Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: W VUA FM Tuscaloosa.
[00:00:27] Speaker B: Section NFL. We are back. It's been a while, but we are back in the studio. I'm your host, Jalen Brooks. I'm here with my two co hosts, Connor Rolls hello.
[00:00:37] Speaker C: Hello. It's been a minute.
[00:00:38] Speaker B: It has been a minute. And Tanner Thompson.
[00:00:40] Speaker A: What up?
[00:00:41] Speaker B: And I can't forget our producer Evan Cessaneras. What's up? So I know it's been a minute, but it's good to be back in here. But first of all, how was y'all's Thanksgiving? I gotta ask that right off the bat.
[00:00:51] Speaker C: It was actually very, very well. I had a lot of family come up. A few of us got sick, but other than that, it wasn't really terrible.
[00:00:59] Speaker A: There you go. Mine was pretty good. I spent it with my dad's side in Kansas City, watched the iron bowl, that iron bowl after in a bar actually called Tanners in Kansas City. They have like eight souvenir cups from.
[00:01:15] Speaker B: That'S pretty I wish there's a bar called Jalen, but hey, man, there's only one way I gotta make it.
[00:01:25] Speaker A: Just name jalen. That's good.
[00:01:27] Speaker B: Well, I'm glad you guys were able to get out of town and go see family. Me, on the other hand, I stayed back here in Tuscaloosa, and I had a quick little short story I wanted to share of my highlight of Thanksgiving.
[00:01:39] Speaker A: Do tell.
[00:01:40] Speaker B: So it was the day before Thanksgiving. It's Wednesday.
[00:01:43] Speaker A: Sounds like the Christmas. Yeah.
[00:01:45] Speaker C: Thanksgiving Eve.
[00:01:46] Speaker B: The night before Christmas. Yeah, pretty much. But I'm hungry. I'm hungry and I'm going through McDonald's, right. And this McDonald's, I'm not going to say which one, but it's full drive thru's packed. So eventually I place my order and make my way up to the window. The woman in the window takes my order and she sees that the line is full. So she tries to make small talk.
[00:02:08] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:02:08] Speaker B: And she's like, so are you a student? Do you go to Alabama? And I was like, yeah, yes, ma'am, I'm a senior at university of Alabama. And she was like, oh, okay, you're going back to see family? And I was, no, no, like, every year, I never get a chance to go back to see family. I usually just stay here in the Tuscaloos area. So I told her that, and she goes, oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. She goes, do you want a plate? And I go, excuse want to do you want to come over for Thanksgiving? And I was like, I just caught off guard. I didn't know what to say.
And I told her I was actually planning to go to a coworker's Thanksgiving little dinner.
[00:02:46] Speaker A: So there you go.
[00:02:47] Speaker B: I was like, oh, no, I'm good. Thank you so much. She was like, okay, well, if you're feeling hungry, like, after Thanksgiving, you can stop by my house in Northport and you can wow. Yeah. I was like, oh, she is going all out, and this is like an older lady.
[00:03:00] Speaker A: And I was like, it's a heck of a pitch.
[00:03:01] Speaker B: Oh, she's being so genuine, so kind. And then she goes I was like, oh, I'm sorry. I probably won't be able to make it. I'm sorry. She was like, okay, well, I work the next day. Do you want to come pick it up then at McDonald's? Wow.
[00:03:14] Speaker A: She's not letting you off easy.
[00:03:15] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:03:16] Speaker C: She wants you to try that food.
[00:03:17] Speaker B: I know. And at this point, I'm like, well, it'd be more disappointing if I say no. So I don't want to hurt her feelings.
[00:03:24] Speaker A: So did you lie to her?
[00:03:25] Speaker B: So I told her, Jalen, well, here's what happened. I told her, all right, I'll be back. She said, perfect, I get in at 930 in the morning. And I was like, I know for a fact I'm not going to be up that early. It's break. I'm sleeping in. So I said, okay, I should be around make it around that time, 930 or ten.
[00:03:43] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:03:43] Speaker B: So next day, Friday comes.
I wake up, and I'm like, should I go get this food? And I was like, I don't want to be rude, all right? She already cooked it for me, whatever. So I'm going to go get it. Long story short, I go back to pick up the food. I'm like, I don't even know her name. I'm like, hey, was the lady with such and such features here? Oh, my God.
[00:04:06] Speaker C: Just describe her by her features.
[00:04:08] Speaker B: Yeah, because that's the only way I could do it. And she was like, oh. After, like, five minutes, she was like, oh, you're talking about me? And I was talking to the lady.
So I go, yeah, I'm here to pick up that plate. Do you have that plate? And she was like, oh, baby, I didn't know you were coming. I just finished eating it.
She ate it herself. She ate bits and pieces of the plate, and she felt so bad.
What she had left was just like, nibbles. And I just felt bad. So she just gave me the rest because she felt so terrible. So I just took her plate home, and I didn't even touch it. But thank you to that lady. I don't know your name, but does.
[00:04:47] Speaker A: She know your name?
[00:04:48] Speaker B: Does she know my name? I highly doubt it.
[00:04:50] Speaker A: I don't think if she was happening to listen, yeah, she recognized that story. Then it's Jalen Brooks. Go find him. Give him a full plate.
[00:04:59] Speaker B: I would give her a shout out, but I don't want any attention going to hers or that McDonald's. But that was very nice of her. Very kind gesture by her. But let's get back to the program at hand. We are an NFL football show.
[00:05:09] Speaker A: So it sounded like a real podcast there for a second.
[00:05:12] Speaker C: Like a random podcast, just a story, small talk.
[00:05:15] Speaker A: Everyone talked about their Thanksgiving jill and told us nice little anecdote.
[00:05:20] Speaker B: It's the Thanksgiving spirit in me still.
[00:05:22] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:05:23] Speaker B: But like I was saying, we're NFL show, so we can start talking about some NFL football. We can go ahead and talk about some great games that we had this past week over the break. Let's go ahead and start about, I think, the biggest one, possibly the game of the year.
[00:05:35] Speaker C: I would say so.
[00:05:36] Speaker B: Is that a bold statement? Eagles versus Bills. The Eagles beat the Bills.
[00:05:42] Speaker C: I had the score right here, 37 34.
[00:05:44] Speaker B: 37 to 34. Thank you, Connor. I needed that assist. But, yeah, let's go ahead and break into this game. What are your takeaways from this game?
[00:05:50] Speaker C: So I always feel like after every time the Eagles play the last few weeks, it's always game of the year because they always start off so slow. The other team gets hot. They were down against the Cowboys, and they came back and won in the final minutes. They were down against the Chiefs. They had played a terrible first half and then came back to win in the second half. And then the Bills offense was terrible. Jalen Hurts had I don't know if I can call it, really a fluke interception anymore, because 90% of his picks are just batted balls on these RPOs.
[00:06:20] Speaker B: Yeah, I said the same thing. And then someone told me, like, at the end of the day, it's still a pick. And I was like, I can't really argue that.
[00:06:26] Speaker A: And also, I mean, to an extent, this may sound a little ridiculous, but batted balls are something that don't even wrong. It's a highlight from the defense, for sure, but something you have to think about as a it's a part of the throwing angle.
[00:06:38] Speaker C: So it's definitely something I don't want to say worrisome, because a batted ball can happen in any throw. At the same time, it's kind of becoming like, okay, a Jalen Hurts interception is off of batted.
[00:06:50] Speaker A: So, you know who leads football in batted?
Mayfield. Really fun fact.
[00:06:56] Speaker C: That is a pretty good fact. That's why they're so bad.
[00:06:58] Speaker A: But they're not last in the.
[00:07:02] Speaker B: Later.
[00:07:03] Speaker C: But it's a little hard.
But, I mean, we also had the Hurts in was it Kenny Gainwell miscommunication that fumble? That was pretty OD, in my opinion. Other than that, Josh Allen balled out. Besides that one interception, which was just a great play by James Bradbury, 339 yards, two touchdowns in that interception. He also rushed for 81 yards, a leading rusher on the team. So he kind of carried this team just throughout the whole game.
[00:07:29] Speaker A: Right.
[00:07:30] Speaker C: Sean McDermott kind of screwed him all over on the last overtime drive, especially.
[00:07:37] Speaker B: With that decision to what was that decision?
[00:07:39] Speaker C: It was like the blitz, the soft coverage, which let us drive down the field, and then the final play, the blitz. I mean, Jordan Milata even came out and said after the game, I'm surprised they gave us that's.
[00:07:51] Speaker A: And also, I thought it was weird for him to. I didn't like him. Icing the have a you have a quarterback who we know is capable of some pretty phenomenal things and he was doing it with little time left. Again, he was balling all day. And then you use a timeout to ice the field goal. Don't get me wrong, in those conditions, it seems like a worse idea now because, again, that's a heck of a field goal to make as we've kind of talked about a little bit. But again, you have what was it, how much time would have been left?
[00:08:25] Speaker C: It was the clock. 22, 20 seconds.
[00:08:28] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong, that's not easy, but 22 seconds, a quarterback who can throw the ball as far as you could possibly want him to.
I don't know, it seems like he gave up on his team in that moment. You know what I mean? Yeah.
[00:08:42] Speaker C: And part of me feels like at that point you can't really ice them if it's rainy, windy. Exactly. And your conditions are 59 yard field goal. I just feel like icing, it's not going to do much.
[00:08:51] Speaker A: It's not the right in terms of the ODS. I mean, weighing both sides and I just can't be the right call. Yeah.
[00:08:58] Speaker B: And Connor, as the eagles fan here, we've seen Jake Elliot hit these type of distances before. So was there any doubt in your mind when he went up for that field goal?
[00:09:08] Speaker C: 1000%. Because, of course, he hit a 64 game winner his rookie year against the giants.
[00:09:15] Speaker B: Right.
[00:09:16] Speaker C: But he has never kicked that far in those conditions with the rain, with the wind, and then also there are still 20 seconds left. You have to tie the game right here the clutch. Gene, I'm not afraid to say this. I feel like he might have overtaken Justin Tucker or he's on the same playing field as Justin Tucker right now.
[00:09:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:37] Speaker C: Just the best kicker in the NFL this season so far.
[00:09:42] Speaker B: I mean, fine, he's practically saved the eagles, like half the reason they're ten and one is because Jake elliott has given them that game winning kick over because like we talked about earlier in the season, the eagles have just been struggling in the red zone. So that's just been all Jake Elliott. But I know, Tanner, we've had this conversation before. I know me and Connor have had this conversation. Josh Allen versus jalen hurts the more impressive QB. You're more on Josh Allen's side. So I'm wondering, did that game change your mind at all? Because to be fair, I've always said I think Connor's on the same page that Josh allen is more talented QB, like when you're talking about a overall talent.
[00:10:21] Speaker A: Yeah, I think yeah, I think it's Josh Allen.
[00:10:23] Speaker B: But at this very moment when it comes down to winning jalen, it's just the better mean.
[00:10:30] Speaker A: It's hard to debate from a decision making know, josh allen has a pretty bad tendency to play a lot of hero ball.
The season in which there was some stretch of time where he had not thrown an interception in the red zone.
And again, that was, like, his thing. He just never threw picks in the red zone. And that's an awesome that is a fantastic trait for your quarterback to have. But now it's just the opposite. And again, I think for that original span of time where he wasn't throwing picks, brian Dable, I believe, was who he was working with in Buffalo and before he got that Giants job. And maybe that speaks to Brian Dable. Maybe something significant has changed just in the system and he just can't get it. Or maybe he thinks that, again, he has to be the guy, he has to be the one to put his team in a position to win. But I don't know. Those decisions, man. Whatever is causing them, he's got to work on it. And I've seen this Buffalo team operate really well with they have the talent, obviously. I don't think they have anywhere near the talent that the Eagles have.
[00:11:39] Speaker B: Right.
[00:11:40] Speaker A: But also, Jalen Hurts is a different quarterback. He is better at I would say he's 100% better on the ground than Josh Allen is. Regardless, Josh Allen is very talented on the ground, but I would say Josh Allen is also, I would say, significantly better in terms of arm talent. I think it's hard to take that away from him. Jalen Hurts is phenomenal, and what he can do with the football now compared to playing at Alabama, honestly, is just unreal. It's remarkable improvement to be able to consistently throw the football in the league. And again, the decision making is something that Joan Hurts does really well, that people don't talk about that much because he's a running quarterback. So it's a little hard to people just don't like to bring it up that much. But it is important. And again, like you said, for all intensive purposes, joan Hurts is a better quarterback than Josh Allen is right now.
[00:12:30] Speaker B: For and don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Josh Allen is the problem in Buffalo, but I'm also saying he's not the solution. Yeah, that's pretty much a great headline. I think I read that from Bleacher report earlier. So let me give them some credit. But I just think what we've seen over time, especially when we talk about his overtime, his stats in overtime over six, I believe.
[00:12:53] Speaker C: Josh Allen in overtime, six for overtime.
[00:12:56] Speaker A: A lot of those are how many of those are has he seen? Has he been on the field, if that makes sense.
[00:13:02] Speaker B: You mean only getting a chance?
[00:13:03] Speaker A: Yeah. Did he get a chance how many of those did he get a chance to play?
[00:13:06] Speaker B: That's a good question, because I know.
[00:13:08] Speaker A: Like, at least two of them he didn't.
[00:13:09] Speaker B: You're talking about, like, the one in the playoffs.
[00:13:11] Speaker A: The one in the playoffs, obviously, famously.
[00:13:13] Speaker C: I know.
Ever since that playoff game and ever since, he was like, oh, we should get a chance for this to happen.
Ever since they implemented that new rule on the clutch time, both teams get a possession. He's owing six in overtime.
[00:13:28] Speaker A: That's crazy.
[00:13:29] Speaker C: It's funny. You're the main one complaining about never getting a chance.
And you can't capitalize after you get your opportunities.
[00:13:37] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:13:38] Speaker C: Time and time and time again.
[00:13:40] Speaker A: Who knows what it is, man.
[00:13:41] Speaker B: Do you guys think it is a part of that Madden Curse? Do you believe in the Madden curse?
[00:13:46] Speaker A: It's got some people pretty good in the past.
[00:13:48] Speaker B: It has. I do believe that list is pretty interesting.
[00:13:52] Speaker C: I believe them. I mean, of course I feel like the Madden Curse is a real thing, but I don't think it's to affect where it's going to ruin somebody's career. Like it's been broken.
[00:14:01] Speaker A: Broken?
[00:14:03] Speaker C: Mahomes broke it.
[00:14:05] Speaker A: Didn't Mahomes win a Super Bowl? Yeah.
[00:14:07] Speaker C: So you can't blame us on the Madden Curse, in my opinion. I just think Ken Dorsey being there wasn't really the greatest solution for Josh Allen, especially replacing Brian Dable. I think what's his name, joe Brady is the new OC right now, and, I mean, he's doing a good job. Josh Allen in back to back weeks has looked like old, but I mean, when time comes to it, we saw him on overtime miss Gabe Davis, and they came out and said it was an option route. So I don't know if it was.
[00:14:38] Speaker A: Gabe Davis's fault option.
[00:14:41] Speaker C: Either they both took blame saying, yeah, it's my fault, I ran the wrong route, or I just guessed wrong.
[00:14:49] Speaker A: That is tough. You never know.
[00:14:50] Speaker C: Yeah. I just mean Jalen Hurts would hit that.
[00:14:58] Speaker A: Mean, if it's the situation that you just described, then there's almost no.
[00:15:03] Speaker C: In the second half when tied or trailing, hertz has a completed 67.6% of his passes, which is number one in the NFL.
[00:15:11] Speaker A: Right, but you're aware that we just said that it was an option round in which they both blamed themselves and now Joe and Hertz guarantees to make that throw.
[00:15:19] Speaker C: I'm just saying I think he would make that throw.
[00:15:21] Speaker A: Sounds like you're an Eagles fan.
[00:15:22] Speaker C: Because I am.
[00:15:23] Speaker A: There it is.
[00:15:23] Speaker C: But all bias aside, though, truly, I do think Josh Allen has looked a lot better. I think Gabe Davis can't really be a wide receiver, too, in this league for a good team.
[00:15:33] Speaker A: Yeah, I agree. I think he's gotten so overhyped over the last few years.
[00:15:37] Speaker C: He has, like, few games where he has over 100 yards, such as this one, but he always just, I guess, disappears at sometimes he has a big catch and disappears.
[00:15:45] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:45] Speaker B: It's disappointing to see that for a team that had such high expectations before the season. But Josh Allen still, like we said, he's played a great game. I mean, the fourth quarter was a little questionable, but he finished a game with 56% completion, 339 yards, two touchdowns. I think he had a rushing touchdown as well, right? Or two rushing touchdowns.
[00:16:05] Speaker C: I think so, yeah.
[00:16:06] Speaker A: Because they both had rushmore.
[00:16:07] Speaker C: They both had five and only one.
[00:16:09] Speaker B: Interception with a rating of 82%. And Jalen Hurts, who finished the game with 58% completion, 200 yards, which I believe all basically pretty much came in that second half. He had a perfect QBR on the nearly perfect QBR in the second half.
[00:16:23] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:16:23] Speaker B: Which is just crazy after starting the game just so blatantly terrible. But ends the game with three touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, a pick with a rating of 96.2.
[00:16:33] Speaker C: Some of the throws he made in that game were very impressive. The Zacchaeus one where he rolled out.
[00:16:38] Speaker B: On third to 15, I tweeted that looks exactly like gravedigger. Not the same circumstances, but yeah, no.
[00:16:44] Speaker C: I definitely understand what you're saying because I feel like that's kind of crazy. How back to back days, I don't want to say same play, but it looks eerily similar.
[00:16:55] Speaker B: Very similar.
[00:16:56] Speaker C: And then the Devontae Smith touchdown pass was insane. That catch was also crazy.
[00:17:00] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:01] Speaker C: And I mean, you're doing this without your safety blanket in Dallas Goddard, so I think this is very impressive.
[00:17:05] Speaker B: And Lane Johnson.
[00:17:06] Speaker C: And Lane Johnson? He was out.
[00:17:08] Speaker A: So credit to Jack playing at right tackle. Jack Driscoll. Oh, gotcha. So he did a great job abuse.
[00:17:16] Speaker B: So good job to Jack Driscoll and also good job to Evan, our producer. He just gave me the update on the stat. Josh Allen had the ball five out of six times. The only time he didn't get that ball back was during that playoffs.
[00:17:26] Speaker A: It was not at least two. It was only one.
[00:17:28] Speaker B: So. Thank you, Evan. So we're going talking about the best game of the year, probably. We're arguing probably the best game of.
[00:17:34] Speaker C: The year as of right now. Yes.
[00:17:36] Speaker B: So let's talk about the worst game of the year just really quickly. We're not going to go get too much into this, but the game last night, Vikings versus Bears.
[00:17:43] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:43] Speaker B: Any takeaways from that?
[00:17:45] Speaker C: Josh Dobson sanity run might be coming to an end.
[00:17:48] Speaker A: I just don't see how you I mean, dude, four picks and you don't capitalize on any of mean what are we doing as a foot? Simply, it's one thing to get four turnovers. That's unbelievable in a game situation like this. And I don't know, man, to not walk away with a touchdown on any of those, that's just brutal to me. That says you're not going to win any remotely important game. Yeah.
[00:18:21] Speaker C: Not even walking away with a touchdown on any of the turnovers without walking out with a touchdown in the entire game, that's insane to me.
[00:18:29] Speaker A: Insane.
[00:18:29] Speaker B: So are you starting Jaren Hall? I mean, that was who they had originally as their backup before when that trade went down, but then he got injured. And Josh, dobbs was forced into the lineup.
[00:18:38] Speaker A: Jaren hall is the quarterback from BYU. BYU. Yeah. I actually did kind of like him, but I'm not going to say I liked him enough to get starting quarterback. Yeah. Good arm talent. He's actually a little bit mobile, too. He's pretty solid at BYU.
I'm glad I recalled that. Zach wilson was also kind of good at BYU.
[00:18:57] Speaker C: You know how that turned out so far.
[00:18:59] Speaker A: Yeah. But I mean, I don't know. In terms of the quarterback in Chicago, I think on you roll with justin fields just for the sake of the I mean, I would you're not going know. You might as well just let him keep playing. If somehow miracley puts together four good games, maybe you're set on quarterback but maybe you create enough buz to trade them for some second round pick. Probably.
[00:19:28] Speaker B: I'm thinking maybe if anything at this point vikings wouldn't surprise.
[00:19:33] Speaker A: Maybe. Yeah.
[00:19:34] Speaker C: Atlanta.
[00:19:35] Speaker B: I think kirk would go atlanta. I think if they move on like they get another quarterback.
[00:19:39] Speaker A: Kirk is what I think. I said that a few weeks ago.
[00:19:42] Speaker C: Honestly, I could see kirk go to Atlanta and justin probably go to the vikings.
[00:19:46] Speaker B: Yeah. Or like justin going to the raiders, too. I don't think the raiders are going to draft a QB.
[00:19:52] Speaker A: Do you think the vikings take justin fields?
You know what if kirk cousins leaves are going to replace him with mean.
[00:20:00] Speaker B: Obviously I think it's going to be like more of a willis like will levis type of situation where you have two guys battle it out. I still think if you lose kirk you should still draft one.
[00:20:09] Speaker A: I thought you're saying I should get malik willis. No, that was going to be I'm.
[00:20:14] Speaker B: Not advising that for the vikings.
[00:20:16] Speaker C: I feel like they could do a lot better job unlocking justin fields. Because matt, every fluce's offense is not something to be proud of. We saw it last night.
[00:20:27] Speaker B: I think if you have a target know, I'm not saying DJ. Moore's not anything but justin jefferson.
[00:20:31] Speaker C: Justin jefferson is much better than DJ. Moore.
[00:20:33] Speaker B: TJ. Hawkinson as well.
[00:20:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:35] Speaker C: And jordan addison.
[00:20:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:36] Speaker B: Just all great targets. And then you have a coach who seems like a player.
[00:20:41] Speaker A: I do. Like Kevin O'Connell. Yeah.
[00:20:43] Speaker B: He seems like a really fun coach to be around. So a whole lot to watch out for. And evan, why'd you call him a dumpster? Just give me your opinion.
[00:20:50] Speaker D: The game was a dumpster fire.
[00:20:52] Speaker B: There you go.
[00:20:52] Speaker D: My roommate's a vikings fan so he got home about half like at halftime and I kept on peeking on my shoulder. Turnover. Turnover, turnover. That was the worst game I've ever I didn't even watch it to ever listen to.
[00:21:07] Speaker A: Worst game he's ever not watched.
[00:21:10] Speaker C: Just the audio was I watched the beginning of the game and I could tell that it was going to be a doozy just within the first quarter. So I turn it off. I'm just doing some work. I get a tweet. It's like dove KEELMAN. Y'all know who I'm talking.
[00:21:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:21:27] Speaker B: He's not real, but apparently a real guy.
[00:21:30] Speaker A: I know you're talking about, like, nobody he's a somewhat reliable source, but no one actually knows who he is. Yeah.
[00:21:36] Speaker C: So I get a tweet from him saying, josh Dobbs fourth interception. I'm like, what is going on? The Bears can't be this good. And I look at the score, and they're losing, like, seven to three. I'm like, what are you doing?
[00:21:48] Speaker B: It's pretty bad. But Evan described it definitely a dumpster fire, which is going to lead us, unfortunately, Tanner, to our next whoa.
[00:21:56] Speaker C: What a segue.
[00:21:57] Speaker A: What a segue.
[00:21:58] Speaker B: That's messed up our next conversation.
[00:22:00] Speaker C: That's a good segue.
[00:22:01] Speaker A: He's been thinking about that. Dude, that idea popped in his head, and he couldn't wait to just a little bit compare my team to a dumpster fire.
[00:22:08] Speaker C: Panthers got to start a chant saying, sell a team.
[00:22:12] Speaker A: They really do needs to sell that football.
[00:22:14] Speaker B: I'm so curious to hear your opinion. I mean, let's talk about it. The Panthers versus the Titans. Panthers, sorry. Titans win 17 to ten.
Even as an Alabama fan, this is hard to watch for Bryce Young. It's hard to watch even not even as a Carolina fan. Just as a fan, it's hard to watch Frank Reich going through this again. It's difficult to watch David Tepper, he's made some unusual comments, like the timing of like, he doesn't know he has a plan or anything, but a whole.
[00:22:50] Speaker C: Lot he's just going with the flow. You can't really diss him for that.
[00:22:54] Speaker B: I saw a stat that when he got there, the team was like, pretty much let me summarize. It was like, plus 500.
[00:23:00] Speaker A: And where you have, like, the worst record in professional sports since 2019 or something like that. Yeah, in the major. Like MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL. The Panthers have the worst record since 2019. I mean, isn't that awesome?
[00:23:13] Speaker C: You're leading the stat somewhere. So I feel like that's what you're.
[00:23:15] Speaker A: Actually not leading a stat?
[00:23:16] Speaker C: No, it's like leading the stat of the worst team possible.
[00:23:19] Speaker A: That's not leading a stat, actually.
[00:23:21] Speaker C: Worst team possible. Number one panthers. I mean, I feel like that's okay.
[00:23:24] Speaker A: Dude, you got me. Yeah, it was a great joke, man.
But I think I'll probably get into a little bit more of what I think about the future for the next break. But just quickly, I do think that Tepper should probably sell this football team. I think he makes decisions very loosely.
He treats it a little bit like a fan, if that makes sense.
[00:23:44] Speaker C: A little bit like playing Madden.
[00:23:46] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. A little bit like me if I was, you know, he's not doing that great. Let's just fire him. You know what mean? And, um, just keep firing exactly for that.
And also Bryce Young. Quick comment I saw a chart today that it was by Football football Something. It's a Twitter account. They make a lot of advanced metrics, something like Football Insight, I think it is. They make a bunch of advanced metric charts for the NFL in this one.
Help me picture a graph here. But the x axis was percent of throws to open receivers. And I forget the range, but it was something like 20% to 80% or something like that in the bottom line. Then the Y axis, you have percent of highly accurate throws. And again, kind of subjective, but at the same time, it's still a helpful chart for this scenario. But again, think about that chart. So you have two kind of low on the right end throws to open receivers a lot, but doesn't have a very high percentage of incredibly accurate throws. And some guys fill out the middle, but Bryce Young is higher than anybody else in this chart. So in terms of percentage of accurate passes is above everybody else in the league. Then you have him as far left as possible as he could be. He's literally, I think he is what they set the chart for. On the bottom they said, oh, Bryce Young's lower, we got to bring it down a little bit. That's what they did for Bryce Young. He is in the top left corner of this chart, which I think I've said a lot about what the problems with this team are. I think that represents it pretty well in terms of, again, highly accurate throws to receivers who are not open. But yeah, I just wanted to bring that up.
[00:25:28] Speaker B: No, it's just so funny because me and Connor were trying not to laugh because we could tell you're getting animated.
[00:25:33] Speaker A: Oh, dude, just you wait.
[00:25:34] Speaker B: Boiling over.
[00:25:35] Speaker A: It's just you wait.
[00:25:36] Speaker B: You're going to pop off before the season explodes.
[00:25:38] Speaker A: I have more in the next section.
[00:25:40] Speaker C: You should really call David Tepler.
[00:25:42] Speaker A: Just like, just make me the GM.
[00:25:43] Speaker C: Give him an ear full, say, hey.
[00:25:45] Speaker A: Man, get rid of Scott, it's my time.
[00:25:47] Speaker B: Just be like, have you ever played Madden? Do you not know how this works?
[00:25:51] Speaker C: Do you know a single thing about football? You don't because it doesn't seem like it.
[00:25:56] Speaker A: Trade all of our picks for good players. That's what we're going to do.
[00:26:00] Speaker C: Trade all of our picks for players who are supposed to be good but aren't good in our system.
[00:26:04] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:26:04] Speaker B: Hey, but who knows, maybe now you guys have we'll talk, get a little bit more. You guys are hopefully entering a shift here with Frank Reich.
[00:26:13] Speaker A: I'll get into how I would like to see that go here in a little bit.
[00:26:17] Speaker B: Yeah, but we'll talk more about that when we get back from break. You are listening to the student section NFL on WVUA 90.7, the Capstone. So we are about to get back underway with our conversation about what the heck is the plan for the Panthers.
Frank Reich. Out the door. Second year, this has happened to him last year, this happened to him with the Colts, and the Colts hired someone with no experience and Jeff Saturday. So the Panthers have the opportunity to do the most hilarious thing ever and hire Jeff Saturday and bring him on.
[00:27:10] Speaker A: If we get some like I don't want to use the word mascot. I forgot he was a coach.
If we get a mascot, like interim head coach, then I want it to be Greg Olsen.
That's my favorite because I would actually.
[00:27:21] Speaker B: Enjoy, I think Greg Olson, I mean, just from you can tell just from his broadcasting skills and play by play that he absolutely knows the game, but.
[00:27:29] Speaker A: Also tight end, you, that whole thing. He heads all of that.
[00:27:34] Speaker B: That's what I'm saying. I'm pretty sure. I don't know if this is true. I want to say that he coaches his little kid.
[00:27:41] Speaker A: He does.
[00:27:42] Speaker B: Yeah. So, I mean, there is a little bit of coaching, and it would be.
[00:27:46] Speaker A: Fun if we're going for the mascot head coach kind of deal.
[00:27:49] Speaker B: And I think he would do a great job of building a culture for this team. Right.
[00:27:54] Speaker A: Was he was here when there really was a culture.
[00:27:56] Speaker B: Yeah. So he knows what it takes.
[00:27:57] Speaker C: It's kind of funny because I think Steve Wilkes really kind of had a culture before he left when he was in.
[00:28:03] Speaker A: I still don't think that Steve Wilkes would have been the long term solution.
[00:28:06] Speaker C: No, of course not long term. But I feel like he did a better job with the culture than Frank Reich.
[00:28:11] Speaker A: Absolutely. That's absolutely not. I cannot disagree there at all. But again, at the same time, when you're thinking about that, it's hard to stick with a guy it's hard to stick with a guy who's not a head coach, who has never been a head coach, had never even been a coordinator yet. I believe maybe he's been a coordinator before, but he wasn't a coordinator at the time. He was the run game coordinator for us. And so defensively, that is so it's hard to go with him as a long term solution. He was an awesome interim head coach, and I still love Steve Wilkes. But in terms of the long term.
[00:28:46] Speaker B: Guy, I get that point completely. Just real. Cause the same situation happened with the Eagles. Doug Peterson got fired. All the players advocated for your running.
[00:28:54] Speaker C: Back, your old running back coach no.
[00:28:58] Speaker B: Longer, but they advocated for Deuce Daley. And then, like you said, for the same reasons, the Eagles chose to go.
[00:29:03] Speaker A: With Nick Siriani again.
[00:29:04] Speaker B: And it worked out.
[00:29:05] Speaker A: I think it makes more sense. Do so is there someone in the league?
[00:29:08] Speaker B: Obviously hot names like Ben Johnson are out there.
[00:29:11] Speaker A: Ben Johnson for sure.
[00:29:12] Speaker B: Brian Johnson, too.
[00:29:13] Speaker A: I'm not as big I wouldn't say I'm anywhere near as big a fan, honestly, as I am for Ben Johnson.
[00:29:19] Speaker B: Brian Johnson.
[00:29:24] Speaker A: I like Ben Far more than I like Brian. Okay. Because Ben Johnson this team is kind of set up for Ben Johnson, I think, a little bit in Detroit. He's got a great run game, and he has the opportunity to use some really dynamic offensive linemen, like Iki. Ikwanu, for example. That guy is an incredible run blocker in terms of agility, strength, and speed. Again. And also one of the biggest problems of this team is the disorganization of the offensive line. And one of the strengths of the Lions, when I watch them, is how coordinated and how communicated they are for every snap. They so rarely miss assignments. People rarely get into the backfield too early. And again, that's something this team needs, and I think Ben Johnson would have an opportunity to do that here. And you could argue that there's more desirable positions. I think the Chargers job will likely free up before that time.
[00:30:22] Speaker B: Right. Because I was going to ask, didn't last year, before you guys hired Frank Reich, wasn't Ben Johnson still available?
[00:30:28] Speaker A: He was, but he decided to re sign with the Know. I don't see anything wrong with that. I have to imagine after this year, maybe he's looking to take that next step. I really hope so.
[00:30:40] Speaker B: Bigger contract, too. Exactly.
[00:30:41] Speaker A: Yeah. So I really like that.
That being said, if I am being David Tepper, owner of the Panthers, then first thing I would do after all of the things that have happened so far, I would fire Scott Fitter. And I know that's a weird thing for me to say after I kind of criticized him for firing guys a little bit too easily. But again, if this is the kind of reset that you want it to be, we've got potentially 62 million in cap next year.
Get rid of the guy who built the roster that has put the offense.
[00:31:18] Speaker B: In the situation that he's built this messer.
[00:31:20] Speaker A: Exactly.
He's built an offense that essentially collapses in on itself of this problem, creates problems for these guys. These guys create problems for this group, and then this problem creates problems for that group, and it just cannot work.
So you fire him and let somebody have a chance to shape something with this team with that $62 million, that's what you need to do.
Fire Fitterer.
[00:31:44] Speaker B: Then can I float out a name for you that I've pleased my friend? He's also a Panthers fan, and he's actually open to the day of I think your defensive coordinator is like Eddie something.
[00:31:54] Speaker A: Ajiro vero.
[00:31:55] Speaker B: Oh, yes.
[00:31:55] Speaker A: Thank you. Okay.
The head coach is not the coach I would not hate. Ijiro Avero for I do like him. I was talking about GM, though, just for that sake. But, yeah, I think my perfect scenario I'll kind of go through may this may be a lot of words, but perfect scenario is that you hire Ben Johnson again, firefighter, get a new GM. I'm just going to, for the sake of argument, play the role of said new GM right now.
[00:32:20] Speaker B: Right.
[00:32:21] Speaker A: First, you hire Ben Johnson. Second. You resign Brian Burns. He has not had the season that I thought he would.
[00:32:28] Speaker B: I don't think he's playing for anything.
[00:32:29] Speaker A: Exactly, and I'm not completely upset at that because helps you guys. You can pay him in the range of $23 million now 24, instead of the stuff he was asking for. That would have put him above guys like TJ Watt and Miles Garrett. You know what I mean? You can confidently pay him roughly $23 million next year. And again, this is based off of the $62 million cap. So do that then with the 33rd pick, who one of which I think will be available at this spot is either Amika Abuka, wide receiver from Ohio State, or Malik Neighbors. They are two of my favorite speed type wide receivers in the NFL and also are very talented separators, especially Amico Buka. I'm a huge fan of his. And he's also more likely to be available at this 33 spot. So you take one of them in the draft, and I'm not going to go past that in the draft because that's impossible to speculate on who's going to be especially at this point. So you do that. Now, free agency in terms of wide receivers is pretty good going into this next season.
[00:33:28] Speaker B: Mike Evans, right?
[00:33:28] Speaker A: Mike Evans is going to be in free agency. Calvin Ridley Marquise Brown t Higgins. That being said, my favorite of which I believe is T. Higgins, but that also same time, if you again getting that speed type in the draft with Amika Buka or Malik Neighbors, I think you target the big guy. So I wouldn't be upset with Mike Evans. You could probably get him a lot cheaper as well than you would T. Higgins. Considering age.
[00:33:51] Speaker B: What about I'm throwing a name Hopkins? Because now there's DeAndre Hopkins.
[00:33:56] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:56] Speaker B: With the rumors of him the Titans blowing it up soon with Derrick Henry.
[00:33:59] Speaker A: Being on the I would absolutely be okay with that. I do think DeAndre Hopkins is still a very good player, but again, obviously T. Higgins is the ideal just because age, you give him a chance to grow with Bryce Young, even though he's already spent a few years in the.
[00:34:11] Speaker B: League, the dream, of course, is digs.
[00:34:15] Speaker A: I mean, dream, of course, is digs. At the same time, we're not going to get him like 14 million.
[00:34:20] Speaker B: Let's be realistic.
[00:34:21] Speaker A: Yeah. And I would try to target Lujerius Snead in free agency. I would try to pay him around 14, $15 million. I think that's about what he will get in this next cycle just based on where the market is for cornerbacks. And I really like what he's done in Kansas City.
[00:34:39] Speaker B: He's been amazing this year.
[00:34:40] Speaker A: He's been awesome.
[00:34:41] Speaker B: Him and McDuffie, really, they're rated as like the top. I don't know if they're the top cornerback duo. But they're up there, right?
[00:34:48] Speaker A: And they should be.
They have an absolute beast this season. So I'll go him again for about 15 million. Then Jonah Jackson would be my last ideal pickup. He's a guard from the Lions who's going to be in free agency and to give him about $2 million, maybe a little less than that. And that would leave about six to 8 million left over for rookie signings, maintaining guys that are making 1.5, whatever it is for this roster.
So you do all that and then my last thing, this has been a plenty long tangent, but I would try to recruit Cherone Moore from Michigan. He is their current offensive line coach, offensive coordinator.
[00:35:26] Speaker B: Okay, so you're going really in depth.
[00:35:28] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:35:28] Speaker B: I have you're fixing the band.
[00:35:30] Speaker A: Yeah, I know David Tepper.
So I would try to aggressively go after him because, again, he could be in high demand. Again, he's also young. He's younger than 35, which is I think would be awesome. And also, I think it would be a good opportunity for him because, again, he's an offensive coordinator. So it's still an upgrade going to the NFL and playing that role. And at the same time, if this exact scenario played out, he would also be working with Ben Johnson. And Ben Johnson is a run heavy, talented offensive coordinator the same way that Shamor Moore is. Excuse me? I said Shamar Moore, Sharon Moore. Pardon me? And I think that also gives an opportunity know, work in an offense that is what he's already good at. And he can learn even more from a guy like Ben Johnson and then somebody some hopefully young, creative pass game coordinator. But again, that is my entire plan.
[00:36:23] Speaker C: For like you have more of a plan than.
[00:36:27] Speaker A: I might. That's a very real possibility.
[00:36:30] Speaker B: I feel like if we looked at Tepper's chalkboard right now, it just says.
[00:36:33] Speaker A: You know what else?
[00:36:33] Speaker B: Fire everybody.
[00:36:34] Speaker A: You know what I would also be okay with skip all the steps. I just said sell the team. That's also that's my one step solution. That could also really help.
[00:36:45] Speaker B: I like that old rundown. I like your plan. I have nothing to add. I mean, you obviously can speak on this better than I can, but I'm so interested to see what the Panthers do here. Like you said, they're cleaning house. They have so much cap space. And we're going to see a lot of coaching changes probably this offseason because I think Adam Schefter reported it's not like he can see in the future, but he wouldn't be surprised if a lot of teachers, a lot of coaches are let go. So maybe who knows? Maybe you guys can end back with Rivera.
[00:37:15] Speaker A: No, I don't know if you'd want do I want an offensive head coach?
[00:37:20] Speaker B: Oh, I get that.
[00:37:21] Speaker A: That's the way the league is going. You need your offensive mind to stay with you. In my opinion. And yes. And again, Ben Johnson young, very talented offensive mind that people haven't figured out yet. Harbaugh. Do what?
[00:37:34] Speaker B: Harbaugh. I think he's going to come back.
[00:37:37] Speaker A: You think he comes back?
[00:37:38] Speaker B: I think there's too much smoke at Michigan right now, and I think he's going to look for that.
[00:37:42] Speaker A: Maybe, don't get me wrong, proven head coach. I know we can. But again, Ben Johnson has more promise, you know what I mean? I want somebody with potential, not somebody who's proven, and I get that.
[00:37:55] Speaker B: The only thing about Ben Johnson that from an outside perspective is that Carolina's not the biggest destination for it's the.
[00:38:02] Speaker A: Hottest name out, and he's a big name. Again, it's very dependent on and again, especially with the reputation that this team has now put on ourselves, shout out David Tepper. Yeah, but I only say that because, again, this team very much has the potential to be a very good running team, has the guys. And I just have to hope that Ben Johnson sees that someone will for you. Also, you have your first pick quarterback, you know what I mean? That's something that a lot of teams don't get the luxury of figuring out or having.
[00:38:32] Speaker B: You had solved that issue. Now it's just exactly.
[00:38:35] Speaker A: We have the quarterback. We just need somebody with an actual plan, somebody willing to do what it takes to not just go in and flank. Exactly.
[00:38:44] Speaker B: It's a new day for the Panthers. It's a new day for Panthers fans, and it's a new day for Frank Reich.
[00:38:49] Speaker A: Got a lot of new days.
[00:38:50] Speaker B: Yeah, but I mean, you can't feel too bad about Frank Reich. I mean, like, hey, he's got two now, fully guaranteed contracts. He's living his best life.
[00:38:56] Speaker A: He's going to make $25,000 a day right. Day for the next three years, I believe. And that's just living life.
[00:39:03] Speaker B: Is that from both contracts or just the Panthers?
[00:39:05] Speaker A: I believe it's from the Panthers.
[00:39:06] Speaker B: Just the panthers, right?
[00:39:07] Speaker A: I believe so.
[00:39:07] Speaker C: That is ridiculous. That's honestly yeah. Probably the best job in the world is being fired as a head coach.
[00:39:12] Speaker B: I mean, look at cardinals. Look at the Cardinals head coach.
[00:39:16] Speaker C: Kingsbury.
[00:39:17] Speaker B: Where is he at? I think he's done Korea, right?
Didn't he go take a vacation to Korea or he went to Taiwan. He went to Taiwan.
[00:39:25] Speaker A: He definitely took a vacation. I can't remember where he is.
[00:39:27] Speaker B: He just disappeared off the face of the earth.
[00:39:28] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:39:28] Speaker C: I have a question for you, though, Jalen.
[00:39:30] Speaker B: Yeah, sure.
[00:39:30] Speaker C: So frank Reich, you know?
[00:39:32] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:39:32] Speaker C: Former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator who won the Super Bowl.
[00:39:35] Speaker B: Good Christian man.
[00:39:36] Speaker C: How would okay, let's just throw that out there, I guess. But how would you feel for him to come in Philadelphia Eagles as an advisor role like Van Gio did last year during the playoffs?
[00:39:50] Speaker B: I kind of thought it's going to go in that direction because he mentioned that he wanted to retire. But if you're Nick Sirianni and you saw how passionate he was at that Colts game last year after they kind of did him dirty and only did him dirty with hiring Jeff Saturday, that's.
[00:40:03] Speaker C: Really and then the Panthers did him even worse by just firing him because he can't build a but.
[00:40:08] Speaker B: And also, to his point, Frank Reich didn't even really it sounds like he didn't even want Bryce Young. Even though Bryce Young is not the issue. I'm not making this sound like Bryce Young. It just sounds like this coaching staff.
[00:40:18] Speaker A: I'm not going to speculate on who wanted who for the sake of my mental health, but all I know is that hopefully from now on this will be a system and full of guys who make it a priority to make Bryce Young successful and not fit Bryce Young into their idea, if that makes sense. Fit their idea into Bryce Young and not fit Bryce Young into the into.
You guys get that, right?
[00:40:46] Speaker C: Yeah, definitely. Play to Bryce Young's strengths.
[00:40:48] Speaker A: Play to Bryce Young strengths. Don't have your offense and try to find a way for Bryce Young to fit in is this is a really talented football. He is. I know all these doubts have happened. This is an incredibly talented guy and you have to take advantage of that. It sucks that Frank Wright couldn't do it. And again, there were worries going in that he is too traditional and that he is outdated. And that seems very accurate to this point. As much as I wanted to not admit that, that's a big part of what the problems have been.
[00:41:18] Speaker C: Okay, so didn't Frank Reich take play calling back recently?
[00:41:23] Speaker A: He did also kind of because it did not improve with Thomas Brown. Unfortunately.
[00:41:26] Speaker C: No. The only thing that worries me about that is since Frank Reich took the play calling back. I looked at the play last week game. It's like the last drive of the game. It's fourth and six. The Panthers need to get it or game is over and let's wait.
[00:41:45] Speaker A: Who would surely you throw it at the sticks, right? Oh, no.
[00:41:47] Speaker C: I would definitely think you just surely throw it.
[00:41:49] Speaker A: At least get it at the sticks. Maybe a yard short.
[00:41:52] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, just get it like the routes where either way, past it, near it so people can make a play and go get it. But who did he throw to? A W receiver screen to who? I can't remember who it was poorly drew up. It was poorly drew up.
[00:42:07] Speaker A: Poorly drawn up.
It looked like a low number. It could have been Chark, but I'm.
[00:42:12] Speaker C: Not do we still throw wide receiver screens to DJ Chark?
[00:42:16] Speaker B: Now?
[00:42:16] Speaker A: You shouldn't throw wide receiver screens to anybody on that wide receiving core.
None of them are built to take wide receiver screen. Leviska Chanold is the exception.
[00:42:26] Speaker C: I like Chanel and I kind of like Mingo. But he doesn't play even then.
[00:42:30] Speaker A: Those are built for five yards. You're not calling that for six.
[00:42:32] Speaker B: Mingo's catch was tough to watch. I mean, obviously was blown up on twitter, but obviously could have it looked like he was trying to keep toe tap but just the wrong direction.
[00:42:42] Speaker A: He had no idea where the line was, man. I think he didn't know because again, if you're a receiver and you're trying to working with your quarterback, he scrambled outside.
You have to be aware of where the sideline is because if you're running too fast, then he has to put the ball inbounds. Whether you like or not, the ball has to travel inbounds. And I guess he just didn't know where those bounds were from. It he overran it.
[00:43:04] Speaker B: But I still like his potential. I'm still huge on him. But obviously there's some growing pains.
[00:43:08] Speaker C: Right.
I wanted the Eagles to get him last year.
[00:43:12] Speaker A: Do you want AJ brown too?
[00:43:14] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, of course I wanted AJ.
[00:43:15] Speaker A: Brown.
[00:43:16] Speaker B: Let's get them all.
[00:43:16] Speaker A: Why not?
[00:43:18] Speaker B: Get all the ole missed receivers.
[00:43:19] Speaker C: Why not?
[00:43:20] Speaker B: Evan, what did you wanted to add?
[00:43:22] Speaker D: I was just saying, seeing the reports that Frank Reich wanted CJ. Stroud and the quarterbacks coach wanted CJ. Stroud, that just brought me back as a Dolphins fan to the Brian Flores Tua situation. And I think getting a coach that wants to play for Bryce Young will be very good for him. Because if you got someone who's just got in the back of mind, they're going to be the problem that he can just use Bryce Young as a scapegoat.
He's less likely to work with him. You don't give a person that you want to see succeed a fourth and six. That just tells them that you don't trust them.
[00:43:59] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:44:00] Speaker D: And obviously, first two years with Tua Dolphin, he didn't perform very great.
[00:44:06] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:44:07] Speaker D: Getting him a coach that wants to win, that knows how to make a scheme to play to his strengths and Bryce Young, same kind of thing. He's very accurate. But you'd need to implement the game plan for the young quarterback for them to succeed in today's NFL.
[00:44:25] Speaker A: Absolutely. I know people understand how good this quarterback is. They just need to time. Exactly. He just needs time to work with somebody who knows that he is good. Because again, the evidence is there, the film is there. There's very little doubt.
[00:44:37] Speaker C: You could also use some competent weapons.
[00:44:39] Speaker A: Yeah, very true.
[00:44:40] Speaker B: A lot of special positions. Evan, I thought you made a really good point. Like you said, to your point, Brian Flores is a great example. I think Trevor Lawrence, you could make that case. That was a great example.
[00:44:51] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:44:51] Speaker B: For mean, there's a lot more we can get into, like our next quarterback. We're about to talk about Mac Jones, but before we start that conversation, why don't we go ahead and head to break. You are listening to the student section NFL.
[00:45:18] Speaker A: Tuscaloosa.
[00:45:25] Speaker B: And we are back. You're listening to the students section, NFL. We're going to continue our conversations. We just had a nice conversation about the quarterback troubles in Carolina, but let's go ahead and move it over to New England Mac Jones. We're going to make this very quick, by the way. Let's call this our speed round. We're just going to go quickly through some of the games and recap them. So we'll make this very quick because some of these games aren't really worth talking about. But I feel like there are some things we should point out and one of them being Mac Jones being benched again in this game. So it seems like his time as a franchise quarterback is over for New England, kind of.
[00:46:00] Speaker A: Don't get me wrong, they will probably look to move on. But in terms of this season, there was Bill Belichick in the interview, I don't know if you guys saw it, but he was repeatedly asked about why Jones came out with about like three minutes, 40 seconds, something like that left in the game. And he kept saying that he just didn't see the need to keep him in the game.
[00:46:18] Speaker B: Right.
[00:46:19] Speaker A: Which technically is saying that he is our starter, but I didn't see a need to have him stay in this, frankly, pitiful wouldn't. I think Mack Jones'time is likely over after the season, but I'm pretty confident he stays as the starter for the rest of the season.
[00:46:38] Speaker C: Honestly, I kind of like the way Bill Belichick handled that because he didn't say, no, he's done. But I feel like we all know.
[00:46:46] Speaker B: That he's his confidence is shot. If you hear him now, like his before and after press conferences for when he first had his rookie season to now, it makes you feel something.
[00:46:55] Speaker C: Heard he's lost the locker room.
[00:46:57] Speaker A: Heard he's wow.
[00:46:59] Speaker C: Yeah. I think his time with the Patriots are coming up to an end, especially as a starter, I guess. I wouldn't say he's going to be benched for the rest of the season.
[00:47:08] Speaker A: You want to hear a bit of a hot take?
[00:47:09] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:47:10] Speaker A: If Mac Jones was drafted at three to the niners in his draft, which there was a lot of rumors that Shanahan wanted him at three, I think we would be talking about him entirely.
[00:47:20] Speaker C: He'd probably be an All Pro.
[00:47:22] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:47:22] Speaker C: All pro. Pro Bowler.
[00:47:23] Speaker A: He has been an All Pro, but he would probably be I thought it.
[00:47:25] Speaker B: Was a Pro Bowler.
[00:47:26] Speaker A: He's been a Pro Bowler somehow, but he is I think he would be an All Pro quarterback at this point.
[00:47:32] Speaker C: Yeah, I completely agree. If Brock can do it, then I.
[00:47:35] Speaker A: Feel like yeah, I agree.
[00:47:36] Speaker B: So it's an interesting direction that the Patriots are heading. I mean, as soon as they lose Tom Brady, it looks like they might get Caleb Williams or Drake May or maybe even the Heisman winner who could be like the LSU quarterback or Jane.
[00:47:48] Speaker A: Daniels bonix it's between them at this point.
[00:47:51] Speaker B: I think it looks like they're getting another great quarterback. So just interesting to see from the Patriots side of things. Let's go to another bad quarterback just really quickly. Steelers versus Bengals. I just want to bring up this game.
[00:48:01] Speaker C: Just another bad quarterback.
[00:48:02] Speaker A: Jake Browning and Kenny Pickett. Yeah.
[00:48:05] Speaker C: What a matchup.
[00:48:06] Speaker B: What a matchup. But there is something to note here. This is the first game since the Steelers have fired their offensive coordinator, Matt Canada. And it's so funny that after they fire him, it's been 58 straight games without Eclipsing, 400 yards of total offense and they do just that right after they fire Matt Canada. I just want to get your takeaways from that.
[00:48:24] Speaker C: So what I hear, it isn't Kenny Pickett's fault.
[00:48:27] Speaker B: Well, I don't know.
[00:48:30] Speaker C: No, it's too early.
[00:48:32] Speaker A: He sure tried. He sure did his part firing of Matt Canada, but 400 yards for the.
[00:48:38] Speaker C: First time in 58 games after the first game you get after firing your OC.
[00:48:43] Speaker A: You're right.
[00:48:43] Speaker C: I mean, it says a lot. I'm also saying if Kenny Pickett was not the quarterback, they might have gotten 500.
[00:48:48] Speaker A: Yeah, 600.
[00:48:50] Speaker C: Probably scored more than 16 points.
[00:48:52] Speaker A: Yeah, it's still so funny that they only scored 16.
[00:48:57] Speaker B: Yeah, it's ridiculous. And also the Steelers are like winning. Like, aren't they? Seven three now.
[00:49:03] Speaker A: They've been winning to be fair, but.
[00:49:05] Speaker B: Now it's still going. It's what's shocking me. It's not like a downpour after like, you know how they had eleven straight and then they just kind of tanked. I'm surprised it's still going at this pace. But any concern about the Deontay Johnson drama or the Jordan Pickens drama?
[00:49:18] Speaker C: Yeah, I feel like they're not really handling the divas really well. I feel like George Pickens is probably I don't want to say he's becoming a diva, but I mean, what is.
[00:49:28] Speaker B: With Steelers and diva wide receivers? You got Martavius Bryant I'm not even going to say his name.
[00:49:35] Speaker A: There it is. I was going to say I have no idea who you're talking about. Yeah, what has he done?
[00:49:38] Speaker B: Oh, what hasn't he done is the question.
[00:49:41] Speaker C: I mean, we saw after a game, he posted Free me after he had one catch for like four.
Deontay Johnson was just he's been pretty quiet the last two.
[00:49:52] Speaker B: A, there was a little clip going around on Twitter where I think one of them fumbled the ball. Like his teammates fumbled the ball.
[00:49:58] Speaker C: Yeah, I think Warren fumbled the ball and he just stopped playing.
[00:50:00] Speaker B: He just looked at them, picked.
Was it's getting pretty bad up there?
[00:50:04] Speaker C: Some of them monitor, but I don't want to say anything.
[00:50:06] Speaker B: Yeah, it's nothing too concerning. And the last thing to talk about, I think the most game we got, not most amazing game to watch, but still interesting to keep eyes on. The Broncos continue their winning streak. Now they're at either their fifth or 6th win, the longest active streak in the NFL. I think just real quick, the Broncos, any takeaways? I mean, they started really off rough, but now they're like hitting the switch.
[00:50:33] Speaker C: I threw around the idea, just making like a funny joke after they got their win, after the 70 point loss, I was like, imagine the Broncos just go on a streak and start winning games.
[00:50:45] Speaker B: I remember you saying that, look at us now.
[00:50:48] Speaker C: I wasn't serious.
I was hopeful, but I wasn't very serious. And I guess it's happening. They're above 500 now.
Their defense has looked amazing. They held the Chiefs to nine points, Bills 22.
[00:51:00] Speaker B: I know Sean Payton made that comment about coaching, about what's going on last year, but for the audience that is listening, this goes to show you what legit coaching can do for a team. Yeah, I mean, they have so many young players that are playing at a good level. There's this one kid on the defensive end, I can't remember his name, but he reminds me of Von Miller. He's not Von Miller, but the way he beats around the edge, it reminds me of a little bit yeah, it reminds me a little bit of Von Miller.
[00:51:25] Speaker C: I'm excited for Broncos next matchup, though, this week broncos, Texans, I think that's a really good let's talk about that.
[00:51:30] Speaker B: Broncos versus Texans, what are your takeaways from that game?
[00:51:33] Speaker C: You mean just Texans? The Texans versus Texans. Jags was last week. I think CJ. Stroud played a great game. I think Trevor Lawrence had a good game as well.
It was honestly very impressive just to see how good CJ stroud is already in his young career. But I guess one thing I can confidently say is think kickers are like the third most important, maybe second most important position on the team. You see?
[00:51:58] Speaker B: Bold.
[00:51:58] Speaker A: I vehemently disagree, but please keep going.
[00:52:00] Speaker C: Well, I'm just saying you have what's his name Amandola, the kicker chance to win the game, who's now cut 56 yarder in a dome. He misses, they lose the entire game. Jake Elliott down by three in the rain in the know they need this to either lose if he misses or just tie it to go to overtime, have a chance to win and he throws it. I just think having a good kicker is such a vital piece of success that a team could have.
Of course, you can argue O line, D line. Of course I'm not saying that, but.
[00:52:32] Speaker A: I can argue almost every position.
[00:52:34] Speaker C: Yes, you could, but I'm saying if you have a bad kicker who can't kick the lick, you can't score unless you score a touchdown.
[00:52:40] Speaker A: I mean, if you are in terms of what you are priority, I know it's easy to say that with these situations, but what are you prioritizing as a general manager? You are prioritizing beefing up the offense and the defense. You're not going to free just be like. Oh, man, we got to get an All Pro kicker. We have to. That's the only way to win games. And that's just not true.
[00:52:59] Speaker B: I think the Vikings kind of had that mentality a little while ago when the Vikings just couldn't make a field goal, and I do screwed them over. Yeah.
[00:53:08] Speaker A: Regardless, I mean, what's going to put you in a worse position is it's not the kickers. Obviously, they contribute to the game. The highest scorers ever are generally kickers, but I'm having a hard time wording it. But kickers are just simply not because they're someone interchangeable, you know what I mean?
[00:53:30] Speaker C: That's having a good kicker is such a big thing.
[00:53:32] Speaker A: No, I think they're not as important because they are interchangeable. Because you had a guy like Justin Tucker, who going in the season everyone thinks is the greatest ever, and he hasn't been that good. He's over four from 50 plus yards, I believe.
[00:53:43] Speaker B: But isn't that more of such an age consideration?
[00:53:46] Speaker A: Probably. That's probably fair. But even then, kickers there's 99% of kickers are in and out the door.
[00:53:53] Speaker C: That is true, because I remember last year, Jake Elliott did get hurt. They brought in Cameron Dicker, who is now the Chargers kicker.
[00:53:58] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:53:59] Speaker B: And he drove out right after that game.
[00:54:00] Speaker C: He dropped a game winning field goal, and then we cut him because we had to bring in Jake Elliott.
[00:54:05] Speaker A: They're interchangeable.
[00:54:05] Speaker B: He's my fantasy kicker. Just because he was on the Eagles for that short little why, but also nothing else.
[00:54:12] Speaker C: He's also really good.
[00:54:13] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:54:13] Speaker B: But also, let me kicker.
[00:54:16] Speaker C: Yeah, that's his nickname.
[00:54:17] Speaker A: It is.
[00:54:18] Speaker B: That's true. So you're just talking about the Texans, and we were just talking about the Broncos, their matchup. Any concerns or expectations you expect out of it?
[00:54:25] Speaker C: I think it's going to be a really good matchup. I think CJ Shroud's going to hit his like I want to say first, wall going against Patrick Sirtane and that defense with Justin Simmons. Cream Jackson's still suspended, is he?
[00:54:35] Speaker B: I think so.
[00:54:36] Speaker C: So no Cream Jackson, but I think this is going to be a really good test for his young career.
[00:54:41] Speaker A: I think Tankdale is going to be getting the ball for sure. I think they're going to use him very creatively because, again, it's a strong defense, maybe a little top heavy in the secondary department in terms of the wideouts. And I think Patrick Tan is what, six one or six two, 6210 or something like that. Pretty good size of a corner. I think he'll be on the outside with Nico Collins and things like that. And I think I think Nico Collins.
[00:55:05] Speaker C: Is going to have a really quiet day if he finds him.
[00:55:07] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:55:07] Speaker B: I try to search up his height.
[00:55:09] Speaker A: Because Nico Collins is the consistent wide out, for sure, but I think Tank Dell is set for a great showing because I just don't think I don't see a scenario where you put Patrick Sertan.
[00:55:19] Speaker B: I think they've kind of recognized that he might be like the guy, their go to guy for an offense. But also I searched up Patrick Sirtan to try to find out his height, but he said it was 47 years old. And I was like, what?
[00:55:30] Speaker A: And then it's his dad senior.
[00:55:32] Speaker B: Yeah, but before we go, let's just quickly break this down. Connor, big matchup, some battles for the NFC.
[00:55:41] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:55:42] Speaker B: Eagles versus 49 Ers.
[00:55:43] Speaker C: I'm super excited about this.
I think it's very great to see how the media is picking up the Eagles and saying, jalen hurts MVP candidate, which I think he'll win this year just for what he's done.
[00:55:56] Speaker B: I don't think this is so far best season.
[00:55:58] Speaker C: It's not his best season, but when he needed it, he came and performed.
[00:56:01] Speaker B: People are starting to realize his value. Yeah, of course, the numbers.
[00:56:04] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:56:05] Speaker C: 49 Ers after that three game losing streak, they look really good.
[00:56:09] Speaker A: Real good.
[00:56:10] Speaker C: I guess the defense decided to wake up D line. I think it was 15 sacks in the last three or five games, which is it's impressive.
But you go in against some of the opponents. I know the jaguars. That was a very good win. That was a very good win. And then they beat who else did they beat? Did they beat no, they lost to the Browns. I'm trying to let me look at their losses.
[00:56:33] Speaker A: I think the Niners are a pound for pound better team overall. But that being said, I think what I would be really scared of if I'm the Niners going to this game is the interior offensive line. They are not I don't think they're very good in general. I think that got them into trouble with the Browns because the Browns have a great D line and the interior guys were in Brock Purdy's lab all day. And again, now you have the Eagles who have the best interior defensive line in football. And I would be really concerned about that.
That's the kind of matchup that can wreck a can, no matter how much you're favorited by that can wreck the game.
[00:57:10] Speaker C: So, yeah, I completely agree. I think Jalen Carter will have a big day. Jordan Davis, who's been really good so far this season, really under the rug.
[00:57:19] Speaker B: One of his big question marks come into the league was his stamina and his ability to stay healthy. But like, hey, we saw during that chase down of Josh Allen, he had stamina for days going at nearly 16 mph.
[00:57:28] Speaker C: Yeah, 16. He played the 300 snaps he's ever.
[00:57:31] Speaker B: Had in his career, a 355 pounder or 335.
[00:57:34] Speaker A: So unreal.
[00:57:35] Speaker C: But what I'm really excited about is the trash talk. I really am.
[00:57:39] Speaker B: So much back and forth. This feels like a Super Bowl like atmosphere type of a game.
[00:57:44] Speaker C: I feel like this is becoming the new rivalry.
[00:57:47] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:57:47] Speaker A: Oh, yeah.
[00:57:48] Speaker B: Because it's actually genuine bad blood.
[00:57:51] Speaker C: You heard the 49 ers crying all offseason about, oh, what if this, what if that.
[00:57:56] Speaker B: Walking out of multiple interviews like Debo amen.
[00:58:00] Speaker A: It sure would be funny if the Niners did win. Oh, that narrative would look real good.
[00:58:05] Speaker C: It would. 1000%. But what I'm super excited about is what Hassan Reddick answered the bell after the Bills game saying, we all heard your crying and your what ifs scenarios. I want you to come and improve it. And I feel like that's just I'm excited for this matchup.
[00:58:21] Speaker B: You're not hearing any talking from the Eagles. They want this matchup. I know.
[00:58:25] Speaker A: That was talking. I believe I just heard from the Eagles.
[00:58:28] Speaker B: Well, Connor yeah, well, he was talking.
[00:58:30] Speaker C: About an, but I kind of see what you're saying because we look at Debo Samuel and they asked him about it. I still stand the way I would do about Bradbury calling him trash. Bradbury hasn't said a single thing about Debo Samuel because he's not on his mind. Last thing I remember about Debo Samuel is fumbling about to read blankenship at the end of the game. That's all I can really think about.
[00:58:48] Speaker A: Sounds like a whole lot of Eagles propaganda is what I mean.
[00:58:50] Speaker B: Sounds like Connor wants in all this.
[00:58:52] Speaker C: But it's like you can't cry about I mean, I get it. Brock Purdy got hurt. You can't block for your quarterback. Josh Johnson got hurt.
[00:58:59] Speaker A: They didn't have a quarterback. Quarterback who could throw the football. Yeah, no, that's a highly unique scenario. There are far worse offensive lines. Shout out the Carolina Panthers. Bryce Young gets hit more than almost any other quarterback.
I'm not going to say, oh, can't block for your quarterback.
Not saying you decided they deserved it, but of course he's injured. You can't block for him. That's not how it no, I completely understand.
[00:59:26] Speaker C: It was a bad was his arm was wrong time, wrong. Everything.
[00:59:31] Speaker A: Free kit.
[00:59:31] Speaker C: Yeah, free kit. But at the same just eagles get they get I heard they get Dallas Goddard back. Shaquille Barrett should be should be coming in for meeting with the Eagles.
[00:59:43] Speaker A: I'm going to take the Niners.
[00:59:44] Speaker B: Shaquille Barrett.
[00:59:45] Speaker C: Darius.
Shaq Leonard.
[00:59:48] Speaker B: There we go.
[00:59:48] Speaker C: Aka darius Leonard.
[00:59:49] Speaker B: Who I was like, he's off the.
[00:59:50] Speaker C: Bucks after his back surgery. He hasn't really been the same, but, I mean, he would still be a really good pickup for the Eagles after leaving Dallas without a deal.
[01:00:00] Speaker B: No. Kobe Dean still hasn't been able to show he can play healthy.
[01:00:02] Speaker C: He's on.
[01:00:03] Speaker B: Zach Cunningham went down and then Ellis had a really good substitution play.
[01:00:08] Speaker C: Yeah, the blitz. But to finish this thing's all off to give my final prediction, I think this will be a very good game. I would not be surprised if the Eagles lose. Would not be surprised if the Eagles win. Excited to see, but I say eagles.
[01:00:21] Speaker A: Tanner, I'm going to take the Niners eagles.
[01:00:24] Speaker B: Wow. We're all going to Eagles. Well, I'm not taking the 40 niners. I'm not going to be that guy.
[01:00:29] Speaker A: Of course you aren't.
[01:00:29] Speaker B: Yeah, we're all going to fly high here. And with that, we're going to say goodbye. Go birds. You're listening to the student section NFL on WVUA 90.7.
[01:00:49] Speaker A: WVUA FM Tuscaloosa.
