NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Jaxson Dart to Start and Takes We're Holding On to

Episode Date: September 23, 2025

Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue preview the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Seahawks and Cardinals. First, Gregg and Jourdan get you caught up on the news including the Giants moving ...on from Russell Wilson and giving Jaxson Dart the Week 4 start (02:40), an update on Mike Evans' status for Sunday (08:40), Brian Callahan giving up play calling duties for the Titans (11:55), the Texans releasing C.J. Gardner-Johnson (17:30) and more. After the break, Gregg and Jourdan tell you which NFL takes they're holding on to, the Seahawks offense or Colts offense (24:30), the Rams or Eagles (30:45), the next installment of Quarterback Island (36:16), and their preseason worst (42:15). Finally, the show is wrapped up with a preview of the Seahawks and Cardinals playing on TNF (47:51).  Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everybody. Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the 6th, we take you inside the game from breaking down college prospects and NFL rookies to evaluating team building philosophies, coaching trends, and how front offices construct winning rosters. We study the tape, talk to decision makers, and give you a perspective you won't find anywhere else.
Starting point is 00:00:25 It's everything you need to understand the why behind what happens on Sunday. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Sticks podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season? Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast, your ultimate source for player news, draft tips, and winning strategies. Whether you're a rookie manager or a fantasy vet. We've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.
Starting point is 00:01:01 Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. Welcome to NFL Daily where, let's just admit it. We knew it was Jackson Dart. All along, I'm Greg Rosenthal here in the Chris West. Wesleyan podcast studio. One of my favorite places to be with one of my favorite people, top five at least. That's pretty high, actually. I don't know. It's Jordan Rodriguez, big show today.
Starting point is 00:01:40 This is NFL Daily, by the way. Without Colleen Wolf, she's on her way to Dublin now. I will be joining her in a couple of days, but we have two big shows, Jordan, before that happens, including one where you're putting on your executive producer hat here. I know. I'm so excited. I'm excited for this. I'm excited to see what you guys do over there in Dublin. I'm excited to be on the Thursday night show with Nick Shook, the great Nick Shook,
Starting point is 00:02:05 the humble Nick Shook this year. This is going to be really fun. This will be a fun week. You will be missed by some people. And I'm very excited for you. Little distance isn't bad and you're not going to miss me that much because I'll be on the shows
Starting point is 00:02:19 with you talking through a box throughout the trip. And yes, your segment are takes that I can take with me. to Dublin and London, like takes that we believe in enough that we would take them, we would bring them overseas, we would talk a lot about them. We have some news to get to today.
Starting point is 00:02:36 And then we have a very Jordan coded TNF preview, Seahawks and Cardinals, a game that I'm really excited to watch, although I'll probably watch it the next morning and listen to your recap while I'm doing so. But you mentioned the humble Nick Shook. I'm still coming down from that Lions Ravens game. And I just am amazed that Nick Shook made it through an entire show. and we went deep on that game. And he didn't mention the fact
Starting point is 00:03:00 that he was practically the only person in all of media to pick the Detroit Lions to win that game. And the reason that I know that he did it is because Dan Campbell's wife, Holly, if you're watching on YouTube, you can see her Instagram story given credit to Nick Shook.
Starting point is 00:03:16 The only one to pick him. One out of 10 for the NFL. 0 for 5 on ESPN with our old colleague Pete Schroger there and he believed, and he didn't even mention it. Maybe she's a fan of Shook because he kind of looks like Dan Campbell. Nick Shook drinks for free in Detroit, here to Forward. He really is the best.
Starting point is 00:03:36 So good job by him and good job by everyone that's overreacting and burying the Ravens. We'll have more to talk about that on the preview show. I think people are overreacting a little. But there are concerns. We're at the point of the season where it's like, okay, it's early, but it's not that that early. it's actually late enough to make a starting quarterback change in New York, as I alluded to late Monday night,
Starting point is 00:04:02 but we wanted the official news. Russell Wilson is benched. This is being reported by Ian Rappaport and Tom Pelliserro at NFL Network. I'm sure it will be confirmed officially sooner than later. Jackson Dart is expected to start week four against the Chargers. Russell Wilson is expected to be the backup, which means James Winston would be. number three. What do you think?
Starting point is 00:04:26 Duh. No, I mean, it really, this is like, this has been coming since they drafted him. Sure. I mean, we knew this. It was a matter a win, and you and I, I think, we're driving the train here for probably sooner rather than later. This is no slight to Russell Wilson. Obviously, he had
Starting point is 00:04:41 really, really great week two, week three. Oh, it's a little bit of a slight, yeah. Week three, far less so. This offense really is struggling. And Brian Daibel is clearly feeling the pressure, my colleague at the athletic Dan Duggan, he put it really well. It's like, if he's going to, if Brian Dable's going to go down, he's going down with the guy he chose. And I think that this offense especially has been waiting, not just to get through, at least part of this brutal start to the schedule where they're facing these extremely tough defenses. And we thought this before, you know, the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons. So we still counted them back at the time when the schedule came out. But then not having Andrew Thomas has clearly affected this offense as well. And there was sort of this delicate dance that they were playing of, do we get the rookie on the field when Andrew Thomas, who makes such a statistical, significant change for the positive in this offense.
Starting point is 00:05:29 Do we wait until he's back? Do we get him on the field sooner? I mean, it's just been time. We knew this right from the second they called his name in the draft. If he struggled in the preseason, if he hadn't even average preseason for a rookie quarterback, it would have been different. This was not a normal preseason. Doesn't mean that it's all going to work. Everyone likes to point out the Kenny Pickett preseason where he was hitting open receivers and he went like 20 for 25. And I thought about that preseason. First of all, that was the second year.
Starting point is 00:05:58 But Jackson Dart played more than double the amount of snaps that then picket, for instance, or more than most even rookies play in the preseason. He put up a lot of tape. And I'm not saying like he's in advance calculus in terms of quarterbacking, but he looked more ready and comfortable and that his strengths showed faster. a long enough stretch there. Three games where he was getting a lot of work that I was higher on Jackson's Dart after that
Starting point is 00:06:30 preseason, partly because I saw the light just come on and Brian Dable's eyes and the offense changed. They ran a totally different offense with Jackson Dard. So it's like, why wait around? The Giants beat reporters were always weird to me that they thought this was going to be week eight, week nine, week 10. And it just didn't happen.
Starting point is 00:06:46 Dan has been pounding this drum and he has vindicated, Dan and Charlotte over there. And I will say, too, this is like, some of this is definitely logical and has been for some time. Just because you sign the veteran who is a very well-known brand who has accomplished incredible things in his career in Russell Wilson over time, just because you sign him to the deal and make him sort of the forward-facing element of your franchise early in the spring and into that. whole, like, team building period of the year doesn't mean you have to keep forcing it when it's clear that it doesn't work. And so pivoting from that into what they hope, who they hope is the future of this franchise. I don't know if Jackson Dart is going to save the giant season at this point. I do think that Brian Dable wants to show his work, wants to remind people that he
Starting point is 00:07:41 can build an offense around a quarterback that he is handpicked because he's watching a couple of other guys who he coached have incredibly successful outings. And, For Daniel Jones to look this successful on another team with another coach has to sting them a little bit, has to sting everybody in that franchise a little bit, to the point where, yeah, you got to show the new guy. You have to at this point, reputationally and logically. Right. The Chargers are a tough matchup this week, although pass rush-wise, not great right now.
Starting point is 00:08:11 Then you have a game at New Orleans. The schedule is brutal. Having the Eagles twice in three weeks at Denver, 49ers defense is playing well. The Packers are on the schedule. you know, this is all before a very late buy. So it's an uphill battle, but he will have Andrew Thomas back who played limited snaps last week and will ramp up. And it just makes the Giants more interesting.
Starting point is 00:08:32 So that's what I selfishly care about. Like, I'm more excited to watch them this week. And it's Cam Scataboo too. So I got to ask you this question because it's Jackson Dart who's very Brian Dable coded in terms of like they, like Brian Dable sees himself a little bit. It seems like in Jackson Dardt in terms of the personality and how fired up they can get.
Starting point is 00:08:50 and you've heard stories come out of camp all summer and into even the fall of, just like quiet moments of bonding that they had with each other. And Camp Scadaboo is like if Brian Dable currently played running back in the NFL in terms of like the level of fired upness and willingness to like sacrifice your entire body
Starting point is 00:09:09 to get another yard, even if it makes no sense. So it's kind of like, this is the most Brian Dable-coded, you know, quarterback running back tandem for him personally. he's had. It's like, if this doesn't work, Brian Dable, what are we doing? He's got, he's got to make it work and Scataboo will get all the chances in the world. It's so much rage. Right. There's just so much rage. You know? It fits New York. Dable does fit New York in that way.
Starting point is 00:09:33 Tyrone Tracy, by the way, is out two to four weeks with that injury. So it's going to be all Scatabu. Also with the Giants, I noted that Young Way Koo, signed to the practice squad. Graham Ganoe always hurt. The most, you know, he's always, he's always kicking hurt. Let's give young way coup another chance in new york what could go wrong uh some other news to get through michael evans uh his full name usually called mike i don't know why i went michael here suffered a a low grade hamstring injury so he will be out for a couple of weeks a similar injury knocked him out three weeks last year in rapaport said that this one might not be as severe but you know we're saying it's going to be a couple weeks here this team is just so banged up
Starting point is 00:10:17 They might get Tristan Worf's back, but... Chris Godwin's on his way back, too. October was kind of always the time. And they have, what I love about this Bucks team, even though they're so banged up, but they're making it work despite all of that, is being three and O right now
Starting point is 00:10:32 and having at least two games up on every other NFC South team, there's never a right time to be as hurt as they are, but this would be the right time to be as hurt as they are. True, except the schedule is so hard. But that's why these games have been so big. They could lose three of their next
Starting point is 00:10:47 four very easily and they're four and three and that's fine if you can get healthy all your best players back and you're at four and three the season is in front of you but yeah they have philadelphia then at seattle san francisco then at detroit so that is that is a tough stretch i'm going to put you on the spot you just have it's just a great i love what you do it's just an answer here um sunday you know we're going to sign out the games doing it early if you can choose between philadelphia and tampa bay as your game or the rams and the colts as you're your game, which are you choosing? And they're not at the same time to be clear, but you probably are only going to get one of those two. Can I have both? No, I mean. Because you want one of
Starting point is 00:11:26 them? I just, I'm just, I just, I just put you on the spot. Ah, that's it. My, my, my, my, my team's you want to, you want to, you want to, I'll tell you afterwards. I think there is a right way to approach this. In your mind, in my mind, I just want to watch all of them. It would be taking the Eagles early. And since there's less games late and you only have one assigned late, you can kind of, you know, have the Rams on your second screen still. Even if it's not your game. We'll move on. Brian, I mean, you didn't answer a question.
Starting point is 00:11:51 Let's talk about some weird coaching situations going on. First, the Falcons fired their wide receiver coach, Ike Hilliard, who was with their team last year as Drake Glendon's, you know, having a career year after week three. Yeah. You wonder what's going on there? And then they also announced that they're moving Zach Robinson, their offensive coordinator from the booth to the sideline, just a little panicky. tells me that he wants more direct interaction with the quarterback on the screen and on the board
Starting point is 00:12:23 if, you know, with Mike Pennex, you know, with Zach Taylor, or excuse me, Zach Robinson, a lot of Zacks in the Sean McVatry, as it turns out. With Zach Robinson being up in the booth, you can talk to the guy obviously in the headset and you can communicate into the head coach's headset who can
Starting point is 00:12:39 then communicate with the quarterback and it's all telephone essentially, but you really want to be able to, if you're seeing something defensively, if the quarterback seeing something defensively, you have to have that two-way communication. It's a shock to me that he was up in the booth to begin with with a younger. I mean, I know Mike Pennix has seen a lot of football, but like this, I'm stunned. He was even up in the booth anyway.
Starting point is 00:12:58 You lose 30 to nothing to the Panthers. And man, Falcons fans are feeling it this week and just feels a little, a little panicky and a little worrisom just overall, something to keep an eye on for that staff. Brian Callahan hired in the same cycle as Rahim Morris. Brian Callahan, of course, the Titans head coach announced Tuesday that he is giving up play calling duties. It's going to be Bo Hardegree calling plays for the Tennessee Titans. Actually, had a random take. I remember a couple years ago.
Starting point is 00:13:30 It was Harding calling plays late in the interim head coaching Antonio Pierce Raiders season. I thought he did a good job. And then they didn't keep him. And I was like, hey, why didn't you keep him? I thought he did a nice job at the end of that season. So maybe it is an upgrade. Let's listen to Brian Callahan asked about the decision. It's a pretty easy thing to do when it comes to trying to help the football team win
Starting point is 00:13:53 and do the best thing for, you know, what the job is. I got hired to be the head coach, you know, and part of that process was being involved on offense, but my job is to be the head coach of the football team. And I think that this allows me to do that job a little bit better. It's more about you trying to get more of a big picture feel for yourself as it is to kind of a disappointment in your play conference. Is that...
Starting point is 00:14:15 Yeah, I have zero disappointment in my play calling. I mean, I don't have any disappointment in that at all. But it's just more just so I can see the rest of it, see the big picture better and do a better job of it. I'm always hesitant to trust anyone who said that they have like zero disappointment in something that they did almost about anything. YOLO. But definitely someone that said they have zero disappointment in play calling
Starting point is 00:14:43 that's not working. Yeah, and I think this is a big focus on the game management to, you know, sort of a spin of, okay, I'm going to delegate so that I can focus more on the thing that I am messing up every week, at least in one. That maybe ownership is getting on me for it. Yeah, that's also a big headline. It's not necessarily even, you know, how great Cam Ward looks and how they're figuring it out with some of these younger receivers.
Starting point is 00:15:12 it's more so, Zach, excuse me, another Zach. Brian Callahan has been in the news for these specific things. So it wouldn't surprise me if there's some pressure coming from that direction. Yeah, I am surprised. Maybe I shouldn't be at the degree to which Titans fans are totally over Brian Callahan. I listen to our old friend Justin Gravers, Titans podcast. And they do a great job. but I also just follow on social media.
Starting point is 00:15:44 And they are just over this guy. And it's true. Like, he needs to show his work what he actually brings to the table. And you just haven't seen it. The offensive line is struggling. The game management is the most obvious thing that he struggles with. When I broke down one of his mistakes on Sunday's show, I had missed what was truly, like, horrible about the situation,
Starting point is 00:16:08 which was that, you know, he could. couldn't decide what to do, whether to call a play or take, you know, whatever he was going to do. And they ended up taking a five-yard penalty because he took so long to make his decision before kicking the ball, 63 yards at the end of the half and setting up the cold. So there's been a lot of groaners from Callahan. And yes, I'm looking at that late season with Hardegree here. That was the game. I feel like this slipped under the Raider. That was the game where they put up 63 on the Chargers. Wow.
Starting point is 00:16:38 Hard degree was in the mix. They got a win over Patrick Mahomes. That ended another career. In the Chiefs, it did. He ended the career of your boy, Brandon Staley, there in Kansas City. He helped, you know, to beat, they only had 200 yards of offense, but they beat the Chiefs late that season. They beat the Broncos late that season.
Starting point is 00:16:56 So I just thought, okay, let's have a little hard degree time. Why not? Better than hard disagree, right? I feel like this is something I haven't seen the answer to yet is, does he have, who is in the helmet doing game situational stuff? Every team in the league has a coach in the headset or an assistant or someone specifically and specially hired to not just be running analytics in the booth, but as specifically, and I wouldn't say every team in the leave, but this is a huge trend over the last couple of seasons and something that he certainly will have been aware of. who is the person in the headset who is trying to run that game theory, essentially in real time. And so he doesn't have to pause for so long to tell him what to do so that he doesn't have to, especially if you're the play calling head coach, you talk to these play calling head coaches all over the league offense or defense.
Starting point is 00:17:46 That is the number one thing that it takes them forever to dedicate actual time and resources to is that game management to the point where they go out and hire the John Strykers, the Carter Crutchfields, you know, that they have people in their ear doing this the entire time. I just love thinking all the striker fans out there being like, yeah. He was in Tennessee. They mentioned us. I also just remember when they hired Mike Borgonzi. And I was like, how long ago was that?
Starting point is 00:18:15 It was pretty recently, right? It's their new GM. It was just January. And I just went through all the different power struggles between the GM and ownership and the coaches ever since, like, Mike Rable got there, ever since John Robinson got there before Vrable and then Rabele lost the power struggle to Rand Carthin who lost the power struggle to Brian Callion
Starting point is 00:18:34 and now Borgonzi's there and Callahan's not really their guy like this is how organizations keep losing. Unfortunately, the Texans have been doing a lot of losing and I wear my emotions outwardly sometimes. I root for CJ Stroud so I have not enjoyed him looking so disappointed so often on Sundays. The other CJ though on the Texans is no longer on the Texans.
Starting point is 00:18:58 They released Chauncey Gardner Johnson on Tuesday. This came out of nowhere. It surprised me. I'm curious to your reaction, Greg, because when I saw that,
Starting point is 00:19:08 I checked it like three times to make sure that it wasn't coming from like a fit. He was playing really relevant snaps from them. He's starting for them.
Starting point is 00:19:16 Yes. They invested resources into bringing him on board. I mean, what was your reaction to them? My reaction was that I might owe Dennis Allen an apology for crushing him
Starting point is 00:19:26 for how they handled him and Mickey Loomis, the trade of Chauncey Gardner Johnson, all that, why? It seems like a long time ago. Now, I think they handled it poorly. They could have gotten more in a trade for him. But let's be real. Every team that's gotten Chauncey Gardner Johnson since
Starting point is 00:19:40 has gotten sick of him pretty quickly. But it's always, it's getting shorter and shorter. It's getting shorter. The Eagles had him for a year, and then they let him go to the lions who had him for a year. And to be fair to, you know, CJGG, the Eagles took them back.
Starting point is 00:19:56 But then they kind of, got sick of them again and because they traded for Kenyon Green, but that was, that looked like a trade where they were going to cut Gardner Johnson anyways. Kenyon Green didn't even make the Eagles roster initially. I think he's on the practice squad and then got elevated. Aaron Wilson, who reports out there for KPRC, used to work with him back at Pro Football Talk way back in the day, said there was friction behind the scenes of him complaining about his role, wanting to blitz more and even communicating that he didn't, he wanted to be traded. That's not going to fly. I was to Miko. This keeps happening. And yeah, I think...
Starting point is 00:20:30 Quicker than ever this time. Yeah. So we'll see where he lands. Next year, week two. One of my favorite guys to watch on the field, but he struggled to stick with teams because of some things off the field. M.J. Stewart is the next man up and they are pretty deep in the secondary overall. Before we take a break, I did want to just say, rest in peace to Rudy Johnson, the former Cincinnati Bengals running back dead at 45 by suicide and the Bengals remembered Rudy today saying he was a fine person and excellent running back dependable, productive. Everyone liked him as a dear friend. And I remember the joy that Rudy Johnson played with. I always think about that 2005 Bengals team for me personally. It was like a formative
Starting point is 00:21:14 team. I learned how much you could enjoy and like teams that you didn't grow up rooting for. They were the first team and he was just a Chris Wesleyan favorite, Bengals fan favorite. and just rest in peace to him. And look, I've been affected by, you know, people who have lost their lives to suicide, whether it's family members, close friends. Like, it's in my family. And I do just say to everyone out there, like, if you need help, go get help, talk to people. And I do, like, if there's any silver lining about, like, how this is reported and the way it was talked about. It's just I do think people are more comfortable talking about that now. So rest in peace, Rudy Johnson passes away at 45 years old.
Starting point is 00:22:06 The NFL International Games return to NFL Network on Sunday, six games, four cities, Dublin, London, Berlin, and Madrid. Snooze off, game on for Sunday morning football only on NFL Network and also streaming with NFL Plus. Subscription is required for NFL. plus visit plus dot NFL.com for terms. I love this time a year.
Starting point is 00:22:32 I love the fact that we get another broadcast window. Oh, you got to wake up early to watch football. Like, that's great. Give me another window. Like, it's not going
Starting point is 00:22:39 anywhere, people, by the way. Like, there is only going to be more international games. I love it. I can't wait to go overseas. I've started the packing process, Jordan. It's such a good crowd, too. I'm so excited for you.
Starting point is 00:22:51 That'll be super fun. I think it's a really important that you brought up that you started packing, Greg, because we have a pretty fun segment today. And before you introduce the segment, I really want to make sure that listeners and viewers, if you're checking us out on YouTube, and you should for this part at least, are aware of Greg's suitcase that is comically large. That is Walker for scale. So it's the suitcase that a small child could definitely fit in. He could fit in that for sure.
Starting point is 00:23:24 Walker, maybe Ellis, could separately fit into that. Greg could maybe. You made fun to me because I brought a massive suitcase to the Super Bowl, which it wasn't necessary, I would say, I guess, for that long of a trip. But it's like, why not? If you're going to check your suitcase anyways, why not have as much room as possible?
Starting point is 00:23:42 Maybe. And then you're going to buy gifts because I'm a giver. It's like maybe the biggest suitcase I've ever seen. a human own? Definitely, yeah, the one my wife bought so that she could, you know, bring it overseas on her trips to Tokyo. And that picture, by the way, if you are checking out,
Starting point is 00:23:59 was just my excuse to show my favorite thing in my house, my bookshelf. So... Not your son. He's fine. He's fine. It's like, how's that Texans fandom like working out for you, buddy?
Starting point is 00:24:11 From Walker. Okay, let's... I forgot about that one. love it. I love this idea. So you're going to present some takes. Yes. This is your idea and I'm going to take them with me. I'll choose the one that I choose to take with me. Yeah. So we'll debate. We'll debate them a little bit. But it is important to see that picture of the suitcase, Greg, because you can only, as large as it is, as absurdly large as it is, you can really only fit three to four takes with you when you bring yourself and your tips with you to Ireland to share everything with
Starting point is 00:24:45 the good people in Dublin. Well, I have a lot of clothes, too. I've got You have a lot of shackets, and you need to make sure those fit too. I do. It's different weather there. And also, I'm thinking of bringing, and this is a little tease, there are still some tickets available for the Friday night show I'm doing with the Irish NFL show where Neil Reynolds is going to be there. Michael McQuaid is going to be there.
Starting point is 00:25:06 We might have a special guest from the NFL media family. We'll see working on that. I'm thinking of bringing all my NFL network polos that I didn't open this year that they gave me for inside training. I have like five NFL network polos, Tommy Bahama, and I'm thinking of bringing them and then just throwing them out into the crowd like Oprah Winfrey. I don't know that. So they just smack someone in the side of thing. So come. So I need to make room for that, but that means less room for takes. All right, let's get to it. Let's get to it. Let's get to it's for me on the way back. Okay. So we are going
Starting point is 00:25:35 to go between a couple of takes. The first one that I want to you to pick, which take. Which which, which of these would you pick? You can only pick one. Yes. Which offense is still good in December. Seattle Seahawks or the Indianapolis. Colts. Okay, so the take would be the Seahawks are still a good offense. Like, is it top five? Is it top 10? You got to be specific whether it takes is important.
Starting point is 00:25:58 It's whatever you think good qualifies as, including the quarterback. I would go, let's go top eight because I feel like that's the top quarter of the league that, you know, you're excelling. I know that the Colts have the top offense in the league right now by a decent margin. I mean, through three games, it's one of the greatest offenses in NFL. history. They've basically been perfect. The Seahawks have been good. This is tough.
Starting point is 00:26:25 You're throwing these out there, maybe having an opinion, so I'm curious, what are the factors you're looking at? You know what? I tend to gravitate toward, like, non-outliers. So I think the Colts are going to stay really solid. I do think that once you get into November, December, there's a lot
Starting point is 00:26:40 of tape out there. There's a lot of defenses adjusting to how they play the Colts. There's a lot of defenses adjusting to how they contain Tyler Warren, for example, of course, you got to factor in the receivers as well, a lot of defenses that will be playing, Daniel Jones differently. Similar to what the Seahawks are doing, you know, there's going to be teams that try to ramp up the pressure on Sam Donald. But I think in the case of the Seahawks, this offensive line is only going to get better week over week because I think
Starting point is 00:27:06 the way that they're playing with Clint Kubiak as their offensive coordinator and running like a real throwback version of the Cubiac offense, I think they sustained specifically into December because of what they've put on tape so far and their commitment to running the ball the way that they do, specifically out of these heavy personnel, heavier personnel packages, using the fullback,
Starting point is 00:27:26 using these guys to really settle the quarterback and running sort of a timeless version of this under center play action that they're doing with Sam Darnold, which will help him and settle him, and this defense is only going to get better, as it already is really good, it's only going to get better.
Starting point is 00:27:39 So that's what I think is it's the Seahawks. Comparing the two, the Seahawks have the big advantage at quarterback. Even as good as Daniel Jones is playing. No, it's fine. He's been very efficient, very similar in almost every way to how he played with Minnesota. Now, we're going to talk about the Thursday night game, but it's amazing that he's thrown
Starting point is 00:28:02 the ball the least of any starting quarterback in the league, but his, you know, per throw numbers are incredibly efficient. And I think he's making some difficult plays. Like you mentioned the old school Kubiak offense. Like it's a lot of like bootleg lefts and he's good thrown across his body. and that's great. Okay, so the big edge is that quarterback, and that's a huge one.
Starting point is 00:28:22 I think every other edge is with the Colts. Ooh, even defense. So it's tough. Defense I'm not putting in because you said offense. Oh, sure. Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. I'm just like, yes, they'll be in more favorable positions, but just offensively,
Starting point is 00:28:36 coach I would give to Shane Steichen at this point, a body of work with some quarterbacks that aren't great. I mean, he's running RPO's out there with Gardner Minshu and was a pretty easy pass away from making playoffs and winning that division. And he let him know about it. Yeah. I just, I think I would give the edge at this point to play caller and the coach. And you just see him creating. Offensive line, I think is the Colts. I think they, they deserve the benefit of the doubt of keeping these young guys resigning Braden Smith. They've played really well. They look great. And I know it's only
Starting point is 00:29:08 through three weeks. But the Seahawks running game, like I'm not there yet, totally with it. It's been okay. It hasn't been. It's been okay. Statistically, you see the, this reminds me very much of Sean McVeigham's 2020, where they were super inefficient relatively to what they ended up becoming, but they stuck with the plan and they put the blueprint out there and they stuck with it over and over and over again. And part of that was a big piece of the install and overturning that identity that they had. That's what I think the Seahawks are doing right now. I love that because that's looking at it long term. I think if you look at the players on their offensive line, there's probably a higher ceiling.
Starting point is 00:29:44 They've got, you know, the high picks at the tackle position. They have young players in the middle. They keep Gray-Zabel, the first round pick. They could keep getting better and better. But some of these Colts haven't played too much either. And the Seahawks, like running stats are a little uneven. Like even in that big Ken Walker game, Charbonnet's 10 for 15. So they've had some great plays, some okay plays.
Starting point is 00:30:04 The passing is very good. But that's why I'm saying, I'm going off of what I'm watching the blueprint be installed. This is it that they're installing it this way now, because they think they're going to be badass in December. The reason where I'm going to take the Colts are still a top eight offense in December. He's taking it to Ireland. I'm taking it to Ireland. Is everything else?
Starting point is 00:30:23 Is the depth of the weapons? Jonathan Taylor might be the best pure running back in the league right now. I mean, I don't know how you can be any better than he is. And then you have Jackson Smith and Jigba. We'll talk about more in the preview, who to me is easily better than any weapon on Indianapolis. He's that good.
Starting point is 00:30:41 He might be a top, he's a top 10 receiver right now, which is crazy. Like, he's getting to the Nico Collins' breakout year, top five type of level. But man, after that, it's just not as deep, whereas... Tori Hart and Erasure. The Coltschig just can hit you with so many different things. You want some physicality? We got Tyler Warren. Oh, I love it.
Starting point is 00:30:59 You want some physicality? We got Michael Pittman. You want a slot that can run you like the prime Hunter Renfro routes, but also can go up the seam kind of deep. Like, that's Josh Downs for you. want a little wild card on the outside with A.D. Mitchell. They got a lot of players. I'm going Colts. The last, last reason, man, I have too many reasons is they've already stacked these great stats now. So that'll, they get to keep those. And then the schedule, the schedule is easier
Starting point is 00:31:28 for the Colts. And their hard part of the schedule is late. They have Seattle, San Francisco, and Houston very late again. And so for the most part, I'm going to, I'm going to Indianapolis. So Greg is taking the take that the Indianapolis Colts will be a top eight defense or excuse me, top eight offense in December. All right, we'll put that on our document.
Starting point is 00:31:49 We're actually keeping track of these takes this year. I love that. Okay, second take option to pack. Pack or no pack? Okay. Which one is real? You're packing whichever of these is more real. Okay.
Starting point is 00:32:01 The Rams first half against the Eagles last week or the Eagles second half against the Rams. Which one are you packing? And this is unfair, because I believe in them both. Well, you can't have both. Your suitcase is only so absurdly large. I have to pack the Eagles.
Starting point is 00:32:22 I have to pack the Eagles because it's all there. We've all seen it before. There's no particular reason to think that it's going away. But I believe in them both. I don't believe that's a game that the Rams should be holding their head about. We're talking about the entire team, right? Yeah, but I'm saying which is more real as a harbinger for the entire season. The Rams first half against the Eagles, which also factors in the Eagles first half against the Rams.
Starting point is 00:32:48 Okay. Or the Eagles second half against the Rams, which also factors in the Rams second half against the Eagles. You know, I'm really breaking my brain. Because the reality is I do believe if I had to choose three teams that I think are most likely to be in the divisional round, of the playoffs, these would be two of my three teams. That's not the question. It would be the Eagles, the Rams, and the Packers. There's only so much space though.
Starting point is 00:33:19 You need a bigger suitcase. The concept here. I wish you guys, if you're watching on YouTube, it's hurting me. Greg's gotten more and more frazzled. He started ruffling up his hair in a very eccentric way. The first half of that,
Starting point is 00:33:35 I guess you could look at each half, especially the first half of that game is as dominant as a team could possibly be. So the Rams, to me, to live up to the billing of that first half, would have to be the best team in the NFL. Because if they didn't settle for a couple field goals where Matthew Stafford misses a couple of passes, it was everything. It was complete domination against the defending Super Bowl chance. Where the second half against the Eagles, to me, is repeatable.
Starting point is 00:34:02 I've seen it in the biggest of spots. I have my doubts. But you think that's more real. that's what you think is more real. Yeah, I have my doubts about how their regular season is going to go. The Philadelphia Eagles, like, overall. But when we get to December, all the components are there for them to round into shape and be the team that they started to be around December last year.
Starting point is 00:34:20 So Greg is taking the Eagle's second half against the Rams. What's your answer? You clearly are leaning Rams. I'm just here to in which debate. What did you see from that game? What I think is more real is how the Rams looked because the Rams did not look great in some spots, including finishing drives with touchdown and Stafford looking old and missing throws and not picking up key laid down situations. That's what I think looked
Starting point is 00:34:46 real as dominant as they were in the box score other than scoring touchdowns. I think that's pretty reflective of who the Rams have been. I love their run game right now. And their run game especially is the backbone of this team. And it's finally there after a couple of years of trying to do that. I also think it's more real that the Eagles will start slow many games this season. reason. But that's why I'm sort of looking at it in a different lens than you. It's not that I'm saying they're the most dominant team. It's that I think that was actually pretty reflective of what the Rams are going to be this year. I agree. I agree. And I think right now, that's why I picked them to win that game. I ended up being wrong. I think right now they're ahead of where the Eagles are overall. The big caveat with both the Colts and the Rams takes, by the way, are that I worry about the quarterback's health. Daniel Jones is taking way too many big hits. And then Matthew Stafford, it just goes without saying. With the Eagles, though, I'm the resourcefulness with which they had got themselves out of trouble. They will dig themselves holes at times this year in games.
Starting point is 00:35:49 And I think in the season overall, but I think what is real is the overall talent and ultimately the backbone of the organization that they figure things out over the course of the season. So I'm saying they're real. Do you know what my favorite part of that game was around the, the end I've always used to the tropes. Yes. Season tropes. And what I really loved is that the trope of, I'm in the best shape of my life coming out of training camp,
Starting point is 00:36:14 actually proved to be true for Jordan Davis, who hit 18 miles an hour. Oh, my gosh. Everyone's like, oh, he's in shape. He's in shape and like, oh, my gosh, we've heard this a million times. But actually, look at him go, like barreling down the field with Rams players in pursuit,
Starting point is 00:36:29 no chance of even catching him, realizing what was happening in front of their very eyes. Poor Bo Limmer in the mix of that block, field goal with Kevin Dotson injured out out of the field just like the Rams had happened to them last year in the postseason. I mean, God, there was some sick poetry in that game. It's why sometimes it is important to
Starting point is 00:36:52 check out the local coverage. So on the all PHAY podcast, the first two weeks of the season, they were really talking about, Fran Duffy does a great job breaking down the film. They thought it was Jordan Davis' best two games of his career back-to-back, weeks one and two. Don't think that was a national conversation.
Starting point is 00:37:08 Don't think it totally all showed up in the box score. But they thought like week two, man, he looked amazing. And so this is not a fluke, like seeing him having this breakout. And they've needed it because they need some people to step up. All right, I'm taking that the Eagles are going to be fine. Okay, so you're running out of room and you're absurdly large suitcase. You do have room for a quarterback. Okay.
Starting point is 00:37:28 So this is the caveat. You have to pick a quarterback who is not currently on quarterback island to pack into your absurdly large suitcase and take with you overseas. Who would it be? Not on quarterback island. We haven't talked to any quarterback island in a while. And for the listeners out there, for the fans,
Starting point is 00:37:50 we're going to wait until I'm back. So it's going to be a little bit of a longer gestation period, people proving themselves. Guys like C.J. Stroud, who are on the island and not feeling great about it, they have some time to rebound a little bit. Brock Purdy, who's not healthy, has time to do so. It's really interesting to look at our list.
Starting point is 00:38:11 Okay, some options here. Drake Mays looked pretty good for through a couple weeks. Why was that going to be your first one? First fame you threw up. I probably wouldn't have been, but then I was like looking... But you're back. You're all the way back. At all the advanced metrics, the PFFs, the EPAs. Basically, every...
Starting point is 00:38:30 QBR's, it's like, Drake May is pretty high up there. But you know who's ahead of them and everything? is Daniel Jones. It would be fascinating if he is playing well enough. Yeah. But I can take someone now you're saying in the suitcase.
Starting point is 00:38:42 You're packing this person with you to Ireland. Okay. Throughout who else is even that's not on the island that is in this discussion? I'm taking Caleb Williams. What?
Starting point is 00:38:52 Yes. I'm taking Caleb Williams. Yes. Just because you think it'd be fun? Currently number eight in the NFL and EPA. Going like the Guinness tour with him or something?
Starting point is 00:39:00 Yes, it is very skewed and played a near perfect game, definitely the most perfect game a quarterback has played in Chicago in a very long time this is crazy this last week. But I actually, I really think that you're seeing week over week like a steady trajectory with him because I'm thinking about, hey, quarterback island, we're not really doing it for the next until, you know, you're back in the next two weeks. Who is on that incline in improvement? Who is somebody who, man, we really wished we could have put him on the island during his rookie season. He obviously did not get there for many reasons.
Starting point is 00:39:33 including his own play. Wow. Watching his improvement, I thought he actually was pretty good in week two, made a couple mistakes. That interception was really bad, but you could see improvement.
Starting point is 00:39:43 He's seeing it better. Another trope, it's slowing down for him. Clearly, his receivers are on a better page with him. His offensive line is playing better. And also, I definitely thought you were going to pick
Starting point is 00:39:53 Daniel Jones, which is another reason why I picked California. Okay. No, that's fair. And I haven't made my final decision yet. I was amazed that you threw that out there. spicy. I have to still surprise you so much, Greg. It feels premature, but it's just off a couple weeks and it's just taking him, you know, it's not putting him on the island. If he continues
Starting point is 00:40:13 this trajectory over the next couple of weeks, it will be a really interesting conversation because that's what I'm counting on. Daniel Jones. Yeah. And the matchups aren't that tough relatively. I think he has Las Vegas this week. Okay. Darnold would be another name you could throw out there. I mean, he's playing really well. He's going to be part of the conversation. Jordan Love is not coming off a great game, but is playing at a pretty high level. That's why it gets a, it's hard for me to get there
Starting point is 00:40:48 a little bit with Caleb right now. I am, you know, I am factoring that Cowboys defense in quite heavily into the Caleb conversation. I guess it has to be Daniel Jones right now. I feel like it has to be Daniel Jones that you take with you. And it's like a good opportunity for some bonding, you know, asking him about what he went through. Who would be like the most- Talking about feelings and all that, you know? And a lot of its first read and people are going to get on them that it's like schemed up.
Starting point is 00:41:16 And I think there is some truth to that. But there's a lot of dimes too. Like they're not easy throws and he's making them under pressure. Yeah. Will he continue it? The number one thing that worries me about the entire Indianapolis Cold season is if you are watching each and every one of these games, he takes three or four massive hits every game. Sometimes he invites them,
Starting point is 00:41:38 not just inviting the pressure because he's a little oblivious to it at times, although his pocket presence is better, but he's got that Cam Newton thing where he just stands there and gets crushed. But when he's running, there's one hit a game running where he just gets his clock cleaned.
Starting point is 00:41:53 And like that, that worries me, you know? Yeah, so, you know, that's fair. And again, I'm projecting over the next couple of weeks continued trajectory. And I think it's fair. I think it's fair for you to pack Daniel Jones because first of all, you know, let him see the world a little bit. May would be more fun.
Starting point is 00:42:10 May it would be more just like we could play some pickup hoops, you know? I don't know. At this point now I'm hanging out. I feel like you'd like this is a good thing for you to do for Daniel Jones. Let him see the world a little bit. And, you know, spread your wings and fly. Okay. Daniel Jones is the guy, although I'm only not taking Drake me
Starting point is 00:42:27 because it would seem like I'm being biased. I do think. Seem. Seem like you're being biased. bias. Oh, he, he just played an incredible two weeks of football here, the last two weeks. Oh, I'm aware, but I'm also, there's no seam about your biases here. That's why, yeah, I would put him, Darnold, love all of them right now. They're, they're in the mix. It's going to be an interesting conversation, by the way, yeah, because I mentioned C.J. Stroud is on the list. Right now,
Starting point is 00:42:51 I'm looking at it. Yeah, you know, it's other than that, there's not many obvious ones that would get bumped off. Brock Purdy would probably be the other one. I think one thing, too, that Daniel Jones has going from in terms of taking this trip with you is he will be inside your suitcase. But he's pretty used to like the cargo area by now after his time in New York, you know, just in the belly of a impossible situation. Wow. In the dark, crammed into. I was wondering where you're going there. Terrible. There will be open spots. Joe Burrow. I kind of forgot will unfortunately get booted off. And we don't know. And Brock Purdy might not be there either. There could be some availability. So it's a suitcase. He's a massive human being, Greg.
Starting point is 00:43:26 Yes. He's a massive human. So I feel like we've got to unpack a take at least for you. to feel like your suitcase will hit the weight limit and you can actually take it with you with all these takes. Also Daniel Jones. What is a preseason take that you had that you are willing to leave behind as you... That we're done with.
Starting point is 00:43:44 I'm done with the take. Yeah, that you're, that you cannot, once it's gone, it's gone. There's so many to choose from. I was wrong about so many things. I mean, yeah. You want to know mine? Because we have a daily show.
Starting point is 00:43:55 Yeah, that gives me a little time. Yeah, mine is the Houston, Texas. like, God, I see this defense and I see how professional they are. I'm not ready to leave them behind. But they make, you know, they've, they've been strangely like penaltyful and undisciplined and I think frustrated and kind of playing like that. Their defense is so physical and they just, they hurt people and they're so, I think they're well coached at the head position.
Starting point is 00:44:22 And on the other side of it, it's like an absolute disaster on offense. And I don't care how good your defense is if you are not at least at the median of the league offensively in success rate, in the ability to even like get the ball off, you know, snapped and off the line of scrimmage because your offensive line is getting beat so much, so fast. They're not moving people. It's the same stuff over and over again. And yes, there are some things where you would like to see C.J. Stroud continue to progress and and not hold the ball in some cases. And there have been health issues and a couple of really inexperienced receivers
Starting point is 00:45:01 in the mix as well. And that's part of the problem. But like you fired your offensive coordinator. You hired Nick Casario's guy as your new offensive coordinator. Yeah. And now you and you have a similarly terrible offensive line. Like everyone's coming for Casario.
Starting point is 00:45:19 It's like, Damico Ryan's is the coach there. So he to me gets the most responsibility. Nick Casario. I don't care. Nick Casario hired a John Carroll guy who also worked with him in New England. DeMico Ryan's has no say on who's the offensive coordinator? I'm not saying he has no say.
Starting point is 00:45:35 We don't know what the power balance was for that hire. And I'm saying, if he didn't hire, he'd be one of the only head coaches in the league that isn't able to hire his coordinator. I'm not saying he didn't hire him. I'm saying I don't know what the power dynamic was. I don't know what the conversations were. Neither to you.
Starting point is 00:45:51 And what I think the case is here is like, I actually don't think that Nick Cayley will be a bad coordinator. I understand what he wants to do and I also know what he wants to try to get this offense to do, especially with C.J. Stroud's very specific skill set that has elite potential. But they don't have the offensive line. I'm not willing to leave this one behind, though. I'm not giving up on them. I think it'll work out. Mine was that they were going to win the Super Bowl. So I am leaving that take behind.
Starting point is 00:46:19 I'm scrapping it. I'm not backing that anywhere. We're leaving it. We're burning it. That's it. I had them. winning the division, but like with a 10 and 7 record, like, kind of like last year, but it just looked a little different. They are 20th defensively in DVOA right now. I'm shocked by that. I think it's because they are giving up a lot of successful plays and a lot of long drives, because I'm trying to do the math and they're not creating enough turnovers right now. Situationally, they have given up big drives in the biggest moments of each one of those games. That's not baked into those numbers where they overweight like the fourth quarter.
Starting point is 00:46:51 But I'm shocked by that their defense is also ranked that low. Yeah, because when you watch them, it's not that low. No, it doesn't. They're going to be. Yeah. I think they're going to be okay. So, so many options of what I could wash my hands of it. Unpack it, Greg.
Starting point is 00:47:06 The Cowboys takes were all made before Micah Trade. Like, I wouldn't have made those takes. You know, I tried to hold on to it. Just be like, okay, maybe they'll still be a fun, interesting, offensive team. You know, so I don't, I don't feel bad about that. Like, I guess I'm leaving that behind, but I don't, I don't even count. those takes, right? It's made before the Parsons trade. The ones that stand out to me is the Colts were my number two pick in our over-under draft, taking the under on the Colts. And yeah,
Starting point is 00:47:34 that was seven and a half. I'm leaving, I'm leaving that behind. I'm embarrassed by a take that was so bad. I didn't even remember it. And Eric brought it up before the show. He says I called Keenan Allen a slouch. Is that possible? But I definitely know that I dismiss. the potential impact of Keenan Allen to this Chargers team. And I've been stunned how goody look. I listened to the recap show as you predicted, I would.
Starting point is 00:47:59 And Eric had a lot of very specific receipt. Do we have Eric's microphone here? What did I call him? I called them a slouch. I want to say you call them a sludge. I'm digging for transcripts right now for like the exact quote
Starting point is 00:48:12 because I don't want to throw that out to you and it doesn't matter. Either way that's horribly wrong. You were very anti-Kinin when it was announced. That's horribly wrong. So I'm leaving both that and the call. You know who is pro Kenan Allen? Daniel Jeremiah. That it was going to work out.
Starting point is 00:48:25 And yeah, they are actually splitting the ball three ways. Like Quentin Johnston is like the number one right now. Ladvacanke actually has fewer yards on the season than Keenan Allen, who's look great. So that was a horrible take. The Colts take. I'm leaving behind as well. We're opening up room.
Starting point is 00:48:39 I'm leaving up multiple takes. That was fun. Let's go. Now you have room to bring me back presents. Yes. And buy some stuff. I feel like I don't have enough clothes. I might buy some there,
Starting point is 00:48:50 which is a bad. always a bad plan. Let's talk about the TNF preview before we get out of here. It's Seahawks at the Cardinals. The Seahawks are favored by one and a half in this game in Arizona. That's flipped. I happen to look on Sunday and the Cardinals were favored back then. So that indicates that all the regular Joe's like me out there are like, oh, the Seahawks have clearly been better. And they flipped that by going to Seattle, I just think they have looked a lot better. I think if the two teams play
Starting point is 00:49:25 how they've played so far this season, it'll be an interesting matchup when Seattle has the ball offensively. And it'll be a mismatch in Seattle's defense's favor when Arizona has the ball. That's how I see this, at least in terms of how they've played through three weeks. Yeah, you know, it was horrible to see James Connor
Starting point is 00:49:48 and go down the way that he did. And, and Tray Benson, obviously, we'll step up and take the workload there. And, you know, they'll get, you know, Paris Johnson back. You know, he'll be, sounds like he'll be playing. They're still, you know, it's, you're very unsure about what this Cardinals' offense is beyond what it was last season. And they're, they're, sometimes they're really trying to get the Baltimore and Harrison, Jr.
Starting point is 00:50:13 Sometimes it doesn't seem like they're really trying to get the Baltimore, Marvis and Harrison, Jr. Sometimes he's making mistakes. He spoke at length after this loss in San Francisco to reporters about just how disappointed in himself he was for his own errors throughout the game, his own mistakes. And just frustrated, I think, that it's not coming together enough the way that they needed more from everybody going. He's putting a lot of pressure on himself.
Starting point is 00:50:38 He's putting a lot of pressure on himself. And again, it's like, it's almost like unnecessary in my mind because this is always, this is just a team that should continue the ethos should not bend into the external pressure, the media pressure or whatever, to have a true ex receiver right away. You need this guy to be your ex and your first round pick and your high pick and all that stuff. This offense runs through Trey McBride. Okay, so go throw what you know, go to what you know. And I would just love to see this young man put less on his own shoulders on this. And I think he plays a little bit more free. And things just go faster and just make more sense. And it just seems like there's, um,
Starting point is 00:51:15 There's just a tightness to this offense. We're used to seeing, like, the heavy personnel and them just try to run through you and put a hurt on you and load up in heavy personnel. The team that's doing that more successfully, another, like, OG Kubiak offense, because Rupertzing is from the Kubiak tree. Well, this is literally Kliq, Kubiak, who's running this offense in Seattle. And they're loading up in heavy personnel. They're running, like we mentioned earlier in the show, a lot of under center.
Starting point is 00:51:41 Let's stay with the Cardinals offense, though, because, like, they can't, around the ball. They're one of the worst rushing teams in the league. That to me is like everything that is a problem with them. When I look at their offense, they just seem very condensed. Not explosive.
Starting point is 00:52:00 Kyler is throwing the ball to the middle of the field, which he's like famous for not doing. It's almost like he's over-corrected. I feel like that's the story of Kyler Murray's career. He's always like correcting whatever the criticism is about them. Actually, their entire offense is like to the middle of the field. All of them right now.
Starting point is 00:52:15 It's like, okay, you know, the entire offseason, it's like, you know, especially from a fantasy football perspective, it's like Marvin Harrison Jr. needs to get the ball more. But really, this offense was at its most functional when it's running through the multiple tight ends. And you're not putting that pressure on his shoulders. You understand, yeah, he's a first round. He's a high draft pick, first round pick. But it might take a second, especially within the structure of what this offense is. And to get the, you know, the jelling with the quarterback and all of these things. And so, okay. okay, go, like, go be loose with what you know and go play free with what you know. And the same thing with the running game. And same thing with the running game is just bad, though. And the same thing with Tyler going to the middle of the field. It's like, oh, he never does this. Okay, now they're, it's almost like they're listening too much to what we're saying. Right.
Starting point is 00:53:01 And he is scrambling a lot. They said that all off season. He was going to scramble more. He is on pace for the most scrambles and the most scramble yards. And it has helped them since, I think, 2020 for him. He did have that one year where he ran quite a bit. but they are 30th in rushing DVOA, and they're dead on arrival if that continues.
Starting point is 00:53:20 And that's including Kyler's scrambles, which have been effective. So they are one of the worst, and that's been the secret sauce for them, is that the run blocking, it was Clayton Adams, who's now in Dallas helping to scheme it up, but their offensive line was greater
Starting point is 00:53:34 than the sum of their parts. And then here comes Seattle. Just these monsters up front, who you don't know who's going to step up in a given week, They are the number one rush defense in the entire league, according to DVOA. They are like third in EPA per play. And so you almost have to assume going into this game, the Cardinals are not going to be able to run the ball.
Starting point is 00:53:57 And then the matchup really becomes, you know, can Kyler get enough time and make some things happen in this matchup? Because Seattle, they're getting production and this is coaching, like from surprising places. Josh Job is playing well at cornerback for them. Daryon Kendrick. He's playing well. He's playing really well for them.
Starting point is 00:54:17 Had an interception two weeks ago that was absolutely crucial in that win over the Steelers. This is a team that is physical and tenacious and smart and fast, which is funny because Darren Kendrick, respectfully speaking, like never really quite looked like a fast player, tenacious 100%, especially when he was playing in the slot and closer to the line scrimmage, like would make plays on the ball, especially red screens really smartly. But in every level, you've got Ernest Jones in the middle of the field still playing well and certainly they'll need him against the run. You've got, you know, this front that just is coming more and more alive every single week.
Starting point is 00:54:56 Like you would expect it to do under a Mike McDonald defense. At every single level, there's this like tenacity and just a saviness and like a smart brand of football that they're playing. And I think that does not bode well for the Cardinals. Jay Harbaugh also has his unit playing well, the special team's course. coordinator for the Seahawks doing his thing. How many relatives are on this Seahawks? There's a Harbaugh, there's a couple Kubiak. Could we get another Harbaugh special teams coordinator to head coach pipeline?
Starting point is 00:55:26 I mean, the last name will definitely help him. We talked about the Seahawks offense earlier. I don't think the Cardinals defense has been able to be quite as creative this year. It is banged up. It is start, you know, it is the better part of the team. One stat I didn't get into Sunday show was how. Clayus Campbell had the fastest get-off time, you know, which they record for next-gen stats, like getting off the ball of any defensive tackle in the league.
Starting point is 00:55:53 He also forced the safety that should have won them the game. He is playing great. Josh Sweat is playing well, but overall, they have some disappointing players up front. They're not getting anything from Darius Robinson. Their first round pick, they've had some injuries. They've just been okay. It's a very okay team. They're like 13th, and this is all DVOA.
Starting point is 00:56:11 And it was a pretty easy schedule. 13th in defense, 19th in offense. And then you look at all, other than that the rush offense is really bad, everything else is just in the middle. And Cardinals fans are sneaky sick of it. I'm kind of shocked how annoyed they are with Petsig and this whole team. There's a lot of anger about a two and one Cardinals team, but that's why, you know, division matchups are so big.
Starting point is 00:56:34 You go win this game and you're three and one and you're tied for first place, potentially in the NFC West if the 49ers happen to lose this week. or you get the, you know, it's big. This is a tough division, though, and every division game is going to be big. I am leaning Seahawks, as you probably could have guessed. Yeah, I'm picking the Seahawks in this one. Because I just think they're able to overwhelm you in more areas
Starting point is 00:56:57 than the Cardinals are able to sustain. And maybe if they were fully, the Cardinals were fully healthy at different positions, and maybe if they weren't sort of stuck in neutral with what this offense is supposed to be versus what it's trying to be, then like maybe we're talking, having a completely different conversation, but because Jonathan Gannon and Nicolaus are not able to do
Starting point is 00:57:15 exactly what they want to do on the defensive side of the ball, injuries that started even back in training camp, even in the spring that sort of have had this ripple effect for them, and because they're just sort of neutral on offense when they should be one of the more smothering groups in the entire league based on the talent that they have available in the personnel's they like to deploy. Meanwhile, Seattle's doing all those things. They're creative on defense.
Starting point is 00:57:39 They're smart on defense. they're playing a lot of different interesting things. They're getting pressure. They're stopping the run. On offense, they are the smothering team in every area almost. It probably except for the, depending on the day, the quarterback, the Seattle Seahawks are able to smother and suffocate teams more so than the Cardinals are. They're a little further ahead.
Starting point is 00:58:00 They're in year two of their program with Mike Cuthanel, but I think they have better players ultimately. And then, yes, the Cardinals are missing at least three cornerbacks in this game, probably four. I mean, two have been gone for the season for a while, but Max Melton is out there playing. He did not look good in that 49ers game. I don't know if he is 100%. Will Johnson is probably not back for this game. So I'll take the Seahawks on the road. You're going to be covering this game with Patrick on Thursday night. And yeah, I'm really looking forward to our Wednesday preview show. We'll have Steve Weish, for real this time,
Starting point is 00:58:33 in the studio with both me, you, and Patrick. We will be back. for that preview show before I head overseas. And yes, we got some fun shows, some extra stuff this week. Going to connect with the Ringer fantasy guys, Danny Kelly, Danny Hythitz, Craig Horroback. They're going to be picking games with me this week. That's all coming up. But before that, we got to get ready for a really fun week for Slate. We will see you there.
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