February 6, 2026 • 20 mins
Hugh Millen, our resident KJR quarterback, joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain to talk about his feelings about the Super Bowl two days away, the health situation with Nick Emmanwori right now, the scheme battle between the teams and their coaching.
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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
for me in coach fine cocktail recipes for the everyday
fan at Titos Vodka dot Com. Forty percent alcohol by volume,
namely eighty proof, crafted to be savord responsibly. Now with you,
(00:23):
here's Suffdy and Dick.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Go all right, boys and girls, we are back on
media row, wrapping up day.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Five couple hours to go coming up at six pm tonight.
One of my favorite traditions. I think we can call
it a tradition now because we've done it now for
a fourth time, fifth time, if you include the UW
Michigan game. By the way, we're gonna have you, guys,
call in at six o'clock tonight at two eight six
ninety five ninety five and tell us who you'd like
to see the Seahawks win this thing on Sunday for right,
(00:51):
Somebody who has meant a lot to you, maybe somebody
no longer with us. A lot of Seahawks fans out
there obviously would love to see the Hawks win this thing.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
For somebody besides themselves.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
So think about that and we'll take some calls at
six pm tonight on the radio show.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
But right now we're gonna head east.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
By the way to Arizona, where I really hope we
had Hugh Millan Jackson blow into the phone before he
came on the air and pass a breathalyzer test. They
are these spiked Arnold palmers are flowing. The Tito sodas
are in high demand. Hugh Millan is at the Wasted
Management right now at TPC Scottsdale, and he joins us
(01:31):
on the radio program on the Friday before the Super Bowl,
a tradition unlike any other.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Huie, how are you pal?
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Hey, I'm doing great. It's eighty degrees, basically breathless. Yeah,
what more could you want? You got Marty gram meets
PGA tour. Yeah, we're rolling well.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I'll tell you what more I'd want is a freaking
win on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Man.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
So let me just first of all before we kind
of get in the weeds on this thing a little bit.
I mean, we've had, you know, almost two weeks now
to prepare for this deal.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Twelve days.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
We're two days away under forty eight hours away from kickoff.
Whatever you kind of gut feeling was on Sunday night
after the Ram game for this game on Sunday, Has
it changed at all? Has it developed it all? Has
it kind of matured it all in one way or
the other. Since that NFC Championship win against the Rams, it's.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Changed a little in the sense that you watch some
tape and you can start to envision a path where
that Patriot defense could get things pretty murky on the
Seahawks for a portion. They've got the tackle the defensive
tackles Williams and Christian Barnard, and they they can exert
(02:45):
a lot of pressure on the inside. They're blitzing more.
They've they've they've jacked there blitz rate from twenty seven
to forty first in the last four games that's the
beginning this calendar year. The Patriots there twenty one pressures
per game, that's number one in the NFL. The Seahawks
(03:06):
are sixteen pressures, that's tenth. To put that into context,
you remember the Super Bowl from last year, Mahomes under siege,
he only was had had seventeen pressures. So I could
see a situation where New England is making it tough,
particularly on the basis of those defensive tackles inside.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Well, you're the only thing that's tangibly changed since we
played last is Nicky man Worry's ankle. So let's just
let's just say Emn Worry can play.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
But let's say he's.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Not one hundred percent. Let's say there's there is a
need for help for e Man Worry. How effective can
Mike McDonald's scheme and what would he do if we
just see that Nicky Man Worriy can't do what he
usually does.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Well, one of the keys in addition to em and Worry,
you know, just being able to defend the run. He's long,
you know, he SAIDs blocks. He you know he shoots gaps.
Is his instincts are improving almost weekly. But you know,
the idea that he has played cover one is is
a kind of ubiquitous terminology for man to man with
(04:18):
one free safety. And the Seahawks have had they have
played cover one and they have put Emon Worry on
Phuka Nakua, on DeVante Adams and on Justin Jefferson this year. Wow,
And like that's arguably you know, DeVante Adams, I mean
(04:39):
he might be a long shot for the Hall of Fame,
but that's you could make an argument those are the
three best receivers the Seahawks have played. Yeah, and so
if you're a quarterback and you see Emon Worry out
over the top what's called the overhang defender over the
slot against let's say you know Stefan Diggs. Based on
the tape study you've watch, you'd say, well, they might
(05:01):
be in cover one because they would they would defend
Emon Warry on Stefan Diggs. So you don't get that
man's zone read based on his alignment, whereas you have
Drake Thomas or maybe Tyreek Knight could be a replacement.
You know that if he walks out over a receiver
as the overhang defender, you know they're not playing man.
(05:23):
You know it's his zone and and so uh and
then of course there's the playmaking abilities. So there's a
lot of layers to Emon Warrior's contributions. I'm concerned not
just about his health for the first play of the game,
what's his help on the last play of the game.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
You know, based on the rigors of an NFL game,
that may kind of exacerbate that pain that he's experienced.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Right, Well, Hugh Millin is with us five o'clock at
the UH Wasted Management Open UH in Arizona. Huey, I
am fascinated by this coaching matchup, and I'm just wondering
how much which coaching do you think will matter in
this game?
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Or is this really all about the rosters?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
And then just kind of expanding on that, who's got
the better coaching staff? I mean, you got Kobiak and McDonald,
vrabel and McDaniels. You tell me about the coaching in
this game on Sunday, because to me, it fascinates me.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
It always matters. You know, I expressed this early on Dick.
You know, some twenty five twenty eight years ago, that
this whole idea you've heard the saying Dick finished this line.
It's not the x's and those, it's.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
The Jimmy's and Joe's.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Hey look at okay? You know I got one more
verse to that song, says the coach who nobody knows
whoever made that damn slogan is a coach who can't
coaches his aff out of a paper bag. That the
gap between coaching and players in the NFL is just
(06:57):
as great as the players. So that that that little
cute little poem that somebody created, that's by you know,
that's the to uh deflect when you don't have good coaching.
Look look, as an example, you think Kurt Signetty matters.
Coaching matter. Look at Mike McDonald, Look at my Mike Brabel.
The Patriots won four games last year, now they've lost
(07:21):
four games. Look at Sean Payton and what's going on
in Denver right like the these are. Look at Liam
Cohen that look at the playoff team. So I absolutely
think that, uh that coaching matters. And look, if I
gun to my head, do I do I think that
that Mike Brabel against Clint Kobiak. You know, I think Brabel,
(07:47):
resting on that what he learned with Belichick probably deserves
the nod. Now, I'm never gonna put somebody over Mike McDaniel,
But Josh McDaniels, he's got a law lot of playoff wins,
he's got a lot of hardware as a coordinator and
a play caller, a lot of rings adorning that hand
(08:09):
to his And so yeah, I think that there's some
very capable coaches obviously, and in some cases I mentioned
I think the Patriots have the advantage here.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
We had Baldy on this week, Brian Baldinger, and his
quote was, for New England to win this game, Drake
May is going to have to make six tremendous throws.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Do you agree with that?
Speaker 5 (08:27):
And is Drake May capable against this defense of making
six tremendous throws?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Well, I could see him winning it with five if
they're if the Patriot defense comes up the Seawk offense
to night. I understand, I'm not taking him literally, Dick.
I understand the point he's got to make. He he's
got to make plays now. Drake May, at the very
(08:56):
end of the season, he nipped Sam Donald for the
statistic yards per dropback and net yards per attempt, and
Donald had been number one right up literally to the
last game of the year. And so this game features
the two quarterbacks that push the ball down the field. Now,
(09:19):
in the case of Drake May, he likes to throw
the vertical the go routes up the sideline. He has
thirty five completions on go routes. Donald has eighteen, and
he has exactly double the yards May talking about that
Donald has on go routes been at a yard. So
(09:43):
so yeah, yeah, he's he's been a guy who's made
the plays. Now Seattle's prevented it. The concern I have
is Josh job is a guy that I think if
you see him in single coverage, if there's not a
safety over the top, then I think that may can
be going after Josh Sho and you could see some
big plays. Now, I don't think that that's the only
(10:04):
way to make big plays. It might be a red zone,
you know, stuff a ball in the mailbox in the
red zone, what have you. He's gonna he's gonna have
to make the plays. But I think there's also we've
discussed it this week. He's gotta make He's gonna from
a patriot perspective, he's got to run for some first downs, right,
got sixty one scrambles and you know, he's a big, good,
(10:26):
good athlete, and Seattle's got to be aware of that.
They got to keep him in the pocket.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
No doubt.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Man.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
That's why I just think first down is so big. Dude,
get these guys into second and third and long and
force that guy to throw. But hum Ellin's with us,
uh just about ten more minutes, Hew, we will let
you go before this game on Sunday, and I asked
you earlier in the week because the Patriots like to
employ that sixth off or deploy excuse me, that sixth
(10:51):
offensive lineman. And I asked chennon O Wosu about that,
and he said, it doesn't change.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Anything we're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
We're gonna hit the mother effort in the mouth on Sunday, So,
according to him, doesn't change anything. Now, you went and
looked it up that there were five games against teams
that like to use six or more linemen, and it
was the Titans, the Cardinals twice, Texans, and Carolina.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
One of those games all have in common.
Speaker 5 (11:15):
They were kind of nailed by Hawks for five and
oh and every single one they were close.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
The Titans game was a blowout until they let it
kind of get close in the second hand. Carolina was
twenty seven to ten. But I don't know, man, did
you go back and look at any of that and
and and see kind of what this defense did to
overcome the extra blocker.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Well, I'm always going back and looking, and yes, I
think what is really impressive about Seattle, and getting back
to Emon Worri is Seattle. They they're not going to
be dictated what personnel group they're in. You know, teams
will throw thirteen personnel at them, they'll throw six linemen
at him, and they'll just stay in nickel. And in
(11:58):
part because as I've just gribed it all year, Emon
Worry is just a Nicol Sam. If I was playing
the Seahawks and I was preparing, I would just say
number three is a Sam linebacker. What did Mike McDonald
say about ten days ago. Hey, we're just like a
four to three over four to three team, base four
to three team with a quote ridiculously athletic Sam linebacker.
(12:21):
And so he can do everything. And part of what
he can do is when you want to get heavy
with the personnel, whether it's six lineman, whether it's the
three tight end sets, whether it's the fullback in the backfield,
like the Patriots have with Jack Westover. Over forty percent
of the plays in the AFC Championship Game, west Over
(12:42):
was on the field. So they will they're going to
dabble in trying to play hardball with you and see
if you can match whether they want to force you
back into base. You know, maybe you know, put Emon Worry,
You're not gonna take Emon Warrey off the field, well,
put him back as a as a safety on play
a normal base front. Well they don't. Seeks don't want
(13:04):
to do that, even where he's got single digit plays
where he's a back end safety. So there, That's one
of the really great qualities of the Seahawk defense is
they just they do what they do and you can't
force them to muscle up in ways that are traditionally
(13:26):
attempted well and have you.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
As you've mentioned, they don't blitz very much, the Seahawks,
but when they do, they're very very effective doing it.
I guess I would be a little bit worried to
throw the blitz at these Patriots just because of the
running option that Drake May possesses. He could get to,
you know, get a little bit free. How do you
think they're gonna defend his legs? Do you think it's
gonna be a spy? Do you think they're gonna just
(13:49):
gonna tell their front four, Hey, you got to set
the edge. You gotta just you can't be over aggressive
turning the corner and trying to get to to Drake
May in the pocket.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Know, when the league talks about the blitz, and you
see those numbers, all that means is five rushers or more,
and it doesn't tell you what you're playing behind it.
You can play five rushers and you can have man
a man. You can play cover one, in which case
you don't have anybody assigned for the quarterback. You can
(14:21):
have a zone pressure. Seattle tends to favor a two
deep four under kind of hybrid four deep two under
cornerbacks are reading the release of the slot, whether they
trigger in the flat, that type of a zone. The
Patriots defensively tend to favor the three deep three under
zone when they rush five. So so if Seattle rushes
(14:47):
five and they play zone in behind it, you're still
you still should be relatively uh stable from the aspect
of defending the quarterback scramble. What the key is, in
my opinion is and what I haven't liked over the
last two years, Mike McDonald Bill designed this Gucsi zone
(15:08):
blitz where he says, Okay, I'm gonna have I'm gonna
based on the front, I'm gonna have the tackle widen,
I'm gonna have the guard have to come inside, and
then I'm gonna fold the nickel slot right back into
the b gap Like that structure is beautiful, but then
the end on the opposite side of it is not
keeping contained and the quarterback is out the side, and
(15:30):
it's like, what good does it do to have that
great zone pressure if you're not gonna have the contained.
So I think that's an important part of it. Now,
if if Seattle wants to play the cover one rush
five nobody accounted four with with Drake May in the
event they run a four verticals, there's something off with
everything's deep ud May. You know. Now his athleticism comes
(15:54):
to life. And as I've said of his sixty one scrambles,
he's got eighteen of them ten yards or more. You know,
sile can't get hit. You know two or three you
know would be punting situations. You let the quarterback out
the side door, he runs for a first down. Now,
all of a sudden, that drive turns into points you
know you only got you know, nine to eleven drives.
(16:17):
All of a sudden, you could say, whoah, those those
quarterbacks scrambles and failing to keep them in the pocket.
We're a real key part of of a Patriot win.
We can't let that script right out totally.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
I agree one hundred percent, and I think Dick I
may have talked myself into making that. The number one
thing that freaks me out in this game on sidey
Sair is those those those fifty to fifty third down plays,
right guys that could go either way.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
The third and three is the third and fours that.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Can go either way, where nobody really has the advantage
on paper. What Drake May's legs be an equalizer? Well,
i'll tell you what here. We're gonna let you get
back to the Shenanigans down there it's Scottsdale. But before
you go, we know you don't like to make predictions.
I think it's bogus. For the amount of money we
pay you, you should do whatever the hell we tell
you to do. But how do you feel?
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Honestly? Man, you're a lifelong Hawk fan.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
I know you're pulling for Sam Darnold big time in
this game, big time. This guy has motivated you beyond belief.
You're a big fan of him. You're a big fan
of McDonald. I know as an ex Patriot who you're
pulling for. And it eighth the Patriots on Sunday afternoon
at three thirty, what's your gun.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Tell you here, Pale. First of all, for what you're
paying me, I should come on and say, go Hawks,
I want you to make some really cool plays.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
That was excellent analysis. That's the best you've given me.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Was awesome. Yeah, yeah, yeah, keem Yeah. It's really important
for them to tackle and make plays. There you go,
that's my key. I look, I think that I think
Seattle wins. I think that the only way they lose
is is a low scoring game where the underhits is
forty five and a half. I think that's the better play.
(18:03):
I think I do not see New England getting over
twenty in any scenario, win or lose. I'm just the
concern I have is it's just Seattle go through a
you know, a period a quarter, quarter and a half,
two quarters where where they're not really running the ball
well on first down there they're behind the sticks because
(18:26):
of those defensive tackles. The defensive ends are setting the
edge well enough so you're not getting the stretch play.
You can't run the inside zone because of those defensive tackles.
Those defensive tackles are in my mind, if there's a
Patriot win, they're the key. But you know, the zone pressures.
Maybe Darnold gets caught, takes some sacks, you know that
(18:48):
type of thing where you kind of gum things up.
That would be something of the script where I see
the Patriots walk away with the upset. But I think
that that's less likely. I think the better team over
the long haul wins and uh so you know that's
my take. I think, and and here's the here's the
advantage that I love the most for Seattle. I think
(19:09):
that the Patriot offensive line, particular on the left side,
even starting from the center, that that's a real weakness.
I think the Seattle front four has a chance to
really dominate this game. You don't need to bring the blitzes.
There's a really good chance Seattle, uh with the defensive
line wins this game.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Love it here, Millen, great stuff. Enjoy the tournament.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Stay safe out there, my friend, and have fun watching
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Man Go Hawks, Thanks, Man, hammer down.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
We're gonna break.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Jackson Smith and Jigba on offense, Jaron Reid on defense.
You'll hear from both the raigning now offensive player of
the Year in the NFL and one of the big
time members of that Seahawk Defensive Front will join next
as we continue to count down to three point thirty
Sunday here the game Kevin Harlan and Company pregame starts
(20:02):
at nine am Sunday right here on ninety three to
three kJ RFM
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
for me in coach fine cocktail recipes for the everyday
fan at Titos Vodka dot Com. Forty percent alcohol by volume,
namely eighty proof, crafted to be savord responsibly. Now with you,
(00:23):
here's Suffdy and Dick.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Go all right, boys and girls, we are back on
media row, wrapping up day.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Five couple hours to go coming up at six pm tonight.
One of my favorite traditions. I think we can call
it a tradition now because we've done it now for
a fourth time, fifth time, if you include the UW
Michigan game. By the way, we're gonna have you, guys,
call in at six o'clock tonight at two eight six
ninety five ninety five and tell us who you'd like
to see the Seahawks win this thing on Sunday for right,
(00:51):
Somebody who has meant a lot to you, maybe somebody
no longer with us. A lot of Seahawks fans out
there obviously would love to see the Hawks win this thing.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
For somebody besides themselves.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
So think about that and we'll take some calls at
six pm tonight on the radio show.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
But right now we're gonna head east.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
By the way to Arizona, where I really hope we
had Hugh Millan Jackson blow into the phone before he
came on the air and pass a breathalyzer test. They
are these spiked Arnold palmers are flowing. The Tito sodas
are in high demand. Hugh Millan is at the Wasted
Management right now at TPC Scottsdale, and he joins us
(01:31):
on the radio program on the Friday before the Super Bowl,
a tradition unlike any other.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Huie, how are you pal?
Speaker 4 (01:39):
Hey, I'm doing great. It's eighty degrees, basically breathless. Yeah,
what more could you want? You got Marty gram meets
PGA tour. Yeah, we're rolling well.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
I'll tell you what more I'd want is a freaking
win on Sunday.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Man.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
So let me just first of all before we kind
of get in the weeds on this thing a little bit.
I mean, we've had, you know, almost two weeks now
to prepare for this deal.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Twelve days.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
We're two days away under forty eight hours away from kickoff.
Whatever you kind of gut feeling was on Sunday night
after the Ram game for this game on Sunday, Has
it changed at all? Has it developed it all? Has
it kind of matured it all in one way or
the other. Since that NFC Championship win against the Rams, it's.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Changed a little in the sense that you watch some
tape and you can start to envision a path where
that Patriot defense could get things pretty murky on the
Seahawks for a portion. They've got the tackle the defensive
tackles Williams and Christian Barnard, and they they can exert
(02:45):
a lot of pressure on the inside. They're blitzing more.
They've they've they've jacked there blitz rate from twenty seven
to forty first in the last four games that's the
beginning this calendar year. The Patriots there twenty one pressures
per game, that's number one in the NFL. The Seahawks
(03:06):
are sixteen pressures, that's tenth. To put that into context,
you remember the Super Bowl from last year, Mahomes under siege,
he only was had had seventeen pressures. So I could
see a situation where New England is making it tough,
particularly on the basis of those defensive tackles inside.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Well, you're the only thing that's tangibly changed since we
played last is Nicky man Worry's ankle. So let's just
let's just say Emn Worry can play.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
But let's say he's.
Speaker 5 (03:39):
Not one hundred percent. Let's say there's there is a
need for help for e Man Worry. How effective can
Mike McDonald's scheme and what would he do if we
just see that Nicky Man Worriy can't do what he
usually does.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Well, one of the keys in addition to em and Worry,
you know, just being able to defend the run. He's long,
you know, he SAIDs blocks. He you know he shoots gaps.
Is his instincts are improving almost weekly. But you know,
the idea that he has played cover one is is
a kind of ubiquitous terminology for man to man with
(04:18):
one free safety. And the Seahawks have had they have
played cover one and they have put Emon Worry on
Phuka Nakua, on DeVante Adams and on Justin Jefferson this year. Wow,
And like that's arguably you know, DeVante Adams, I mean
(04:39):
he might be a long shot for the Hall of Fame,
but that's you could make an argument those are the
three best receivers the Seahawks have played. Yeah, and so
if you're a quarterback and you see Emon Worry out
over the top what's called the overhang defender over the
slot against let's say you know Stefan Diggs. Based on
the tape study you've watch, you'd say, well, they might
(05:01):
be in cover one because they would they would defend
Emon Warry on Stefan Diggs. So you don't get that
man's zone read based on his alignment, whereas you have
Drake Thomas or maybe Tyreek Knight could be a replacement.
You know that if he walks out over a receiver
as the overhang defender, you know they're not playing man.
(05:23):
You know it's his zone and and so uh and
then of course there's the playmaking abilities. So there's a
lot of layers to Emon Warrior's contributions. I'm concerned not
just about his health for the first play of the game,
what's his help on the last play of the game.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Uh.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
You know, based on the rigors of an NFL game,
that may kind of exacerbate that pain that he's experienced.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Right, Well, Hugh Millin is with us five o'clock at
the UH Wasted Management Open UH in Arizona. Huey, I
am fascinated by this coaching matchup, and I'm just wondering
how much which coaching do you think will matter in
this game?
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Or is this really all about the rosters?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
And then just kind of expanding on that, who's got
the better coaching staff? I mean, you got Kobiak and McDonald,
vrabel and McDaniels. You tell me about the coaching in
this game on Sunday, because to me, it fascinates me.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
It always matters. You know, I expressed this early on Dick.
You know, some twenty five twenty eight years ago, that
this whole idea you've heard the saying Dick finished this line.
It's not the x's and those, it's.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
The Jimmy's and Joe's.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Hey look at okay? You know I got one more
verse to that song, says the coach who nobody knows
whoever made that damn slogan is a coach who can't
coaches his aff out of a paper bag. That the
gap between coaching and players in the NFL is just
(06:57):
as great as the players. So that that that little
cute little poem that somebody created, that's by you know,
that's the to uh deflect when you don't have good coaching.
Look look, as an example, you think Kurt Signetty matters.
Coaching matter. Look at Mike McDonald, Look at my Mike Brabel.
The Patriots won four games last year, now they've lost
(07:21):
four games. Look at Sean Payton and what's going on
in Denver right like the these are. Look at Liam
Cohen that look at the playoff team. So I absolutely
think that, uh that coaching matters. And look, if I
gun to my head, do I do I think that
that Mike Brabel against Clint Kobiak. You know, I think Brabel,
(07:47):
resting on that what he learned with Belichick probably deserves
the nod. Now, I'm never gonna put somebody over Mike McDaniel,
But Josh McDaniels, he's got a law lot of playoff wins,
he's got a lot of hardware as a coordinator and
a play caller, a lot of rings adorning that hand
(08:09):
to his And so yeah, I think that there's some
very capable coaches obviously, and in some cases I mentioned
I think the Patriots have the advantage here.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
We had Baldy on this week, Brian Baldinger, and his
quote was, for New England to win this game, Drake
May is going to have to make six tremendous throws.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Do you agree with that?
Speaker 5 (08:27):
And is Drake May capable against this defense of making
six tremendous throws?
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Well, I could see him winning it with five if
they're if the Patriot defense comes up the Seawk offense
to night. I understand, I'm not taking him literally, Dick.
I understand the point he's got to make. He he's
got to make plays now. Drake May, at the very
(08:56):
end of the season, he nipped Sam Donald for the
statistic yards per dropback and net yards per attempt, and
Donald had been number one right up literally to the
last game of the year. And so this game features
the two quarterbacks that push the ball down the field. Now,
(09:19):
in the case of Drake May, he likes to throw
the vertical the go routes up the sideline. He has
thirty five completions on go routes. Donald has eighteen, and
he has exactly double the yards May talking about that
Donald has on go routes been at a yard. So
(09:43):
so yeah, yeah, he's he's been a guy who's made
the plays. Now Seattle's prevented it. The concern I have
is Josh job is a guy that I think if
you see him in single coverage, if there's not a
safety over the top, then I think that may can
be going after Josh Sho and you could see some
big plays. Now, I don't think that that's the only
(10:04):
way to make big plays. It might be a red zone,
you know, stuff a ball in the mailbox in the
red zone, what have you. He's gonna he's gonna have
to make the plays. But I think there's also we've
discussed it this week. He's gotta make He's gonna from
a patriot perspective, he's got to run for some first downs, right,
got sixty one scrambles and you know, he's a big, good,
(10:26):
good athlete, and Seattle's got to be aware of that.
They got to keep him in the pocket.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
No doubt.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
Man.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
That's why I just think first down is so big. Dude,
get these guys into second and third and long and
force that guy to throw. But hum Ellin's with us,
uh just about ten more minutes, Hew, we will let
you go before this game on Sunday, and I asked
you earlier in the week because the Patriots like to
employ that sixth off or deploy excuse me, that sixth
(10:51):
offensive lineman. And I asked chennon O Wosu about that,
and he said, it doesn't change.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
Anything we're gonna do.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
We're gonna hit the mother effort in the mouth on Sunday, So,
according to him, doesn't change anything. Now, you went and
looked it up that there were five games against teams
that like to use six or more linemen, and it
was the Titans, the Cardinals twice, Texans, and Carolina.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
One of those games all have in common.
Speaker 5 (11:15):
They were kind of nailed by Hawks for five and
oh and every single one they were close.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
The Titans game was a blowout until they let it
kind of get close in the second hand. Carolina was
twenty seven to ten. But I don't know, man, did
you go back and look at any of that and
and and see kind of what this defense did to
overcome the extra blocker.
Speaker 4 (11:35):
Well, I'm always going back and looking, and yes, I
think what is really impressive about Seattle, and getting back
to Emon Worri is Seattle. They they're not going to
be dictated what personnel group they're in. You know, teams
will throw thirteen personnel at them, they'll throw six linemen
at him, and they'll just stay in nickel. And in
(11:58):
part because as I've just gribed it all year, Emon
Worry is just a Nicol Sam. If I was playing
the Seahawks and I was preparing, I would just say
number three is a Sam linebacker. What did Mike McDonald
say about ten days ago. Hey, we're just like a
four to three over four to three team, base four
to three team with a quote ridiculously athletic Sam linebacker.
(12:21):
And so he can do everything. And part of what
he can do is when you want to get heavy
with the personnel, whether it's six lineman, whether it's the
three tight end sets, whether it's the fullback in the backfield,
like the Patriots have with Jack Westover. Over forty percent
of the plays in the AFC Championship Game, west Over
(12:42):
was on the field. So they will they're going to
dabble in trying to play hardball with you and see
if you can match whether they want to force you
back into base. You know, maybe you know, put Emon Worry,
You're not gonna take Emon Warrey off the field, well,
put him back as a as a safety on play
a normal base front. Well they don't. Seeks don't want
(13:04):
to do that, even where he's got single digit plays
where he's a back end safety. So there, That's one
of the really great qualities of the Seahawk defense is
they just they do what they do and you can't
force them to muscle up in ways that are traditionally
(13:26):
attempted well and have you.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
As you've mentioned, they don't blitz very much, the Seahawks,
but when they do, they're very very effective doing it.
I guess I would be a little bit worried to
throw the blitz at these Patriots just because of the
running option that Drake May possesses. He could get to,
you know, get a little bit free. How do you
think they're gonna defend his legs? Do you think it's
gonna be a spy? Do you think they're gonna just
(13:49):
gonna tell their front four, Hey, you got to set
the edge. You gotta just you can't be over aggressive
turning the corner and trying to get to to Drake
May in the pocket.
Speaker 4 (14:00):
Know, when the league talks about the blitz, and you
see those numbers, all that means is five rushers or more,
and it doesn't tell you what you're playing behind it.
You can play five rushers and you can have man
a man. You can play cover one, in which case
you don't have anybody assigned for the quarterback. You can
(14:21):
have a zone pressure. Seattle tends to favor a two
deep four under kind of hybrid four deep two under
cornerbacks are reading the release of the slot, whether they
trigger in the flat, that type of a zone. The
Patriots defensively tend to favor the three deep three under
zone when they rush five. So so if Seattle rushes
(14:47):
five and they play zone in behind it, you're still
you still should be relatively uh stable from the aspect
of defending the quarterback scramble. What the key is, in
my opinion is and what I haven't liked over the
last two years, Mike McDonald Bill designed this Gucsi zone
(15:08):
blitz where he says, Okay, I'm gonna have I'm gonna
based on the front, I'm gonna have the tackle widen,
I'm gonna have the guard have to come inside, and
then I'm gonna fold the nickel slot right back into
the b gap Like that structure is beautiful, but then
the end on the opposite side of it is not
keeping contained and the quarterback is out the side, and
(15:30):
it's like, what good does it do to have that
great zone pressure if you're not gonna have the contained.
So I think that's an important part of it. Now,
if if Seattle wants to play the cover one rush
five nobody accounted four with with Drake May in the
event they run a four verticals, there's something off with
everything's deep ud May. You know. Now his athleticism comes
(15:54):
to life. And as I've said of his sixty one scrambles,
he's got eighteen of them ten yards or more. You know,
sile can't get hit. You know two or three you
know would be punting situations. You let the quarterback out
the side door, he runs for a first down. Now,
all of a sudden, that drive turns into points you
know you only got you know, nine to eleven drives.
(16:17):
All of a sudden, you could say, whoah, those those
quarterbacks scrambles and failing to keep them in the pocket.
We're a real key part of of a Patriot win.
We can't let that script right out totally.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
I agree one hundred percent, and I think Dick I
may have talked myself into making that. The number one
thing that freaks me out in this game on sidey
Sair is those those those fifty to fifty third down plays,
right guys that could go either way.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
The third and three is the third and fours that.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
Can go either way, where nobody really has the advantage
on paper. What Drake May's legs be an equalizer? Well,
i'll tell you what here. We're gonna let you get
back to the Shenanigans down there it's Scottsdale. But before
you go, we know you don't like to make predictions.
I think it's bogus. For the amount of money we
pay you, you should do whatever the hell we tell
you to do. But how do you feel?
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Honestly? Man, you're a lifelong Hawk fan.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
I know you're pulling for Sam Darnold big time in
this game, big time. This guy has motivated you beyond belief.
You're a big fan of him. You're a big fan
of McDonald. I know as an ex Patriot who you're
pulling for. And it eighth the Patriots on Sunday afternoon
at three thirty, what's your gun.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Tell you here, Pale. First of all, for what you're
paying me, I should come on and say, go Hawks,
I want you to make some really cool plays.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
That was excellent analysis. That's the best you've given me.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Was awesome. Yeah, yeah, yeah, keem Yeah. It's really important
for them to tackle and make plays. There you go,
that's my key. I look, I think that I think
Seattle wins. I think that the only way they lose
is is a low scoring game where the underhits is
forty five and a half. I think that's the better play.
(18:03):
I think I do not see New England getting over
twenty in any scenario, win or lose. I'm just the
concern I have is it's just Seattle go through a
you know, a period a quarter, quarter and a half,
two quarters where where they're not really running the ball
well on first down there they're behind the sticks because
(18:26):
of those defensive tackles. The defensive ends are setting the
edge well enough so you're not getting the stretch play.
You can't run the inside zone because of those defensive tackles.
Those defensive tackles are in my mind, if there's a
Patriot win, they're the key. But you know, the zone pressures.
Maybe Darnold gets caught, takes some sacks, you know that
(18:48):
type of thing where you kind of gum things up.
That would be something of the script where I see
the Patriots walk away with the upset. But I think
that that's less likely. I think the better team over
the long haul wins and uh so you know that's
my take. I think, and and here's the here's the
advantage that I love the most for Seattle. I think
(19:09):
that the Patriot offensive line, particular on the left side,
even starting from the center, that that's a real weakness.
I think the Seattle front four has a chance to
really dominate this game. You don't need to bring the blitzes.
There's a really good chance Seattle, uh with the defensive
line wins this game.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
Love it here, Millen, great stuff. Enjoy the tournament.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
Stay safe out there, my friend, and have fun watching
on Sunday.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Man Go Hawks, Thanks, Man, hammer down.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
We're gonna break.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Jackson Smith and Jigba on offense, Jaron Reid on defense.
You'll hear from both the raigning now offensive player of
the Year in the NFL and one of the big
time members of that Seahawk Defensive Front will join next
as we continue to count down to three point thirty
Sunday here the game Kevin Harlan and Company pregame starts
(20:02):
at nine am Sunday right here on ninety three to
three kJ RFM
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