's that's a problem. But simultaneously, when you
talk about protecting Carson Wentz and just the sustaining of
(10:21):
the beating and limiting or mitigating the beating, we need
to get Mason rolling and we need him to be
more efficient than he was against the Steelers. Is have
you seen anything if you were going to put that
doctor doc together that says, you know, the commitment by
O'Connell plus X might lead to some sort of effective
running on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah. The two potential avenues that I'd probably go with
that are either a like this Brown front is so
attacking and they try to get a field so fast
that anything that can attacked the edges, whether it's like
pin and pull stuff or jet sweeps stuff, to try
to just quickly get the bomb the edges. That that
(11:03):
may be an avenue. And then the other one would
potentially be you know, last week on a fourth and one,
they went unbalanced with Christian Garris on the right side,
and you kind of wonder like it was something the
Steelers would you know, it was the move the Steelers
pool many times last week of going on balance, adding
an extra offensive lineman. Maybe you know, you throw in
(11:26):
Henry Bird or Sir Walter Rouse or somebody had to,
you know, pair them with Josh Oliver and you have
a little.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Fun out here in London with some unbalanced looks in
the run game.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
But no, I do the run be.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
We're talking to Alex Lewis of the Athletic Alex Underscore
Lewis via x and it's all part of the the
Steves Appliances dot Com Steve's Appliances dot Com. The marathon segment.
Now from from the Opportunity, I saw this again, such
such a focus on health, but it plays into the
game as significant as it's been on the Viking side.
(12:04):
I saw something with Greg Newsom that talented Brown's corner.
He's kind of an iffy potentially to play on Sunday.
Have you sniffed around anything in terms of the Brown
side of things. You mentioned the old line, but Greg
Newsom popping up as an iffy for Sunday's kind of
big news if you're thinking about Carson slinging it around
the gym.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, no question. They you know, besides Greg Newsom, they
have Denzel Ward, who's been at great corner in the NFL,
and then their nickel corner Miles Harden is interesting. It's
like a third year pro. He's a light later round pick,
but he can play a little bit of man coverage.
But if they don't have Greg Newsom, then I mean
the corner depth in Cleveland is I mean, it's a.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Question for sure.
Speaker 5 (12:47):
So again, that is a.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Spot where you'd hope that Jordan Adison could get off
press coverage or use some maybe stacks of budgets to
get those guys some clean routes early in the down.
I do think that's a possibility.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
When you look back at Sunday's game, the return of
Jordan Addison, I mean the stat sheet, she'll surely pulls
it up and Carson goes for three point fifty. We
get that Addison's let's outrun Peyton Wilson next time if
there is a next time sort of thing. But just
at a base level, did it look like into totality
looking back at the game from your eyes, did you
(13:21):
see some things kind of open up where you know,
in a game of negatives, you'll lose the game, but
there's a positive aspect of it. And you can feel
the combination of Jefferson and Addison being back is going
to be something that whether it's Carson or when JJ
McCarthy returns from from the ankle, that they got something
to work with there, and and Addison just is kind
of picking up where he left off in camp prior
(13:42):
to the suspension.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Absolutely, I mean I've said this probably you heard me
say it, but Wes Phillips said that Jordan has the
best training camp performance of any Vikings offensive player, and
it really, I mean, it did feel like other than
the little stumble on the long pass, you know, it
felt like he kind of picked up where he left off.
And I definitely think if you can protect long enough
(14:07):
to get him the ball down the field, he can
be dynamic and really impact the game.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
It's really like.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
You know, we talk so much about the line and
protection because it allows everything else to kind of flow,
and if you don't have it, then talking about Jordan Addison,
I mean you're really just talking about quick passes, screens,
that type of usage, which again just expect a lot
on Sunday. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Absolutely, And as far as as far as the Browns
are concerned, you know, I don't know how much work
that you you ever put into Dylan Gabriel, but the
south paw and you know, we like to joke about
the ball spinning differently, how on earth can you catch
a ball from from a left handed QB. But but
to that end, just Dylan Gabriel, you know, certainly different
(14:51):
from a Joe Flacco if you're just watching film, the
more stoic statue esque Flaco versus the young cat much smaller,
but maybe some design. You know what, what do we
anticipate from from a Dylan Gabriel standpoint, just at a
base level as he makes his first start against Brian Flores.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, I told Pa I was upset that he couldn't
get to see Joe flacka on London. I know that's
been a career, you know, something he's wanted to get
accomplished over the course of his career, with how much
he loved Joe Flacco. But Dun Gabriel is a He's
a smaller guy. He's got some velocity in the arm,
he's athletic, and he processes the field pretty well. But
(15:32):
I think, I mean again, this defense and what he's
going to see is unlike anything he's probably ever experienced,
even though at Oregon he did play against Ohio State
and Penn State and he was at Oklahoma before so
talented thrower the football, but he was picked where he
was for a reason. And you really got the feeling
(15:52):
talking to Brian Flora's out of here that it's for
them just so much. They're viewing it like, look, we
got to stop Quinn shot Jackkins, we got to stop
the run game, Browns will use unbalanced formation, so making
sure that they're on their p's and q's there is critical.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
And then you.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Know, you force the opposing quarterback in the long downs
and distances, and when the Vikings defense had had done
that this season, I believe opposing teams are like two
for twenty something from third and long this year against
the Viking, So that's it feels like the game plan
is do everything they can to stop Quinn Shawn Junkins
(16:26):
and then make life very hard for Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Yeah, it's a two for twenty six. I believe teams
are on third and six or longer against Flores. And
one thing that's kind of popped up a couple of
times this week. You're you've probably enjoyed or endured this
via social media, et cetera. But team loses in Pittsburgh
and everyone's down on the GM again because of the
(16:49):
drafting and the coaches play calling. I mean, just all
those things that happen in the loss. We see it.
But in the same sense, you know, we can't undo things,
We can't go back in time. We got to move
forward and face the Browns. But from your eyes from
what you've seen and analyzed, you know, replacing effectively a
Jonathan Bullard and a Harrison Phillips with a Jonathan Allen
(17:10):
and a Javon Hargrave, you feel so much better about
the pressure you're getting in a pass rush situation from
the middle of our defensive front. Super excited about it.
They've both been mostly productive. But in the end, did
we lose anything in stopping the run at a base
level by jettison ing Phillips and Bullard.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Yeah, I mean I think you know this, Biden's team
feels like stopping the run game is so much about,
you know, techniques, fundamentals. Brian Flores said the other day,
He's like, none of this is sexy and it's it's boring,
but like that is what it takes to stop the
run consistently and effectively. I do think, if anything, these
first four games give you an appreciation for the job
(17:52):
that Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard did stop in the run.
It never talked about, it was it was always very
low key.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
But I mean, look, these these two guys in particular,
and Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, they are pass rush
first interior defenders and so you kind of I mean
you're given a little to get a little, uh or.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Given a little to get a lot. I think that's
kind of been the idea. And and I mean I
would say, you know, if I'm Cleveland and I'm approaching
this game, I'm trying to load up offensive linemen and
run it right at them as much as I possibly
can and then prove that the Vikings can stop them.
And so that will be an opportunity for the Vikings
to do that. I thought initially, you know, John Robinson
(18:35):
is gonna.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Do what he's gonna do.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
The more worrisome outing was last week for me against Pittsburgh.
But yeah, it'll be interesting to see if they can
step up and stop the Browns. Uh and a and
a rookie running back and clinch at Dufkins and Brian
Flores was was pretty high on and talking about the
other day.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Just uh, just time for a couple more. I'll let
you get on to enjoy the afternoon slash evening in
London Town, specifically with the special teams. I mean, just
as weird as things have been in the way that
we've been talking this out, you know, health and all
of that to the side. The special teams kickers been perfect.
We dig that. I think there's something wrong with the
(19:14):
special teams at a base level that I just can't
put my finger on. I don't know if it's the
availability of bodies, if it is coaching and technique and
all of those things. I don't know. But Miles Price
has been kind of an uplifting part of that conversation,
certainly a positive in totality with some of his returns
and putting the team in a good spot. Is special
(19:37):
teams potentially something that is a feather in the cap
and a game changer in favor of the Purple on
Sunday at Tottenham.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
I'm glad you brought it up, because I do think
it has the potential to just sway the game one
way or another. Any muffed part, return, muffed kick, you know,
missed field goal, like I you know, with what this
score might potentially be on Sunday morning there over in
the States. You know, it just feels like those plays
(20:06):
in that phase are magnified. And I would agree with you.
Like Will Riker has been great this year. He's been
probably one of the most consistent players on the team. Honestly,
Ryan Wright has had some incidents where you know, you're like,
all right, that's what you need from Ryan Wright, and
then he's had some instances where it's like, all right,
that's Ryan right, and then Miles Price I feel like
has done a pretty good job back there in his role.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
But there's no question, like you know, this is the
type of game that magnifies any mistakes you make in
that area because of you know, just the muddiness that
it probably is going to be.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Now into the week, there was the idea that JJ
McCarthy he might be getting some reps, he might practice.
That kind of lends to the optimism that the kid
QB might be able to have a full week of
practice post buy. I'm not interested in looking ahead two weeks,
but was there anything that was like disappointing about his
(21:02):
inability to get on the field this week? It was just,
I mean, a miss, I'm worried about Van Ginkel, I'm
worried about the old lines. So JJ McCarthy, to be honest,
in reality, I want him to get healthy. But I
wasn't necessarily I never planned on him playing this game.
But any nuggets or morsels that you've been able to
scrap up here in terms of just the kid QB
and his recovery from the ankle.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
No.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I mean, we saw him after practice the other day.
He was in great spirits and talked to us and
fist bumped and all that and his usual like energetic self,
which was great to see given obviously the road that
it's been. But I you know, Kevin O'Connell said today,
had the rain not been what it was and maybe
the field situation, you know, being a little different, he
(21:49):
might have gotten in some work today and some individual stuff.
And so I mean, really like it felt like when
Kevin O'Connell talked on Tuesday to some of the media
out here, he insinuated that it might be possible this week,
But you didn't ever feel like, at least I didn't
that it was like an absolute guarantee. And it just
feels like they're taking this very much date day by
(22:12):
day and we'll see what happens after the bye week.
I mean, it feels like, with.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
The way that Kevin O'Connell's talked about this.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
He needs a full week of practice to be playing
in the game. So I am curious as we return
from the bye week and the head of the Eagles game.
Will he be practicing fully every single day that week?
And if he does not, will he play in that game?
Like that is where my mind will go when I
turn return hopefully at some point from this ten day trip.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Last thing for you, Alec, I guess kind of down
that down that road. There's no complaints in what we do.
Unique opportunities and it's it's an absolute blast being able
to cover pro sports teams and in your particular case,
your connection to the Vice Kings. You got to be
ready to go home, though, right, I mean ten days
over there? Are you kidding me?
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Just well what people people don't people don't know, they
don't care. I mean we're on this bus and I
mean you got to go twenty one miles from the
Vikings Hotel into downtown London, and I mean and that
takes two hours. You do that twice a day, four hours,
four days this week. That's sixteen hours on a bus.
I mean, it is it is you know, you got,
you got, This is this is why you sign up
(23:26):
for journalism readier. But now it's been a glass have
had a lot of fun, been cool to see these
places and beyond grateful for it. But yeah, I mean
Dylan Gabriel Carson Wins. We'll get through with that and
then you know, run all back and bust them out.
Call me real, real happy to do that.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
That's awesome man, Thanks for giving me time while while
you sit on that bus and just try to find
your way back into London. Great work. As always, We'll
catch up with you and follow you on Sunday and
then we'll see you back in town next week.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Thanks Norda. I've never been excited. It's excited to get
back to Buffalo wil Wings Coon Rappings.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
I will see you soon.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Absolutely. That's Alec Lewis of the Athletic at Alec Underscore
Lewis via X covers the Minnesota vikings for the Athletic
and we'll be following his stuff from Tottenham on Sunday
Sunday morning. That's the Steves Appliances Marathon segment brought to
you by Steve Steves actually brings you Alec Lewis at
(24:24):
to the Friday feast at Buffalo Wild Wings. Whether it's
Coon Rapids, it's Monticello, it's chan Hassen, it's Egan at
Station nineteen wherever we are. Thank you Steves Steve's Appliances
dot com. PA have the chance to chat with Vikings
wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell. You will hear that conversation
next as we continue on nine to Noon on the fan.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
And thank you to two men in a jump truck
for doing our cash giveaway where they want to give
you some Bonus Bucks and their national cash contests. Enter
the keyword check at kfan dot com now for your
shot out winning.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
That's keyword check.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Enter it now at KFN dot com to.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
The text line sixty four sixty eighty six brat shown
Bryan KFA and text line Nords. I got a real
bad feeling about this game. I think we're screwed. Hope
I'm wrong. If so, I'll eat crow on fan line
it's Ryan and Michigan. I know what you're feeling. Ryan,
(25:28):
I get it, And over the course of the first
ninety minutes of the show, I can tell you I've
become convinced the Vikings are going to win this game. Now.
I mean, you listen to If all of you listen
to nine to Noon, you know well, it's more about
having fun than anything I'm wrong all the time. I'm
(25:51):
wrong every day. If we got a sponsor for the
Covenant cleanup provided by XYZ actual Company, it would be
the most valuable sponsorship on the entire station because we
are wrong every single day.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
This just feels like Vikings are going to win, but
it's going to be maybe the worst game you've ever
watched in fifteen years, or at least. I harken back
talking with Alex Lewis last segment. I remember twenty twenty three,
Vikings in Las Vegas kind of got hooked in with
(26:32):
the with the Power Trip. They did a couple shows
in Las Vegas at Buffalo Wild Wings. We actually did
a Friday feast of Buffalo Wild Wings. And similar to
the idea of spending ten days across the pond, five
days in Las Vegas feels like ten days across the pond.
And we're all just ready to go home. And I
(26:56):
believe the team, Gosh, just middland around five hundred at
this point. It's a non playoff team, right, We're playing
with Dobbs.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
We got the.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Achilles situation, with the Achilles situation with Kirk, and you're
just trying to figure out if you can really win
games with Josh Dobbs and maybe find your way into
a playoff spot. You had the Dobbs magic at the Falcons.
(27:24):
You got a good half out of him. Against the Saints,
it took Jameis Winston. Bless Jameis Winston, Love Jameis Winston,
as he single handedly gave the game back to us
with two just brutal interceptions. Then you lose in primetime,
as was that Makai Blackman that refused to jump on
(27:46):
the Courtland Sutton pass in the end zone by Russ.
You lose at Denver in primetime. You lost. Oh how
about the brutal ten twelve to ten Bears victory over
the Viking on a Monday night game at US Bank Stadium.
DJ Moore over the middle late. How ugly was that?
(28:10):
But all of that was topped by the everybody just
wants to freaking go home, Go beat the Raiders, Please
go beat the Raiders. And if I remember correctly, you
know we got Dobbs in the mix. I think the
Vikings would go back to mister Mullins. The following week,
(28:30):
we playing Aid and O'Connell that game, Yeah, yeah, we
nearly lost to Aidan O'Connell. I think it took like
a late Hunter Renfro fumble in the red zone or
near the red zone. You get the one field goal
in that mix a three to nothing game. You're so
pumped that Justin Jefferson returns I think from the hamstring.
(28:51):
I mean, think about twenty twenty three. Oh my goodness,
memory Lane. Maybe this is cathartic to help us feel
better about our current situation. But you get the you
get just Justin Jefferson back, only for him. I believe
he went to the hospital. Dobbs in those hospital balls. Right.
That was the worst game that we as Vikings fans
(29:14):
have watched in many many years. That actually was a victory.
We've probably seen many worse losses Philly title game for one.
That's what this game feels like. It's going to be,
not not to that detriment. I don't know if we
can match what happened in Las Vegas two years ago,
but it is going to be that kind of slog
(29:35):
fest where you're just you're begging to find an open
an open lane for Jordan Mason. You're you're begging to
find that third down conversion to a Jefferson, You're still
wondering what's up with TJ. Hawkinson all of those things,
but your defense and flores do what you need them
to do against Dylan Gabriel Judkins makes you worried a
couple different times. Miles Garrett, good luck to Carson trying
(29:59):
to survive for sixty minutes. And you win because of
field position, game via the plus sized punter. You win
via field position, because Miles Price breaks off a couple
of nice punt returns. You win on the foot of
a Will Riker. That's just kind of where this game
feels like it is going at this point. But to
(30:20):
that end, the breakdown, to the build up, the reason
I've included a couple times in the show is now
that Addison's back, if we can continue to get healthy,
this thing with Jefferson and Addison is as good as
it gets in the NFL. And the man behind most
of that, his name is Keenan McCardell, Vikings wide receivers coach,
(30:40):
and PA got the chance to sit down and chat
with him earlier today and well take it away, Pa.
Speaker 7 (30:47):
Friday was raining field came up a little more slippery
than Wednesday and Thursday, so maybe you can settle a
conversation that people have had forever. When it's rainy and
a field comes up wet, what does a favor receivers
or dbs.
Speaker 8 (31:02):
Their favors or receivers Because we know where we're going,
so I you know today was it would have been
a fun game day because we know where we're going.
They got to they got a guess on where we're going,
so it would have favored the receivers in a big way.
Speaker 7 (31:15):
Now, now, Keenan had a seventeen year National Football League
career also a Super Bowl winner of course, wide receivers
coach for the Minnesota Vikings. And you played thirty seven
games with Cleveland after Washington drafted you, and that started
in your second year. So with the Browns did that
kind of jump start your career?
Speaker 3 (31:33):
It really did.
Speaker 8 (31:34):
You know, I got a great opportunity in Cleveland, showed
my talents and I took advantage of it. You know,
Coach Belichick gave me a great opportunity, had some great
coaches over there that gave me an opportunity that believed
in me, and you know, I just took it and
ran with it. I mean I kind of tell my guys,
anytime you get an opportunity to play, you gotta take
(31:56):
advantage of it.
Speaker 3 (31:57):
And that's what I did in Cleveland.
Speaker 7 (31:58):
Yeah, you know, we've talked about this before, but a
decade and a half plus in the NFL twelfth round,
pick don't play for Washington, end up in Cleveland. It's
slow to start there, but then it takes off. Multiple
teams won a Super Bowl. I mean you've seen it
from a one up to a nine, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Yes, I have, and it's you know, it's fun.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
You know.
Speaker 8 (32:17):
I tell guys, your your journey will always change in
this league, and it's up to you how you want
your journey to change. You know, your career to change.
And each each year is a new year, and you
got to make sure you go out and put the
work in and and if you keep putting the work in, you'll.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
Get rewarded at the end.
Speaker 7 (32:35):
Keenan, what the Dog Pound where Cleveland plays home games. Now,
you know it's a different stadium when you played there,
But nevertheless, the dog Pound and home games of Cleveland,
what were they like?
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Oh? Great fans?
Speaker 8 (32:47):
Uh for for us, for the Browns are great fans,
but for the visiting team. It was a bad time,
you know, a couple of batteries being thrown, some snowballs.
No it, you know, but it's of being the tradition
of the dog Pound making it hard on the on
the opposing team, and uh, you know, I had my
(33:07):
I have some great times in Cleveland.
Speaker 7 (33:09):
Now now it's a little windy here in London at
this moment, but the wind off Lake Erie. Do you
remember games where like what was what were the worst
conditions that you would have there?
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Oh?
Speaker 8 (33:21):
Man, we've had a snow game where the fields the
phil is all snowy, kind of like their game against
Pittsburgh Stillers Steelers last year. I remember those those times
down there. Uh you know you talk about win. I
mean I've been in some of the windy is games
around down there, and I mean catching the football and
(33:41):
throwing the football was hard, you know, and more saving.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
So we you know, we just you know, you.
Speaker 8 (33:46):
Got used to it because you're practicing it so long,
but the visiting team didn't get used to it.
Speaker 7 (33:52):
Vikings wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell is our guest. After
the Friday practice, a final practice during the course of
the week, up to the Browns game. Speaking of the
Browns and their defense, how do you expect them to
defend Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 8 (34:06):
You know, it's I think it's a possible. You know,
they're gonna double him, but it's possible they can play
a man to man because of all the other weapons
we have, you.
Speaker 3 (34:15):
Know, for running the ball really well.
Speaker 8 (34:17):
You know, you got Jordan coming back, Speedy's playing well,
Adam's playing well. So you know it's gonna be a
hard time to just say I'm gonna double Jets and
lead these other guys open and then probably putting eight
men in the box and and Jordan running the ball.
You know, you know, you put seven min in the
box and then Jordan gets to run the ball, but
you put eight men in the box. You know, it's
(34:40):
a challenge outside. So you know, it's it's gonna be
an interesting game. You know, I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
You know. You know, Coach Schwartz is a good is
a really good.
Speaker 8 (34:48):
Defensive coordinator, and I know he has a plan, so
we just got to be ready for it.
Speaker 7 (34:53):
You mentioned the name Jordan Addison, and you know I
can argue of all the players and the joint practices
New England that he was the best of every single player.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
He had so much pop.
Speaker 7 (35:05):
And you know then he returns in the Steelers game,
we get the eighty one watching the practices this week
he's he's been absolutely I mean, Jordan has really dialed
in right now, isn't he?
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Yes, he is.
Speaker 8 (35:15):
I mean he came in in training camp, dowed in.
You know, he had the vacation as we call it,
for three games and came back he was still doubting,
you know, and that's because of how he.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Practiced it during training camp.
Speaker 8 (35:28):
I mean, his training camp helped him come back in
and be on top.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Of his game.
Speaker 7 (35:33):
Dude, do you think maybe, and this is a better
question for him, but just you know, kind of being
you know, a surrogate dad or uncle to these guys
plus their coach. Do you know those three games that
he that he had to be away, do you think
maybe it was a little eye opening to him, like, Wow,
holy cow, my guys are playing in here and I'm
missing it.
Speaker 8 (35:49):
That's what you miss, you know, you miss doing what
you do you've been doing all your life, and then
when when it's taken away from you, you kind of
get a wake up call just to see, you know,
like I need to make sure I'm on the right path,
so I go down the wrong path. So, you know,
it was a little eye opening for him, and I
enjoyed that.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Last year.
Speaker 7 (36:08):
It's getting Wendy and Randy on this practice field. Jail
and Naylor conversely, was up and down in training camp
and then the Patriots joined Erchis Andrews's arm or whatever.
He was dropping some passes during training camp. Then we
start the regular season, talk about being on point. Holy
col Jail and Naylor has dialed in, isn't.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
He He's died in.
Speaker 8 (36:26):
I'm loving it because it's just the maturation of him.
You know, his growth process right now has been unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
I think he's enjoying it.
Speaker 8 (36:35):
And when you enjoy your time to play, it makes
the game a lot easier.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
It comes to you easier.
Speaker 8 (36:42):
And I think he's having fun out there, and it's
great for office because you get another whipping and.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Last one game and the rookie type Alton.
Speaker 7 (36:49):
You know, I've had some conversations with him after games,
including preseason and regular season, and okay, he's a drafted
wide receiver. He wants to play fifty sixty seventy plays
a game, but he understands a lot in life now
used to be the best gunner in the NFL and
to help this team how they need me. The reason
I bring it up is because you know, better than anybody,
not everybody buys into it that way.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
And not everybody.
Speaker 8 (37:12):
I mean, he's a true team player, and you know,
doing the evaluation process, you know, we talked about it
that that person coming in should have a trait, but
it also should be a true team player that can
play on special teams, help the team out in any
way that he can until he.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
Gets his opportunity to help us in as a receiver.
Speaker 8 (37:31):
So you know, looking at Tye, looking at all this film,
how good he was as a gunner, kick kickoff return guy,
you know, he fit the model that we wanted. And
I think, you know, he's showing people that he's a
pretty damn good gunner. So I enjoy watching go out
and make plays.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
As wide receivers. Coach Keenan McCardell in London with PA
earlier today and we're gonna pause now come back shortly.
Some text messages to jump into. But top of the
hour eleven ish all chart hit is going to join
me from the Utah Bunker and we're going to break
down some fantasy and reality as we get closer to
the final hour of a Friday Feast nor to Win
(38:09):
for PA nine to noon on the Fan
Joining me now from London. Alec Lewis of the athletic
at Alec Underscore. Lewis via X of course co host
during the Friday football feasts at Buffalo Wild Wings locations
throughout the land, and he's always brought to you by Steves,
which maybe we just make this as Steve's Appliances Marathon segment.
How you doing over there, Alec?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Pretty good? No, No, I'm on a bus. It's raining.
Gray just left the Hanbury Manor where the Vikings are
staying and they practice third today and have a game
in a couple of days, looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
I'm doing incredibly well. I'm pumped up. It's the feast.
I've kind of talked my way into the idea that
despite Joe Huber and Blake Brandell and justin School starting
for the Vikings offensive line, there's just no freaking way
that we're going to let the Browns beat us. This
team has only played with the lead for two total
snaps all season through four games. There's no way we're
(00:57):
going to roll into Tottenham and get out foxed. I Stefanski,
regardless of our health issues, where's your head at on
all of this? Am I being to Pollyanna Ish into
Sunday's game.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
No, I mean, I think that's a that's a pretty
fair take. Look, this Brown's offense leaves a lot to
be desired. They've had injury issues. That tackle Dylan Gabriel
is a smaller guy who has a good army and process.
But you know, just like I do against Brian Flores,
with the amount of droppers and rushers and disguises, it's
(01:32):
pretty difficult. So I I like where your heads that
I do have questions obviously, like what the Vikings offensive
plan is gonna be if you don't have three offensive linemen, uh,
and you're on your you're on to your third string
left guard and your third string center and back up
right tackle and you don't want to be in third
and long and you're a hard time running. The one
(01:54):
is the path to move the balls Like a lot
of it's probably gonna be quick passing game.
Speaker 1 (01:58):
Think some of it is going.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
To be some special teams wizardery and.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Do some of that.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
And I think you put yourself in a solid position
in a game that I mean the over under I
think it's like thirty five and a half, So we're talking.
I mean this is not a game that's going to
probably generate thousands of European NFL fans, but who knows,
maybe it will.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Now this is probably it feels like it'll be the
lowest scoring game of the weekend, but maybe we'll see
something different. Not a carsoning company, you think, just out
of respect in the tenure that he had here, like
if we're in a tough spot and not gone lambin
a slash would slash whatever this thing is here in
the six five one carpet studio that if we do
(02:40):
have an issue and we needed to know Lineman, would
would they just like, would Stefanski just let Cam Robinson
walk across the field? We get a quick uniform change,
and he'd just let us use Cam Robinson if needed.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I think that's a great question. It might have been
part of the trade package to acquire him. Where you
did you know pick swaps you got, you got sind
across the field. Yeah, it's not bad a thought. I
honestly didn't think about that. Can plug them in a guard.
People wanted that to happen this offseason.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
What is throughout the week? You mentioned kind of the
dreary weather today, but what was the mood and the
vibe that you were able to capture one way or
the other from a two and two team haven't been
able to stop the run and either of their losses,
but it's still I mean, we're talking thirteen games left here.
It's where we're not right in eulogies quite yet, Just
kind of the idea of this team knowing maybe they
(03:31):
let one slip through their fingers, the ability to bounce
back regardless of health, Like where where where's the mentality
sitting here into the weekend.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Yeah, I think you know a lot of a lot
of this team, especially the younger guys. I think they've
enjoyed just the goofy nature of what this trip has been.
I think you got some guys probably miss their families
and probably ready to give back. But I just feel
like overall, I mean, Josh Untell said walk out of
the press conference in Dublin after the Pittsburgh lost, He's like,
(04:05):
I hope you guys are going to London because we're
gonna put on a better performance than that. So I
just think there is a very high level motivation right
now to get one in this spot here and go
into the bye with a little wave of momentum just
having I mean, it's like they've been in the headwind
going moving into a headwind. It feels like this entire season.
So to get to the by start to get a
(04:25):
lot a little healthier win this game. I do think
that that's kind of just squarely where everyone's minds are
in this game. Again, I do think it's going to
be really interesting offensively to see what if anything they
can like the easy button that they can try to
push in this game, because it's just it's hard to
find a pass. But potentially I kind of feel like
(04:51):
Kevin O'Connell.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Has this game.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
He will be as dialed in to make sure they
win this game as he's been probably at some time,
because if you lose it, the vibes going back become
quite quite difficult.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So I'm going to I'm going to play back some
of some of Kevin O'Connell's press conference a little later
on this morning, but you were there. He spoke to
the media this morning or technically earlier this afternoon London time,
but I think he mentioned maybe CJ. Ham is going
to be questionable into this game, and for a guy
that's played roughly a third even less than that really
(05:25):
of snaps, you know in the offense under O'Connell, is
is that part of you know, it's like, I wonder
what this offense is going to look like, I'm with
you in lockstep there, Like does getting a guy like
CJ hamback help, whether it's protection schemes and just kind
of how he could potentially be used to keep Carson
Wentz upright.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yeah, he's questionable and I would not be surprised at
all if he plays in this game. He's practiced all
week coming back from a little knee thing that happened
in camp. But yeah, there's no question brow a protection standpoint,
whether he's aligning at fullback and he's chipping on the
interior the X tier on the way out, or whether
he's in like a wing position next to the attack
(06:09):
or next to tight end and he can just.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Get a nudge on Miles Garrett.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I mean, look this, this this Brown's defensive front. Miles
Garrett will get all of the pub and he should
because he's a special, special player. But they they signed
this spring a guy Malik Collins who's kind of been
a journeyman and he had the highest pass r US
win rate among any interior defender in the NFL, he
can be a problem. What they do a lot with
(06:33):
these interior guys, they'll stunt them, and so you'll see
Malink Collins taking out Mason Graham's matchup and Mason Graham
looping over. And so I think any possible way that
you can just enhance your protection, you got to you got.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
To push that button.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
You've got to try to do that. I definitely think
c J ham has proven with the way they've used
them last couple of years that that is an avenue.
So definitely a nice spot for him to be back.
And then I think like if the game goes how
it feels like it's going to go, any type of
separation that the receivers can create early in the down
feels like it could be huge. And then Carson Wentzon's
(07:11):
decidesive this and actually the hit then guy and I
will also say this, I mean as little as they can,
I mean as much as they can prevent Carson Wentz
from getting hit in this game, it's going to be critical.
You saw how much of a beating he took last weekend,
and I just you just wonder how sustainable any type
of extreme punishment on him in the pocket, and you
(07:33):
just wonder how much he can absorb given what he
already absorbed last weekend.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Yeah, you know, you mentioned the leak a lot of
size across that defensive front there, and I was kind
of laughing, you know, you know how my guy is
like pa a couple of times a seak he mentioned,
you know, kind of digging into the Browns, like, really,
haven't heard a lot about Mason Graham. You know, I
wonder what's up with the I wonder what's up with
the Michigan rookie, highly touted, highly drafted. Just haven't really
through four heard much about Mason Graham. And then I'm
(07:59):
thinking to myself, well, okay, enter the equation. Joe Huber
and Blake Brandell taking your first snaps at center. I
hope we continue to not hear about Mason Graham. But Malik,
I'm glad you mentioned him as well, because that that
is going to be the a topic into this weekend.
And it's just, you know, it's it's fun, it's it's
(08:19):
awful in terms of you want your preferred players out there,
your health issues be damned. It's just it's it's been
a frustrating slog in some respects that everyone's kind of feeling.
But in the end, like, what an opportunity for those
guys against this front with a lot of reps in practice.
You just hope you see something special from one of
those guys to stand up against these Browns.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
No question. And then the other aspect that I've mentioned
here is the Browns have been the best at contacting
running backs behind the line of scrimmage in the NFL. Like,
I think the number is sixty two runs against the
Browns they contact the opposing running back behind the line
of scrimmers. That's the most of any NFL team through
four weeks since twenty seventeen. Part of that is because
(09:05):
their linebacking core is very, very good. They drafted this
UCLA rookie Carson Swettinger, who's probably one of the most
underrated rookies drafted and producing right now in the NFL.
And then Devin Bush is all over the place, Grant
Dealt with the safety will run and hit, So yeah,
I mean it's it's all hands on deck, and I'd say, yeah,
(09:27):
Joe Huber and Blake Brandell, who's never played center in
a game, he said those guys at their work cutoff
for him, and if they can get the work done,
they should be celebrated.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Yeah, you know when when we do the feasts Alec
and got a. We gotta work on the name for
this bid doctor doc. It just doesn't hit me. But
but you send this creative enough. No I don't. I
don't really like it. It is alliterative, which fits with
the fan culture, but still it's it's kind of an
awful name. We'll fix it. We got the bye week,
just like anybody else. During the bye week, we get healthier,
we get better. Uh, how do how do we run
(10:01):
against this team you mentioned? I think the number is
it's like sixty You broke up, so I'm talking to
the listening audience here. It's like sixty some percent of
rushing attempts is it's that they're contacted before the line
of scrimmage. That's that's a problem. But simultaneously, when you
talk about protecting Carson Wentz and just the sustaining of
(10:21):
the beating and limiting or mitigating the beating, we need
to get Mason rolling and we need him to be
more efficient than he was against the Steelers. Is have
you seen anything if you were going to put that
doctor doc together that says, you know, the commitment by
O'Connell plus X might lead to some sort of effective
running on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah. The two potential avenues that I'd probably go with
that are either a like this Brown front is so
attacking and they try to get a field so fast
that anything that can attacked the edges, whether it's like
pin and pull stuff or jet sweeps stuff, to try
to just quickly get the bomb the edges. That that
(11:03):
may be an avenue. And then the other one would
potentially be you know, last week on a fourth and one,
they went unbalanced with Christian Garris on the right side,
and you kind of wonder like it was something the
Steelers would you know, it was the move the Steelers
pool many times last week of going on balance, adding
an extra offensive lineman. Maybe you know, you throw in
(11:26):
Henry Bird or Sir Walter Rouse or somebody had to,
you know, pair them with Josh Oliver and you have
a little.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
Fun out here in London with some unbalanced looks in
the run game.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
But no, I do the run be.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
We're talking to Alex Lewis of the Athletic Alex Underscore
Lewis via x and it's all part of the the
Steves Appliances dot Com Steve's Appliances dot Com. The marathon segment.
Now from from the Opportunity, I saw this again, such
such a focus on health, but it plays into the
game as significant as it's been on the Viking side.
(12:04):
I saw something with Greg Newsom that talented Brown's corner.
He's kind of an iffy potentially to play on Sunday.
Have you sniffed around anything in terms of the Brown
side of things. You mentioned the old line, but Greg
Newsom popping up as an iffy for Sunday's kind of
big news if you're thinking about Carson slinging it around
the gym.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Yeah, no question. They you know, besides Greg Newsom, they
have Denzel Ward, who's been at great corner in the NFL,
and then their nickel corner Miles Harden is interesting. It's
like a third year pro. He's a light later round pick,
but he can play a little bit of man coverage.
But if they don't have Greg Newsom, then I mean
the corner depth in Cleveland is I mean, it's a.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Question for sure.
Speaker 5 (12:47):
So again, that is a.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Spot where you'd hope that Jordan Adison could get off
press coverage or use some maybe stacks of budgets to
get those guys some clean routes early in the down.
I do think that's a possibility.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
When you look back at Sunday's game, the return of
Jordan Addison, I mean the stat sheet, she'll surely pulls
it up and Carson goes for three point fifty. We
get that Addison's let's outrun Peyton Wilson next time if
there is a next time sort of thing. But just
at a base level, did it look like into totality
looking back at the game from your eyes, did you
(13:21):
see some things kind of open up where you know,
in a game of negatives, you'll lose the game, but
there's a positive aspect of it. And you can feel
the combination of Jefferson and Addison being back is going
to be something that whether it's Carson or when JJ
McCarthy returns from from the ankle, that they got something
to work with there, and and Addison just is kind
of picking up where he left off in camp prior
(13:42):
to the suspension.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Absolutely, I mean I've said this probably you heard me
say it, but Wes Phillips said that Jordan has the
best training camp performance of any Vikings offensive player, and
it really, I mean, it did feel like other than
the little stumble on the long pass, you know, it
felt like he kind of picked up where he left off.
And I definitely think if you can protect long enough
(14:07):
to get him the ball down the field, he can
be dynamic and really impact the game.
Speaker 4 (14:12):
It's really like.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
You know, we talk so much about the line and
protection because it allows everything else to kind of flow,
and if you don't have it, then talking about Jordan Addison,
I mean you're really just talking about quick passes, screens,
that type of usage, which again just expect a lot
on Sunday. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
Absolutely, And as far as as far as the Browns
are concerned, you know, I don't know how much work
that you you ever put into Dylan Gabriel, but the
south paw and you know, we like to joke about
the ball spinning differently, how on earth can you catch
a ball from from a left handed QB. But but
to that end, just Dylan Gabriel, you know, certainly different
(14:51):
from a Joe Flacco if you're just watching film, the
more stoic statue esque Flaco versus the young cat much smaller,
but maybe some design. You know what, what do we
anticipate from from a Dylan Gabriel standpoint, just at a
base level as he makes his first start against Brian Flores.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Yeah, I told Pa I was upset that he couldn't
get to see Joe flacka on London. I know that's
been a career, you know, something he's wanted to get
accomplished over the course of his career, with how much
he loved Joe Flacco. But Dun Gabriel is a He's
a smaller guy. He's got some velocity in the arm,
he's athletic, and he processes the field pretty well. But
(15:32):
I think, I mean again, this defense and what he's
going to see is unlike anything he's probably ever experienced,
even though at Oregon he did play against Ohio State
and Penn State and he was at Oklahoma before so
talented thrower the football, but he was picked where he
was for a reason. And you really got the feeling
(15:52):
talking to Brian Flora's out of here that it's for
them just so much. They're viewing it like, look, we
got to stop Quinn shot Jackkins, we got to stop
the run game, Browns will use unbalanced formation, so making
sure that they're on their p's and q's there is critical.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
And then you.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Know, you force the opposing quarterback in the long downs
and distances, and when the Vikings defense had had done
that this season, I believe opposing teams are like two
for twenty something from third and long this year against
the Viking, So that's it feels like the game plan
is do everything they can to stop Quinn Shawn Junkins
(16:26):
and then make life very hard for Dylan Gabriel.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Yeah, it's a two for twenty six. I believe teams
are on third and six or longer against Flores. And
one thing that's kind of popped up a couple of
times this week. You're you've probably enjoyed or endured this
via social media, et cetera. But team loses in Pittsburgh
and everyone's down on the GM again because of the
(16:49):
drafting and the coaches play calling. I mean, just all
those things that happen in the loss. We see it.
But in the same sense, you know, we can't undo things,
We can't go back in time. We got to move
forward and face the Browns. But from your eyes from
what you've seen and analyzed, you know, replacing effectively a
Jonathan Bullard and a Harrison Phillips with a Jonathan Allen
(17:10):
and a Javon Hargrave, you feel so much better about
the pressure you're getting in a pass rush situation from
the middle of our defensive front. Super excited about it.
They've both been mostly productive. But in the end, did
we lose anything in stopping the run at a base
level by jettison ing Phillips and Bullard.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
Yeah, I mean I think you know this, Biden's team
feels like stopping the run game is so much about,
you know, techniques, fundamentals. Brian Flores said the other day,
He's like, none of this is sexy and it's it's boring,
but like that is what it takes to stop the
run consistently and effectively. I do think, if anything, these
first four games give you an appreciation for the job
(17:52):
that Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard did stop in the run.
It never talked about, it was it was always very
low key.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
But I mean, look, these these two guys in particular,
and Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, they are pass rush
first interior defenders and so you kind of I mean
you're given a little to get a little, uh or.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Given a little to get a lot. I think that's
kind of been the idea. And and I mean I
would say, you know, if I'm Cleveland and I'm approaching
this game, I'm trying to load up offensive linemen and
run it right at them as much as I possibly
can and then prove that the Vikings can stop them.
And so that will be an opportunity for the Vikings
to do that. I thought initially, you know, John Robinson
(18:35):
is gonna.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Do what he's gonna do.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
The more worrisome outing was last week for me against Pittsburgh.
But yeah, it'll be interesting to see if they can
step up and stop the Browns. Uh and a and
a rookie running back and clinch at Dufkins and Brian
Flores was was pretty high on and talking about the
other day.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Just uh, just time for a couple more. I'll let
you get on to enjoy the afternoon slash evening in
London Town, specifically with the special teams. I mean, just
as weird as things have been in the way that
we've been talking this out, you know, health and all
of that to the side. The special teams kickers been perfect.
We dig that. I think there's something wrong with the
(19:14):
special teams at a base level that I just can't
put my finger on. I don't know if it's the
availability of bodies, if it is coaching and technique and
all of those things. I don't know. But Miles Price
has been kind of an uplifting part of that conversation,
certainly a positive in totality with some of his returns
and putting the team in a good spot. Is special
(19:37):
teams potentially something that is a feather in the cap
and a game changer in favor of the Purple on
Sunday at Tottenham.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
I'm glad you brought it up, because I do think
it has the potential to just sway the game one
way or another. Any muffed part, return, muffed kick, you know,
missed field goal, like I you know, with what this
score might potentially be on Sunday morning there over in
the States. You know, it just feels like those plays
(20:06):
in that phase are magnified. And I would agree with you.
Like Will Riker has been great this year. He's been
probably one of the most consistent players on the team. Honestly,
Ryan Wright has had some incidents where you know, you're like,
all right, that's what you need from Ryan Wright, and
then he's had some instances where it's like, all right,
that's Ryan right, and then Miles Price I feel like
has done a pretty good job back there in his role.
Speaker 5 (20:29):
But there's no question, like you know, this is the
type of game that magnifies any mistakes you make in
that area because of you know, just the muddiness that
it probably is going to be.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Now into the week, there was the idea that JJ
McCarthy he might be getting some reps, he might practice.
That kind of lends to the optimism that the kid
QB might be able to have a full week of
practice post buy. I'm not interested in looking ahead two weeks,
but was there anything that was like disappointing about his
(21:02):
inability to get on the field this week? It was just,
I mean, a miss, I'm worried about Van Ginkel, I'm
worried about the old lines. So JJ McCarthy, to be honest,
in reality, I want him to get healthy. But I
wasn't necessarily I never planned on him playing this game.
But any nuggets or morsels that you've been able to
scrap up here in terms of just the kid QB
and his recovery from the ankle.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
No.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I mean, we saw him after practice the other day.
He was in great spirits and talked to us and
fist bumped and all that and his usual like energetic self,
which was great to see given obviously the road that
it's been. But I you know, Kevin O'Connell said today,
had the rain not been what it was and maybe
the field situation, you know, being a little different, he
(21:49):
might have gotten in some work today and some individual stuff.
And so I mean, really like it felt like when
Kevin O'Connell talked on Tuesday to some of the media
out here, he insinuated that it might be possible this week,
But you didn't ever feel like, at least I didn't
that it was like an absolute guarantee. And it just
feels like they're taking this very much date day by
(22:12):
day and we'll see what happens after the bye week.
I mean, it feels like, with.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
The way that Kevin O'Connell's talked about this.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
He needs a full week of practice to be playing
in the game. So I am curious as we return
from the bye week and the head of the Eagles game.
Will he be practicing fully every single day that week?
And if he does not, will he play in that game?
Like that is where my mind will go when I
turn return hopefully at some point from this ten day trip.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Last thing for you, Alec, I guess kind of down
that down that road. There's no complaints in what we do.
Unique opportunities and it's it's an absolute blast being able
to cover pro sports teams and in your particular case,
your connection to the Vice Kings. You got to be
ready to go home, though, right, I mean ten days
over there? Are you kidding me?
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Just well what people people don't people don't know, they
don't care. I mean we're on this bus and I
mean you got to go twenty one miles from the
Vikings Hotel into downtown London, and I mean and that
takes two hours. You do that twice a day, four hours,
four days this week. That's sixteen hours on a bus.
I mean, it is it is you know, you got,
you got, This is this is why you sign up
(23:26):
for journalism readier. But now it's been a glass have
had a lot of fun, been cool to see these
places and beyond grateful for it. But yeah, I mean
Dylan Gabriel Carson Wins. We'll get through with that and
then you know, run all back and bust them out.
Call me real, real happy to do that.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
That's awesome man, Thanks for giving me time while while
you sit on that bus and just try to find
your way back into London. Great work. As always, We'll
catch up with you and follow you on Sunday and
then we'll see you back in town next week.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Thanks Norda. I've never been excited. It's excited to get
back to Buffalo wil Wings Coon Rappings.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
I will see you soon.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Absolutely. That's Alec Lewis of the Athletic at Alec Underscore
Lewis via X covers the Minnesota vikings for the Athletic
and we'll be following his stuff from Tottenham on Sunday
Sunday morning. That's the Steves Appliances Marathon segment brought to
you by Steve Steves actually brings you Alec Lewis at
(24:24):
to the Friday feast at Buffalo Wild Wings. Whether it's
Coon Rapids, it's Monticello, it's chan Hassen, it's Egan at
Station nineteen wherever we are. Thank you Steves Steve's Appliances
dot com. PA have the chance to chat with Vikings
wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell. You will hear that conversation
next as we continue on nine to Noon on the fan.
Speaker 6 (24:46):
And thank you to two men in a jump truck
for doing our cash giveaway where they want to give
you some Bonus Bucks and their national cash contests. Enter
the keyword check at kfan dot com now for your
shot out winning.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
That's keyword check.
Speaker 6 (25:03):
Enter it now at KFN dot com to.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
The text line sixty four sixty eighty six brat shown
Bryan KFA and text line Nords. I got a real
bad feeling about this game. I think we're screwed. Hope
I'm wrong. If so, I'll eat crow on fan line
it's Ryan and Michigan. I know what you're feeling. Ryan,
(25:28):
I get it, And over the course of the first
ninety minutes of the show, I can tell you I've
become convinced the Vikings are going to win this game. Now.
I mean, you listen to If all of you listen
to nine to Noon, you know well, it's more about
having fun than anything I'm wrong all the time. I'm
(25:51):
wrong every day. If we got a sponsor for the
Covenant cleanup provided by XYZ actual Company, it would be
the most valuable sponsorship on the entire station because we
are wrong every single day.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
This just feels like Vikings are going to win, but
it's going to be maybe the worst game you've ever
watched in fifteen years, or at least. I harken back
talking with Alex Lewis last segment. I remember twenty twenty three,
Vikings in Las Vegas kind of got hooked in with
(26:32):
the with the Power Trip. They did a couple shows
in Las Vegas at Buffalo Wild Wings. We actually did
a Friday feast of Buffalo Wild Wings. And similar to
the idea of spending ten days across the pond, five
days in Las Vegas feels like ten days across the pond.
And we're all just ready to go home. And I
(26:56):
believe the team, Gosh, just middland around five hundred at
this point. It's a non playoff team, right, We're playing
with Dobbs.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
We got the.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Achilles situation, with the Achilles situation with Kirk, and you're
just trying to figure out if you can really win
games with Josh Dobbs and maybe find your way into
a playoff spot. You had the Dobbs magic at the Falcons.
(27:24):
You got a good half out of him. Against the Saints,
it took Jameis Winston. Bless Jameis Winston, Love Jameis Winston,
as he single handedly gave the game back to us
with two just brutal interceptions. Then you lose in primetime,
as was that Makai Blackman that refused to jump on
(27:46):
the Courtland Sutton pass in the end zone by Russ.
You lose at Denver in primetime. You lost. Oh how
about the brutal ten twelve to ten Bears victory over
the Viking on a Monday night game at US Bank Stadium.
DJ Moore over the middle late. How ugly was that?
(28:10):
But all of that was topped by the everybody just
wants to freaking go home, Go beat the Raiders, Please
go beat the Raiders. And if I remember correctly, you
know we got Dobbs in the mix. I think the
Vikings would go back to mister Mullins. The following week,
(28:30):
we playing Aid and O'Connell that game, Yeah, yeah, we
nearly lost to Aidan O'Connell. I think it took like
a late Hunter Renfro fumble in the red zone or
near the red zone. You get the one field goal
in that mix a three to nothing game. You're so
pumped that Justin Jefferson returns I think from the hamstring.
(28:51):
I mean, think about twenty twenty three. Oh my goodness,
memory Lane. Maybe this is cathartic to help us feel
better about our current situation. But you get the you
get just Justin Jefferson back, only for him. I believe
he went to the hospital. Dobbs in those hospital balls. Right.
That was the worst game that we as Vikings fans
(29:14):
have watched in many many years. That actually was a victory.
We've probably seen many worse losses Philly title game for one.
That's what this game feels like. It's going to be,
not not to that detriment. I don't know if we
can match what happened in Las Vegas two years ago,
but it is going to be that kind of slog
(29:35):
fest where you're just you're begging to find an open
an open lane for Jordan Mason. You're you're begging to
find that third down conversion to a Jefferson, You're still
wondering what's up with TJ. Hawkinson all of those things,
but your defense and flores do what you need them
to do against Dylan Gabriel Judkins makes you worried a
couple different times. Miles Garrett, good luck to Carson trying
(29:59):
to survive for sixty minutes. And you win because of
field position, game via the plus sized punter. You win
via field position, because Miles Price breaks off a couple
of nice punt returns. You win on the foot of
a Will Riker. That's just kind of where this game
feels like it is going at this point. But to
(30:20):
that end, the breakdown, to the build up, the reason
I've included a couple times in the show is now
that Addison's back, if we can continue to get healthy,
this thing with Jefferson and Addison is as good as
it gets in the NFL. And the man behind most
of that, his name is Keenan McCardell, Vikings wide receivers coach,
(30:40):
and PA got the chance to sit down and chat
with him earlier today and well take it away, Pa.
Speaker 7 (30:47):
Friday was raining field came up a little more slippery
than Wednesday and Thursday, so maybe you can settle a
conversation that people have had forever. When it's rainy and
a field comes up wet, what does a favor receivers
or dbs.
Speaker 8 (31:02):
Their favors or receivers Because we know where we're going,
so I you know today was it would have been
a fun game day because we know where we're going.
They got to they got a guess on where we're going,
so it would have favored the receivers in a big way.
Speaker 7 (31:15):
Now, now, Keenan had a seventeen year National Football League
career also a Super Bowl winner of course, wide receivers
coach for the Minnesota Vikings. And you played thirty seven
games with Cleveland after Washington drafted you, and that started
in your second year. So with the Browns did that
kind of jump start your career?
Speaker 3 (31:33):
It really did.
Speaker 8 (31:34):
You know, I got a great opportunity in Cleveland, showed
my talents and I took advantage of it. You know,
Coach Belichick gave me a great opportunity, had some great
coaches over there that gave me an opportunity that believed
in me, and you know, I just took it and
ran with it. I mean I kind of tell my guys,
anytime you get an opportunity to play, you gotta take
(31:56):
advantage of it.
Speaker 3 (31:57):
And that's what I did in Cleveland.
Speaker 7 (31:58):
Yeah, you know, we've talked about this before, but a
decade and a half plus in the NFL twelfth round,
pick don't play for Washington, end up in Cleveland. It's
slow to start there, but then it takes off. Multiple
teams won a Super Bowl. I mean you've seen it
from a one up to a nine, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Yes, I have, and it's you know, it's fun.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
You know.
Speaker 8 (32:17):
I tell guys, your your journey will always change in
this league, and it's up to you how you want
your journey to change. You know, your career to change.
And each each year is a new year, and you
got to make sure you go out and put the
work in and and if you keep putting the work in, you'll.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
Get rewarded at the end.
Speaker 7 (32:35):
Keenan, what the Dog Pound where Cleveland plays home games. Now,
you know it's a different stadium when you played there,
But nevertheless, the dog Pound and home games of Cleveland,
what were they like?
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Oh? Great fans?
Speaker 8 (32:47):
Uh for for us, for the Browns are great fans,
but for the visiting team. It was a bad time,
you know, a couple of batteries being thrown, some snowballs.
No it, you know, but it's of being the tradition
of the dog Pound making it hard on the on
the opposing team, and uh, you know, I had my
(33:07):
I have some great times in Cleveland.
Speaker 7 (33:09):
Now now it's a little windy here in London at
this moment, but the wind off Lake Erie. Do you
remember games where like what was what were the worst
conditions that you would have there?
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Oh?
Speaker 8 (33:21):
Man, we've had a snow game where the fields the
phil is all snowy, kind of like their game against
Pittsburgh Stillers Steelers last year. I remember those those times
down there. Uh you know you talk about win. I
mean I've been in some of the windy is games
around down there, and I mean catching the football and
(33:41):
throwing the football was hard, you know, and more saving.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
So we you know, we just you know, you.
Speaker 8 (33:46):
Got used to it because you're practicing it so long,
but the visiting team didn't get used to it.
Speaker 7 (33:52):
Vikings wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell is our guest. After
the Friday practice, a final practice during the course of
the week, up to the Browns game. Speaking of the
Browns and their defense, how do you expect them to
defend Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 8 (34:06):
You know, it's I think it's a possible. You know,
they're gonna double him, but it's possible they can play
a man to man because of all the other weapons
we have, you.
Speaker 3 (34:15):
Know, for running the ball really well.
Speaker 8 (34:17):
You know, you got Jordan coming back, Speedy's playing well,
Adam's playing well. So you know it's gonna be a
hard time to just say I'm gonna double Jets and
lead these other guys open and then probably putting eight
men in the box and and Jordan running the ball.
You know, you know, you put seven min in the
box and then Jordan gets to run the ball, but
you put eight men in the box. You know, it's
(34:40):
a challenge outside. So you know, it's it's gonna be
an interesting game. You know, I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
You know. You know, Coach Schwartz is a good is
a really good.
Speaker 8 (34:48):
Defensive coordinator, and I know he has a plan, so
we just got to be ready for it.
Speaker 7 (34:53):
You mentioned the name Jordan Addison, and you know I
can argue of all the players and the joint practices
New England that he was the best of every single player.
Speaker 1 (35:03):
He had so much pop.
Speaker 7 (35:05):
And you know then he returns in the Steelers game,
we get the eighty one watching the practices this week
he's he's been absolutely I mean, Jordan has really dialed
in right now, isn't he?
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Yes, he is.
Speaker 8 (35:15):
I mean he came in in training camp, dowed in.
You know, he had the vacation as we call it,
for three games and came back he was still doubting,
you know, and that's because of how he.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
Practiced it during training camp.
Speaker 8 (35:28):
I mean, his training camp helped him come back in
and be on top.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
Of his game.
Speaker 7 (35:33):
Dude, do you think maybe, and this is a better
question for him, but just you know, kind of being
you know, a surrogate dad or uncle to these guys
plus their coach. Do you know those three games that
he that he had to be away, do you think
maybe it was a little eye opening to him, like, Wow,
holy cow, my guys are playing in here and I'm
missing it.
Speaker 8 (35:49):
That's what you miss, you know, you miss doing what
you do you've been doing all your life, and then
when when it's taken away from you, you kind of
get a wake up call just to see, you know,
like I need to make sure I'm on the right path,
so I go down the wrong path. So, you know,
it was a little eye opening for him, and I
enjoyed that.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Last year.
Speaker 7 (36:08):
It's getting Wendy and Randy on this practice field. Jail
and Naylor conversely, was up and down in training camp
and then the Patriots joined Erchis Andrews's arm or whatever.
He was dropping some passes during training camp. Then we
start the regular season, talk about being on point. Holy
col Jail and Naylor has dialed in, isn't.
Speaker 3 (36:24):
He He's died in.
Speaker 8 (36:26):
I'm loving it because it's just the maturation of him.
You know, his growth process right now has been unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
I think he's enjoying it.
Speaker 8 (36:35):
And when you enjoy your time to play, it makes
the game a lot easier.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
It comes to you easier.
Speaker 8 (36:42):
And I think he's having fun out there, and it's
great for office because you get another whipping and.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
Last one game and the rookie type Alton.
Speaker 7 (36:49):
You know, I've had some conversations with him after games,
including preseason and regular season, and okay, he's a drafted
wide receiver. He wants to play fifty sixty seventy plays
a game, but he understands a lot in life now
used to be the best gunner in the NFL and
to help this team how they need me. The reason
I bring it up is because you know, better than anybody,
not everybody buys into it that way.
Speaker 3 (37:11):
And not everybody.
Speaker 8 (37:12):
I mean, he's a true team player, and you know,
doing the evaluation process, you know, we talked about it
that that person coming in should have a trait, but
it also should be a true team player that can
play on special teams, help the team out in any
way that he can until he.
Speaker 3 (37:29):
Gets his opportunity to help us in as a receiver.
Speaker 8 (37:31):
So you know, looking at Tye, looking at all this film,
how good he was as a gunner, kick kickoff return guy,
you know, he fit the model that we wanted. And
I think, you know, he's showing people that he's a
pretty damn good gunner. So I enjoy watching go out
and make plays.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
As wide receivers. Coach Keenan McCardell in London with PA
earlier today and we're gonna pause now come back shortly.
Some text messages to jump into. But top of the
hour eleven ish all chart hit is going to join
me from the Utah Bunker and we're going to break
down some fantasy and reality as we get closer to
the final hour of a Friday Feast nor to Win
(38:09):
for PA nine to noon on the Fan
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