January 10, 2025 • 31 mins
Hugh Millen joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain to talk about the College Football Playoff, the Seahawks firing Ryan Grubb, how to find a new Offensive Coordinator, what to do with Geno Smith this offseason, the NFL playoffs starting and the Bills’ Josh Allen.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
As part of our never ending coverage for the twelfth
Man in the NFL. This is Football Fridays with Hugh
Millin sponsored by Tito's handmade Vodka Tito's on Game Day
or Me and Coach fine cocktail recipes for the everyday
fan at Tito's Vodka dot com forty percent alcohol by volume,
namely eighty proof crafted to be savored responsibly.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Now with you, here's Safti and Dick.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
All right, boys and girls, back here on a busy
Friday night, right here on ninety three three kJ ARFM,
Safti Dick Jackson with you until seven o'clock. But what
Friday night is completes without the voice of Hugh Millin
joining us again here as he does every Friday.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
On the radio program.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
I cannot imagine heading to the weekend without getting one
more thought, well actually a lot more than one from
our friend Huey Millan.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
How are you pal uh?
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Great to be with you.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
I can't imagine get to my weekend without having a
last visit with you guys. So fun times here, five
straight days of elite football.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I can't remember this in my lifetime.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
Yeah, having you know, back to back to back to
back to back great days of football.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, and that was indeed five backs. I was counting
them all, by the way, so good job down them all.
But hey, let me uh, before we get to last
night's Penn State Notre Dame game. The Ohio State Texas
game is just kicking off now, man, Ohio State, Hugh
has just turned into a heavy, heavy, and I mean
heavy favorite to win this whole thing. Any thoughts on
this Ohio State Texas game? Are you kind of like
(01:26):
everybody just expecting the Buck guys to to roll and
then take on Notre Dame in the National championship game.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Well, yeah, I'm probably more likely to lean that way.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
I would say this Texas does have the best secondary
in the country. Johnny Baron, he won the the Thorpe
Award his whole cast of characters. I think they can
do a better job of covering. I think the question
is Texas has a couple of good edge rushers and
linebacker types the rush well, Anthony Hill, Trey Moore. I
(01:57):
think the real question is can you get after Will
Howe in that regard, because you know, in the Rose
Bowl rather it was just like seven on seven throwing
against the very best position group are throwing to the
very best position group in the country in those Ohio
State receivers, and you know, it kind of hurts from
a Husky perspective, guys, as you know, a Mecca Buca
local kid.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
But you just sound G. Scott and JD.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
Twey bloow, you know, playing vital roles for the Buckeyes
right out of our backyard. So I think this Ohio
State team is rolling. I think the big thing for
them is they had nineteen air yards of completion in
the second half against Michigan and that just wasn't enough.
And Chip, you know, the Chipster, he did his study
(02:41):
on that. And then now when you compare that the
first half of the Rose Bowl, one hundred and sixty
three yards and air yard. So the ball was not
just you know, yeah, you saw the run after the
catch with Jeremiah Smith on that RPO where he ran
up the sideline in the Rose Bowl, but it was also.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
A lot of bombs away and a lot of completed balls.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
So I think that the aggression that Ohio State resolved
with Chip Kelly having probably scolded himself for his lack
of aggression in the Michigan game.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
I think they've learned their lesson.
Speaker 6 (03:12):
Well, Hugh, A vast majority of these CFP games have
been absolute dogs, but last night was definitely an exception
to that rule. But let's go to thirty eight seconds left.
Your Penn state, it's a tie game, you're your own
fifteen yard line. How do you go about attacking that situation?
Or do you even attack that situation when you're a
(03:34):
good fifty five ish sixty yards from a field goal
with only thirty eight seconds left?
Speaker 5 (03:40):
You know, I think this I learned a lesson from
Jimmy Johnson. It was a little bit of a contrast
from Don James. Jimmy Johnson said, hey man, you can't
play with scared money. And he used to use those
GA gambling analogies. And we went to London in a
preseason game. The word was that Jimmy made one hundred
(04:01):
and fifty grand on the black Tech table the night before,
and so he would make a lot of these analogies,
and I just think, look you got and Drew Aller
a two year starter. A projected mel Kiper had him
as the number one. Had emphasis had because I think
it's going to be revised, but had him as the
number one pick in the draft. If I'm the coach,
(04:23):
I call pass plays. I try and go down and
get it because you leave it to overtime. Call that
a fifty to fifty. But you've got a chance to
go down with two timeouts and get yourself into field
goal range.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Is it a risk?
Speaker 5 (04:37):
Of course it is, But are you going to just
sit on it and play for a fifty to fifty?
I think it was worth the risk to throw it.
It just didn't work out. You know, the kid made
a bad mistake. I don't think it was quote unquote
laid over the middle because it wasn't a converging defender.
It was just the covering defender that made the interception.
(04:57):
It was his fourth read in the progression. I'm certain
of that. And and and he went in and he
threw a ball that the defender got. But I would
not second guess myself for being aggressive in the play calling.
I think it's just Drew Aller second guessing himself. Yeah,
in his decision on that particular play. Now, I'm with you,
(05:18):
go win the game.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
For God's sakes, I give up that opportunity for sure,
But humillains with us on the ear and by the way,
it's funny we're sitting here, Dick about four months ago
talking about NIU beating Notre Dame and here they are
playing for the national championship.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
An amazing to the last time Marshall and NIU in
two years.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
But now he's in the title unreal man with hum
millains with us and Hugh. Let's just get to the
NFL and we'll get to the playoffs in a minute.
We got all the games coming up this weekend between
our station the AM side. I got game Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
It's going to be a phenomenal weekend for the NFL.
Before we get to all that, we're sitting here, what
four days since Ryan Grubb got fired? Any new thoughts,
(05:58):
new angles, anything new floating around that brainy or since
Ryan Grubb was let go on Monday morning?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Well, I'm going to continue doing more study and trying
to put texture to this, at least in my own
mind and in my conversations with you guys. I'm here's
some thought guys on first and ten, because let's just
you know, boil it down. What was the failing here?
What Ryan Grubb sitting there at looking at play sheet
on first. These are all first and tens. One hundred
(06:27):
and fifty four times he ran the ball three point
eight seven average. Now you go, well, well, hang on,
if you just do that three times three point eight,
so let's round it to three point nine, that's almost
four yards. We can you do that three times, like
we're staying ahead of the of the six. But the
median for those was exactly three yards. The number of
(06:49):
times that he got four plus yards was forty three percent.
The number of times he had three or a large
three or less yards was fifty seven percent. You got
me on that's that's just first and ten. So basically
what he was saying is like, okay, these are the
(07:10):
results when I run the ball on first and ten.
Now when you throw the ball, the average goes from
three point nine to six point eight. The median goes
from three to five. There's also another static for you
excel nerds like me. If you go the eightieth percent
(07:31):
ale on the running place, you say, the eightieth percentile
is six yards on run plays, the eightieth percentile on those,
which is like the median because the median's the fiftieth percentile, right,
But the eighth percent on the pass is fifteen yards
four plus yards when you run it I said, forty
three percent when you pass it, fifty seven percent three
(07:55):
or less yards. I mentioned fifty seven percent when you
run it three or less yards when you throw at
forty three percent, and that count sacks. So this is
where I'm getting. I mean, if we go with the
assumption that Ryan Grubb wasn't a total idiot, nor did
he want to be completely insubordinate, I think those are
the numbers that I think that whether expressly and particularly
(08:19):
did he have an awaren of this or did he
just have a rough idea of this? That's the challenge
for him where you say, Okay, hang on, we just
don't have the offensive line to get the job done
if we want to throw on these neutral downs.
Speaker 6 (08:32):
So, Hugh, is there a particular trait that you think
is most important for them to find in an offensive coordinator?
And is there a name out there that has kind
of peaked your interests more than any others that you've heard.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Well, I'm not going to go chasing my tail trying
to really unearth all the attributes of the candidates. I
will I will promise, come on, man, if you won't
do it, nobody will. Well, here's what I'll promise guys.
I'll promise you this. When they name the offensive coordinator,
I will do a deep dive on that named guy
(09:05):
and I will try and present something compelling if I
If I do, there's a first time for everything, but
I will.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
I will.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
I will dive under the hood on on that guy.
I'll say this. You asked me, what are the attributes?
In my opinion, the best offensive coordinators, the precision is
in the detail. Like I was, I was at the
Rams and the famed offensive coordinator Ernie's MPs, he came up.
(09:30):
He was the architect, the offensive coordinator for the air
coriel with Dan Fouts.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Right.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
So now he comes up and he's teaching this detail
three seven zero f shoot pump eight forty four Lucky Ricky.
These are some of the commonplay and he would like
be very specific with the receivers. This is your angles,
This how I want your shoulders, your hips now later,
uh North Turner had been the receiver coach at the Rams,
(09:57):
and now he becomes the offensive coordinator at the Cowboys Troy.
When his passer rating goes from fifties and sixties in
year one and two now he's vaulting. He's a Super
Bowl MVP. He says, Norf Turner's the reason that I'm
going to the Hall of Fame. He's the biggest reason
for our success. Well, NORV was instrumental because I'd had
the Rams. He was instrumental in the trade that sent
(10:19):
me to the Cowboys. So now I'm playing with NORV.
NORV has very similar, very very strict detail on those plays.
A forty four lucky Ricky three seven zero F shoot
pump like I'm reading, and that's like, man, this is
just like Ernie's MPZ. Now, in between that, I was
at New England where Dick Corey was the offensive coordinator,
and he had been at the Rams as the quarterback coach,
(10:40):
and he had been instrumental in trying to get me
to New England. Well, God bliss, Dick Cory and rest
in peace. And I appreciate him vouching for me, But
he just did not have the detail whatsoever. He's teaching
the same place A forty four lucky Ricky three seven
zero FC pump, he's at.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
The same place.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
But when I watch him installed and when I watch
it in practice, if he has to correct the technique,
there's just not the detail. And so I would just
say this, just because a guy's been exposed to something
doesn't mean that he really has a grasp on how
to teach the detail.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
And so that would be my concern.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
That's where the you know, when I've been around some
of you know, Mike Shanahan, I mentioned those two others,
they're the very best that I've been around.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
It's on offensive football. The precision is.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
In the details and teaching of those details. So we'll
see if they can hire a guy that can be
at the very top echelon of decision.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Thank god. By the way, hallelujah. Remind me, guys, who
was the who is the DB's coach.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
We got that was with the Bears for a while,
that that was in the Vic Fangio system.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
What was his name? He was a hot shot young guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
came over here. Anybody remembers linebackers? No, he was gone
to sigh yeah, thank you, And so everybody's losing their mind.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Get good work.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Everyone's losing their mind about Sean Desaigh. He came from
the well, you know who's not coming here is Vic Fangio.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I'm like, what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (12:10):
People just lose their freaking brains over these guys.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Man.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
So first of all, I appreciate your approach to this,
you because let's let's wait and see who they get.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Number two. I'm way more interested in the players that
are gonna bring in. But in general terms, there's been
a name that's been associated with the Seahawks. He's the
offensive line coach for the Lions'. His name is Hank Fraley.
Okay with and by the way, let alone piece of trivia.
He's also ex teammates with Andrew Meneer from Motley Futures.
They both learn in the same high school in Maryland
(12:40):
back in the day, Gathersburg High School, which is odd
but whatever. But the idea of hiring a first time
OC who's an offensive line coach, I don't even know
if this guy would call plays? Does that mean Scott
huff is gone? Does that kind of excite you? Does
it turn you off? What's your kind of general take
on that?
Speaker 5 (13:01):
As a general rule, my default would be to be
very reticent to hire an offensive line coach as the OC. Now,
it's certainly been done, it's been done successfully, But I
would have a big question about the person's grasp of
the perimeter game. And as I just mentioned, you know,
just because you can call, you know, install the same
(13:23):
plays and call the same plays, doesn't mean that you've
taught with the precision of the same play.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
So I'd be worried about what's happening with you know,
passing game coordinator. Does the offensive line coach have that grasp? Now?
Speaker 5 (13:36):
I spoke with what Jimmy Mora about an hour ago,
and and and you know, the guy that we're talking
about was at on on Jim staff at UCLA.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Jim raves about him.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
He thinks he's got a really good grasp not just
a offensive line play, but also.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Of perimeter play.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
And and you know a point that Jim was making
to me in our conversation, he says, hey, things are
a lot different now. There's there's these huge staffs where
you know, you know, you got two three quarterback coaches
this and that, so it's more of a coaching by committee.
And uh, you know it's his contention that you know,
Ben Johnson's getting all the accolades, but he's got a
(14:16):
lot of people helping him and voices in his ear right.
And and so I think that you know, there's this
has a chance to work out. But but as a
general rule, I would be reluctant to know whether or
not an offensive coordinator has that uh, that grasp because
as I I've I've trying to mention to you, you know,
(14:37):
when when Dick Curry was in solving those plays, I
was like, Dude, that is not how Ernie's MPs he
teaches it.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
You're you're lacking detail.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
So lacking detail is just going to lead to, uh,
you know, a lot of failure to lead up to
your potential in my opinion.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Hugh and on Gino, I was reading the Times this
week and they did a grades for all the positions,
and I want to read sentence that they had about Geno.
Smith said, Gino's twenty twenty four season gave fuel to
his supporters and attractors, but his supporters by setting team
records for completions, attempts, yards, and completion percentage. And I'm like, well, yeah,
(15:15):
if you're gonna throw a ton and if you're gonna
dink and dunk, you're gonna have completion attempts, yards and
completion percentage. How valuable are those numerical stats that Gino
actually did well in well.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
First of all, if you're talking about franchise records, that
means absolutely nothing to me, because when you talk about
the set of players that have had seventeen games to
set those records, he's one of one's, he's.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
First of first, first of one. He's also last of one.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
What about what about the Broncos team record for completions
to start a game?
Speaker 2 (15:53):
That's a good one.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Only Hall of famers have that one drop. But hey,
not so fast.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
My of the overall consecutive completions over two games is
still is still there.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
We'll say Bo's going after that one. Too bad?
Speaker 4 (16:10):
You come get me Bo.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
But but I but so so, I would just say
as for attempts and the yards, look he had he
done it in sixteen games.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
I'm tipped my hat. Now.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
Maybe Jim Zorn somewhere is going, what about me? I
did it in fourteen.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
It's like the O. J.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
Simpson two thousand and three in fourteen games versus Eric
Dickerson twenty one oh five and sixteen games. But at
some point we've made the transition to sixteen.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
But but but.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
If somebody's gonna cite having a franchise record in yards
passing in a season. They're citing it to try and
impress you. That's why they're that's why they're bringing it up. Well, okay,
Matt Hasselbeck and Russell Wilson didn't have that seventeenth game,
so uh and then as far as completion percentage, you know,
(16:55):
you cite the absurdity of those when you reference me
aptly that you know, okay, yeah, right, okay, yeah that
that and and four bucks will get me a coffee
at Starbucks. So you know, the completion percentage when coupled,
here's the important part when coupled, like with stats like
(17:15):
the percentage of attempts that are air yards five or
more yards in the league. Uh, geno thirty second, the
percent ten or more yard ten or more yards on
the line scrimmage, the percent GENO twenty ninth in the league. Yeah,
average completed air yards twenty fifth in the league. So,
(17:37):
so completion percentage only matters when you know you're you're
still making some plays down the field. And and so
you know the gross yards are going to are gonna
come if you throw it often enough. And and uh,
you know, so you know there's an aggressiveness scale that uh,
the uh next gen Stats is produced. Now, that's the
(18:00):
that's the NFL's project. That's not some dude in a
garage running a website. That's the NFL. Their category that
they describe as aggressiveness. Well, they've got GENO ranked twenty ninth.
Now I don't think that you should be first because
I've looked at the list, because if you're first, you're
probably too aggressive. But the guys that are winning and
(18:20):
the guys that are most successful, they're clumped that are,
you know, tenth to fifteenth, eighth to fifteenth, right in
that range from an aggressiveness scale. That's when you're doing
the best quarterbacking because you got to live. You know,
it's like like when the light turns yellow. You know,
sometimes you got to you got to just keep going
through the intersection because hey, you know, just make the
(18:41):
determination we're okay. You slam on the brakes all the time,
that's not an efficient way to drive. Well guess what.
Slamming on the brakes and viewing everything as a red light.
That's not a good way to quarterback. And I think
some of those numbers are reflective in that humilling with
us here. We got a busy weekend of NFL starting tomorrow.
Two games Tomorrow, three games Sunday, one on Monday, that
(19:04):
game getting moved to Arizona.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
We'll talk about all that coming up.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Get your thoughts on the playoffs next on ninety three
three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Now back to the Washington State Beat Commissions football Friday
with Sati on your home for the NFL Sports Radio
ninety three point three KJR FM.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
All right, we're back on a Friday night. One more
segment with Hugh Millen coming up here. We got a
lot of NFL playoff football over the weekend. I believe
our coverage on the FM side will start with the
Ravens and Steelers tomorrow night, Chargers Texans at one point
thirty Over on the AM, we got cracking hockey for
you in the afternoon. So Pittsburgh Baltimore Hugh the first
(19:46):
game to be carried on the FM stick. And I
gotta tell you, man, this thing seems to be as
wide open as it's been in a long long time.
I counted seven teams in the NFL that have won
more than twelve games. I know they play seventeen now,
but man, Baltimore's got a shot. Kansas City, Buffalo, Detroit,
Green Bay, Philadelphia, Health Throw Minnesota. They were one game
(20:07):
away from getting the number one seed. Do you kind
of agree with that that there's a lot of parody
right now in this postseason?
Speaker 5 (20:13):
I would think so, But I just have this nine
hunts that Kansas City, you know, until you can slay
you know, Pat Mahomes is like some kind of figure
in a horror movie. You just can't knock him, doesn't
matter how down you think you have him. I think
(20:33):
that's the premiere storyline in the playoffs, because this is
something we could be talking about in fifty years. The
idea of a team three peating for the very first time.
It's real, it's a possibility. Brett Veach is a vastly
under discussed general manager. What he's done on that offensive line,
what he's done with that defense, a young defense, whether
(20:54):
it's Chris Jones or McDuffie or whatever. It's like almost
everything he touches turns the goal. But I would say,
while we're talking about the players that are in, I
do want to make mention to this. Joe Burrow when
he won the Heisman in twenty nineteen. He won it
with the highest percent of first place votes in the
history of the Heisman. This is a Hall of Fame
(21:17):
player in the prime of his career that Troy Aikman
recently said is his favorite quarterback of all time when
you consider he plays. I tell my kids who are
quarterbacks and don't remember Montana, I said, if you watch Burrow,
there's a lot of Montana and a beautiful accuracy, phenomenal
managing of the pocket. And by the way, for those
(21:41):
you talk about all the pressure that Gino's up, just
look at all the matrix. Joe Burrows is under more
pressure by a mile than Gino Smith. This guy is
a spectacular quarterback. And guess what, in my opinion, we
are losers. All of us are losers as NFL fans,
the idea that this unbelievable quarterback is not in the playoffs.
(22:05):
He's in the prime of a Hall of Fame career.
He's you know, if the team was better, he's deserving
of the MVP. And I would just say, you know,
throw him in as as part of the storylines. The
idea that he's not in but there's other great storylines.
But I just thought that needs to go mention because
I think it's sad for all of us that we
don't get to enjoy him in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Hugh and handicapping the NFC.
Speaker 6 (22:28):
I can't seem to get out of my mind the
back to back prime time games in Seattle with the
Packers and the Vikings, and I just saw one team
I thought was just incredibly dominant, in the Packers, and
the other one was like, cat are they even they
don't even look better than the Hawks? Was that just
kind of like a two week snapshot or do you
(22:50):
feel like maybe it's the Packers that have even though
they're the lower seed, maybe it's the Packers that are
truly the better team and got a not a chance
to beat the.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
He and maybe go someplace in this NFC. Well, they've
got a really good offensive line. And that was you know,
there's a promo going on on our station with good
you know, referencing me and my comments about Gudencust and
the frustrating part for me that was taken on the
Monday after the Packer game was that Gouden Coust assembled
that offensive line, all homegrown, all of them rounds two
(23:24):
and beyond, all of them young I mean, this beautiful
offensive line. I'm watching Jordan Love with just all this
this clean pocket, all this space around him, and I'm
just going, what the heck. Both Schneyder and Goudencust were
in the Packer organization at the same time. They were
both ascended as well they should. They're both very prominent,
(23:45):
deserving guys. But I think on that day watching how
dominant the Packer offensive line was relative. I know they
weren't playing against each other obviously at the same time
on the field, but just being able to compare series
by series how much better their offensive line was and
seeing how it was acquired, that just was a frustrating
part for me. So yeah, I think that the the
(24:07):
the ceiling is high for the Packers, particularly when you
consider Jordan Love has a unique brand of quarterbacking and
he has a way of manufacturing big plays that you know,
he saw what they did against a twelve and four
Cowboy team in the in the playoffs last year on
the road, so I think they're capable of reaching high heights.
I don't know Philadelphia's They're they're pretty pretty pretty good
(24:30):
as well. I don't know if I'm predicting an upset
but I agree that Green Bay team certainly has a
high ceiling.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
Well, I I love the Eagles in the playoffs, and
now that I've said that, I'm probably losing the first round,
but what the hell?
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Man?
Speaker 3 (24:41):
But hey, I want to ask you about Dan Campbell.
Dick and I have kind of gone back and forth
a little bit on Dan Campbell, I believe it or not,
there's actually three teams that went forth more on fourth
down than the Lions did. By the way, they were
fourth in the NFL in attempts and they were I
believe sixth overall, seventh and percentage sixty seven percent on
(25:02):
fourth down.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
But a lot of people like to point to that.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
Niner game a year ago, right Hugh, and the NFC championship,
and they're scared that, you know, the same aggressive nature
that got the Lions to where they are is going
to bite them in the ass in the postseason.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
Does he need to kind of dial it down a
little bit come playoff time or just keep doing what
he's doing?
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Well, I don't think you just analyze those decisions in
a vacuum.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
For sure.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
I think that I think that those decisions are part
of a mindset that he is trying to elicit and
install within his team about aggressiveness and who the who
they are, and he's selling that the Hey, we are
uniquely wired, we are uniquely aggressive. So so I don't
(25:47):
think you can just strip those decisions from the overall mindset.
My other thought on that is I have been an
avid NFL fan for fifty plus years. I have vivid
memory he's of probably seventy two was my first year
where I followed closely, and in just one man's opinion,
(26:08):
I would say in the years I've been watching the
NFL and enjoying the NFL, Dan Campbell's coaching job for
the Lions is possibly as good as any coaching job
I've ever seen what he did with that has done
with that franchise. And then when you say Aaron Glenn
what he's doing with the defense, you just go and
(26:29):
look at Aiden Hutchinson and how dominant he was prior
to getting hurt in terms of his past rush win rate.
He's still the number one guy edge guy in PFF
like and you have to play more games to have
a higher ratio like he. The injuries they have taken
on on the defense and the way Aaron Glenn in
(26:51):
that defense just just thwart, I mean, just dominated the
Vikings in that critical game on last Sunday. I mean,
it's remarkable what this guy has done for a franchise
that was just you know, moribund. You know, it's one
of those words I have to look up in the dictionary.
I mean, nothing is more moribund than the Detroit Lions
(27:12):
for the last you know, you have to go back
to nineteen sixty three, probably right before. They weren't moribund,
but somehow they're not. They're dominant and Dan Campbell so
as if I'm a Lion fan, I'm buying everything. And
if he says that's part of the you know, those
kind of decisions are part of the all encompassing worldview
(27:33):
that he wants his teams to.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
Have, guess what, I'm accepting that here.
Speaker 6 (27:36):
We could get an unbelievable quarterback matchup next week between
Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Has Lamar done anything when
you watch him that would indicate to you that he
is more prepared to go deep in the playoffs now
that he's ever been, because he has never been.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
Well, it was a better.
Speaker 5 (27:52):
Pocket passer, and you know at the combine he was
out of.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
It was either seventeen or eighteen.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
Those two numbers. There was eight seventeen or eighteen quarterback.
He had the lowest mile prower, the velocity on the
jugs gun. He does not have a strong arm. He's
been able to manufacture this passing ability without a leaf alarm. Now,
on the other hand, Josh Allen, here's the thing, guys.
Two thoughts on Josh Allen and the Bills. First of all,
(28:23):
the Buffalo the Bills have been around for sixty five seasons.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Now.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
They did win twofa AFL championships in the mid sixties,
but that was when the AFL was like the JV
Compared to the NFL, that'd be like having a USFL team. Okay,
so I don't count that. This Buffalo Sabers have fifty
four seasons, never won a Stanley Cup. The Buffalo Braves,
who are now the Clippers, they had eight seasons. You
(28:51):
got one hundred and twenty seven professional seasons in the
city of Buffalo. They've never had a parade, and having
started a few games in that stadium, they have unbelievably
great fans. They're like a combination of Midwest wholesome, rabidness
like Kansas City, and and also northeast like violent, bloodthirsty
(29:15):
like Philadelphia. They're just spectacular fans to play in that stadium.
And and then and and so that's a thought about
how deserving they are. Dave and Dick, I know you
guys agree with me on that. But but Josh Allen,
think about this. Here's a guy that that did not
have a scholarship offer coming out of high school and
only one scholarship offer to Wyoming out of JC And
(29:37):
now as he stands, if you just say the ten
second quarterback evaluation, think about this ten second quarterback evaluation.
What the hell does that mean? Well, first of all,
we know it takes a long time to evaluate evaluated
quarterback because he got to put him in a game
and see how he makes decisions over a long period
of time. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm
talking about in ten seconds, you can do the following.
(30:00):
You can have them, you can you can eyeball how
big he is. Well, if I if Josh Allen comes
out on a field and I see he's about six
five two forty, Okay, I see his size.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
And then and then in another five.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
Half of those ten seconds five seconds run a forty
Oh dude runs a four to six, four to seven
moves incredible for a man that size.
Speaker 4 (30:18):
And then one throw. All I need is one throw.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
Put the ball on the right hash and throw a
twenty yard comeback to the far left hash. I want
to see one throw. You watch him drop back and
smoke that thing out there like the ball. Football is
a baseball. And I'm telling you that that this guy,
in a ten second evaluation is the premiere, most talented
on those on those figures, the most talented quarterback that
(30:44):
has ever walked planet Earth. That there is nobody with
the when you're talking about those triangle numbers of size, movement,
and ability and arm strength.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
All right, buddy, good work, and we will have a
little more at four with you on Monday and we'll
talk then.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
I love it, hammered down, enjoyed the week, guys. All Right, Bud,
you're meddling with us a little fun with audio
As part of our never ending coverage for the twelfth
Man in the NFL. This is Football Fridays with Hugh
Millin sponsored by Tito's handmade Vodka Tito's on Game Day
or Me and Coach fine cocktail recipes for the everyday
fan at Tito's Vodka dot com forty percent alcohol by volume,
namely eighty proof crafted to be savored responsibly.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Now with you, here's Safti and Dick.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
All right, boys and girls, back here on a busy
Friday night, right here on ninety three three kJ ARFM,
Safti Dick Jackson with you until seven o'clock. But what
Friday night is completes without the voice of Hugh Millin
joining us again here as he does every Friday.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
On the radio program.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
I cannot imagine heading to the weekend without getting one
more thought, well actually a lot more than one from
our friend Huey Millan.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
How are you pal uh?
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Great to be with you.
Speaker 5 (00:50):
I can't imagine get to my weekend without having a
last visit with you guys. So fun times here, five
straight days of elite football.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
I can't remember this in my lifetime.
Speaker 5 (01:01):
Yeah, having you know, back to back to back to
back to back great days of football.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, and that was indeed five backs. I was counting
them all, by the way, so good job down them all.
But hey, let me uh, before we get to last
night's Penn State Notre Dame game. The Ohio State Texas
game is just kicking off now, man, Ohio State, Hugh
has just turned into a heavy, heavy, and I mean
heavy favorite to win this whole thing. Any thoughts on
this Ohio State Texas game? Are you kind of like
(01:26):
everybody just expecting the Buck guys to to roll and
then take on Notre Dame in the National championship game.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
Well, yeah, I'm probably more likely to lean that way.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
I would say this Texas does have the best secondary
in the country. Johnny Baron, he won the the Thorpe
Award his whole cast of characters. I think they can
do a better job of covering. I think the question
is Texas has a couple of good edge rushers and
linebacker types the rush well, Anthony Hill, Trey Moore. I
(01:57):
think the real question is can you get after Will
Howe in that regard, because you know, in the Rose
Bowl rather it was just like seven on seven throwing
against the very best position group are throwing to the
very best position group in the country in those Ohio
State receivers, and you know, it kind of hurts from
a Husky perspective, guys, as you know, a Mecca Buca
local kid.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
But you just sound G. Scott and JD.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
Twey bloow, you know, playing vital roles for the Buckeyes
right out of our backyard. So I think this Ohio
State team is rolling. I think the big thing for
them is they had nineteen air yards of completion in
the second half against Michigan and that just wasn't enough.
And Chip, you know, the Chipster, he did his study
(02:41):
on that. And then now when you compare that the
first half of the Rose Bowl, one hundred and sixty
three yards and air yard. So the ball was not
just you know, yeah, you saw the run after the
catch with Jeremiah Smith on that RPO where he ran
up the sideline in the Rose Bowl, but it was also.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
A lot of bombs away and a lot of completed balls.
Speaker 5 (02:59):
So I think that the aggression that Ohio State resolved
with Chip Kelly having probably scolded himself for his lack
of aggression in the Michigan game.
Speaker 4 (03:10):
I think they've learned their lesson.
Speaker 6 (03:12):
Well, Hugh, A vast majority of these CFP games have
been absolute dogs, but last night was definitely an exception
to that rule. But let's go to thirty eight seconds left.
Your Penn state, it's a tie game, you're your own
fifteen yard line. How do you go about attacking that situation?
Or do you even attack that situation when you're a
(03:34):
good fifty five ish sixty yards from a field goal
with only thirty eight seconds left?
Speaker 5 (03:40):
You know, I think this I learned a lesson from
Jimmy Johnson. It was a little bit of a contrast
from Don James. Jimmy Johnson said, hey man, you can't
play with scared money. And he used to use those
GA gambling analogies. And we went to London in a
preseason game. The word was that Jimmy made one hundred
(04:01):
and fifty grand on the black Tech table the night before,
and so he would make a lot of these analogies,
and I just think, look you got and Drew Aller
a two year starter. A projected mel Kiper had him
as the number one. Had emphasis had because I think
it's going to be revised, but had him as the
number one pick in the draft. If I'm the coach,
(04:23):
I call pass plays. I try and go down and
get it because you leave it to overtime. Call that
a fifty to fifty. But you've got a chance to
go down with two timeouts and get yourself into field
goal range.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Is it a risk?
Speaker 5 (04:37):
Of course it is, But are you going to just
sit on it and play for a fifty to fifty?
I think it was worth the risk to throw it.
It just didn't work out. You know, the kid made
a bad mistake. I don't think it was quote unquote
laid over the middle because it wasn't a converging defender.
It was just the covering defender that made the interception.
(04:57):
It was his fourth read in the progression. I'm certain
of that. And and and he went in and he
threw a ball that the defender got. But I would
not second guess myself for being aggressive in the play calling.
I think it's just Drew Aller second guessing himself. Yeah,
in his decision on that particular play. Now, I'm with you,
(05:18):
go win the game.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
For God's sakes, I give up that opportunity for sure,
But humillains with us on the ear and by the way,
it's funny we're sitting here, Dick about four months ago
talking about NIU beating Notre Dame and here they are
playing for the national championship.
Speaker 6 (05:31):
An amazing to the last time Marshall and NIU in
two years.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
But now he's in the title unreal man with hum
millains with us and Hugh. Let's just get to the
NFL and we'll get to the playoffs in a minute.
We got all the games coming up this weekend between
our station the AM side. I got game Saturday, Sunday, Monday.
It's going to be a phenomenal weekend for the NFL.
Before we get to all that, we're sitting here, what
four days since Ryan Grubb got fired? Any new thoughts,
(05:58):
new angles, anything new floating around that brainy or since
Ryan Grubb was let go on Monday morning?
Speaker 5 (06:04):
Well, I'm going to continue doing more study and trying
to put texture to this, at least in my own
mind and in my conversations with you guys. I'm here's
some thought guys on first and ten, because let's just
you know, boil it down. What was the failing here?
What Ryan Grubb sitting there at looking at play sheet
on first. These are all first and tens. One hundred
(06:27):
and fifty four times he ran the ball three point
eight seven average. Now you go, well, well, hang on,
if you just do that three times three point eight,
so let's round it to three point nine, that's almost
four yards. We can you do that three times, like
we're staying ahead of the of the six. But the
median for those was exactly three yards. The number of
(06:49):
times that he got four plus yards was forty three percent.
The number of times he had three or a large
three or less yards was fifty seven percent. You got
me on that's that's just first and ten. So basically
what he was saying is like, okay, these are the
(07:10):
results when I run the ball on first and ten.
Now when you throw the ball, the average goes from
three point nine to six point eight. The median goes
from three to five. There's also another static for you
excel nerds like me. If you go the eightieth percent
(07:31):
ale on the running place, you say, the eightieth percentile
is six yards on run plays, the eightieth percentile on those,
which is like the median because the median's the fiftieth percentile, right,
But the eighth percent on the pass is fifteen yards
four plus yards when you run it I said, forty
three percent when you pass it, fifty seven percent three
(07:55):
or less yards. I mentioned fifty seven percent when you
run it three or less yards when you throw at
forty three percent, and that count sacks. So this is
where I'm getting. I mean, if we go with the
assumption that Ryan Grubb wasn't a total idiot, nor did
he want to be completely insubordinate, I think those are
the numbers that I think that whether expressly and particularly
(08:19):
did he have an awaren of this or did he
just have a rough idea of this? That's the challenge
for him where you say, Okay, hang on, we just
don't have the offensive line to get the job done
if we want to throw on these neutral downs.
Speaker 6 (08:32):
So, Hugh, is there a particular trait that you think
is most important for them to find in an offensive coordinator?
And is there a name out there that has kind
of peaked your interests more than any others that you've heard.
Speaker 5 (08:44):
Well, I'm not going to go chasing my tail trying
to really unearth all the attributes of the candidates. I
will I will promise, come on, man, if you won't
do it, nobody will. Well, here's what I'll promise guys.
I'll promise you this. When they name the offensive coordinator,
I will do a deep dive on that named guy
(09:05):
and I will try and present something compelling if I
If I do, there's a first time for everything, but
I will.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
I will.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
I will dive under the hood on on that guy.
I'll say this. You asked me, what are the attributes?
In my opinion, the best offensive coordinators, the precision is
in the detail. Like I was, I was at the
Rams and the famed offensive coordinator Ernie's MPs, he came up.
(09:30):
He was the architect, the offensive coordinator for the air
coriel with Dan Fouts.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Right.
Speaker 5 (09:36):
So now he comes up and he's teaching this detail
three seven zero f shoot pump eight forty four Lucky Ricky.
These are some of the commonplay and he would like
be very specific with the receivers. This is your angles,
This how I want your shoulders, your hips now later,
uh North Turner had been the receiver coach at the Rams,
(09:57):
and now he becomes the offensive coordinator at the Cowboys Troy.
When his passer rating goes from fifties and sixties in
year one and two now he's vaulting. He's a Super
Bowl MVP. He says, Norf Turner's the reason that I'm
going to the Hall of Fame. He's the biggest reason
for our success. Well, NORV was instrumental because I'd had
the Rams. He was instrumental in the trade that sent
(10:19):
me to the Cowboys. So now I'm playing with NORV.
NORV has very similar, very very strict detail on those plays.
A forty four lucky Ricky three seven zero F shoot
pump like I'm reading, and that's like, man, this is
just like Ernie's MPZ. Now, in between that, I was
at New England where Dick Corey was the offensive coordinator,
and he had been at the Rams as the quarterback coach,
(10:40):
and he had been instrumental in trying to get me
to New England. Well, God bliss, Dick Cory and rest
in peace. And I appreciate him vouching for me, But
he just did not have the detail whatsoever. He's teaching
the same place A forty four lucky Ricky three seven
zero FC pump, he's at.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
The same place.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
But when I watch him installed and when I watch
it in practice, if he has to correct the technique,
there's just not the detail. And so I would just
say this, just because a guy's been exposed to something
doesn't mean that he really has a grasp on how
to teach the detail.
Speaker 4 (11:17):
And so that would be my concern.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
That's where the you know, when I've been around some
of you know, Mike Shanahan, I mentioned those two others,
they're the very best that I've been around.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
It's on offensive football. The precision is.
Speaker 5 (11:30):
In the details and teaching of those details. So we'll
see if they can hire a guy that can be
at the very top echelon of decision.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
Thank god. By the way, hallelujah. Remind me, guys, who
was the who is the DB's coach.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
We got that was with the Bears for a while,
that that was in the Vic Fangio system.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
What was his name? He was a hot shot young guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
came over here. Anybody remembers linebackers? No, he was gone
to sigh yeah, thank you, And so everybody's losing their mind.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Get good work.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Everyone's losing their mind about Sean Desaigh. He came from
the well, you know who's not coming here is Vic Fangio.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
I'm like, what are we doing?
Speaker 3 (12:10):
People just lose their freaking brains over these guys.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Man.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
So first of all, I appreciate your approach to this,
you because let's let's wait and see who they get.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Number two. I'm way more interested in the players that
are gonna bring in. But in general terms, there's been
a name that's been associated with the Seahawks. He's the
offensive line coach for the Lions'. His name is Hank Fraley.
Okay with and by the way, let alone piece of trivia.
He's also ex teammates with Andrew Meneer from Motley Futures.
They both learn in the same high school in Maryland
(12:40):
back in the day, Gathersburg High School, which is odd
but whatever. But the idea of hiring a first time
OC who's an offensive line coach, I don't even know
if this guy would call plays? Does that mean Scott
huff is gone? Does that kind of excite you? Does
it turn you off? What's your kind of general take
on that?
Speaker 5 (13:01):
As a general rule, my default would be to be
very reticent to hire an offensive line coach as the OC. Now,
it's certainly been done, it's been done successfully, But I
would have a big question about the person's grasp of
the perimeter game. And as I just mentioned, you know,
just because you can call, you know, install the same
(13:23):
plays and call the same plays, doesn't mean that you've
taught with the precision of the same play.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
So I'd be worried about what's happening with you know,
passing game coordinator. Does the offensive line coach have that grasp? Now?
Speaker 5 (13:36):
I spoke with what Jimmy Mora about an hour ago,
and and and you know, the guy that we're talking
about was at on on Jim staff at UCLA.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Jim raves about him.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
He thinks he's got a really good grasp not just
a offensive line play, but also.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Of perimeter play.
Speaker 5 (13:54):
And and you know a point that Jim was making
to me in our conversation, he says, hey, things are
a lot different now. There's there's these huge staffs where
you know, you know, you got two three quarterback coaches
this and that, so it's more of a coaching by committee.
And uh, you know it's his contention that you know,
Ben Johnson's getting all the accolades, but he's got a
(14:16):
lot of people helping him and voices in his ear right.
And and so I think that you know, there's this
has a chance to work out. But but as a
general rule, I would be reluctant to know whether or
not an offensive coordinator has that uh, that grasp because
as I I've I've trying to mention to you, you know,
(14:37):
when when Dick Curry was in solving those plays, I
was like, Dude, that is not how Ernie's MPs he
teaches it.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
You're you're lacking detail.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
So lacking detail is just going to lead to, uh,
you know, a lot of failure to lead up to
your potential in my opinion.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
Hugh and on Gino, I was reading the Times this
week and they did a grades for all the positions,
and I want to read sentence that they had about Geno.
Smith said, Gino's twenty twenty four season gave fuel to
his supporters and attractors, but his supporters by setting team
records for completions, attempts, yards, and completion percentage. And I'm like, well, yeah,
(15:15):
if you're gonna throw a ton and if you're gonna
dink and dunk, you're gonna have completion attempts, yards and
completion percentage. How valuable are those numerical stats that Gino
actually did well in well.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
First of all, if you're talking about franchise records, that
means absolutely nothing to me, because when you talk about
the set of players that have had seventeen games to
set those records, he's one of one's, he's.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
First of first, first of one. He's also last of one.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
What about what about the Broncos team record for completions
to start a game?
Speaker 2 (15:53):
That's a good one.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Only Hall of famers have that one drop. But hey,
not so fast.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
My of the overall consecutive completions over two games is
still is still there.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
We'll say Bo's going after that one. Too bad?
Speaker 4 (16:10):
You come get me Bo.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
But but I but so so, I would just say
as for attempts and the yards, look he had he
done it in sixteen games.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
I'm tipped my hat. Now.
Speaker 5 (16:20):
Maybe Jim Zorn somewhere is going, what about me? I
did it in fourteen.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
It's like the O. J.
Speaker 5 (16:24):
Simpson two thousand and three in fourteen games versus Eric
Dickerson twenty one oh five and sixteen games. But at
some point we've made the transition to sixteen.
Speaker 4 (16:32):
But but but.
Speaker 5 (16:33):
If somebody's gonna cite having a franchise record in yards
passing in a season. They're citing it to try and
impress you. That's why they're that's why they're bringing it up. Well, okay,
Matt Hasselbeck and Russell Wilson didn't have that seventeenth game,
so uh and then as far as completion percentage, you know,
(16:55):
you cite the absurdity of those when you reference me
aptly that you know, okay, yeah, right, okay, yeah that
that and and four bucks will get me a coffee
at Starbucks. So you know, the completion percentage when coupled,
here's the important part when coupled, like with stats like
(17:15):
the percentage of attempts that are air yards five or
more yards in the league. Uh, geno thirty second, the
percent ten or more yard ten or more yards on
the line scrimmage, the percent GENO twenty ninth in the league. Yeah,
average completed air yards twenty fifth in the league. So,
(17:37):
so completion percentage only matters when you know you're you're
still making some plays down the field. And and so
you know the gross yards are going to are gonna
come if you throw it often enough. And and uh,
you know, so you know there's an aggressiveness scale that uh,
the uh next gen Stats is produced. Now, that's the
(18:00):
that's the NFL's project. That's not some dude in a
garage running a website. That's the NFL. Their category that
they describe as aggressiveness. Well, they've got GENO ranked twenty ninth.
Now I don't think that you should be first because
I've looked at the list, because if you're first, you're
probably too aggressive. But the guys that are winning and
(18:20):
the guys that are most successful, they're clumped that are,
you know, tenth to fifteenth, eighth to fifteenth, right in
that range from an aggressiveness scale. That's when you're doing
the best quarterbacking because you got to live. You know,
it's like like when the light turns yellow. You know,
sometimes you got to you got to just keep going
through the intersection because hey, you know, just make the
(18:41):
determination we're okay. You slam on the brakes all the time,
that's not an efficient way to drive. Well guess what.
Slamming on the brakes and viewing everything as a red light.
That's not a good way to quarterback. And I think
some of those numbers are reflective in that humilling with
us here. We got a busy weekend of NFL starting tomorrow.
Two games Tomorrow, three games Sunday, one on Monday, that
(19:04):
game getting moved to Arizona.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
We'll talk about all that coming up.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
Get your thoughts on the playoffs next on ninety three
three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Now back to the Washington State Beat Commissions football Friday
with Sati on your home for the NFL Sports Radio
ninety three point three KJR FM.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
All right, we're back on a Friday night. One more
segment with Hugh Millen coming up here. We got a
lot of NFL playoff football over the weekend. I believe
our coverage on the FM side will start with the
Ravens and Steelers tomorrow night, Chargers Texans at one point
thirty Over on the AM, we got cracking hockey for
you in the afternoon. So Pittsburgh Baltimore Hugh the first
(19:46):
game to be carried on the FM stick. And I
gotta tell you, man, this thing seems to be as
wide open as it's been in a long long time.
I counted seven teams in the NFL that have won
more than twelve games. I know they play seventeen now,
but man, Baltimore's got a shot. Kansas City, Buffalo, Detroit,
Green Bay, Philadelphia, Health Throw Minnesota. They were one game
(20:07):
away from getting the number one seed. Do you kind
of agree with that that there's a lot of parody
right now in this postseason?
Speaker 5 (20:13):
I would think so, But I just have this nine
hunts that Kansas City, you know, until you can slay
you know, Pat Mahomes is like some kind of figure
in a horror movie. You just can't knock him, doesn't
matter how down you think you have him. I think
(20:33):
that's the premiere storyline in the playoffs, because this is
something we could be talking about in fifty years. The
idea of a team three peating for the very first time.
It's real, it's a possibility. Brett Veach is a vastly
under discussed general manager. What he's done on that offensive line,
what he's done with that defense, a young defense, whether
(20:54):
it's Chris Jones or McDuffie or whatever. It's like almost
everything he touches turns the goal. But I would say,
while we're talking about the players that are in, I
do want to make mention to this. Joe Burrow when
he won the Heisman in twenty nineteen. He won it
with the highest percent of first place votes in the
history of the Heisman. This is a Hall of Fame
(21:17):
player in the prime of his career that Troy Aikman
recently said is his favorite quarterback of all time when
you consider he plays. I tell my kids who are
quarterbacks and don't remember Montana, I said, if you watch Burrow,
there's a lot of Montana and a beautiful accuracy, phenomenal
managing of the pocket. And by the way, for those
(21:41):
you talk about all the pressure that Gino's up, just
look at all the matrix. Joe Burrows is under more
pressure by a mile than Gino Smith. This guy is
a spectacular quarterback. And guess what, in my opinion, we
are losers. All of us are losers as NFL fans,
the idea that this unbelievable quarterback is not in the playoffs.
(22:05):
He's in the prime of a Hall of Fame career.
He's you know, if the team was better, he's deserving
of the MVP. And I would just say, you know,
throw him in as as part of the storylines. The
idea that he's not in but there's other great storylines.
But I just thought that needs to go mention because
I think it's sad for all of us that we
don't get to enjoy him in the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Hugh and handicapping the NFC.
Speaker 6 (22:28):
I can't seem to get out of my mind the
back to back prime time games in Seattle with the
Packers and the Vikings, and I just saw one team
I thought was just incredibly dominant, in the Packers, and
the other one was like, cat are they even they
don't even look better than the Hawks? Was that just
kind of like a two week snapshot or do you
(22:50):
feel like maybe it's the Packers that have even though
they're the lower seed, maybe it's the Packers that are
truly the better team and got a not a chance
to beat the.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
He and maybe go someplace in this NFC. Well, they've
got a really good offensive line. And that was you know,
there's a promo going on on our station with good
you know, referencing me and my comments about Gudencust and
the frustrating part for me that was taken on the
Monday after the Packer game was that Gouden Coust assembled
that offensive line, all homegrown, all of them rounds two
(23:24):
and beyond, all of them young I mean, this beautiful
offensive line. I'm watching Jordan Love with just all this
this clean pocket, all this space around him, and I'm
just going, what the heck. Both Schneyder and Goudencust were
in the Packer organization at the same time. They were
both ascended as well they should. They're both very prominent,
(23:45):
deserving guys. But I think on that day watching how
dominant the Packer offensive line was relative. I know they
weren't playing against each other obviously at the same time
on the field, but just being able to compare series
by series how much better their offensive line was and
seeing how it was acquired, that just was a frustrating
part for me. So yeah, I think that the the
(24:07):
the ceiling is high for the Packers, particularly when you
consider Jordan Love has a unique brand of quarterbacking and
he has a way of manufacturing big plays that you know,
he saw what they did against a twelve and four
Cowboy team in the in the playoffs last year on
the road, so I think they're capable of reaching high heights.
I don't know Philadelphia's They're they're pretty pretty pretty good
(24:30):
as well. I don't know if I'm predicting an upset
but I agree that Green Bay team certainly has a
high ceiling.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
Well, I I love the Eagles in the playoffs, and
now that I've said that, I'm probably losing the first round,
but what the hell?
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Man?
Speaker 3 (24:41):
But hey, I want to ask you about Dan Campbell.
Dick and I have kind of gone back and forth
a little bit on Dan Campbell, I believe it or not,
there's actually three teams that went forth more on fourth
down than the Lions did. By the way, they were
fourth in the NFL in attempts and they were I
believe sixth overall, seventh and percentage sixty seven percent on
(25:02):
fourth down.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
But a lot of people like to point to that.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
Niner game a year ago, right Hugh, and the NFC championship,
and they're scared that, you know, the same aggressive nature
that got the Lions to where they are is going
to bite them in the ass in the postseason.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
Does he need to kind of dial it down a
little bit come playoff time or just keep doing what
he's doing?
Speaker 5 (25:21):
Well, I don't think you just analyze those decisions in
a vacuum.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
For sure.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
I think that I think that those decisions are part
of a mindset that he is trying to elicit and
install within his team about aggressiveness and who the who
they are, and he's selling that the Hey, we are
uniquely wired, we are uniquely aggressive. So so I don't
(25:47):
think you can just strip those decisions from the overall mindset.
My other thought on that is I have been an
avid NFL fan for fifty plus years. I have vivid
memory he's of probably seventy two was my first year
where I followed closely, and in just one man's opinion,
(26:08):
I would say in the years I've been watching the
NFL and enjoying the NFL, Dan Campbell's coaching job for
the Lions is possibly as good as any coaching job
I've ever seen what he did with that has done
with that franchise. And then when you say Aaron Glenn
what he's doing with the defense, you just go and
(26:29):
look at Aiden Hutchinson and how dominant he was prior
to getting hurt in terms of his past rush win rate.
He's still the number one guy edge guy in PFF
like and you have to play more games to have
a higher ratio like he. The injuries they have taken
on on the defense and the way Aaron Glenn in
(26:51):
that defense just just thwart, I mean, just dominated the
Vikings in that critical game on last Sunday. I mean,
it's remarkable what this guy has done for a franchise
that was just you know, moribund. You know, it's one
of those words I have to look up in the dictionary.
I mean, nothing is more moribund than the Detroit Lions
(27:12):
for the last you know, you have to go back
to nineteen sixty three, probably right before. They weren't moribund,
but somehow they're not. They're dominant and Dan Campbell so
as if I'm a Lion fan, I'm buying everything. And
if he says that's part of the you know, those
kind of decisions are part of the all encompassing worldview
(27:33):
that he wants his teams to.
Speaker 4 (27:34):
Have, guess what, I'm accepting that here.
Speaker 6 (27:36):
We could get an unbelievable quarterback matchup next week between
Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Has Lamar done anything when
you watch him that would indicate to you that he
is more prepared to go deep in the playoffs now
that he's ever been, because he has never been.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
Well, it was a better.
Speaker 5 (27:52):
Pocket passer, and you know at the combine he was
out of.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
It was either seventeen or eighteen.
Speaker 5 (28:00):
Those two numbers. There was eight seventeen or eighteen quarterback.
He had the lowest mile prower, the velocity on the
jugs gun. He does not have a strong arm. He's
been able to manufacture this passing ability without a leaf alarm. Now,
on the other hand, Josh Allen, here's the thing, guys.
Two thoughts on Josh Allen and the Bills. First of all,
(28:23):
the Buffalo the Bills have been around for sixty five seasons.
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Now.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
They did win twofa AFL championships in the mid sixties,
but that was when the AFL was like the JV
Compared to the NFL, that'd be like having a USFL team. Okay,
so I don't count that. This Buffalo Sabers have fifty
four seasons, never won a Stanley Cup. The Buffalo Braves,
who are now the Clippers, they had eight seasons. You
(28:51):
got one hundred and twenty seven professional seasons in the
city of Buffalo. They've never had a parade, and having
started a few games in that stadium, they have unbelievably
great fans. They're like a combination of Midwest wholesome, rabidness
like Kansas City, and and also northeast like violent, bloodthirsty
(29:15):
like Philadelphia. They're just spectacular fans to play in that stadium.
And and then and and so that's a thought about
how deserving they are. Dave and Dick, I know you
guys agree with me on that. But but Josh Allen,
think about this. Here's a guy that that did not
have a scholarship offer coming out of high school and
only one scholarship offer to Wyoming out of JC And
(29:37):
now as he stands, if you just say the ten
second quarterback evaluation, think about this ten second quarterback evaluation.
What the hell does that mean? Well, first of all,
we know it takes a long time to evaluate evaluated
quarterback because he got to put him in a game
and see how he makes decisions over a long period
of time. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm
talking about in ten seconds, you can do the following.
(30:00):
You can have them, you can you can eyeball how
big he is. Well, if I if Josh Allen comes
out on a field and I see he's about six
five two forty, Okay, I see his size.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
And then and then in another five.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
Half of those ten seconds five seconds run a forty
Oh dude runs a four to six, four to seven
moves incredible for a man that size.
Speaker 4 (30:18):
And then one throw. All I need is one throw.
Speaker 5 (30:21):
Put the ball on the right hash and throw a
twenty yard comeback to the far left hash. I want
to see one throw. You watch him drop back and
smoke that thing out there like the ball. Football is
a baseball. And I'm telling you that that this guy,
in a ten second evaluation is the premiere, most talented
on those on those figures, the most talented quarterback that
(30:44):
has ever walked planet Earth. That there is nobody with
the when you're talking about those triangle numbers of size, movement,
and ability and arm strength.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
All right, buddy, good work, and we will have a
little more at four with you on Monday and we'll
talk then.
Speaker 5 (30:58):
I love it, hammered down, enjoyed the week, guys. All Right, Bud,
you're meddling with us a little fun with audio
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