Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:03] Speaker B: What's up everybody? Sources from the sofa recording Sunday night at 7:30, not too long after both the conference championship games. We're doing this to just kind of recap this really fresh. We had two games today. I was also watching some Australian Open, trying to get my daughter into that, but no luck yet. Watched a little golf, read some news, shootings and all that good stuff, but.
And then kind of mourned a little bit about my Steelers. Not really sure how to feel about their new hire. Maybe we could talk about it. Maybe we don't. I don't know yet.
But let's go with the most recent game. 3,127 Seahawks over the LA Rams in Seattle.
Rams had a chance to get the lead with about, I want to say what, two and a half to go or something like that on the final drive. They're like 15 yards away.
[00:01:00] Speaker A: Five minutes. Five minutes.
Yeah.
[00:01:03] Speaker B: Five and a half.
It was defense all throughout a shootout. Man, 58 points scored in this game. Did not see that happening. And Sam Darnold was, was solid, more than solid.
350 something yards, three touchdowns.
Made some big time sick, sick. Legit throws in this game. Really clutch.
JSN clutch as well. 150 yards. Like one touchdown, like one grab is just so beautiful.
And then they, they did what they could do in the running game without Charbonnet Rams.
I thought once again they played a little conservative. I thought they should have taking a few more chances and then I don't know. Pukinakua had a great game as well. He was covered though. There was like a lot of stuff that he cannot get to or he's being sniffed out by the Seattle defense.
Stafford, a great game as well. Three touchdowns, 350 plus yards. It was an epic shootout. No points scored in the final frame, but it was a lot, a lot of drama.
I actually loved it. My daughter was rooting for the Rams because you know, they're from la, which all good and I was just rooting for a good game. But thoughts, Aaron? I'll let you take the first stab at it because I don't know, we'll talk about the super bowl later. Talk about the super bowl later.
But we figured Seattle is pretty loaded and, and they're firing all cylinders right now.
[00:02:42] Speaker A: Yeah, Rome, I mean, good recap there of the game. I mean Stafford, I'm looking at the numbers right here. 22, 35 for 374 yards, three TDs. I mean Pukin Haku, as you mentioned, nine catches, 165 Devonte Adams, four catches, 89 yards each of a touchdown.
Rams had opportunities in this game, and Seattle kind of gave him some opportunities as well. I mean, that rough punt early in the third quarter really, really hurt the Rams. I mean, man, they get a three. They get a three and out get the punt. That was the guy's second muff punt in the game. This one. He did not recover. They actually pulled him.
McVeigh actually pulled him after that one.
[00:03:18] Speaker B: I missed the first one.
[00:03:21] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, the first one wouldn't bounce right back up to him. But Seattle, I mean, for us, we've been kind of questioning, you know, Sam Darnold. Right. I mean, Sam Darnold's been questioned since he came in this league. I mean, he started out, you know, came in out of usc, had a good year there, got drafted by the jets, you know, famous for the game against Billich Hex seeing ghost on the field in that Monday Night Football game last year. Jason and I touched on it. We didn't trust him in the big game against Detroit. He looked bad. The Rams last year against him, you know, little sweet revenge here for Sam Darnold. But he got sacked eight, nine times there in that wild card matchup against the Rams.
Custom, his job there in Minnesota, he goes to Seattle. We're kind of, you know, people kind of question, hey, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, is this really an upgrade? Kind of the same type quarterback? A little bit.
And then to get rid of dk, you know, Jackson, Smith, Jigba had a better sophomore year than rookie year, but is he ready to take that next step?
And both these guys have been playing at MVP form all year, and now here in the playoffs as well. I mean, the narrative on Sam Darnold is he chokes in the big game. Well, I don't think if you're a team, you can go and expect him to be choking anymore. Because these last three games, Niners twice, week 18, divisional game, and this NFC championship game, zero turnovers, lights out, he's playing great football.
And Rome, like you touched on Seattle is dangerous. I mean, the Rams didn't move the ball on him. But, you know, Sean McVeigh's had a good success against his defense in the past.
[00:04:49] Speaker B: Yeah, I can't remember the stat. I think, like, the Rams are basically Darnold's, you know, Achilles heel or kryptonite. They've, like, what, had like, what, six or seven interceptions over, like, the last three games against him. They sacked him double digits, six of.
[00:05:03] Speaker A: His, six of his 14 interceptions came against the Rams in the two games. Rome, he had four in that opener.
[00:05:09] Speaker B: That's crazy. Yeah, so they got his. They whipped his ass every time.
[00:05:13] Speaker A: But he got sweet revenge tonight, that's for sure.
[00:05:17] Speaker B: Sweet revenge.
The Rams definitely had some hiccups though.
Any other takes from the game?
[00:05:25] Speaker A: I mean. Yeah, I mean, Seattle defensively kind of changed things up a lot. I think they mentioned on the broadcast they played a lot of man. You know, this is kind of a zone coverage team. They played a lot of man. Trying to give Stafford and McVeigh different looks. I mean, Stafford through some dimes himself to Adams and Puka, even a couple passes to the tight end, Parkinson's. I mean, he, Stafford was on MVP form in this game. I mean, you had that dumb penalty in the third quarter by Seattle for taunting. And then the next play they hit Puka for a touchdown. But that four fourth, you know, that four fun goal stop there inside the 10 to stop the Rams there. That really, that held on for Seattle really. But give Sam Darnold like offense credit. They get what, three first downs on that ensuing drive. Basically burned up the clock and left no time for the Rams to have a chance to win this one.
[00:06:10] Speaker B: It's been weird. Like there was one play that really stuck out. It's just.
Was it a fumble?
[00:06:17] Speaker A: Which one?
[00:06:18] Speaker B: It was on cup in the fourth quarter.
[00:06:20] Speaker A: That wasn't even close to a fumble.
[00:06:21] Speaker C: It wasn't, it wasn't a fumble. I think it was more down spot they were going for. I think Aaron, Aaron touched on the, the taunting comment and that was just something that was wild to me. Like that you get the fourth down and like calling a taunting call. Like I, I get it, letter of the law there. But that, that, that's a. It was a game changing play at the moment that was putting the Rams back into the game. That, you know, it wasn't gonna be as close as it was. Like that was. That was just crazy to me. I know potentially Rams fans will say on the last Seahawks drive that whatever pass interference or holding call at the two minute warning mark that, you know, gave Seattle the first down, that may have decided the game. But Seattle just seemed to be in control really from, you know, before the half was there, I guess the scoring going into the half and then really coming out in the third quarter.
But Aaron hit it right. You know, when we talk about Darnold, you know, I. Hopefully the narrative of him will definitely change because in the big games he's shown up this year and proven a lot of people wrong.
And so last year, aberration potentially. But him getting the opportunity with the right coach, the right people around him. There's a reason that he was drafted as high as he was. And you know, you just can't, you know, you can't blame anyone really get drafted by the jets at this point because you're not going to, you're not going to succeed.
And so, I mean, Seattle's looking like they really struck goal because, yeah, at the beginning of the season, you imagine, hey, you're getting rid of dk.
Lockett's gone. Walker struggled, you know, at running back last year after, you know, an impressive rookie year. Hey, what are the weapons around this guy after he was coming from the Minnesota team that had, you know, Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson and Jones in the running game and they were the Weapons going to be there and they were. And it wasn't just because of the weapons. Like Sam Darnold really earned this. And you know, what's this team a four and a half point favorite, not going to the Super Bowl. Don't go ahead. But like, you know, you're, you've been the best team and they've been the best team last six weeks, maybe more because Rome, I lost track of your rankings, but I mean the Rams were. The Rams had it and I think, and I think the Rams lost to the Carolina Panthers that first one and then down the stretch them losing the other game was Atlanta. That, that last game, I mean, just the Rams had this. They should have been the cream of the crop. And you know, they're, you know, you're having a four point loss in this game or whatever it was, but you should have had home field advantage potentially if they take care of business in some of these games that were at down the stretch and they didn't. And they went the hard route to go through the playoffs. And we talked about in the preview like that was going to be potentially the Rams, are they just not going to have enough to go how much road games they were playing in? So I don't think a surprising result for me. I think it's still a great game. It was close, but the Seahawks really, they've been the best team here for, you know, the last month and a half.
[00:09:15] Speaker B: I don't know if the Seahawks were in every power ranking of mine. I'm going back now because I was kind of curious.
I had them locked out up until.
[00:09:26] Speaker A: Well, they were what, three and two the first five games of the season. So I'm sure they weren't Rome's power eight. I think we had to kind of push Rome to get Jacksonville and Seattle in there for a while.
That really should be the super bowl matchup, but. But it is what it is.
It should be.
[00:09:41] Speaker B: Bills, they broke in at week seven at number eight. I'm not really sure what happened. It's going into week seven, so whatever happened. Week six, and then they pretty much stayed in the top four.
[00:09:50] Speaker A: Pretty.
[00:09:51] Speaker B: You know, pretty much throughout. And then they finished one in the final two power rankings, so them and the Patriots. Top two in my power rankings for the final two weeks.
[00:10:03] Speaker C: Hey, you're there with it, Rome.
[00:10:05] Speaker A: The only thing Rome got right this NFL season was, get out of here, man.
[00:10:10] Speaker B: Hayden. Hayden.
No, I thought it was a great game. I know we were talking on the conference championships because, you know, our teams are out, but it was entertaining. I wasn't like, it's kind of nice watching a football game. You don't have anything at stake. You know, it's, like, calm, you know, hanging out with the daughter, doing puzzles, coloring Barbies and stuff. Watching the game, making pork chops. Feels good.
[00:10:34] Speaker C: Yeah, it's fine. I was still. I'm still bitter about last week. I got a Rams fan text me trying to steal my gimmick, where I say I'm stealing somebody else's gimmick. But WWE wrestler Seth Rollins noted. Huge Bears fan, always tweets, I love football or I hate football after the Bears win or lose. Yeah, I was just. I always repost his I hate football thing. So I got a guy Ram. I got a Rams fan that always hits me up whenever the Rams lose. I hate football. So he. He hit me up today. I had football.
[00:10:59] Speaker B: My dude.
[00:10:59] Speaker C: I was like, I don't care. I was like, I'm still pissed off about last week of the Bears. They should have won that game. Shouldn't even been playing this week.
[00:11:06] Speaker B: You're probably right, actually.
Cookie crumbles.
All right, so NFC championship locked in. Seattle favorites going to the Super Bowl AFC championship game was epic, man. It was a snowstorm that slowly started creeping in the second quarter.
Picking up a little bit of steam at the end of the third. And then all of a sudden, 10 minutes left in the fourth. The whole field's white, and it just intense. The wind's blowing. I think what we had, like, four or five missed field goals in this game. Like, nobody could kick a field goal.
I gotta be honest with you, man. Like, I was.
Broncos probably should have pulled this away, man. They had plenty of opportunities.
Stidham looked good in the first half, I, I, I would say in the second half he looked kind of scared, didn't want to throw the ball. When he had open receiver, I think it was like a lane open. They did a very similar play again. Throws interception on the, on, on the play following the, the throw had no air underneath it and their kicker can't remember his name.
I think two of them were tipped. Other one just caught the wind and it was just very intense. Pats as well. Missed a couple field goals, nobody can score and it was just, it was a bloodbath and it was, it was a really tough like old school football game. I kind of like that aspect of it.
Thoughts on that one?
[00:12:29] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, Aaron notable Broncos insider or Sean Payton? Insider, I would say. Like, I mean you're, you're looking in the first quarter of that game, yeah, Stidham looked great. And whether it was the unknown on the defensive side, you know, play style a little bit. I know Romo said in the broadcast, you know what Stidham sees as far as what the reads are different than what Bo Nix would see. So there's a little bit of, you know, a little bit of a surprise. And you know, Stidham, you know, a traveled backup that a lot of people like. I mean the pre game was all about him and dude, they were hyping them up.
Yeah, I mean you gotta sell them, man.
[00:13:09] Speaker A: You gotta sell them.
[00:13:10] Speaker C: CBS was selling, man, I thought it was Paul Heyman, you know, noted advocate Paul Heyman selling the fight. But CBS was in on him, the bidding war. The Patriots wanted him back as a backup and, and you know, they were giving me the backstory where to Ben. So and then I was like thinking in my mind, I was like, man, Aaron was right. You know, first quarter, first half, he's looking good. This game's there, you know, and I agree with you Rome, they probably should have had definitely more points and, and took a way more control of that game or it didn't feel like it was any, any business being that close.
And then, yeah, the time lapse of the weather. We were talking about this before we started rolling here.
CBS did it in the fourth quarter where you're saying pregame it looks, you know, it looks 70 and sunny on, on the camera and then by the, by the fourth quarter it's a snowstorm. I gotta, I gotta ask, where do we apply to get the guy with the blower that just walks in his blows, you know, the yard line down every 10 yards. Did you see that guy?
[00:14:09] Speaker A: There's Multiple. They had multiple guys out there.
[00:14:12] Speaker C: I mean, I mean I want that. I got, you know, I'm in the garage right now. I got mine right here. I just feel like, hey, you gotta.
[00:14:18] Speaker A: You gotta have gas, man. Because electrical freeze. So you gotta make sure you have gas, man. I got the 2% oil in there and you'd be good to go.
[00:14:26] Speaker C: I just feel like, man, I'm going down. That's a good gig, man.
[00:14:29] Speaker A: It is a good gig.
[00:14:30] Speaker C: Blow off this 30 yard line all the way up and down.
[00:14:34] Speaker B: It is kind of a cool gig. I wonder how you can get that.
[00:14:37] Speaker A: Yeah, I don't know if that's a volunteer, I don't know or just grounds crew does that. I'm not. I'm not really quite sure. But that is, that is a good gig.
[00:14:45] Speaker B: It just feels like eons ago, man.
It was earlier today the. The pass game. But you look at the stats from both quarterbacks. Cinema had a better quarterback rating than Drake May.
But Drake May had some really clutch throws in the fourth quarter. They didn't really get much out of it, but they just held control the ball. I thought that field goal. I camera when it was. Was it in the fourth.
[00:15:13] Speaker A: Fourth quarter.
There's multiple kicks in the fourth quarter. Rome.
[00:15:18] Speaker B: That's when Denver was about like. It was a 41 yard field goal attempt 45.
[00:15:22] Speaker A: It got.
[00:15:23] Speaker B: All of a sudden it just went crazy. Like did the wind get it? And then all of a sudden like, oh no, no, they got tipped.
[00:15:29] Speaker A: Yeah, he got a couple fingers on it.
[00:15:31] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:32] Speaker A: I mean. Yeah. Back to your point on Drake Mayrome. I mean, what do you have? I mean his legs I thought were the big difference in the second half. Obviously had the rushing touchdown there at the first half. I mean, Stidham had couple bad mistakes.
That backwards pass, that was a terrible mistake that really.
So there's two plays there in that first half. They're not. Not kicking a field goal to go up 10 0.
When they. When the weather was good. It's an easy kick for them to make. They went for it on 4th and 1. They didn't like the play called. Patriots stopped them. You had the backwards pass by Stidham in which he was throwing it forward, but as he got hit, he turned. His body rotated so the ball went backwards, which was the right call after seeing the replays.
And then Drake May runs it in with two plays later for like an eight yard quarterback draw.
[00:16:15] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:16:15] Speaker A: And then like you said Rome at the end of the game, just kind of.
That's the quarterback, not experience, just kind of rushing things, you know, he's only played, what, eight starts in his career in the NFL. Just throws it up against the best corner in the league. One of the best.
[00:16:28] Speaker B: He only had, what, five snaps this year.
[00:16:31] Speaker A: Yeah.
Taking knees and stuff and the ball.
[00:16:34] Speaker B: Yeah, that's. Imagine.
[00:16:38] Speaker A: Well, I mean, look like Jason touched on. I mean, he wasn't a bidding war, right? Josh McDaniels had him in New England, had him with the Raiders, wanted him back. Sean Payne's like, hey, you know what? We're gonna pay you 12, 14 million, whatever it is, and you're gonna take three nail downs and hand it to the running back twice. That's. That's not a bad gig. He came in, he played good in the first half. Second half, Rome, like you said. I mean, both teams are kind of like, just don't turn the ball over. Right. The weather was so bad. It was like, man, I'm like, let's hope we catch a break. Look like Denver did because he had that shank punt that set him up at their own. At the Patriots 33.
They were only able to get, what, five, six yards and then that 45 yard field goal, like, we touched. Almost blocked. But yeah, I mean, if Denver goes up 10, 0 in that first half, to your guys's point, it seemed like Denver should have been up at least double digits going into the third quarter, maybe fourth quarter. Dude, controlling that game.
[00:17:27] Speaker B: After that first try, they're up 7 0. I'm like, oh, man, they got this, like, sitting looks great.
They're vibing.
Pats responded later in the second. It's like kind of like a little, you know, tugging war match. No one could make a field goal. They both had chances. They missed it.
[00:17:40] Speaker A: Okay, cool.
[00:17:41] Speaker B: You know, whatever it is, it's 77 at the half, but, yeah, just a lot of missed opportunities. I thought Denver probably should have won this one and they were going to get some guys back in time for the super bowl, too. Maybe that would have been a better matchup. I don't know. But will preview. We'll have plenty of time to preview that. But I really feel bad for the Denver Broncos because it was there. It was there.
[00:18:05] Speaker A: Well, I think, like you're saying, I think. I think it's a missed opportunity because they had a chance to win this game. But it makes you think, like, if they had Bo Nicks, like, I don't think there's any doubt they likely win this game.
I mean, Bo Nick's there with his scrambling ability kind of better understanding I think would have helped them out a lot.
I actually like that's New England because we get Drake May. I don't think Stidham would play very well against Seattle. I mean not to say Drake May will play any better or not. He's. He's kind of struggled in these playoffs, at least offensively. The Patriots have but you know, that's why they're 5.4 and a half, 5 point underdog. And that line has gone up from three and a half when initially came out. So everyone's jumping on Seattle early.
But look Patriots defensively been really, really good in these playoffs and see what you want sit them. Stidham actually played the best of the three quarterbacks they've gone against. And being C.J. stroud and Herbert, that's. That's saying a lot for, for a guy that's never really played.
[00:18:56] Speaker B: That's true. That's true.
Trying to think what else kind of stuck out in that game. But I don't really got anything else though.
[00:19:06] Speaker C: I don't know if it's about that game. Aaron kind of brought it up. You know, them was the beginning of the second quarter or whatever it was when Denver went for it on fourth down. I know we had a bunch of missed field goals at that moment, but throughout the playoffs and I'll reflect on Ben Johnson and the Bears, but even a bunch of these other games too. The, the going forward on fourth down. I mean, is it to the point now where we like they're just going for it, we're not settling for the three points ever. We need to score touchdowns. But man, we come down to a lot of these moments where three points would have just been so much more valuable.
And not knowing where the game flows, especially in the first half, like I don't, you know, whatever math we're going on to, a lot of times they say it's 50, 50, you can go it either way. But just feels like early in the first half, given how games unfold and stuff, when you miss the opportunity to get three points, one that stood out to me because you didn't. I mean they didn't know. Obviously we're going to go into a blizzard by the fourth quarter over there. But as Aaron touched on it, if you're up 10, nothing at that point, you know, the game may be a little bit different when you're just not taking points, when you're not in a shootout. I don't understand going for it or fourth down a lot of these situations and not taking the points. And we've seen that I think time and time again throughout these playoffs where some decisions which are made in the early part of the game that we think, hey, I, I'm and I'm long. Take the points coach guy, like just get points on the board. Like if you had three chances to get the first down and you don't like, I mean it seems like every one of these guys is playing Madden.
[00:20:32] Speaker B: Yeah, I think that was especially this year. Right. Like I like taking big risks, I do it all the time. But like a lot of these games, I feel like a lot of games were lost because they took too many risks and they didn't get well.
[00:20:44] Speaker A: Rome, before you go into that, let's look at teams that taken a risk here in the playoffs. Jaguars did not take three points in the opening quarter there in the wild card lost. Bears last week lost. You got the Broncos this week. Teams that have not taken points that you guys point in the first half are owing three in these playoffs going for it on fourth down. So it's not a great risk versus reward right now, especially in a game where points are valuable. I get, you know, sometimes you think you're going to be in a shootout, but the game plays out 10, 7. I mean this game, the overrunner started out at 40, actually went up to 43. So the betters are betting the over in this game and we get 17 total points.
Take points. I'll even touch on the Rams. I think the Rams should have kicked the field goal there at four from four or five and a half minutes ago down 31, 30. That pisses Seattle. There's a pressure on Seattle if you get a stop. You just need a field goal to win now you got to get a touchdown. So you can really say 0 and 4 with teams not taking critical points at junctures and games.
[00:21:39] Speaker C: Yeah, it's a great point, Aaron. I thought, I thought the exact same thing at that time. And I know everyone's gonna be crucifying like, oh, it doesn't get you the lead. I was like, but no, you're playing for what's gonna happen there. Yeah, it gets you a point away and you only need the field goal if you, if you can hold them versus having to march all the way down the field again for the touchdown. And I, yeah, I think we're missing a lot of it especially, especially with how close these games be in the end. Like, it's not like there's, you know, massive blowouts and stuff. It's like, oh, I gotta go into this track meet. Like, this comes down to a couple of these points like Aaron saying here and there and when you don't know what the flow of the game's going to be and where your defense is going to make plays. Like, it just seems like there's a lot to be desired with this in these situations. And I think Aaron brings up a great bunch of great examples in this postseason.
[00:22:21] Speaker B: That was a great point though, with the five minutes ago. Yeah.
Damn. So what do you guys think about the Super Bowl?
Initial thoughts going into it, Liking it, not liking it, whatever. Gonna be drinking more beers than usual, Filling up on chicken wings.
[00:22:40] Speaker C: I think it'll be a usual amount. I don't think any more than usual, but it was. It's interesting when you're looking at a new, almost a new era the of the league right now. I mean, you had Caleb Williams, you had Bo Nix, you had Drake May.
You know, incredible draft class that was in these teams that are able to load up on other. Other parts of the team and the ball, you know, strong defenses and where they're spending their money and. And we got a lot of new guys that are going to be making the name for themselves early. And then Sam Darnold, a team that kind of built a little bit differently, where they're just, hey, had a good roster construction at a quarterback at a good price, and he takes him, you know, to the super bowl in his first year there.
Interesting way to get there. But now you're looking at. I, I think I was reflecting this week about the Josh Allen loss and Lamar Jackson where he's at. Like, there's a generation of quarterbacks here that may have missed their window because there's a whole young group of generation that's now just through their second year that May start owning the playoffs right now.
[00:23:46] Speaker B: I know Gronk was like really up on May right now. Like, oh, is this the start of the.
Well, the third.
[00:23:51] Speaker A: The funny thing is like Rome we just touched on.
I mean, May's not played great in these playoffs and the Patriots offensively haven't done really anything.
[00:23:59] Speaker B: I mean, they've had somebody cost him either.
[00:24:02] Speaker A: Yeah, well, I mean, he's gotten fortunate, right? I mean, he had a lot of turnover sacks against the Chargers and they had no offense. So they haven't gone against an offense. I could put any points on the board yet. They're giving up what, seven, three points and 16.
So Seattle, we talked about Sam Darnold fumbling and not. But he's not. That offense is rolling so it's going to be a challenge for the Patriots defense, something they haven't had here in a while. The last time the Patriots played against a good quarterback, well, that was Josh Allen and he lit him up for what, 35 points in the second half and route to a 38, 35 comeback there in what, week 15 team, whatever it was.
So I think that's why the Patriots are a five point underdog.
So I, I mean, Patriots kind of like Jason was touching on a team that spent $300 million in the off season. Bring in one of the better coaches in the league, Mike Vrabel, that should never been let go. Bring in one of the better OCS and Josh McDaniel. Say what you want. I mean, he's not a very good coach, but you give him an offensive playbook, he could dial up an efficient offense week in, week out.
And Seattle, you know, they're built, you know, young players, kind of like the old Pete Carroll. Young error. They're all young. They bring in a veteran quarterback and Sam Darnold who nobody really wanted. They're paying him on the cheap and they just got young players around him. The speed, a pretty good offensive line, a really good defensive line and good unit players. It's, it's an interesting matchup. I think it's.
I, I like it better than Denver because I just don't think Stidham and those guys could go in there and beat Seattle or maybe put up much of a number. You're gonna have to be able to throw some dime passes like you've seen Stafford do to your point room that you touched on Drake May, can he just, you know, he's a little more prone to, you know, fumbling and making mistakes. I think for Seattle, the key will be, you know, how do they handle Drake May's legs because unlike Stafford and pretty that aren't great scramblers like May. May, wait. May will take off and go running and his legs were big and beating Denver and Denver and Seattle kind of built similar offensively. Very aggressive defensive attacks.
[00:25:59] Speaker B: Yeah, one thing that, that May has changed this year, he definitely knows he picks the right times to, to take a takeoff and run.
His decision making this year has gone leaps and bounds like crazy with McDaniels and Rabel there.
I guess firing Mayo was the right decision.
[00:26:19] Speaker C: Fired Mayo?
[00:26:20] Speaker A: Mayo, yeah.
What did Mayo go about one year? He lost one year.
[00:26:25] Speaker C: One year.
[00:26:26] Speaker B: One year.
[00:26:28] Speaker A: Where's. Where's he at now? Is he like a position coach for somebody?
[00:26:32] Speaker C: I don't think he got it I don't think, I don't know. I'm not sure if he's working.
[00:26:38] Speaker B: I don't want to talk anything else about the NFL.
[00:26:40] Speaker A: I guess.
[00:26:44] Speaker B: Let'S do NFL hires.
Let's take a quick break. We'll come back with NFL hires.
[00:26:52] Speaker A: All right.
[00:26:53] Speaker B: We just recapped the conference championship games. You didn't cash that catch the beginning of this pod or if you're watching this on YouTube, that's another clip on YouTube as well. But we're gonna talk a little bit about some of the coaching hiring that has been going down over the past week and a half or so.
Most recently or more recently is my Pittsburgh Steelers.
Have they announced it? I think it was just more like a, a report that they have verbally agreed with Mike McCarthy. Mike McCarthy, former coach of the Dallas Cowboys, had a great five year run, by the way. A couple what, three 12 win seasons plus solid teams.
Took a big poop in the playoffs per usual. Won one super bowl with, with the Aaron's Packers.
With Aaron Rodgers, there's rumors that, you know, he not only is the Pittsburgh guy, so he knows how the city works. Like I don't know how that, why that matters, it's a blue collar city, but whatever.
But they're hoping that he would maybe entice Aaron Rodgers to come back for one more season. I don't know if you guys saw any of the games. Rogers actually like had a decent completion percentage.
Didn't like blow anybody out of the, you know, out of the water every game. I think he barely got like maybe two 20 yards a game. But at a lot of times he looked like he couldn't go left and right more times than not and just took the sack. Didn't want to get hit, all that stuff. I just don't see how much more he can give in a year too in Pittsburgh. But the, but the story is that he did fall in love with football again. He hasn't been in love with football again for like eight years or so. So that's what he loved about being with the Steelers. So that's awesome. I'm happy for him.
But Mike McCarthy though, we've had, we've shat on him a bunch of times, but we also praise him for like how he came back and did a pretty decent job with the Cowboys, just didn't get an extension. He told you know, Jerry Jones like the F off, which was a kind of cool move. I, I do give him props for that. I'm not sure how I feel about him coming To Pittsburgh Steelers.
He has a pedigree. He's the third oldest coach I think now in the NFL at 62 years old. Right behind Harbaugh and.
[00:29:06] Speaker A: Oh man, who else or what?
[00:29:08] Speaker B: No, it's, it's John Harbaugh with New York Jazzy.
[00:29:13] Speaker A: John and Jim gotta both be up there. Right.
[00:29:15] Speaker C: And Andy Reid I think is the other Andy Reid.
[00:29:17] Speaker B: Andy Reid's the oldest guy.
[00:29:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:29:19] Speaker B: Which he might retire any minute or so, but yeah, let's talk about that one first. Then we'll go back and re revisit these other hires which have been. It's been a surprising cycle so far to say the least. We've have so many legendary coaches now available, a bunch of young guys.
[00:29:38] Speaker A: That.
[00:29:39] Speaker B: Are unproven getting a shot.
It's been unreal. But Mike McCarthy. What's up?
[00:29:45] Speaker C: I was definitely surprised Rome just given the history of the Steelers organization.
Three coaches in 50 years or whatever it is.
When they hired Kaur, when they hired Tomlin specifically, it was a young coach. Their, you know, culture wasn't anything like specific. I mean that was a surprising hire. And to go, you know, with an older coach here that almost seems, I don't want to say it's a transition coach but when you're talking about your, the third oldest coach in the league, this is your third stop.
You're great, you're an offensive guy that knows quarterbacks and that type of stuff in this offense hasn't been great. You don't know who the quarterback is. You know, what's, what's the long term vision? I mean this is a win now higher.
So the, you know, the Rooney family is. It's win now. It's not, they're not blowing anything up or rebuilding. They, they think there's something there, you know, to go, to go win.
So I was surprised, I was expecting, you know, something out of, you know, in their pattern where there was going to be a younger coach that hey, we're finding a guy for the next, you know, decade plus. But now this is probably a coach that's a temporary job. Four or five years.
Yeah, yeah, four or five years get to turn it around.
And the quarterback situation is interesting at this point. Rogers is probably your best option. I don't really love any of the college options unless Aaron's gonna school me on some college quarterback that's behind.
I don't know. I mean how old is Rooney?
[00:31:18] Speaker B: Because this feels like Rooney has done a phenomenal job.
[00:31:22] Speaker A: Right.
[00:31:22] Speaker B: He's a great owner, one of the great owners NFL. He's fought for, like, equality and having black coaches hired, all that stuff. Same thing in executive office. But this is his team and I feel like he's getting up there, man. And now they're breaking from tradition with hiring like an older coach. Let's see something get done in the next five years, you know, hoping for one more super bowl before I kick the bucket. That's what it feels like to me. And we've seen this before with like, older owners.
[00:31:48] Speaker A: Well, it feels like to me, maybe nobody wants a job. Roman means not a good job. They got no quarterback you guys just touched on. So you bring in Mike McCarthy, an offensive guy who's, you know, he's had a lot of good offenses in this league. When he was OC with Alex Smith and the 49ers, the packers of Rogers and then with the Cowboys, their offenses were always top 5, top 10 units. Had some good OCS there.
It does feel like a, you know, kind of a, you know, five year, six year kind of transition window. But again, like, you know, who you going to get at quarterback? Who wants to take this job? If you're a young coach, do you want to go to a team that's spending all their money on defense, has no real future right now in offense, and then get fired and be kind of, you know, in the coaching carousel, looking to rebuild yourself up? So to me, it's not a good job. Mike McCarthy's like, hey, this is my last gig anyways. I'll take it. I'm a Pittsburgh guy. Why not? So I think that's where they went with that fit.
[00:32:40] Speaker B: This is a dream job. I. I thought they might go like a Mike Flores route, but we talked about last time, like he was a little bit older than what they hire. So this is. They just totally broke the mold. I don't know.
I posted some stuff on social media, on X and on Instagram, got like a lot of funny comments, especially from Ravens fans. But maybe let's talk about their coach next. They hired Jesse Minter.
[00:33:06] Speaker A: And.
[00:33:09] Speaker B: He'S done a pretty solid job, I think, with the Chargers. Right.
And he was with Jim Harbaugh, I believe in Michigan.
[00:33:17] Speaker C: Michigan.
[00:33:18] Speaker B: Then went with him to San Diego. Or not San Diego, Los Angeles Chargers, and has a hell of reputation, but this is like his first shot at a head coaching job.
And I thought it was kind of unique, actually for the Ravens. I'm not really sure what to think about this one either, but he is young, 42 years old, kind of like similar to what John. What John Harbaugh was when they got him 19 years ago. So thoughts on this one?
[00:33:46] Speaker C: He had ties to Baltimore, if I remember his resume correctly too. Prior to his college. He was. He was in Baltimore, so at least I assume there was some familiarity where he was at and did his run in college and national championship.
[00:34:00] Speaker A: Good.
[00:34:00] Speaker B: Running a small stint with the other brother. You too? Yeah. In Baltimore.
[00:34:04] Speaker A: Yeah. He's a defensive backs coach, I want to say from 2017 to 2019, something like that.
And then when Jim. When Jim was in Michigan looking for, you know, kind of a D.C. coordinator John recommended.
So they already had a few guys doing that.
[00:34:24] Speaker B: Rome, allegedly.
[00:34:27] Speaker A: Yeah. Like. Like the blowers for the.
Out there on the snowfield. A couple guys like that with cameras. Right?
[00:34:34] Speaker B: Yeah.
So you guys like the hire?
[00:34:36] Speaker C: I think it's. It's an interesting hire. I know. I think Aaron likes it a lot.
The.
I think the staff's gonna matter right now. Where's Lamar Jackson at? Ben Hurt, you know, the past couple years off. You know, Derrick Henry isn't the player he was going to be. This is a defensive coach. Okay. What's, what's going to be the offensive strategy in his hires. I think the staff is probably gonna be pretty important for him as he, as he brings. As he assembles this staff and what's it going to be and what's the future like for Lamar Jackson and this Ravens offense is. It's much of a transition and this is kind of a win now situation for them too.
A better situation than the Steelers job since you had do have a quarterback.
[00:35:20] Speaker B: But there's a lot of other good quarterbacks.
[00:35:21] Speaker C: Yeah, but there's a lot of other questions on the, on that roster right now where this team's been.
So I think it's interesting. I, I don't dislike it, but I'd say the only thing in this league, two defensive defensive coaches. I mean, I guess the current super bowl has has a couple defensive coaches at it, but like the offensive minds have been kind of the drive and hires for some of that stuff. So was there. Is the Chargers defense that great that we saw out of this? Is this, is this some defensive mind he's going to change through? Because the, the Seahawks head coach, he was long rumored as kind of the defensive wizard over there. So.
[00:35:58] Speaker B: Yeah, not to me it was. Yeah. I don't know what to think. I. I think it's kind of risky. But just this whole coaching cycle, man, we had too many legendary coaches let go, a lot of bad ones let go, and then it's Just like a weird hodgepodge of like how, how things opened up, the Bills job opening up, you know, do you think Stefanski knew that I was coming, would have taken the Falcons job? Harbaugh, you know, it's just. It's just really odd. So really good jobs out there and then.
I don't know.
[00:36:31] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, look, I, I think the Jesse Mentor hires an A plus hire. That's the best hire this cycle. I think Jesse Mentor is going to do what Liam Cohen, Ben Johnson done. I think Baltimore is going to go leaps and bounds, get improved, better Chargers, top five, top ten units. The two years he's there. Guess what? Baltimore has better players, better personnel. They do. And offensively they got Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, you know, Flowers and those guys. I think Baltimore is a team next year that will be much, much improved on that side of the ball. To Jason's point, who they bring in as an oc I think it's going to be big, culturally fit for them.
But I think Jesse Mentor, kind of from that Mike McDonald, all that tree. Yeah, I think it's a good hire. I think we kind of see different parts in this league where we kind of were like over the last decade, offensive young head coaches. I think we're going to start training to sort defensive head coaches. We look at the best teams. We look at the best teams in the NFL. Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, all these teams, Broncos, all top five, really defensive units. Say what you want, even about Jacksonville. Liam Cohen did a great job there, but where did Jacksonville take really leaps and bounds? It became the number one rush defense in the league. They got a hot defensive coordinator that will be on the market next year for head coaching gigs.
So I, I think, I, I think defensively, with all the offensive geniuses that have come in the league the last decade, defensive geniuses is the next cycle going forward. And I think Mentor is a great hire for Baltimore.
[00:38:00] Speaker B: Nice. Thanks for that.
All right, so Jesse went to Baltimore. Let's go with the other coordinator.
That was kind of shocking as well. Jeff Halfley.
You were talking on him, Aaron, early in the year, kind of like joking. I don't like the hire.
[00:38:16] Speaker A: I don't like it.
[00:38:17] Speaker B: You were hoping that he gets the hell out of.
[00:38:19] Speaker A: I am.
They got an upgrade.
[00:38:24] Speaker B: They did.
[00:38:26] Speaker A: Look, if you're Ben Johnson. If you're Ben Johnson, I would have been saying calling Packers. Hey, man, Halfley, man, keep him. He's a good D.C.
now he's in Miami. Oh, my goodness.
[00:38:35] Speaker B: I, I like, I really like Gannon. I thought he's Arizona, tough job. But him as the new DC dude that, that, that's, that's a big upgrade. It's gonna be a tough battle man in that. In your guys division. But Halfley now Miami Dolphins. Weird. Higher as well. This was not. I. I don't know why. I don't know why you would fire Mike McDaniel. Then go to Halfley. But thoughts on this one we talked about.
[00:39:02] Speaker A: Do you know he has, does he have ties with the gm? Is that why he. This kind of move got made?
[00:39:08] Speaker B: I, I don't think he does why though?
[00:39:11] Speaker A: All right.
[00:39:11] Speaker C: Yeah, I think he does. And the GM was. I mean because Troy Aikman was part of this search. Right.
[00:39:15] Speaker A: And.
[00:39:16] Speaker C: And trach. And really liked or consulted.
[00:39:22] Speaker A: I don't know.
[00:39:23] Speaker B: Well, quarterbacks have not been good consultants.
[00:39:26] Speaker A: Not only that, isn't he still on the Cowboys payroll in some way? I'm just saying.
[00:39:29] Speaker B: Who knows. He's talking a lot of on the Cowboys. I think he's out.
[00:39:35] Speaker C: Rome mentioned for the Rudy family and what they're you know, for aging or Steven Ross is another owner of the Dolphins. Aging owner looking for a championship in success.
[00:39:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:39:48] Speaker C: I believe he's in. I believe he's in his 80s as well.
[00:39:50] Speaker A: 82, 83. You've got to be up there.
[00:39:53] Speaker B: Oh yeah. This guy looks crusty. Just looking. He's 85.
[00:39:56] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:39:56] Speaker C: No offense.
Jesus.
[00:39:59] Speaker A: No, I mean if I'm 85 and a billionaire I'm happy. I don't care what you people say.
[00:40:03] Speaker C: He's invested a ton in that area around Hard Rock Stadium.
[00:40:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:40:08] Speaker C: Rome, you're a big tennis guy. He brought the, the tennis down to that area. The Formula one race, it is his. So he's done a ton as a, as a billionaire and business wise and bringing everything to Miami and he's invested in the Dolphins. It's just been bad investment so far because they can't. They haven't got the head coach right. They had a general manager in there. That was probably way too long in Greer. He just, he was, he was there way too long for a team that didn't have success.
I know you stopped as I said, didn't get the head coach right. McDaniel probably could have been right. And if they were going to fire him, they should have fired him like on Black Monday right then and there. But they waited I don't know what three days afterwards. It seemed any. And he and McDaniel was talking like I'm back.
And so I think because probably every GM was like, I Want my own guy or, you know, or at least some say. I don't know if I want the horrible stuff.
[00:41:01] Speaker B: I really think it was. But they said it. They had no conversation about it.
[00:41:05] Speaker C: Wow. I think. I think, regardless, the Dolphins have been, you know, for a team that went undefeated and was like one of the, you know, winningest organizations ever, you know, through the Dan Marino era, they've been pretty much, you know, a non factor in football for the last 25, 30 years.
[00:41:24] Speaker B: Real quick. So their new GM, Dolphins. John Eric Sullivan was the VP of Player Personnel with the Packers. So they have a connection there. Halfway. I. I vaguely remember that he was the head coach at Boston College with.
[00:41:38] Speaker A: A losing record, too. Rome 22 and 26.
[00:41:41] Speaker B: That stand. Oh, yeah, it was.
[00:41:42] Speaker A: Yeah, it wasn't a good.
[00:41:42] Speaker B: Not good. And I forgot.
Could have sworn he got fired for something else, like, kind of scandalous. But with McDaniel, though, I think they were like, one play away from, like, making like, a pretty deep playoff run. They beat the. Out of, like, I forgot, like, two years ago, like, some team was like 70 to 14. Then all of a sudden, that was the Broncos. Yeah. So, like, they were close. Like, I don't know what happened, but I thought McDaniel was the good coach and they played really well towards the end. I thought the whole problem was the gm.
[00:42:08] Speaker A: I thought the roster's not great. I mean.
I mean, we're talking. I mean, we've been talking two years. That two are gonna basically get knocked out of the league because of concussions. He should have one big hit away. I mean, we'll see what ends up happening with Mike McDaniel, but apparently he's taking the Chargers OC job. Unless he gets a head coaching job here of either the Raiders or one of these teams, Arizona, if he's interested.
[00:42:32] Speaker C: He pulled out. He pulled out of what? The Cleveland and Buffalo head coaching. He did?
[00:42:36] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:42:37] Speaker A: Did he pull out of Buffalo?
[00:42:39] Speaker C: I thought he pulled out.
[00:42:40] Speaker B: Yeah. He didn't show up.
[00:42:41] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:42:42] Speaker B: And he's a contention for the Raiders job. Allegedly.
[00:42:45] Speaker A: Okay. I think. I think Kubiak, Seattle's OC is going to get the Raiders draw, but that's just, you know, what I'm hearing.
[00:42:51] Speaker B: But we'll see, huh? But, yeah, none of us like the Halfley hire.
[00:42:56] Speaker A: I. I think it's a terrible hire from Miami.
[00:42:59] Speaker B: I'm glad.
[00:42:59] Speaker A: I'm glad he's out of Green Bay.
[00:43:00] Speaker B: I think they're going to tank really badly next year.
[00:43:03] Speaker A: I mean, Green Bay gets an upgrade after basically, I told you Rome after you let Baltimore who ran five plays the whole game kill you what 43 to 20 there on week 17. That, that was it. I mean Jeff Aptley, you can have them 22 and 26 record at Boston College.
Packers defensively the last five weeks of the season were terrible.
Yeah, I'm glad he's gone.
[00:43:29] Speaker B: All right, so I, I'm predicting them. How many wins did they get this year? This past year they got seven, right? Seven. Seven.
[00:43:36] Speaker A: I'm gonna say under, I'm gonna say four.
I won't be that run for them but I think they probably get less than seven wins. But they did hire Bobby Slowik the ex Texans OC as their OC so.
Yeah, I mean I, I like Slowik but I, I don't, I don't know what they're gonna do at quarterback. Is it gonna be Tua? I mean Jason has touched on that 100 million dollar cap sitting over him. They can't cut them.
[00:43:59] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:43:59] Speaker A: Coin Newers is there so we'll see.
[00:44:02] Speaker B: It all depends on, on their gm.
[00:44:04] Speaker A: I think Tyree Kill is going to be gone. Right. I mean I think they can cut him after March 1st and save 27 million in cap.
[00:44:09] Speaker B: So I think they're allowed to cut him after he has his 15th kid. I think that's what it is.
[00:44:13] Speaker A: I don't think, I think, I think he's got more than that, Ron. We just got to check the birth certificates on that one.
[00:44:20] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I have one more comment Jason, then I want to flip over to the other coaches.
[00:44:24] Speaker C: Yeah, we'll talk about the off season but I, I don't think they cut to Zaron talked as mentioned. We bring out the cast situation and especially if you think this is a tanking type year, hey, we throw it out, we see what happens. It's to his last year. You know, figure out quarterback that you're following and just start building the roster for the year. Following and halfway and the new GM get their, get their own guys. But I, I don't see how they're winning for now.
[00:44:49] Speaker B: Yeah, for sure.
All right, we'll do Robert Salah and then we'll hit up the other two former head coaches that are now new spots. Robert Salah, I told you man, 49er fans were worried that he was leaving and you said Aaron like no chance.
[00:45:04] Speaker A: Chance. But I am shocked.
[00:45:06] Speaker B: I thought, I did not want him going. I, I thought he should have waited for a better job. I, I'm not sure if I like the Tennessee job or not. Like I Know, they got players on both sides. They actually have some talent and. And they were competitive down the stretch. It's just like, it's just Tennessee and you have those owners and they just pushed out a really good coach in Bray Ball. Like, do you want to, you know, like Robert Salas kind of looking like he has that makeup to be a good coach, the NFL, but I don't think that's a good place to have your second stint. I thought he should have kind of held back, come back to the Niners for one more year and see what opens up next year.
I don't like it for Salah. I think it's a good hire for the Titans.
[00:45:43] Speaker C: I think it's a good hire for the Titans too. But I kind of agree with you with Salah. Could he have held out for a potentially better situation? I would say if you're going to say the pluses of the Titans job, you theoretically have a franchise quarterback, you got the first overall pick. Maybe there's flashes with Cam Ward, the rest of the roster, I don't know. There's not a ton to be desired. They got a few other pieces this year that were, you know, definitely getting reps, but got to see where this, the season goes. What Salah does though, man, he coaches defense. He's going to find guys, you know, defensively, this team's going to be. And if you. And during the variable era, hey, we were trotting out Hill and just handing the ball off to Derrick Henry 300 times, you know, a game or something like that, you know, from an offensive standpoint. So there, there is a recipe to success where I didn't understand for years and how the Titans were good under. Under Vrabel because I didn't know anyone there. And so maybe that's just going to be the identity, you know, we're here. I don't know. Was it 15 months ago, 18 months ago, when Salah was. They were talking about getting him fired and stuff like that. We're debating this thing back and forth. They fire him and seemingly way too early and that team goes off at the deep end right away and they haven't been. They haven't even closed since.
God awful defensively this year after hiring a defensive coach, they got worse. So I. Salah, I think he knows what he's doing defensively. He seemingly has the franchise quarterback something to build around. But I don't disagree with you, Rome. I. There could have been a potential hit, him holding out for a different job.
See, and. And then for the Niners, I mean, he, he really gave them a gift this year considering the injuries and situation and stuff. What he was able to do with third and fourth string guys defensively and, and every Niners fan I knew hated every other defensive coordinator post Salah the first time around. So curious on what the options are here for this after his second tenure.
[00:47:39] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, I think it's a good hire for Tennessee solo. I think, I think it's a good spot for him. Landing spot, you know, if he waits, what happens? I mean, what opens up, right? I mean, you got 10 openings this year.
You guys touched on it. You get Cam Ward, last year's number one draft in the quarterback.
He did show. Yeah, he did show signs of improvement that last kind of month. So they got to build around him. I think for Salah, can he put together a competent OC offensive coordinator staff?
[00:48:06] Speaker B: That's the key.
[00:48:07] Speaker A: That is the key for them. I mean, defensively, we know he's working with second, third, fourth string guys and still can get you to the divisional playoff game. Can still pit a top 15 unit on the field. Tennessee is going to have a lot of money to spend where they go towards basically spending on offense. You know, being a defensive guy, like solid. Just say, hey, just give me regular players, maybe a, you know, give me a middle linebacker, give me an edge rusher, give me a safety and then I can build the other eight guys around that are just core hardcore football guys that want to get after and play good defense. And I can put together a top 1012 unit there. And then let's do something like the Bears did with Caleb Williams. Like let's just pit weapons around Cam Ward, you know, build up that offensive line maybe through the free agency and then through the draft. Get wide receivers to get what, a top five pick anyways. And they got some nice running backs. He's got talent there. They just got to put it all together. And we've seen in the NFL, look, we've had how many teams go from what, four wins, five wins all the way to 11 plus wins this year. So it's not impossible for the Titans to go next year and maybe win seven or eight games. That seems to be what solid does anyways. If you let them coach out the season.
[00:49:14] Speaker B: Yeah, I would say about six or seven. It should be like a double. Double the win total. At least there. All right, last two hires, we won't spend too much time and get the hell off of here. But Stefanski with the Falcons and Hardball with the Giants finally became Official. Although some stories came out where, like, it was kind of like on the edge.
Giants got prematurely let that stuff out, but it kind of gave the edge to our ball to kind of get some other things lined up in the contract because they couldn't back out now.
Poor move from a really seasoned veteran team.
We already talked about without that, that we liked hardball. I'm not sure if we talked about it once he got hired or not, but has a reputation for losing big leads in the fourth quarter with the.
[00:50:01] Speaker A: Better Giants that fist the Giants.
[00:50:05] Speaker B: But you hope, like it's a little. Little change of scenery might, you know, and like a whole bunch of young guys might do everybody a little better. And then Stefanski with the Falcons.
I'm not sure about that one either. I.
I'm pretty sure that you like it though, Aaron, right?
[00:50:20] Speaker A: Yeah, I like it.
[00:50:21] Speaker B: Jason.
[00:50:23] Speaker C: I like it as well. I like that Baker Mayfield likes it.
[00:50:26] Speaker A: Oh, I did see that.
Maybe, maybe Stefanski will call him now or text him whatever he's waiting for.
[00:50:31] Speaker B: I don't know.
[00:50:32] Speaker C: He's really heard about that. But I mean, yeah, Stevansky was good. The. The quarterback personnel decisions around that organization in Cleveland were obviously questionable.
[00:50:42] Speaker A: Apparently nobody wants a job there. They just all back out.
[00:50:45] Speaker C: So, yeah, so there was questions where Stefanski even wanted that Cleveland job the past couple years. And so we. We've been waiting for these Atlanta Falcons skill players to take it to another level. Maybe Kyle Pitts had the big game this year. We'll see if we can. Stefanski could turn it into multiple big games for him going forward.
Quarterback questions is, I guess, to say in Atlanta as well too. I mean, they technically have a starter. I don't know if.
Is he gonna be ready for week one based on that injury?
[00:51:19] Speaker A: Probably.
[00:51:20] Speaker B: Maybe.
[00:51:21] Speaker A: When did he go down again?
9, 10 month recovery. So, yeah, I. I feel like it was what, week 8, week 9, 10. Somewhere in there he went down.
[00:51:32] Speaker C: So he might be ready. They're probably still paying Kirk Cousins too, for all I know. So he's probably back over there. So. But I like to hire. I like to hire for the Falcons. I think Stefanski give him. Give him an opportunity to prove himself.
Because from a general, general vibe of Cleveland, I think post Baker Mayfield, where they decide to move on, the whole DeShawn Watson fiasco and everything about that is a good opportunity for him. The Harbaugh situation, I mean, you got you guys like the.
[00:52:04] Speaker B: The roster there in New York harvest, big Giants guys.
[00:52:08] Speaker C: Yeah, Harba's a steady hand, you know, It's, It's. It's culture. It's cultural stuff with him.
He's got, he's got the quarterback as well, too, seemingly. So. I, Yeah, I think, I think both those hires. Rome, you talked about being a weird or interesting cycle. I think these are, these are two, you know, probably the top, top guys that you'd want if you're the Falcons and the Giants.
[00:52:33] Speaker A: Yeah, I would agree. I mean, hardball going there. They just, they just announced their DC they're bringing over from Tennessee, so that's done. I think he's bringing Todd Monkin from Baltimore to be his oc, who's had pretty good success when he was at the University of Georgia and here with the Ravens the last few years.
Stefanski, I mean, for me, can he get the most out of those offensive weapons he's got, Right? I mean, he got Kyle Pitts, Drake London, you know, Bijan Robinson. Can these guys finally connect as a unit?
You know, is Michael Pinnick's going to be the guy? What is this? Three ACL surgeries in the last, what, five, six years? That's concerning.
[00:53:08] Speaker B: But he's done.
[00:53:09] Speaker A: But his arm is still an elite talent anyways. It's just mobility was never really a strong suit. But he's going into year three, so, I mean, you're not paying him, so you see what he can do there. They're keeping the same DC that they had, and their dc, the unit was really good last year. They got a lot of good young players both in the secondary and on the D line, rookies out of Georgia and Tennessee. So I think Atlanta can make a big jump in a leap. That division's not great. We already know Carolina's okay. Tampa's kind of getting old. You know, Todd Bowles, they just brought in the new OC as their new oc, Zach Robinson from Atlanta, so. And then Jason touched on Baker. So there's going to be a lot of. A lot of connections there of coaches coming over to new teams in the division, you know, ex players and stuff. We'll see, you know, stirring up the fire. That's what Baker likes to do. But, you know, Kevin Savansky is kind of like that silent killer, man. He just doesn't say a lot and we'll see what he does there. But I think Atlanta's. I think they're going to be in for a good treat there. They got some talent, they got some players we talked about. We're just waiting for them to take the next step. And the Giants, Rome, we've always Touched on it. We do love the roster now. Get neighbors back. I like their tight end. They got. They got to get some more guys that, you know, camp scatter, boost should be back as well.
They got to upgrade the offensive line, the interior of that, maybe add another playmaker. But, you know, defensively, they're loaded on the D line.
Linebackers are good. They should be a team that goes from what they win three games, four games this last year.
[00:54:41] Speaker B: They should probably should have won seven, though.
[00:54:43] Speaker A: I feel like they jump next year to at least 7. Nine wins, barring any kind of crazy injuries.
[00:54:49] Speaker B: Cool, man. I think that's good. Recapping all the hires for now.
What jobs, openings we have left. We have the Bills, which. That one's gonna be interesting. Browns, Raiders, Browns, Cardinals. Right, And Cardinals. We haven't heard anything about the Cardinals.
[00:55:03] Speaker A: I haven't heard.
[00:55:03] Speaker C: Not.
[00:55:03] Speaker B: Well, Salah was supposed to be one of the final counts for that one.
[00:55:07] Speaker C: But Aaron, I want you to take on the Bills job. I. I'm hearing day. Everyone's feeling day ball, day ball.
[00:55:14] Speaker A: I am hearing that a lot. I like it, actually. I mean, I am a Brian Dable guy. I might be the only guy that apologizes for him on this show weekly, but Josh Allen did have good years with him. He kind of got Josh Allen out of being, you know, the inaccurate quarterback he was. But, you know, Joe Brady's done a good job there as well the last three years. Had a top five offensive unit, but yeah, I mean, we'll see. I mean, Josh Allen's supposed to be in on it, the gm.
I mean, look, I think Buffalo's going to go with an offensive coach here. I mean, they went defensive. McDermott couldn't get over the top, so I think Dable could get the. He could get the gig.
[00:55:50] Speaker B: We'll see, man.
Final thoughts, Comments? You guys see Situm's wife, the press box?
[00:55:57] Speaker A: I did see your room.
[00:55:59] Speaker C: I did not. I just saw your text.
[00:56:00] Speaker A: Jesus.
[00:56:01] Speaker B: Oh, man.
[00:56:02] Speaker A: Well, they only showed it the one time and the only one highlight he had.
[00:56:05] Speaker B: So it was right at the beginning of the game. I was like, oh, man. She had like that mob wife jacket. I mean, we talked about when Aaron Andrews had that. I was like, oh, man.
[00:56:13] Speaker C: So it's cold. It's cold in Denver, Reno.
[00:56:16] Speaker A: Yeah, it's cold.
[00:56:18] Speaker B: All right.
I got nothing else, man.
Got nothing else we'll figure out.
Yeah, nothing else we'll figure out when we jump back on, start previewing the super bowl and I don't know, maybe I'll take a little spring break.
I'll do it. Source from the sofa.
We're out.
