Fantasy Football Daily - 2022 Week 5 Matchup Podcast

Episode Date: October 6, 2022

John Hansen (@Fantasy_Guru) and Greg Cosell (@gregcosell) preview Week 5 NFL action. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fantasy-points-podcast/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for the Fantasy Points podcast brought to you by FantasyPoints.com. Top level fantasy football and NFL betting analysis from every perspective and angle, from numbers to the film room, with a single goal to help you score more fantasy points. Welcome everyone to another edition of the matchup podcast here at FantasyPoint.com. I'm John Hanson. Great CoSell from NFL Films is ready to go. We record this every Wednesday night. Greg has been grinding through the tape from week four for a good three full days.

Still not finished the process. Just a little sample here, a little snippet of some of the analysis we get from Greg CoSell. Every Thursday night, me, Greg and Adam Kaplan, convened for FantasyPoint.com subscribers, of course, for the live stream. Check that out on the site where you get all the media stuff, of course. It's on demand. than if you're not a subscriber to the site. Fantasy points data is starting to roll.

We've got four weeks of data, so more tools coming and great analysis. And you can use that promo code. Hanson 22 and save 10% off. Greg, how has, how is week five treating you as we prepare for the week thus far? Hello. The nice thing, John, and, you know, is that obviously, you know, when we speak on Wednesday night when we're doing this, I can't see, you know, every game or even half the game, you know, because I grind away the rest of the week and I even work Saturdays and Sundays sometimes before the games. But I'm starting to get a feel for a lot of teams now because they're starting to define themselves.

So I never think it's always perfect because so much in the first four weeks are what teams do in the offseason because they look at their first quarter of their schedule. So you don't want to make a blanket statement that this is exactly what a team is. but I'm starting to get somewhat of a feel, which I kind of like, because now I feel like, okay, I got a sense of their personnel, how they use them, I got a feel for what they do. So it's, I really like that because the first couple of weeks, you're just kind of, you know, it's, you're trying to figure it out. It is more difficult than ever, I think, though, because, boy, the old Belichick, you know, like every week's like a new season, that does seem to be a little more prevalent to me.

I feel like teams are, you know, we're so sophisticated now, all the analytics, coaches are just still looking, maybe they're groping, maybe just for that edge. It does seem like teams change their identities, basically, a lot in this league. I would say not identities. Not identity, but. They tweak things. Yeah. These coaches, and I know sometimes if teams lose, fans don't think this way, but you and I know,

I know, we're in the business, and I certainly know a lot of coaches and have had opportunities through the years to get to know some well and talk to a lot. But, you know, these coaches are pretty smart. So, you know, they know the way other coaches think. They know what they do. You know, I learned one thing pretty early on when I was working with Ron Jaworski. I think he told, no, may have been him and may have been a coach who told me this, who said coaches, coach against coaches because if a guy's been in the league for a long time, he does, it doesn't mean they know exactly what he's going to do on every third and five, John, but they have a sense of what a guy sort of is all about as a coach. Well, maybe a good way to say it instead of identity was like

maybe fewer staples. I think if you have fewer staples, it's, it's less opportunities for like a guy like Belichick to try and take away one staple or two that you do best. I think that depends on the coach. I think there are coaches who believe, hey, let's do 10 things great. And there's other coaches who believe variety is the spice of life. We've got to do a lot of things and show the defense or the offense a lot of things. I also think it's a little bit more about this week based on the matchup. It's going to be this guy, you know?

Yeah. Because you know what? We used to say there's only 16, but now there's 17, but it's still not a big number relative other sports, and the goal is to win each week. So, you know, whatever you have to do to win each week is what coaches ultimately want to do. You know, I think for what we do, what I do, it is a little more difficult. And I think a good example as we get into it here would be like Frank Reich and his utilization of these tight ends.

It'll drive me to retirement here, trying to break down Reich and these tight ends. But what do you see on tape with the cult offense, Obviously, they're not going to have Jonathan Taylor, but man, this whole line seems to be really bad right now. And Matt Ryan seems to be kind of adding to the problem. Well, you know, look, Matt Ryan is a quarterback. Every quarterback wants to be protected. That's not the point. He's a quarterback that has to be protected.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, you know, the other thing is he doesn't have a big arm, so he has to stride to throw the ball with any kind of velocity. True, true, yeah. And the O-line's been a bit, been a bit of a struggle. As everybody knows, that's not a profound statement. But they have played, you know, like you said, you know, you do notice the tight ends. They play with two tight-end sets, you know, not.

I'm sure the percentage is relatively high. You know, they're not at the top of the league, by the way, just so you know, it's not like they're, you know, they're middle of the road as far as percentage of playing with 12 personnel. It's just that this past week in particular, in the week prior with Gianni Woods, who by the way, we talked about a lot leading up to the draft, and I liked him a lot.

I didn't think he'd be a factor this early. I'm just going to college, just because he didn't have a ton of experience in the passing game. He only really played one year in college, his last year at Virginia, where he was a receiver. His prior years at Oklahoma State before his transfer, he was not a receiver. So, you know, and Moe Allie Cox.

I mean, they're doing some good things with the tight ends. And they don't have to line up attached to the formation. Moe Allie Cox is very athletic. Well, maybe to the point of like the age of specialization, you know, Johnny was, are you ready to be a complete player? Hell no. But, you know, you learn a couple packages and, you know, use them for 12 snaps, you know, a couple plays.

And he's just now a big part of the puzzle here. I'm very curious what you think, what do you think about Alec Pierce on tape? Because I think he's really flashed. I haven't studied him, but I like the ways moving the last couple of weeks. I'm saying that because I think, again, he becomes a function of the passing game as a whole. But let's say that does get better. I think he's ready to emerge a bit.

By emerge, I don't want people to think that, oh, yeah, I'm saying he's going to catch 75 balls for 1,200 yards. That's not what I'm saying. But he moves well. You know, they use him as the boundary X. Yeah, yeah. not pitman so that i think tells you how they see him yeah i think that he is ready to take a to become more of a factor let's put it that way he'll become more what that what that means in terms of targets look i don't know what you thought just to throw in a side out you know i don't think anybody

thought that hollywood brown would have 39 targets in the last three weeks you know sometimes stuff happens that you don't you can't really predict yeah and i think one of the things people we're starting to look at already with Michael Pittman is, you know, maybe not the greatest guy against man coverage, you know, maybe a little bit more of a zone guy. And, you know, I'm sure Greg, he'll probably see a lot of Patrick Sartan. So that's, I'm looking at, at Alex Pierce is maybe a guy that's, you know, kind of critical in this game. You know, they don't have much else on the outside there. They, they do play Paris Campbell. Have you seen anything positive from Paris Campbell? He finally has been playing, yeah. But I mean, I think he caught a ball.

but I haven't really noticed them yet. But, you know, it's a shame for his career because the guy's 6-2-205 and can run. Yeah, I know. He's had moments. Yeah. We just never can stay on the field. I mean, I remember last year he got hurt on a play

where he caught, I think, like a 60-yard touchdown from Wenz. And before you found out that he was hurt, you're thinking, oh, man, this guy's coming on. And, you know, but, you know, look, if everybody's healthy, if they can protect better, you know, with Pierce, Pitman, and Campbell, that's not a bad group. It's a big group. And, you know, Pittman's probably the slowest of the three.

Yeah. Yeah. You think Ronald Darby, just off the top of your head, you know, how do you think he's been playing lately last, you know, year, basically here? I think he's a solid player. You know, what they've done is they've clearly made Certan their matchup corner. Yeah, exactly. That's why I'm talking Pierce here because he's going to be on Pittman.

of thick. You know, it's funny. Will they see any one of these guys as somebody Sartan has to match up on? I don't know. I really don't know. I mean, I wish I could help John and give a definitive answer and say, this is exactly what's going to happen. But, you know, is there a receiver based on what the Colts have done through four games where you say, this is the guy we're going to put Sartan on because we've got to take him away? I would say Pittman just because, I mean. Volume. He's the most target receiver, clearly.

And Pierce is only playing like half the snaps, though. That's the thing. I know. They play a lot of people, yeah. Right. So I do like Pierce, though, as a sleeper. Any thoughts on Naheem Hines here, take it over? I feel personally like Nahim Hines can, you need him to be your lead guy.

He could probably handle that. I think he could handle it certainly for a game. A couple weeks, you know. You're not getting 29 carries. but he's always been a little bit of an underrated inside runner, I feel. Yeah, and I think that you could certainly do, I mean, he did that in college. It's just he's not taking up to do it in the NFL on a weekly basis. You know, because the one thing they've been doing a lot of, and I don't know who there's,

I should probably know this, John. I don't know who the next man up is behind Heinz. Well, they've got Dion Jackson, plus who is an undrafted guy out of Duke, who had a pretty good measurable guy. Then there's a Philip Lindsay. Oh, okay. Because what they've been doing, and they did it a lot this week, but obviously it's not going to happen tomorrow night,

is they've been playing with the pony package where Heinz and Taylor are on the field together. Yeah. Hey, why wouldn't you? They are a little lacking in weapons and diversity and, you know, the offensive line. Again, not looking good here. What about the Colt D?

What are your impressions of that side of ball? if any thus far? You know, I mean, I think, look, Leonard's going to be out again, but they haven't really played with them except for part of the game this past week. Very weird. Yeah. I mean, I don't think it's a bad D. I think it's a front four driven defense.

They're not a big blitz team. They play mostly single high safety because it's Gus Bradley's defense. You know, so, you know, it's not a dominant deal, although the front in any given week can be dominant. I know Buckner has not recently played a lot of snaps because you've been fighting an injury, and that's hurt them because he's a really good player. Yeah, he's probable.

He's probable this week. He's probable. But I think he only played 20 snaps or so this past week. Right, right. So, you know, but I think it can be a really good D. They've gotten some solid player linebacker with Leonard out from guys like Franklin, Eli Speed, one of the great names.

He's No. 45. He's played well. Obviously, O'Karek, he's a good player. So I think it's a good defense. Denver, obviously, the Giovante Williams tragedy. I know for you, that's a major buzzkill, John.

Did you go in mourning for a brief time? I'm just now coming out of it. It's rough. But, you know, you feel bad for the kid. Because when you watch the tape, it's like you don't even need to look into what he's doing because you're like, you watch him, you're like, yeah, that kid is doing everything. He can't be it to be great, right?

I mean, it's obvious. Right. You know what I mean? Like he's in tip-top shape. He's bringing it. You know, he's making guys miss. He's getting yards after contact. Well, you know, I don't do this and maybe, you know, others do.

I mean, I don't rip coaches. But I thought watching Devante Williams coming out of college and the style of runner that he was is that he was a volume runner and needed carries. Now, having said that, I don't. mean he needs to carry 25 times a game, but I didn't see him as a committee back. Well, not to get into it, because I know this is not your wheelhouse, but I will always believe that there's some correlation between the Assonan utilization in this damn injury, honestly. I know we'll never know, but it can't be good for a running back to always be looking over

your shoulder. Nonsensical rotation, you're in, you're out, you're hot, you're cold, you're in the rhythm, you're not, then all of a sudden now you're pressing. I mean, hell, I know Melvin Gordon, I don't have good hands. And all of a sudden, he's got this huge fumbling problem. But anywho, you know who I do, you know who my next, you see, this is what I do. Either the guy blows up and he's great, and everyone knows he's great. So I just move on to the next guy. I'm moving on to Rashad White, by the way.

I know he's still a work in progress. And I don't think you saw the tape. But, I mean, you know. But, I mean, they, they. really elevated that kid to the number two spot. Like, it's obvious they really like him. And yeah, he's a, what type of player do you think? I mean, is there a comp right now for Rashad White?

He's very tough for me because he's like an old school kind of guy, but he's versatile. Yeah. I mean, all I can do, I've seen him this year. You know, I just didn't see the game yet from this week, which of course I will, it was a big game, but I think he moves well here in the NFL. Fish to Fry, obviously, you know, before I got to that game. So all I can do is tell you, and I'm going to go back to my evaluation of him, okay? Yeah.

I think that ultimately, you know, I really liked him coming out. As you know, you and I discussed him quite a bit. Oh, yeah. Draft, okay? You liked him a lot right away as well? Right away. Right. And I watched the tape and watched a good amount of them and really liked him.

So, you know, I'm looking. I said he was one of the most intriguing running backs in the class with his running and receiving profile. I said he will likely not be seen as a special runner, but there's no question his tape showed a tough competitive inside runner with patience and vision and efficient lateral agility and quickness to work effectively in confined space. I thought he showed a natural feel for defensive flow. I thought he ran with alert eyes. I thought he had a good sense of tempo. And then you had the receiving element. I mean, this guy was, he detached from the formation.

He had really good hands. He ran multiple route concepts, not just, you know, checkdowns and flat routes. I thought he was a very strong prospect who I thought could become an excellent NFL player, given his combination of running and receiving traits. This is why we have Greg around, because it really is, the complete package. And sometimes it works in, in different orders. Like, I see a guy I really like them. And then I see Greg is on board. And I'm like, oh, here we go. Or I, you know, I mean, or Greg sees it. And then I, oh, here we, you know what I mean? Like, I can't remember which was

which. I think it was me first. And I was like, am I crazy or is this guy? Because I'm looking around, like, other guys rank them as like the 17th best back or the 18th. I'm like, what am I missing here? Am I crazy? And again, you know, there are certain people that I know do the work the right way as far as draft evaluations. And those guys, even if I disagree with them, we have a different evaluation, I totally respect their work because of their process. Then there's a lot of other guys who are on social media who I know, and not to mention

names, that's not the point, who I know are not studying the way I am. And, you know, those guys, I don't really, it doesn't matter to me what they think because I know they're not doing the work the right way. If you work the right way, your evaluation has merit and value. No matter whether you agree with my evaluation or not, yours has merit because you do it the right way. Sure. There are people who are very respected, and I know who is and isn't. Of course, we don't know that, John.

Right. And then I'm like, what am I missing? And then your review comes in. I'm like, all right, this is great. This is it. Let's go. I'm in. I mean, Greg, not to go off on a tangent, but I could say the exact same thing about,

about Romeo Dobbs because I watched, I watched Rashad at two days at practice. So it's rare for me to be able to see these kids live. And same deal with Dobbs. I'm like, yeah, he's pretty intriguing. Then we saw your review. You comped him to Devante Adams. Which the team has comped him to as well. Oh, yeah. And by the way, it's very evident, Greg. He already looks like it. Yeah. And just so people understand, you know, again, I know I've said this with you before, but ideally we have new listeners every week, which would be wonderful. When I comped him to Devante Adams, I was comping him to Devante Adams, based on my evaluation of Adams coming out of Fresno State.

Not last year's Devante Adams in the NFL. Devante Adams wasn't Devante Adams back then. Yeah, and people might forget. He only had 45 or 46 catches his first NFL season. I mean, Romeo Dobbs is literally doing way better than Devante Adams did early in his career. Right. So, I mean, that's what I comped him to. Devante Adams coming out of Fresno, not Devante Adams, arguably the best receiver in the NFL right now.

But once you did that, I'm like, oh, wow, okay. And then as soon as he got drafted by Green Bay, I'm like, oh, my God, it's happening. Here it is. And we called that so far in advance. It's unbelievable. But that, again, another good example of, you know, it's a team effort here over at fantasypoints.com. But we go back to, I guess, the task at hand, which is breaking down what you saw in week number four, another week of the Eagles offense here. And there was different this weekend. Maybe it was because of the weather, obviously, you know, you were on the West Coast or you weren't here for this weekend where we had them basically a monsoon rain. I was covering it on TV live, thinking of my poor family.

They must not have gone outside that day. Right. I mean, if you caught it at the wrong time, man, it was coming down. Yeah. But the point is, is the Eagles are now showing, John, after the last two weeks, not this past Sunday, but the two weeks prior, almost showing that they evolved into a passing team. This was a week where the weather made it a little more difficult to throw,

and they went back to running the football. Miles Sanders had the most carries he's ever had in his Eagles career and his NFL career, and they ran the ball exceptionally well against a really good defensive front. And the Eagles had a significant injury, six plays in, with a myelada. So they were playing with Jack Driscoe at left tackle literally for the whole game. So the point is, is they ran the ball against a really, really good front, and they ran it well. I know you saw the Cardinal defense, but I guess I don't know how much you could take away against Baker because it, boy, it sure seems like Baker is really struggling here.

I think there's two quarterbacks whose body of work now is such that after this year, you wonder if they will be seen as starters in the league. And that would be Baker and Wins. Yeah. I mean, again, neither one is terrible, obviously, and they're talented. I mean, I've talked to coaches who coached Baker Mayfield. And, you know, again, I don't know what's in Baker Mayfield's head. That seems to be what people want to talk about.

But I've talked to coaches who coached them, and everyone to a man says, this kid's really talented. But something, you know, is not. working somewhere along the line. I couldn't begin to tell you whether it's him, whether it's how he's coached, the sister. I don't know the answer to that. So I'm not looking to place blame on anybody. All I'm telling you is the film shows a quarterback right now that does not look like he did two, three years ago. Yeah, I honestly, and you don't even need to address it because it's totally not your real house. But in some instances, you wonder in this day and age, like, you know, it just seems like some players don't have the same passion.

You're seeing a lot of early retirements. So that's, that always comes to my mind when somebody's like really that bad. I'm like, wow, I'm not sure that they are into it like they used to be. But Jay and Hertz for sure is into it, Greg, because they're making this transition. And it literally could not be going any better thus far, right? For Hertz and the offense? No, no. And I think it's a, see, to me, it's a combination.

because I sit and study tape and I'm a believer in coaching, and I've been watching tape for a long time and have been fortunate to be around great coaches who taught me. And I think the coaching staff, starting with the head coach, right to the coordinator, right to the quarterback coach, Brian Johnson, I think they're doing a phenomenal job with Jalen Hertz. You know, don't forget. I think people think you're knocking a quarterback

when you say that the coaching staff is doing a great job with play design and creating and defining reads. That's the job of the coaching staff. Yeah. You know, I think people think that means you're ripping the quarterback. You're not. You know, that's what they're supposed to be doing. So I think they're doing all that.

And then the quarterback has to execute. And Jalen Hertz is executing at a very high level. So, you know, that's, you want it all to fit together like that. It's all working. Yeah. I mean, I feel like every unit on the Eagles are contributing here. It's a complete team effort. I can tell you right now that every week I watch the Eagles,

And I never really studied him in any detail until this summer when I did my deep dive on Jalen. But the right tackle Lane Johnson is so ridiculously good. It's mind-boggling. Wow. Best in the league for sure, I bet. Oh, I don't know. Again, I haven't studied every right tackle. I just don't know how anybody could be playing better than him.

That's all I would say. Yeah. That's the feeling, and I'm not studying the tape, but I've said this actually dating a lot. year. That's the feeling I get watching Andrew Thomas. I'm like, is anyone doing better than this guy out there? Left tackle? I mean, I don't know. But neither. Good matchup for the passing game here, Greg. You just watch this Cardinal D. You know, I mean, no offense. I'm not that worried about, like, you know, Marco Wilson and Byron Murphy? So I'm looking at AJ Brown. You know what the cards did last week, which doesn't mean they're going to do it this week, because they moved people around a lot,

is last week. It might have been a function of Carolina. I don't know. They actually played on first and second down, Isaiah Simmons is their slot corner. Yeah. Wow. Interesting. They didn't do that on third down. They went conventional by moving Murphy inside and playing Trayvon Mullen on the outside with Marco Wilson. But on first and second down, they essentially played Isaiah Simmons as their slot corner. Well, they've been doing Murphy. And here, I don't think he's been very good in the slot. Yeah, but I think he's talented. I mean, I haven't studied it. He is talented. I can't answer that, you know. Right.

I remember from data points last year When he was outside It seemed like he was okay And then when he was kicked inside It's like ooh he's a little suspect Marco Wilson was You know he's he's got talent too Marco Wilson came from the same high school

Playing American Heritage in Florida He played on the same high school team With Patrick Sertan and Tyson Campbell Wow That tends to happen These guys seem to grow up in pockets I know Kyler Murray

You know how much of the struggles, can we simply point into the offense here? Because it is pretty damn bland here, Greg. But what did you see out of Kyler last week? That's a great question. And it's a hard question to answer without a serious study of their offense, John, which unfortunately I can't do during my season. Yeah. That's the kind of thing I would have to do in the offseason. But it might be easy for someone like me to say, oh, look, Kyler's out there. He doesn't watch tape. He doesn't know what's going on here, but maybe the offense and play design is part of the problem. And I don't want to say one way or the other because I don't know.

You know me well enough to know if I don't know I'm not going to sit here and rip-cliff Kingsbury. I'm not going to do that. You know, that's not the way I do my work. But, you know, the thing they are truly struggling with, and like I said, without knowing, all the details, they don't make any explosive plays now. You know, that's the killer. I mean, he's clearly made Hollywood Brown his guy, 39 targets in the last three weeks. And obviously, Hop isn't back yet. He doesn't come back, I guess, till week seven. I would say Murray overall was a little more efficient in the pocket this past week

than he was against the Rams the week before when he wasn't really efficient at all. But they're making no explosive plays either by design or with Murray and second reaction. That's the thing. He hasn't made those incredible second reaction plays, which we seem to be used to seeing. They haven't really been there. He doesn't seem to be willing to run that much either. Yeah, and I don't know that. You know, I don't know what's in his head.

But the point is, they're not being made. So therefore, their offense is somewhat condensed. How much of it would you pin on the O line? Because that was one of my problems because they're getting older. Yeah. You know, that's a great question. But the one thing about Murray is because he's always been short, is he has a great ability to make off-balance throws and throws falling away, John.

Sure, sure. You can throw the ball great doing that. Yeah. They've probably done that since he started playing football. 100%. He was never tall. So he makes great throws sometimes when he's falling away. That's just who he is.

So that's a hard question about. the old line because he can kind of compensate for it at times as well. And what are we doing with Rondale Moore? I mean, it's early. That is a phenomenal question, John, because all said, and I'm not sure, to be honest. Right. Yeah. What are we doing here? He's 5'7. And yes, he's an explosive athlete, all that good stuff, but he's 5'7. So, you know, he catches. Most of the stuff he does is behind the line of scrimmage or very close to the line of scruage. So I don't know if they plan on expanding that. I don't know if it can be

expanded. I don't know the answer to that question. Wondell Robinson's only, I guess, an inch tall. I feel like Wondell Robinson can be like way more impactful than Rondell. I don't know. I kind of feel the same way, too. Now, until it happens, we don't know. But I kind of feel that way, yes. Yeah. And Wondell is a great kid. I never interviewed a Rondale. But Wondale is a great kid. I mean, the kid went to the SEC, transferred, changed positions, caught 100 balls. I mean, that's pretty darn good. Well, some other items here taken from a Great Coast Sells Film Study coming out a week four. You know, Greg, I was way out in front on this ram offense struggling.

And, you know, I'm not, nothing personal. I'm just, I'm trying to get it right for fantasy. And, you know, last year I was all in on Stafford. This year I just felt different momentum. And, well, what are you seeing out here? I mean, no one, while Higby is doing really well, but I mean, this is pretty absurd. I don't know if we could make it a whole year with Cooper Cup. With this kind of target share, it's ridiculous, Greg.

Right. I mean, clearly they have offensive line issues and that's going to be an issue this week. See, I think that Sean McVeigh, as most operational, offensive-minded coaches do. They always want to get five out, meaning all five eligible receivers out. But at the end of the day, you don't have a past game if you can't protect. And they're struggling in that area. They're playing backups. They're struggling. Note boom has been up and down and left tackle. He wasn't good week one. Then he was much better week two than this week against a really good 49er defense, maybe the best in the league.

He struggled again. So, you know, they're kind of caught between a rock and a hard place. They played a lot less empty this year, probably because they don't predict. as well. And even though Stafford can move, he at his core, he's a pocket quarterback. Yeah. And the efficiency is not there. So, you know, I think Sean McVeigh and staff will have to do some serious thinking about how they want to make sure that they can protect their quarterback. And if that means chips, if that means six-man protections on occasion, you know, then they're going to have to do that because, like I said, you don't have a passing game if you can't protect. Yeah, and they don't have a running game.

It's a grab bag. It's a week-to-week proposition. Yeah, it's week-to-week for sure. I would agree with that a thousand percent. And that's a tough deal. That really is. And then now this week, I mean, here we go again. It's another matchup that could really be problematic here for the Rams and staff.

I mean, you got Parsons, you got Lawrence, you got Sam Williams, the rookie who's had a lot of good reps for the, you know, for the Cowboys. you know, they got a really good D-Line. So, no, this is a tough matchup. You're going to see how they feel they have to play against this defense because Lawrence and Parsons can wreck your pass game a little bit. I mean, you're going up against Cooper Rush. You would think, like, run the ball. I mean, you know, like, but I just don't know if they can consistently enough with Camakers.

Oh, boy, it's going to be apps. If Cooper Cup could keep this up for another, was it 13 games, I put him in the hall now. I mean, has it ever been a more indefensible player receiver that, I mean, I would argue that Cooper Cup is harder to shut down than Jerry Rice. I don't know if you want to go there yet, John. Okay. You can go there, but I'm just saying.

In terms of when you think about it, though, even back in the day, like, was there ever environment where, like, Rice is all they have. We know he's getting a ball and he still catches 12. Right. You know, I mean, I don't know if he did that. I mean, I'm a Vikings fan. I put it this way.

I know it's only one game. And I'm not saying anything negative about the goat. I mean, I saw Jerry Rice's entire career. But in the NFC championship in 1987, my Vikings held Jerry Rice probably in the peak of his career to like two catches. Like, that's not happening, you know, with. Cup. Like, well, you know, I know, John, I'm just saying, look, I love Cooper Cup. I loved him from, we talked about it in the year he came out. I told him that the guy could roll out of bed and be a great slot receiver. I think you probably remember. Of course.

When he came out of Eastern Washington before he played one snap in the NFL. So, I mean, I'm not saying I predicted that he'd catch 146 balls. No one would know that. But I knew he could come right in the league and be a good slot receiver. Oh, for sure. I predicted that he would be a football nerd, because that was my nickname when I talk with him at the combo. I'm like, you know what? This guy's an actual football nerd. And I think that is held up. But again, not to harp on it. But I don't think I've ever seen a guy where you know where it's going and you're not stopping him. Like Randy Moss has been shut down for a game for two. Anywho, Greg, we can move on. on. It's neither here nor there, but Seattle real quick, you know, what is the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? I feel like I'm there with Gino Smith because I've been questioning him thus far. I haven't really, you know, given him the vote of the confidence. But here it is four games in a row. How well do you think he's playing on film and you think he can keep this up all year? Well, that's a tough question, but I think he's playing extremely well. In fact, I'm going to do a piece on him in the matchup show because his 77% completion percentage through four games. The first four games of a season is the best in NFL history.

And his numbers, you know, in certain situations, I'm going to get to them because I made it a point to put them in my notes. And they're worth mentioning, I'm just trying to find them. Of course. Now that I want to tell you what you know. Of course. I can't. Of course.

You know how that. Oh, here they are. Yeah, I wanted to mention one thing about, too, Rashad Penny. Like, the first couple games, it's like, you know, he, they're working in other guys. and I'm like thinking, I'm like, hello, did we not remember last year? You got to feed Penny the ball. And they finally did do that last week. Oh, look, lo and behold, he popped off these long runs like he did last year.

So here's just three numbers. And, you know, as we start to get toward the end tonight, here is Smith out of 12 personnel through four games, meaning one back, two tight ends. 30 for 36 for 286 yards and four touchdowns. Here's Smith versus Blitz, meaning five men or more press. pressure, 28 for 35 for 286 and 2.86. Here's Smith on play action. 34 for 39 for 326 yards and two touchdowns.

You think if the Broncos could go back in time. They'd pay Gino what they're paying Russell Wilson. Not just kidding there, but I mean, he's got to be playing better than Russell on tape, like way better. He is playing better right now than Russell on tape. And again, that's a statement about now. I'm not, you know, no one's suggesting that Gino Smith is, you know, on his way to the Hall of theme, but he's playing really good football right now. One more, the Bill's offense. I feel personally that Josh Allen, even going back to last year, is kind of masking some deficiencies here.

I feel they're a little precarious. I agree. Yeah. And to me, Greg, I fail. They need Gabe Davis. I feel like big time. And he's not been very good the last couple of weeks. Last week was really bad.

He's had some drops. Look, I think if you're being objective about tape study, John, and that's what I try to be. And we all love Josh Allen. That's not the point. But their O line is probably average. They have almost no meaningful run game. Yep. So, you know, they're a Josh Allen-based team.

I mean, on offense, obviously they've got a really, really good defense. But on offense, it's Josh Allen. And, you know, I keep saying, and maybe he'll prove me wrong. Maybe he's just so great and that's time. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's hard to ask your quarterback to be Superman every week. Great. And they're asking them to do that, clearly.

Clearly. Well, here's one, Greg. It would not surprise me because, look, they have a window right now. It's a Super Bowl window that they're in. if they made a trade for McCaffrey or Barclay? Because the Giants and Panthers are going nowhere. Right. Well, Barclay has more rushing yards by a giant in the first four games of a season than anyone since 1950.

Could you imagine Barclay plopped into that offense right now? Well, the point is, no matter who the back is, they're not going to be a running team, John, but they need to run with more volume. And having said that, I don't mean they need to have 35 carries a game. That's not the point. but you can't have, you know, eight carries a game. That's hard. It's just hard to play.

Are they winning? And someone listening might say, hey, you don't know what you're talking about. They're winning. You know, yes, I know they're winning. But I can't believe deep down when the coaches sit around at night, you know, after their, after practice and their film study and, you know, what coaches do, that they're saying this is the exact way we want to play. Oh, they're not feeling warm and fuzzy about where they're out offensively, I think even dating back to last year, honestly. Yeah. One more.

Zach Wilson seemed like he tried to play a little bit like last year, trying to do a little bit too much. Yeah, I mean, there were ups and downs in his game this week. I thought he made some, you know, he made some great throws. And in the second half, I thought he made some really good throws. There's just an undisciplined nature to his game, a recklessness to his game. He throws a lot of balls off balance.

He'll be inaccurate on. some because of that. And then he'll make a wow throw where you go, oh, my God, this guy can throw it. Because he can throw it, John. Yeah. Yeah. I can tell you right now that most people, when he came out, that I talked to in the league, and the tape told you this, he's a better thrower, just a pure throw over the football than Trevor Lawrence. Now, that doesn't mean, that, that's not saying he's a better quarterback right now than Trevor Lawrence, but he's just a better, more natural, easy thrower of the football. But he's got a lot of work to do. You know, he was really, really good this week. They came back in one, which is great. And he made throws against man,

against different zones. I mean, he made some good throws. He can't, no question. But I still think there's a lot there that needs to become far more consistent or he'll be a week-to-week player. You just wonder if he can rain it in, I guess, play quote-unquote, within the system more, a little more discipline. Yeah, that's what he needs. Or is this who he is and it will always be, basically, I guess. That is the big question. And Greg, I cannot wait. I know it's a smaller sample to see if you're able to check out Kenny Pickett. He only threw 13 balls. So, yeah. I mean, the ability and the inclination to push it down the field to George Pickens was fantastic. Well, that's the thing is, you know, and that, see, to me, that was the troubling thing about

Trubisky is the wide receivers who are essentially not factors. And if your wide receivers are not factors, at some point you've got to say that you need a quarterback to get the ball to your wide receivers. I think we're going to be in good shape with Ken Pickett. I think everything we said, every couple of me. By the way, they're in Buffalo this week. He could have a bad game, but I think you've got to play him. You know, not playing him. You know, hey, Mike Tomlin and staff are there every day.

In my view, you've got to play Kenny Pickett. Feel good. Feel good about him. Calvin Alson going to, they've got to get Calvin Austin. in the mix there too. I would agree. Talk about pushing a ball down to field because, you know, chase Claypole.

No offense, dude. Not good. But Greg, you're good. You didn't like Claypole coming out, by the way. You didn't love the tape and the transition. And you were correct, sir. You were correct, sir. Well, that will wrap it up.

For Greg CoSell, I'm John Hanson. Just a little snippet there. The content over at FantasyPoint.com. Once again, promo code Hanson 22. save yourself 10% off the subscription. The rest of the way, we did just lower the prices as well. And then if you're a subscriber, check out the live stream with me, Greg, and Adam. Every Thursday night for Greg, I'm John.

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