#92Noon! 10am Hour 10/2 PA and Leber, Jets Presser!

92Noon! PA - Leber - Jets

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Megs indeed and the Vikings trying to find their way
to a w get into the by three and two
the London Affairs upon us Tottenham kick off eight thirty am,
six thirty am pregame and joining me now a couple
of guys that'll be on site on scene for that
and will help tell this story on your home for
Vikings football to fan Ben Lieber first of all, courtesy

(00:21):
of the Children's Cancer Research Fund, really appreciate them for
their assistance in supporting nine to noon and Ben Lieber
and the host himself, Pa, how's it going out there?

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Gentlemen? Yoh, what's going on? What's up?

Speaker 3 (00:32):
Can you guys hear this? This mouse wrestling around in
a bag on air?

Speaker 4 (00:37):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Is that a mouse? Yeah?

Speaker 5 (00:41):
It's me in search of my voluminous number of sharpies.
And Ben seems to be incredit I don't know if
it's Stonehenge exciting, but it seems to have excited the
former linebacker.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, it's just funny because you know.

Speaker 3 (00:57):
The fact that it's it's sounds like it's coming through
the microphone and you're just like your ears are sharp
It's like it's like a kid, you know, searching through
a box, the Lucky Charms over.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
I like pens, all right. I like pens.

Speaker 5 (01:14):
I like them to be new. I like the sharpies
to be sharp and to each their own.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
Benjamin, I too, well, I just you know, it's it's
nice actually to hear you guys able to speak at
a normal talking volume, because today we have the rustling
in a bag and it's just it's kind of just
understanding countryside.

Speaker 4 (01:32):
Manner and just the tranquil nature of it.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
But but yesterday we had we had the Vox and
Peter Carline on. It's like eighteen fairway at Saint Andrew's
had to whisper our way through things because of the
press clomp. And so I'm just glad I get to
hear you guys talking and maybe bring some energy. Denied
to noon with this is game around the corner on Sunday.

Speaker 5 (01:51):
To take you behind the curtain when you were either
in Scotland, Ireland, Russia or Stonehead. The internet connection here
nine to noon, first day, complete disaster really, So yesterday, yeah,
they everybody fixed everything.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
We're all ready to.

Speaker 5 (02:08):
Go and right, and Carson Wentz started his press conference
twenty minutes late, right when I joined nine to noon.

Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, you see where we are.

Speaker 5 (02:16):
We're thirty feet from the press conference area, and even
talking at like this tone is too loud. So we
literally were talking like this for about fifteen minutes.

Speaker 2 (02:27):
But we're home and cooled out now more. It's nice
and smooth here.

Speaker 4 (02:31):
No, I love that.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
And one thing that hasn't been smooth the health situation
for the team, and such as we as we find
our way through the Steelers game with the Browns around
the corner before we get to whatever this offensive line
might look like.

Speaker 4 (02:46):
One thing that I am kind of excited about.

Speaker 1 (02:48):
And Ben, you can tell me if I'm just being
a complete roub or if I'm just delusional here the
idea of CJ. Ham potentially being an option again, and
it's not just because of his captain's yo's work via
special teams. And I'm aware that he's only generally playing
in Ko's offensive system about a third of the snaps
maybe let's call it, you know, twenty seven to thirty

(03:10):
percent of the snaps. But when it comes to pass protection,
when it comes to that additional asset, maybe even from
a run blocking perspective, he's a guy we haven't had
through four games.

Speaker 4 (03:19):
Am I overplaying the idea of CJ.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
Ham being an asset and an option as soon as
Sunday against the Browns.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
No, I don't think that you're overplaying that at all.

Speaker 3 (03:28):
I mean, you've you've seen, you know, with all of
the injuries that we've had at the offensive line, we've
even seen guys like Adam Feeling who is playing basically
chip guy, extra extra blocker on the edge, even in
a twelve personnel situation, or if we go one tight
end situation, that they're still using a guy like Adam

(03:50):
Feelin out there. So, yeah, that's not the even though
Adam's been great about, you know, doing whatever role that
he wants to be in and and doing to the
best of his abilities, that's.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
Not the best use for Adam Fieln.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
So I do think that, you know, having a different
personnel group in there, we can be a little bit
more flexible. I still think that we're going to be
heavy twelve personnel, heavy twenty one personnel, and maybe using
CJ as were of a blocker on the outside versus
a blocker downhill. I still think until we're fully healthy,
that's going to be the case in this game.

Speaker 5 (04:22):
And Ben and I at the end of practice, you know,
we you know, we had a cool moment where, you know,
we're looking at this iteration of the offensive line they're
going to use. Darisaw I believe got a rest day today,
so it was Walter Rouse playing left tackle pretty much
the entire practice, and they're walking off the field and
Ben and I kind of looked at each other and
we're like, Okay, Blake Brandell is going to be the

(04:43):
center and most likely assuming lay unless Jurgen's practices fall tomorrow.
Stuff like that. But then, you know, the the underplay
facet here, specifically inside with guards and center is if
one of these guys gets banged up during the course
of the game, Jurgan gets banged up, who's the center, right, Yeah,
you know, so it's I haven't I haven't gone deep

(05:04):
diving on that with the sneaky chat yet, but I
would assume it would be Henry Bird or maybe Joe Huber.
But I mean, we got to start thinking about things
like that on a Thursday for a Sunday.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
No I and I was gonna I was gonna get
to that with you guys, because Alex Lewis was reporting
you mentioned Henry Bird, there's a vershan Lee Siding. I
didn't even know he was still on the team. And
then and then Joe Huber I kind of joke about him. Again,
I'm not down on Joe Huber. It's just something had
to go wrong. Break break glass in case of emergency.
If Joe Huber's on the field, we have five different

(05:37):
guys taking snaps and Jurgen Jurgens.

Speaker 4 (05:39):
Hasn't practiced in two days. He's got a rap on
his leg.

Speaker 1 (05:43):
I think when you were talking with with Kopa, you
kind of and I'm worried that this is a thing
that has to happen, like, okay, so so we're overseas,
what's the what's the logistical situation with if I want
to add somebody to the practice squad or I want
to do this, like how many guys is KO and
the Vikings. Paul Martin's probably going out of his mind
trying to set up flights with players to get him

(06:04):
overseas to work out this is insanity.

Speaker 5 (06:06):
Well, well, interestingly, Paul Martin with operations is going to
join nine to noon at eleven forty ish Cornfield's time,
so he'll be here in the garden five forty local time,
and Ben brought up a really good point where you know,
if they make moves over the weekend, and most teams,
in fact, every single team will elevate players from the

(06:28):
practice squad or ad players on Saturday before a Sunday game,
and sometimes people get cut. I mean, if somebody on
this team currently now gets cut it, what are the rules?
I mean, are they able to stay here at the
manor with the team. I mean, it's all of that
is just so much in flox.

Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, you know, as we were as like talking that out,
I'm like, well, if you're technically not on the team
and you you're not allowed to just sign immediately to
the practice squad, Yeah, and you're in this sort of
NFL purgatory. What happens, like is the NFL giving you
grace on the fact that like you have to do
this for injury reasons and whatnot, And are you I

(07:10):
mean I doubt they just like take your room key
and be like sorry, pal, you're on your own, you know,
go find a different hotel room. But like, you know,
what is you know, what is the right protocol when
you're officially not with the team, but you're with the
team for ninety five percent of the trip.

Speaker 4 (07:26):
So is Tim Jones? I mean is he it?

Speaker 1 (07:28):
He throw right now scrambling to find like middle row
economy back to the States. I mean you kind of
kick him out and turn the Wi Fi off on him.

Speaker 5 (07:36):
Well, I'm Joe Huber in forty four games at Cincinnati
and Wisconsin left guard twelve, right guard twelve. Yeah, he
never played center, So I don't think that's the answer.

Speaker 4 (07:49):
You know, Uh, mister Leeber.

Speaker 1 (07:50):
You mentioned Adam Thielen and some of the work that
he's been doing, specifically in the run blocking, and that's
the thing. We love Jefferson and Addison, But in terms
of strength and that vigor from a blocking standpoint at
the line, I think theeling's a guy that comes in
and immediately makes a difference there.

Speaker 4 (08:05):
I'm curious, you know where his head.

Speaker 1 (08:07):
You chatted with him yesterday too, Pa, just kind of
you know lot in life Teams two and two, Okay,
you know, season's not over, a lot of games left,
weird hell situation and all that. But I think you
asked him kind of like, hey, you ever catch up
with Kirk and just kind of share lots and lives
and such like what do you think thelans lot in
life is or where his head is at been in
terms of just through four games not getting maybe some

(08:28):
of the targets and maybe not the productivity. Still some
good third down conversions and such. He's there when you
need him. But where do you think Adam Thelen's head
is at through four games back in Purple?

Speaker 3 (08:40):
Well, I mean probably not in the best place. I mean,
all receivers want, they want targets, they want receptions, they
want opportunity to catch the ball and do what they
do best. And you know, his attitude from the second
he got here has been phenomenal, Like he understands his
role in this team, he understands his age, he understands
what he was brought in to do. And you know
he's said time and time again, he's like, my whole

(09:02):
my whole mindset is to come in with a positive attitude,
bring the juice, bring the energy every single day, and
just do my role the best way that I can.
But I have to think that that there are there
are some frustrations built within that as you go along
with this, because it's it's outside of anything that he's
ever done. I mean, even if he was back in Carolina,
he would still be looked at as probably their number

(09:25):
two guy. Yeah, and he's gonna get a lot of targets,
So he's really taking a step back, and I'd hopefully
that he has a more of a global view of
this whole thing, realizing this is also not the role
that the Vikings expected to have him and when they
brought him back, because nobody was expecting us to have
so many injuries of the offensive line, and in doing that,
we have to go a lot more twelve personnel.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
And I'm sure TJ.

Speaker 3 (09:46):
Hawkinson isn't loving the fact that he's got to be
somebody's sidecar every single play to chip somebody to do this.

Speaker 2 (09:53):
And I'm sure KOs he's.

Speaker 3 (09:54):
Not exactly happy that, Hey, I can't I can't run
my offense all the time out of twelve personnel or
even eleven per and keep somebody there to chip a
guy and be a delayed release like it.

Speaker 2 (10:04):
All of it is.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
Predicated off the fact that we now have to give
so much help to our offensive line to the edges
that we can't function not only just down the field
and execution, but also guys are have to play with
outside of their own primary roles, and I have to
imagine that if he took a step back and realize
that maybe he wouldn't be as frustrated. And hopefully, once

(10:25):
everybody gets back and healthy, we can go more true
eleven personnel and he can be used more as a
true number three guy in the slot and not just
be on the sidelines or back in the game blocking
and chipping.

Speaker 5 (10:36):
Brandell can't get hurt. Okay, that's the end. That's just
the end of the equation. Yeah, Henry Bird at Princeton
only played garden tackle. Henry Bird at Ensworth High School
in Nashville, Tennessee all state garden tackle, So I don't
think he's ever played center.

Speaker 1 (10:54):
Well, let me let me ask you this. Then this
will be the dumbest question either of you here all day.
What about the Pro long snapper? I mean de paula Like,
I mean, yeah.

Speaker 4 (11:04):
Sir Paul.

Speaker 1 (11:04):
Now, Sir Paul blocks for a very short period of
time on very few plays. I think he's the oldest
guy on the team. So and we definitely don't want
to break the all Pro long snapper. But I'm just curious,
I mean, you know what the change is. There's probably
I remember, like Brandon Fusco. I think it was talking
like you wouldn't believe how difficult it is to go
from left guard to right guard. You relearn your footwork

(11:27):
and all of those things. I wonder how hard it
is for a long snapper to go from snapping at
eight yards back to UH to being the guy that
hands it to Carson.

Speaker 3 (11:36):
Well that I put that as like the one percent
of that happening.

Speaker 2 (11:43):
It's Lee eighteen games at center in college. It has
to be.

Speaker 3 (11:47):
It has to be him or the other one. If
we're just like having fun with this whole thing, I
actually would I wouldn't mind seeing Josh Oliver in there
if he could learn.

Speaker 2 (11:57):
How to come on. Man, he's about the biggest guy
we have.

Speaker 3 (12:01):
No I know he's a massive indeed, But when you
talk about all these guys that have never played the
position for I'm like, well, I don't know.

Speaker 2 (12:09):
I mean, let's let's stick that guy.

Speaker 3 (12:11):
But your the answer, as you're doing the research right now, Versha,
Lee is the it has to be the backup in
this situation.

Speaker 5 (12:17):
But I just I mean, it's like Nordo said, I mean,
with all due respect, I forgot he was I forgot he.

Speaker 2 (12:22):
Was back in the mix. Yeah, like he was on
the on the practice squad or whatever.

Speaker 1 (12:26):
Well, who was who was the tight end sized guy
for Seattle that ended up making Hay and making a
career out of himself.

Speaker 4 (12:32):
Wasn't it a Fetti the Uh No.

Speaker 5 (12:34):
No, George Fant? But yeah it was George yeah yeah,
or George yeah.

Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (12:39):
It wasn't Noah Fan, No, it was George Fan, the
b theater who Carol used to pick on Zimmer's defense.
It's like he's never caught a pass. Oh he caught
a pass against us. Yeah, that so he was multifaceted,
but he was. You know, I wonder what George Fan's
doing these days and how quickly he can get to London.

Speaker 1 (12:56):
Well, I wonder, you know, with the way that with
the way that we saw Jalen Redman playing, I mean,
can can either Jonathan Allen or Javon Hargrave find their
way to a guard at tackle spot?

Speaker 4 (13:07):
I mean it's just it's it's pure.

Speaker 2 (13:09):
Dell can't get hurt. That's just not the equation.

Speaker 4 (13:11):
I think you're dead on with it.

Speaker 1 (13:13):
And but at some point that they got to play
this game, and you know, maybe this is part of
the O line conversation. But just in terms of this
this Cleveland defense. So the names are gaudy and it
starts with with Miles Garrett, but you know, I haven't
heard much in terms of like the rookie, the rookie Wolverine,
Mason Graham, they got that linebacker Sweestion, dear, et cetera.
This team is tops and yards in the NFL, but

(13:33):
because Flacco has been throwing it to the other team
more than his own, they're putting bad spots there. You
can score on them a bit. Some some gaudy lopsided
score lines between the Ravens and the and the the
Lions game for the Browns, but is it truly you know,
it will be a Josh Oliver type that's handcuffed to
a school how how aware is Carson going to have

(13:54):
to be in this offense in general of where Miles
Garrett is at and just kind of focused in on
you know, we're plugging holes in the damn as they arise.
It just seems tricky to really prepare for this talented
defensive group on Sunday.

Speaker 5 (14:07):
I think one thing Natcho will notice immediately when he's
on the sideline Tottenham Hotspur probably already knows it. But
like Miles Garrett, Okay, he's tall, he's big, he's thick. Well,
so is Malie Collins, Shelby, Harris, Ayton Huntington, Mason Graham
to a certain extent, Isaiah Maguire one of their outside guys.

Speaker 2 (14:29):
They just have these big, massive, strong, physical guys.

Speaker 3 (14:34):
Well, the issue is obviously Miles Garrett is he is
enemy number one. He is the primary target for our
offensive line at our tight ends. And c J Ham
no doubt like he It's amazing the number of double
teams and triple teams that he still has to fight
through just to get these sacks.

Speaker 2 (14:51):
I mean, he's still playing at an MVP level.

Speaker 3 (14:53):
At the guy's The guy's phenomenal, he's superhuman what he
can do. But the problem becomes, given our sitch situation
is Malik Collins in that inside.

Speaker 2 (15:04):
Group is very good. That whole group.

Speaker 3 (15:08):
They know how to penetrate from within, they know how
to get vertical. That's the whole reason why Jim Schwartz
doesn't really have to blitz a lot. He'll blitz kind
of from depth. He doesn't he's not the coordinator that
has to send all these guys you know, at the
line of scrimmage and really try to like, you know,
make sure that his guys get off on the ball
and get up right in there. He lets those guys
go eat like it's a four man rush. It's a

(15:30):
there's a two man twist game built in there. There's
some movement across the board. But they are very effective
because they can they can create that vertical push. And
that's the thing where when you look at it on
paper and you and we're over here talking about like
how these guys are going to perform as backups in
a starting role, and then like God forbid, when those
guys gets hurt. I mean, this is this game right now?

(15:53):
Is this is the best front four that we have played. Yes,
best front four now now Philly is gonna have the
best defense that we played as we get there in
two weeks, and maybe the best front seven. But when
you look at the the totality of their defense, they
are they will become the best defense that we face.
But when it comes to the front four, just in general, man,
this is going to be a test. This is why

(16:14):
it is going to be I'm not expecting a whole
lot of yards and a whole lot of points from
our offense.

Speaker 5 (16:20):
And Nordo you know I I And we heard early
in the week before they started practice sing that you know, Cleveland,
like Ben said, does not blitz a lot. And they'll
use linebackers like Schwsinger and Diabat and Joe tryon showy
Yinka like names like that. They'll use them around the
middle of the field and to try to shut down

(16:43):
lanes or close things in the middle. But they're so
confident in their rush with the players. Ben mentioned that
Greg Newsom and Denzel Ward and their nicol Miles Harden
that they feel they can man to man one on
one all receivers in the NFL, because I mean, they'd
be fools to be like, Okay, Greg Newsom is every

(17:03):
bit as good as Justin Jefferson.

Speaker 2 (17:05):
They don't look at it that way.

Speaker 5 (17:07):
They look at it like, you have a second and
a half to make something happen, and we can afford to.

Speaker 2 (17:13):
Keep one guy on one guy.

Speaker 5 (17:15):
Well for the time, I'm sorry, but for the totality
of the game, if you have to figure out a
way because Newsom and Ward cannot keep up with Jefferson
and Addison for the entire game one on one. Now,
the protection obviously is key, So I'm you know, whatever
personnel you want to call it, I'm not negative on

(17:36):
using Oliver and Hawkinson attached to the tackles. So you,
in essence or ham have seven offensive linemen. You send
three guys out in routes and you'll let you let
them do what they do. Because Nailer's having a fantastic year,
he just keeps getting missed on big plays because I
don't think these guys can. I think the Vikings are
gonna throw. I think they're gonna throw a lot, and

(17:59):
I think they're gonna be on protection with help from CJ.
Hamm and the tight ends. What do you think I
mean it's risky.

Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, I think it's risky. I mean they.

Speaker 3 (18:10):
When you're when you're basically, if they if they within
the first quarter, if we surprise them with that approach
and we can put put some early points on the board, great,
Yeah it works out.

Speaker 2 (18:21):
We get into quarters two and three.

Speaker 3 (18:22):
Especially after halftime, where they can make adjustments and they
feel like this is what we're doing to attack them.
Now you're basically you're playing into into their hands. Now,
now in their man coverage situations. Even in Cover four,
which they play, they mix it a lot of Cover
four as well. Cover four underneath coverage acts like man
coverage for the linebackers and that safety, that that possible

(18:45):
safety that's in there. So if those guys no longer
paying attention to our twelve personnel tight ends that are
chipping and releasing, now they can start getting creative with
their depth and their drops, and they can start inserting
guys different places, and so it does become a little risky.
Now all of a sudden, you've got three guys in
a pass route, maybe even two guys, and possibly double

(19:09):
teams everywhere.

Speaker 2 (19:11):
That makes it really, really tricky.

Speaker 3 (19:13):
So if you're gonna take that approach, yeah, then you
better make it payoff in the first quarter and you
better get up and put the pressure on them, and
then you can start running the football a little bit
more to keep the secondary defense, the middle part of
the defense more aggressive, and then you hit them with
play action.

Speaker 2 (19:30):
It's just got to work in the first quarter. Yeah,
that was perfectly laid out.

Speaker 1 (19:34):
Yeah, I think you're dead on with that libra in
terms of that last part, specifically in terms of like
that first quarter because we saw as good as this
offense hummed along against the Bengals, the inability to run
the ball because you started out chasing DK Goes for
eighty and now you're up against it and we're kind
of gripping a little bit. Taking Mason out of that

(19:54):
equation was pretty vital in terms of how things ended
up against the Steelers. But and you run on the
Cleveland Browns, I mean two point seven and carry like
the commitment from the head coach here from the first
nap of the game through the end. I mean that's running,
you know, slamming heads against brick walls. It feels like,
I don't know if anybody can run on the freaking Browns.

Speaker 5 (20:14):
Well, I mean you're talking about running on a team
that's dedicated to stopping the run, that's first and foremost
for this Browns defense. Yeah, and you're talking about doing
it with replacements at three spots. I mean, that's why
I'm saying I think the best route to winning this
game is throwing the ball a lot. Okay, yes, I

(20:34):
know they've taken a bunch of sacks. Well, then figure
it out with the Titans and CJ. Ham because I mean,
you know, Mason and Zay Scott, you know, and cam
Akers may play some two, right, I mean, I'm sure
you can get one, two, maybe three on them, but
over the course of four quarters, it's kind of like
banging your head against the wall simply because and this

(20:56):
is with all due respect to the offensive linemen, but
they're backups.

Speaker 2 (21:00):
Just don't play that much. And I'm not talking about mistakes.

Speaker 5 (21:03):
I'm just talking about lack of reps and getting outmanned
or pushed around by some Browns who play seventy plays
a game. So I'm going to put the over under
on Carson Wentz passes in this game at twenty six
and a half.

Speaker 2 (21:19):
Twenty six and a half, and I'm betting it over.
That's a good number right there.

Speaker 4 (21:23):
I like that. How about let's do this.

Speaker 1 (21:26):
I want to think about that and maybe we continue
that end of it, but I want to jump to
the other side.

Speaker 4 (21:30):
Of the ball.

Speaker 1 (21:30):
I think the Vikings defense has a chance to feast
with this rookie QB in the mix the south pad
Dylan Gabriel, and so when we come back, I want
to hit you Ben in terms of you know, it's
tough in terms of reps and sample size. I haven't
seen a lot of Dylan, but this Quinn Shawn Judkins cat,
I'm kind of fascinated by him. He's the perfect back
for what Stefanski wants to do. And so we got
some things things to handle on Sunday. So that's Pa

(21:53):
and Ben Lieber. Ben Lieber brought to you weekly. By
the way, the Children's Cancer Research Fund. Thank you so
much much to them, not just for the work that
they do, but for supporting nine to noon in the
Fan and Liber's weekly appearances. But when we return, we're
gonna flip that conversation a bit and see what Floor
As his bunch can do and maybe have a lot
of success with. On Sunday, it's Nordo with Pa and

(22:15):
Ben Lieber on the Fan. But first a cash giveaway.

Speaker 6 (22:17):
The cash Thing the Fan in two minutes in a
junk Chuck want to give you a shot to win
Bonus Bucks with the National Cash Contest. Head to kfan
dot com. The keyword for this hour is deposit. Keyword
deposit kfan dot com keyword deposit.

Speaker 1 (22:30):
With Pa and Ben Lieber, who are across the pond
in London getting set for a morning affair here early
afternoon game at Tottenham Stadium and a thirty am kickoff
on Sunday.

Speaker 4 (22:42):
Vikings and Browns gentlemen, As I.

Speaker 1 (22:45):
Said before the break, I'm just really fascinated by Quinshawn Judkins,
and I think he didn't play the first game. They're
just weird off field stuff that was taking place. Finally
get him into the Covenant. I think he opens week
two and he's averaging just south of five.

Speaker 4 (22:59):
Carrie.

Speaker 1 (22:59):
Now, now this team, this offense in general, hasn't been explosive. Again,
Flacco has been just frankly, he's shown his age and
he's been a disaster for them.

Speaker 4 (23:06):
That's why they're going with Dylan Gabriel.

Speaker 1 (23:08):
But liber what have you seen much of Quinchwn Judkins?
And just thinking about how Gainwell was able to find
his way this last Sunday, you think about Bijon at
a higher end level. We two against the Falcons, just
Flores's group focused on making sure that Judkins and Stefanski's
rushing attack isn't a factor on Sunday.

Speaker 3 (23:28):
Yeah, man, I think that quinch On definitely is a
guy that we we have to pay attention to and
we have to stop.

Speaker 2 (23:34):
And here's the other.

Speaker 3 (23:36):
Thing about about their offensive philosophy too, is you know,
you go back and watch that Packers game.

Speaker 2 (23:43):
They're down ten points in the fourth quarter.

Speaker 3 (23:46):
Now they haven't they haven't pete a drop offensively all
game long. There's a couple of bad interceptions, and and
you know, you would think when they're down ten, like
with ten minutes left to go in the game, it's
just like, Okay, it's lopsided, we got to throw.

Speaker 2 (23:59):
The football down.

Speaker 3 (24:00):
Nope, that's not the way Stefancier runs it, and that's
not the way that he approaches the run game. And
so no matter what, you're gonna get four quarters a
run in the football. And I think that Judkins is
great on some of the inside zone stuff.

Speaker 2 (24:15):
He can get out to the outside.

Speaker 3 (24:16):
I don't see like he like true breakaway speed, but
he's just a good, solid player. And I was surprised
at actually how good his pass blocking was given that
he's so young.

Speaker 2 (24:30):
That's generally the situation in.

Speaker 3 (24:32):
The area where a lot of young guys just don't
want to step in there and get their nose bloodied.

Speaker 2 (24:37):
But you watch this guy, he's a three down back.

Speaker 3 (24:39):
You're gonna see him on third down step in there,
and he'll deliver some hits to some linebackers in the
pass game, and then you know, you also have to
watch out because they like to use him first down
screen passes, so's he's a little bit of everything. You
definitely have to slow him down and stop him. But
it's this Dylan Gabriel that I think that I'm most.

Speaker 2 (24:57):
Worried about, and with Judkins.

Speaker 5 (25:00):
Flores spoke to the media to the side after practice
today outside of the makeshift locker room, and in some
of the things he said about Judkins and how his
jump cuts are coming together, he didn't say anything about
pass protection or catching. I think Dylan Samson, a Tennessee
rookie that they use. He has one receiving touchdown. It

(25:21):
came from Dylan Gabriel in mop up duty against the
Lions or the Ravens. But he had some glowing praise
for Judkins, and listening to him talk about that rookie
reminded me of during the joint practices of how he
was talking about the other Ohio State guy, Henderson.

Speaker 1 (25:40):
Now with with Ben the you know, focusing on that
at the at the end of your comment there, Ben,
you mentioned that Dylan Gabriel kind of, you know, not
worried about it or just most focused on kind of
the idea of you know, what's new and you can
look at the record. Flora is handling rookie qbs as
successful as he's been from a defensive standpoint, you know,
kind of imitting not really a rookie, but Pennix.

Speaker 4 (26:02):
You think about week two wasn't.

Speaker 1 (26:03):
Explosive, and maybe part of that because Jean ran for
a freaking mile him and l Gear. But at the
quarterback spot, specifically with Dylan Gabriel, not a lot of
tape on him, so a chance to shock, chance to surprise.
What is intriguing to you about his opportunity on Sunday.

Speaker 2 (26:21):
His ability to run?

Speaker 3 (26:23):
You know, I think that you know, a lot of
people are kind of looking at Dylan Gabriel and they're like, well,
I mean, thank goodness, we're going to play a rookie
quarterback in his first start. And yeah, I think a
lot of that's true. But I think that if you'd
be silly to think that you won't see a whole
different offense. You think they're they're going to run Joe
Flacco type of plays with Dylan Gabriel There absolutely not.

(26:43):
So I think that there is a wild card. There's
an X factor approach to how to understand what are
they going to do, how are they going to use it?

Speaker 2 (26:51):
This is not going to look like to me.

Speaker 3 (26:53):
I think if if Stefansi's looking at the way that
he was able to be so productive in college, you're
going to have to take aspects of that and bring
it into your own offense. And so there's some RPO there,
there's some read option there, there's some design quarterback keep game.
Especially since he's left handed where he goes to his left,
there's speed option mix in there as well. Or he's

(27:15):
just going to take this, you know, a direct snap
under or from shotgun, and he's gonna have Judkins as
just a speed option type of guy going to his left.

Speaker 2 (27:24):
And now all of a sudden, now's a defense.

Speaker 3 (27:26):
You have to think about what's my option responsible is
how often do you have to think about that? I mean,
it's not like we're playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers back in
the day with Tommy Frasier. But you know, it is
a different wrinkle, especially the way that Oregon ran it.
It was a lot of times in the red zone
where things are happening faster, you've got to make decisions quicker.

(27:46):
And then all of a sudden you get speed option
out of a quarterback that you never saw on tape.
And he is faster and more nimble than you think.
I mean when he's running away from high end FBS
college football players in open so the guy has more wheels.
So the reason why I'm worried about him is because
in combination with Judkins, in combination with his quick release,

(28:09):
he's very accurate underneath, has enough arm strength to throw
deep balls, not necessarily driving and driving the football, you
know at the twenty yard mark in between the hashes.
I don't think that's part of his game. But he
can throw deep ball and he can actually have designed
quarterback runs, which is a whole new wrinkle that we
haven't seen so far this year. Caleb didn't do it

(28:31):
per se. I mean, he scrambles and he creates and
he creates second opportunities in Pennix. You know, he can
be elusive, but he's not a designed dual threat quarterback
that Gabriel is.

Speaker 5 (28:44):
Did you and just quickly with Gabriel, you know, sixty
touchdowns over two years, at a big school against big teams.
That's no joke, you know, And that's what he threw
over his last two years at Oregon. But last year,
and you know, I like to do this where it's
when you're a rookie and you're making your first start. Okay, well,

(29:05):
how did you do against the best of the best
last year with the biggest crowds and the loudest crowds,
and you know, the best players who end up going
to the NFL. And for Gabriel that would be two
games against Ohio State. Well, he beat him in the
regular season, and he made some massive plays on third
down in the final four and a half minutes of
the game. Then they beat his team rather soundly in

(29:28):
the in the college football playoffs. But I think he
had two touchdowns, zero picks, and and he represented well.
They just had other problems, specifically defensively. So when when
those lights were bright, this young man came.

Speaker 1 (29:41):
Through, let me let me ask you this Ben, in
relation to Gabriel and just this offense in general, then
what did you What did you feel? Because I thought
week two you hear about kind of the Viking the
Vikings defense in particular, not necessarily out muscled. But maybe
there was a physical element you didn't see and a
lot of people honed in on Ivan pace and just
maybe some decision making that didn't work his way, some mistackles,

(30:03):
et cetera. What do you think of the defense as
tackling in that Steelers game? And then clearly whether it's paced,
maybe it's Eric Wilson in the middle, you know, somebody
having an eye and a bead on Gabriel just I
need a very physical bunch from Floras on Sunday.

Speaker 4 (30:18):
That makes sense, right.

Speaker 2 (30:19):
No, that makes sense.

Speaker 3 (30:20):
And the thing is like, that's you look at our
two losses and what happens at the line of scrimmage
up on really on both sides of the football, we
get manhandled. We lose those battles on a more consistent
basis than we do in the games that we win.
And that is Yeah, there's some scheme to that.

Speaker 5 (30:37):
You know.

Speaker 3 (30:37):
I think that in some of the Atlanta game, you know,
we just got you know, frankly out schemed. I think
up front, we weren't good enough on some of the
combo blocks to make a difference. And then the lineman
got up to a linebackers immediately and we just we're
just too small to get off these blocks at a
consistent basis. And not every team can execute those things
the way that the Falcons did. But it's it is

(31:00):
about controlling the line of scrimmage first and foremost on
both sides. I mean, you look at the way that
we're able to stop the run and wins versus losses,
it is dramatic. In the two wins that we have,
we only give up fifty one yards on average, and
the two losses that we've had, we've give up one
hundred and seventy one yards on average.

Speaker 2 (31:17):
So I mean it is a stark difference.

Speaker 3 (31:20):
And then, as a you know, haven't been there, I
know what it feels like to get run over like
that and lose the line of scrimmage. You are literally
playing on your heels. You don't know what they're doing.
And then you get a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers who
is so surgical about how he's able to throw quickly.

Speaker 2 (31:39):
Your head's on a swivel.

Speaker 3 (31:40):
You don't have a clean tackle and open space ever,
because you're trying to make your drops, You're trying to
get your reads, and you kind of maybe stop the run.
You're trying to do this, and then you look at
way the way Dylan Gabriel and Stefanski and look at
that pass game and get that past game and get
ready for our game. They're like, oh, quick, game is
going to be there. As long as you know where
your outs are, you're going to have a for guys

(32:00):
to make plays in space. Also, we're going to have
to have, you know, like you said, linebackers that have
quarterback spy duty, on on option, on read option, on
some of the RPO stuff.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
And then we haven't even talked about.

Speaker 3 (32:15):
Maybe they're the most used player in this Harold Fanom Junior,
the tied end who is sort of like a Kyle
Uesed check in the way that they use him. Where
he might be outside the formation, motions inside and runs
a play. He might be inside the formation, goes all
the way outside and runs a bubble screen. I mean
he's he's a guy that can play in that in

(32:35):
that traditional tight end spot. He can also be a
full back slash h back, leading up into the hole
and being a lead blocker. This guy will take you
to the play most of the time, but you got
to understand where he's going to line up, Where he's
going to motion to and what they can do off
of all those actions.

Speaker 5 (32:50):
And after taking in two days of practice Nordo without oversharing, Yeah,
I can tell you right now forty four has the
attention of Brian Flores really big Tom.

Speaker 4 (32:59):
Now, that's that's a good thing. Last thing for you, gentlemen.

Speaker 1 (33:01):
And this is kind of a dumb cliched question, I
get it, but bear with me. Just kind of the
idea at two and two seasons not over. But I
just I've felt it all week from a fan sentiment standpoint.
With the health issues, you almost feel helpless, like what
next shoe is going to drop? In terms of what
we've seen from this crew, the mash unit of the
offensive line that we went in through.

Speaker 4 (33:23):
You know, every game is equally important.

Speaker 1 (33:25):
I think, you know, Ko the most important game in
his life is the next one, et cetera. But just
the ability to get through the Browns and in some
ways get to the bye week, get a little bit healthier,
and wash your hands of this, like do you feel
a vital necessary aspect to this at all?

Speaker 2 (33:40):
Well?

Speaker 5 (33:41):
Cashman and Jackson, Blake, Cashman and Donovan Jackson I believe
will return in the Philadelphia game, so out of the buye,
i'd expect those two.

Speaker 2 (33:51):
O'Neill somewhere around there.

Speaker 5 (33:54):
The curious one is Andrew van Genkole, you know, because
I you know, was caught off guard a couple of
weeks ago that that he didn't play and you know
now he's not practicing this week, so that that that's
the curious one of the whole equation.

Speaker 2 (34:10):
Yeah, I'm with you.

Speaker 3 (34:11):
And then as much as you know we love Jordan Mason,
you know, when are we going to get Aaron Jones back?
I mean that's another one that just kind of gives
us a different dimension. Is I if I look at
this game and I think, you know, to to maybe
answer your your question and what you're talking about, not
only is it vital that we we win this game,
also there's another aspect to this that you know, we

(34:32):
talk about offense.

Speaker 2 (34:33):
And defense a lot.

Speaker 3 (34:35):
I think the way I think the biggest part of
this that we're not talking about is I don't think
that they're very good on special teams and.

Speaker 2 (34:42):
I think got him for a punt return touchdown last game.

Speaker 3 (34:46):
I do think that when you look at the depth,
because that's really where that's really where I think a
lot of your roster building sort of shines is how
well do your special teams perform. And I think that
I know this is a biased but I think that
our depth of quality is just better than their depth
of quality. And yes we have injuries on offensive line,

(35:07):
but outside of the field goal protection unit, you don't
seen a lot of offensive linement on punt return, kick return,
and vice versa. So I think that our tight ends,
our fullbacks, our running backs, our linebackers, our safeties, our
corners depth there is better than what they have in Cleveland.
So if there is a way and we can find
a bright spot in this game, if if the way

(35:29):
I'm thinking about it, if their defensive front is going
to kind of take care of and really limit our
rushing attack, really limit the points. Points have to come
from somewhere, and I'm hoping that this is the game
that we get some points from special teams along with
our defense. I mean, we have to just not have
you know, five takeaways in one game and then disappear
for a game like we got to be more consistent

(35:49):
about being opportunistic. So hopefully we can get the ball
back defensively, get our offensive short field and doggan it man,
I hope that our freaking special teams really shines on this.

Speaker 5 (35:58):
Game, and just to land the plane on that and
amplify it. They that that's a great take because one
of the best players on their team overall is safety
Grant Delpit, all right, and he plays on multiple special
teams phases. Now, just think about that, I mean one
of your you don't want the like the Vikings don't

(36:21):
use Isaiah Rodgers on kick returns because they don't want
to lose him, want to use Harrison Smith on the
special team, right, So like nine in the Red Jersey
when when they're practicing special teams, you know number nine
is the identifiable guy. That's that's what you hear him
yelling most because he's really good at everything he does.
But it's all fun and games until one of your

(36:42):
best players gets hurt on kick coverage because you don't
trust people behind him.

Speaker 1 (36:48):
So you're you're just calling it. Then, Ben, you might
as well just call it. I know we don't do
like locks of the Week or anything, just just just
say it. Just say Miles Price is gonna find one,
He's gonna catch one, he's gonna run one for on
Sunday at Tottenham, do a little soccer slide and walk
into the winner circle.

Speaker 4 (37:05):
What about that, Ben, you ready to call?

Speaker 2 (37:06):
Let's do it. Let's just like stamp it and make
sure that it happens.

Speaker 1 (37:10):
Hey, thank you so much for hanging out, Ben, and
as chaotic as this schedule is and such, really appreciate it.
It's Ben Lieber at Nacho liber whether it's Twin Cities Live.
And of course again the support from the Children's Cancer
Research Fund, their support of nine to Noon and the
work they're doing very very important, and we appreciate them
for it. I'm going to say bye for now to

(37:32):
UPA and we're gonna hear from Justin Jefferson a press
conference that he did just minutes ago across the Pond,
and then the eleven am hour will kick off PA back.

Speaker 4 (37:42):
In the mix.

Speaker 1 (37:43):
Sounds like we're gonna get some operations intel from a
special guest later in the hour, and also a couple
of players. Let's hear from Zay Scott, Let's hear from
Biro Murphy Junior. So kind of a funfilled second half
of the show. Around the corner, it's Nordo. You're listening
to nine to noon on the Fan nine to noon.
This is how the rest of the show is going
to shape U. PA back in the mixed next segment
from London, and then he actually got the chance to

(38:05):
chat with not just running back Xavier Scott's Day Scott,
but then cornerback Byron Murphy Junior. So you're going to
hear those conversations final hour and then Operations extraordinaire ops Maven.

Speaker 4 (38:17):
For the Minnesota Vikings.

Speaker 1 (38:18):
I believe Paul Martin will be sitting with Pa towards
the end of the show, just kind of working in again.
Just this complete, this circus of sorts that doesn't feel
like a circus because of great people like Paul Martin
who put this thing together. Traveling overseas for a couple
of games in Dublin and London ain't an easy task.
Ain't an easy task covering Justin Jefferson and the wide

(38:43):
Receiver was speaking with the media earlier today, and I
want you to be able to hear that as I
don't believe it was out on their socials. So here's
jets with the media earlier today. Make sure.

Speaker 2 (38:57):
The season with a little.

Speaker 7 (38:58):
Bit on certain.

Speaker 8 (39:02):
You know, to be honest, that's kind of been my
whole entire career, uh since I've been here, so uh,
you know, it's just not really flinching on on that
type of deal. And that's something that I can't really control.
So uh the only thing that I can control is
going out there and uh catching the ball and you know,
winning on my routes and making sure that I'm open,
uh for the quarterback to to see. Uh So it

(39:25):
really doesn't matter who's out there throwing the ball, and uh,
I'm always had I always have confidence in myself and
the person throwing the ball that you know, we're gonna
make something shake. So uh it's it's been difficult, you know,
just trying to connect with the Q one quarterback and uh,
you know, getting that relationship.

Speaker 2 (39:42):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (39:42):
But at the end of the day, my job is
to go out there and catch the ball and be
a a open target for my.

Speaker 9 (39:47):
Quarterback and you shutting the brows watching so really good.

Speaker 8 (39:53):
Yeah, of course I studied them. Uh you know, they're
definitely they're definitely a really good team.

Speaker 9 (39:59):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (40:00):
Uh you know they have great secondary. Of course, everybody
knows about their D line.

Speaker 9 (40:04):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (40:05):
So it's it's gonna be a tough battle, just like
the Steelers were. You know, it's kind of a similar team.
Uh if you look at the look at the uh
the player sheet. But you know, just going off of
last week and uh seeing the different things that we
put out there on tape and good and bad. You know,
we just need to limit the bad and focus on
ourselves and focus on those pre slap penalties, and uh,

(40:28):
we feel like we will be in a great spot.

Speaker 7 (40:31):
Looks like like Smith that wanted to be people all
with what they read the.

Speaker 8 (40:36):
Good, a little mixture of both, you know, just depending
on how the defense played me and uh if they
have a double you know, uh, you know if they
want to have a double towards me or uh if
they're playing me man. Man, you know, those are definitely

(40:56):
things that we look look at, especially the first drive
of the game.

Speaker 9 (41:00):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (41:01):
But you know just sometimes you know, getting getting me
the ball early, uh and and you know letting me
you know, work off just you know, getting the ball
in my hand.

Speaker 9 (41:10):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (41:10):
You know, apparently a lot of good things happen. So
just continuing on, just trying to stack up the yards
after catch and just trying to just like I said,
trying to get open from our quarterback to see me.

Speaker 10 (41:24):
Up. It's about your sign challenge that Miles characters.

Speaker 9 (41:31):
He watched career. Yeah, he's a big challenge.

Speaker 8 (41:35):
Uh you know, that's that's that's definitely something that uh,
you know, no one can sit here and lie to
you and say that, you know, we're not worrying about him.

Speaker 9 (41:43):
You know, of course he's a big, big.

Speaker 8 (41:46):
Threat on that defensive line and uh, mixed with you know,
all of the other guys that they have.

Speaker 9 (41:51):
Uh, you know, it's it's.

Speaker 8 (41:52):
We always got to know where ninety five is and
making sure that we're putting hands on him and slowing
him down as much as possible.

Speaker 9 (41:59):
So uh yeah, if you you.

Speaker 8 (42:01):
Know, allow him to to you know, be into the
game and get the sacks, get the tackles for lost
uh that kind of you know, get everybody else's momentum
up and uh they feed off of that energy. So
just you know, limiting him as much as we can. Uh,
you know, he's still a freak of nature and he's
still you know, a talented player, so uh we will

(42:21):
trying to slow him down as much as possible. But uh,
you know, it's it's just very valuable to know where
he's at at.

Speaker 9 (42:28):
All times, all the side.

Speaker 8 (42:37):
Oh No, he's definitely in the mix. You know, he's
definitely you know, in the in the back of us. Uh,
in the back of the offense and make sure he's
getting all of those mental reps. He's still communicating with
the quarterbacks and communicating with ce Ce Wentz about you know,
what he sees out there and the different things that
goes on.

Speaker 2 (42:55):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (42:56):
At the end of the day, he's you know, still
our our guy, and he's still uh, you know, the
quarterback that we we lean on. So uh, he he's
definitely have to be in there mentally, uh, physically.

Speaker 10 (43:07):
Uh.

Speaker 9 (43:07):
And he he.

Speaker 8 (43:08):
Definitely can't sit back and just uh watch and go
through the motions. Uh, just like I was in training camp.

Speaker 10 (43:14):
Uh.

Speaker 9 (43:15):
He still have to be you know.

Speaker 8 (43:16):
Uh, he's a valuable part of this offense, so he
has to be in the mix as much as possible.

Speaker 10 (43:21):
You usually off a loss where there's an under way
and you different the loss and you'd ask.

Speaker 8 (43:28):
Me, yeah, it's been a little different. You know, this
this is the first time that we're you know, in
this type of situation and uh, you know, of course,
going up, going off of last week's loss. Uh, it's
definitely difficult, you know, to to you know, just go
through the whole motion and having to travel to a
different city and uh and everything. But at the end

(43:50):
of the day, we gotta win, you know, and that's
the main focus.

Speaker 9 (43:53):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (43:53):
We definitely have to get that bad taste out of
him out from last week and uh seeing the film
and seeing the different things that we put out there.

Speaker 9 (44:00):
Uh, you know, we hurt ourselves a lot of times.

Speaker 8 (44:03):
Uh, and so that's that's definitely something that we have
been focusing on this week, and just making sure that
we limited the turnovers, limit limiting the the penalities and uh,
making sure everybody is on the same page. So uh,
it's it's been a different transition, but uh, I feel
like everybody is handling it very very well.

Speaker 7 (44:20):
And then one or will you go to London sleep?

Speaker 8 (44:25):
You know, I'll you know, try to get the get
down there a little bit to you know, spend time
with you know, my family and everything, and uh, I
never I never really been to London, so uh it'll
be cool just to you know, sight see a little bit.
But uh, you know, at the end of the day,
it's a business trip and uh, I came here to
play a game and to win a game, So I'll
do all of my festivities in the off season.

Speaker 10 (44:47):
As someone who's you know, been to uh played in
function international gangs ready, I mean Hull Street. But somebody
else says young the NFL that have uh basically international
gang every week.

Speaker 2 (44:58):
It's uh your respect on that. Wow, I mean I
like it.

Speaker 8 (45:02):
Uh, you know, just coming into a different country, you know,
just experiencing a different atmosphere, a different uh fan base,
you know. Uh, and just you know, having that bonding
moment with your teammates, you know, being in a different country,
spending the extra time with them, away from family, you know,
away from friends.

Speaker 9 (45:20):
So uh, it has its pros and cons.

Speaker 8 (45:23):
I would say, uh, you know, the the the difficult
part is just you know, transitioning from you know, of course,
uh the six hour time difference and uh just you know,
being able to come here and understand that we're here
for a game, not for you know, a trip or
a vacation.

Speaker 9 (45:39):
So uh that's the main thing.

Speaker 8 (45:41):
But I definitely you know, approve, and I'm for you know,
just trying to expand this game and uh, you know,
just putting it in in different, different countries.

Speaker 2 (45:52):
Different. Is it your way two weeks.

Speaker 9 (45:57):
Frightful days have have.

Speaker 8 (46:01):
Yeah, it's different, I would say, just you know, having
a transition from uh, you know, being here only for
three or four days, just like you said, to now
being here for ten.

Speaker 10 (46:12):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (46:12):
You know, just it's different, and you got to get
you know, acclimated to the time zones and the time difference.
But I feel like we had a great plan, you know,
a great system into making sure that you know, we
have our rest, we have our caffeine to keep us
up a little bit longer. But I am excited for
these type of games. I'm excited to play in front

(46:33):
of new fans and a new atmosphere. I always enjoy
these type of trips.

Speaker 1 (46:38):
Uh.

Speaker 8 (46:38):
And at the end of the day, just like I said,
we got to come here and get a win, and
especially from that loss from last week. So we can't
come on this trip and be owing too.

Speaker 1 (46:48):
That's justin Jefferson with the media earlier this morning. And yeah,
got to get that w You can't go in two certainly,
but you look at the daunting schedule after the break,
But how are we going to get eighteen involved? We
can't tech Carson that continues. It appears to be the
a topic around stopping Miles Garrett. You hurt even you know,
it's like that's not my.

Speaker 4 (47:06):
Job to block them. But I don't know.

Speaker 2 (47:08):
Maybe we just have we.

Speaker 1 (47:10):
Got we got tight ends handcuffed to tackles, and it's
just can we can we do? We have to bring
Hargrave over to the offensive side of the ball. We
got the we got the All Pro Special Teams long snapper.
Maybe he's playing center. I mean, just unbelievable situation with
this squad and health as it is now. That was
justin Jefferson when we returned, and we're gonna chat and

(47:32):
maybe we have to do some depth chart deep dives
with not just the Vikings, but maybe the Browns as
well as we figure out how to beat the Browns
on Sunday morning at Tottenham. We'll check back in with
the host around the corner and uh, and I believe Brett.
You know it's a little bit early. I guess as
we're ending the second hour, why don't you hand over
that that cash keyword now and then we'll pause.

Speaker 6 (47:51):
Sure, Yeah, the fan and two minute of junk Chuck
want to give you a shot to win bonus Bucks
with the National Cash Contest at KFA dot com. Keywor
This hour is money, Heyward money f N dot com
keyword