Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Go out to the KAA comes from hotline and bringing
a good buddy, Ryan Michael at the Roan Michael on Twitter, Ryan,
how you doing, Buddy?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Doing well?
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Then Nick?
Speaker 2 (00:07):
If you guys going all right?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I would wait too many Ryans around today we between
Ryan Edwards, Ryan Harris and now Ryan Michael. We got
a Ryan question just definitely met. I was looking over
this today. It's getting getting draft season, getting getting close
to the draft, but that means not a lot of
NFL action going on. So we always like when you
can do these what I call the time machine, you
get to go back.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
I understand you.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Put together some numbers to discuss about a.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Team that Nick should be very familiar with.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
It's been twenty years now, give us a rundown of
the two thousand and five member Broncos.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Absolutely. You know, we're a franchise that has won seven
conference championships, three Super Bowls. We've had a lot of winning,
and the two thousand and five unit to this day
remains one of my very favorites for a lot of reasons.
Obviously a certain and three regular season record. We have
sixty four years of Broncos football. That's the second best
(01:00):
win loss record in the regular season. We've ever had
only the ninety eight Broncos at fourteen and two and
top that. We were nine to oh in Denver heading
into the AFC Championship Game, which we hosted, you know,
typical of Mike Shanahan teams. We were top ten on
offense and defense, seventh in points per game scored, third
(01:20):
in points per game surrendered. And so when I look back,
I can't believe twenty years has flowing by. I mean,
thinking about ten years since we won a Super Bowl
two thousand and five doesn't feel like that long ago.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
No, it doesn't.
Speaker 6 (01:33):
When you said that, I was like, Wow, that's gone
by so fast. And for me, when I think about
that roster from top to bottom, I mean, we were loaded.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
It was a pretty special group for me.
Speaker 6 (01:47):
And I have to say, is Ryan the thing that
stood out to me about that group. Obviously may sound biased,
but I'm a defensive person by heart. I just think about,
you know, that linebacking core that we had. We asked
some great guys who you know filled out the linebacker corps,
DJ Williams, you know, Ian goh and Al Wilson, and
we were great on the second level of that defense,
(02:09):
and it's unfortunate that we could really put everything together
and finish. But is there anything else that you saw
from that roster defensively, because it was a great roster,
you know, top.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
To bottom, there's so much really, I mean, the linebackers
contributed tremendously to both the run defense and the pass defense.
That unit finished second in the NFL and rushing yard
surrendered only gave up one thy three hundred and sixty
three yards and you know you finished fourth, and turnovers
thirty six of them fourth, and passer rating surrendered seventy
(02:40):
two point two fourth and yards per attempts surrendered six
point three twenty interceptions, and thirteen of those interceptions came
between you and Champ Bailey. Champ had eight, you had five.
And I don't want to polish your helmet too much
and make your head any bigger. You were second on
that roster in total time only I and Vold, who
(03:01):
had ninety top you, who had eighty. Is just you know,
strength from from from top to bottom, and just a
fantastic defensively and one of my favorite ever.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah, Nick, Nick got his cardio in that year.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
You know, there was cardio in that year is no
lopen on defense for for FK Dobs kidding.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Yeah, we talked about we talked about Jake.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Plumb right here, I'm talked about he's one of the
most underrated quarterbacks in the Broncos pantheon. How it gets
overshadowed a bit because he had John Haway before and
Peyton Manning course who came after. But what what can
you tell us about the level of play for for
Jake Plumber that year?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Jake was tremendous, earned a Pro Bowl selection in two
thousand and five, and really that that run from two
thousand and three to two thousand and five was the special.
I put out some numbers on Twitter earlier tonight. If
you compare Jake Plumber to Tom Brady and Drew Brees
during that same three year stretch, very comparable. He actually
had a higher adjusted net yard per attempt average than
(03:57):
the other two future Hall of famers. He was at
six point seven seven, Brady was at six point five six,
Drew was at five point nine to seven. But statistically
per game, you're looking an equal, if not better performance
than those two quarterbacks. And something that I stumbled upon
earlier today that really stood out to me is if
you look between two thousand and three and twenty twenty two,
(04:20):
it's a twenty year stretch. The AFC was stacked and
looked at the quarterbacks led their teams to host AFC
championship games. Ben Roethlisberger did so three times. Peyton Manning
will combine his work in Indianapolis and Denver, he did
so four times. Mahomes did so five years in a
row between twenty eighteen and twenty twenty two, Tom Brady
(04:43):
seven times. Jake Plumber is the only Heather guy in there,
and all other four quarterbacks are future first ballot Hall
of Fame selections. Pretty notable company to be a part of.
And I think we also overlook just how good he
was during the Week six regular season, went over the
Patriots seventeen twenty four, two hundred and sixty two yards,
two touchdowns, no picks, a one hundred and thirty four
(05:05):
point four passer rating. He put up some Hall of
Fame numbers during that stretching down. And I don't think
we talk about it.
Speaker 6 (05:10):
No, You're you're absolutely right there. There's a lot of
things that we don't talk about here. And the Maha
city as it retains to Jake Plumber. Everything becomes about
John Elway and now both Nicks and even Peyton Manning.
So there's more that needs to be done about, you know,
the conversation about Jake. But I remember that division of
(05:31):
playoffs very vividly because it was really difficult for Tom
Brady and the Patriots to kind of score. Our offense
had some issues in at first that in that first quarter,
but they were able to get solid footing in the
second quarter. So for you, in what you remember recall
from that game, what are some of those moments that
(05:52):
kind of stick out to you.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I mean, obviously the safety blitz by yours truly and
the pick six by t Bailey. That was the play
of the game. And it's funny because we look at
the means of Tom Brady with his head down on
the sideline, sitting on the bench, and we laugh now
because that was a sign that he was going to
come back and he was going to come at your throat.
He had that same body language on the sideline against
(06:17):
you guys that day, but he did not come back.
And so you look at Brady's run prior to running
into you guys that day. He was ten and l
in the postseason. And I know we'll talk about the
ANFC Championship game a little bit, and I'm sure any
player would trade a previous earlier in the postseason win
for super bowling. But I'll tell you Nick that victory
(06:40):
over those Patriots at that time being ten and zero
heading into the postseason against you guys. You know, an
analogy that comes to mind is the nineteen eighty five
Chicago Bears. They finished the regular season fifteen and one,
three and ozh through the playoffs, arguably the best football
team of all time, or at least part of the discussion.
(07:00):
They lost to Dan Marino on Monday Night Football. Now,
I'm sure Dan Marino would trade that for a ring,
but that's rarefied air that he was the only person
to do that. So during that stretch between two thousand
and one and two thousand and five, you guys were
the only ones to knock off Brading in the Patriots
in the postseason. I think that's something that's very special.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Tymer Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on Twitter contribute
to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yeah, we've talked
about the passing, but but what about that run game?
Strong staple of the my Shanhan offense. And you've got
some pretty strong words when you compared that two thousand
and five rushing attack to the Terrell Davis years.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, and I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that,
because I don't care so much about the name on
the back of the jersey as they do the results
collectively of the team. And obviously there's a reason why
Terrell Davis is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,
very deserved. But he did most of the heavy lifting
for those Denver Broncos. And if you compare the numbers
in terms of total team production, the two thousand and
(07:58):
five Broncos compared very fast. Were a believe in ninety
seven and ninety eight. Ninety seven, the team of a
unit five hundred and twenty carries two thousand, three hundred
and seventy eight yards eighteen touchdowns. The next year to
Ree Davis win to NFL MVP honors, this team is
a collective five hundred and twenty five carries two thousand,
four hundred and sixty eight yards. They average four point
(08:19):
seven yards per carry rushed for twenty six touchdowns, almost
identical numbers.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
So what the two.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Thousand and five, Broncos put up five hundred and forty
two carries two thousand and five hundred and thirty nine yards,
averaged the same four point seven yards per carry, and
produced twenty five rushing touchdowns. Mike Anderson alone one thy
fourteen rushing yards, twelve touchdowns, Tatum Bell nine hundred and
twenty one rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns. And this might
(08:47):
even be a little bit more impressive than those first
two guys if you're just looking at a small sample size.
Ron Dame rushed for two hundred and seventy yard, averaged
five point one yards per carry. It was in an
easing rushing attack, and it's a credit to the roster
as a collective.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Now, Ron Dana thunder there, I haven't heard that one
in a while.
Speaker 5 (09:08):
Yeah, we haven't.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
And it's interesting because I'm a defensive person through and through,
and when I look back at that two thousand and
five twenty sixteen, like I said, top to bottom, we
had a lot of guys on both sides of the ball,
especially defense. But when you look at the twenty twenty
five Denver Broncos defense, and you said you were to
(09:30):
make a comparison, if anything, are there some similarities to
the two thousand and five team with twenty and twenty
five team. Do you see anything that's early similar I do.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
I do, and not just on defense. I mean, obviously
the two thousand and five and it finished third in
points per being surrendered. That was the same case for
our defense last year, third in points per game surrendered.
I also look on the offensive side of the ball.
Jack Plumber and bon Knicks were not the exact style
of quarterback that they were both incredibly efficient in terms
of sack avoidance. Plumber finished it in the NFL sack
(10:07):
percentage four point six percent. Knicks finished sixth last year
four point zero six percent. Rod Smith and Courtland Sutton
put up almost carbon copy production. Rod Smith eighty five receptions,
Sutton eighty one, rod Smith one one hundred five receiving
yard Sutton one thousand and eighty one. Rod Smith caught
six touchdowns, Sutton caught eight. Catch percentage of sixty point
(10:28):
three percent for rod catch percentage of sixty percent for Courtland,
near carbon copies of each other. So we're not all
that dissimilar to what we saw twenty years ago.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Tyler Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on Twitter, and
I think one of the components of that receiving core
that gets overlooked with the contributions of Ashley Lee, a
guy who led the NFL that year in yards perception
at eighteen point three.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
Part he only had forty.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Two on the season, but that vertical component had to
have helped open things.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Up for the run game, absolutely, and it's something that
we we're missing last year. It's something that we'll look
to address in free agency in the draft for sure. Obviously,
the difference between our team last year in the two
thousand and five team that the rushing game was a
weakness for us, and so we're hoping to turn a
weakness into a strength this year. Easier said than done.
We had tremendous depth at the position in two thousand
(11:18):
and fives at the high standard to live up to,
but I'm confident will be better in twenty twenty five
than we were in twenty twenty four in that regard.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
One of the most interesting quirks of that two thousand
and five team, I think for me was the fact
that the number two touchdown receptions guy was fullback Kyle Johnson,
who only caught seventeen passes on in the year. Five
of those were touchdowns, so Rod obviously led the team
in touchdowns he had six of them, but I don't
think it was anybody else. Maybe Carswell had multiple touchdowns
(11:45):
a year. I don't think there was anyone else on
the team who had multiple touchdowns unless it was Dwayne.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I don't have the numbers in front of me, but
it was amazing the production that Mike Shanahan was able
to get out of players that you wouldn't necessarily suspect
Rod Smith. The run that he put together in two
thousand and five was his last one thousand yard years,
so of course you expect production from him. I think
he's somebody that deserves Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration
(12:11):
because he was a guy who was one thousand yards
virtually every single year besides two thousand and three between
ninety seven and two thousand and five. But what Mike
Shanahan was able to get out of other players I
think is a testament to his brilliance. And as we've
talked about many times, I think Mike Shanahan is somebody
who doesn't just deserve discussion for his place in the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, but I feel the Pro
(12:32):
Football Hall of Fame is incomplete without image.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
So I have says were talking about that particular year
in comparing it to the crab Broncos roster. Obviously, back
during that time, the Broncos offense as far as rush game,
I mean, the Bronco is the only second behind the
Atlanta Falcons. So do you think, because once again we're
still talking about this Denver Broncos team that was thirteen
and three during that time period, do you think that
(12:57):
the Broncos themselves, And I know this is a very
difficult question, because the Broncos have not gone out and
acquired a running back in the draft. I presume that
they're going to do it. Do you think that they
would have the capabilities, whether it's this year twenty twenty six,
to get back to that point where they were second
in the league behind the Falcons by I would like
(13:20):
to say about maybe six yards to the Broncos get
back to that point where they're dominating the run game
in his league.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
It's gonna be a lot of work to get us
from where we are now anything comparable to where we
were in two thousand fives. I would even argue that
the two thousand and five Denver Broncos. You're right, they
came very close to leading the league, just by a hair.
Michael Vick was a large contributor to Atlanta's rushing attack,
which is a little bit different because quarterback rushing production
(13:48):
is not the same animal as it is for halfbacks.
Jake Palmer only rushed for one hundred and fifty one
yards for US in two thousand and five, so I
think the goal needs to be improvement. The standard was
just so high under Mike any and as we know,
it seemed like it was a new one thousand yard
running back every year. Eiier said, than done well.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Ryan, We appreciate it as always at the Ryan Michael
on Twitter and uh we look forward to hear it.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
A little bit about European football as well.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Sounds good, guys, We'll do all right.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Take care of Ryan Michael.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
He's a defensive consultant there for the European Football League
there and then obviously contribute to Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
We love having them on the show.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
A lot of fascinating tibbets, but the five Broncos some
good times, good memories for you.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Nick I assume great memories for me Pro Bowl are
that year?
Speaker 6 (14:37):
Right?
Speaker 4 (14:39):
That is a.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Don't let me go harder hammer?
Speaker 4 (14:46):
Just should I just second on the team and tackles?
Speaker 5 (14:48):
I mean, should I just throw the chair against the
glass right now?
Speaker 4 (14:52):
I'm glad I'm not giving you my gatorade.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I got him.
Speaker 6 (14:56):
So you see why I'm so ticked off at this
point when look at the fact that had you know,
five interceptions, second leading tackler on the team, and it
is just like no Pro Bowl at all?
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Really, is that what we're doing? Not even a freaking alternate.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Wasn't get an alternate?
Speaker 7 (15:17):
Ye?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Wasn't that the weird year though?
Speaker 1 (15:19):
That like there were so many that there were so
many interceptions that year, So it wasn't that like the.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Weird year or in the league?
Speaker 6 (15:24):
Well, no, not really because just to give you a
glimpse at what I was dealing with, So during my time,
you had Troy Polamalu, you had Ed Reid, right, So
those guys were balling out of control. Yes, so I
knew that there was going to be somewhat of an issue.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
But in compression to anyone else, I put my numbers
up against anyone else during that time period. But lo
and behold, guess what.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
I didn't have that fantasy name, so I didn't get
that vote.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
I'm still picked man.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
For grant. You we got you got him riled up?
Wos you got him riled up?
Speaker 6 (16:06):
Man.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
I just remember that being like, appreciate it. I remember
that being like a weird year for for interceptions.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
It was like so many interceptions, Like didn't tie Law
and Delfa both have like ten or something like that.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
But those with corners.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah, all right, we gotta hit a break. Well, we
got a cool nick down during the break. We'll be back.
But a few texts, uh coming in here.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Somebody asked to the most damaging play in the five
AFC Championship game, Champ Bailey narrowly missing the interception on
the Rosthlisberg pass in the first quarter or Tatum Bell
getting tackled in the open field on the screen pass
that would have been a t d oh.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Oh it hurts. Yeah, I'm gonna go with the Tatum
Bell thing, just because I think that.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
What was that text to give me that number?
Speaker 8 (16:50):
I think it's Brian Jesus, Come on, man, just hurtful,
just just just thinking on my eye just hurtful, man,
my my, by.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
Him just saying that and you reading it.
Speaker 6 (17:02):
I'm sitting there visually watching Tatum Cass the screen on
the right side on the still one.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Man.
Speaker 6 (17:10):
I mean, what were the odds that Paula Mala was
just gonna jump out there and hit him on his
big toe and he fell.
Speaker 7 (17:15):
On the ground, by the way, Just to rub it
in a little bit more, Nick on your missed Pro Bowl.
This is from d Ryan Michael on Twitter. Our last guest.
He said, two thousand and five Safety Production. Nick Ferguson
eighty tackles, five interceptions, Brian Dawkins eighty tackles three interceptions,
and let me guess Doc got the Pro Bowl. Yes
he did, and the Oll Pro. I don't know if
(17:36):
he made the All Pro.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
I think we do have romy Bean.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
David.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
I was for a lot light to bring on Roby
Bean too.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Uh say the Nick is Nick's about to turn over
a Gatoray table right now, ROMI, how are you doing
this evening?
Speaker 9 (17:50):
I'm so offended that the first thing I hear on
air is this conversation. I feel like Nick, I'd like
to bleach my eyes and my ears out. And also
We'll bake Chim Bailey for nothing.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Okay, Yeah, that game.
Speaker 9 (18:05):
I think I'm going to add what was the most
painful thing, and maybe you can agree to this, thick
is the amount of terrible towels and the amount of
Broncos fans sold their tickets to Steelers fans at that
game was horrific.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
All right, let me let me address that really quickly.
Roll me because I thought this was Broncos Country. I
rolled into the game and I saw so many terrible
towels And to this day, I don't ever want to
hear anyone in Broncos Country talk to me about loyalty
because on that day, they didn't show it.
Speaker 5 (18:37):
And that's all I'm gonna say about that.
Speaker 9 (18:40):
I've never seen anything like it.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
I haven't. That was before I was in Denver.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I remember I was watching that game and I remember
seeing and I'm like, wow, there are a lot of
Pittsburgh fans that made the trip.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
I do remember that, so uh.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
It was fascinating, you know, if we're going from one
thing that we're like about to another. The Denver Nuggets
finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of
eminent victory as they continue to slide, losing their last two.
Now they're a danger of if they continue this pattern, maybe.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Not even making a play in.
Speaker 9 (19:14):
I mean, this is such an insane situation. Right, Let's
have when the last time the Nuggets lost four in
a row, Well, it was March of twenty twenty three. Now,
of course they went on to win the championship that year.
You could say, all.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Right, but let's be real.
Speaker 9 (19:27):
This feels so markedly different because in this situation, there's
so many things that play here, first and foremost, you
look at them like the West is absolutely berserk.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
The NBA put out a graphics.
Speaker 9 (19:41):
Today, but essentially there are seven teams in play for
the three seed. The Nuggets are a half game back
from falling into the play in tournament, and so you
look at their schedule, it does seem friendly. It does
seem like they should be able to win a good
heap of those. Maybe Houston's resting the last TI game
of the year, but nonetheless that they are in a
(20:02):
situation that they're fighting for their lives and could potentially
drop into the play in and we're seeing this last
three game stretch. Nikola Jokich has put up meteoric numbers
in absolutely insane numbers, and you just you get this image.
It's like this man pushing a boulder literally up a
mountain by himself. Any one with these numbers, and you're
(20:26):
still coming out with three losses. It's like it's criminal,
you know, in so many ways. I know there's been
a lot of injuries, and now we're there's a big
concern about the Jamal Murray injury. Guys, that seems to
be more than you know, are you hurt? Are you injured?
Michael Malone kind of saying we hope he's ready for
the playoffs. That was a bit unexpected and not just
is just not in a good spot, you know, at
(20:47):
the worst possible time of year.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
Yeah, it's not what you want to see if you're
a Nuggets fan. But obviously the bigger question is, Okay, well,
what do you do if you are coach Malone because
you keep preaching playing defense and the Nuggets have played
defense in spots all season along, but they haven't really
(21:11):
been consistent. So what do you think he's going to
have to do to get his team to play more
consistent defense? Not in these last three games, but once
they get into the playoffs.
Speaker 9 (21:23):
Well, I think Nick, that's the big thing, consistency, and
that's been the problem. When they've played great defense. This
team has the capability to be anybody because offensively they're
such a juggernaut. But it is that question of consistency,
and we simply haven't seen it. So your hope is that,
you know, it's playoffs, it riles them up, they namp
everything up to the next level. But as we often say, right,
(21:47):
can you just flip the switch? Is there a light switch?
Can you just flip it on? And you hope that
the intensity does inspire them.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
But I think the lack of consistency is concerning, especially
for Michael Malone.
Speaker 9 (21:59):
And this point is, you know, I think he can
encourage his players as best as Again, he talked about
defense all day long. You know, he can talk about
it until he's blew in the face, But it comes
down to are the players going to do at night
in night out on a consistent basis? We just haven't
seen that yet. I think I, like everyone is hopeful
that they will find a way to be consistent. But
(22:20):
you think about the energy and the toll that takes
on your body to play at that level consistently. Through
the postseason. If we haven't, it would be nice to say, yeah,
we've seen that for a really long stretch and we
know they can pull that out.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
If this thing doesn't work, if they flame out, they
lose out, like you know, you lose out the playing game,
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
Is it time to examine blowing this thing up?
Speaker 1 (22:42):
We talked earlier about the possibility of maybe examining the
for office versus the coach and maybe, you know, maybe
there's not alignment there and you have to make a
change at the in the general manager, but you might
need to make a change with the encore product as well.
How do you feel about those two scenarios questions?
Speaker 9 (22:57):
I mean, I think that absolutely, if they're a first
round exit, you have to make changes because you simply
cannot waste what Nikola Yokis is doing. I know we've
said that at nauseum and it just sounds like obnoxious
at this point, but we truly can't. What this man
is doing is playing the best basketball.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Of his life, and he doesn't have.
Speaker 9 (23:18):
The supporting cast around him. You gotta go and make
a big move. And you know, one thing about the
Nuggets that they have always kind of hung their hat
on is their consistency and the consistency of the starting
five that won the championship and then really diving deep
into their drafts and develop and developing their young guys,
and in Siri, that's all great, But at the end
(23:38):
of the day, after the Nuggets won the Chip in
twenty three, everyone in the West went out and got
better and they said, how are we going to beat
the Denver Nuggets? And the Nuggets stayed the same. So
now you know, it's not like, oh gosh, oh Bluss.
I don't think you necessarily have to blow the whole
thing up, per say, but I think you do got
to consider moving on from one of your core starting
guys and bring in and all are so that you know,
(24:01):
Colk had you know, another all start to play with,
if you will, I think, and I'm not sure, but
you know, I had talked to some really good people
a year or so ago and they'd often maintain that
kind of So much of if Nicolaiokich is really happy
with Michael Malone, Michael Malone probably still has JOT there right,
(24:22):
A lot of that will go through Jokic, which I
think would be a factor in that. I can't say
that for sure, but just from talking to people that
seems like that that certainly he'd be part of the
conversations I think honestly going forward of what does.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
This look like to you?
Speaker 9 (24:36):
And they should When you have a superstar like that
and you know you can't waste his talent, he should
be in on those conversations. He wanted Russell Westbrook here
hasn't maybe worked out as.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Late in the year. We'll see what happens in the.
Speaker 9 (24:48):
Playoffs, but Jokic needs to be part of those conversations.
Speaker 6 (24:52):
Oh, speaking about conversations, obviously, Ben and I were up
at the CEU showcase last week and there was a
bunch of OOHZ and oz when this guy by the
name of Will Shepherd leaped up and just kind of well,
I think it was forty and a half yet it's vertical,
and I was standing next to Ben and the whole room.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Just went ooh.
Speaker 6 (25:16):
And I knew at that particular point Will Shepherd stot
was rising. But there was something else that took place
at the showcase that I don't know that if too
many people saw. There was a moment where broncos on
the head coach Sean Payton was having a solo conversation
with Will Shepherd. With that being said, and you being
a buff alump, would you like to see Will Shepherd
(25:39):
in the Orange and blue?
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Shep made himself some money and I was so happy
about that. When I was thinking about who stock rose
the most.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
He won.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
He didn't get a combine invite.
Speaker 9 (25:50):
This is Will Shepherd is kind of one of.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Those poster childs for honestly, why you come play for
Coach Prime because otherwise he doesn't get invited to the combine.
Who knows where he fall? How many scouts coming.
Speaker 9 (26:00):
To whatever pro day at you know, whatever.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
School he's at right, I think he was at Vandy
before until you come here and his stock has absolutely skyrocketed.
Everybody was talking about him and he's a great guy.
I actually had the pleasure of having Will on on
my show, Coach Prime Show last season, and he's just
he's just a good, a great dude. He's had his
head on his shoulders, he gets it. He's like the
(26:23):
total team.
Speaker 9 (26:24):
Player, the you know, willing, you know all the right things,
so to speak, but really a great fit for when
you look at that receiver room, and that was a crazy.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Receiver room with Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn and Lajohonte
and Will.
Speaker 9 (26:37):
Shepherd and Will came in.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
He's like, wherever you need me. Right, he was the
main guy, he was the number one before.
Speaker 9 (26:42):
And the way he really stepped in and just.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Kind of accepted his role and stood tall whatever he
needed to, it really stood.
Speaker 9 (26:49):
Out to me. But also, you know what, if you
go back to Will Shepherd, you go back to was
this the what game was it? Was it the Baylor
game he dropped the Hail Mary ball right, and then
game or two later he has an absolute massive game
and he's making game changing plays. And that when the
UCF game UCF game, which was I think a game
(27:11):
or two later, the.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Way he bounced back mentally.
Speaker 9 (27:14):
From that game, and I remember postgame him and Shador
were at the podium.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
And I asked the two of them, like, well was
the conversation and Chador said, I just said that I'm
like be ready man, and Chef's.
Speaker 9 (27:24):
Like I was waiting for my chance. So it's those
kind of moments you see how a guy who on
national TV is looking at oh, he dropped the al
Mary you know, which was thorn the way.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
He bounces back and then has a big.
Speaker 9 (27:37):
Big game when Shador meets them a couple of games later.
Those kinds of things stand out to me. So I'm
a big Will Shepherd fan and I would love to.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
See him in orange glow like what I saw out
of him.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Somebody else the Broncos had an extended conversation with there Salvans,
Joseph talking to Cameron, Silva and Craig quite a bit,
And that's somebody I know.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Nick's a big fan of Nicko loves that defense.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
You know, Day three kind of pick could be somebody
for the Broncos there. What would you think about the
Broncos dipping on the defensive side from the Buffs.
Speaker 9 (28:06):
Well, I'm all in, guys, I know I sound like
a Homer, But Cam is another guy. He's a card
and soul of that defense. The way that guy plays,
he comes in a little undersize maybe, And it's like
when they say, like you can't measure heart. Like as
cheesey and corny as that sounds, it's so true with Cam.
He finds a way to make an impact in so
many different plays and stick his nose in there and
(28:28):
make whatever kind of play he needs. To make and
so he's really a game changer on the field, but
he's such a good locker room guy too, and he's
just got a spirit about him. He talks to Cam
and you leave and you're like, oh my gosh, I'm
kind of ready to run through a wall for this kid.
So big Cam fan, I would love that one as well.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
All right, Romy, I can't let you out here without
talking about the pink elephant in the room. And that
elephant would be the Colorado Rockies, right, And it just seem.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
As though when we think about the Nuggets they have.
Speaker 6 (28:58):
Issues with defense. When you think about the Rockies, they
have issues with when we pitching an offense. Now, how
can we balance these these scales or whatever? To get
bub Black in the bats? I say, do we do
we need Joe Bull? What what do we need to
do here?
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Todo bats man?
Speaker 5 (29:16):
Is a torpedo bats? Will that works? Would that be
the fire now nell on the coll and to say.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
Hey, get the torpedo bats and then the bats and
gonna wake up?
Speaker 5 (29:24):
What's gotta happen? Romy? What do we need?
Speaker 6 (29:26):
Well?
Speaker 9 (29:27):
Oh gosh, I will tell you. They put in the
orders for the torpedo bats on the opening dash.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
A lot of the cats about them and.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
They're they're excited about it.
Speaker 9 (29:36):
But Breton Doyle probably had the best line. He said,
snuff the wand it's the wizard. I like that one. So, uh,
you know, a lot of them kind of saying we'll see.
I mean, look, Aaron Jadre don't think is not using a.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Torpedo bat, but I think, hey, look if it could
help the Rockies, put one in.
Speaker 9 (29:51):
Chris bryantan, let's go Rockies. Like if it's not right,
but if it's not one thing, it's the other. They
they entered I don't know where it stands after this
last series, but they entered their home opening series with
the best ra of starting rotations in baseball and the
worst era of relief pitchers. It's like, that's unbelievable. So
(30:13):
they entered that series one and five because you just
can't have that drastic of a jump or you know,
when the basket going, the pitching is cold. It's like
it's always one thing or another with the Rockies, and
it's never fully intact. And honestly, I think, as we
often say, there has to be changes when you look
(30:34):
at like general manager, and they got to hire somebody
from the outside. I think a lot of people were
disappointed when you know, they they've got rid of Jeff
Brydich and they bring in Belshman, and everybody thought going outside,
get a new fresh mind, and you bring in a
guy who's been with the Rockies since the nineties, and
so nothing's going to change. I honestly think unless you
(30:54):
make changes. We were talking about the Nuggets right with
the front office. You have to bring fresh blood from
the outside. It is the same old, same old, and
it's never going to change.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Now.
Speaker 9 (31:05):
One thing I did think with interesting you guys was
opening day they announced the lineup. This is the first
time the crowd booed Bud Black. I've never heard that
one before. They boot Chris Bryan, but I haven't heard
the boo Buddy before, so that so that was interesting
as well. And so we'll see what happens. But again,
we haven't seen the Rockies ever take the initiative to
(31:26):
make changes like this, and they really do. You really
have to bring in fresh blood if we're ever going
to see a different iteration of the squad.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
All right, Robbie, real quick here, we got the NFL
Draft coming up. Anybody in particular, you got your eye
on for the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 9 (31:40):
I mean, you know, I'm trying not to be like
a fangirl like everyone else over Ashton Gent, but like,
I'm still kind of hopeful. I just, you know, I
like the idea that they jump up. I don't know,
I don't know, but there's a lot of other backs
that I really like as well.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
So I think there's like great options for running backs
that they can kind of go up.
Speaker 9 (31:58):
And down the draft. But along with what you said, like,
I'm kind of I'm kind of geeking out a little
bit about Will Shepherd, Like I'm probably reading too much
into that, Like we read too much into everything, but
I like that. And I also think could they go
wide receiver in the first round?
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Guys, I think they could.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
Okay, well we will, uh we will, we will take
that janty.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
By the way, visiting with the Raiders this week got
I hate it, so don't I look.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
I'm just trying to keep everybody realistic here, Robby. We
appreciate it. Uh, we appreciate it as always, and thank
you for for coming on hanging out.
Speaker 9 (32:33):
You guys are the best.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
Absolutely, take care, Roma Bean from CBS. We come back.
Speaker 5 (32:36):
It's time.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
It's time for the.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Wide receiver big board. Nick you ready, I'm ready. I
was born Ready. Rochus Country night back after this
Go out to the KAA comes from hotline and bringing
a good buddy, Ryan Michael at the Roan Michael on Twitter, Ryan,
how you doing, Buddy?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Doing well?
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Then Nick?
Speaker 2 (00:07):
If you guys going all right?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
I would wait too many Ryans around today we between
Ryan Edwards, Ryan Harris and now Ryan Michael. We got
a Ryan question just definitely met. I was looking over
this today. It's getting getting draft season, getting getting close
to the draft, but that means not a lot of
NFL action going on. So we always like when you
can do these what I call the time machine, you
get to go back.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
I understand you.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Put together some numbers to discuss about a.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
Team that Nick should be very familiar with.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
It's been twenty years now, give us a rundown of
the two thousand and five member Broncos.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Absolutely. You know, we're a franchise that has won seven
conference championships, three Super Bowls. We've had a lot of winning,
and the two thousand and five unit to this day
remains one of my very favorites for a lot of reasons.
Obviously a certain and three regular season record. We have
sixty four years of Broncos football. That's the second best
(01:00):
win loss record in the regular season. We've ever had
only the ninety eight Broncos at fourteen and two and
top that. We were nine to oh in Denver heading
into the AFC Championship Game, which we hosted, you know,
typical of Mike Shanahan teams. We were top ten on
offense and defense, seventh in points per game scored, third
(01:20):
in points per game surrendered. And so when I look back,
I can't believe twenty years has flowing by. I mean,
thinking about ten years since we won a Super Bowl
two thousand and five doesn't feel like that long ago.
Speaker 5 (01:32):
No, it doesn't.
Speaker 6 (01:33):
When you said that, I was like, Wow, that's gone
by so fast. And for me, when I think about
that roster from top to bottom, I mean, we were loaded.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
It was a pretty special group for me.
Speaker 6 (01:47):
And I have to say, is Ryan the thing that
stood out to me about that group. Obviously may sound biased,
but I'm a defensive person by heart. I just think about,
you know, that linebacking core that we had. We asked
some great guys who you know filled out the linebacker corps,
DJ Williams, you know, Ian goh and Al Wilson, and
we were great on the second level of that defense,
(02:09):
and it's unfortunate that we could really put everything together
and finish. But is there anything else that you saw
from that roster defensively, because it was a great roster,
you know, top.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
To bottom, there's so much really, I mean, the linebackers
contributed tremendously to both the run defense and the pass defense.
That unit finished second in the NFL and rushing yard
surrendered only gave up one thy three hundred and sixty
three yards and you know you finished fourth, and turnovers
thirty six of them fourth, and passer rating surrendered seventy
(02:40):
two point two fourth and yards per attempts surrendered six
point three twenty interceptions, and thirteen of those interceptions came
between you and Champ Bailey. Champ had eight, you had five.
And I don't want to polish your helmet too much
and make your head any bigger. You were second on
that roster in total time only I and Vold, who
(03:01):
had ninety top you, who had eighty. Is just you know,
strength from from from top to bottom, and just a
fantastic defensively and one of my favorite ever.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
Yeah, Nick, Nick got his cardio in that year.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
You know, there was cardio in that year is no
lopen on defense for for FK Dobs kidding.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Yeah, we talked about we talked about Jake.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Plumb right here, I'm talked about he's one of the
most underrated quarterbacks in the Broncos pantheon. How it gets
overshadowed a bit because he had John Haway before and
Peyton Manning course who came after. But what what can
you tell us about the level of play for for
Jake Plumber that year?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Jake was tremendous, earned a Pro Bowl selection in two
thousand and five, and really that that run from two
thousand and three to two thousand and five was the special.
I put out some numbers on Twitter earlier tonight. If
you compare Jake Plumber to Tom Brady and Drew Brees
during that same three year stretch, very comparable. He actually
had a higher adjusted net yard per attempt average than
(03:57):
the other two future Hall of famers. He was at
six point seven seven, Brady was at six point five six,
Drew was at five point nine to seven. But statistically
per game, you're looking an equal, if not better performance
than those two quarterbacks. And something that I stumbled upon
earlier today that really stood out to me is if
you look between two thousand and three and twenty twenty two,
(04:20):
it's a twenty year stretch. The AFC was stacked and
looked at the quarterbacks led their teams to host AFC
championship games. Ben Roethlisberger did so three times. Peyton Manning
will combine his work in Indianapolis and Denver, he did
so four times. Mahomes did so five years in a
row between twenty eighteen and twenty twenty two, Tom Brady
(04:43):
seven times. Jake Plumber is the only Heather guy in there,
and all other four quarterbacks are future first ballot Hall
of Fame selections. Pretty notable company to be a part of.
And I think we also overlook just how good he
was during the Week six regular season, went over the
Patriots seventeen twenty four, two hundred and sixty two yards,
two touchdowns, no picks, a one hundred and thirty four
(05:05):
point four passer rating. He put up some Hall of
Fame numbers during that stretching down. And I don't think
we talk about it.
Speaker 6 (05:10):
No, You're you're absolutely right there. There's a lot of
things that we don't talk about here. And the Maha
city as it retains to Jake Plumber. Everything becomes about
John Elway and now both Nicks and even Peyton Manning.
So there's more that needs to be done about, you know,
the conversation about Jake. But I remember that division of
(05:31):
playoffs very vividly because it was really difficult for Tom
Brady and the Patriots to kind of score. Our offense
had some issues in at first that in that first quarter,
but they were able to get solid footing in the
second quarter. So for you, in what you remember recall
from that game, what are some of those moments that
(05:52):
kind of stick out to you.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
I mean, obviously the safety blitz by yours truly and
the pick six by t Bailey. That was the play
of the game. And it's funny because we look at
the means of Tom Brady with his head down on
the sideline, sitting on the bench, and we laugh now
because that was a sign that he was going to
come back and he was going to come at your throat.
He had that same body language on the sideline against
(06:17):
you guys that day, but he did not come back.
And so you look at Brady's run prior to running
into you guys that day. He was ten and l
in the postseason. And I know we'll talk about the
ANFC Championship game a little bit, and I'm sure any
player would trade a previous earlier in the postseason win
for super bowling. But I'll tell you Nick that victory
(06:40):
over those Patriots at that time being ten and zero
heading into the postseason against you guys. You know, an
analogy that comes to mind is the nineteen eighty five
Chicago Bears. They finished the regular season fifteen and one,
three and ozh through the playoffs, arguably the best football
team of all time, or at least part of the discussion.
(07:00):
They lost to Dan Marino on Monday Night Football. Now,
I'm sure Dan Marino would trade that for a ring,
but that's rarefied air that he was the only person
to do that. So during that stretch between two thousand
and one and two thousand and five, you guys were
the only ones to knock off Brading in the Patriots
in the postseason. I think that's something that's very special.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Tymer Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on Twitter contribute
to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yeah, we've talked
about the passing, but but what about that run game?
Strong staple of the my Shanhan offense. And you've got
some pretty strong words when you compared that two thousand
and five rushing attack to the Terrell Davis years.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Yeah, and I'm not being hyperbolic when I say that,
because I don't care so much about the name on
the back of the jersey as they do the results
collectively of the team. And obviously there's a reason why
Terrell Davis is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame,
very deserved. But he did most of the heavy lifting
for those Denver Broncos. And if you compare the numbers
in terms of total team production, the two thousand and
(07:58):
five Broncos compared very fast. Were a believe in ninety
seven and ninety eight. Ninety seven, the team of a
unit five hundred and twenty carries two thousand, three hundred
and seventy eight yards eighteen touchdowns. The next year to
Ree Davis win to NFL MVP honors, this team is
a collective five hundred and twenty five carries two thousand,
four hundred and sixty eight yards. They average four point
(08:19):
seven yards per carry rushed for twenty six touchdowns, almost
identical numbers.
Speaker 4 (08:24):
So what the two.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Thousand and five, Broncos put up five hundred and forty
two carries two thousand and five hundred and thirty nine yards,
averaged the same four point seven yards per carry, and
produced twenty five rushing touchdowns. Mike Anderson alone one thy
fourteen rushing yards, twelve touchdowns, Tatum Bell nine hundred and
twenty one rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns. And this might
(08:47):
even be a little bit more impressive than those first
two guys if you're just looking at a small sample size.
Ron Dame rushed for two hundred and seventy yard, averaged
five point one yards per carry. It was in an
easing rushing attack, and it's a credit to the roster
as a collective.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Now, Ron Dana thunder there, I haven't heard that one
in a while.
Speaker 5 (09:08):
Yeah, we haven't.
Speaker 6 (09:09):
And it's interesting because I'm a defensive person through and through,
and when I look back at that two thousand and
five twenty sixteen, like I said, top to bottom, we
had a lot of guys on both sides of the ball,
especially defense. But when you look at the twenty twenty
five Denver Broncos defense, and you said you were to
(09:30):
make a comparison, if anything, are there some similarities to
the two thousand and five team with twenty and twenty
five team. Do you see anything that's early similar I do.
Speaker 2 (09:44):
I do, and not just on defense. I mean, obviously
the two thousand and five and it finished third in
points per being surrendered. That was the same case for
our defense last year, third in points per game surrendered.
I also look on the offensive side of the ball.
Jack Plumber and bon Knicks were not the exact style
of quarterback that they were both incredibly efficient in terms
of sack avoidance. Plumber finished it in the NFL sack
(10:07):
percentage four point six percent. Knicks finished sixth last year
four point zero six percent. Rod Smith and Courtland Sutton
put up almost carbon copy production. Rod Smith eighty five receptions,
Sutton eighty one, rod Smith one one hundred five receiving
yard Sutton one thousand and eighty one. Rod Smith caught
six touchdowns, Sutton caught eight. Catch percentage of sixty point
(10:28):
three percent for rod catch percentage of sixty percent for Courtland,
near carbon copies of each other. So we're not all
that dissimilar to what we saw twenty years ago.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Tyler Ryan Michael at the Ryan Michael on Twitter, and
I think one of the components of that receiving core
that gets overlooked with the contributions of Ashley Lee, a
guy who led the NFL that year in yards perception
at eighteen point three.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
Part he only had forty.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Two on the season, but that vertical component had to
have helped open things.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Up for the run game, absolutely, and it's something that
we we're missing last year. It's something that we'll look
to address in free agency in the draft for sure. Obviously,
the difference between our team last year in the two
thousand and five team that the rushing game was a
weakness for us, and so we're hoping to turn a
weakness into a strength this year. Easier said than done.
We had tremendous depth at the position in two thousand
(11:18):
and fives at the high standard to live up to,
but I'm confident will be better in twenty twenty five
than we were in twenty twenty four in that regard.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
One of the most interesting quirks of that two thousand
and five team, I think for me was the fact
that the number two touchdown receptions guy was fullback Kyle Johnson,
who only caught seventeen passes on in the year. Five
of those were touchdowns, so Rod obviously led the team
in touchdowns he had six of them, but I don't
think it was anybody else. Maybe Carswell had multiple touchdowns
(11:45):
a year. I don't think there was anyone else on
the team who had multiple touchdowns unless it was Dwayne.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I don't have the numbers in front of me, but
it was amazing the production that Mike Shanahan was able
to get out of players that you wouldn't necessarily suspect
Rod Smith. The run that he put together in two
thousand and five was his last one thousand yard years,
so of course you expect production from him. I think
he's somebody that deserves Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration
(12:11):
because he was a guy who was one thousand yards
virtually every single year besides two thousand and three between
ninety seven and two thousand and five. But what Mike
Shanahan was able to get out of other players I
think is a testament to his brilliance. And as we've
talked about many times, I think Mike Shanahan is somebody
who doesn't just deserve discussion for his place in the
Pro Football Hall of Fame, but I feel the Pro
(12:32):
Football Hall of Fame is incomplete without image.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
So I have says were talking about that particular year
in comparing it to the crab Broncos roster. Obviously, back
during that time, the Broncos offense as far as rush game,
I mean, the Bronco is the only second behind the
Atlanta Falcons. So do you think, because once again we're
still talking about this Denver Broncos team that was thirteen
and three during that time period, do you think that
(12:57):
the Broncos themselves, And I know this is a very
difficult question, because the Broncos have not gone out and
acquired a running back in the draft. I presume that
they're going to do it. Do you think that they
would have the capabilities, whether it's this year twenty twenty six,
to get back to that point where they were second
in the league behind the Falcons by I would like
(13:20):
to say about maybe six yards to the Broncos get
back to that point where they're dominating the run game
in his league.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
It's gonna be a lot of work to get us
from where we are now anything comparable to where we
were in two thousand fives. I would even argue that
the two thousand and five Denver Broncos. You're right, they
came very close to leading the league, just by a hair.
Michael Vick was a large contributor to Atlanta's rushing attack,
which is a little bit different because quarterback rushing production
(13:48):
is not the same animal as it is for halfbacks.
Jake Palmer only rushed for one hundred and fifty one
yards for US in two thousand and five, so I
think the goal needs to be improvement. The standard was
just so high under Mike any and as we know,
it seemed like it was a new one thousand yard
running back every year. Eiier said, than done well.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Ryan, We appreciate it as always at the Ryan Michael
on Twitter and uh we look forward to hear it.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
A little bit about European football as well.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Sounds good, guys, We'll do all right.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
Take care of Ryan Michael.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
He's a defensive consultant there for the European Football League
there and then obviously contribute to Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (14:26):
We love having them on the show.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
A lot of fascinating tibbets, but the five Broncos some
good times, good memories for you.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Nick I assume great memories for me Pro Bowl are
that year?
Speaker 6 (14:37):
Right?
Speaker 4 (14:39):
That is a.
Speaker 5 (14:43):
Don't let me go harder hammer?
Speaker 4 (14:46):
Just should I just second on the team and tackles?
Speaker 5 (14:48):
I mean, should I just throw the chair against the
glass right now?
Speaker 4 (14:52):
I'm glad I'm not giving you my gatorade.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I got him.
Speaker 6 (14:56):
So you see why I'm so ticked off at this
point when look at the fact that had you know,
five interceptions, second leading tackler on the team, and it
is just like no Pro Bowl at all?
Speaker 5 (15:13):
Really, is that what we're doing? Not even a freaking alternate.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Wasn't get an alternate?
Speaker 7 (15:17):
Ye?
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Wasn't that the weird year though?
Speaker 1 (15:19):
That like there were so many that there were so
many interceptions that year, So it wasn't that like the.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
Weird year or in the league?
Speaker 6 (15:24):
Well, no, not really because just to give you a
glimpse at what I was dealing with, So during my time,
you had Troy Polamalu, you had Ed Reid, right, So
those guys were balling out of control. Yes, so I
knew that there was going to be somewhat of an issue.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
But in compression to anyone else, I put my numbers
up against anyone else during that time period. But lo
and behold, guess what.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
I didn't have that fantasy name, so I didn't get
that vote.
Speaker 5 (15:56):
I'm still picked man.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
For grant. You we got you got him riled up?
Wos you got him riled up?
Speaker 6 (16:06):
Man.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
I just remember that being like, appreciate it. I remember
that being like a weird year for for interceptions.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
It was like so many interceptions, Like didn't tie Law
and Delfa both have like ten or something like that.
Speaker 5 (16:16):
But those with corners.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Yeah, all right, we gotta hit a break. Well, we
got a cool nick down during the break. We'll be back.
But a few texts, uh coming in here.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Somebody asked to the most damaging play in the five
AFC Championship game, Champ Bailey narrowly missing the interception on
the Rosthlisberg pass in the first quarter or Tatum Bell
getting tackled in the open field on the screen pass
that would have been a t d oh.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Oh it hurts. Yeah, I'm gonna go with the Tatum
Bell thing, just because I think that.
Speaker 5 (16:48):
What was that text to give me that number?
Speaker 8 (16:50):
I think it's Brian Jesus, Come on, man, just hurtful,
just just just thinking on my eye just hurtful, man,
my my, by.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
Him just saying that and you reading it.
Speaker 6 (17:02):
I'm sitting there visually watching Tatum Cass the screen on
the right side on the still one.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Man.
Speaker 6 (17:10):
I mean, what were the odds that Paula Mala was
just gonna jump out there and hit him on his
big toe and he fell.
Speaker 7 (17:15):
On the ground, by the way, Just to rub it
in a little bit more, Nick on your missed Pro Bowl.
This is from d Ryan Michael on Twitter. Our last guest.
He said, two thousand and five Safety Production. Nick Ferguson
eighty tackles, five interceptions, Brian Dawkins eighty tackles three interceptions,
and let me guess Doc got the Pro Bowl. Yes
he did, and the Oll Pro. I don't know if
(17:36):
he made the All Pro.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
I think we do have romy Bean.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
David.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
I was for a lot light to bring on Roby
Bean too.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Uh say the Nick is Nick's about to turn over
a Gatoray table right now, ROMI, how are you doing
this evening?
Speaker 9 (17:50):
I'm so offended that the first thing I hear on
air is this conversation. I feel like Nick, I'd like
to bleach my eyes and my ears out. And also
We'll bake Chim Bailey for nothing.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Okay, Yeah, that game.
Speaker 9 (18:05):
I think I'm going to add what was the most
painful thing, and maybe you can agree to this, thick
is the amount of terrible towels and the amount of
Broncos fans sold their tickets to Steelers fans at that
game was horrific.
Speaker 6 (18:18):
All right, let me let me address that really quickly.
Roll me because I thought this was Broncos Country. I
rolled into the game and I saw so many terrible
towels And to this day, I don't ever want to
hear anyone in Broncos Country talk to me about loyalty
because on that day, they didn't show it.
Speaker 5 (18:37):
And that's all I'm gonna say about that.
Speaker 9 (18:40):
I've never seen anything like it.
Speaker 4 (18:41):
I haven't. That was before I was in Denver.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
I remember I was watching that game and I remember
seeing and I'm like, wow, there are a lot of
Pittsburgh fans that made the trip.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
I do remember that, so uh.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
It was fascinating, you know, if we're going from one
thing that we're like about to another. The Denver Nuggets
finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of
eminent victory as they continue to slide, losing their last two.
Now they're a danger of if they continue this pattern, maybe.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Not even making a play in.
Speaker 9 (19:14):
I mean, this is such an insane situation. Right, Let's
have when the last time the Nuggets lost four in
a row, Well, it was March of twenty twenty three. Now,
of course they went on to win the championship that year.
You could say, all.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Right, but let's be real.
Speaker 9 (19:27):
This feels so markedly different because in this situation, there's
so many things that play here, first and foremost, you
look at them like the West is absolutely berserk.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
The NBA put out a graphics.
Speaker 9 (19:41):
Today, but essentially there are seven teams in play for
the three seed. The Nuggets are a half game back
from falling into the play in tournament, and so you
look at their schedule, it does seem friendly. It does
seem like they should be able to win a good
heap of those. Maybe Houston's resting the last TI game
of the year, but nonetheless that they are in a
(20:02):
situation that they're fighting for their lives and could potentially
drop into the play in and we're seeing this last
three game stretch. Nikola Jokich has put up meteoric numbers
in absolutely insane numbers, and you just you get this image.
It's like this man pushing a boulder literally up a
mountain by himself. Any one with these numbers, and you're
(20:26):
still coming out with three losses. It's like it's criminal,
you know, in so many ways. I know there's been
a lot of injuries, and now we're there's a big
concern about the Jamal Murray injury. Guys, that seems to
be more than you know, are you hurt? Are you injured?
Michael Malone kind of saying we hope he's ready for
the playoffs. That was a bit unexpected and not just
is just not in a good spot, you know, at
(20:47):
the worst possible time of year.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
Yeah, it's not what you want to see if you're
a Nuggets fan. But obviously the bigger question is, Okay, well,
what do you do if you are coach Malone because
you keep preaching playing defense and the Nuggets have played
defense in spots all season along, but they haven't really
(21:11):
been consistent. So what do you think he's going to
have to do to get his team to play more
consistent defense? Not in these last three games, but once
they get into the playoffs.
Speaker 9 (21:23):
Well, I think Nick, that's the big thing, consistency, and
that's been the problem. When they've played great defense. This
team has the capability to be anybody because offensively they're
such a juggernaut. But it is that question of consistency,
and we simply haven't seen it. So your hope is that,
you know, it's playoffs, it riles them up, they namp
everything up to the next level. But as we often say, right,
(21:47):
can you just flip the switch? Is there a light switch?
Can you just flip it on? And you hope that
the intensity does inspire them.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
But I think the lack of consistency is concerning, especially
for Michael Malone.
Speaker 9 (21:59):
And this point is, you know, I think he can
encourage his players as best as Again, he talked about
defense all day long. You know, he can talk about
it until he's blew in the face, But it comes
down to are the players going to do at night
in night out on a consistent basis? We just haven't
seen that yet. I think I, like everyone is hopeful
that they will find a way to be consistent. But
(22:20):
you think about the energy and the toll that takes
on your body to play at that level consistently. Through
the postseason. If we haven't, it would be nice to say, yeah,
we've seen that for a really long stretch and we
know they can pull that out.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
If this thing doesn't work, if they flame out, they
lose out, like you know, you lose out the playing game,
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 4 (22:39):
Is it time to examine blowing this thing up?
Speaker 1 (22:42):
We talked earlier about the possibility of maybe examining the
for office versus the coach and maybe, you know, maybe
there's not alignment there and you have to make a
change at the in the general manager, but you might
need to make a change with the encore product as well.
How do you feel about those two scenarios questions?
Speaker 9 (22:57):
I mean, I think that absolutely, if they're a first
round exit, you have to make changes because you simply
cannot waste what Nikola Yokis is doing. I know we've
said that at nauseum and it just sounds like obnoxious
at this point, but we truly can't. What this man
is doing is playing the best basketball.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Of his life, and he doesn't have.
Speaker 9 (23:18):
The supporting cast around him. You gotta go and make
a big move. And you know, one thing about the
Nuggets that they have always kind of hung their hat
on is their consistency and the consistency of the starting
five that won the championship and then really diving deep
into their drafts and develop and developing their young guys,
and in Siri, that's all great, But at the end
(23:38):
of the day, after the Nuggets won the Chip in
twenty three, everyone in the West went out and got
better and they said, how are we going to beat
the Denver Nuggets? And the Nuggets stayed the same. So
now you know, it's not like, oh gosh, oh Bluss.
I don't think you necessarily have to blow the whole
thing up, per say, but I think you do got
to consider moving on from one of your core starting
guys and bring in and all are so that you know,
(24:01):
Colk had you know, another all start to play with,
if you will, I think, and I'm not sure, but
you know, I had talked to some really good people
a year or so ago and they'd often maintain that
kind of So much of if Nicolaiokich is really happy
with Michael Malone, Michael Malone probably still has JOT there right,
(24:22):
A lot of that will go through Jokic, which I
think would be a factor in that. I can't say
that for sure, but just from talking to people that
seems like that that certainly he'd be part of the
conversations I think honestly going forward of what does.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
This look like to you?
Speaker 9 (24:36):
And they should When you have a superstar like that
and you know you can't waste his talent, he should
be in on those conversations. He wanted Russell Westbrook here
hasn't maybe worked out as.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Late in the year. We'll see what happens in the.
Speaker 9 (24:48):
Playoffs, but Jokic needs to be part of those conversations.
Speaker 6 (24:52):
Oh, speaking about conversations, obviously, Ben and I were up
at the CEU showcase last week and there was a
bunch of OOHZ and oz when this guy by the
name of Will Shepherd leaped up and just kind of well,
I think it was forty and a half yet it's vertical,
and I was standing next to Ben and the whole room.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Just went ooh.
Speaker 6 (25:16):
And I knew at that particular point Will Shepherd stot
was rising. But there was something else that took place
at the showcase that I don't know that if too
many people saw. There was a moment where broncos on
the head coach Sean Payton was having a solo conversation
with Will Shepherd. With that being said, and you being
a buff alump, would you like to see Will Shepherd
(25:39):
in the Orange and blue?
Speaker 3 (25:41):
Shep made himself some money and I was so happy
about that. When I was thinking about who stock rose
the most.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
He won.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
He didn't get a combine invite.
Speaker 9 (25:50):
This is Will Shepherd is kind of one of.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Those poster childs for honestly, why you come play for
Coach Prime because otherwise he doesn't get invited to the combine.
Who knows where he fall? How many scouts coming.
Speaker 9 (26:00):
To whatever pro day at you know, whatever.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
School he's at right, I think he was at Vandy
before until you come here and his stock has absolutely skyrocketed.
Everybody was talking about him and he's a great guy.
I actually had the pleasure of having Will on on
my show, Coach Prime Show last season, and he's just
he's just a good, a great dude. He's had his
head on his shoulders, he gets it. He's like the
(26:23):
total team.
Speaker 9 (26:24):
Player, the you know, willing, you know all the right things,
so to speak, but really a great fit for when
you look at that receiver room, and that was a crazy.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Receiver room with Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn and Lajohonte
and Will.
Speaker 9 (26:37):
Shepherd and Will came in.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
He's like, wherever you need me. Right, he was the
main guy, he was the number one before.
Speaker 9 (26:42):
And the way he really stepped in and just.
Speaker 3 (26:44):
Kind of accepted his role and stood tall whatever he
needed to, it really stood.
Speaker 9 (26:49):
Out to me. But also, you know what, if you
go back to Will Shepherd, you go back to was
this the what game was it? Was it the Baylor
game he dropped the Hail Mary ball right, and then
game or two later he has an absolute massive game
and he's making game changing plays. And that when the
UCF game UCF game, which was I think a game
(27:11):
or two later, the.
Speaker 3 (27:12):
Way he bounced back mentally.
Speaker 9 (27:14):
From that game, and I remember postgame him and Shador
were at the podium.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
And I asked the two of them, like, well was
the conversation and Chador said, I just said that I'm
like be ready man, and Chef's.
Speaker 9 (27:24):
Like I was waiting for my chance. So it's those
kind of moments you see how a guy who on
national TV is looking at oh, he dropped the al
Mary you know, which was thorn the way.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
He bounces back and then has a big.
Speaker 9 (27:37):
Big game when Shador meets them a couple of games later.
Those kinds of things stand out to me. So I'm
a big Will Shepherd fan and I would love to.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
See him in orange glow like what I saw out
of him.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Somebody else the Broncos had an extended conversation with there Salvans,
Joseph talking to Cameron, Silva and Craig quite a bit,
And that's somebody I know.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
Nick's a big fan of Nicko loves that defense.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
You know, Day three kind of pick could be somebody
for the Broncos there. What would you think about the
Broncos dipping on the defensive side from the Buffs.
Speaker 9 (28:06):
Well, I'm all in, guys, I know I sound like
a Homer, But Cam is another guy. He's a card
and soul of that defense. The way that guy plays,
he comes in a little undersize maybe, And it's like
when they say, like you can't measure heart. Like as
cheesey and corny as that sounds, it's so true with Cam.
He finds a way to make an impact in so
many different plays and stick his nose in there and
(28:28):
make whatever kind of play he needs. To make and
so he's really a game changer on the field, but
he's such a good locker room guy too, and he's
just got a spirit about him. He talks to Cam
and you leave and you're like, oh my gosh, I'm
kind of ready to run through a wall for this kid.
So big Cam fan, I would love that one as well.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
All right, Romy, I can't let you out here without
talking about the pink elephant in the room. And that
elephant would be the Colorado Rockies, right, And it just seem.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
As though when we think about the Nuggets they have.
Speaker 6 (28:58):
Issues with defense. When you think about the Rockies, they
have issues with when we pitching an offense. Now, how
can we balance these these scales or whatever? To get
bub Black in the bats? I say, do we do
we need Joe Bull? What what do we need to
do here?
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Todo bats man?
Speaker 5 (29:16):
Is a torpedo bats? Will that works? Would that be
the fire now nell on the coll and to say.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
Hey, get the torpedo bats and then the bats and
gonna wake up?
Speaker 5 (29:24):
What's gotta happen? Romy? What do we need?
Speaker 6 (29:26):
Well?
Speaker 9 (29:27):
Oh gosh, I will tell you. They put in the
orders for the torpedo bats on the opening dash.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
A lot of the cats about them and.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
They're they're excited about it.
Speaker 9 (29:36):
But Breton Doyle probably had the best line. He said,
snuff the wand it's the wizard. I like that one. So, uh,
you know, a lot of them kind of saying we'll see.
I mean, look, Aaron Jadre don't think is not using a.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Torpedo bat, but I think, hey, look if it could
help the Rockies, put one in.
Speaker 9 (29:51):
Chris bryantan, let's go Rockies. Like if it's not right,
but if it's not one thing, it's the other. They
they entered I don't know where it stands after this
last series, but they entered their home opening series with
the best ra of starting rotations in baseball and the
worst era of relief pitchers. It's like, that's unbelievable. So
(30:13):
they entered that series one and five because you just
can't have that drastic of a jump or you know,
when the basket going, the pitching is cold. It's like
it's always one thing or another with the Rockies, and
it's never fully intact. And honestly, I think, as we
often say, there has to be changes when you look
(30:34):
at like general manager, and they got to hire somebody
from the outside. I think a lot of people were
disappointed when you know, they they've got rid of Jeff
Brydich and they bring in Belshman, and everybody thought going outside,
get a new fresh mind, and you bring in a
guy who's been with the Rockies since the nineties, and
so nothing's going to change. I honestly think unless you
(30:54):
make changes. We were talking about the Nuggets right with
the front office. You have to bring fresh blood from
the outside. It is the same old, same old, and
it's never going to change.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Now.
Speaker 9 (31:05):
One thing I did think with interesting you guys was
opening day they announced the lineup. This is the first
time the crowd booed Bud Black. I've never heard that
one before. They boot Chris Bryan, but I haven't heard
the boo Buddy before, so that so that was interesting
as well. And so we'll see what happens. But again,
we haven't seen the Rockies ever take the initiative to
(31:26):
make changes like this, and they really do. You really
have to bring in fresh blood if we're ever going
to see a different iteration of the squad.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
All right, Robbie, real quick here, we got the NFL
Draft coming up. Anybody in particular, you got your eye
on for the Denver Broncos.
Speaker 9 (31:40):
I mean, you know, I'm trying not to be like
a fangirl like everyone else over Ashton Gent, but like,
I'm still kind of hopeful. I just, you know, I
like the idea that they jump up. I don't know,
I don't know, but there's a lot of other backs
that I really like as well.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
So I think there's like great options for running backs
that they can kind of go up.
Speaker 9 (31:58):
And down the draft. But along with what you said, like,
I'm kind of I'm kind of geeking out a little
bit about Will Shepherd, Like I'm probably reading too much
into that, Like we read too much into everything, but
I like that. And I also think could they go
wide receiver in the first round?
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Guys, I think they could.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
Okay, well we will, uh we will, we will take
that janty.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (32:18):
By the way, visiting with the Raiders this week got
I hate it, so don't I look.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
I'm just trying to keep everybody realistic here, Robby. We
appreciate it. Uh, we appreciate it as always, and thank
you for for coming on hanging out.
Speaker 9 (32:33):
You guys are the best.
Speaker 4 (32:34):
Absolutely, take care, Roma Bean from CBS. We come back.
Speaker 5 (32:36):
It's time.
Speaker 4 (32:37):
It's time for the.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Wide receiver big board. Nick you ready, I'm ready. I
was born Ready. Rochus Country night back after this
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