October 7, 2025 • 50 mins
92Noon! If Not Now When? - Vikes Bites
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ay on a beautiful October morning, more temperature appropriate land
of a Thousand dances thanks to one of the great
films in the history of cinema, The Great Outdoors. I
encourage you, if you're one of the few people that
haven't watched it, watch it. You'll appreciate the best of
Ackroyd and Candy Come of John rest in peace. But
(00:24):
Nordo went for PA sixty five to one, carpet studios
and heavy on talkbacks and texts throughout the first hour
Today vikings into bye week. So six four six eight
six bratch on Brian KFA and text line and then
also any of you listening via the free iHeartRadio app.
I'm sure many of you are, and you have the
(00:44):
fan as one of your presets on the app. But
you hit that microphone, you give us up to your
best thirty seconds and we will play them in mass
And part of that I want to do that today
because we didn't do a ton of that yesterday. We
asked for the talkbacks, we asked, we asked for the texts,
and maybe sometimes we go on long winding tangents and
maybe we don't get to as many talkbacks as we should,
(01:08):
as we want to hear from you. But to that end, Brett,
Brett Blakemore is producing this morning a little bit of
potpourri and a nine to noon Tuesday, as the Vikings
are into the bye it'll shock most of the Vikings fans. Apparently.
There are other sports and other events taking place, including
the Minnesota Wild opening their season Thursday night in Saint Louis.
(01:31):
W Welcome back to the Minnesota Wild as they embark
on their own journey to twenty twenty five twenty six
campaign Thursday night in Saint Louis. I've actually tasked Brett
Blakemore to assemble some nuggets, some morsels, if possible, that
excite him and maybe some things that should excite us
(01:55):
into the season. I must ask you and derail my
own opening segment here. Connor McDavid signs the two year
deal yesterday twelve and a half per There was a
little bit of murmur or shock maybe or surprised associated
with that, considering, you know, especially here in Saint Paul.
The idea that you know was, was Carill going to
(02:16):
set the market for Connor? Was there a waiting game
to see who was going to get that massive dollar
amount first? But in the end it sounds like Connor's
going to you know, two years maybe on the cheap,
certainly by his standards. So win a cup sometime in
the next two years and then the Brinks truck is
going to be backed up for mister McDavid. Is that
(02:37):
Am I gathering that correctly, Brett? So that's essentially what
it is.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
It's a two year win it now or we move
on basically, and him and caprice Off are about the
same age, so this will be the comparison between the
two deals. Will really not will not be able to
have the full picture of it for you know, three
or four years, probably before we decide who was there
was talk of Caprice Off, you know, maybe wanting to
do the same thing, at least from media. No one
(03:03):
within his camp suggested that at all that maybe you
do a shorter term, try to win now, and then
kick the can down the road. Certainly, that's what McDavid's
doing is let's give it two more years and let's
run it and see what happens, and then someone's going
to have to pay him a lot the next two.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Year, a lot of money. Yeah, but there's no can
kicking here in Saint Paul. We figured it out eight
years Buck thirty six. Corilla is hours for the next
total of nine years, I believe, so looking forward to
that from Brett. Also popa re style on a Tuesday.
Lavelli Neil the third, of course of Star Tribune fame.
He's going to be in studio at eleven And I
(03:39):
keep getting these questions, and I'll admit I've kind of
from a baseball standpoint, it is until ownership changes with
our favorite team. I mean, I'm watching, you know, the
Brewers and the run that they're potentially on and the
Dodgers as of now, I mean they're beating the Phillies
and the Dodgers of the day. Rogers, they get it,
(04:01):
but they appear to be on a collision course. In
the NLCS, Phillies and Cubs fans sweating hard Rob Manfred's
sweating the idea of a Mariner's Blue Jays Alcs. Although
the Tigers are game I think it's one to one
in the series, Yankees being outclassed through the by the
Birds through two. But I'm watching these games and I
(04:21):
love it, and I'm excited to kind of dig into
some of this playoff baseball with Levell, but with our
team until there's change at the top, you know, the
managerial search and some of those things. It hasn't really
hit the radar of nine to noon, at least at
a high level. But I'm hoping Levell comes in with
some with some intel today in terms of what's next
in replacing Rocobaldli. But again that'll be part of the
(04:43):
Tuesday Pope Rie conversation. And as I mentioned, talkbacks today, welcome,
we love them vikings into the bye biggest opinion through
five with this team, favorite thing, least favorite thing, what's good?
What's bad? With the purple JJ or Carson has really
been in vogue and you know, if both are fully healthy,
(05:05):
who are you rolling with? I'll accept them, happy to
listen to them, and maybe the player you're seeking or
looking to see most in terms of being healthy and
playing out of the by so free. iHeartRadio app hit
us with some talkbacks, happy to hear them. But about
last night, I want to start here the Jaguars, the
(05:27):
Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that at times you're watching four
touchdowns in the second half in a wild card game
to beat Brandon Staley's Los Angeles Chargers. You're watching the
team that next week that would be game against the
Chiefs at Arrowhead. You're also watching a team that starts
(05:47):
nine to three, loses like the Final five, finds their
way out of the playoffs. There's a coaching change, and
mister Cohen duve all just the awkwardness of that whole thing,
and then you're them last night. Rise to the occasion
to best Patrick Mahomes's Chiefs in primetime.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
First and goal at the Kansas City one under center
is launch the snip, Holy fell down as he pulled away,
hits the deck, tuts, tuck up, takes a chuckle, five
him again, Touchtown touchdown, Jacksonville touchdown.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Fog has been.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Thrown holding defense member. Six period is the time we
go to the play of the touchdown Prober Lawrence a
touchdown run and a two point Checksonville lead with the
extra point coming up, but twenty three seconds on the
(06:44):
clock and the Chiefs had three timeouts.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
I told you, Kevin, strange things happen when there's a
harvest supermood.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
That courtesy of Westwood won Mister Harlan on the Kevin
Harlan on the call for moments like that, probably doesn't
get better. Brett as a as a diseased Packers fan. Yes,
do you actually because your squad's on a bye after
the tie tie into a buy? What a feeling? What
a feeling it must be.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Do you actually watch other teams or do you just
shut it down?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I actually if I was by myself, you know, but
I have friends that are Vikings fans, and you know, no,
I watched the game last night.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
You did. I did? Sweet so into the preseason, and
I wouldn't expect you to remember this, but in the
in the in the preseason, we we do what we
call throwaway bits where Pa and I will text into
a show. Hey, you know we got we got this
open spot at nine ninety seven. You and I have
(07:47):
text when I fill in, and she's just kind of,
you know, putting pieces together and you let them know
what you're doing. And and and our show we try
at times to be thematic, but in a lot of cases,
the the guest heavy nature it kind of you know.
Guesstline is going to be Viking Central at ten today,
Ben Gesling, Star Tribune. He's going to be in studio
(08:09):
at ten lavell As I mentioned at eleven. So, but
so then you get your guests in the mix, and
then you fill spots and in a lot of cases,
as I was mentioning with the talkbacks, you ask for talkbacks,
you play two out of the seventy five or one
hundred you get, and then you go on long winding
tangents not dissimilar from the tangent I'm going on right now.
(08:33):
But as part of that throwaway bits, so I did
this bit in the preseason. I think I just said,
if not now, when, And it's into the regular season.
JJ McCarthy is still healthy. We're pumped for his debut here,
but if not now, when the idea of certain quarterbacks
(08:54):
from my standpoint, who had to step up into the
twenty twenty five like they care what my opinion is.
But I look at him like it's time. If it's
not going to happen in twenty twenty five, when's it
going to happen? So Kyler Murray and at this stage
of his career getting paid a healthy amount, Jonathan Gannon's
trying to build this defense around him. We've seen now
(09:16):
through five games some injuries at the running back spot.
One of the more comical ways in the history of
the NFL and certainly in the franchise history, the Cardinals
to lose a game to the freaking Titans. Embarrassing as
that was, we saw that now. But Kyler Murray a guy.
If not now, when, then Tua Tua Ta till you're satisfied.
(09:37):
Nobody's satisfied in South Beach, and the head coach looks
like he hasn't slept since the beginning of the season.
He's a mess, and the team is becoming a mess
as well. Tyreek Hills legs pointing the wrong way. Defense
is struggling. We've watched Tua. If not now, for Tua when?
(10:00):
And then I threw Justin Fields in there. That's just weird.
I don't know. I think I did. I think I
did it because it was a throwaway segment and I
had to fill twelve minutes and I had to bank
maybe enough content until my guy got bored and just
started looking at his phone or reading X while I
just tried to talk with him. Yeah, so I think
(10:22):
that's why I threw Justin Fields in the mix. And
then Trevor Lawrence and so kind of if not now,
when and for now, it seems like at least one
of the four happens to be running with it. After
you watch Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars pull one out.
They improved to four and one. About that division, by
(10:44):
the way, AFC South super maligned Houston Texans trying to
find their way. I think they're two and three, but
both the Colts with with Danny Dimes, who's become a dollar,
and they're running it with Jonathan Taylor a bounce back
after I think it was the Rams loss. They just
absolutely smoke the Raiders over the weekend. They're four and
one and so are the so are the Jags. But
(11:07):
Kyler again, embarrassing way to lose that game, and in
some ways you're watching some of that. It's not Kyler's
fault that de Mercado drops the ball on the brink
of the doorstep of the goal line. It's not his
fault that there was a pick followed by a fumble
as he's rolling on the ground, followed by a kick
followed by a recovery in the end zone. It's not
Kyler's fault. But overall, eh not, maybe taking advantage of
(11:32):
what's in front of him, still trying to figure out
how to get Harrison Junior involved and Trey McBride as
good as he is. You know, the weapons situation with
with Kyler leaves some to be desired to. Uh. I mean,
it's it's just it's not working down there, and that's
looking whether it's it's the coaches tenure maybe short lived,
but that whole situation and there is a problem. And
(11:53):
and then Fields again, I think I just I think
I added him just to just to kill some time.
There's a guy of the same age bracket, sure, but
in Farens in fairness kind of rises from the debt
Justin Fields a year ago with with Pittsburgh still kind
of head it is not a head scratching, but the
decision they made. They were always going to move to
(12:13):
Russell Wilson. I think the team was either three and
two or four and one in their first five games,
and Justin Fields didn't have any turnovers, not lighting it
up necessarily on a game by game basis through the air,
but the running ability is real and this opportunity maybe
after they moved to russ That puts Fields very disenfranchised.
(12:34):
And he moves on with this Jets. There's a new coach,
there's new life. There's always fun aspects of something being new.
And I mean the team's zero and five the team.
You get Aaron Glenn to the Jets because of his
defensive prowess in Detroit, and the team has no turnovers.
Everyone's scoring on them at will and it's not going
(12:57):
well for mister Glenn and the Jets curse continues.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
I swear there's something about the uniforms, because fields look
like a five hundred quarterback playing for the Steelers must
be what it is, perennial five hundred team.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
And then they're rowing five with the Jets right now. Yah,
the Jets. I actually think you solved it, so even
no more conversation even is required on justin fields. We
figured it out. It's the uniform. The throws that Trevor
Lawrence made last night when he had to have it
were unbelievable. And that throw specifically near side boundary to
(13:30):
Brian Thomas Junior moving left to right on that final drive,
that's as good as it gets. Any QB makes that throws,
we're all oohing, and ay, I think he finds Diami
Brown on a third down and then the touchdown play
you heard the audio, I'm sure you've seen the highlight.
It looks like he gets stepped on, falls, tries to
(13:50):
get up, falls again. Ezra Cleveland, by the way, former Viking,
I think he cleared the way for that touchdown there.
Look at the highlight again, try to find Ezra ken
but seizing the moment and speaking a new new head
coach and Liam Cohen new across the board. Grant Yuditski's
down there, Johnny Munt I believe is down there, and
(14:12):
and and there's so much new and they're they're seizing,
seizing the opportunity. The Jags can run the hell out
of the ball right now with with a healthy at
tend defense turns the ball over and Trevor has some
of that Friday night lights moxie. Now he also has
no idea where the line of scrimmage is that I don't,
(14:33):
I can't. I know what happened at least once last night,
and it happened a week or two ago. Trevor Lawrence scrambling,
and he's not just it's it's not just well, we
need to look at the tape and replay it to
see if his back foot is still behind the line
of scrimmage. He has three yards down the field and
(14:53):
chucking it. No clue of where he is on the
field in some of those moments, and he makes badness
the old lines good times, bad times, but kind of
if not now, when for Trevor Lawrence might be happening
right now before our eyes. And so this is again
what gets me back to back to my favorite team.
(15:16):
It was. It wasn't about, you know, being right in
terms of if not now when, just it's cool to
see the Jags topple the Chiefs. I don't look at
the Chiefs as an evil empire like some may. I
know many would look at the at the Brady Belichick
Patriots that way. But if not now, when the opportunity
in prime time to best the Chiefs always high class,
(15:39):
and the Jags pulled through. But it has me excited
again about seeing JJ McCarthy back on the field. And
the thing about JJ is kind of that that new
that breath, that what can happen And it's not, you know,
we got time with JJ. I suppose he's got the injury.
(16:02):
Now we got to wait for that thing to heal up.
We've heard the coach talk very non definitively in terms
of what that process looks like other than I need
him healthy, I need him on the field, I need
him through full practice weeks. I need that rhythm back.
We've heard that and not much else. And meanwhile, Carson
wentz nine to nine on a final scoring drive and
you find your way to a victory against Tefanski's Browns.
(16:24):
So that's cool. But it's got me excited again about
seeing JJ McCarthy on the field. And it didn't come
up yesterday, so much recap and everything, but Drake May
Sunday night, what he did in Buffalo another moment, another
performance that has me excited to know if we have
something in JJ McCarthy. How spectacular was Drake May in Buffalo?
(16:47):
And it's not about comparisons. And I'm pretty sure the
Vikings offered just about everything short of the freaking Moon
to move up and get Drake May. Patriots were standing Pat.
Pat's dead. The pat stood Pat, but the tar Heels
turning heads in year two, the ups and downs, idiotic
(17:08):
decision making. A year ago, you get the flashes of
arm talent, but then the mind boggling mistakes that put
the team in awful positions and they lost a lot
of games. Drake May got a lot of those opportunities
in his first season, opportunities that JJ McCarthy, due to injury,
did not get. And year two, how about the coaching staff?
(17:30):
Vrabel The verbel Aura in itself makes a difference, has
to be an upgrade on its own. But Josh McDaniels,
he's tried head coaching, He's failed at head coaching, but
we clearly know where his comfort zone is, and that's
being the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, little
talent around him. Stefan Diggs heard digs by the Way
(17:51):
Sunday night, going back in time. I forget who he
was talking to on the sideline before the game, but
he was talking about his leadership and just the growth
process for Stefan Diggs. I don't know if any of
you heard that. I mean, it immediately feels like there's
an expiration date on that. Right early season he's in
Buffalo to play's former team showed out by the Way
(18:13):
loving that stat line. I'm sure from a fantasy and
reality perspective if you're digging the Patriots, but definitely an
expiration date on that. But for now, Digsie's happy and
the attitude is good and he was at his best
for Drake May. But whether it's Trevor Lawrence last night,
it's Drake May two nights ago. These performances have me
(18:35):
so excited to see JJ McCarthy back on the field
for the Vikings and the learning moment here is and
I'll play some audio maybe it's some bikes bites here
there at some point and we'll talk more about it
with guestling. But JJ's only going to grow if he's
on the field and you hear about him learning on
the sideline and just getting to pick the brain of
(18:58):
a Carson Wentz. He's learning through observation. That's cool, and
Carson's a warrior by the way. Carson's playing well with
the circumstances around him. But we need to know what
McCarthy has. So whenever he's playing, you know again that
non definitive he's practicing fully gets that rhythm back with
darisaw with Donovan Jackson returning with Jordan Addison with a
(19:20):
healthier defense, let's roll, and that's watching Drake May, watch
seeing Lawrence last night. That has me reinvigorated to see
JJ McCarthy and it's for me it's kind of it's
it's now I'm turning the page on the well who's
healthy and who even gives the team the better chance
(19:41):
to win right now. I don't think any of us,
outside of in some ways, are our own biases. You know,
you want the confirmation bias. If if you if you
are a massive JJ McCarthy fan, you're going to be
you know, come in, You're you're gonna you're going to
lean that way because you believe that he has hasn't
gotten the shot, the shot to play with a healthy
(20:03):
O line. If you're a Carson Wentz fan, kid didn't
have it in the first two games. We moved on
to Carson cool story, Bismarck's finest went to the Metrodome
to see his favorite team play. As a kid, your
confirmation by you'll be you'll be constantly looking for morsels
to to dig into to support Carson's campaign. But in
(20:23):
the end, it's it's not for me. It's it's I
need to see what the kid has because of the investment.
And so that's where it sits for me. And that's
why earlier in the segment, I was kind of telling
you where's your head at? And that's for six four,
six eighty six, that's for talkbacks with the free iHeart
Radio app. Those performances this weekend of football has completely
(20:45):
reinvigorated me to just needing to see number nine on
the field, see what we have. As I watch a
couple other teams around the league finding their way as
as they've they've they've gotten some awakening moments from their quarterbacks.
And I'm hoping that's what McCarthy asks and if he
doesn't have it, now we know and we can move
(21:05):
forward accordingly TimberTech setlist. As I said, Lavelli Neil the
Third from the Star Tribune, He's going to be in
studio at eleven. We'll jump on the Vikings Bears out
of the by. We'll converse about that, stay to the
North if you will, and some NFL talkers, but also
Minnesota Twins, the managerial search and Olavell has been poking
and prodding on that. Baseball playoffs in the mix. So
(21:25):
fun final hour with Lavell Heavy on the Purple at
ten am with Ben Gesling and the Star Tribune as well.
It's kind of a Strib Tuesday. A couple of guys
from the Strib hanging out. Love that. Ben Gesling will
be in studio at ten o'clock Standard Heating and Air,
your weekly sponsor for mister Gestling. And then whether it's talkbacks,
it's texts, some nuggets on the wild. First hour is
(21:47):
going to be whether it's the Wild, it's going to
be Vikings nugs. We're going to continue this conversation with
Brett blakemore producing. I'm nordoing for PA on a Tuesday,
and you know what, Let's do this. Let's get someone
the chance to win one thousand dollars via the Cash Contest.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
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Speaker 5 (23:02):
In order to this is Greg down on the Farming
New KOs was asked after the game on Sunday if
Kid come up with a game plan that was different
than really anything he's ever done before, and all he
said was I needed a plan to actually win the game.
Do you take that to mean that he finally acknowledged
a need for some quick passing game with the makeshift
(23:22):
offensive line. If so, I'm just really excited that that's
the case that he finally acknowledged it.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Hey, thanks for thanks for the talkback before we skate
on over to the NHL. The and props to New
Alm by the way, from I believe we got Herman,
the German, We got Shell's Brewery, home of Bockfest. I
don't know if they still play down down in the
Burning Ring of Fire. There used to be a band
at Bockfest in New Alm where they would just play
(23:49):
that song on repeat for six hours while you walked
around looking for sheep's heads in the woods while drinking
delicious shells bock beer. I wonder if they still do that, Greg.
I think what I kind of gathered from the game,
and this is again shooting from the hip, shooting from
the lip is I think this is one of the
(24:09):
tougher coaching performances of Kevin O'Connell's time here in Minnesota,
because of the O line, because of what he wasn't
able to do with the pieces that he had to
play with. And so I don't know if it was
a final acknowledgment. Is is any coach potentially stubborn in
their philosophy, certainly, but what I felt is a coach
(24:33):
that I mean, it sounds odd to say it. In
some ways, he needed to come home, just like the
team needed to where that was an absolute grind to
get past Stefanski and the Browns, and yes, in some ways,
altering and that game plan in a vacuum for one
game to get by Cleveland was probably infinitely more difficult
than he ever wished or thought that it could be.
(24:57):
When the schedule comes out and he thinks he's going
into work with an old line that he doesn't have,
he thinks he's got a running back he doesn't have.
He's got a wide receiver who misses three games because
of a suspension, and they can't. I mean, he's in
a captive environment, in a countryside manner and he misses it. Walkthrough,
How does that happen? But all the things that went
into it, Yes, I think there's an acknowledgment on his
(25:19):
end that to win games they're going to have to
do it a bit differently than maybe initially that he
would have considered. So thanks for the talking and I
got a bunch more to play here. But I did
tell Brett I want to know what's up with my
favorite hockey team as they enter the twenty twenty five seasons.
We are indeed going to skate over to the NHL
for a couple of nuggets on the hockey team? What's
(25:41):
going on with the Wild?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
While opening nights not too far away Thursday night Saint
Louis Blues in Saint Louis, the line combinations look like
they're cemented, and that's my favorite thing to do. When
we talked about the Wild is rip the line combinations
and why aren't we doing this? Marco Rossi centers the
top line between priest Soft and Boldie. Oh we love
that because we love that because Zukerolo's out.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
That's a pretty strong top line.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Yeah, second line, Eric Snick love that centering Tarasenko and Fellino.
You have to look down the sheet to find young
guns Jurov and Ogrin. They are on the fourth line
Shak Horror with a Nico Sturm, who we do love.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Here's John, So would you say that second line Tarasenko, Jule,
Eric Shinak and Felino.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
That's that's our speed line. That's the offensive powerhouse line.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
That's what that is.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Here's John Hines talking about why Felino's on the second line.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
He's had a good camp.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
I know there's been some some camerasry with with Ecki.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
You know, I think those two guys can get in
on the puff as well and see what see what
that that combination would look like. So it's just, you know,
we're still trying to figure out a little bit who's
in that spot if we were to keep the lines together,
which you know we probably will, uh for the seeable
future to see how it goes. So, you know, I
think we looked at og and Ogre and you're off there.
(27:07):
Joe Hanson can play there. So take a look at
Moose now.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Now before we get to opinion, he was asked again,
what about you're off? What about Ogrin? Because this seems
like a picture perfect opportunity. Was Zugarrella being out, there's
a spot open for one of those guys to get
a look there, and they're not going to get it
in the regular season.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
We knew coming into the year that that was going
to be a little bit of an audition spot. And
you know, we feel like we did give guys, you know,
good opportunities and long looks there and different looks, and
you know, I think that taking a look at at
Fellino there, now you know he adds a different element
than those other guys do. But it still could looks
(27:46):
like a line that could be very difficult to play against.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Now I'm shaking your head, Brett.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
I'm here to tell you a couple of preseason games
is not a long audition. Okay, It's just not. And
we've seen Felino's a good player. This is not a
Fellino hate piece at all. I love him on the
third line. I love him on the fourth linal of
the energy brings. He's sort of great shorthanded goal on
a break in the preseason.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
It was awesome. You love him specifically on the bottom
sick correct, Okay, And I think that.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
And it's not even because you're of an ogre on
the same line, so they could generate something. But they're
on the fourth line. They're gonna get a handful of
minutes and that's gonna be it.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
So are you are you discouraged by the idea that
either you didn't have a couple of young guns take
that opportunity, or are you saying that we didn't get
enough sample size? We don't know it.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
Definitely the latter, they didn't get a lot of size.
And this I mean this coaching staff and this team,
well I'm not saying that. I'm just saying I've been
harping on this for years. I feel like this coaching
staff doesn't like giving these young guns and young players
enough of a chance. It's like they see one dad
shift from and just kick them to the curb in
(28:50):
favor of a guy like Joe Hanson who's above them,
who they gave like the vet minimum to. He was
He's stunk in the playoffs last year, but that's fine
because Eurov didn't go or a goal in the preseason.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Therefore he's kicked to the fourth line. I just don't
understand why are your thoughts, Well, my thoughts are is
that I was kind of framing it up like you
were going to hit us with some stuff to be
excited about.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Well, this is how I've talked about the wild I'm
kind of.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
I'm kind of pumped about our second our speed line
and Moose. He's gonna be awesome.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Nothing says speed more than Marcus Flino and Vladimir Tarasenko.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
I've said that for years, But but with with Eric
Zinek and Fellino, I mean you have maybe your strongest
line there, right, I mean that would that be an
literally strong? Would that be an abnormally tough second line? Yeah,
but that's not what you're looking forward your second stand.
You're looking for some goals. I'm trying to look at
the positives here. I'll give you some positives. I've got
plenty of them. Hit me with some positives. Please.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
How about a contract extension for gust Of sim the
gust Bus. Yeah, that's sweet. He's absolutely solid. It's five years. Uh,
I love it. I don't think it blocks out Wallstead
at all. Because he's now the backup and they're gonna
split games. He's going to get time. So that's my
I don't like when guys are blocked out, and I
think there's a perfect way to it's term for him,
but it's also an opportunity for walst at being the backup.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
I love it. Do you have optimism for Yes, we're volstat.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
I've been a Walstet denier for or non denier defender
for a long time. I thought that the teams down
there and I wouldn't really help him out in front
of him. I think he's going to be a really
solid piece for this team. And I love Gus Buss
as well. I think our goaltending is solid. How about
our defensive Cordnordo z Boyem gets a shot.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
I was a little concerned.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Zeez, little concern that he got pulled from the playoffs,
basically just saying we'd rather have John Merrill there. He
is second line with Jared Spurgeon. I thought he was
good running the power play in the preseason. I love
the upside of this kid, and I love young players
getting opportunities.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Zeve's getting it, so I'm very happy and Bro Brodan,
we're feeling good about him not missing a ton of time. Right,
he's he's in the mix or I've got him listed
as day to day Yeah whatever that means, okay, because
we've seen that go which way.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Day to day can be longer or shorter. So it's
really a to me, it's a mystery on that. I
noticed you didn't mention you're a check so you're still
down on him. I actually was a year check defender
as well, just because of the price they paid for Right,
it's a first round round pick. They ended up getting
the guy back. Do they trade four anyways? And David
hunts so you know he slotted in on that third line.
(31:22):
But again, that's a guy I want to see more
of a sample size of to see if he really
takes that spot. That's not one that I'm going to
die on the hill of like eurovn Ogrin, But I'm
excited to see what he does. Because they paid a
price for him. I get first round and draft picks
in the NHL are different than the NFL because you
don't see him right away, and it's really more of
a crapshoot than it is in the NFL, but it's
still a high price to pay for someone.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
It shows that you believe in him. If he doesn't
pan out, that stinks. Where do you think the Wild
sit as of now before any games have been played
in terms of the Central Division?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
I think there's no reason with the way that they
started last year, and if capriesovs, which is the world's biggest,
If if Caprice often Coast stay healthy, there's no reason
they can't compete for the division.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
All that, they had one of the best records in
the NHL until he got hurt.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
He was a heart trophied odds favorite in Vegas. So really,
I wouldn't say the team lives and dies with Caprice
sof because they have a little bit more scoring depth
than they did last year.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Yeah, they kind of do, But they kind of do.
They kind of do. As a matter of fact. Well,
I appreciate that. That's awesome. Yeah, Wild opening up in
Saint Louis and that's a seven pm pregame. Joe joe'
donald on the call, Tom Reid, and you know they
don't Joe Donald doesn't need my he doesn't need my help.
But like a little bouya bum. I mean, I don't know,
(32:40):
you can throw it down there or just workshop is Zeve. Yeah,
that's why I don't do play by play ladies and gentlemen,
because because I'm not good at it. That's that's actually
the frame of it. Let's do some vikings talkbacks here
with a bit more time left in the segment again,
Minnesota Wild opening on Thursday night. I think we are
going to have have some Russo inclusion, whether it's tomorrow
(33:02):
or Thursday, some hockey heavy opportunities here, as both PA
and I will not be in the mix the next
few days, so somebody that actually knows puck. You'll get
to talk with them, Brett, instead of just staring at
me while I'm trying. Okay, Yeah, this guy's on the team.
Give me some excitement, give me something to be excited about.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Oh, I'm sure Falmus is very excited about everything that
I disagreed with this segment. I'm sure he's fired up
and I can't wait to talk to him to the
talkback machine.
Speaker 7 (33:33):
Hey, Nordo, Max Remeigan here. I know we're three and
two and it's looking okay at the moment, but honestly,
we have not played that well we could easily be
one in four play the murmur.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
I know if we didn't play.
Speaker 7 (33:49):
The Browns and the Bears this season and played above
average teams in both those games. We didn't play winning
football in those games, and we found a way to win,
I know, But the team as some.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Work to do unfortunately, see you later, Hey, thanks for
the talkback, Max, And that's in. And then I also
got a text from Greg and Lakeville, and I'm just
going to kind of mix those two. I agree with you,
first of all, Max, that this team hasn't played well,
and whether that's injuries, circumstance, all of those things, it
(34:20):
all matters in the scope of games that count. So
teams three and two into the by but very easily
in some circumstances, save for the go ahead drive at
London at Tottenham or even week one against the Bears,
you require, after three quarters of malaise to engineer three
scoring drives. The kid QB comes through, he's NFC player
of the week and you nip them at the wire
(34:42):
at sold your field against the Bears. So the team
has not played well. Injuries playing a part in that, certainly.
But then I get this text from from Greg and Lakeville,
which I also understand. Hey, Nordo, only problem with your
logic regarding McCarthy the idea, I'm just I'm pumped. See
I'm completely re emboldened, and I'm just I'm finding that
(35:05):
place I was in before the Monday night opener where
I can't wait for McCarthy to get back on the field.
But but Greg his his text, The only problem with
your logic regarding McCarthy is that we are an older team.
We're supposed to win now. Older veterans can't wait around
too bad. Donald wasn't still here as the Quicke aside,
(35:31):
which we are. We are known to do. Darnald's looked
almost better in Seattle thus far than he did in
Minnesota last season. Unbelievable resurgence to his career. What he's
doing with the Seahawks, to shootout with Baker. I know
they were on the wrong side of it against the
Bucks this last weekend, but that that ain't Donald's fault.
Donald was awesome and has been really through the first month.
(35:54):
In the game of the season, and and they did
find that l to Tampa, but to luck to Darnold,
the plan was to move on to to JJ McCarthy.
I keep seeing that the roster is built to win
now that we are supposed to win now. The only
reason that we are a veteran laden team to the
degree that we are is because we haven't been effectively
(36:18):
drafting for the last half decade, which potentially plays into
why some of these injury issues and where and and
the the O line with what they did, with what
this team had. The performances on Sunday across that O
line were very impressive. Joe Huber, not starting guard caliber
in the NFL, held up in moments again one v
(36:41):
one I mentioned yesterday one of my favorite plays from
the game was sadly it ended in that field goal
ball may have hit wire fiasco, but the thirty a
yarder to Justin Jefferson where Carson didn't get happy feet,
he didn't bail out of the pocket. He stood in
there strong and usin school one v one, the guy
(37:03):
that at times had felt like a month ago was
potentially getting JJ McCarthy killed on the left side of
the O line. He stood tall one v one won
that rep against Miles Garrett and gave Carson that extra
split second he needed to deliver it to Jefferson. So
the performances require and have earned the respect and the
tip of the cap. But the fact of the matter
(37:28):
is this is an older team because we have not
I mean, Donovan Jackson I think is going to be
an absolute stud. Excited for him to get back again.
These health issues, they always pop up in any conversation
we have. This is a veteran laden team because we
have been so ineffective at producing draft domestic, homegrown, organic
(37:49):
talent to this team to the point now where we're
even also having that conversation. Can't wait for Van Ginkel
to come back because of how important Van Ginkel is,
and the reason he's so important to come back is
because the kid we drafted a year ago, in his
second year, splashed a couple of bit men and made
a couple of nice tackles in specifics, one near the
(38:10):
boundary on Judkins I believe, and in a good game
in a vacuum again from Dallas Turner. Now that doesn't
mean he's a bust again. We can need Van Ginkle
back and Dallas Turner can still have a terrific career.
But Dallas Turner as a first round pick has not
panned out and is not producing at the level that
this team needs from him. So the inability to draft
has this out with these measured spending spreeese, you trade
(38:33):
Harrison Phillips, you let Jonathan Bullard go because you're pumped
again veterans again coming off of injuries in Hargrave and Allen,
and I would say, you've seen a few splash moments,
but in the end, we've seen our run de suffer mightily.
And that's not just up the middle in the absence
of Van Ginkel. A lot of teams they're running at
(38:54):
Dallas Turner and it is working. So the built to
win now? Are we? On paper? In August it felt
like that, But I think now as we enter the bye,
I think the combination of health and just looking pragmatically
at the roster, we are a veteran laden roster. I
(39:15):
am no longer necessarily convinced that this is a built
to win now and it's whatever we can possibly do
to hold this thing together. And once we get Cashman back,
who I'm excited to get back, once we get Aaron
Jones back in the mix, and that tandom redevelops and
re emerges because Mason now is fumbled in two games
in a row. Can't have that. But everything's just going
(39:36):
to run like clockwork. Again, I'm seeing this roster and
I'm seeing what this team has a little bit differently
in October than I did in early September. So I
think it's difficult to look at it and just say, well,
you can't play JJ McCarthy because we're supposed to win. Now.
I mean maybe we're supposed to. I'd like us to,
(39:58):
but can we are true built in that fashion? That's
one question that I do have.
Speaker 8 (40:07):
My feeling on the Viking quarterback situation is you gotta
roll with Carson Wentz. Okay, he is playing winning football.
We all saw what JJ McCarthy was doing on his
first two outings. Let's say the Vikings do put him
back in and he continues to play the way that
he played before his injury. Well then what then you
(40:29):
pull him in and what does that do to his confidence?
Speaker 1 (40:31):
Yeah, and what does that do? It would be It
would be bad. It would if he comes in and
the offense continues to sputter and is just mired and
full on impotent destitution. Well then we start to learn
something about the quarterbacks. Again, If you know getting him
fully healthy, getting him practicing, finding that rhythm, the trust
(40:53):
that you have in the head coach who chose this guy.
This was the plan. A. You see seven cores orders
of mediocrity with one quarter of brilliance at Soldier field.
It has us all wondering. There's no doubt about that. Yes,
once he comes back into the game, I agree with
you from the sentiment standpoint. He is playing when he
is healthy and he takes that field again. You're doing
(41:17):
it under the idea that this is your guy for
the remainder of the season. But we need to see
what this kid has. So when do you play him?
I don't that's so you're you. You're either going to wait.
So Carson Wentz needs to continue playing, continue being the
warrior that he is at this journeyman stage of his career,
(41:38):
and then he has to fail miserably. I don't think
Carson Wentz is bad enough to fail miserably, but he
will make mistakes. He will he will struggle at times.
So I don't see him going MVP on the bit
for the remainder of the season. I don't see him floundering.
So at this point we just say, eh, see you
(42:02):
next year. And so then now, in the first two
seasons of a kid's career, somebody you invested in via
the draft, somebody you believe in, somebody that was your plan. A,
he's going to get eight quarters of work. I do
believe that that's a problem. So I just it can't
necessarily be predicated on Carson's play overall, because I just
don't believe Carson's ever going to be bad enough to
(42:24):
the point where, oh, all right, guys, it's all over.
I guess it is time to bring the kid in.
I think you need to remain consistent in the development
of this kid, and at some point he has to
come in and play, and of course associated with that
is the risk that he's not good, and then you know,
and then you again act accordingly. Thanks for the talkbacks.
(42:47):
We're going to roll back and continue having this conversation.
Six four six eighty six Bratshaw on Bryan Kfan text
line talkbacks with the free iHeartRadio app at that microphone.
Give us up to your best thirty seconds. First hour
rolls on Ben Gestling in studio at ten it's Nord
to one for Pa with Brett blakemore nine to do, Hey, Nordo.
Speaker 6 (43:03):
A couple of topics here quick for you. On McDavid contract, Yeah,
good on him for doing that. People need to realize
it's not a knock against Bill Garon. People that do
what McDavid did are going to be making probably three
million dollars more per season on their second contract. On
the Wentz McCarthy debate, it's not a debate, it's Gottathy McCarthy.
Otherwise it's a wasted season. Wentz is way too inconsistent.
(43:23):
We're going nowhere with him.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
We have to at least see what McCarthy has. Thanks
Doug for the talk back. I also got I got
a text message specifically for Blake Moore. When Eck is
out there against the opponent's top line, do you honestly
want ogrin or y're off going against McDavid and McKinnon
out of the gate or a guy who won't get
(43:44):
caught out of position in Felino, Maybe the ch line
will be more considered as much the third line, and
the playing time will be more equally split than you think.
Speaker 2 (43:54):
Why don't you let the coaches coach Brett Well? Thanks
k Fondness for the text. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
I wasn't falling this. No, No, he's a civil servant.
He's delivering somebody's mail on the east side of town
right now.
Speaker 2 (44:06):
Understood, If you want your second line to be a
shut down line, that I guess that's your choice. I
would rather have my second line be an ancillary scoring line,
and I think that's more of a traditional way to go.
It's a great shutdown line. I won't deny that it
will be a great shutdown line. If you remember, I'm
old enough to remember, the grief line was that Felino
(44:29):
U Greenway and eck.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
That was a great shutdown line.
Speaker 2 (44:33):
They played him against McDavid all the time, and it
had a lot of success. I don't think that was
their second line at that point in time. So I'm
all for a great shutdown line, and I think that
there are spots on this team for those types of lines.
I just think you're not You're not putting your young
prospects in a position to succeed if you're only gonna
give them seven minutes of ice time.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
I dig it to the talkback machine Viking Centrico.
Speaker 9 (44:56):
Jamie from Holly, he just wanted to I love Carson Wentz.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
He's done a great job.
Speaker 9 (45:03):
Yeah, he is the veteran leader we needed at that time.
But give JJ a healthy old line, give him Addison,
get Jones back, Hawk's now recovered, stroke the post. Let's go,
let's see what the kids got, all right, let's go,
Purple Skull.
Speaker 1 (45:22):
So I'll admit when I saw it, because I read
the transcripts of these talkbacks. Yes, and I'm reading it
while reading that. I'm kind of reading that while I'm
reading the text. So it's yeah, it's a bit of
a schizophrenic operation here in the big chair this morning.
Sorry about that. But when I saw it out of
the course, the peripheral hawk in the transcript and then Stroke,
(45:48):
I thought we had been infiltrated by it was a
leftover from by the Power Trip morning show. So I
just want to thank you for staying stayed on topic.
Out of the talkback machine.
Speaker 10 (46:04):
Hey, guys, Craig from playing Hey, if you bring in
the kid and he's terrible, well then you're kind of
stuck playing him for the rest of the year, aren't you. Yeah,
let's say he loses the first three games. What good
at that point is it to bring in wins? Our
season's over? So you might as well stick with the kids,
(46:26):
so I hope they keep wins in. I don't know
why they're such a rush to bring the kid in
and get him going.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
Okay, I appreciate it. Hey, Nordal, Aaron Hero and Cottage Grove.
I think you're spot on with your tike on JJ.
The kid just haven't had a big enough.
Speaker 2 (46:41):
Sample size with the two games, and he trained his
ankle in game two, hasn't had a healthy offensive line.
Speaker 4 (46:46):
I think you give the kid.
Speaker 9 (46:49):
With a couple of pieces going back after the bye
a healthy addison that we never had because of the supession.
Speaker 5 (46:55):
I like the kids chances.
Speaker 1 (46:58):
It doesn't work after two or three game. Yeah, thanks, yeah,
thanks for the talkbacks. A couple of text message here
before we pause, Ben Gesling starts tribute is next markin Duluth.
What does he say putting the way McCarthy played on
him is ridiculous. The old line was garbage for the
(47:19):
first two games. When Wentz came in, the line and
running game played far better. Dari saw was a huge
reason for that. Give the kids some time and you
will see a big difference in my opinion. Thank you, Mark.
Another text message, don't have a name on it, but
appreciate it. They can't put McCarthy back in until they
know the line can and will protect him. It has
(47:39):
all to do with that and little with JJ. People
making these sweeping judgments and predictions about JJ are childish.
Jason from Bismarck. Of course, I'm a huge Carson Wentz fan.
Of course you are probably went to high school with them.
There's got to be a lot of there's got to
be a lot of carryover and connections like I played
(48:00):
with him in this Pop Warner league or youth football league,
saw him in high school, knew this new that between
the fan loving audience and JJ, and excuse me and
Carson Wentz. Of course I'm a huge Carson Wentz fan.
I agree we need to see what JJ has, but
I just don't think he can read defenses at this
point in his career. Tough spot for the coach, tough
(48:20):
for me necessarily to say that he Kenner cannot read
defenses because he was running for his life a fair
amount of those eight quarters that we got to see from.
But I'm glad that that so many people are indeed
hitting on the offensive line. You know, Roster built built
now versus, in my opinion, a veteran laden roster because
we have not been drafting effectively. That's kind of where
(48:43):
I'm sitting with it. Through five games. I have a
little different perception of what this roster in totality looks like.
Need to see it fully healthy. Still waiting for that,
but my perception of that has changed a bit. But
the ability to see McCarthy behind what would be I
guess fully healthy would be at this stage, given now
(49:05):
that Ryan Kelly's on IR, it'll be Darrisaw hopefully off
the pitch count ready to play full games with this
knee thing, into a healthy Donovan Jackson post the wrist
procedure into well Will Fry's a right guard, Brian O'Neal.
He's weak to week, but we need that cap back certainly.
And then at center man Blake Brandel, though I mean
(49:28):
Blake Brandell was terrific on Sunday in London. Michael Jurgens
has had his ups and downs, initially not even playning
to play. It was Ryan Kelly's job, so how they
put that thing together. I want to see McCarthy behind
a healthy Minnesota moving company, and I do believe it's
(49:49):
not like you know, the soft benching things and some
of the ways that this has been reported on or
written about, or thought about or spoken of on social media.
I just I wonder the combination of getting the kid
in a rhythm and then also getting the right pieces
in front of him to protect the kid, and then
we get to see does he have it or does
he not? That We'll continue this conversation, whether it's the
(50:12):
text messages or talkbacks, We're going to continue this for
a large part of the ten am hour is Ben
Gesling's going to be in studio the Star Tribune, Star
Tribune dot Com. It's into the bye week. There's a
lot of things to talk about from a health perspective.
Just through five games, how do you sum up? Maybe
Guesstline will have a different perception of this veteran laden
roster than I do, and I'm excited to get his
(50:32):
opinions on that and a whole bunch more. As we
kick off the second hour around the corner, It'snorto win
for PA with Ben Gesling next on the fan
Ay on a beautiful October morning, more temperature appropriate land
of a Thousand dances thanks to one of the great
films in the history of cinema, The Great Outdoors. I
encourage you, if you're one of the few people that
haven't watched it, watch it. You'll appreciate the best of
Ackroyd and Candy Come of John rest in peace. But
(00:24):
Nordo went for PA sixty five to one, carpet studios
and heavy on talkbacks and texts throughout the first hour
Today vikings into bye week. So six four six eight
six bratch on Brian KFA and text line and then
also any of you listening via the free iHeartRadio app.
I'm sure many of you are, and you have the
(00:44):
fan as one of your presets on the app. But
you hit that microphone, you give us up to your
best thirty seconds and we will play them in mass
And part of that I want to do that today
because we didn't do a ton of that yesterday. We
asked for the talkbacks, we asked, we asked for the texts,
and maybe sometimes we go on long winding tangents and
maybe we don't get to as many talkbacks as we should,
(01:08):
as we want to hear from you. But to that end, Brett,
Brett Blakemore is producing this morning a little bit of
potpourri and a nine to noon Tuesday, as the Vikings
are into the bye it'll shock most of the Vikings fans. Apparently.
There are other sports and other events taking place, including
the Minnesota Wild opening their season Thursday night in Saint Louis.
(01:31):
W Welcome back to the Minnesota Wild as they embark
on their own journey to twenty twenty five twenty six
campaign Thursday night in Saint Louis. I've actually tasked Brett
Blakemore to assemble some nuggets, some morsels, if possible, that
excite him and maybe some things that should excite us
(01:55):
into the season. I must ask you and derail my
own opening segment here. Connor McDavid signs the two year
deal yesterday twelve and a half per There was a
little bit of murmur or shock maybe or surprised associated
with that, considering, you know, especially here in Saint Paul.
The idea that you know was, was Carill going to
(02:16):
set the market for Connor? Was there a waiting game
to see who was going to get that massive dollar
amount first? But in the end it sounds like Connor's
going to you know, two years maybe on the cheap,
certainly by his standards. So win a cup sometime in
the next two years and then the Brinks truck is
going to be backed up for mister McDavid. Is that
(02:37):
Am I gathering that correctly, Brett? So that's essentially what
it is.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
It's a two year win it now or we move
on basically, and him and caprice Off are about the
same age, so this will be the comparison between the
two deals. Will really not will not be able to
have the full picture of it for you know, three
or four years, probably before we decide who was there
was talk of Caprice Off, you know, maybe wanting to
do the same thing, at least from media. No one
(03:03):
within his camp suggested that at all that maybe you
do a shorter term, try to win now, and then
kick the can down the road. Certainly, that's what McDavid's
doing is let's give it two more years and let's
run it and see what happens, and then someone's going
to have to pay him a lot the next two.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Year, a lot of money. Yeah, but there's no can
kicking here in Saint Paul. We figured it out eight
years Buck thirty six. Corilla is hours for the next
total of nine years, I believe, so looking forward to
that from Brett. Also popa re style on a Tuesday.
Lavelli Neil the third, of course of Star Tribune fame.
He's going to be in studio at eleven And I
(03:39):
keep getting these questions, and I'll admit I've kind of
from a baseball standpoint, it is until ownership changes with
our favorite team. I mean, I'm watching, you know, the
Brewers and the run that they're potentially on and the
Dodgers as of now, I mean they're beating the Phillies
and the Dodgers of the day. Rogers, they get it,
(04:01):
but they appear to be on a collision course. In
the NLCS, Phillies and Cubs fans sweating hard Rob Manfred's
sweating the idea of a Mariner's Blue Jays Alcs. Although
the Tigers are game I think it's one to one
in the series, Yankees being outclassed through the by the
Birds through two. But I'm watching these games and I
(04:21):
love it, and I'm excited to kind of dig into
some of this playoff baseball with Levell, but with our
team until there's change at the top, you know, the
managerial search and some of those things. It hasn't really
hit the radar of nine to noon, at least at
a high level. But I'm hoping Levell comes in with
some with some intel today in terms of what's next
in replacing Rocobaldli. But again that'll be part of the
(04:43):
Tuesday Pope Rie conversation. And as I mentioned, talkbacks today, welcome,
we love them vikings into the bye biggest opinion through
five with this team, favorite thing, least favorite thing, what's good?
What's bad? With the purple JJ or Carson has really
been in vogue and you know, if both are fully healthy,
(05:05):
who are you rolling with? I'll accept them, happy to
listen to them, and maybe the player you're seeking or
looking to see most in terms of being healthy and
playing out of the by so free. iHeartRadio app hit
us with some talkbacks, happy to hear them. But about
last night, I want to start here the Jaguars, the
(05:27):
Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that at times you're watching four
touchdowns in the second half in a wild card game
to beat Brandon Staley's Los Angeles Chargers. You're watching the
team that next week that would be game against the
Chiefs at Arrowhead. You're also watching a team that starts
(05:47):
nine to three, loses like the Final five, finds their
way out of the playoffs. There's a coaching change, and
mister Cohen duve all just the awkwardness of that whole thing,
and then you're them last night. Rise to the occasion
to best Patrick Mahomes's Chiefs in primetime.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
First and goal at the Kansas City one under center
is launch the snip, Holy fell down as he pulled away,
hits the deck, tuts, tuck up, takes a chuckle, five
him again, Touchtown touchdown, Jacksonville touchdown.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
Fog has been.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Thrown holding defense member. Six period is the time we
go to the play of the touchdown Prober Lawrence a
touchdown run and a two point Checksonville lead with the
extra point coming up, but twenty three seconds on the
(06:44):
clock and the Chiefs had three timeouts.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
I told you, Kevin, strange things happen when there's a
harvest supermood.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
That courtesy of Westwood won Mister Harlan on the Kevin
Harlan on the call for moments like that, probably doesn't
get better. Brett as a as a diseased Packers fan. Yes,
do you actually because your squad's on a bye after
the tie tie into a buy? What a feeling? What
a feeling it must be.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Do you actually watch other teams or do you just
shut it down?
Speaker 2 (07:17):
I actually if I was by myself, you know, but
I have friends that are Vikings fans, and you know, no,
I watched the game last night.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
You did. I did? Sweet so into the preseason, and
I wouldn't expect you to remember this, but in the
in the in the preseason, we we do what we
call throwaway bits where Pa and I will text into
a show. Hey, you know we got we got this
open spot at nine ninety seven. You and I have
(07:47):
text when I fill in, and she's just kind of,
you know, putting pieces together and you let them know
what you're doing. And and and our show we try
at times to be thematic, but in a lot of cases,
the the guest heavy nature it kind of you know.
Guesstline is going to be Viking Central at ten today,
Ben Gesling, Star Tribune. He's going to be in studio
(08:09):
at ten lavell As I mentioned at eleven. So, but
so then you get your guests in the mix, and
then you fill spots and in a lot of cases,
as I was mentioning with the talkbacks, you ask for talkbacks,
you play two out of the seventy five or one
hundred you get, and then you go on long winding
tangents not dissimilar from the tangent I'm going on right now.
(08:33):
But as part of that throwaway bits, so I did
this bit in the preseason. I think I just said,
if not now, when, And it's into the regular season.
JJ McCarthy is still healthy. We're pumped for his debut here,
but if not now, when the idea of certain quarterbacks
(08:54):
from my standpoint, who had to step up into the
twenty twenty five like they care what my opinion is.
But I look at him like it's time. If it's
not going to happen in twenty twenty five, when's it
going to happen? So Kyler Murray and at this stage
of his career getting paid a healthy amount, Jonathan Gannon's
trying to build this defense around him. We've seen now
(09:16):
through five games some injuries at the running back spot.
One of the more comical ways in the history of
the NFL and certainly in the franchise history, the Cardinals
to lose a game to the freaking Titans. Embarrassing as
that was, we saw that now. But Kyler Murray a guy.
If not now, when, then Tua Tua Ta till you're satisfied.
(09:37):
Nobody's satisfied in South Beach, and the head coach looks
like he hasn't slept since the beginning of the season.
He's a mess, and the team is becoming a mess
as well. Tyreek Hills legs pointing the wrong way. Defense
is struggling. We've watched Tua. If not now, for Tua when?
(10:00):
And then I threw Justin Fields in there. That's just weird.
I don't know. I think I did. I think I
did it because it was a throwaway segment and I
had to fill twelve minutes and I had to bank
maybe enough content until my guy got bored and just
started looking at his phone or reading X while I
just tried to talk with him. Yeah, so I think
(10:22):
that's why I threw Justin Fields in the mix. And
then Trevor Lawrence and so kind of if not now,
when and for now, it seems like at least one
of the four happens to be running with it. After
you watch Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars pull one out.
They improved to four and one. About that division, by
(10:44):
the way, AFC South super maligned Houston Texans trying to
find their way. I think they're two and three, but
both the Colts with with Danny Dimes, who's become a dollar,
and they're running it with Jonathan Taylor a bounce back
after I think it was the Rams loss. They just
absolutely smoke the Raiders over the weekend. They're four and
one and so are the so are the Jags. But
(11:07):
Kyler again, embarrassing way to lose that game, and in
some ways you're watching some of that. It's not Kyler's
fault that de Mercado drops the ball on the brink
of the doorstep of the goal line. It's not his
fault that there was a pick followed by a fumble
as he's rolling on the ground, followed by a kick
followed by a recovery in the end zone. It's not
Kyler's fault. But overall, eh not, maybe taking advantage of
(11:32):
what's in front of him, still trying to figure out
how to get Harrison Junior involved and Trey McBride as
good as he is. You know, the weapons situation with
with Kyler leaves some to be desired to. Uh. I mean,
it's it's just it's not working down there, and that's
looking whether it's it's the coaches tenure maybe short lived,
but that whole situation and there is a problem. And
(11:53):
and then Fields again, I think I just I think
I added him just to just to kill some time.
There's a guy of the same age bracket, sure, but
in Farens in fairness kind of rises from the debt
Justin Fields a year ago with with Pittsburgh still kind
of head it is not a head scratching, but the
decision they made. They were always going to move to
(12:13):
Russell Wilson. I think the team was either three and
two or four and one in their first five games,
and Justin Fields didn't have any turnovers, not lighting it
up necessarily on a game by game basis through the air,
but the running ability is real and this opportunity maybe
after they moved to russ That puts Fields very disenfranchised.
(12:34):
And he moves on with this Jets. There's a new coach,
there's new life. There's always fun aspects of something being new.
And I mean the team's zero and five the team.
You get Aaron Glenn to the Jets because of his
defensive prowess in Detroit, and the team has no turnovers.
Everyone's scoring on them at will and it's not going
(12:57):
well for mister Glenn and the Jets curse continues.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
I swear there's something about the uniforms, because fields look
like a five hundred quarterback playing for the Steelers must
be what it is, perennial five hundred team.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
And then they're rowing five with the Jets right now. Yah,
the Jets. I actually think you solved it, so even
no more conversation even is required on justin fields. We
figured it out. It's the uniform. The throws that Trevor
Lawrence made last night when he had to have it
were unbelievable. And that throw specifically near side boundary to
(13:30):
Brian Thomas Junior moving left to right on that final drive,
that's as good as it gets. Any QB makes that throws,
we're all oohing, and ay, I think he finds Diami
Brown on a third down and then the touchdown play
you heard the audio, I'm sure you've seen the highlight.
It looks like he gets stepped on, falls, tries to
(13:50):
get up, falls again. Ezra Cleveland, by the way, former Viking,
I think he cleared the way for that touchdown there.
Look at the highlight again, try to find Ezra ken
but seizing the moment and speaking a new new head
coach and Liam Cohen new across the board. Grant Yuditski's
down there, Johnny Munt I believe is down there, and
(14:12):
and and there's so much new and they're they're seizing,
seizing the opportunity. The Jags can run the hell out
of the ball right now with with a healthy at
tend defense turns the ball over and Trevor has some
of that Friday night lights moxie. Now he also has
no idea where the line of scrimmage is that I don't,
(14:33):
I can't. I know what happened at least once last night,
and it happened a week or two ago. Trevor Lawrence scrambling,
and he's not just it's it's not just well, we
need to look at the tape and replay it to
see if his back foot is still behind the line
of scrimmage. He has three yards down the field and
(14:53):
chucking it. No clue of where he is on the
field in some of those moments, and he makes badness
the old lines good times, bad times, but kind of
if not now, when for Trevor Lawrence might be happening
right now before our eyes. And so this is again
what gets me back to back to my favorite team.
(15:16):
It was. It wasn't about, you know, being right in
terms of if not now when, just it's cool to
see the Jags topple the Chiefs. I don't look at
the Chiefs as an evil empire like some may. I
know many would look at the at the Brady Belichick
Patriots that way. But if not now, when the opportunity
in prime time to best the Chiefs always high class,
(15:39):
and the Jags pulled through. But it has me excited
again about seeing JJ McCarthy back on the field. And
the thing about JJ is kind of that that new
that breath, that what can happen And it's not, you know,
we got time with JJ. I suppose he's got the injury.
(16:02):
Now we got to wait for that thing to heal up.
We've heard the coach talk very non definitively in terms
of what that process looks like other than I need
him healthy, I need him on the field, I need
him through full practice weeks. I need that rhythm back.
We've heard that and not much else. And meanwhile, Carson
wentz nine to nine on a final scoring drive and
you find your way to a victory against Tefanski's Browns.
(16:24):
So that's cool. But it's got me excited again about
seeing JJ McCarthy on the field. And it didn't come
up yesterday, so much recap and everything, but Drake May
Sunday night, what he did in Buffalo another moment, another
performance that has me excited to know if we have
something in JJ McCarthy. How spectacular was Drake May in Buffalo?
(16:47):
And it's not about comparisons. And I'm pretty sure the
Vikings offered just about everything short of the freaking Moon
to move up and get Drake May. Patriots were standing Pat.
Pat's dead. The pat stood Pat, but the tar Heels
turning heads in year two, the ups and downs, idiotic
(17:08):
decision making. A year ago, you get the flashes of
arm talent, but then the mind boggling mistakes that put
the team in awful positions and they lost a lot
of games. Drake May got a lot of those opportunities
in his first season, opportunities that JJ McCarthy, due to injury,
did not get. And year two, how about the coaching staff?
(17:30):
Vrabel The verbel Aura in itself makes a difference, has
to be an upgrade on its own. But Josh McDaniels,
he's tried head coaching, He's failed at head coaching, but
we clearly know where his comfort zone is, and that's
being the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, little
talent around him. Stefan Diggs heard digs by the Way
(17:51):
Sunday night, going back in time. I forget who he
was talking to on the sideline before the game, but
he was talking about his leadership and just the growth
process for Stefan Diggs. I don't know if any of
you heard that. I mean, it immediately feels like there's
an expiration date on that. Right early season he's in
Buffalo to play's former team showed out by the Way
(18:13):
loving that stat line. I'm sure from a fantasy and
reality perspective if you're digging the Patriots, but definitely an
expiration date on that. But for now, Digsie's happy and
the attitude is good and he was at his best
for Drake May. But whether it's Trevor Lawrence last night,
it's Drake May two nights ago. These performances have me
(18:35):
so excited to see JJ McCarthy back on the field
for the Vikings and the learning moment here is and
I'll play some audio maybe it's some bikes bites here
there at some point and we'll talk more about it
with guestling. But JJ's only going to grow if he's
on the field and you hear about him learning on
the sideline and just getting to pick the brain of
(18:58):
a Carson Wentz. He's learning through observation. That's cool, and
Carson's a warrior by the way. Carson's playing well with
the circumstances around him. But we need to know what
McCarthy has. So whenever he's playing, you know again that
non definitive he's practicing fully gets that rhythm back with
darisaw with Donovan Jackson returning with Jordan Addison with a
(19:20):
healthier defense, let's roll, and that's watching Drake May, watch
seeing Lawrence last night. That has me reinvigorated to see
JJ McCarthy and it's for me it's kind of it's
it's now I'm turning the page on the well who's
healthy and who even gives the team the better chance
(19:41):
to win right now. I don't think any of us,
outside of in some ways, are our own biases. You know,
you want the confirmation bias. If if you if you
are a massive JJ McCarthy fan, you're going to be
you know, come in, You're you're gonna you're going to
lean that way because you believe that he has hasn't
gotten the shot, the shot to play with a healthy
(20:03):
O line. If you're a Carson Wentz fan, kid didn't
have it in the first two games. We moved on
to Carson cool story, Bismarck's finest went to the Metrodome
to see his favorite team play. As a kid, your
confirmation by you'll be you'll be constantly looking for morsels
to to dig into to support Carson's campaign. But in
(20:23):
the end, it's it's not for me. It's it's I
need to see what the kid has because of the investment.
And so that's where it sits for me. And that's
why earlier in the segment, I was kind of telling
you where's your head at? And that's for six four,
six eighty six, that's for talkbacks with the free iHeart
Radio app. Those performances this weekend of football has completely
(20:45):
reinvigorated me to just needing to see number nine on
the field, see what we have. As I watch a
couple other teams around the league finding their way as
as they've they've they've gotten some awakening moments from their quarterbacks.
And I'm hoping that's what McCarthy asks and if he
doesn't have it, now we know and we can move
(21:05):
forward accordingly TimberTech setlist. As I said, Lavelli Neil the
Third from the Star Tribune, He's going to be in
studio at eleven. We'll jump on the Vikings Bears out
of the by. We'll converse about that, stay to the
North if you will, and some NFL talkers, but also
Minnesota Twins, the managerial search and Olavell has been poking
and prodding on that. Baseball playoffs in the mix. So
(21:25):
fun final hour with Lavell Heavy on the Purple at
ten am with Ben Gesling and the Star Tribune as well.
It's kind of a Strib Tuesday. A couple of guys
from the Strib hanging out. Love that. Ben Gesling will
be in studio at ten o'clock Standard Heating and Air,
your weekly sponsor for mister Gestling. And then whether it's talkbacks,
it's texts, some nuggets on the wild. First hour is
(21:47):
going to be whether it's the Wild, it's going to
be Vikings nugs. We're going to continue this conversation with
Brett blakemore producing. I'm nordoing for PA on a Tuesday,
and you know what, Let's do this. Let's get someone
the chance to win one thousand dollars via the Cash Contest.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
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Speaker 5 (23:02):
In order to this is Greg down on the Farming
New KOs was asked after the game on Sunday if
Kid come up with a game plan that was different
than really anything he's ever done before, and all he
said was I needed a plan to actually win the game.
Do you take that to mean that he finally acknowledged
a need for some quick passing game with the makeshift
(23:22):
offensive line. If so, I'm just really excited that that's
the case that he finally acknowledged it.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
Hey, thanks for thanks for the talkback before we skate
on over to the NHL. The and props to New
Alm by the way, from I believe we got Herman,
the German, We got Shell's Brewery, home of Bockfest. I
don't know if they still play down down in the
Burning Ring of Fire. There used to be a band
at Bockfest in New Alm where they would just play
(23:49):
that song on repeat for six hours while you walked
around looking for sheep's heads in the woods while drinking
delicious shells bock beer. I wonder if they still do that, Greg.
I think what I kind of gathered from the game,
and this is again shooting from the hip, shooting from
the lip is I think this is one of the
(24:09):
tougher coaching performances of Kevin O'Connell's time here in Minnesota,
because of the O line, because of what he wasn't
able to do with the pieces that he had to
play with. And so I don't know if it was
a final acknowledgment. Is is any coach potentially stubborn in
their philosophy, certainly, but what I felt is a coach
(24:33):
that I mean, it sounds odd to say it. In
some ways, he needed to come home, just like the
team needed to where that was an absolute grind to
get past Stefanski and the Browns, and yes, in some ways,
altering and that game plan in a vacuum for one
game to get by Cleveland was probably infinitely more difficult
than he ever wished or thought that it could be.
(24:57):
When the schedule comes out and he thinks he's going
into work with an old line that he doesn't have,
he thinks he's got a running back he doesn't have.
He's got a wide receiver who misses three games because
of a suspension, and they can't. I mean, he's in
a captive environment, in a countryside manner and he misses it. Walkthrough,
How does that happen? But all the things that went
into it, Yes, I think there's an acknowledgment on his
(25:19):
end that to win games they're going to have to
do it a bit differently than maybe initially that he
would have considered. So thanks for the talking and I
got a bunch more to play here. But I did
tell Brett I want to know what's up with my
favorite hockey team as they enter the twenty twenty five seasons.
We are indeed going to skate over to the NHL
for a couple of nuggets on the hockey team? What's
(25:41):
going on with the Wild?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
While opening nights not too far away Thursday night Saint
Louis Blues in Saint Louis, the line combinations look like
they're cemented, and that's my favorite thing to do. When
we talked about the Wild is rip the line combinations
and why aren't we doing this? Marco Rossi centers the
top line between priest Soft and Boldie. Oh we love
that because we love that because Zukerolo's out.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
That's a pretty strong top line.
Speaker 2 (26:06):
Yeah, second line, Eric Snick love that centering Tarasenko and Fellino.
You have to look down the sheet to find young
guns Jurov and Ogrin. They are on the fourth line
Shak Horror with a Nico Sturm, who we do love.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
Here's John, So would you say that second line Tarasenko, Jule,
Eric Shinak and Felino.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
That's that's our speed line. That's the offensive powerhouse line.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
That's what that is.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
Here's John Hines talking about why Felino's on the second line.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
He's had a good camp.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
I know there's been some some camerasry with with Ecki.
Speaker 1 (26:43):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
You know, I think those two guys can get in
on the puff as well and see what see what
that that combination would look like. So it's just, you know,
we're still trying to figure out a little bit who's
in that spot if we were to keep the lines together,
which you know we probably will, uh for the seeable
future to see how it goes. So, you know, I
think we looked at og and Ogre and you're off there.
(27:07):
Joe Hanson can play there. So take a look at
Moose now.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Now before we get to opinion, he was asked again,
what about you're off? What about Ogrin? Because this seems
like a picture perfect opportunity. Was Zugarrella being out, there's
a spot open for one of those guys to get
a look there, and they're not going to get it
in the regular season.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
We knew coming into the year that that was going
to be a little bit of an audition spot. And
you know, we feel like we did give guys, you know,
good opportunities and long looks there and different looks, and
you know, I think that taking a look at at
Fellino there, now you know he adds a different element
than those other guys do. But it still could looks
(27:46):
like a line that could be very difficult to play against.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Now I'm shaking your head, Brett.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
I'm here to tell you a couple of preseason games
is not a long audition. Okay, It's just not. And
we've seen Felino's a good player. This is not a
Fellino hate piece at all. I love him on the
third line. I love him on the fourth linal of
the energy brings. He's sort of great shorthanded goal on
a break in the preseason.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
It was awesome. You love him specifically on the bottom
sick correct, Okay, And I think that.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
And it's not even because you're of an ogre on
the same line, so they could generate something. But they're
on the fourth line. They're gonna get a handful of
minutes and that's gonna be it.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
So are you are you discouraged by the idea that
either you didn't have a couple of young guns take
that opportunity, or are you saying that we didn't get
enough sample size? We don't know it.
Speaker 2 (28:30):
Definitely the latter, they didn't get a lot of size.
And this I mean this coaching staff and this team,
well I'm not saying that. I'm just saying I've been
harping on this for years. I feel like this coaching
staff doesn't like giving these young guns and young players
enough of a chance. It's like they see one dad
shift from and just kick them to the curb in
(28:50):
favor of a guy like Joe Hanson who's above them,
who they gave like the vet minimum to. He was
He's stunk in the playoffs last year, but that's fine
because Eurov didn't go or a goal in the preseason.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
Therefore he's kicked to the fourth line. I just don't
understand why are your thoughts, Well, my thoughts are is
that I was kind of framing it up like you
were going to hit us with some stuff to be
excited about.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
Well, this is how I've talked about the wild I'm
kind of.
Speaker 1 (29:13):
I'm kind of pumped about our second our speed line
and Moose. He's gonna be awesome.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
Nothing says speed more than Marcus Flino and Vladimir Tarasenko.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
I've said that for years, But but with with Eric
Zinek and Fellino, I mean you have maybe your strongest
line there, right, I mean that would that be an
literally strong? Would that be an abnormally tough second line? Yeah,
but that's not what you're looking forward your second stand.
You're looking for some goals. I'm trying to look at
the positives here. I'll give you some positives. I've got
plenty of them. Hit me with some positives. Please.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
How about a contract extension for gust Of sim the
gust Bus. Yeah, that's sweet. He's absolutely solid. It's five years. Uh,
I love it. I don't think it blocks out Wallstead
at all. Because he's now the backup and they're gonna
split games. He's going to get time. So that's my
I don't like when guys are blocked out, and I
think there's a perfect way to it's term for him,
but it's also an opportunity for walst at being the backup.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
I love it. Do you have optimism for Yes, we're volstat.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
I've been a Walstet denier for or non denier defender
for a long time. I thought that the teams down
there and I wouldn't really help him out in front
of him. I think he's going to be a really
solid piece for this team. And I love Gus Buss
as well. I think our goaltending is solid. How about
our defensive Cordnordo z Boyem gets a shot.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
I was a little concerned.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Zeez, little concern that he got pulled from the playoffs,
basically just saying we'd rather have John Merrill there. He
is second line with Jared Spurgeon. I thought he was
good running the power play in the preseason. I love
the upside of this kid, and I love young players
getting opportunities.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Zeve's getting it, so I'm very happy and Bro Brodan,
we're feeling good about him not missing a ton of time. Right,
he's he's in the mix or I've got him listed
as day to day Yeah whatever that means, okay, because
we've seen that go which way.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Day to day can be longer or shorter. So it's
really a to me, it's a mystery on that. I
noticed you didn't mention you're a check so you're still
down on him. I actually was a year check defender
as well, just because of the price they paid for Right,
it's a first round round pick. They ended up getting
the guy back. Do they trade four anyways? And David
hunts so you know he slotted in on that third line.
(31:22):
But again, that's a guy I want to see more
of a sample size of to see if he really
takes that spot. That's not one that I'm going to
die on the hill of like eurovn Ogrin, But I'm
excited to see what he does. Because they paid a
price for him. I get first round and draft picks
in the NHL are different than the NFL because you
don't see him right away, and it's really more of
a crapshoot than it is in the NFL, but it's
still a high price to pay for someone.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
It shows that you believe in him. If he doesn't
pan out, that stinks. Where do you think the Wild
sit as of now before any games have been played
in terms of the Central Division?
Speaker 2 (31:54):
I think there's no reason with the way that they
started last year, and if capriesovs, which is the world's biggest,
If if Caprice often Coast stay healthy, there's no reason
they can't compete for the division.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
All that, they had one of the best records in
the NHL until he got hurt.
Speaker 2 (32:07):
He was a heart trophied odds favorite in Vegas. So really,
I wouldn't say the team lives and dies with Caprice
sof because they have a little bit more scoring depth
than they did last year.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
Yeah, they kind of do, But they kind of do.
They kind of do. As a matter of fact. Well,
I appreciate that. That's awesome. Yeah, Wild opening up in
Saint Louis and that's a seven pm pregame. Joe joe'
donald on the call, Tom Reid, and you know they
don't Joe Donald doesn't need my he doesn't need my help.
But like a little bouya bum. I mean, I don't know,
(32:40):
you can throw it down there or just workshop is Zeve. Yeah,
that's why I don't do play by play ladies and gentlemen,
because because I'm not good at it. That's that's actually
the frame of it. Let's do some vikings talkbacks here
with a bit more time left in the segment again,
Minnesota Wild opening on Thursday night. I think we are
going to have have some Russo inclusion, whether it's tomorrow
(33:02):
or Thursday, some hockey heavy opportunities here, as both PA
and I will not be in the mix the next
few days, so somebody that actually knows puck. You'll get
to talk with them, Brett, instead of just staring at
me while I'm trying. Okay, Yeah, this guy's on the team.
Give me some excitement, give me something to be excited about.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Oh, I'm sure Falmus is very excited about everything that
I disagreed with this segment. I'm sure he's fired up
and I can't wait to talk to him to the
talkback machine.
Speaker 7 (33:33):
Hey, Nordo, Max Remeigan here. I know we're three and
two and it's looking okay at the moment, but honestly,
we have not played that well we could easily be
one in four play the murmur.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
I know if we didn't play.
Speaker 7 (33:49):
The Browns and the Bears this season and played above
average teams in both those games. We didn't play winning
football in those games, and we found a way to win,
I know, But the team as some.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Work to do unfortunately, see you later, Hey, thanks for
the talkback, Max, And that's in. And then I also
got a text from Greg and Lakeville, and I'm just
going to kind of mix those two. I agree with you,
first of all, Max, that this team hasn't played well,
and whether that's injuries, circumstance, all of those things, it
(34:20):
all matters in the scope of games that count. So
teams three and two into the by but very easily
in some circumstances, save for the go ahead drive at
London at Tottenham or even week one against the Bears,
you require, after three quarters of malaise to engineer three
scoring drives. The kid QB comes through, he's NFC player
of the week and you nip them at the wire
(34:42):
at sold your field against the Bears. So the team
has not played well. Injuries playing a part in that, certainly.
But then I get this text from from Greg and Lakeville,
which I also understand. Hey, Nordo, only problem with your
logic regarding McCarthy the idea, I'm just I'm pumped. See
I'm completely re emboldened, and I'm just I'm finding that
(35:05):
place I was in before the Monday night opener where
I can't wait for McCarthy to get back on the field.
But but Greg his his text, The only problem with
your logic regarding McCarthy is that we are an older team.
We're supposed to win now. Older veterans can't wait around
too bad. Donald wasn't still here as the Quicke aside,
(35:31):
which we are. We are known to do. Darnald's looked
almost better in Seattle thus far than he did in
Minnesota last season. Unbelievable resurgence to his career. What he's
doing with the Seahawks, to shootout with Baker. I know
they were on the wrong side of it against the
Bucks this last weekend, but that that ain't Donald's fault.
Donald was awesome and has been really through the first month.
(35:54):
In the game of the season, and and they did
find that l to Tampa, but to luck to Darnold,
the plan was to move on to to JJ McCarthy.
I keep seeing that the roster is built to win
now that we are supposed to win now. The only
reason that we are a veteran laden team to the
degree that we are is because we haven't been effectively
(36:18):
drafting for the last half decade, which potentially plays into
why some of these injury issues and where and and
the the O line with what they did, with what
this team had. The performances on Sunday across that O
line were very impressive. Joe Huber, not starting guard caliber
in the NFL, held up in moments again one v
(36:41):
one I mentioned yesterday one of my favorite plays from
the game was sadly it ended in that field goal
ball may have hit wire fiasco, but the thirty a
yarder to Justin Jefferson where Carson didn't get happy feet,
he didn't bail out of the pocket. He stood in
there strong and usin school one v one, the guy
(37:03):
that at times had felt like a month ago was
potentially getting JJ McCarthy killed on the left side of
the O line. He stood tall one v one won
that rep against Miles Garrett and gave Carson that extra
split second he needed to deliver it to Jefferson. So
the performances require and have earned the respect and the
tip of the cap. But the fact of the matter
(37:28):
is this is an older team because we have not
I mean, Donovan Jackson I think is going to be
an absolute stud. Excited for him to get back again.
These health issues, they always pop up in any conversation
we have. This is a veteran laden team because we
have been so ineffective at producing draft domestic, homegrown, organic
(37:49):
talent to this team to the point now where we're
even also having that conversation. Can't wait for Van Ginkel
to come back because of how important Van Ginkel is,
and the reason he's so important to come back is
because the kid we drafted a year ago, in his
second year, splashed a couple of bit men and made
a couple of nice tackles in specifics, one near the
(38:10):
boundary on Judkins I believe, and in a good game
in a vacuum again from Dallas Turner. Now that doesn't
mean he's a bust again. We can need Van Ginkle
back and Dallas Turner can still have a terrific career.
But Dallas Turner as a first round pick has not
panned out and is not producing at the level that
this team needs from him. So the inability to draft
has this out with these measured spending spreeese, you trade
(38:33):
Harrison Phillips, you let Jonathan Bullard go because you're pumped
again veterans again coming off of injuries in Hargrave and Allen,
and I would say, you've seen a few splash moments,
but in the end, we've seen our run de suffer mightily.
And that's not just up the middle in the absence
of Van Ginkel. A lot of teams they're running at
(38:54):
Dallas Turner and it is working. So the built to
win now? Are we? On paper? In August it felt
like that, But I think now as we enter the bye,
I think the combination of health and just looking pragmatically
at the roster, we are a veteran laden roster. I
(39:15):
am no longer necessarily convinced that this is a built
to win now and it's whatever we can possibly do
to hold this thing together. And once we get Cashman back,
who I'm excited to get back, once we get Aaron
Jones back in the mix, and that tandom redevelops and
re emerges because Mason now is fumbled in two games
in a row. Can't have that. But everything's just going
(39:36):
to run like clockwork. Again, I'm seeing this roster and
I'm seeing what this team has a little bit differently
in October than I did in early September. So I
think it's difficult to look at it and just say, well,
you can't play JJ McCarthy because we're supposed to win. Now.
I mean maybe we're supposed to. I'd like us to,
(39:58):
but can we are true built in that fashion? That's
one question that I do have.
Speaker 8 (40:07):
My feeling on the Viking quarterback situation is you gotta
roll with Carson Wentz. Okay, he is playing winning football.
We all saw what JJ McCarthy was doing on his
first two outings. Let's say the Vikings do put him
back in and he continues to play the way that
he played before his injury. Well then what then you
(40:29):
pull him in and what does that do to his confidence?
Speaker 1 (40:31):
Yeah, and what does that do? It would be It
would be bad. It would if he comes in and
the offense continues to sputter and is just mired and
full on impotent destitution. Well then we start to learn
something about the quarterbacks. Again, If you know getting him
fully healthy, getting him practicing, finding that rhythm, the trust
(40:53):
that you have in the head coach who chose this guy.
This was the plan. A. You see seven cores orders
of mediocrity with one quarter of brilliance at Soldier field.
It has us all wondering. There's no doubt about that. Yes,
once he comes back into the game, I agree with
you from the sentiment standpoint. He is playing when he
is healthy and he takes that field again. You're doing
(41:17):
it under the idea that this is your guy for
the remainder of the season. But we need to see
what this kid has. So when do you play him?
I don't that's so you're you. You're either going to wait.
So Carson Wentz needs to continue playing, continue being the
warrior that he is at this journeyman stage of his career,
(41:38):
and then he has to fail miserably. I don't think
Carson Wentz is bad enough to fail miserably, but he
will make mistakes. He will he will struggle at times.
So I don't see him going MVP on the bit
for the remainder of the season. I don't see him floundering.
So at this point we just say, eh, see you
(42:02):
next year. And so then now, in the first two
seasons of a kid's career, somebody you invested in via
the draft, somebody you believe in, somebody that was your plan. A,
he's going to get eight quarters of work. I do
believe that that's a problem. So I just it can't
necessarily be predicated on Carson's play overall, because I just
don't believe Carson's ever going to be bad enough to
(42:24):
the point where, oh, all right, guys, it's all over.
I guess it is time to bring the kid in.
I think you need to remain consistent in the development
of this kid, and at some point he has to
come in and play, and of course associated with that
is the risk that he's not good, and then you know,
and then you again act accordingly. Thanks for the talkbacks.
(42:47):
We're going to roll back and continue having this conversation.
Six four six eighty six Bratshaw on Bryan Kfan text
line talkbacks with the free iHeartRadio app at that microphone.
Give us up to your best thirty seconds. First hour
rolls on Ben Gestling in studio at ten it's Nord
to one for Pa with Brett blakemore nine to do, Hey, Nordo.
Speaker 6 (43:03):
A couple of topics here quick for you. On McDavid contract, Yeah,
good on him for doing that. People need to realize
it's not a knock against Bill Garon. People that do
what McDavid did are going to be making probably three
million dollars more per season on their second contract. On
the Wentz McCarthy debate, it's not a debate, it's Gottathy McCarthy.
Otherwise it's a wasted season. Wentz is way too inconsistent.
(43:23):
We're going nowhere with him.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
We have to at least see what McCarthy has. Thanks
Doug for the talk back. I also got I got
a text message specifically for Blake Moore. When Eck is
out there against the opponent's top line, do you honestly
want ogrin or y're off going against McDavid and McKinnon
out of the gate or a guy who won't get
(43:44):
caught out of position in Felino, Maybe the ch line
will be more considered as much the third line, and
the playing time will be more equally split than you think.
Speaker 2 (43:54):
Why don't you let the coaches coach Brett Well? Thanks
k Fondness for the text. I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (44:00):
I wasn't falling this. No, No, he's a civil servant.
He's delivering somebody's mail on the east side of town
right now.
Speaker 2 (44:06):
Understood, If you want your second line to be a
shut down line, that I guess that's your choice. I
would rather have my second line be an ancillary scoring line,
and I think that's more of a traditional way to go.
It's a great shutdown line. I won't deny that it
will be a great shutdown line. If you remember, I'm
old enough to remember, the grief line was that Felino
(44:29):
U Greenway and eck.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
That was a great shutdown line.
Speaker 2 (44:33):
They played him against McDavid all the time, and it
had a lot of success. I don't think that was
their second line at that point in time. So I'm
all for a great shutdown line, and I think that
there are spots on this team for those types of lines.
I just think you're not You're not putting your young
prospects in a position to succeed if you're only gonna
give them seven minutes of ice time.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
I dig it to the talkback machine Viking Centrico.
Speaker 9 (44:56):
Jamie from Holly, he just wanted to I love Carson Wentz.
Speaker 1 (45:01):
He's done a great job.
Speaker 9 (45:03):
Yeah, he is the veteran leader we needed at that time.
But give JJ a healthy old line, give him Addison,
get Jones back, Hawk's now recovered, stroke the post. Let's go,
let's see what the kids got, all right, let's go,
Purple Skull.
Speaker 1 (45:22):
So I'll admit when I saw it, because I read
the transcripts of these talkbacks. Yes, and I'm reading it
while reading that. I'm kind of reading that while I'm
reading the text. So it's yeah, it's a bit of
a schizophrenic operation here in the big chair this morning.
Sorry about that. But when I saw it out of
the course, the peripheral hawk in the transcript and then Stroke,
(45:48):
I thought we had been infiltrated by it was a
leftover from by the Power Trip morning show. So I
just want to thank you for staying stayed on topic.
Out of the talkback machine.
Speaker 10 (46:04):
Hey, guys, Craig from playing Hey, if you bring in
the kid and he's terrible, well then you're kind of
stuck playing him for the rest of the year, aren't you. Yeah,
let's say he loses the first three games. What good
at that point is it to bring in wins? Our
season's over? So you might as well stick with the kids,
(46:26):
so I hope they keep wins in. I don't know
why they're such a rush to bring the kid in
and get him going.
Speaker 1 (46:33):
Okay, I appreciate it. Hey, Nordal, Aaron Hero and Cottage Grove.
I think you're spot on with your tike on JJ.
The kid just haven't had a big enough.
Speaker 2 (46:41):
Sample size with the two games, and he trained his
ankle in game two, hasn't had a healthy offensive line.
Speaker 4 (46:46):
I think you give the kid.
Speaker 9 (46:49):
With a couple of pieces going back after the bye
a healthy addison that we never had because of the supession.
Speaker 5 (46:55):
I like the kids chances.
Speaker 1 (46:58):
It doesn't work after two or three game. Yeah, thanks, yeah,
thanks for the talkbacks. A couple of text message here
before we pause, Ben Gesling starts tribute is next markin Duluth.
What does he say putting the way McCarthy played on
him is ridiculous. The old line was garbage for the
(47:19):
first two games. When Wentz came in, the line and
running game played far better. Dari saw was a huge
reason for that. Give the kids some time and you
will see a big difference in my opinion. Thank you, Mark.
Another text message, don't have a name on it, but
appreciate it. They can't put McCarthy back in until they
know the line can and will protect him. It has
(47:39):
all to do with that and little with JJ. People
making these sweeping judgments and predictions about JJ are childish.
Jason from Bismarck. Of course, I'm a huge Carson Wentz fan.
Of course you are probably went to high school with them.
There's got to be a lot of there's got to
be a lot of carryover and connections like I played
(48:00):
with him in this Pop Warner league or youth football league,
saw him in high school, knew this new that between
the fan loving audience and JJ, and excuse me and
Carson Wentz. Of course I'm a huge Carson Wentz fan.
I agree we need to see what JJ has, but
I just don't think he can read defenses at this
point in his career. Tough spot for the coach, tough
(48:20):
for me necessarily to say that he Kenner cannot read
defenses because he was running for his life a fair
amount of those eight quarters that we got to see from.
But I'm glad that that so many people are indeed
hitting on the offensive line. You know, Roster built built
now versus, in my opinion, a veteran laden roster because
we have not been drafting effectively. That's kind of where
(48:43):
I'm sitting with it. Through five games. I have a
little different perception of what this roster in totality looks like.
Need to see it fully healthy. Still waiting for that,
but my perception of that has changed a bit. But
the ability to see McCarthy behind what would be I
guess fully healthy would be at this stage, given now
(49:05):
that Ryan Kelly's on IR, it'll be Darrisaw hopefully off
the pitch count ready to play full games with this
knee thing, into a healthy Donovan Jackson post the wrist
procedure into well Will Fry's a right guard, Brian O'Neal.
He's weak to week, but we need that cap back certainly.
And then at center man Blake Brandel, though I mean
(49:28):
Blake Brandell was terrific on Sunday in London. Michael Jurgens
has had his ups and downs, initially not even playning
to play. It was Ryan Kelly's job, so how they
put that thing together. I want to see McCarthy behind
a healthy Minnesota moving company, and I do believe it's
(49:49):
not like you know, the soft benching things and some
of the ways that this has been reported on or
written about, or thought about or spoken of on social media.
I just I wonder the combination of getting the kid
in a rhythm and then also getting the right pieces
in front of him to protect the kid, and then
we get to see does he have it or does
he not? That We'll continue this conversation, whether it's the
(50:12):
text messages or talkbacks, We're going to continue this for
a large part of the ten am hour is Ben
Gesling's going to be in studio the Star Tribune, Star
Tribune dot Com. It's into the bye week. There's a
lot of things to talk about from a health perspective.
Just through five games, how do you sum up? Maybe
Guesstline will have a different perception of this veteran laden
roster than I do, and I'm excited to get his
(50:32):
opinions on that and a whole bunch more. As we
kick off the second hour around the corner, It'snorto win
for PA with Ben Gesling next on the fan
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