December 26, 2025 • 34 mins
HUGH MILLEN’S X’s and O’s - What does Hugh see in Carolina that could be a problem for the Seahawks? - Bryce Young’s struggles… - What does Hugh want to see out of the Seahawks to guarantee a victory? - Is Josh Jones a viable replacement for Charles Cross until the playoffs? :30- MIKE SANDO (The Athletic) - Carolina has a lot of incentive to get a win on Sunday, how have they found a way to win this season? - How has Bryce Young turned things around? - The Lions missed the playoffs- are big changes coming in Detroit? :45- We close out the show with one last thing!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Nive o'clock hour here on a football Friday, Chuck Powell
and Ashley Ryan with you is we head into the
stretch drive here on this Friday. Mike Sander will be
joining us later on this hour. We'll do one last
thing to close out the week. Joining us now though
the staple of our Friday nine o'clock hour it is
(00:32):
x's and o's with our QB one Hugh Millon.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Merry Christmas here, Merry Christmas. Good to be with you.
How was it? How did everything go? Did you get
a choo choo train? Did you get the everything I wanted? Figured?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Adult sons were home from the East Coast, both of them,
and and had some friends also, So yeah, it was.
It was wonderful, Okay, very good at that point. You know,
at some point, just the presence of your kids is
all you need?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Okay? I need more than that. I need more than
the presence of your kids.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
You need the presence from your kids, your kids.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, I need expensive one. My point is I need
your kids to buy me some presents next year.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Okay, we'll yeah, yeah, pass that message along. I was present, Yeah,
I wasn't very happy with coming year. Okay, perfect, all right, Well,
we we could get a scenario where the Seahawks are
division champs at the end of this week. I'm rooting
for a win in a Rams and forty nine Ers tie.
(01:34):
That's how I want to get it done. But this
Carolina team has a lot to play for themselves. I mean,
this is pretty much their super Bowl the next couple
of weeks. I don't think that they're entertaining any visions
of grandeur about being a super Bowl champion this week,
but be a nice accomplishment for them here the next
couple of weeks. To win the division would show a
(01:55):
lot of progress. But it's hard for me to find
anything dangers about this team. What would you highlight about
Carolina that is something worth chewing on here this morning?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
I think there what's interesting to me is that over
the last nine weeks they've gone win loss, win, loss, win, loss,
et cetera. And they've got some of the more impressive
wins in the entire NFL season. I can just remember
my reaction when they went to Green Bay and beat
the Packers, when the Packers had acquired Micah Parsons and
(02:29):
everybody thought they were rolling and then they're win at
home against the Rams that where they scored thirty one points.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
That was one of the most shocking wins.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
So I think that they have I don't know, I
don't know if that constitutes a high ceiling for them
just to have a couple of impressive games, But I
think that there's a environment the Seahawks are going into
with the as you suggest that, the idea they think,
with all of their recent woes, how many times have
they had the number one overall? You know, they traded
(03:05):
remember they traded it to Chicago, but they've had number
one overall back to back and they've just really been down.
So I think at that fan base when you think
of what this, remember now what the Seahawks are. They're
the number one seed in the NFC. So that a
number one seed coming into your building when you think
you can kind of just wash away some of your
(03:27):
recent history, I think there you're going to get all
of the Panthers effort and all of that crowds effort,
and it's gonna be potentially a difficult environment.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It's not been a great year for short quarterbacks this year,
but Bryce Young has at least it seems salvaged his career.
I mean it was not looking good last season. I
mean they benched him last season in the middle of
the year and it was looking like a bust at
the number one overall selection. But he's played much better
this year. Where does Bryce Young give you trouble if
(04:01):
you're Mike McDonald's defense.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, he's he's a twitchy playmaker in the pocket as
would be needed at that height, right, And I think
that for that, you know, they've just got better people
around him. I think Tet McMillan is a guy that
you know, we had talked about maybe the Seahawks targeting him,
the big receiver out of Arizona, and he's really come
on and and so I think that's probably the uh
(04:25):
the as much of a reason for anything. Their tackles
are playing better. They still have some problems that they're
somewhat like Seattle. Their worst offensive line positions are center
and right guard. But uh but and then you know
they've got this Rico Doubtle that you know, it's kind
of emerged, an undrafted guy that almost like a folk
(04:47):
hero type guy in some of his uh he's he's
had again high ceiling for him. Some of the best
games by a running back in the NFL. He's had
a couple of them, so so I think that there's
some better people around him.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
But you know.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
He's still a guy that does not have overwhelming arm strength,
and he will be inclined to kind of back up
in the face of pressure. And when he's backing up,
where there are some players in this league that have
the arm talent to still generate velocity, you know, from
a compromised position. When I say compromise, I mean you
(05:22):
can't have the kinetic chain, you know, the weight transfer
that you would like. When he doesn't get his weight transfer,
he doesn't have a strong arm, there may be an
opportunity to get some hands on some balls that are
floating by a relative scale with him if you get
the right pressure in his face.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, you really don't see a lot of five foot
nine inch pocket quarterbacks in the NFL are.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
No, no, though, well they're not going to see like,
let's if we're going to really dissect this issue. And
you know, I've given more thought to it because Russell
Wilson was the once to see our quarterback.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
But but.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
There's going to be times, you know where you don't
see how There was a time where I was asking
all the the quarterbacks I had encountered and new through
the years. Uh, you know Lway, Marino, guys I played with,
you know, rich Gannon, other guys, Danny White, you know.
I just anytime I saw a quarterback and say, hey,
what percents of the time out of one hundred times
(06:15):
in the pocket?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Could you not see what you want to see?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And and and they're all their answer was right around
thirty to forty percent. And these are big dudes, right
and and so if if a guy six y three,
six y four can only you know, I couldn't, couldn't,
can't see a third of the time that he'd want, well,
you know it's obviously more than a third of a
time for a shorter quarterback. So so I don't think
(06:40):
that can be debated. There's times where you can't see
what you want to see. The guys who play well
at a shorter height, it's what do they do when
they can't see?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well? Often it.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
The answer to that question is how do they playoff
script and move around? And do they feel comfortable playing
late in the down, potentially with receivers having broken off
their routes, and now you're playing sandloight ball guys who
have a good intuition field they can play at that height.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Well, and let's say that you were a five foot
nine inch quarterback at one point too.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
It just was in the third race.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yeah, yeah, I didn't have any trouble seeing back then
when I was five to nine.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Okay, I'm seeing over everybody.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Hugh Mellon is with us x's and o's brought to
you by Frost Brewed Corps Light. It just feels like
one of those games. Just you take care of your business,
don't worry about them, You play your game, your Seattle,
and you you come away with this victory, which might
be essential in terms of your goals for this season.
So where does it? Where does it begin with a
(07:45):
Seahawks win? What do you want to make sure that
you see out of this football team?
Speaker 4 (07:49):
So?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Well, you know, I look at Carolina and I'm I'm
looking at all these stats, you know, the NFL stat
portable portal, Excuse me, they have scores of these stats,
and I'm just looking at all the rankings and and
it's amazing how much the Panthers are clustered in the
load to mid twenties. You know, points twenty seventh, the
yards twenty fifth, that's accessible drive score percentage twenty third,
(08:12):
red zone efficiency twenty fifth. You know, here's a stat
that I think could play a factor Seattle defensively, third
down EPA. That's expected points. We've seen that emerge. Seattle's
number one, Carolina is thirty first, you know, so I
think there may be some opportunities to extend some drives
(08:35):
there For the Seahawk offense. I think it's for Seattle,
it's it's as it always is. It's can you can
the offensive line block? And you know, I don't think
there's a great second, great defensive line. On paper, Seattle
is clearly the more dominant team. I think they just
(08:55):
have to handle the most. I think the part of it,
probably the biggest challenge is that they played the Rams
in the last game. I'm glad they got the three
or four extra days because emostly it's hard to fill
your tank, particularly now they have the knowledge that they
have the game next week at San Francisco, probably for
the division. So this in theory would be a sandwich game,
(09:19):
and so I think that they just emostly have to
be ready for the environment they're going into, and they're
the better team. They just have to bring their competitiveness.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Well, if you're saying offensive line needs to play, well,
what did you think of Josh Jones filling in for
Charles Cross and what if he has to do that
until the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yeah, reports are leading to that. I think that I
feel really good. I think back in August I was saying,
this guy, whoever seventy four is?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
I hadn't done my homework, so who is this?
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Well, okay, we acquired him from the Ravens, but I
didn't know that until I was after I was watching
seventy four and this guy looks really good. Like this guy,
it looks like the best backup tackle we've had in
a long long time. Because at the time you'd say, well,
he's not projected to start, right, and of course he wasn't.
But you know, whether it's uh A Stone Forsyth or
(10:14):
you know fant I mean, all the guys that we've
had that have had to fill in at the tackle
position during those injuries, I think Josh Jones has been
the best. And he kind of showed it the other night.
So I feel as good as I could could be
with a backup left tackle Sam Donald.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Does I mean you always hear this the guy established
the run game. But is this the type of game
where you know, maybe you don't even need it that
if Sam plays his game, you should handle the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Well, I think so.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I think that first of all with Darnald that I
think there's a discussion we need to have if you'll
allow me to wade into shark infested waters. Okay, Sam Donald?
And who are the sharks? You know who the sharks are?
You and everybody who's listening who's been a football fan
(11:09):
for a long time, because you're you're probably entrenched like everybody.
And the idea you can't throw interceptions. Now, I said
that to get your attention because I'm not about here
to say you can. You know that it's fine to
throw interceptions. But I think that there's a there's a
multi layered discussion to be had about where Mike McDonald
(11:30):
would be with regards to Donald and the interceptions. And
it's centered around this. If you look at everybody says, well,
turnover margin is the you know, the your number one
factor for winning, Well, actually it's not. You take the
I'm gonna just go over the last three years and
(11:52):
you just go correlation is This is real simple. You
don't have to have robust Excel skills. You just put
all the stats in and then you you sort for
the win percentage column and and you write a correlation
formula with a correlation function, and and this is what
you have turnover margin. And think of it when I'm
(12:15):
about to say, I'm kind of going to use terms
like that sounds like a batting average. Okay, you know
three thirty five, that's a great batting average. Well, three
thirty five is not a high correlation. So correlation kind
of lives in that world between zero and one. Well,
batting average lives in the world between zero one because right,
because if you're too if you're two seventy five hitter,
(12:35):
really it's expressed with that decimal point two seventy five.
So it's got me. So if you look at over
the last three years, the correlation for turnover margin for
a football team is five to eighty all right, the
intersection differential is five point fifty five. So whoa, those
(12:57):
are big numbers because because you think of a bad
batting average, No, that's just moderate correlation. We're going to
get into some higher correlation when we go passer rating
passerrating differential, the difference between your passer rating on your team,
firstus the opponents. Now we're up to seven ninety three,
and for this season it's eight oh four. Yards per
(13:20):
attempt differential seven eighteen. Okay, yards per play differential six
ninety seven. Here's here's just a side note for for
rushing rushing yards. The UH rushing yards per play only
has a two to seventy five correlation, but total rushing
(13:41):
yards has a six thirty seven. Makes sense, when you're winning,
you run the ball to assault the game way right.
But getting back to turnover margin, just interception differential has
a five point fifty five and passer rating has a
seven ninety three. Well, you say, doesn't interception percentage isn't
that part of the passer.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Rating as it's one fourth?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
If if you're gonna have the passerrating differential have such
a high correlation winning, that means the other three components
are really really damn important. And those are yards per temp,
touchdown percentage, and completion percentage and and so and then
if you go if you go to an individual that was.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
With the team. Those are differentials. Then if you go
to the.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
NFL quarterbacks, you say interceptions, well, it has a.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
A negative.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Of trying to decide how much I should explain, there's
negative correlation and positive correlation. So when one goes up
and the other one goes up. You know, hot days
go up, ice cream sales go up, that's positive correlation.
Hot days go up, hot chocolate days go down. That's
negative correlation. Got me so, but interceptions hasn't. You'd expect
(14:58):
it to have a negative, but it's only one seventy three.
This is now for the players. But epa per dropback
has a six forty eight. Adjusted net yards per attempt
has a six to seventy three. So Sam Donald is
third in the NFL at a statistic that has a
six to seventy three correlation to winning, and he's he's
(15:22):
near the bottom in a correlation that's only one seventy three.
The close yard is zero is statistically insignificant. Uh, yards
per dropbacks, Sam Donald's number one in the NFL. Let
me repeat that yards per dropback Sam Donald is number
number one in the NFL. It had and that that
stat has a six sixty three correlation to winning. So
are we gonna Are we gonna neuter a guy's ability
(15:47):
to generate big plays down the field, so that so
we're gonna we're gonna diminish a factor that has a
six sixty three win correlation so that we can improve
on a statistic that has a one seventy three correlation.
That doesn't make sense. And I don't think it's makes
sense to to Mike McDonald. So when you hear Mike
(16:08):
McDonald say, hey, we're just gonna keep letting it, say
let a rip, you know, let a rip.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Hey, We're fine. He's our dude, Like, you're.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Your second in this in the NFL and points scored,
and and you're first in the NFL in wins, and
your quarterback is first in the NFL in yards per dropback.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
So we want to sit there and say.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Oh my god, let's let's turn over the apple cart
and and and fix this interception thing. And when you
hear Mike McDonald like, pump the brakes not so fast,
that's not my philosophy. I'm I'm not saying that he
that he would recite all of this what I've recited
with correlations, but I bet he has a pretty good grasp,
(16:51):
either intuitively or the numbers he's been shown.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Yeah, well, I know that you are just lumping me
in by saying you h with like the Sharks being
the media.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I'm me no, nothing, No, this is the fans because.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Because I do need to explain this, because I mean
it is is you know, my show. So I but
I have been I have been on the let it Rip.
I've been in the let let it Rip club. So
I know you know that I'm just the way that
it came off, you were putting me in the other category,
it sounded like to the listener. So I just want
to make sure that people know on the Chuck and
(17:27):
Buck Show that I've been in the let it Rip
club because I will live with an interception per game
if it means I get all of that other excellent
quarterback play I've gotten from Sam Donald this year.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
I will vouch for that. You've absolutely been in that camp.
So that that was me poorly laying that out. What
I meant is the Shark confessed waters. I was throwing
myself in. I was throwing all the listeners that when
when I the onset of this portion of the conversation,
when I I'm I'm gonna go in. I'm gonna basically,
I'm thinking to myself, I'm gonna, I'm gonna get on
(17:58):
the radio and i'm gonna gonna well a lot of
people who know a lot about football and have been
watching football for years and decades. I'm gonna get on
and I'm gonna tell him, Hey, don't worry about Sam
Donald's interception. Is that? And I was like, WHOA, that
sounds like swimming in shark infested waters. And guess who's
in the Who's one of the sharks myself? Because I'm
a fan, Like like to me, when I look at
(18:19):
these numbers, I I.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Said, whoa. You know, I've been told my whole life,
you know, interceptions don't do it.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Right, and so any of it. No, You're right, you
have been saying that. But I so let's let's all.
The conclusion that I'm trying to say is that that, yes,
we want to limit those interceptions, but it's a very
very delicate process. And and and you cannot throw the
(18:49):
hammer down on Sam Donald and say stop the effing interceptions.
Above all else, stop the effing interceptions, because guess what
he can and he would and Mike McDonald doesn't want that,
And I don't think you, as a Seattle Seahawk fan,
want that, right because you're you're the unwanted consequences are there,
(19:09):
and it's it's it's it's baked into football, and it's
a very tough thing to be an NFL quarterback and
be in a pocket and and you're in micro hundreds
of a second, you're sitting there thinking to yourself, is
this is this past gonna work? When I hit JSN
and he comes in between the second basement and the
third basement, those are the hook defenders in his zone
(19:30):
defense under when he went goes into that window, Am
I gonna have a shot? And if you sit there
and go I gotta see it. I gotta see it
before I really want to turn it loose. I got
to see it. I gotta see it. I gotta see
it's got to be wide open. If you're playing with
any kind of paralysis like that, you will never hit
that window, right, You'll never hit that window. So it
is a very delicate process when we're talking about dialing
(19:53):
down a quarterback's uh interceptions who has been this robust
at producing big plays and points and all the rest
and wins.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Yeah, the guys the winningness.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
The guy's the winningness quarterback in the NFL over this
year is tied for first. Over the last two years,
he's number one, and over the last four years, Folks.
Since twenty twenty two, Sam Darnold has the highest win
percentage in the NFL. And of those five and you know,
Pat Mahomes and Josh Allen are right behind him. But
of the guys in the top five, he's the only
(20:23):
one who has a triple digit passer rating, Like, like,
let's please pump the brakes on, you know, just crapping
on the guy because we all want him to throw
fewer interceptions.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Anyways, I think I've made my point. Yeah, he all.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
I mean, ideally you want your quarterback to be Tom Brady,
But if I have my second choice, I'm probably going
Brett Farvre. And I'm not saying he's either one of
those guys, but far through a lot of interceptions, but
he also made so many big plays. You live a
little bit with with the mistakes because of how much
you've gained from the way he plays.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
You've been preaching that. Yeah, yes, I will vouch for that.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Yeah, So In other words, we want four touchdown passes
and one interception from Saturay Sunday.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
If I told you that, would you take it?
Speaker 1 (21:13):
I would take that. Yeah, let me have I'd even know.
I'll even throw in a fumbled snap.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Hey, whatever he's been doing has been working.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, exactly, all right, sag with you, sir. We'll talk
to you on Monday. We'll recap it all of it. Okay,
mellon X's and O's brought to you by Frost Brewed
Corps Light. Choose chill in a moment of doubt, Choose chill.
Frostbrewed cores Light. The mountain turns blue at forty two degrees. No,
Mike Holmgren on a football Friday, But Mike Sando is
going to join us next Sports Radio ninety three point
(21:47):
three kJ R f M here I thought I wasn't
gonna get a chance to chat with Mike Sando this week.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Look at you, lucking out? Whishes are coming true.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That's right, fell ride in my lap. Joining us now
is our NFL insider on a Friday, and not a Thursday.
It is Mike Sando of the of the athletic How
are you.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
Sir, I'm pretty good. This is definitely a week where
I have no idea what day it was. I was like, shoot, day,
agree to do something today. I thought it was Monday,
you know, I'm like, oh, no, it's Friday.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
So it is definitely just good.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
It's the most mondayest feeling on a Friday I've ever
had in my entire life.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
That's good, though, because you get a weekend coming.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
It's been a really hard, grueling week of day of work.
So now now I get ready for it to relax
this weekend.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Well, did you have a good holiday? Absolutely good?
Speaker 6 (22:53):
Yep, A lot to be grateful for and absolutely.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Okay, well excellent, And now you got a bunch of
football to watch tomorrow and then the Sunday.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Let's start with the local club.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I mean, Carolina Panthers. How weird are they this year?
Speaker 1 (23:08):
But they've got more incentive, I suppose than what even
the Seahawks do on Sunday. They can actually walk off
the field as division champs. The Seahawks can't do that
on Sunday. What is it about them that they've found
ways to be in this thing?
Speaker 6 (23:25):
So they're ranked like twenty third, twenty fourth on each
side of the ball, so that you know they have
a better record than their performance would indicate. I think
what they've done is, you know, before they were just
kind of incompetent and they just could get rolled. I
think they've been more competitive. I think that their offense
(23:47):
on its best day can get some things going. Now,
I still don't think they're a very good team. I
think it's an interesting matchup a little bit because Dave
Canalis is their head coach. He spent a lot of
time in Seattle, and he's not going up again. Pete
Carroll his mentor, but he's still going.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Up against Seattle.
Speaker 6 (24:03):
Dan Morgan as their general manager, you know, longtime Seattle
for an office guys, so they're gonna I'm sure they've
been paying attention watching the Seahawks a little bit more
than they watched other teams outside their division. There's been
some talk that, hey, they don't really have to win
this game. The big game next week for them is
against Tampa that's going to decide the division.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
I think they probably still need to play it and
you know, try to string together as many good games
as they can. But I think Seattle's defense should be
way too much for them, and they have a little quarterback,
you know, just to me, it just feels like this
should be, should be if Seattle's got that great defense,
a little bit of a bully game for them.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
It's not been a good year for little quarterbacks. Bryce
Young has had the best year of them, and he's
and I'll give him credit, I mean, because it looked
like he was heading toward bustville last year, but he's
bounced back, and boy, his teammates seem to love him
there in Carolina.
Speaker 6 (24:57):
Well, that's one of the interesting things that I heard
behind behind the the scenes there last year was, you know,
he got benched only two games into Dave Canals' tenure
last year and looked like he was about done. But
for whatever reason, I heard that he kind of became
a different guy from a leadership standpoint, from an accountability standpoint.
After that, he kind of snapped into maybe his best self.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Now.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
I still think he's limited, and I think there's thirty
one teams that would love to see the Panthers sign
him to a big two A type contract, right, So
I think that still will be interesting to see what
do they do now because typically when you draft a
guy that high first from the draft and he's quote
unquote successful, like they get paid a lot. But he's
(25:41):
not that guy, right, He's not the top guy. So
I think that'll be fascinating to see how they handle that.
I think he's he's a nice story. I don't think
anyone's afraid to play him.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Yeah, yeah, that's what I feel. Mike Sander was with
us our NFL Insider and you can follow him at
Sando NFL there and on Twitter. Yesterday's the results a
couple of interesting things. I mean, well, I just did
not see the Detroit Lions. I mean I didn't buy
the They've lost both coordinators, they're in trouble and yet
(26:12):
to be eight and eight and out of the playoffs entirely.
What kind of offseason do you expect Detroit to have?
What kind of look in the mirror kind of moment
do you expect from them?
Speaker 6 (26:22):
We're going to find out how arrogant they are, right,
I think this is they've shorn a lot of confidence
and they've done a really good job. But I've always sensed,
you know, Brad Holmes has kind of gotten he's a GM.
He came from the Rams, and he's a all everything
I've heard, a great guy, but he's kind of had
this attitude of like rushing off criticism and questions because
(26:43):
they've gotten the last laugh to this point. Right, So,
how honest do you have to be with where you
are when you have this type of a season.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
And I'm not.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
Sure because it's not like they went they won four games.
It's not like Jared Goff had a terrible year. Shoot,
his stats look great. Yeah, So this is one of
those tester years where I feel like, do they show
some arrogance And it may not just be arrogance that
maybe hey, stay the course, right, don't panic if it
works out, But clearly they need an offensive coordinator. I
(27:14):
think their offensive line must be addressed because as we've
seen firsthand when Jared Goff was in the division here
playing for the Rams, there's almost no one who can
look as good or as bad depending what his protection is.
Wouldn't you agree?
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Yeah? Yeah? Whether like this guy needs to.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
Be in a temperature controlled office with you know, you know,
with his favorite brand of water and a bowl of
his favorite kind of Eminem's there, and there needs to
be no noises and when he does that, he's like
the most He's as efficient a worker as as Mahomes.
(27:54):
But when you start making him play in the mud
or his his protection is there, he can suddenly look
very different. And so I think they have to make
sure the line is where it starts, because remember when
the Rams got rid of him, it was after their
best line kind of atrophied. Remember they had that great
line Andrew Whitworth, all those guys, and then it kind
(28:15):
of went away, and they're like, oh, what's wrong with
GoF It's not the same. I think they got to
do that first and foremost, it's their whole identity through
Dan Campbell controlling land of scrimmage. They've lost their center
for years and Frank ragnow you know they may have
a tackle issue. They've drafted a couple of young guards
that may or may not be the guy fix it,
Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell, and then you may have a
(28:37):
better year next year.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Mike McDonald, Liam Cohen or somebody else for Coach of
the Year. I think it's hard to go against Mike Rabel.
I think I right about this a little bit.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Well, if you go into the year of what everybody
thought of the teams were you know, you would have
said Newellan could have been a bottom three team in
their division. And so the things I like about what
he's done is is uh okay, getting the absolute best
out of this quarterback. And he's not an offensive coach Verbell,
but he's got Josh McDaniel's there. That's a great guy
(29:09):
to have running your offense. And then things like this
Stefan Diggs difficult guy to deal with. He's having a
great year, like he's coaching that team to play well
together to get it. I think he's got good leaders
and I think Drake May is a good young leader.
Like they've got something going there to where I think
(29:30):
they have as good a chance as anyone to make
a deep run in the AFC.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Yeah, well, a lot of good candidates for it to
including Canalis in Carolina. All right, man, Well, every every
day there's football on. That's Christmas for Mike Sando. And
every day Mike Sando joins this program, it's Christmas for us.
Speaker 6 (29:47):
Every thank you, every day, Oh every day that I
do is well said yeah, Well said yeah, I should
just shut up.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
You said it so well, and I tried to correct you.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Thank joy Well doctor next week all right, love you guys.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
All right, that's our NFL insider Mike sand to a segment.
It brought you by Hunt Services.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Get a plumber, electrician, heating or cooling expert at your
doorstep for only forty nine dollars. Get on the horn
and call Hunts.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
One last thing to close out the week.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Next Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Get your
mother loving his on this time of one last thing.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Don't want to miss this, got.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
A head on down to the Wabber Center.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
We're gonna meet a match with Zipprickel.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
That's one of my favorite songs. Match so catchy.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Who made that? Was that?
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Like Quincy Jones? Yeah? Genius?
Speaker 2 (30:42):
A musical lyrical genius.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Alright, it is our final segment of the week, finally,
and one last thing to close us out here as
we head into the weekend and get you ready for
the game above sports Bowl, which is coming your way
next from Detroit, Michigan where the people ever live Detroit.
It's gonna be Northwestern versus Central Michigan.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Game Above sports Bowl reminds me of childhood. That's right, man,
that's why you play one of the classics.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
That's why you play.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
So that's coming your way next. So Ashley want your
closes out with an awesome one last thing.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
Well you know this I hop ad. If you haven't
seen it as all the rage, have you heard about it?
Moleek Neighbors is starting in a new I Hop ad,
and I've got it for you to hear.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
It's quite funny. Oka.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
Every year, thousands of fantasy football leagues make their last
place team spend twenty four hours at in pancakes and aha,
what's the hell.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Just like you helped everyone's fantasy team.
Speaker 7 (31:40):
This season, which is why I hop is lunching bottomless pancakes.
It's a big win for last place fantasy finishers and
anyone who loves pancakes.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
You believe, Neighbors, it is me. I wish to be
like first off pick on.
Speaker 7 (31:53):
You can we get this kid some pancakes. We get
free bottomless pancakes with select breakfast combos start in January.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Oh there you go.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
It was quite funny when she's like, just like you
helped everyone's fantasy team.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
Was good. That really is like a punishment to get
all Oh yeah, you've never.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
Heard people sit there for twenty four hours and they
have to eat like certain number of pancakes in the
twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Wow, I kind of want to lose.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Yeah, I haven't had a big pancake breakfas in a
long time.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
Well, he's a real big pancake breakfast, lunch, dinner snack.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
That's good for him to have a sense of humor
and play along because he did ruin a lot of
fantasy football.
Speaker 5 (32:36):
Team fantasy football teams.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
I'm going to close my one last thing with football
as well, and I guess it's a bit of a fantasy.
I just saw for the first time this Madden movie trailer.
Oh yeah, and Nicholas Cage is playing John Madden. I
feel about that. I don't really like it. I mean,
you have Frank Caliendo who can do him like spot on?
Uh huh, And then don't tell me, well, we didn't
(32:59):
want a guy that did an impersonation. Then why is
Christian Bale doing an impersonation of Al Davis?
Speaker 2 (33:07):
And it is awesome?
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yeah, Like Christian Bale, who I already I am a
big fan of for him to like, I want to
be Al Davis and he like he is Al Davis. Yeah,
I'm unreal.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
He is like the epitome of if you give him
a role, he's like, I'm all.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Yeah for sure, yeah, more so, he's like even more
than Daniel day Lewis.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
But anyway, it looks really good. I look forward to
watching it. I just don't know if I'm buying Nick
Cage is John Madden.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
No, I don't.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
But to be fair, I don't buy him as a
lot of things, and I end up liking a lot
of his movies.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
So but I despite him.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Almost to see him in the one where he plays himself. Yeah,
he plays himself as like the unbearable being.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Or something like that. Yes, it's actually really really good.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
I believe that.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
I've liked him in a lot of things, and I
have not liked him, yeah, a few things.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
My only problem is now these days I just picture
Aaron Rodgers looking like Nicholas Kge.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
You can't shout up to Packers camp that one year.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
Yeah, play him, play Aaron Rodgers in the movie, not
John Medmen.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
All right, that'll do it for us. Have a great weekend.
We'll talk to you at Monday at six am. Bowl
game next on KJAR.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
You can't miss a thing from today's show. Because we're
on demand, their podcast will be up right after the show.
Just click on demand on our website at ninety three
three KJR dot com and click on Check and Buck podcast.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
To replay anytime anywhere.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
From Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FL.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
This report is sponsored by indeed dot com. You are
enjoying very
Nive o'clock hour here on a football Friday, Chuck Powell
and Ashley Ryan with you is we head into the
stretch drive here on this Friday. Mike Sander will be
joining us later on this hour. We'll do one last
thing to close out the week. Joining us now though
the staple of our Friday nine o'clock hour it is
(00:32):
x's and o's with our QB one Hugh Millon.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Merry Christmas here, Merry Christmas. Good to be with you.
How was it? How did everything go? Did you get
a choo choo train? Did you get the everything I wanted? Figured?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Adult sons were home from the East Coast, both of them,
and and had some friends also, So yeah, it was.
It was wonderful, Okay, very good at that point. You know,
at some point, just the presence of your kids is
all you need?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (00:59):
Okay? I need more than that. I need more than
the presence of your kids.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
You need the presence from your kids, your kids.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, I need expensive one. My point is I need
your kids to buy me some presents next year.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Okay, we'll yeah, yeah, pass that message along. I was present, Yeah,
I wasn't very happy with coming year. Okay, perfect, all right, Well,
we we could get a scenario where the Seahawks are
division champs at the end of this week. I'm rooting
for a win in a Rams and forty nine Ers tie.
(01:34):
That's how I want to get it done. But this
Carolina team has a lot to play for themselves. I mean,
this is pretty much their super Bowl the next couple
of weeks. I don't think that they're entertaining any visions
of grandeur about being a super Bowl champion this week,
but be a nice accomplishment for them here the next
couple of weeks. To win the division would show a
(01:55):
lot of progress. But it's hard for me to find
anything dangers about this team. What would you highlight about
Carolina that is something worth chewing on here this morning?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
I think there what's interesting to me is that over
the last nine weeks they've gone win loss, win, loss, win, loss,
et cetera. And they've got some of the more impressive
wins in the entire NFL season. I can just remember
my reaction when they went to Green Bay and beat
the Packers, when the Packers had acquired Micah Parsons and
(02:29):
everybody thought they were rolling and then they're win at
home against the Rams that where they scored thirty one points.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
That was one of the most shocking wins.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
So I think that they have I don't know, I
don't know if that constitutes a high ceiling for them
just to have a couple of impressive games, But I
think that there's a environment the Seahawks are going into
with the as you suggest that, the idea they think,
with all of their recent woes, how many times have
they had the number one overall? You know, they traded
(03:05):
remember they traded it to Chicago, but they've had number
one overall back to back and they've just really been down.
So I think at that fan base when you think
of what this, remember now what the Seahawks are. They're
the number one seed in the NFC. So that a
number one seed coming into your building when you think
you can kind of just wash away some of your
(03:27):
recent history, I think there you're going to get all
of the Panthers effort and all of that crowds effort,
and it's gonna be potentially a difficult environment.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It's not been a great year for short quarterbacks this year,
but Bryce Young has at least it seems salvaged his career.
I mean it was not looking good last season. I
mean they benched him last season in the middle of
the year and it was looking like a bust at
the number one overall selection. But he's played much better
this year. Where does Bryce Young give you trouble if
(04:01):
you're Mike McDonald's defense.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, he's he's a twitchy playmaker in the pocket as
would be needed at that height, right, And I think
that for that, you know, they've just got better people
around him. I think Tet McMillan is a guy that
you know, we had talked about maybe the Seahawks targeting him,
the big receiver out of Arizona, and he's really come
on and and so I think that's probably the uh
(04:25):
the as much of a reason for anything. Their tackles
are playing better. They still have some problems that they're
somewhat like Seattle. Their worst offensive line positions are center
and right guard. But uh but and then you know
they've got this Rico Doubtle that you know, it's kind
of emerged, an undrafted guy that almost like a folk
(04:47):
hero type guy in some of his uh he's he's
had again high ceiling for him. Some of the best
games by a running back in the NFL. He's had
a couple of them, so so I think that there's
some better people around him.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
But you know.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
He's still a guy that does not have overwhelming arm strength,
and he will be inclined to kind of back up
in the face of pressure. And when he's backing up,
where there are some players in this league that have
the arm talent to still generate velocity, you know, from
a compromised position. When I say compromise, I mean you
(05:22):
can't have the kinetic chain, you know, the weight transfer
that you would like. When he doesn't get his weight transfer,
he doesn't have a strong arm, there may be an
opportunity to get some hands on some balls that are
floating by a relative scale with him if you get
the right pressure in his face.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Yeah, you really don't see a lot of five foot
nine inch pocket quarterbacks in the NFL are.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
No, no, though, well they're not going to see like,
let's if we're going to really dissect this issue. And
you know, I've given more thought to it because Russell
Wilson was the once to see our quarterback.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
But but.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
There's going to be times, you know where you don't
see how There was a time where I was asking
all the the quarterbacks I had encountered and new through
the years. Uh, you know Lway, Marino, guys I played with,
you know, rich Gannon, other guys, Danny White, you know.
I just anytime I saw a quarterback and say, hey,
what percents of the time out of one hundred times
(06:15):
in the pocket?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Could you not see what you want to see?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And and and they're all their answer was right around
thirty to forty percent. And these are big dudes, right
and and so if if a guy six y three,
six y four can only you know, I couldn't, couldn't,
can't see a third of the time that he'd want, well,
you know it's obviously more than a third of a
time for a shorter quarterback. So so I don't think
(06:40):
that can be debated. There's times where you can't see
what you want to see. The guys who play well
at a shorter height, it's what do they do when
they can't see?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well? Often it.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
The answer to that question is how do they playoff
script and move around? And do they feel comfortable playing
late in the down, potentially with receivers having broken off
their routes, and now you're playing sandloight ball guys who
have a good intuition field they can play at that height.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Well, and let's say that you were a five foot
nine inch quarterback at one point too.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
It just was in the third race.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yeah, yeah, I didn't have any trouble seeing back then
when I was five to nine.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Okay, I'm seeing over everybody.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Hugh Mellon is with us x's and o's brought to
you by Frost Brewed Corps Light. It just feels like
one of those games. Just you take care of your business,
don't worry about them, You play your game, your Seattle,
and you you come away with this victory, which might
be essential in terms of your goals for this season.
So where does it? Where does it begin with a
(07:45):
Seahawks win? What do you want to make sure that
you see out of this football team?
Speaker 4 (07:49):
So?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Well, you know, I look at Carolina and I'm I'm
looking at all these stats, you know, the NFL stat
portable portal, Excuse me, they have scores of these stats,
and I'm just looking at all the rankings and and
it's amazing how much the Panthers are clustered in the
load to mid twenties. You know, points twenty seventh, the
yards twenty fifth, that's accessible drive score percentage twenty third,
(08:12):
red zone efficiency twenty fifth. You know, here's a stat
that I think could play a factor Seattle defensively, third
down EPA. That's expected points. We've seen that emerge. Seattle's
number one, Carolina is thirty first, you know, so I
think there may be some opportunities to extend some drives
(08:35):
there For the Seahawk offense. I think it's for Seattle,
it's it's as it always is. It's can you can
the offensive line block? And you know, I don't think
there's a great second, great defensive line. On paper, Seattle
is clearly the more dominant team. I think they just
(08:55):
have to handle the most. I think the part of it,
probably the biggest challenge is that they played the Rams
in the last game. I'm glad they got the three
or four extra days because emostly it's hard to fill
your tank, particularly now they have the knowledge that they
have the game next week at San Francisco, probably for
the division. So this in theory would be a sandwich game,
(09:19):
and so I think that they just emostly have to
be ready for the environment they're going into, and they're
the better team. They just have to bring their competitiveness.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Well, if you're saying offensive line needs to play, well,
what did you think of Josh Jones filling in for
Charles Cross and what if he has to do that
until the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Yeah, reports are leading to that. I think that I
feel really good. I think back in August I was saying,
this guy, whoever seventy four is?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
I hadn't done my homework, so who is this?
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Well, okay, we acquired him from the Ravens, but I
didn't know that until I was after I was watching
seventy four and this guy looks really good. Like this guy,
it looks like the best backup tackle we've had in
a long long time. Because at the time you'd say, well,
he's not projected to start, right, and of course he wasn't.
But you know, whether it's uh A Stone Forsyth or
(10:14):
you know fant I mean, all the guys that we've
had that have had to fill in at the tackle
position during those injuries, I think Josh Jones has been
the best. And he kind of showed it the other night.
So I feel as good as I could could be
with a backup left tackle Sam Donald.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Does I mean you always hear this the guy established
the run game. But is this the type of game
where you know, maybe you don't even need it that
if Sam plays his game, you should handle the Carolina Panthers.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Well, I think so.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I think that first of all with Darnald that I
think there's a discussion we need to have if you'll
allow me to wade into shark infested waters. Okay, Sam Donald?
And who are the sharks? You know who the sharks are?
You and everybody who's listening who's been a football fan
(11:09):
for a long time, because you're you're probably entrenched like everybody.
And the idea you can't throw interceptions. Now, I said
that to get your attention because I'm not about here
to say you can. You know that it's fine to
throw interceptions. But I think that there's a there's a
multi layered discussion to be had about where Mike McDonald
(11:30):
would be with regards to Donald and the interceptions. And
it's centered around this. If you look at everybody says, well,
turnover margin is the you know, the your number one
factor for winning, Well, actually it's not. You take the
I'm gonna just go over the last three years and
(11:52):
you just go correlation is This is real simple. You
don't have to have robust Excel skills. You just put
all the stats in and then you you sort for
the win percentage column and and you write a correlation
formula with a correlation function, and and this is what
you have turnover margin. And think of it when I'm
(12:15):
about to say, I'm kind of going to use terms
like that sounds like a batting average. Okay, you know
three thirty five, that's a great batting average. Well, three
thirty five is not a high correlation. So correlation kind
of lives in that world between zero and one. Well,
batting average lives in the world between zero one because right,
because if you're too if you're two seventy five hitter,
(12:35):
really it's expressed with that decimal point two seventy five.
So it's got me. So if you look at over
the last three years, the correlation for turnover margin for
a football team is five to eighty all right, the
intersection differential is five point fifty five. So whoa, those
(12:57):
are big numbers because because you think of a bad
batting average, No, that's just moderate correlation. We're going to
get into some higher correlation when we go passer rating
passerrating differential, the difference between your passer rating on your team,
firstus the opponents. Now we're up to seven ninety three,
and for this season it's eight oh four. Yards per
(13:20):
attempt differential seven eighteen. Okay, yards per play differential six
ninety seven. Here's here's just a side note for for
rushing rushing yards. The UH rushing yards per play only
has a two to seventy five correlation, but total rushing
(13:41):
yards has a six thirty seven. Makes sense, when you're winning,
you run the ball to assault the game way right.
But getting back to turnover margin, just interception differential has
a five point fifty five and passer rating has a
seven ninety three. Well, you say, doesn't interception percentage isn't
that part of the passer.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Rating as it's one fourth?
Speaker 3 (14:03):
If if you're gonna have the passerrating differential have such
a high correlation winning, that means the other three components
are really really damn important. And those are yards per temp,
touchdown percentage, and completion percentage and and so and then
if you go if you go to an individual that was.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
With the team. Those are differentials. Then if you go
to the.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
NFL quarterbacks, you say interceptions, well, it has a.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
A negative.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Of trying to decide how much I should explain, there's
negative correlation and positive correlation. So when one goes up
and the other one goes up. You know, hot days
go up, ice cream sales go up, that's positive correlation.
Hot days go up, hot chocolate days go down. That's
negative correlation. Got me so, but interceptions hasn't. You'd expect
(14:58):
it to have a negative, but it's only one seventy three.
This is now for the players. But epa per dropback
has a six forty eight. Adjusted net yards per attempt
has a six to seventy three. So Sam Donald is
third in the NFL at a statistic that has a
six to seventy three correlation to winning, and he's he's
(15:22):
near the bottom in a correlation that's only one seventy three.
The close yard is zero is statistically insignificant. Uh, yards
per dropbacks, Sam Donald's number one in the NFL. Let
me repeat that yards per dropback Sam Donald is number
number one in the NFL. It had and that that
stat has a six sixty three correlation to winning. So
are we gonna Are we gonna neuter a guy's ability
(15:47):
to generate big plays down the field, so that so
we're gonna we're gonna diminish a factor that has a
six sixty three win correlation so that we can improve
on a statistic that has a one seventy three correlation.
That doesn't make sense. And I don't think it's makes
sense to to Mike McDonald. So when you hear Mike
(16:08):
McDonald say, hey, we're just gonna keep letting it, say
let a rip, you know, let a rip.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Hey, We're fine. He's our dude, Like, you're.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Your second in this in the NFL and points scored,
and and you're first in the NFL in wins, and
your quarterback is first in the NFL in yards per dropback.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
So we want to sit there and say.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Oh my god, let's let's turn over the apple cart
and and and fix this interception thing. And when you
hear Mike McDonald like, pump the brakes not so fast,
that's not my philosophy. I'm I'm not saying that he
that he would recite all of this what I've recited
with correlations, but I bet he has a pretty good grasp,
(16:51):
either intuitively or the numbers he's been shown.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Yeah, well, I know that you are just lumping me
in by saying you h with like the Sharks being
the media.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I'm me no, nothing, No, this is the fans because.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
Because I do need to explain this, because I mean
it is is you know, my show. So I but
I have been I have been on the let it Rip.
I've been in the let let it Rip club. So
I know you know that I'm just the way that
it came off, you were putting me in the other category,
it sounded like to the listener. So I just want
to make sure that people know on the Chuck and
(17:27):
Buck Show that I've been in the let it Rip
club because I will live with an interception per game
if it means I get all of that other excellent
quarterback play I've gotten from Sam Donald this year.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
I will vouch for that. You've absolutely been in that camp.
So that that was me poorly laying that out. What
I meant is the Shark confessed waters. I was throwing
myself in. I was throwing all the listeners that when
when I the onset of this portion of the conversation,
when I I'm I'm gonna go in. I'm gonna basically,
I'm thinking to myself, I'm gonna, I'm gonna get on
(17:58):
the radio and i'm gonna gonna well a lot of
people who know a lot about football and have been
watching football for years and decades. I'm gonna get on
and I'm gonna tell him, Hey, don't worry about Sam
Donald's interception. Is that? And I was like, WHOA, that
sounds like swimming in shark infested waters. And guess who's
in the Who's one of the sharks myself? Because I'm
a fan, Like like to me, when I look at
(18:19):
these numbers, I I.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
Said, whoa. You know, I've been told my whole life,
you know, interceptions don't do it.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Right, and so any of it. No, You're right, you
have been saying that. But I so let's let's all.
The conclusion that I'm trying to say is that that, yes,
we want to limit those interceptions, but it's a very
very delicate process. And and and you cannot throw the
(18:49):
hammer down on Sam Donald and say stop the effing interceptions.
Above all else, stop the effing interceptions, because guess what
he can and he would and Mike McDonald doesn't want that,
And I don't think you, as a Seattle Seahawk fan,
want that, right because you're you're the unwanted consequences are there,
(19:09):
and it's it's it's it's baked into football, and it's
a very tough thing to be an NFL quarterback and
be in a pocket and and you're in micro hundreds
of a second, you're sitting there thinking to yourself, is
this is this past gonna work? When I hit JSN
and he comes in between the second basement and the
third basement, those are the hook defenders in his zone
(19:30):
defense under when he went goes into that window, Am
I gonna have a shot? And if you sit there
and go I gotta see it. I gotta see it
before I really want to turn it loose. I got
to see it. I gotta see it. I gotta see
it's got to be wide open. If you're playing with
any kind of paralysis like that, you will never hit
that window, right, You'll never hit that window. So it
is a very delicate process when we're talking about dialing
(19:53):
down a quarterback's uh interceptions who has been this robust
at producing big plays and points and all the rest
and wins.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Yeah, the guys the winningness.
Speaker 3 (20:02):
The guy's the winningness quarterback in the NFL over this
year is tied for first. Over the last two years,
he's number one, and over the last four years, Folks.
Since twenty twenty two, Sam Darnold has the highest win
percentage in the NFL. And of those five and you know,
Pat Mahomes and Josh Allen are right behind him. But
of the guys in the top five, he's the only
(20:23):
one who has a triple digit passer rating, Like, like,
let's please pump the brakes on, you know, just crapping
on the guy because we all want him to throw
fewer interceptions.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Anyways, I think I've made my point. Yeah, he all.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
I mean, ideally you want your quarterback to be Tom Brady,
But if I have my second choice, I'm probably going
Brett Farvre. And I'm not saying he's either one of
those guys, but far through a lot of interceptions, but
he also made so many big plays. You live a
little bit with with the mistakes because of how much
you've gained from the way he plays.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
You've been preaching that. Yeah, yes, I will vouch for that.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Yeah, So In other words, we want four touchdown passes
and one interception from Saturay Sunday.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
If I told you that, would you take it?
Speaker 1 (21:13):
I would take that. Yeah, let me have I'd even know.
I'll even throw in a fumbled snap.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Hey, whatever he's been doing has been working.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Yeah, exactly, all right, sag with you, sir. We'll talk
to you on Monday. We'll recap it all of it. Okay,
mellon X's and O's brought to you by Frost Brewed
Corps Light. Choose chill in a moment of doubt, Choose chill.
Frostbrewed cores Light. The mountain turns blue at forty two degrees. No,
Mike Holmgren on a football Friday, But Mike Sando is
going to join us next Sports Radio ninety three point
(21:47):
three kJ R f M here I thought I wasn't
gonna get a chance to chat with Mike Sando this week.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Look at you, lucking out? Whishes are coming true.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
That's right, fell ride in my lap. Joining us now
is our NFL insider on a Friday, and not a Thursday.
It is Mike Sando of the of the athletic How
are you.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
Sir, I'm pretty good. This is definitely a week where
I have no idea what day it was. I was like, shoot, day,
agree to do something today. I thought it was Monday,
you know, I'm like, oh, no, it's Friday.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
So it is definitely just good.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
It's the most mondayest feeling on a Friday I've ever
had in my entire life.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
That's good, though, because you get a weekend coming.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
It's been a really hard, grueling week of day of work.
So now now I get ready for it to relax
this weekend.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Well, did you have a good holiday? Absolutely good?
Speaker 6 (22:53):
Yep, A lot to be grateful for and absolutely.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Okay, well excellent, And now you got a bunch of
football to watch tomorrow and then the Sunday.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Let's start with the local club.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I mean, Carolina Panthers. How weird are they this year?
Speaker 1 (23:08):
But they've got more incentive, I suppose than what even
the Seahawks do on Sunday. They can actually walk off
the field as division champs. The Seahawks can't do that
on Sunday. What is it about them that they've found
ways to be in this thing?
Speaker 6 (23:25):
So they're ranked like twenty third, twenty fourth on each
side of the ball, so that you know they have
a better record than their performance would indicate. I think
what they've done is, you know, before they were just
kind of incompetent and they just could get rolled. I
think they've been more competitive. I think that their offense
(23:47):
on its best day can get some things going. Now,
I still don't think they're a very good team. I
think it's an interesting matchup a little bit because Dave
Canalis is their head coach. He spent a lot of
time in Seattle, and he's not going up again. Pete
Carroll his mentor, but he's still going.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Up against Seattle.
Speaker 6 (24:03):
Dan Morgan as their general manager, you know, longtime Seattle
for an office guys, so they're gonna I'm sure they've
been paying attention watching the Seahawks a little bit more
than they watched other teams outside their division. There's been
some talk that, hey, they don't really have to win
this game. The big game next week for them is
against Tampa that's going to decide the division.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
I think they probably still need to play it and
you know, try to string together as many good games
as they can. But I think Seattle's defense should be
way too much for them, and they have a little quarterback,
you know, just to me, it just feels like this
should be, should be if Seattle's got that great defense,
a little bit of a bully game for them.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
It's not been a good year for little quarterbacks. Bryce
Young has had the best year of them, and he's
and I'll give him credit, I mean, because it looked
like he was heading toward bustville last year, but he's
bounced back, and boy, his teammates seem to love him
there in Carolina.
Speaker 6 (24:57):
Well, that's one of the interesting things that I heard
behind behind the the scenes there last year was, you know,
he got benched only two games into Dave Canals' tenure
last year and looked like he was about done. But
for whatever reason, I heard that he kind of became
a different guy from a leadership standpoint, from an accountability standpoint.
After that, he kind of snapped into maybe his best self.
Speaker 2 (25:20):
Now.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
I still think he's limited, and I think there's thirty
one teams that would love to see the Panthers sign
him to a big two A type contract, right, So
I think that still will be interesting to see what
do they do now because typically when you draft a
guy that high first from the draft and he's quote
unquote successful, like they get paid a lot. But he's
(25:41):
not that guy, right, He's not the top guy. So
I think that'll be fascinating to see how they handle that.
I think he's he's a nice story. I don't think
anyone's afraid to play him.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Yeah, yeah, that's what I feel. Mike Sander was with
us our NFL Insider and you can follow him at
Sando NFL there and on Twitter. Yesterday's the results a
couple of interesting things. I mean, well, I just did
not see the Detroit Lions. I mean I didn't buy
the They've lost both coordinators, they're in trouble and yet
(26:12):
to be eight and eight and out of the playoffs entirely.
What kind of offseason do you expect Detroit to have?
What kind of look in the mirror kind of moment
do you expect from them?
Speaker 6 (26:22):
We're going to find out how arrogant they are, right,
I think this is they've shorn a lot of confidence
and they've done a really good job. But I've always sensed,
you know, Brad Holmes has kind of gotten he's a GM.
He came from the Rams, and he's a all everything
I've heard, a great guy, but he's kind of had
this attitude of like rushing off criticism and questions because
(26:43):
they've gotten the last laugh to this point. Right, So,
how honest do you have to be with where you
are when you have this type of a season.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
And I'm not.
Speaker 6 (26:53):
Sure because it's not like they went they won four games.
It's not like Jared Goff had a terrible year. Shoot,
his stats look great. Yeah, So this is one of
those tester years where I feel like, do they show
some arrogance And it may not just be arrogance that
maybe hey, stay the course, right, don't panic if it
works out, But clearly they need an offensive coordinator. I
(27:14):
think their offensive line must be addressed because as we've
seen firsthand when Jared Goff was in the division here
playing for the Rams, there's almost no one who can
look as good or as bad depending what his protection is.
Wouldn't you agree?
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Yeah? Yeah? Whether like this guy needs to.
Speaker 6 (27:33):
Be in a temperature controlled office with you know, you know,
with his favorite brand of water and a bowl of
his favorite kind of Eminem's there, and there needs to
be no noises and when he does that, he's like
the most He's as efficient a worker as as Mahomes.
(27:54):
But when you start making him play in the mud
or his his protection is there, he can suddenly look
very different. And so I think they have to make
sure the line is where it starts, because remember when
the Rams got rid of him, it was after their
best line kind of atrophied. Remember they had that great
line Andrew Whitworth, all those guys, and then it kind
(28:15):
of went away, and they're like, oh, what's wrong with
GoF It's not the same. I think they got to
do that first and foremost, it's their whole identity through
Dan Campbell controlling land of scrimmage. They've lost their center
for years and Frank ragnow you know they may have
a tackle issue. They've drafted a couple of young guards
that may or may not be the guy fix it,
Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell, and then you may have a
(28:37):
better year next year.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Mike McDonald, Liam Cohen or somebody else for Coach of
the Year. I think it's hard to go against Mike Rabel.
I think I right about this a little bit.
Speaker 6 (28:47):
Well, if you go into the year of what everybody
thought of the teams were you know, you would have
said Newellan could have been a bottom three team in
their division. And so the things I like about what
he's done is is uh okay, getting the absolute best
out of this quarterback. And he's not an offensive coach Verbell,
but he's got Josh McDaniel's there. That's a great guy
(29:09):
to have running your offense. And then things like this
Stefan Diggs difficult guy to deal with. He's having a
great year, like he's coaching that team to play well
together to get it. I think he's got good leaders
and I think Drake May is a good young leader.
Like they've got something going there to where I think
(29:30):
they have as good a chance as anyone to make
a deep run in the AFC.
Speaker 1 (29:33):
Yeah, well, a lot of good candidates for it to
including Canalis in Carolina. All right, man, Well, every every
day there's football on. That's Christmas for Mike Sando. And
every day Mike Sando joins this program, it's Christmas for us.
Speaker 6 (29:47):
Every thank you, every day, Oh every day that I
do is well said yeah, Well said yeah, I should
just shut up.
Speaker 2 (29:52):
You said it so well, and I tried to correct you.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Thank joy Well doctor next week all right, love you guys.
Speaker 2 (29:57):
All right, that's our NFL insider Mike sand to a segment.
It brought you by Hunt Services.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Get a plumber, electrician, heating or cooling expert at your
doorstep for only forty nine dollars. Get on the horn
and call Hunts.
Speaker 2 (30:12):
One last thing to close out the week.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Next Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Get your
mother loving his on this time of one last thing.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Don't want to miss this, got.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
A head on down to the Wabber Center.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
We're gonna meet a match with Zipprickel.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
That's one of my favorite songs. Match so catchy.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Who made that? Was that?
Speaker 1 (30:40):
Like Quincy Jones? Yeah? Genius?
Speaker 2 (30:42):
A musical lyrical genius.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Alright, it is our final segment of the week, finally,
and one last thing to close us out here as
we head into the weekend and get you ready for
the game above sports Bowl, which is coming your way
next from Detroit, Michigan where the people ever live Detroit.
It's gonna be Northwestern versus Central Michigan.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Game Above sports Bowl reminds me of childhood. That's right, man,
that's why you play one of the classics.
Speaker 2 (31:13):
That's why you play.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
So that's coming your way next. So Ashley want your
closes out with an awesome one last thing.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
Well you know this I hop ad. If you haven't
seen it as all the rage, have you heard about it?
Moleek Neighbors is starting in a new I Hop ad,
and I've got it for you to hear.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
It's quite funny. Oka.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
Every year, thousands of fantasy football leagues make their last
place team spend twenty four hours at in pancakes and aha,
what's the hell.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Just like you helped everyone's fantasy team.
Speaker 7 (31:40):
This season, which is why I hop is lunching bottomless pancakes.
It's a big win for last place fantasy finishers and
anyone who loves pancakes.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
You believe, Neighbors, it is me. I wish to be
like first off pick on.
Speaker 7 (31:53):
You can we get this kid some pancakes. We get
free bottomless pancakes with select breakfast combos start in January.
Speaker 1 (32:00):
Oh there you go.
Speaker 5 (32:02):
It was quite funny when she's like, just like you
helped everyone's fantasy team.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
Was good. That really is like a punishment to get
all Oh yeah, you've never.
Speaker 5 (32:13):
Heard people sit there for twenty four hours and they
have to eat like certain number of pancakes in the
twenty four hours.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
Wow, I kind of want to lose.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Yeah, I haven't had a big pancake breakfas in a
long time.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
Well, he's a real big pancake breakfast, lunch, dinner snack.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
That's good for him to have a sense of humor
and play along because he did ruin a lot of
fantasy football.
Speaker 5 (32:36):
Team fantasy football teams.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
I'm going to close my one last thing with football
as well, and I guess it's a bit of a fantasy.
I just saw for the first time this Madden movie trailer.
Oh yeah, and Nicholas Cage is playing John Madden. I
feel about that. I don't really like it. I mean,
you have Frank Caliendo who can do him like spot on?
Uh huh, And then don't tell me, well, we didn't
(32:59):
want a guy that did an impersonation. Then why is
Christian Bale doing an impersonation of Al Davis?
Speaker 2 (33:07):
And it is awesome?
Speaker 1 (33:08):
Yeah, Like Christian Bale, who I already I am a
big fan of for him to like, I want to
be Al Davis and he like he is Al Davis. Yeah,
I'm unreal.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
He is like the epitome of if you give him
a role, he's like, I'm all.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Yeah for sure, yeah, more so, he's like even more
than Daniel day Lewis.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:27):
But anyway, it looks really good. I look forward to
watching it. I just don't know if I'm buying Nick
Cage is John Madden.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
No, I don't.
Speaker 5 (33:36):
But to be fair, I don't buy him as a
lot of things, and I end up liking a lot
of his movies.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
So but I despite him.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
Almost to see him in the one where he plays himself. Yeah,
he plays himself as like the unbearable being.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Or something like that. Yes, it's actually really really good.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
I believe that.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
I've liked him in a lot of things, and I
have not liked him, yeah, a few things.
Speaker 5 (34:02):
My only problem is now these days I just picture
Aaron Rodgers looking like Nicholas Kge.
Speaker 2 (34:07):
You can't shout up to Packers camp that one year.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
Yeah, play him, play Aaron Rodgers in the movie, not
John Medmen.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
All right, that'll do it for us. Have a great weekend.
We'll talk to you at Monday at six am. Bowl
game next on KJAR.
Speaker 4 (34:21):
You can't miss a thing from today's show. Because we're
on demand, their podcast will be up right after the show.
Just click on demand on our website at ninety three
three KJR dot com and click on Check and Buck podcast.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
To replay anytime anywhere.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
From Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FL.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
This report is sponsored by indeed dot com. You are
enjoying very
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