WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.279 Excited to talk specifically Lions and Commanders with the guy 2 00:00:03.319 --> 00:00:06.360 who's really familiar, knows the commanders inside and out, does 3 00:00:06.360 --> 00:00:08.039 a great job on the pre and postgame show on 4 00:00:08.119 --> 00:00:11.839 radio on the Commander's Radio Network. His name is Scott Jackson. 5 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:15.320 You can follow him on Twitter at Jackson Sports and 6 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:17.480 he joins us here on Exus and Bros. Scott really 7 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:19.359 appreciate the time because I know it's valuable, and I 8 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:20.839 know a lot of people are tugging at you. How 9 00:00:20.839 --> 00:00:24.399 are you today, great, Matt, how you doing. I'm doing fantastic. 10 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:26.719 Cappy new year to you and yours. What surprised you 11 00:00:26.760 --> 00:00:31.079 and impressed you most about how Washington has gone about 12 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:32.399 its business so far this year? 13 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:36.759 Well, I mean it's so new right with we're talking 14 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:38.920 about a staff change, and I mean from the top 15 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:41.479 on down right. This was technically year two of a 16 00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:44.679 new ownership group, which everybody was excited about. Look, just 17 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:46.600 getting Dan Snyder out of here with a huge win, 18 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:49.320 no matter what was on the other side. You know, 19 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:51.880 I think everybody that they had been paying attention here, 20 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:54.600 we've been talking about this for decades, which was I 21 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:56.640 didn't feel like the franchise could move forward until you 22 00:00:57.079 --> 00:00:59.079 got him out of here, and they were able to 23 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:02.079 do that that. Josh Harris made a really smart hire 24 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:04.920 last year around this time with Adam Peters since the 25 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:06.959 general manager of the forty nine ers at the time. 26 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:09.560 And you know, dan Quinn was not the number one 27 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:12.680 target I think publicly, but they really really liked him 28 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:14.680 and they were very intrigued on him. Obviously, Ben John 29 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:17.959 Speer guy there Detroit was everybody's number one choice, and 30 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:20.560 you know they just it didn't for whatever reason work 31 00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:22.760 and you hear different stories about why, but it didn't 32 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:25.159 really matter because you know, here's dan Quinn. You get 33 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:28.200 the second pick of the draft and he hits like 34 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:30.680 he has and has been, you know, everything you could 35 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:34.480 want from a future star in this league. And I 36 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:36.480 think you start right there, I mean, and then from 37 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:38.879 there they build out this roster with with other parts 38 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:41.680 that have come together. But it's far from a finished product. 39 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:44.200 I mean, there's still the issues of the defense. Certainly, 40 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:47.519 offensive line could be a lot better, and you know 41 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:50.000 there's skilled positions that are lacking. But you know, number 42 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:51.680 five makes it all happen. So this has been an 43 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:55.640 unexpected great season by so many levels for this franchise 44 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:57.959 and overly do for a franchise, it used to be, 45 00:01:58.079 --> 00:01:59.920 you know, a very good one when I was young, 46 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:02.879 when Will Gibbs was run of the show here first 47 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:05.719 part of Joe Gibson's career, know, with Jackie Cook is 48 00:02:05.719 --> 00:02:09.080 the owner. So it's been refreshing for people my age 49 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:11.439 to remember what it used to look like here prior 50 00:02:11.479 --> 00:02:14.400 to the nightmare that was the twenty four year tenure 51 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:15.439 of Dan Sneiner. 52 00:02:15.639 --> 00:02:18.240 And really all football fans Joe Gibbs one of the 53 00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:21.520 classiest and best coaches in history and winning three Super 54 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:25.000 Bowls with three different quarterbacks. When you look at Dan 55 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:28.719 Quinn and he had that stint in Seattle, right or 56 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:32.080 in Atlanta? Rather, we know what he did in Seattle 57 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:36.680 to rejuvenate his head coaching opportunities, and rightfully, so, how 58 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:39.159 has he made this team better? Do you think? I'm 59 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:43.280 sure that's a multiple answer to the question, but overall, well, 60 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:44.759 how do you think? What do you think he's done 61 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:45.439 to make him better? 62 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:48.280 Well? I think he's a heck of a culture builder. 63 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:51.000 You hear that term culture thrown around a lot, and 64 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:54.520 it's easy to identify that culture and harder to probably 65 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.759 build the good stuff. And I think with him and 66 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:59.520 Adam Peters vision and the staff they put together, it's 67 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:01.840 not like he didn't come in here like he Cam's 68 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.039 from Dallas, right. He brings you know, Joe Witz, Junior's 69 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:06.800 coordinator with you know, the coordinator and Rim here. It 70 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:09.199 wasn't like though he had like this heavy Dallas staff. 71 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:10.639 I mean a fe you guys from the Cowboys that 72 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:13.319 came with him, but guys from all over the league. 73 00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:15.280 You know, got a couple of former head coaches. Cliff 74 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:18.080 Kingsberry who he had no relationship with running this offense, 75 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:21.599 but was a head coach in Arizona. You know Anthony Lynn, 76 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:23.280 you know, is on this staff, who was of course 77 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.879 the head coach of the Chargers. I think that's helped him. 78 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:28.879 He leans into his staff. He's not trying to do everything, 79 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:30.879 you know, he knows that, but he's the guy sets 80 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:32.439 the tone every week. I mean, the way he talks, 81 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:34.759 he's very similar to your coach, you know, Frankly. I mean, 82 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:36.240 the Dan's has got a lot of a lot of 83 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:38.199 things that they're similar to coaches you probably want to 84 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:40.639 go into a barroom fight with if you you needed 85 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:42.400 to pick a coach to have your back. I mean 86 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:45.479 they're both those kind of guys and both ultra aggressive 87 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:47.759 with fourth down. I mean he's built a lot of 88 00:03:47.759 --> 00:03:51.240 confidence in a like a you know, a Novs attitude 89 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:53.199 in terms of way to want to approach the football 90 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:54.120 game each and every week. 91 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:58.319 I love that too, And I think you're right the 92 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.639 backward hat just it's who he is. I love that 93 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:04.759 he's not afraid to show who he is. And Scott Jackson, 94 00:04:04.759 --> 00:04:07.439 who is the outstanding pre and postgame radio host for 95 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:10.719 Commander's Radio network, joins his follow him on Twitter at 96 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:13.759 jacks and Sports. Obviously, people want to always ask you, 97 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:17.360 and you probably almost get tired of talking about Jayden Daniels. 98 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.759 I don't we see what he does well? The thing 99 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.199 that impresses me most from Afar you would know better 100 00:04:23.240 --> 00:04:26.240 than I would. But from Afar is his willing to 101 00:04:26.279 --> 00:04:29.720 be unnerved. He never seems like the moment is too big. 102 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:33.560 Is he has he surprised you in any way when 103 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:35.519 he first came out of LSU? And how has he 104 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:37.879 gotten better through the year through the season? 105 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:42.120 Do you think I see? I think he learns on 106 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:45.240 the go, like if something is something that he's not 107 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:47.319 doing well, he'll fix it the next week or even 108 00:04:47.319 --> 00:04:49.720 really the next player next series. You know, maybe he 109 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.399 gets caught on, you know, he messes up a covers, 110 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:54.600 gets picked off, you know, reads it wrong. You know 111 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:57.279 it's not gonna happen again. He has not had big 112 00:04:57.319 --> 00:05:01.480 interception games this season. He is and really smart with 113 00:05:01.560 --> 00:05:03.639 the football. And you know it's the first after the 114 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:06.720 first week. They played awful against the Buccaneers in Week 115 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:08.839 one and of course it just beat them, and you know, 116 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:10.319 I remember he just took a lot of hits and 117 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:11.920 he was very quick to run out of the pocket 118 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:14.279 that week, didn't really have his eyes up. All the 119 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:16.360 things that he was good at in college he wasn't 120 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:20.079 doing in Week one. Next week comes the Giants game, sliding, 121 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:23.000 you know, looking downfield when he's moving, you know, they 122 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:25.279 in the end zone. They kind of kick seven pield 123 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:27.199 goals and week do to win a game. Then there's 124 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:29.920 that Monday night game against the Bengals in Week three 125 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:32.399 where like everything worked. I mean he was hitting downfield 126 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:34.959 with McLaurin, which hadn't been happened before. And it's just 127 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:37.079 like it's been a progression since there. And you know, 128 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:40.480 the confidence and you mentioned the unflappable manner. So true. 129 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:42.240 I mean the other night he's sitting on the benches sing. 130 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.480 Gonzalez is literally joinking the right up right, you know, 131 00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:48.519 and the ball's going through and he like he is 132 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:50.399 like a he's just smiling on the bench and he 133 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:52.439 kind of gets up really jill like and hugged one 134 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:53.879 of the coaches that came over to him or one 135 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.519 of the traders, and you know, just then starts celebrating. 136 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.839 You know, But it just doesn't seem like the thing 137 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:00.800 about him is I don't I don't think any of 138 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:03.199 this surprises him. Like he's not going to say like, yeah, 139 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:04.360 I knew I was going to come to the league 140 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:05.600 and be you of the Year and we were going 141 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:07.800 to win twelve regular use the game. But I don't. 142 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:09.920 I think he knows. He's that kind of athlete that 143 00:06:09.959 --> 00:06:12.639 has put in the time. And this is truly what 144 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:14.199 the great ones to do, right, They put in the time. 145 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:17.399 They have a schedule, league stick to. I mean, he 146 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:21.519 has a routine, is very regimented, and he puts in 147 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:24.560 the work so he expects to be successful when they 148 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:26.319 step on the field each and every week, and he 149 00:06:26.360 --> 00:06:28.480 has been. I mean he really has been, even when 150 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:30.439 he has some games where we're like, hey's a little off, 151 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:32.480 what's going on, And then he'll settle in and he'll know, 152 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:33.240 he'll start hitting. 153 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:36.160 Yeah. What I really like about him is I think 154 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:40.279 too often times we label running quarterbacks air quotes there 155 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.519 that that's what they do best. I think he throws 156 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:45.920 the ball better than he runs, and he's really good 157 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:49.959 throwing the football. Too many times we just assume that 158 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:51.560 that's how he makes his living. He's going to be 159 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:54.560 running it. If he were a pocket quarterback or had 160 00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:57.360 to roll out and throw like we've seen plenty of 161 00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:59.399 this year, he could still be one of the best 162 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:02.399 quarterbacks the league. There's no question. He doesn't need his 163 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:04.839 legs to validate how good he is. 164 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:09.600 Yeah, with this offensive line he does unfortunately at times. 165 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.079 But yeah, I mean you're right. I mean it's like, 166 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:14.519 I look, everybody wants to compare twenty twelve Robert Griffin 167 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:16.439 and the third right Heisman Trump's winner as well. Yeah, 168 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:19.839 that can overall pick but very different number one personalities, 169 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:23.199 very different work ethics in terms of the way Jaden 170 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:25.279 has put in the film work and he eases a 171 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:28.000 much more polished passer which you hit it on the head. 172 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:31.079 Robert really needed that run. And look, don't get me wrong. 173 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:32.519 The RPO is good for them, It's good for a 174 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:34.079 lot of teams. I mean, you know, you've got teams 175 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:37.560 that don't have athletic running quarterbacks all the time. It's 176 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.519 a good way to address defenses. But he has. Yeah, 177 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.439 he's excelled with his accuracy is really top notch. And 178 00:07:43.480 --> 00:07:45.959 you heard this coming out of draft, and you know, look, 179 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:49.000 they're they're fortunate to have him. I mean, it's been 180 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.879 a blessing. There's a franchise that has spun their wheels 181 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:54.079 for decades, even when they were good. You mentioned it, 182 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:56.639 coming in three different Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. 183 00:07:56.639 --> 00:07:58.759 They never really had that one franchise guy. They have 184 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:01.240 the Hall of Fame quarterbacks on way way back like 185 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:05.240 Paul and Jurgensen, but they never really drafted a quarterback 186 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:08.120 and developed one. You know, in this era of modern 187 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:10.639 you know, passing football, and I think you know, again 188 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.800 you got to always say, you know it's early, but 189 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:15.040 you know the early results had been excellent. 190 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.560 Yeah, and had MVPs like Mark Rippon and one and 191 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:22.079 the Lions can speak to that experience speaking of the 192 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:26.000 Lions thirty thousand foot view. Outside this market, we all 193 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:28.639 get caught up on our own teams, emotionally and rightfully. 194 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:31.480 So how do you view the Lions. What impresses you 195 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:34.559 most and perhaps what would you consider their weakness? 196 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:37.279 Well? I love their coach. Okay, I always start there. 197 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:39.120 I was one of these people that was on radio 198 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:41.320 the day after the NFC Championship game of telling people 199 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:43.840 to shut up. I was like, look, this is the 200 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:46.000 way they played all year. They got here doing this. 201 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:48.200 This guy knows this team, this is how they played. 202 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:50.840 There is I buy into the four down philosophy like 203 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:54.360 Dan Campbell and Down Quinn and these others. I think 204 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:56.159 it's important because you can run on third downs, right 205 00:08:56.200 --> 00:08:58.200 you get third and seven, you don't have to drop back. 206 00:08:58.200 --> 00:08:59.879 I mean, if you're going to play it on fourth down, 207 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.279 as long as you don't lose, you know, big chunk yardage. 208 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:05.399 You know. I love the philosophy. Number one. I like 209 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:07.480 the way that their offense is amazing, and I was look, 210 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:09.639 I was excited about the idea of Ben Johnson last 211 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:11.840 year when the interview process started here. I thought he 212 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:15.039 was he was very intriguing enjoy watching their offense and 213 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:16.879 the new wrinkles they put in each and every week. 214 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:18.759 So yeah, I'm a you know, i'd say I'm a 215 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:21.240 Lions fan from Afar in the sense that like you'd 216 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:23.519 like what franchises do and how they handle their business. 217 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:26.240 And you know, any team that runs a score for 218 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:28.720 the Cowboys is one of my favorites. So you know, 219 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:31.799 I like those kind of thing. I look that the 220 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:34.759 weakness this year has been just you know geez. I mean, 221 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:37.679 the defense is beat up. I mean, my god, I 222 00:09:37.679 --> 00:09:39.559 don't know how many more hits you can take. That 223 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:41.679 being said, I mean the way they handled the end 224 00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:44.039 of the year I think is just such a great 225 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:45.879 testament to what they're all about, which is we're not 226 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:47.279 going to take a knee in the forty nine ers 227 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:49.919 gable that we could have, you know, come back the 228 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:52.320 next week and blow out you know, division rival to 229 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:55.039 put an exclamation point on the season. That felt inevitable. 230 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:56.679 I mean all year we're like, oh, they're the number 231 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:58.840 one seed by a lot, but they weren't right because 232 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:01.120 like no, but actually gonna have to play Week eighteen 233 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:03.559 to get it. So yeah, I love everything they've done 234 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:07.200 to this point, and I think you know, defensively, yeah, 235 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:09.039 there's some there's some aspects of their defense you look 236 00:10:09.080 --> 00:10:10.559 at and sink, yeah, I do. You know, they're gonna 237 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:12.200 have some The Commander's gonna have some chances here to 238 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:14.960 make some plays and they're gonna but the Commander's big key, 239 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:16.960 kind of like they did against Tampa, is they're gonna 240 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.159 have to stay on the field like they're gonna have 241 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:21.799 to have long drives and finish them off with touchdowns 242 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:24.559 and keep golf for that offense and the sideline as 243 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:27.279 long as possible because that's gonna be Look, the Lions 244 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:30.200 offense is gonna be the best unit at the stadium 245 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:32.960 on on Saturday night, and they've got to try to 246 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:36.639 limit their opportunities as best as possible and obviously maximize theirs. 247 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:38.440 And they're gonna have to play their game of the 248 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:40.480 year in all three phases and they haven't done that yet, 249 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:43.240 which is you know, interesting, but you know it's sometimes 250 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:45.200 it never happens for teams, right, I mean, I think 251 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:48.720 that that's what is really challenging about this this game, 252 00:10:48.919 --> 00:10:50.879 you know, coming up Saturday night and exciting, but I 253 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:52.960 think there's a lot of similarities from what the two 254 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:55.000 have gone through to get back to this point. 255 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:58.240 You can follow them on Twitter at Jackson Sports. He 256 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:01.360 you's got Jackson, the Commander's pre game show host, joining 257 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:04.600 us here on X's and Bros. Every team has weaknesses. 258 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:09.240 There's there's no perfect team out there. Washington very susceptible 259 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:12.200 to the run. It's one thing, one of the many things. 260 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:16.200 I think Detroit's offense does exceptionally well. And David Montgomery 261 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:20.279 comes back to compliment Jamier Gibbs like he has most 262 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:23.279 of this season. How challenging do you think that'll be 263 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.879 and how concerning do you think that is for Washington 264 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:28.600 fans knowing Detroit's run team is as stout as it is. 265 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:30.960 Yeah, it is. I mean they did the same thing 266 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:32.600 last week. It's the Bucks, and they were able. Like 267 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:35.200 I said, you know, the limit opportunities for Tampa. You know, 268 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:37.120 it's just forty eight plays I think helped a lot. 269 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:39.759 And Bucky Irving, you know, never got going like he 270 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.159 has been this year, so that that's encouraging. But yeah, 271 00:11:42.200 --> 00:11:43.639 I mean it has been the weak spot. But here's 272 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:46.919 the weird thing. Some of their worst run defensive performances 273 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:49.320 are games they've won, which is just wild. I mean, 274 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.200 they'll have these games. Will they'll give up, you know, 275 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.159 not much, and they'll get us some chunk runs like 276 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:56.480 Sakwon Barkley the Eagles, you know when they beat the 277 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:58.879 Eagles and the game where galn Hurst was knocked out 278 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.279 of in the first quarter. You know, Barkley was killing 279 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:04.159 them early and then they really locked in on him. 280 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:06.720 Then the first Eagles game, Barkley was getting nothing. They 281 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:09.120 had they had a great defensive game plan. Barket was 282 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:11.480 getting nowhere. You know, they were really containing that Eagles 283 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:15.120 offense in week one or excuse me, in the first meeting, 284 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:17.600 which they played up in Philly on a Thursday night, 285 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:20.639 and then Barkley popped too late after the Commander's offense, 286 00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:23.799 you know, stalled out on a fourth down. But yeah, 287 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:25.440 I mean that's going to be the challenge. I mean, 288 00:12:25.559 --> 00:12:26.799 it's going to be one of the loss that that 289 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:29.879 offensive line just really just all parts of the offensive line. 290 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:32.159 Also the way they move when the you know, the 291 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:34.320 screen game, and then the other things that they're able 292 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:36.720 to do in terms of protections are going to be big, 293 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:39.879 and you know, the ability to tackle, you know, don't 294 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:42.320 let guys, you know, they're great after contact and after 295 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:44.080 catch as we know. I mean, you've got to be 296 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:48.279 really good in those areas if you're the commander's defense. 297 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:50.240 So that's going to be the biggest challenge for sure, 298 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:54.399 and obviously maximizing you know, opportunities on offense when you 299 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:55.120 get them out there. 300 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:58.879 Yeah, I'm super excited for it. I think what excites 301 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:01.879 me most is I like seeing good teams play. I 302 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:03.320 know a lot of people feel like, oh, I just 303 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:06.519 want to blow the opposition out. I like watching good 304 00:13:06.519 --> 00:13:09.240 teams play. I like watching Jayden Daniels. Not because you're 305 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.240 on with us, but I think he can hurt you 306 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:14.679 from the pocket, he can hurt you outside the pocket. 307 00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:17.320 I like Zach Ertz. I think Terry McLaurin, now that 308 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:19.519 he has a quarterback, really kind of shines through and 309 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:22.440 how good of a wide receiver he truly is. He's 310 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:25.080 probably one of the best wide receivers in football. People 311 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:29.039 just didn't know enough about it. You mentioned Philadelphia. Philadelphia 312 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.440 now gets the Rams. After the Rams win last night, 313 00:13:32.279 --> 00:13:34.120 people feel like you have to run the football, And 314 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.879 that's what kind of piqued my interest when you said 315 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:39.440 that about Barkley. Both the Rams last night and the 316 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:43.039 Vikings rushed the ball twenty two times and actually Minnesota 317 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:45.480 I'll gained them on the ground, which is interesting. Turnovers 318 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:49.279 is big. Did it surprise you? How do you handicap 319 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:53.679 the Rams at Philadelphia this weekend in the NC semi Finals. 320 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:57.480 I say before last week, before Sunday, I should say 321 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:00.399 I would have said the Eagles by a launch them earlier. 322 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:03.399 This syear pretty good. But after watching the you know, 323 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.399 the Rams essentially come out of a bye week. Let's 324 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.679 be honest. They didn't play anybody in week eighteen, right, 325 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:10.399 they sat their starters. They were a comfortable dropping down 326 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.960 the spot. I'm intrigued by the matchup much more, I'd 327 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:15.840 say coming through the weekend now, because I don't think 328 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:20.440 Eagles offensively were that sharp. I thought I thought it hurts, 329 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:22.240 looked like a guy who had missed multiple weeks with 330 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:25.320 a concussion. Frankly, And you know this is you know, 331 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:27.720 Eagle fans will tell you if their deep dark secrets 332 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:30.159 sometimes if you if you let them uh one of 333 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.480 their one of their concerns, their quarterback. You know, if 334 00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:35.879 they if they get into a game where the running game, 335 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:38.320 the balance they got to get the drop back game, 336 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:41.360 can he really beat you, you know, throwing the football 337 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.679 around the yard. And I think that's the thing right 338 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:45.759 now that you know, a couple of seasons ago, when 339 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:47.879 they had the Super Bowl run, it felt like there 340 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.039 was a lot more flicking going on there, and you know, 341 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:52.000 with A J. Brown, that was all new. But now, 342 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:56.200 I don't know, it's interesting Philadelphia. I think talent wise, 343 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:58.639 you know, player for player, you could you can make 344 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.639 the arguments the best roster owen, but it's not always 345 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.799 shown in the results right or the way they play 346 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:07.559 right now. But yeah, I think there's more of a chance. 347 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:09.799 I'll say this coming out of the weekend, and I've 348 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.919 talked too long already the Rams. I have a much 349 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:14.559 better feeling about the Rams that having a shot going 350 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.080 into Philly that I did prior to this weekend. 351 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:20.840 Last thing from you, because you're in depth, indeed deep 352 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:23.320 with the NFC East. You brought up the Cowboys. We 353 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:26.240 were talking about it earlier. We're just thankful that Jerry 354 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:29.039 Jones isn't the Lion's owner. I know the Lions have 355 00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:32.000 been the laughing stock in the past, but now no 356 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:34.399 reason to be because she has done a really good job. 357 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:36.399 But Jerry Jones thinks he's the smartest guy in the 358 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:40.000 room and every conversation, especially when it comes to football. 359 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:43.919 We thought he screwed himself by not allowing Mike McCarthy 360 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:46.960 to talk to the Bears and by holding on he 361 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:49.320 did not talk with Ben Johnson or Aaron Glenn didn't 362 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:51.240 get that chance. But he's going to talk with a 363 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:55.320 guy like Dion Sanders, which you know, to each his own. 364 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:59.639 I suppose how thankful are you that he's not your owner? 365 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:02.840 And what's the overall belief as you make your way 366 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:06.320 through the NFL, especially in that division about Jones and 367 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.759 the Cowboys direction. 368 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:11.440 Well, it's great. I hope he stays forever, you know, 369 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.159 doing what he's doing. I don't want him to change. 370 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:15.159 I mean, he does. He thinks he's been doing this 371 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:17.639 since the mid nineties when Jimmy Johnson, you know, just 372 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:18.879 couldn't deal with it. But he's worn. 373 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:20.360 He's also got rights. 374 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:24.639 Yeah, right, as I'm saying, is he let Jimmy go, uh, 375 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:27.279 you know, basically force him out by by trashing him 376 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:29.399 and telling him anybody could do what he does and 377 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:31.879 then you watch, you watch it as you know you can't. 378 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.080 That's not true. 379 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:38.120 It's actually the opposite Jerry. You know, you needed Jimmy 380 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:40.480 needed a football person. You need somebody to you know, 381 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:42.320 to be in charge. But he wants to prove his 382 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:44.960 life's mission and he's going to take it to the 383 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.639 end is to prove that he's the smartest football guy 384 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:50.200 and what he's was in that organization and we can 385 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:52.559 see the results. They have wonderful regular seasons, but they 386 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:54.679 can't get it done in the postseason. I mean, Dion 387 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:57.879 Sanders has already told you out loud what what what 388 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:00.519 he thinks about the NFL, which is he didn't think 389 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:02.679 his style and he's cut out for it. But yet, 390 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:04.880 you know, I don't know how serious these things are. 391 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:07.079 Like he said, he listened to conversation, he hung up 392 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.519 the phone happy, but he doesn't really know I what 393 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:10.160 it's going anywhere. And he thinks to stay in Boulder 394 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:13.160 or whatever. So I don't know if this is going anywhere. 395 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:15.200 I think this is just a great way for Jerry 396 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:17.519 to stay in the public spotlight as he liked to do. 397 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:21.000 And it's about marketing. You know, they're great at making money. 398 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:23.559 Nobody's made more money than he has. He's awesome about it. 399 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:27.920 But in terms of putting together a championship roster and organization. 400 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:30.079 He's not been able to do it since Jimmy Johnson left. 401 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:34.200