NFC East 2025 Preview

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the On
the Sideline podcast of Jackson and Kyle. I am Jackson
and I'm joined here as always by the man who
still hasn't given up on Tommy DeVito. Kyle, Kyle, how's it.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
Going, doing good, Tommy Cutlet's breakout season in coming, and yeah,
we're excited for some NFC East football. Baby, let's do it.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yes, of course, this division had both teams that played
in the conference championship game last year, two other teams
that were well, not great. Definitely hope to be better
to Cowboys, just with staying healthy and I you know,
we'll see the back of Parsons thing. We'll get into
all that. The Giants have spent a lot of money
trying to improve their team and also drafted a quarterback

(01:21):
in the first round who probably won't play this year,
but we'll get into all of it. Tons to talk about.
Thanks to everyone for dealing with our scheduling changes that
we've had these past couple of weeks. We will not
have a show next week, although we will have a
show the following week on Friday. Kyle is going to
be out of the country, so we're you know, doing
what we can. But Kyle, credit to you for, you know,

(01:43):
still being able to make time for the podcasting.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
That's just what pros do, man, That's what pros do.
Even though I changed the time multiple times. But you know,
we're gonna make it work. Yeah, and yeah I will be.
I'll be at an Oasis concert this weekend, so that'll
be fun, and then I'll be back soon.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yeah. So yes, should be good. Kyle, Again, we have
plenty to get into. Do you want to just jump
into the NFC East preview?

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, let's just do it once again. I will be
ranking these fours too. One Jackson's gonna do a deep
dive on the entire roster. He's gonna give his predictions,
see how it lines up with mine, and then we're
gonna do your audience pull productions. At the end of
these I have the NFC East as the fourth best
division in football. You could argue fifth. I think I
might be overrating it a little bit compared to the

(02:32):
AFC North, but I think those two are necneck because
I do think there are three potential playoff teams in
this division and a team further down that I think
is better than the Browns, who are the fourth best
team in the AFC North and that was a big
time breaking there for me. But yeah, so I think
this is a pretty solid division. I think three teams
can be pretty good. Michael Parsons to be determined, and yeah,

(02:54):
I have the Giants fourth in this division. Still, I
see the vision of where this gets better. I think
that there could be an opportunity here that the Giants are.
You know, we're looking at the end of the season
and all of a sudden, it's like your in the
Hunt graphic at the end of the season with the
teams in the wildcart spot, and then all of a sudden,

(03:15):
you see the Giants at the bottom of the end
the Hunt graphic, Like how are the Giants there? That's
basically I think the best case scenario for the Giants.
I think they're gonna get better quarterback play, even if
it's not a substantial upgrade. With Russell Wilson, I think
that they have a offensive Player of the Year candidate
in a year two in the league Neighbors. I think
that means a lot, but I think he's fantastic, and
I think they have one of the best defensive lines
in the league. They've invested a lot in this defense.

(03:37):
I think this defense can be competitive this season, and
I think the offense will be better. So I see
a vision where the Giants are better and potentially competitive,
but I think it's still a long way to go, and.

Speaker 1 (03:46):
I have them fourth. Yeah, I get it. And again,
I think what's interesting about this division is that they
are gonna be fans of all four of these teams
that believe they can make the playoffs next year. Right, Like,
there is enough hype there. It's not something you can
say for every division. You have a lot of good points.
Let's start with the quarterback and coaching situation as we

(04:07):
always do, because I do think for the Giants, like
there's a lot of interesting things to have going on
on this roster, But ultimately you have Russell Wilson, who
was not bad last year but also was far from
a superstar last year. And you also have I mean again,
they have other Jamis Winston, who I'm assuming it just
a backup. They have Jackson Dart who they drafted. If

(04:27):
things go wrong with Wilson, they can throw him out there.
But ultimately I still feel like this's the Tier four
quarterback room and a tier I'm gonna go Tier four
head coach as well. Brian Dabele, who I just don't
know what Brian Dable is. I feel like I like
certain things about him, but ultimately, if you keep having
these bad seasons, you have to put some of the
blame on him, although do you, because at the same time,

(04:48):
you know, like what is he supposed to do? So
I still know what to make of Brian Dable really
and so yeah, it's it's not horrible, but it's not
gonna be up there with some of these top teams
in this division.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yeah, I think we want to like Brian Dable, and
I just think that's what people kind of have come to.
I think they want him to succeed for reasons that
I don't know exactly are clear, Like the results really
just haven't been there. I know he did a good
job with that first team that shouldn't have made the
playoffs at all, but I think that was also a
lot of luck based situation. And I think we just
see all the clips of him just like screaming at

(05:23):
Daniel Jones, like why did you do that? And then
you kind of like feel bad for him, like this
is probably the best quarterback room he's ever had by
far right, like as a head coach. Obviously with Josh
Allen that helped a lot, but yeah, he's probably looking
at this group like, thank god, I have Russell Wilson,
who's at least a veteran and he knows what he
wants to do, right. You have Jameson who chaotic, yes,

(05:44):
but you know he's been around the league, so what
he wants to do, yes, exactly, He's been in a
lot of offenses. And then you have Jackson Dart, who's
someone he's gonna try and mold into that next franchise quarterback.
So he's definitely on the hot seat though. And you
got this Giants quarterback room, which I think, like you said,
tier four is probably right, but that's still gonna be

(06:07):
better than what they had, And I think that's what
they're looking at with this It's it's gonna be an
upgrade and they're just hoping that's enough to make this
team a little more competitive in this offense, a little
more competitive.

Speaker 1 (06:16):
Yeah, and I think it's Tier four, but it's also
like that's his floor is Tier four, you know, Like
last year it was very much below Tier four for
most games except for that one drew Lock game. Right,
like this year it is going to be, uh, you know,
you might get that drew Lock game more than month
this season.

Speaker 2 (06:32):
Yeah, we need to do a doc like if cam
Wore turns into a superstar, we like whatever his future,
like nine ten part documentary is, like if he becomes
the next Tom Brady, just say that, right, Yeah, the
first chapter of that documentary, the first episode has to
be that drew Lock game.

Speaker 1 (06:51):
Did drew Lock and then the Joe Milton games shortly after?

Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, like that has to be its own episode on
its own, like that drew Lock game is I mean
Terry Broadshaw said he should have been the franchise quarterback.
That that that that should go down in infamy. That
is one of the like if cam Ward turns into
a superstar, maybe Jackson Dart does too. You never know, right,
but if cam Ward turns into a superstar, Giants Finns
are gonna be looking back at that game forever.

Speaker 1 (07:15):
Yeah, Kyle, can you guess where is jew Locke right now?
What team does he play for?

Speaker 2 (07:23):
It's shoot, I actually don't know, is it? Uh, let
me take a guess. I guess Minnesota.

Speaker 1 (07:29):
No, he went back to the Seahawks playing for the Seahawks. Again,
I forgot it as well.

Speaker 2 (07:32):
I think I didn't know that.

Speaker 1 (07:33):
Yeah, it's it's Seahawks, isn't kind of in the back
of your brain, but you are like, no, he already
played for a Seahawks. So that's the issue. That's why
it doesn't. Yeah, uh, Kyle, we were talking about jew
Locke too much on this show. Enough, not enough. Maybe
we can keep it moving. Let's talk about the Receiving Corps,
which is in large part Molik Neighbors and Friends. Right,

(07:55):
but you do have Wondel Robinson, you have Darius Slayton,
you have Jaylen Hyatt. Uh, Like, there is little Jordan
Humphries in the mix. There is not nothing on this
Receiving core. It's still very much Islak Neighbors in front though, right,
I mean this is I think I would still go
Tier four Receiving Corp even though I love Welak Neighbors

(08:15):
and him alone is what's getting you to Tier four. Yeah,
it definitely does make a little bit more sense with
having that number one guy because you always were like Wandell.

Speaker 2 (08:24):
Robinson's kind of interesting. You know, Darius Slayton has a
few games. You know, Jalen Hyatt's that big play guy.
I see a scenario. It's another one where I do
feel like Tier four is the floor. And a lot
of that is because Malik Neighbors is on this team.
I guess if he gets hurt, you know, tier five,
but like tier four is the floor if everyone stays healthier,
if everyone's on the field, because like Malik Neighbors is
that good. And I think like Jalen Hyatt, Wandell Robinson,

(08:48):
Darius Slayton are still guys that we believe there is
more of a ceiling too, Like they're not number one
receiver number two receiver ceilings, but probably better than what
they are. I also kind of like Theo Johnson as
the tight end, like he should the very briefest of flashes,
but he has a ton of athleticism and I think
he could be that guy too. So all that put
together and then kind of as I tease at the

(09:09):
top of this thing, like I think Malik Neighbors has
Offensive Player of the Year potential. I think he's that
good of a receiver. I think he could be maybe
not this year, but I think he could be pushing
on that top five Tier one level receiver very very soon.

Speaker 1 (09:24):
It's not impossible. I think the situation is makes it
a little tough, right. I mean, like, you know, Jamar
Chase gets to play with Joe Burrow justin Jefferson gets
to play in a Kevin O'Connell's scheme, Like you don't
quite have that luxury with neighbors. But I don't think, like,
I don't think him getting all pro votes is out
of the question.

Speaker 2 (09:42):
Definitely not. And he's gonna get plenty of touches and
you know, you know there are gonna be plays where
Russell Wilson just says, you know, he loves to grip
it and rip it. He loves to throw that ball
down the field. And he has a great deep ball too,
So like there's gonna be opportunities for him and Jalen
Hye to hit that deep ball. That would be pretty
enticing for Giants fans because you know that is something
high it's supposed to be doing. And then we know

(10:03):
Moliite neighbors can do at all.

Speaker 1 (10:05):
One issue for the Giants over the years hasn't just
been a quarterback who can throw the ball to to receivers,
but also cann't have time to get the ball to
to receivers. You the offensive line here, Andrew Thomas is
fantastic again if he stays healthy. No issues there. You
added Germaine Luminor, who I believe is probably gonna probably

(10:27):
gonna end up starting over Evan Neil this season. I
would assume John Runyon and Greg Greg Van Rotten for
the guards, John Mitchell Smith Junior for the center. None
of these guys other than Thomas are stars. In fact,
they might all be like C minus players, with the
exception of Thomas. Like, that's not horrible, that's not a
bad situation to be in. I mean a little bit

(10:48):
negative towards the other position. So it'll be a little
bit positive here. I'll go Tier three for the offensive line.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yeah, at the very least, it doesn't feel like it's
a weak link. I mean, it still kind of feels
like a week link at times, but it's not. It's better.

Speaker 1 (11:00):
I mean, it doesn't feel like a week link because
of the rest of this offensive personnel.

Speaker 2 (11:05):
Well, yeah, compared to what this offensive line has been
like the last like five six years, this feels like
a miracle too. So yeah, I think that this should
be Okay, you hope it works out. And then I mean,
I guess there it sounds like they're trying to move
Evan Neil to guard in. I'm not really rating that
all that much either, but I mean, maybe it works.

(11:27):
We'll see. Crazier things have happened. But yeah, I think
it's a it's a very it's a very average offensive line.
And Andrew Thomas, I agree, or below average offensive line.
And Andrew Thomas.

Speaker 1 (11:38):
Yeah, overlap six to one eight with a super chat
saying attention Jackson, this is overlap. The moderator of this channel,
how much to do a video of best wide receiving
corp core INDI NFL. I was reading as corpse rest
better receiving corps in the NFL. Uh. I don't know.
I'll consider making one overlap, you know. I don't think
you need to pay for that.

Speaker 2 (11:59):
Yeah, it's hard, that's the thing. No one's going to
agree on that video. Yeah, that might be harder than
the top ranking the thirty two quarterbacks that nobody likes
her video.

Speaker 1 (12:08):
Yeah, because everyone likes their receivers, right, Like there's no
one who's there's team people like I don't think like
there's Cowboys fans. I don't think that's that great. Like,
no one says that about their favorite receiver. Every Cowboys
fan loves Ceedee Lamb.

Speaker 2 (12:20):
I do too, But you can rate the Patriots a
little bit lower.

Speaker 1 (12:22):
That's fine, Okay, I guess that's fair. Running back for
the Giants, there's no stick on Berkeley here, but you know,
I like what Tyrone Tracy was able to do last year.
They also added Cam Skataboo, who uh you know. I
think we're both fans of coming out of college. A
bit of a controversial prospect, but should be interesting. Devin
Singletary in a mix as well. Not tier three running
back room for me.

Speaker 2 (12:42):
Kyle h Yeah, I agree. I like Scatabo. I mean
you you get excited for Scatabo and just what like
he does. Yeah, I like that a lot. I like Tyrone.
I like what I saw from Tyrone Tracy, and then
you know, Devin Singletary is a pro so I like that,
and for sure it's a I still feel like they

(13:03):
made the right decision not paying Saquon Barkley, even though
it looks stupid because Saequon Barkley was amazing last year,
But at the same time, like this team didn't need
a Saquon Barkley. That's just what it was.

Speaker 1 (13:15):
Yeah, this is totally a conversation for another podcast perhaps,
and we probably did about dozen times last season. Overlap
six one eight says, how about a twenty bone pipe down? Kyle,
No one asked you again, Overlap, I pay me what
you want. I will consider making the video that is,
that is what you are getting if.

Speaker 2 (13:35):
I keep if I keep talking back to Overlap, does
he keeps sending us money?

Speaker 1 (13:39):
Maybe? Maybe? Yeah? Half it goes to you. I mean
you can negotiate with him if you want.

Speaker 2 (13:43):
Yeah, I don't know. I think you should do running
backs of a receiver corps. That's what I think it is.

Speaker 1 (13:48):
Overlap now, Yeah, Okay, Kyle tries to hustle Overlap out
of more money.

Speaker 2 (13:53):
We can move on here to the search for more money.

Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yes, thank you for that. Uh. The secondary for the
Giants is an interesting one. Again, put a lot of
money into this, right, adding Paulson the debot, adding Javon Holland, H.
I think it makes sense try and get more pieces here.
You have Andrew Phillip, Uh, you know you have can
Deontay Banks take that year two leap? Uh? You know, uh,

(14:20):
for in this for the safeties, you have Tyler Nuban
and Dane Belton as the other safeties. A lot of
pieces here, and you know, Kyle, you know me. I'd
rather have a secondary with seven guys that could work
out than three guys that you you trust, because you
can just never trust secondary players. So yeah, I don't
know exactly how this is gonna go, but I like
the depth. I do think they have a couple of
stars here, so I'm not to mention some you know, uh,

(14:43):
some linebackers who can who can play as well. I
think I'm gonna go tier tier tier two secondary. Is
that that a hot take?

Speaker 2 (14:52):
That feels a little hot? Okay, yeah, I mean it's
like it's it. It still is the weakling thing to me,
Like there are stars here. I love Javon Holland. I
think that was the steal of a contract based on
some of the other values out there. Adiba is a
good player. I don't know if he's a number one corner,
but he's gonna have to be a number one corner
and I think he's fine. Drew Phillips is a good
slot corner. Nuban's fine at safety. I agree with that

(15:14):
that second corner spot. I mean it's year three of
Deontay Banks and he was PFF's one hundred and eighth
rated corner last year, So that is a that is
definitely going to require a substantial leak forward. We've seen
guys in year three half breakout seasons. It's not out
of the question. And I do think that he has

(15:34):
talent and it could work. But they're gonna definitely need
someone for that second corner spot because the rest of
the investments may not matter if they're getting picked on
one side of the field.

Speaker 1 (15:44):
You have Quero Flott as well, who might be the
guy Kyle I said, I will defend my tier two ranking.
In a second you started talking, I said that's too high.
I think tier three. I'll go down to tier three.
I'm not gonna down lower than that. Though Juvon Holland
is a great player. To have great players here the
middle should be great. A Debo can cover his side
of the field well, and you have a good Nicol
as well. I do agree to the the that second

(16:06):
corner is is a question mark. So but again they
have they have several guys if it could be successful there,
which is what I like about it.

Speaker 2 (16:13):
Yeah, I think there are options there, and like I mean,
it's still like even even a deevo Like I said,
you know, he's got six games. I mean, we'll see
again another trade speculation thing, contract speculation thing. He's got
six games in theory against AJ Brown, Ceedee Lamb and
Terry McLaurin, and yet obviously defensive schemes don't work that way,

(16:36):
Like it's not all on him to stop those guys,
but like he is the number one corners matched up
with those guys in a lot of situations, So you know,
can he be that guy too along with having that
big problem at your other corner spot.

Speaker 1 (16:49):
Yeah, for a second, I'm like the pulson A debo
have a contract issue. I thought that, you know, he
just signed his deal. Mccaorn the guy. Yeah, Kyle, this
defensive line is clearly dee bar spot of this roster.
Kevon Thibodeau and Brian Burns weren't good enough to had
to add a du Abdua Carter for a top three
pick in last year's draft. You have Dexter Lawrence, the

(17:10):
you know, superstar on the interior, and still some other
good interior guys you know, like Roy Robinson, Harris, Jeremiah Ledbetter.
You also have a na Cho rakeem Nunez, roaches on
the interior, Elijah Chapman. There's a lot of good pieces here.
Like I said, good linebackers Mecha macfatt and Bobby oka Rique,

(17:30):
why not Kyle tier One's across the board here, Tier
one pass rush, tier one run defense. This should be
a great front seven.

Speaker 2 (17:36):
Yeah, I mean, you could argue it's the best front
seven in the league potentially, Like if Abdul Carter is
awesome what we expect, you could argue this is the
best front seven in the league next season. I mean
with Dexter, Lawrence just continues to put together all pro seasons.
He's amazing.

Speaker 1 (17:52):
You know.

Speaker 2 (17:52):
You you know, we argued it, we talked about or
we didn't really argue it. We agreed on it. Like
they overpay for Brian Burns in the offseason. They did,
but at the same time they got good production out
of Brian Burns. Brian Burns was a really good player.
Look at them last season kind of under the radar.
I felt like I felt like there was more talk
about his contract and his performance, and they haven't really
got what they needed out of the Thibodeaux. So if

(18:14):
you have Abdul Carter and then you can put Thibodeau
in kind of a specialist role, that's a that's a
pretty good lineup. And you already got a Karake McFadden
like you said, and Dexter Lawrence. Yeah, I think this
could be one of the best front sevens in the league.
So that's where you get most excited about the Giants fan.
Where you think this's gonna be better is you're gonna
be solid up front, and even if you do have
an issue at corner, you know that that corner doesn't

(18:36):
have to be good for long with these guys all
rush in the passer.

Speaker 1 (18:39):
Yeah. Ultimately, though there will still be plays that are blocked,
you still will have to make that work. And I
think that for the Giants to really take the next step,
it feels like either that secondary is going to have
to not be, you know, be really good next year,
or it's going to have to be they get better
quarterback play that I'm expecting. I don't I'm going to

(19:00):
like seven and ten record for the Giants, And I
do think there is potential for like they feel like
they are a team that I can see being a
surprise playoff team, like wow, no one saw that coming
I or, like you said, be in the hunt graphic
the last couple weeks of the season. I do think
there is real potential for that. I just again, I
don't know if I can predict it just yet because
there is too many ifs.

Speaker 2 (19:20):
It still feels like a stretch. But I do there's
a vision to there's a scenario I see where this
team's all right, right, That's that's kind of the way
I see it, And I still think, you know, I mean,
to be quite honest, I think there's a scenario where
I look at all four of these teams in this division,
say I could see that team being good. Never mind
the two teams that made the conference championship last year,
obviously we expect them to be pretty good. And the

(19:42):
other two teams I think have a vision to where
this might be.

Speaker 1 (19:45):
Okay, okay, Kyle, guess the percentages how many people predicted
the Giants to win the NFC East.

Speaker 2 (19:56):
Let's go four percent?

Speaker 1 (19:59):
Oh, you yourself out of it. It was five percent.
You you had it and went you went too? Well? Yeah,
those people really going out on a limb there.

Speaker 2 (20:08):
Listen, there's always five percent of a fan base that's
making a vote, so that makes sense.

Speaker 1 (20:13):
It does seem like we'll see the Titans had four percent,
the Browns had four percent, so yeah, it's a little
bit more than those at least.

Speaker 2 (20:21):
Yeah, listen, I see a vision. I see. I see
why Giants fans. I understand your optimism a little bit.
I give you a little bit of credit because I
do think there's a chance. But I do think it's
going to require like an eighteen hundred yard Elikueighbor season
and like the defense basically being top five, which isn't crazy,

(20:42):
but that's still like, that's best best case scenario to me.

Speaker 1 (20:46):
Listen, in the past, I don't know, five to ten
years or so, we have seen I guess the past
five years we have seen bad Giants teams that missed
the playoffs, and we have seen bad Giants teams that
make the playoffs. We should at least be able to
see an okay Giants team this year.

Speaker 2 (21:01):
Yeah, I agree on that. So I don't know, we'll see.
I still probably if you had Tony bet two scenarios,
would you say, this team makes the playoffs or Brian
day Ball fired. I would bet day Ball fired.

Speaker 1 (21:11):
I think so was what what does he have? What's
the minimum he has to do to keep it?

Speaker 2 (21:15):
Like?

Speaker 1 (21:15):
But have to win eight games, eight and nine? He
probably stays around because they if they weren't gonna fire
him last year, it feels like they just need to
see some improvement to keep him around.

Speaker 2 (21:25):
I mean, would they win last year like five games?
Four games?

Speaker 1 (21:28):
Well, I guess some of they need the didn at
least him to be They need to be decent this year.
I guess I should say they don't need to be
like awesome, but I do think if they have another
like I think seven it might be tough.

Speaker 2 (21:38):
Sven eight wins? I think so? Uh yeah, I mean
I guess it depends on like, do they like rally
the last few weeks of the season to seven wins
or are they like in the hunt and then just
you know, lose a couple of games in or something
like that. We'll see, but yeah, I think seven eight
wins is probably the minimum.

Speaker 1 (21:53):
Yeah, Well, we'll see what the Giants do. Kyle, you said, uh,
what was it? You said? You have three teams that's
but hunt playoff teams. Uh? Well, let's we can talk
about the Cowboys, right, That's who number three is.

Speaker 2 (22:05):
It has to be the Cowboys. I still think there
are too many unknowns. I did love, I did like
some of the things they did last offseason with or
this offseason with getting George Pickens. They have a real
number two receiver to Ceedee Lamb, and they got them
for pretty cheap. You know, you can always say, well,
you don't take the you don't take the Steeler the
guys the Steelers don't want. But I think Pickings still

(22:28):
has talent. You know, you get him, you get Dak
Prescott healthy, you get Ceedee Lamb. That's at least something
like that offense is going to be okay. Just looking
at that, I still think there are some issues, particularly
running back, offensive line, and then I don't know, this
defense just has too many Like it's a star driven
team and I don't know how much of the stars
I even trust. And you know, I'm evaluating this right

(22:48):
now as Micah Parson's still on the team, but it
definitely makes me waiver a little more than the fact
that he may not and he's requesting a trade publicly,
So uh yeah, I think that the Cowboys still have
some issues to work out, and I still think that
they're a bit away, but there are still really good
players on this team that you can get excited about.

Speaker 1 (23:05):
Yeah. Uh, they're I don't know, cowboys of somehow. H
They're just they're a weird team. They're like the Bengals
where it's like they just like you can't talk about
them the way you talk about everyone else. Like they're
just there's odd things that they seemingly do. Let's just
talk about it. I mean, the first, you have Dak Prescott,
which like that's step one to being better is just

(23:26):
getting seventeen games out of Dak Prescott, right, who, like
I have as a Tier three quarterback. I know some
people would have that as higher, but like he's still
very much better than I guess Joe Milton, who would
be to back up in this an era.

Speaker 2 (23:39):
Yeah, I mean is a twer three quarterback who has
had multiple like Tier two I mean you can honestly
say tier one seasons, Like he had a year where
they had the best offense in the league. They had
a year where he was the second in MVP voting.
So the ceiling for Dak Prescott is still much much higher.
Than anything else. But I think overall, you take the
good in the bad.

Speaker 1 (23:57):
He's Tier three, yeah, and then the head coaching thing,
which again it was weird. I fact, they hired Brian
Schottenheimer just because he was around. I'll go tier four
for the same like he's unknown, We'll see. I don't
want to go tier five just because he's unknown. But
like I mean again, I think he could end up
being a fine head coach. I see very little scenario
where he ends up being a great one. But but well,

(24:18):
we'll see.

Speaker 2 (24:19):
It is definitely a weird one. I mean, you just
I mean, it just feels like more times than not,
these like career assistants when they get promoted to a
head coach job just because they're like around, typically doesn't
work out. Like obviously you have like the rare exceptions
like the Dan Campbell who was an assistant for a
long time before he got that head coaching job, right,

(24:42):
but he was also even a little younger than Schottenheimer,
that kind of thing. So it's just like it happens sometimes.
But I think the accept the common denominator is these
these longtime assistants don't work out. And it wasn't even
like he was like, you know, he's had that offensive
coordinator since in his career. I have a hard time
seeing it. I mean, I don't know, We'll see.

Speaker 1 (25:03):
Yeah, it's it's a bit bit bit strange. We can
talk about the the weapons stuff. So first offense, the
receiving corps. Uh is one that like I can see
the vision behind this. So you have you know, Ceedee Lamb,
who I think is you know, one of the To me,
he's a top three receiver in the league. It's him,
Jefferson and Uh and Chase. Although I think those other

(25:24):
two guys are ahead of him, I still think he's
He's three in my in my book, George Pickens was
a fan, was a number one for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Who's on paper should be a good number two. Now again,
you brought it up earlier. A lot of good receivers
have left Pittsburgh and just not played well. Uh, you know,
that's that's happened. Chase Claypool went for the thirty second

(25:44):
overall pick when he was traded from Pittsburgh, which okay,
that was too high of a pick, but still that's
what he went for and barely did anything for the Bears.
You do have Jake Ferguson though, so they have like
the one two three punch. I don't know if you're
anything out of uh Jalen Tolbert. Maybe Jonathan Mingo will
step it up. They did trade what a fourth round

(26:05):
pick for him, so we'll see. I think I want
to go tier two. But like this does feel a
little bit like this could all come crashing down, Like
is this is this a mirage here?

Speaker 2 (26:17):
Uh? Yeah, I see a scenario for it. I mean
you could also see a scenario they have two like
fifteen hundred yard receivers next year, right, Like, yeah, I
see both. I see both. I see both sides of it, honestly,
Like I see a scenario where Pickens is just kind
of a uncontrollable mess. You know, he leaves Pittsburgh, He's
just not as good. It's the same sort of thing

(26:37):
over and over again. We've seen it time and time.
But I also see a scenario that they just have
these two outside receivers who are totally domin So I
think that there is some risks still with this, but
I think the reward is what they're making on And yeah,
those those if if Pickens is as good as he
even if Pickens is as good as he is well
or as good as he was in Pittsburgh in Dallas,

(26:59):
and you get a tipic ceed Lamb season like that,
that's potentially a Tier one receiving core on its own,
never mind adding Ferguson and all that. So like that,
that just feels like it's it's the the risk is
worth a reward for me.

Speaker 1 (27:11):
Yeah, and I completely agree running backs real quick? Uh
you have you know, Miles Sanders, Chavante Williams, both guys
who have had good snaps in this league have had
good moments in this league. I don't know if they've
been too recently though. I don't know. Getting a couple
of cast offs from uh, you know from you know,
teams that are have have not guys just haven't played

(27:35):
well recently. They do have a fifth and a seventh
round pick from this previous draft as well, uh in
the mix. But it's it's Tier five for me. I
mean every team has somebody to help play as well. Like,
this is not what you want going into a season.

Speaker 2 (27:48):
Yeah, it's not good. I mean we we waited for
so long for Javonte Williams to kind of put it
together in Denver and he just didn't. So I just
don't I'm not expecting it here, and then you know,
we're obviously going to talk about it. He's he's not
going to be put behind the best offensive line I
think in the league either.

Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, well, I don't think it's I don't think it's
horrible this offensive line. I mean we can we can again,
we'll talk. Uh. You have you have a Terrence Steele,
who I think is a solid right tackle. The Tyler
Guidon thing, he just wasn't great as a rookie. That
was one of those things where the Cowboys have actually
rafted really well when it comes to offensive lineman. But
that was, you know, not his uh not.

Speaker 2 (28:25):
A great start.

Speaker 1 (28:25):
We'll see if he can step step it up. You
do have Tyler Smith as well, Uh Cooper Bebee as
the center and then for the other guard, I'm you know,
uh will be Robert Jones or will it be a
Black Kaufman for those two spots, uh you know? Or
of course you have Tyler Booker, the first round pick.

(28:46):
I guess he will hope the guy. So we'll see
what he does with the uh you know, with that,
But I don't know I don't. I don't hate this. Yes,
two completely unproven guys, that's kind of the issue. But uh,
I mean I'll go Tier three because I do like
the other guys, and I think there is potential with
the two question marks two of the tylers.

Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yeah, there is potential. It's just really young players to
be put in this situation. I mean, obviously, this team
has had a great offensive line for so many years,
and you probably just bank on them figuring out because
this team has done it so often. But you know,
you had so many years of Tyron Smith and Zach
Martin on that line that all of a sudden, those
guys are gone and you know you're you're left picking

(29:26):
up the pieces here. It could just be like a
developmental year for these guys especially.

Speaker 1 (29:31):
Yeah, and that that's what I expect that you would
you would like to have another veteran into room here,
and I guess to kind of do. But like I
think you would like, I would like to have, like,
I don't like, multiple unproven guys on an offensive line.
I get it.

Speaker 2 (29:45):
I mean maybe maybe like a healthy Lyle Collins could
like bump in and provide something, but I'm not optimistic
about that. Either.

Speaker 1 (29:52):
Yeah, and when's the last time he's played well.

Speaker 2 (29:55):
I mean since before all of his injuries.

Speaker 1 (29:57):
Like, yeah, exactly, Yeah, I wouldn't thank on it, Kyle.
This is the weirdest secondary of all time, right with
the the Deron Bland Trayvon Diggs duo that had, They've
both been in like defensive player of the Year discussions
in weird ways. Ker Elam is the the third corner
who's probably gonna have to play meaningful playing time with

(30:18):
this team. Yeah, which I mean you do have a
Chevan Revel as well, or that didn't did he get injured?
I'm trying to remember. But you have Donovan Wilson and
Elie Hooker, good good safety duo. You definitely like that.
I don't know. Again, I depth is so important, so
like and I also don't know what to make of Bland.
I think Bland is just good if you can stay healthy,

(30:39):
which has been an if Diggs, I don't still I
still don't really know what to make of him. He's
the you know, for a position that is already fluky
year in and you're out. He is even more so
fluky year in and year out. I don't know. I'm
all over the place of these, uh, these groups. But
I'll go Tier three, I guess because they do have
the potential.

Speaker 2 (31:00):
Yeah, I get it. Like I see the Tier three.
Yeah that's fine, I I.

Speaker 1 (31:05):
Will see Neither one of us know what to say
about this group.

Speaker 2 (31:07):
I think this group. I think this defense played a
lot better when Deron Bland came back. And yes it
was the end of the season. This team's kind of
out of it, so I think that also played a factor.
But I think just from the fact that, like when
Deron Bland was on the field, this defense was playable
and it was bad when you didn't play. So I
think that goes a long way. I like Donovan Wilson
Malieve Cooker, so I agree with that. I mean, Trevon

(31:30):
Diggs is just going to be a kind of player
that we never understand, Like he's just going to be
the Boomer Bus type, very very frustrating at times, but
also he's going to make some great plays. So you
just got to hope you get that sort of a
semblance of consistency throughout the season. So if he's good,
then I think this Cowboys secondary is going to be great.
If he's bad, then as long as Bland, Hooker and

(31:52):
Beasley or Wilson on the field, it should be okay,
but it's not a great secondary corner spot.

Speaker 1 (31:58):
Yeah, and really strange fronts as well. You have so
you have Micah Parsons for now they have We're we're
recording this on August fourth. Uh. If if he is gone, Uh,
that is why. Which again, long list of players who
have requested trades and then not actually gotten traded, especially

(32:18):
with the Cowboys. It seems like that's all older stars.
So we'll see what happens. But but still, he's obviously
one of the best pass rushers in the league. He is,
you know, not the elite run defender that some of
these other top guys are. That's just a thing. He's
He's okay at it, but he's just not. That's just
not where he thrives. For the other edge guys. I mean,
Donovan Izoraku is gonna be the guy. He's twenty one

(32:39):
year old player who I wouldn't expect a ton of
year one from Dante Fowler Junior, who I think had
ten sacks last year but on like a crazy past
uh pressure to sack ratio that's not repeatable. Uh, Marshawn
neland Peyton Turner. A couple of you know guys that
maybe could you know, former first first and former second
round pick, maybe can show something this year. Ohsa, I'm

(33:04):
not connapare oh so oh coming off of a great
year on the interior. But again, Solomon Thomas, Mazzie Smith,
a couple a lot of guys who were drafted with
top sixty picks but hasn't shown much. Don't let this
linebacking room either. Kyle pass rush is good enough with
two guys. If Parsons is here, I'll go Tier two.
I'm just gonna go Tier five run defense. This should

(33:26):
be bad on paper.

Speaker 2 (33:28):
It's gonna be bad, I think too. And yeah, I
mean because.

Speaker 1 (33:31):
They're two great linemen are purely pass rush guys, so
it's like it's not even like they have like two
guys there.

Speaker 2 (33:37):
Yeah, it's gonna be interesting because like the Cowboys just
have this way of pissing off all of their best
players when it comes to contract negotiations, Like they just
seemingly do this more than any other team. However, under
the assumption that he is gonna stay like he's obviously
a great player, Michael Parson so that adds a whole
lot to this dimension of this team. But I hate

(34:01):
all the pieces around it. I think it's bad front
seven and if he does get traded, like this could
be a disaster. Like I think this defense could be
really bad really quickly if he's not out there, because
I just don't see the pass rush options here. I
don't love the depth. I don't love the players on
the team. Maybe niland in Azeraku shows something as young
players and that changes things, but I just you know,

(34:23):
they paid Mazie Smith, and I he wasn't good last season.
I just I don't think there's enough pieces here for me.

Speaker 1 (34:29):
Yeah, so listen, I don't I don't like this defense.
I just don't like this defense. I don't think it's
gonna work. I don't love the coaching staff. I don't
love the organization as a whole on how they do things.
I you know, I bet a quote unquote Cowboys hater
over the years, But like, for a reason, I still
thought there's enough offensive firepower and I like Dak Prescott enough.
I'm still gonna go like an eight to nine record

(34:50):
for this team. I just think they'll put up points
and again there's enough guys in the secondary to hopefully
keep them in somebody's games.

Speaker 2 (34:58):
Yeah, and like it's another one of those things where
like I'm not going to be shocked if they win
ten eleven games because I think this offense could be awesome.
Like I think that's the case. Do I buy it
as a Super Bowl contender? Probably not or definitely not
because they just haven't done in the playoffs. But I
see the scenario where this team just scores a bunch
of points and wins games that way, So I don't

(35:18):
think it's crazy. They also got a kicker who's also
maybe worth another win because this guy is just a
so like having that kind of special team's advantage too,
Like this guy just you know, you have to get
to the fifty yard line to score points basically. So
all that put together, like I see a scenario where
they win a bunch of games, but like I also
see them having kind of like a Bengals season last

(35:39):
year where they're they're scoring a bunch of points and
losing games because they can't get stops.

Speaker 1 (35:44):
Can I just give a hot take wrap Brandon Aubrey
is the goat kicker, Like he just nemver won already
like he's if he retires today, he's not, but he
will end up being like like I've never seen someone
like this, and plus with Justin Tucker his whole thing,
we kind of need someone else to fill that role.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yeah, I mean he is impressive, like, no doubt about it.
Like what is he he's I think he's for his career,
Like twenty four of twenty seven from fifty plus, multiple
sixty plus yard kicks, Like it's just it's nuts. Yeah,
I mean he is. He is pretty awesome. I agree.

Speaker 1 (36:17):
Yeah, that's like not a horrible like extra point percent,
like it's not good, but it's like like there's guys
who will do that in a year.

Speaker 2 (36:23):
Yeah, it's nuts. Yeah, he's he is. He is definitely
a freak. I agree with you.

Speaker 1 (36:28):
Yeah, in a different way than Justin Tucker. Yeah, Okay,
let's move on, Kyle h. Two teams left and listen.
Two teams that were competing for the George Hollis Trophy
last year. Like, these are two very good teams. One
had a lot of cat space and was able to
get better. The other had to make some tough decisions,
had to let some guys walk. So in theory, maybe

(36:50):
there was potential for the Commanders to jump the Philadelphia Eagles. Kyle,
who do you have?

Speaker 2 (36:55):
Oh?

Speaker 1 (36:55):
Wait, before I get there, I had such a good
intro too. Before I get there, I guess the peres
for the Cowboys. What percent of the of the community
feels the Cowboys will win this division.

Speaker 2 (37:06):
I'm gonna go eight percent for the Cowboys.

Speaker 1 (37:09):
A little bit high. Only six percent have the Cowboys
win the division? That feels. I mean, there's two other
really good teams that I kind of shouts the percentages
down a bit, but I still feels a little low.

Speaker 2 (37:19):
So eleven percent for the bottom two team. So we're
gonna have a high high number here.

Speaker 1 (37:23):
I think, Yeah, well, let's get into Kyle, who do
you have? Finishing second?

Speaker 2 (37:28):
Uh, I'm not I'm going shock. I'm gonna pick the
balls here. Look, I think that they you know, I
have heard the arguments this summer for the regression team
being Washington, and I see the scenario for that too.
But I also just think that, like they have enough
pieces here. I think this offense is going to continue

(37:49):
to be awesome. I think they even improved just a
little bit on the offensive line, so I don't think
it was gonna be that bad and then yeah, I mean,
you know, I think Jane Daniels could win a VP
this season. Like, I think he is the best quarterback
in his conference right now, and I think having that
puts you at a huge advantage. So as long as
he's on the field, I would bet on the Commanders
to do pretty well the year in the year route

(38:10):
they need to figure out this Terry McLaurin thing. I
think they just need to pay him and get it
done because I think they need another good receiver out there.
Interesting prospect with Deebo Samuel, but we'll see.

Speaker 1 (38:22):
Yeah, I mean, let's just start with the Jayden Daniels again.
It goes to show how much an elite quarterback means.
Jaden Daniels was playing on elite level last year. Him
and dan Quinn are both going to be Tier two
for me. And I think Daniels was Tier one last year,
and I think you could argue dan Quinn was Tier
one last year. It's just simply disample sized thing of

(38:42):
you know, people have made the CJ. Stroud comparisons and well,
we've kind of pushed back against that because we feel
as though Daniels has over has played played significantly better
than Stroud did. I also think that you agree with
me that Stroud didn't necessarily play as bad last year
as people think he did. But but I think it
was maybe just he didn't take the next step as

(39:03):
opposed to him regressing. But still, these are two guys
that were awesome last year and for awesome again this year.
You know, the rest of the league has to look out.

Speaker 2 (39:14):
I agree, yeah. I mean, if he's as good as
we think he is, then I mean this sky's the
limit for this team for the next decade, because that
kind of level of a franchise quarterback has changes things.
We saw what it did in Kansas City, We've seen
with done from so many franchises in the past. Just
I mean even you can look at, like Joe Burrow,
what that Bengals franchise was for years before he got
in there. So having that sort of situation changes everything.

(39:38):
And if he is at that level, then this team's
going to be competitive for the next decade. I think
he's fantastic. I think dan Quinn came in did a
really good job. Like he he still has some issues,
I think with the roster, but I think he's going
to maximize the defense as much as he can, and
then he did a really good job of letting Cliff
Kingsbury do his thing. And Cliff Kingsbury did a really
good job last year as the offensive coordinator.

Speaker 1 (40:00):
Yeah, and again, I mean the it was at its
highest level in the postseason as well. So and I
think these the fourth datsision making how effective Daniels was
in the fourth downs, obviously his legs being a huge
part of that. Uh, it's just really impressive stuff. Kyle,
Let's talk about the receiving core, because I think this
is the real question. And I think the the critique
I had of Washington this offseason was I thought like

(40:22):
they had a ton of cap space to do things,
and they got better, but they get better into you know,
the right way. So first we have Deebo Samuel, who'd
have added you know, I have Terry McLaurin, who they
did not give an extension to, who is requested a trade. Again,
like we said with Parsons, a long list of players
who requested the trades and still signed deals. But we'll

(40:43):
see what happens and if will play this year and
all that. You do have Luke McCaffrey, who actually did
some nice things last year, Noah Brown. They also have
Julan Lane, and then for the you know uh uh,
and then for the for the tight ends, you have
Zach Ertz, who was again, guys, started four years old.
He's still playing as an effective level at an effective
level as a receiving tight end. Don't ask him to

(41:05):
block too much. But again he played over nine hundred
snaps last year. Like that, that's pretty crazy. So again,
Terry mclaurin's here today, I'll rate at with Terry McLaurin,
which I think Tier three feels fair for as of
right now, because I like Terry McLaurin. He's like, he's
kind of that line of like like I took uh,

(41:25):
who is it? Uh? The DJ Moore of like the
you know, if you're better than him, you're number one.
If you're worse than him, you're a number two. To me,
he's kind of like right there. But then like Deebo
Samoaks should still be able to do things as long
as he's not you know, as long as he's healthy
and not choking special teams guys, right like this is
a like Noah Noah Brown made some nice plays like
there's there's pieces here.

Speaker 2 (41:47):
Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of guys you can
talk yourself into. Like you said, McCaffrey as the fourth
guy even had in some moment. Zach Ertz has some moments.
He's a great red zone target, all that kind of stuff.
I'm assuming McLaurin is still gonna be there. You have
that outside th right he was. He's fantastic I think
at that spot. And then yeah, I mean, like I
think you're It just depends on what your expectations of
Debo is. Like the he we now have a three

(42:09):
year sample size of him basically being fifty to sixty
catches and six hundred and fifty to eight hundred yards
and like four or five touchdowns. Basically that's his average.
Like the twenty twenty one year is now very much
the receiver outlier season. He is not going to be
twenty twenty one Deebo Samuel. He hasn't done those numbers

(42:29):
rushing or receiving any other year. So I think if
your expectations are you're gonna get like seven hundred yard catching,
a few touchdowns, maybe get a couple of touchdowns on
the ground, then I think Deebo Samuel could be a
good number two receiver in that spot. If you expect
him to be a star, that's just not what he is.
And I think that's fine. So I think he can
come in and be an effective player, even if he's

(42:50):
not necessarily performing the contract that he got paid a
few years ago.

Speaker 1 (42:56):
That twenty twenty one year is just such a weird
one looking at his stats. So like, like you said,
if he had over fourteen hundred yards that season, he
hasn't had nine hundred in any other season of his career. Like, like,
he hasn't come over five hundred yard difference from his
best season to his second best season. His yards perception
was eighteen point two. He's a career fourteen point three

(43:16):
yards per reception player. He's had a lot of eleven
in there. Like that's it's just nuts what he's like,
how that year happened. And also, you know, the rushing
coals aren't quite as crazy, but he did have one
hundred and fifty more rushing yard than the next highest
season as well, So just just very bizarre. But again, hey,

(43:37):
and a seven hundred, eight hundred yard guy for number
two receiver. Not the worst, no, will.

Speaker 2 (43:42):
Yeah, no, not the worst at all. So I think
he's fine. Like, he's a pretty good player who's exciting
and had an awesome season, so that's why he's highly regarded.
But I think that you get a pretty good player still,
so I like Theebos Samuel in that spot. I think
Noah Brown is a good three. McCaffrey is good for
you know, Eckler can still catch the ball out of
the backfield even at his age, and then Zach Ertz

(44:03):
is the red zone guy. So you have all those
pieces put together.

Speaker 1 (44:06):
Yeah, you brought up Eckler. Also, Brian Robinson Junior feels
like a Tier three running back room for me, but
will be Tier one value due to the Daniels rushing
factor as well.

Speaker 2 (44:17):
Absolutely, yeah, they're gonna run the ball well, no doubt.

Speaker 1 (44:20):
Yeah. Uh for the for the offensive line. So the
big trade that they made one of the I guess
one of the big trades they made, But the biggest
I would say was getting Laramie Tunsel from the Houston
Texan kind of sure up that left tackle spot. And
again we can talk about is that the right way
to spend their money, but ultimately, protecting your young quarterback
usually a good way to spend their money even if

(44:41):
Andrew Wiley, although I do wonder if they hope Josh
Connerley junior, who they drafted in the first round could
replace him. Uh Wiley, you know, hey, super Bowl champion
with the with the Chiefs, Like he's a fine player
to have as your you know, your fifth best offensive lineman,
which which is the case here you have Tyler but
as I still never learned how to say his last name,

(45:03):
Nick Algaretti. And Sam Cosmey though you know, very good interior.
Sam Cosme's had some fantastic seasons. So yeah, I mean,
I like this offensive line. You maybe would like a
little bit better a right tackle. You maybe would like
a little bit more strength in that interior, But this
you still do have a good backup tackle, least in
theory a first round pick. So tier two offensive line for.

Speaker 2 (45:25):
Me, I definitely think it has the potential of Cosme's healthy.
I agree with that. Tunzel's still just a beast, So
I agree with all that is bringing up a right
tackle as a Super Bowl champion, first thing, the equivalent
of like trying to argue a basketball player for a
Hall of Famer, and he's like a USA player and say, oh,
he won a gold medal, Like okay, cool, yeah, I

(45:48):
get it.

Speaker 1 (45:48):
Like yeah, but probably I wasn't even really making it
as like an argument for him being good as much
as I was like saying, this is a this is
part of who he Hey he was on the chief team,
remember him. Like that was more just like a filling
out the you know, like like trying to be like
a writer saying like, oh, it's it's it was cloudy
out you know, like that's what I'm doing.

Speaker 2 (46:04):
Yeah, that's that's like the uh, it's just the equal
I just remember hearing all these people tell me that
like Carmelo Anthony is one of the best scorers ever,
and it's like, well he won three gold medals.

Speaker 1 (46:13):
It's like all right, yeah. Well, especially like baseball, if
that's the big one where people bring up Super Bowls
or World Series is only when they're like making the
Hall of Fame, it's like, oh they were, or especially
like like an ALCS MVP. That's another big one where
it's like that gets brought up when you're trying to
make the Hall of Fame.

Speaker 2 (46:29):
Yeah, you know, we all have our every everyone has
their Randy Rose Arena moment.

Speaker 1 (46:33):
Right, yeah exactly. I still miss him. Why did we
trade him? That was stupid?

Speaker 2 (46:38):
Yeah, you guys got you guys got plenty of issues
going on. It's okay.

Speaker 1 (46:42):
Yeah, it's tough. It's been a tough month with baseball
wise for for us, but a great month for you
baseball wives.

Speaker 2 (46:47):
I can join it.

Speaker 1 (46:51):
And the Yankees are just hilarious. That's that's been. That's
that's been a saving grace. Is as bad as we've been,
the Yankees are losing and also in funn of your ways.

Speaker 2 (46:58):
Oh yeah are it's great? Yeah, and then they're gonna
rush airon Judge back and he's gonna blow out his elbow.

Speaker 1 (47:04):
But anyway, it is true. If it's true, be audish,
that's how you say. That's that's an abomination.

Speaker 2 (47:11):
I gotta I gotta say. That is not a name
I've taken the time to learn.

Speaker 1 (47:16):
Yeah, you gotta play at a certain level if you
have a weird name as an offensive lineman to get
me to learn how to say it.

Speaker 2 (47:21):
Yeah. Look, those those mien Westerners, you know, just name
it however you want. Like, I'm not gonna worry about
what Wisconsin names are people.

Speaker 1 (47:29):
Yeah, okay, let's move on. Kyle to the secondary, which
is a huge question, right. It was quite frankly awful
last year. They traded for Marshall Lattimore to make it better,
it debatably made it worse. Not just the Marshall Lattimore hater.
I am a Marshall Latimer hater, but I'm not just
a Marshall Alattimore hater. He was not good last year
and was not what you expect him to be when

(47:50):
he came in. He did not have the he played
a different scheme then he usually plays in New Orleans.
Who played in New Orleans is still just twenty nine though,
And if he can if you can get a good
marsha On Lanimore, that completely changes things. Mike Sanderstrill as
a nickel corner who was awesome last year, even had
to place him outside and was did his best there,
but definitely at his best as a Nichol Jhonathon Jones

(48:13):
should add some depth. And of course they drafted Trey
Amos who are hoping can be the opposite corner there well.
Harris Percy Butler Kwan Martin for the safeties. Fine, not
gonna light the world on fire, but I mean you
have two huge questions here, Kyle, did you have a
little bit of depth? Again, I'm in between tier three

(48:34):
and tier four. Where would you go for this?

Speaker 2 (48:38):
I would lean tier four just because, like I mean,
it was bad last season, and you know, you're you're
still betting on either Trey Amos being good or early,
which is still a reach, or you're betting on what's
his name the or marsha On Lattimore being better, which both.

Speaker 1 (48:54):
We're kind of betting on both.

Speaker 2 (48:56):
Yeah, I mean it's a reasonable, you know, expectation, but
like I think, I think we're at the point where
we need to see it. Marshall Mattimore and a whole
new system did not look ready to play. Like you
said inroies played a factor, But yeah, I think it's
too much of an ask to put this in that
category without really seeing these guys on the field.

Speaker 1 (49:14):
Here's the good news. Bobby Wagner and Franklin Louver really
will help out that interior, the interior coverage unit.

Speaker 2 (49:20):
Yeah, I mean they had good linebacker play last year
for these two guys. These two guys are in fantastic.

Speaker 1 (49:25):
Yeah, this is the weird defensive line right, Like, you
have a lot of guys who like, oh, I know
that player, like Johnny Newton, Sheldon Day, Eddie Goldman, Deron Payne.
They spent fifteen million a year on Javalan Kinlaw, a
contract I didn't love, but he's not the worst player
in the world, like Moore as a death piece, which
he'll probably be used as there. Again, the edge rushers,

(49:47):
you have Cleveland ferrole if you're winning where he ended up,
that's where he is, Jaylen Holmes, detch Wise, Junior, Dorence Armstrong,
and Von Miller, the biggest name here thirty six years old,
is really a pass rush specialist at this point. That's
how it builds you with them last year and he
was good last year as a pass rush specialist, but
that's what you want to utilize him as. Again, I
like the linebackers. They have depth here. The run defense

(50:09):
should be fine, I don't know if it'll be great,
and then the pass rush, I just I'm gonna go
Tier five pass rush, even though I like von Miller
because you can't be out there every snap, and then
I'll go Tier three run defense.

Speaker 2 (50:22):
Yeah, I agree with that. Like it's just coming down
to like, I think Von Miller is a good player
still you know, and still does really good things. He's
a Hall of Famer, but at the same time super
Bowl champion hall of Famer by the way, but at
the same time, like, uh, I just think like his numbers,
his number, his advanced numbers last year were really good,

(50:44):
but that was on like a very like set schedule,
like he had a limited snap count. He wasn't asked
to do a whole lot. I just look at this
team and think he's gonna be asked to do a
lot on this team, and I just don't know if
he can do that.

Speaker 1 (50:56):
Yeah, So they're just it's a weird team. I mean,
I feel like they should have, like they got the
conference championship last year. I feel like they should do
something like similar. But to be honest, I don't know
if they even got marginally better. Like I think they
got a little better in certain parts, and I think
there's the potential for better again. If Trey Amos can

(51:17):
hit right away and Latin Work can get better, that
completely changes this team and then they're fully super Bowl contenders.
And so the fact they only have two ifs to
be there, it's pretty exciting. But like I still feel
like this will probably be a hot take. I still
feel it's like a ten and seven eleven and six
caliber team. I'm gonna go ten and seven for my
official prediction here.

Speaker 2 (51:36):
Yeah, I feel like that's right. Like I'm not going
to predict a whole lot, but I mean, at the
same time, like it's one of those things. If jayde
Daniels is an MVP candidate, the sky's the limit. But
we've also seen teams with MVP candidate quarterbacks struggle because
they can't get stopped, so we'll see.

Speaker 1 (51:52):
Yeah, I guess the good thing is with the fourth
down stuff, like they should be able to steal some
games that way, assuming that that's what dan Quinn still
wants to do.

Speaker 2 (52:00):
Yeah, potentially, But you know, I also think, like you know,
part of that is luck adjusted, right, Like it could
be you know, you could have maximized those single play
situations like that could flip the other way too, like
what if those like not. I'm saying the data is
still saying you should go for it on these fourth downs,
but like, as I guarantee, you're gonna pick up as

(52:20):
many or be as good and fourth down as you
were last season too. Yeah, I guess the percentage for
the for the balls here, let's go eighteen percent, almost
nineteen percent, So you're you're you're right there, Kyle. Yeah,
definitely some hype for for the Commanders. They are you
know what with nineteen percent. I believe that's tied for

(52:41):
the most among Uh. Yes, that's tie in a three
way tie with the Steelers and the Packers for the
most among teams that were not projected to win the
division according to the Pole. Yeah, they'll they'll be good.
I have no words.

Speaker 1 (52:57):
Yes I think that. Yeah, I think pencil or write
them in in pen for playoffs, but write them in
in pencil for championship contender. It's just how I feel.

Speaker 2 (53:07):
Yeah, that's that's fair. But I mean it's also one
of those things where this conference could just be one
team right now and that's the next team on this list.

Speaker 1 (53:15):
Yeah. No, Ky, we already talked about the Giants. Yeah,
talking about the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Speaker 2 (53:23):
The Philadelphia Eagles are gonna be very good.

Speaker 1 (53:26):
Yeah, all right, that's our show. Thank you everybody once again, No,
go ahead.

Speaker 2 (53:30):
Yeah, I mean this team's awesome. I mean they're still
really talented. Did they lose a few pieces, Yes, but
they still have really good pieces in the wings waiting
to get some opportunities. That's gonna be one of the
best offensive lines in the league. They have the the
one of the best running backs in football. They have
a dynamic one two receiving corps. They have good depth
as well. They have Jalen Hurts, who is just a
big time performer. You know, way too much conversation about

(53:52):
Jalen Hurts in the off season after winning the Super Bowl.
In my opinion, all that kind of stuff, could the
defense take a minor step back? I see, I see
a scenario where he does. But I still think there's
enough talented players that they're gonna be Okay. I still
really like this team overall. I think they're the best
team in the NFC, never mind just the NFC East.

Speaker 1 (54:09):
Yeah. Uh, it's it's really broken our brains when like
a non Tier one quarterback wins a Super Bowl, because like, uh,
like it just it's the ring culture of like all
that matters is rings of quarterbacks. And then like when
something like this happens where it's like, I don't know,
the sixth or seventh the best quarterback wins the Super
Bowl and everyone loses their minds.

Speaker 2 (54:27):
Yeah, yeah, and it just people cannot fathom it at times.
So yeah, it's just it's too much. I think we
did the same thing with Matthew Stafford two. But yeah,
it's just listen, Jane Daniels. Is he a perfect player. No,
But at the same time, he rises to the occasion.
He's had his best games in the biggest games for
the Philadelphia Eagles, and I think that means something I
really do.

Speaker 1 (54:47):
Yeah, I mean, list like, I kind of did a
video on this where I kind of came to a
realization of, like, it's possible he just plays the Chiefs
well because he hasn't necessarily always played great in the playoffs,
but he has played well against the Chiefs throughout his career,
so it's possible that that's the thing. But ultimately, hey,
if you make a lot of Super Bowls, you're probably
gonna be playing the Chiefs a lot over his career.
So that's thought the worst team to play well against.

(55:08):
I think it does a good job of knowing what
the game situation is and being adaptable. Not every quarterback
can do that. He can say, Okay, this is the
game we need to protect the football or this is
the game. We need to go for it. Really good
deep pass probably puts the ball on harms way too much,
despite the low interception totals last year. But like, but yeah,
I mean, very good quarterback. That's the end of the discussion.

(55:28):
We don't need to we don't need to do. I
don't care about how he ranks compared to Cam Newton,
a notoriously difficult quarterback to rank.

Speaker 2 (55:35):
Yeah that was too much. Yeah, it was too much.
I don't watch those shows for a reason, and everybody
should stop watching those shows. That's my opinion, Kyle.

Speaker 1 (55:46):
On those shows, people like the yell Nick Sirianni was
yelling at his own fans last year ultimately won a
Super Bowl. A guy who got booed when his team
was five and two last year, they went on to
win the Super Bowl. I don't he's tier too. I mean,
and I'm closer to Tier one and tier three.

Speaker 2 (56:05):
He is resilient man like he continue his battle like
another one where I don't think he's perfect all the time,
but you know he does a lot of good things,
and you know he's he's another one. He's aggressive on
fourth down, he hires the right staff in personnellit. He's
had a lot of good staff members on his team too,
coaching staff, and you know with him and Vic Fangio
as a defensive coordinator or a dynam mcdoo.

Speaker 1 (56:26):
Yeah, right, he has not always hired a good staff.
We can say that is the one knock against him.
He is someone who two years ago did say, you know,
Matt Patricia, why don't you try going plays for a bit?
That was probably a mistake.

Speaker 2 (56:39):
Yeah, I would take that back too, but you know what.

Speaker 1 (56:42):
Hey, you're not not judged on never making mistakes. You're
judged on the good things you do sometimes, and he
was able to do a lot of good things. So yeah,
there is that Kyle offensive line, Jordan Mylotta, Lane Johnson, interior,
Landon Dickerson, Camp, Jergens, and then Tyler Steen is the
one kind of question mark as he's projected to be.

(57:04):
I mean, I guess it could be Kenyon Green as well,
who they did trade starting safety for. I'm assuming Steen
will be the that's the question mark, right, You kind
of just have to go tier one given how good
those other four guys are and history. But like that
is a sneaky underrated thing. This offensive line could take
a step back next year this upcoming season given that

(57:26):
other guard position.

Speaker 2 (57:28):
Yeah, it's I mean it's three great players, one pretty
good player, and then a question mark at number five, right,
and at least three great players is going to fix
a lot of problems. That being said, they got a
really good season Atamkai Beck, then last season they let
him go. I think they're just betting on that they
can plug this in for cheap because they're the Eagles

(57:48):
and their coach good offensive line. I'm not really betting
against them either, Like, I think they'll figure out between
all of these guys, one guy who could play that position.
But it is a risk, and I do think it's
going to be I do think there's is gonna be
some risk with that spot for sure.

Speaker 1 (58:05):
I will say. I mean, when Donovan Smith and Jawan
Taylor went to the Chiefs, I don't know about this,
and Chiefs fans like, yeah, but the Chiefs they get
offensive lineman. That didn't work out, right, Like it doesn't
all like sometimes there's a team that get offensive lineman
and then it turns out, you know, the player still
doesn't matter.

Speaker 2 (58:21):
Yeah, the player definitely still does matter. So we'll see
how it goes, but I do think there is a
little bit of reason for optimism still with it. I
mean a lot of reason for optimism because this team
has had good offensive lines. So I'm not it is
a concern for sure, but it's not like I'm not
like if I'm an Eagles fan, I'm not like thinking
about this every day. For sure.

Speaker 1 (58:41):
You know you are thinking about every da if you're
an Eagles fans. This weapons room, uh Sakuon Barkley with
AJ Dillon has a change of pace back, which is
just unfair. AJ Brown, who is again I still think
a top five receiver in football, DeVonta Smith who was
a top twenty five receiver in football. Dallas Goddard who's
one of the best receiving tight ends in football, like
a better receiver for than Jahan Dotson. So can't be

(59:03):
tier one. No, of course it's tier one, Kyle. This
is absolutely loaded Tier ones for both running back and receivers.

Speaker 2 (59:11):
Everything you wanted is safe. One. Barkley you got more,
You got that and more. He was amazing. I mean,
he was one of the best players in the league.
So can't can't fault that at all. A J. Brown,
Devonte Smith, Dallas Carter, Like you said, all that's really good.
You know, maybe maybe we get a year two Johnny
Wilson thing too. You know, he he's got some length,
he's got some stuff out there. You know. I think

(59:32):
that there's a lot obviously to love about this team.
So yeah, this this this skill position group is awesome.

Speaker 1 (59:37):
Yeah. Uh, it's it's it's really good stuff. We can
go over to the defense, Kyle. The safety thing is
or the the secondary thing is interesting. So they did
you know, like I said, they got rid of CJ.
Gardner Johnson, who was a good player for them, not
their star, but like I mean, you made a big
play in the Atlanta game that we thought was gonna

(59:58):
ce it, like, you know, someone who can make and
just was a solid player. They have drafted Andrew mackba
I learned how to say his name of the COO.
That's it. He was with the last pick in the
second round. You have Reid Blank and Ship as well.
Uh for the safeties be you know, center Quinon Mitchell,
h Cooper de Jean and adri Jackson. Again, there is

(01:00:20):
maybe some questions of depth here. If someone goes down,
will they be okay? Last year didn't have those, but
losing Darius Lay is going to create those questions. But
I mean this is still Tier one, right, I mean
these are really good starters.

Speaker 2 (01:00:36):
It is really good starters. Like it. The big thing
is just going to be, like, can ring over adri
Jackson step into that spot and be okay. But they
didn't have like an awesome Darius Lay season. It was good,
so I think overall you're pretty good about that. I
love Quinnon Mitchell, I love Cooper dejen and then you
have these safeties as well, So all that put together,
you have good coverage linebackers last season. You are going

(01:00:58):
to be in a very good spot with this team
no matter what. And as long as those guys stay healthy.
It is a bit of a risk, definitely, but there
was gonna have to be some risk taken with their
cap situation and letting some guys go.

Speaker 1 (01:01:10):
Yeah, and they didn't keep Zach Bond, who will be
obviously you know, was an All Pro at the linebacker position.
You assumed the same. They drafted Jahad Campbell, so like
you know, and the Khobe Dean will hopefully at some
point be be healthy. I don't know if that's gonna
be this year though, but uh, you know you at
least you do have Okay, again, the concerns they have
are guys who I still feel could play well. Campbell

(01:01:32):
is a guy who I like coming out of college. Okay,
linebackers don't always step in and play great right away,
but they're you know, they're they're pretty good. Here just
a round out the defensive line at the front seven,
I should say, you have Nolan Smith, who played really
well last year. Uh, Jlex Hunt would like a little
bit more depth, especially for how the Eagles like to

(01:01:53):
operate with their edge rusher's dis's ojalare I mean listen? Uh,
Joshua wasn't every down player last year? Losing that there's
a lot of snaps I have to make up for.
You have Jaalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Morro, Ojamo onto anterior
still should be really good stuff, should still defender Ron
as good as anybody. I'll go Tier one there and
Jillen Carter will do a lot of good stuff pass rush,

(01:02:15):
but Kyle gonna come down hard on the edge rush
and the pass rush off only Tier two pass rush.
The Eagles don't get Tier ones across the board.

Speaker 2 (01:02:23):
Tier two that's fair. Yeah, I mean I still like
a lot of these pieces. There are still questions. You
lose Milton Williams, you lose josh Sweat, that's gonna obviously
be a big hit, But I still think it's gonna
be okay. You know, Joshua Uche. Obviously it hasn't worked
out for him, but like he's still a few years
removed from a double digit SAX season and he's potentially
your third or fourth ed rusher. You mentioned the linebackers. Yes, Ni,

(01:02:45):
Kobe Dean is hurt right now, but like you have
Hot Campbell you drafted. I still kind of like jeremonh.
Detrotta too, even though he didn't do a whole lot
last season. He's another guy on the depth chart that
they drafted recently. This is year two for him, so
maybe he's a little more ready to play where Campbell's
kind of worked into things. So they have depth, they
still have talent, and I mean they've just invested so
much in this defense they are still reaping the rewards.

(01:03:08):
There's still too deep, it feels like at a lot
of positions, especially linebacker, and they have options that edge
they can at least work.

Speaker 1 (01:03:16):
Yeah, exactly. I mean, again, there's a lot of teams
that would kill for the sad Rush group. This is
maybe not kill, I don't know, maybe like stab someone,
like a non fatal sab.

Speaker 2 (01:03:28):
No, they're definitely killing.

Speaker 1 (01:03:29):
That's okay. Yeah, you're right, that's true. There's teams that
would like kill for like jay Loox Hunt alone.

Speaker 2 (01:03:35):
Yeah, I would agree with that.

Speaker 1 (01:03:37):
Yeah, I think it's very competitive. We will get into
all that, Kyle. I think the sele seems ridiculous. I
think that they are going to be just as good
as they were last year. A team that, again, really
if they didn't have injuries, had a chance. I mean,
they lost to what Tampa Bay when they banged up,
They lost to Atlanta in that weird game where they
kind of blew it at the last minute and that
was pretty much and then also hurts being banged up.

(01:04:01):
This team's healthy. I think a similar thing is gonna happen.
I'm going fifteen to two for the Philadelphia Eagles. I
think this is a dominant team.

Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
They are really good. I think they're still the best
team in the NFC. A couple questions, but at the
same time, like I said, they have drafted so well,
they have so much young talent, you kind of just
bet on the Eagles right now. I think they've done
a lot of really good things. And yeah, I mean,
barring a crazy injury season like they had a couple
of seasons ago, I think they're going to be all
right no matter what. So I am buying in on

(01:04:32):
the Eagles still and I think they are still the
class of this conference.

Speaker 1 (01:04:37):
Yeah, I think injury it's fair like we can end
this topic just by talking about the injury stuff, Like
it is fair to say, like what we could say, well,
they've had injuries, you know two years ago. This is
a team that gets banged up, right. Aj Brown almost
never gives you seventeen games a year unless you're counting playoffs.
Jalen Hurts doesn't always give you seventeen games a year.
You know. I think that is fair to say because

(01:05:00):
those two guys are so important to this team. Saquon
Barkley certainly doesn't usually give you a false season. He
gave you it last year. But like again, we're hoping
that they all stay healthy. But that is you know,
last year was kind of a miracle to all of
their key players stayed healthy, even if they had a
couple of starters who did go down the fingers.

Speaker 2 (01:05:17):
Uh yeah, yeah, I mean it is one of those
things where, yeah, I mean they get banged up. They
play a physical brand of football. I mean that's just
gonna naturally happen sometimes. And yeah, I mean even if
you look at it across the board though, like you said,
A J. Brown doesn't stay healthy all the time. Saquon
Barkley isn't necessarily young anymore either, so I think that
plays a factor too. Like, there's still a lot of
things to love. But yeah, you are going to have

(01:05:38):
those questions. It's not always going to be a foregone conclusion.
It works out.

Speaker 1 (01:05:41):
In fact, I'm gonna say this more concerning to me
than all these you know, all the losses, is that
thing is can they just all stay healthy again?

Speaker 2 (01:05:50):
Yeah? And I mean it worked out that everyone was
healthy at the end of the year last year minus
Na Kobe d Right n Kobe Dan got hurt in
the playoffs and Oren Burks came in and define. But
this is another team again. They still have some depth
to to make it work.

Speaker 1 (01:06:03):
Yeah, they had a little bit of offensive line guys
playing through injuries. Offensive line I believe someone was down
for the Commander's game Framera correctly, but like, yeah, but
they were mostly They're mostly okay there, Kyle, we are
two thirds or no, three fourths of the way done
with this this show. You know, been a fun series
so far.

Speaker 2 (01:06:23):
It's been a fun series, lots to talk about. I
think that it just feels like the NFL year a
few year. It's just amazing because it's like, you know,
as we continue to say, every team in the offseason
in the NFL, just because it's a short sample sized season,
only seventeen games, almost everyone can get excited and talk
themselves into their team being competitive in ways.

Speaker 1 (01:06:42):
Yeah, I agree. I agree over under on Dorian Thompson
Robinson's stats snaps this season set at zero point five,
not saying just cause the injuries, because the Eagles could
end up with the one seed resting starters, you have
Tanner McKee ahead of them.

Speaker 2 (01:06:58):
Oh yeah, Tanne McKee is gonna play.

Speaker 1 (01:07:00):
He was good. I like him, but but they traded
for Dorian Thompson Robinson, Kenny Kicket.

Speaker 2 (01:07:07):
I like, I like Tanner McKey more than Kenny Pickett,
and I even thought Candy Pickett was okay. And that
game he played. I just I thought the key looked
really good.

Speaker 1 (01:07:15):
What about uh, maybe a special team snap for DTR.

Speaker 2 (01:07:20):
That could happen? Maybe maybe he like a wildcat setting,
like they want to get a little bit of a
break is to just go in there and run the ball.
See what happens.

Speaker 1 (01:07:27):
I'll take the over. I think we get a snap
out of DTR this year.

Speaker 2 (01:07:30):
There you go.

Speaker 1 (01:07:31):
He also drafted Kyle McCord or did it raft? I
think got him undrafted? I think? But no, No, he
did draft the sixth round.

Speaker 2 (01:07:37):
That's fair.

Speaker 1 (01:07:39):
Why did that?

Speaker 2 (01:07:40):
I don't know.

Speaker 1 (01:07:43):
The Eagles are amazing at everything except for their backup
quarterback decisions or quarterback decisions.

Speaker 2 (01:07:50):
Yeah, I'm buying it on my key. I don't care.

Speaker 1 (01:07:52):
Okay, Okay, sure, Kyle, I know you have a lot
going on. Why don't you let him know where they
can find us on Twitter before where we head out.

Speaker 2 (01:08:01):
Yeah, make sure to follow us on Twitter that is
at Jackson Rueger. Make sure to follow me at by
Kyle Grone, and make sure to follow the account page
at on the Sideline JK. That is at on the
Sideline JK.

Speaker 1 (01:08:09):
Of course, if like audio only podcast anywhere to get
your podcast search on the Sideline podcast. It should be available.
They're a reminder our next show is gonna be we
got about a cup you know what, two and a
half weeks before our next or not. Yeah, two and
a half weeks to our next show Friday, August twenty second,
we will pre previewing the NFC West, which should be
a really interesting division to talk about. So again, if

(01:08:30):
you forget our schedule because it is a little bit
wonky coming up on the community, I guess what's the
post tab? You can look under that. I have the
schedule posted there so you can check that out. But yeah, Kyle,
let's say it. We've covered everything, right, we don't even
talk baseball.

Speaker 2 (01:08:46):
Yeah, no, I think we're good. Red Sox are buzzing,
and yeah, we'll see you guys in a little bit
as I take my vacation. So everybody be safe.

Speaker 1 (01:08:55):
Yes, everyone be safe, including you, Kyle. Have fun on
your vacation. I'll see you in a couple of weeks. Yeah,
that's it again. Thanks to everybody for watching or listening.
We do appreciate it. And until next time, have a
good one.

Speaker 2 (01:09:07):
Peace,