NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Jets fire Robert Saleh and Guys Who Rule with Colleen Wolfe and Jourdan Rodrigue

Episode Date: October 9, 2024

Gregg Rosenthal is joined by Colleen Wolfe and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic to preview the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Seahawks and 49ers. The show starts off with the crew's react...ion to the Jets firing Robert Saleh (01:28) and Patriots naming Drake Maye their starting quarterback (19:04). After the break, it's time to highlight guys who rule (24:54) including C.J. Stroud, Steve Spagnuolo, Kevin Harlan and more! Finally, the show is wrapped up with a preview of the 49ers and Seahawks squaring off on TNF (50:33). 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 we hope to have a better time at Todd. of Hotspur Stadium than the Jets did last Sunday. Getting on a plane soon. Here in the Chris Wessling podcast studio with my friends, Jordan Roderig and Colleen Wolfe.
Starting point is 00:01:38 We have had a news day here, Colleen. Lots of news already. It's been an eventful morning so far. It is before we started taping. Of course, Jordan, Robert Sala lost his job with the Jets. Very surprising. Drake May has already been named quarterback for the Pee. Patriots this week against the Texans.
Starting point is 00:02:00 That's less surprising. And all of this is just getting in our way in our segment, guys who rule. Guys who rule! I know it. So yes, we'll talk news. For a little while first. And then we'll get to different guys who rule
Starting point is 00:02:18 around the league or maybe just around the world. I don't even know how creative you guys decided to go with this. And we'll have to wait and see, Greg. We'll preview TNF, which is a fun one this week, Seahawks, 49ers for the first place in the NFC West. Like, how are you guys? Oh, feeling great. You got your Philly sweatshirt on?
Starting point is 00:02:34 Bills play at 2 o'clock. Very excited about that. Significant consequences. I know. What was your first reaction when you saw the Jets let go of Robert Sala? I was really surprised. It's a Tuesday. You know, they got back from London on Monday.
Starting point is 00:02:52 They're two and three. One game out of first, like the Monday night football game against the bills is four. first place. I did not see this coming. Neither did anyone covering the NFL. Neither did Robert Sala, according to the reporting that's out there right now. Yeah, there were reports that he was feeling positive about their chances this week, went into the building on Tuesday and was blindsided by the news. And how couldn't you be in it? And it's crazy because this is a team that to me has a lot of connections with the media. They're in New York.
Starting point is 00:03:22 You got the front office in terms of the GM, Joe Douglas. You got Robert Sala, like, everyone has relationships here. I don't think anyone saw this coming. Well, I don't feel like I'm not surprised by it. Obviously, there are tensions in that building and evidence by the performance in London on a huge stage. And Sala, when he said that he wasn't panicked,
Starting point is 00:03:49 nobody in the building was panicked. I think he underestimated that a little bit, considering 24 hours later he was fired. So I don't know. Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold was maybe the straw that broke the camel's back. Oh, my God. It's the first time, I know, I know, the first time in Woody Johnson's 25-year tenure that a head coach has been fired during the season.
Starting point is 00:04:11 So this is unprecedented even for the Jets. Yeah, it's not something they've done at all. They actually haven't done it as an organization since 1976. So that's why I'm surprised because, like, what's changed so much? It's also week six. That's what I mean. So, like what's changed? And frankly, and I'm going to cite Ben Solac for pulling the stats on this quickly
Starting point is 00:04:31 over at ESPN. Since the 2021 season, Robert Salah's first season in New York, the Jets defense ranks first in points per drive, first NEPA per play, and third in success rate, despite playing the fourth most snaps over that stretch because they've been in terrible offensive situations. And this is, that's where I think the surprise comes from, is that there is no question, that Robert Sala is a really, really outstanding defensive coach. So I think living in that world alone, perhaps that's where some of the surprise for him comes from. But as we know, the ecosystem of that entire organization
Starting point is 00:05:10 at times seems to carry him along for the ride, less so involve him or less so have him be the one with the power and the control. That's what it looks like from the outside. It doesn't fix the offensive issues, and that's the problem. Right. It just feels very personal. listen to Robert, I mean, Woody Johnson, rather,
Starting point is 00:05:30 the Jets owner talking about the expectations. And I guess this is what helps explain why a move like this would happen only five weeks into the season. You know, I've been doing this for 25 years now. This is probably the best team I've had in 25 years. I just felt that the best way to go forward is with a new direction and taking Jeff Albrecht and making him the interim head coach
Starting point is 00:05:55 I thought that would get the most out of this team and give us the best chance that we all want to have, which is going to the playoffs. So Woody Johnson talking about this being the best Jets team that he's had potentially. It reminds me so much of what Shod Khan said before
Starting point is 00:06:12 the season, that this is the best Jaguars team they ever had. And the way I read into that is that that's what he believes based on what he's hearing from the media. The media has, I think, an impact on these moves sometimes, and what he's hearing from the front office. Joe Douglas is out here, the GM of this team. He's 29 and 69, I believe, since he's taken over.
Starting point is 00:06:37 It's a totally preposterous record. And I know he took over a 29 and 59, sorry, I want to correct that, 29 and 59 under Joe Douglas. He took over a tough situation, but they haven't improved much. Now, Robert Sala has a 357 winning percentage. That is the worst among active head coaches with at least. 50 games, except for Dennis Allen, but he has 149 out of 163 coaches all time with 50 games. So that's a pretty rough record, 20 and 36 as well. But it goes to, I think, believing the hype, and this tends to happen, I think, in New York.
Starting point is 00:07:12 Like, this is not that talented of a roster. Why is this the most talented roster in Jets history? Because they have Aaron Rogers, because your GM potentially sold this idea that we fix this offensive line with like a future Hall of Fame left tackle and draft picks like is the offensive line playing well? I don't see it. Like they're not playing well. Is Aaron Rogers playing at a better than like league average level? Like maybe that's an upgrade than over what they've had at quarterback overall. But they didn't sign up for an upgrade for just an upgrade. That's the thing about that's the thing that's, I agree, but they didn't sign up for an
Starting point is 00:07:46 upgrade. And that's part of the problem is that the thinking and the rationale here, the expectations seem to be incongruous with where the state of the roster actually was. Right. And so it's sort of like, you know, Unstoppable Force meets immovable object. The immovable object in this case is you are going to give Aaron Rogers a little bit more time coming off that Achilles. And yet you are thinking as an owner probably and as a staff that change has to be made.
Starting point is 00:08:13 Where I'm confused is why that change wasn't made in adjustments to the offense versus firing somebody who was. still running a significantly higher level defense year over year, even though the offensive issues and not fixing them enough, do have, the head coach is partially to blame for that. Yeah, the line in Woody's statement that jumped out at me was when he was referring to Jeff Ulbrick and said he's a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and players on this team. I believe he, along with the coaches on the staff, can get the most out of our talented team and attain the goals we established in the offseason.
Starting point is 00:08:53 Of course, that could just be said in any instance. But considering the circumstances, I'm reading a little bit between the lines there with that. And you can see that there's an issue within the coaching ranks. Maybe it is the respect of the coaches and the players that was a problem. Right. You have to only go back a couple weeks to think about the whole cadence issue publicly. There's a facial expression talking about the cadence. issue too. Between Aaron Rogers. What about the hug? What about the hug?
Starting point is 00:09:25 Right. There was the hands on the chest. There was Robert Zala and Aaron Roger. Awkward hug, which if you're watching on YouTube, you can see that. And they made that into, hey, this is no big deal. And I'm not saying that's the biggest deal at all. And there's all these reports coming out today that, no, actually Aaron Rogers and Robert Sala had a good relationship. And I'm sure like on the face of it, it was good enough. But the reality is you had a public back and forth in a way that if you're emotionally intelligent, which I think both these men are, but I think Rogers knows especially that, like, he could have handled that in a different way that didn't make his coach look bad publicly, and all of that contributes.
Starting point is 00:10:03 The reporting around this firing indicates that the Broncos loss was just like a stunner to everyone. And just like, how long have you been in the NFL? None of this is that stunning. Like, first of all, the Broncos defense is good. You're out there. It's a week to week league. like you lost the game. It was by one point. Your offense actually looks, you know, significantly better than the other team's offense
Starting point is 00:10:24 and your quarterback look better for what it's worth in that game. And it was a one point game in the NFL. If like your whole world is totally rocked by a one point loss at home to a decent team, it's like you're falling for the hype too much. Let's listen, as you mentioned,
Starting point is 00:10:37 Aaron Rogers and maybe the respect in the locker room and all that. Woody Johnson was asked whether he spoke with Rogers before this happened. Well, I did talk to him the night before, but we didn't discuss this, you know, specifically at all. I mean, we were basically talking about the previous game and, you know,
Starting point is 00:10:55 his breaking 60,000 yards, 60,000 yard record and accomplishing that. And sorry, he got hit so many times. And then how was he feeling? And so, no, in terms of whether I was going to do it or not, no, we didn't discuss that. I mean, just watching that game and seeing Aaron Rogers after he did, passed the mark of 60,000 passing yards. It was in the middle of like one of the worst spots during the game and he was so frustrated. And I remember we were watching and we're like, wow, he looks so thrilled to have this milestone now.
Starting point is 00:11:30 And it's just, I mean, I don't know. I can't, I can't lie and say that I'm not surprised that this is happening. Yeah. And I think to just to add on to that a little bit, statistically, productivity-wise, the defensive side of the ball was not the problem with the defensive head coach. And so if you're pointing to
Starting point is 00:11:55 this being a football decision or something to maximize the talent overall on your roster and you're not making that change or being patient with the side of the ball that is actually the one having the issue or not quite meeting the, again, extremely lofty expectations
Starting point is 00:12:15 that just placed on. When those, expectations circle around a team. Any team, it does not matter what market you're in. It just clenches you down. You feel it in every like microscopic layer of that building when those expectations are like, in the perfect world here, it's like it's a vibe change. Because Albrick is a defensive coach too. He's the defensive coordinator. And he's in the same tree. So not much is changing from the more successful side. There's just like a lot to push back on I'm saying you can't call it a decision made for the best of the football team without acknowledging that the offense was the one that needed more time.
Starting point is 00:12:51 And it was interesting. Jeff Oldbrook said publicly today, we're going to take a deep dive on potentially changing the offensive play caller. When asked about that, I do, I do not, he says I do not see changes in titles and positions, but he's going to do a deep dive and trying to improve whatever process there is. So who knows, there could be some changes there. It is talked about before the start of the season, was it not, that they were going to look at. that, you know, what the offensive roles were. It was reported that they looked around at hiring someone over Nathaniel Hackett. Yeah, and you could see Rogers visible frustration on the field to have him get the plays in faster. I mean, they kept cutting to him over and over again.
Starting point is 00:13:33 I just, it feels very coincidental that Robert Sala, this last game of his as a head coach, was against Sam Darnold in a loss. and his first game ever as a head coach for the Jets was against Sam Darnold in a loss with the Panthers. I have another one for you. The last time Aaron Rogers was under an interim head coach was Joe Philbin. You might remember Mike McCarthy got fired about six years ago now with Green Bay and Philbin finished out that season.
Starting point is 00:14:04 And the most exciting game in that little Philbin run was a 42 to 36 overtime win over the Jets and Sam Darnold. Wow. It all comes back. to Sam Darnold. This is the Sam Darnold podcast, everybody. The one thing I would slightly push back about Sala and the defense would be that they are playing well this year. I don't think they are.
Starting point is 00:14:26 They're like 12th in DVOA. They've gone against the fifth easiest schedule in the league. They haven't been as good as they've been in previous years. But that also gets to my point where I disagree with Woody Johnson about the most talented roster that they've ever had. This is the worst defensive line. I actually think Robert Sala's had because you're missing us on. Reddick. You're missing Bryce Huff, who's no longer there. And Quinn and Williams isn't making the same impact that he had before, whether that's all on him or he just doesn't have as
Starting point is 00:14:53 much help around him. Their defense, to me, this year has been pretty close to average. And they need to be great. And they've, they've been okay. You also expect your offense to be great and the two sides to complement each other in that way. Again, that's the incongruous expectation factor that we're talking about here. And so, and I think if you're 12th in DVOA and you're missing a, major pass rusher that you thought you were going to have and then other personnel. And you're still playing the Vikings who have been one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. You're playing them like that in London where played well. The Vikings offense was in knots in ways that we have not seen in
Starting point is 00:15:32 London in front of everybody in front of the world. I think that that is again, that's where some of the quote unquote surprise factor. Although I we could sense that this has been clenching and clenching and clenching for some time. It's been all over our TV. Do it in the off season, though, because like the thing is, if they're three and two, they don't make this move. So it's just like, because you lost by one point, it just do it in the off season then.
Starting point is 00:15:56 If you're that ready to fire Robert Sala, do it in the off. And then all the reports just surrounding this with Jonathan Jones saying that Robert Sala was considering firing Nathaniel Hackett. That's a juicy one. The reports that Robert Sala was escorted out of the building, and that's not something that is typically done. I just, you know, would be interested to find out the real story here. Joe Douglas, by the way, also reportedly in the last year of his contract,
Starting point is 00:16:23 really hard to make a full change midseason. If you're going to decide on one, something has to stay in fact with the language of the building. Not saying he's unsafe, not saying he's safe, just saying that's the reporting out there. Oh, I'll say he's unsafe. I mean, coming into this year, this felt like the biggest boom or bust season in the NFL. fell, that they had to make the playoffs or else it was going to be a clean house situation with Sala and Joe Douglas, who's had a lot of time there. And I think gets a little extra protected because he's such a nice guy that everyone
Starting point is 00:16:56 loves in the media and around and everything. And it just hasn't had the results there, especially there is something about that he was an offensive lineman and he came in talking about, it's all about the offensive line with the Jets. And that's been a total failure since he's been there, been one of the worst. respectfully like yes like Robert Sala is became a head coach for a reason
Starting point is 00:17:17 but you're also not going to sit there and say yes you should be autonomously choosing all of these different quarterbacks like six different quarterbacks in New York like that's the GM the GM is you know I'm seeing a lot of tweets that are being sort of attributing that the quarterback misfunction and
Starting point is 00:17:35 rotations and reshuffling where it says Robert Sala went through six different quarterbacks in New York I'm like uh Joe Douglas went through those quarterbacks, too. I mean, this is a shared situation, which is why I'm saying it is interesting that he is in last year. He drafted, he drafted Zach Wilson. There's layers to this.
Starting point is 00:17:50 The fact that Sala was considering firing Nathaniel Hackett, who has that close of relationship with Aaron Rogers, it's just, it's messy, but that's been the case for this organization for a while. They have one winning season since 2010. They have not made the playoffs since 2010. They have eight straight losing seasons. That is hard to do in an NFL where everything is set up for you to succeed.
Starting point is 00:18:16 And yeah, it's hard not to think just like Eric Mangini on Fox last week saying he thought it was going to be a big deal, them playing in London where the owner was an ambassador and a lot of important people watching that game and that that game would hold a little extra weight. And it turned out that way. And it does, that does remind me like Woody Johnson didn't hire Robert Sala. That is always an important thing to remember. Like, who hired who?
Starting point is 00:18:41 It happened to be at a time when he was no longer running the team. His brother, Christopher Johnson, was running the team. So you can only presume that Woody Johnson will be picking the next full-time coach. We'll see if it's a GM. I still think this team has a chance. I mean... Jeff Oldbrits is a good coach. I'll say that.
Starting point is 00:18:56 I watched him coach at the Senior Bowl this year. I was sort of shadowing a couple scouts for a project that I was working on for the athletic and got to see how he runs things, how he operates, really how he connects with... Big hard knocks, pop. I loved Jeff Oldbrick got hard knocks. It's awesome. Yeah, he's a, I think he's a really solid coach. It's always hard when you're an interim and it's like the organization is going to make whatever decision it wants at the end of the day.
Starting point is 00:19:20 Other than in a very rare case, such as the Antonio Pierce situation where the players really speak up. And so this is a trial run for him. This is an audition for him. He's a really solid coach, but we'll see if this has a long term. And a former player too, so he'll get the respect to the players. Interim coaches are all about vibes and energy. You're not going to change everything. And it's like Dan Campbell, fun interim coach when he was with Miami.
Starting point is 00:19:42 Rahim was too. Rahim, great one. Joe Vitt was a good one way back in the day. Raiders, Antonio Pierce, certainly. No, but even before that. It starts with a Bessaccia. Bessatia bump there.
Starting point is 00:19:54 Yeah, rich Bessatia, who now is with the Packers. And yeah, I think this Jets team, if I had to guess where they finish, it's about where I thought they would finish to begin the season, which is about nine wins, eight to nine wins. And that's probably not going to be enough, but they could be in the mix. They win that Monday night game against the bills. And they are tied for first place. All right, let's go to the other big news in the AFC East.
Starting point is 00:20:17 Patriots named Drake May, the starting quarterback. If you happen to listen to my Monday night recap with Bridget Conn, we kind of felt this one coming. She's from Massachusetts. I'm from Massachusetts. We had a healthy debate back and forth. I said enough about this. I'm glad it is happening.
Starting point is 00:20:33 You guys are my favorite math-holes. Thank you. I'm glad it's happening. I know it's a tough matchup this week. Everyone's so worried that the football player is going to have to play football. But I think he's going to be fine in the end, even if he has a completely terrible game. Like every game has been for the Jacoby percent.
Starting point is 00:20:51 I just think it's one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. That's the thing that I'm worried about. I would say the worst. Yeah. Well, I mean, there's like Cleveland, for example. Yeah. But the, this is, there's a line, I think. Like, yes, football players need to play football.
Starting point is 00:21:05 But there is a line that you cannot. afford to cross with a young quarterback. We, since this is the Sam Darnold podcast, we've seen it crossed with players who still are developing, still need to really have a clean environment around them in order to actually operate and do football
Starting point is 00:21:21 things. I think that if you cross that line where playing football actually isn't playing football, it's merely surviving. That's where you start to run into problems. So if they can try to at least build, if they can at least try to build an environment around him that allows him to at least get cleaner reps, then that's great.
Starting point is 00:21:37 Football players do need to play football. But again, there's a difference between playing football and getting meaningful reps and simply surviving. When can you promise me they're going to have some clean reps in Foxborough? 2007? Like, there's no guarantee that it's why they were playing Jacoby percent. Right. Like, but that's, from what I've seen and what I think, they're like,
Starting point is 00:21:57 I agree. Like, Darnold was put in a bad situation. But I've just seen so many quarterbacks be put in the absolute worst situations and be fine the next year. You really think that. Alex Smith, like Eli Manning, like some of the worst situations in NFL history. And if they're going to have a career, like, they'll still have a career. And he's probably in, by all accounts, he's a, he's a better football player than Jacoby
Starting point is 00:22:19 Percette. Really? You think as a rookie, he's going to come in here behind this offensive line, an offense that is so bad at scoring points and can't get anything going. And all of a sudden, this rookie with no reps is going to shine. No, no. I don't think that's going to happen. But I think it wants him to feel pain and they get better.
Starting point is 00:22:34 But I think experience. Not the Patriots way. I think experience is good. He's got the hoodie on too. I think experience is a good thing for young quarterback. I agree with you. I am not disagree. Like you put out these fourth round, like they're fourth,
Starting point is 00:22:48 like they've got rookies that have never played and don't know what's going on on the offensive line. Is it too early to put them out there? You know what I mean? Like they have just as much responsibility. I think that comparing that you very uniquely disastrous situation up front with other situations that have their own circumstances and variables is probably not the way to go here. But I think that, again, I'm not disagreeing with you.
Starting point is 00:23:08 He needs to play football. I am not disagreeing with you there. I am simply saying there is a difference between taking reps as meaningful reps that build something that actually advance the progress of a young quarterback who is developing, who will one day run, like, lead that organization and simply surviving and simply developing bad habits because there is no chance you're going to get anything to do other than survive and protect yourself. Is Drake Mae more mobile than Jacoby Broussett?
Starting point is 00:23:39 I mean, by a million factors, yes. So then maybe that ends up helping him a little bit? I think part of it is they're giving him all these reps in practice, and this is just like little whispers. He probably looks great. And the teammates are just kind of like, come on, bro. Like, come on, play the guy. It's a tough spot because you also don't want to be the quarterback who's like,
Starting point is 00:23:59 oh, they're shielding me. Like you can't win over the locker room. Jacoby's a good player. like if he was with the Browns right now, they would have a winning record. Like him and Kevin Stefansky make beautiful magic. Like, he can play football.
Starting point is 00:24:11 It is a brutal situation. So Drake May gets his first start against the Texans. That's going to be tough. Bless his heart. That's going to be tough. Bless Jacobi Berset's heart if he also had to do that. I do think, and I know they're not thinking this, but this is an entertainment product.
Starting point is 00:24:25 And no one wants to watch the Patriots. They're awful. Like, and this gives people a reason to watch. It's not the reason they're making this. decision but I do think like these guys are in it to make money and have like a product like that makes money and like this team couldn't be less entertaining and Drake May is a reason to care and like a reason to watch the rest of the season. I think that alone, hey, that breaks the tie. Let's go. He'll be fine. All right, we are going to take a quick break on NFL daily. I'm worried
Starting point is 00:24:58 about him too, but it should be fun. You want to see it. You want to see him get the crap kicked out of Why would I want that? I think he's great. Because that's what's going to happen. I loved him as a prospect. So that's certainly coloring my thinking in the preseason and the little time we had. I mean, yeah, it's looked a little scatter shot. This is the one o'clock window?
Starting point is 00:25:14 You're going to see some fun games. It is a one o'clock game, I believe, on Sunday. Looking forward to that. Looking forward to our guys who rock segment. Guys who rule. Guys who rule. Maybe they rock the rule. what's up everybody daniel jeremiah here and i'm bucky brooks on move the sticks we take you inside the game from scouting reports and player development to team building philosophies coaching trends and how front offices construct winning rosters every week we study the tape talk to decision makers and share the insights you won't find anywhere else is the kind of conversation that connects the dots from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow we break down the draft analyze matchups and
Starting point is 00:26:02 evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a diehard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,
Starting point is 00:26:27 or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones. Now, I'm Drew Franklin. And this is NFL Cover Zero. We're just here to try to give you an NFL perspective a little bit different. Did you see the Colts Pretzel? That was my other big takeaway from that game. What was that?
Starting point is 00:26:46 Oh, my. We think NFL coverage should be informative and entertaining. And twice a week, that is exactly what you're going to get. Listen to NFL Cover Zero with Matt Jones and Drew Franklin on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit Toyota.com slash NFL now to learn more. I'm Marcus Grant. And I'm Michael Florio, and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.
Starting point is 00:27:18 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. help you crush your opponents. 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.
Starting point is 00:27:52 Back on NFL Daily, it's a segment that's taken many different forms. It really has. Destation. I've watched it grow up right in front of my eyes. I've got a suitcase packed in the newsroom. I'm headed on an airplane. A lot of stories about the suitcase, Greg. It's, you know what? People are talking about. The streets are talking here at NFL Media.
Starting point is 00:28:16 And if you want to see online just a scale, that's next to a desk. So it's the size of a, I guess, a standard desk. It's a waist high desk. Yes. If people want to check out. For the standard height, waist. My gigantic suitcase.
Starting point is 00:28:30 Why not take a gigantic suitcase? I was packing a normal suitcase and everything fit fine. And I was like, well, what if I want to buy a bunch of stuff there for the family, for you guys, you know, you know, I'm buying, like, major gear, like, being a big old suitcase to bring the stuff back in my arm. I will accept gifts. But yes, I am a small man. So having that thing next to me, it's like my big brother.
Starting point is 00:28:53 My reaction, when I saw him walk into the newsroom today, it just brought me joy. Now I'm annoyed. I am, I'm ready for this segment. Okay. It started out as, what was it, weird guys who rule? Weird guys who rule. I don't even know who we were talking about that. You know, then guys who ruled, guys who rock.
Starting point is 00:29:14 Kirk cousin, that's right. Her cousin is a weird guy who rules in the nicest way possible. But this is more, this is simplified. That was also an IPA text. Yes, yes. From all of us. All of us, mutual IPA text. This is a great idea.
Starting point is 00:29:29 I was not drinking an IPA. I was working that night with Daryl McCoy. I was making some podcast magic. But I'm excited about this. Colleen, why don't you get us going? All right. Guys who rule. The Harrisons from Minnesota.
Starting point is 00:29:48 Harrison Phillips and Harrison Smith arriving to London. Wait until you see how they looked, looking like a peeky blinders absolute vision. And they had the dark three-piece suit on, the overcoats, the Jeff caps. If you check out the Vikings Instagram, it has an incredible song playing. It's raining. It's a whole vibe. Harrison Phillips has a pocket watch. So they looked very London chic here, but also kind of dangerous, which I like.
Starting point is 00:30:18 So maybe they could like rule the city, like in some type of underworld that's going on in London. That's sort of what I played out in my head. However, both Harrisons then went on to sack errands. and Rogers in that game. Harrison Phillips, he had said that Rogers of all of the quarterbacks playing right now is his favorite, absolute favorite to play against because he's one of the smartest out there. So I love that he ended up taking him down in London. Also, he honeymooned Harrison Phillips in Europe this past summer and said that he often got recognized, which I love for him. And it's also just like a show of how popular the NFL is everywhere. Um,
Starting point is 00:30:59 especially just as a defensive tackle, he's getting recognized. I mean, I can't imagine he would get recognized many places outside Minnesota, but Vikings fans travel. I think they were probably out there having a nice vacation. Yeah, Harry 99 on Twitter, he is. But then Harrison Smith, Harry the hitman, he also had a sack of Aaron Rogers celebrated with the belt championship celebration that Rogers. Yes, the discount double check.
Starting point is 00:31:24 And then there were all of these fun things that I saw about him. how in the off season, this past off season, when free agency was approaching, he kind of forgot that free agency was coming. And he was like, oh, I should talk to my agent about this because he was working as a carpenter and a welder with his brother-in-law. Wow. He also fixes bicycles and builds furniture. And a couple of off-season ago, he bought a plot of land and talked about renting bulldozers, digging ditches, and laying the wiring, because that's the most fun. thing to do in the off season. So Harrison Smith and Harrison Phillips, the killer Harry's, I love them. They rule. I can't believe how much Harrison Phillips rules. I mean, listening to you
Starting point is 00:32:10 talk about him for a while until we got into some of the, the track, what was the thing at the very end that he was buying the plot of land for? The bulldozer. That's Harrison Smith. Okay, that's here. He also has his pilots license. Like, what? They all kind of almost sounded like they were Colleen's like, if you were an NFL player, you would maybe. like if you were an NFL player you wouldn't forget that free agency was coming up because you had some weird side job to try to
Starting point is 00:32:36 make yourself sane. I felt like it was so relatable in the process. I'm like oh man what time of year is it again? It's coming up so soon? Summer of Harry. Summer of Harry. Yeah. I also like that we talked about a Vikings player other than Sam Darno. All right you go. You go. Another guy's rule. I had one
Starting point is 00:32:53 too. Vives. Vibes alone. Van Ginkle as a Viking. But I want to get to Guys, who rule? I want to get to a safety cluster first, a cluster of three safeties who I think totally rule. Jaquan Brisker, Jesse Bates, Xavier McKinney. Big NFL wants you to devalue the safety position. But these three players are perfect representatives of the 2024 defensive
Starting point is 00:33:14 renaissance. They are physical enough. They can roll down to blitz or defend the run, although Xavier McKinney plays deep. They can play in the slot. They're fast enough to rove the field. And they're legitimately affecting games week after week. Jaquan Brisker,
Starting point is 00:33:28 hope he and Tommy Tremble are both doing okay, by the way. A sack, a pressure, an interception, two pass breakups, one force fumble, and 40 tackles. Jesse Bates, who Arthur Smith referred to him as when they were getting ready for the matchup, as the Falcons Jason Bourne said that the Steelers changed their entire offense to avoid the middle of the field just to take out Bates. Sorry, Colleen against the Eagles, ice the game. He's got three past breakups, a pressure, a hurry, two force fumbles, and interception, 37 tackles. And Xavier McKinney has made history
Starting point is 00:33:59 as the first player on a new team to have an interception in five consecutive games and his DC Jeff Hathley called him the best safety in the league. These dudes are the new era of safeties and yet somehow very vintage in a way as well. These dudes freaking rule.
Starting point is 00:34:17 They do. They do rule. And the safety position rules, it's always ruled. And it's crazy to me, to your point, how undervalued it is. you can get a pretty mediocre cornerback in free agency for more money than the top of these
Starting point is 00:34:33 safety market gets. I mean, McKinney ended up getting paid pretty well. But when you compare it to other positions, it's really not that much. And I think you said it very well. They, they are showing that they are way more valuable than, let's say, than like a slightly better than average cornerback. I agree 100%. And they're being asked to do more, too. They're asked to play more positions. This is the true high. hybridization of the defensive backfield is happening there. You're watching more safeties play in the slot than ever before. You're watching sub packages feature multiple safeties versus relying on corners.
Starting point is 00:35:07 And you have to because offenses are understanding that now they're getting bigger and more physical. And they're trying to attack smaller defenses. Okay, well, enter guys like this who rule. And they're saying, no, they can do a variety of different things. And they are actually, the fact that they are legitimately affecting games in this way, is significant because, again, the position market wants you to think that they're just sort of back there doing something. Every year I overrate them on the top 101 free agents. Maybe I don't overrate them. I was going to say, maybe you don't. Because you know they rule. I know they rule, but relative to what they make on the open market, it's like all, I have so many safeties near the top. And then they just sit out there on the market and people, like, oh, fine. We'll sign them for like $8 million.
Starting point is 00:35:49 They're running back of the defense. Pretty much. That's, that's, that's, very well said. And yeah. You know, who doesn't rule is the concussion spotter at the Bears game last week in the protocol. Not to get serious. That was hard. That was hard. During a fun segment. What the heck, Greg? Sorry.
Starting point is 00:36:05 But it's like, this is a guy who's had three different concussions now in his career and you're not protecting the players from themselves. He had to report it the next day. That's a bad job. And I feel like we're seeing that. Let's get to something more fun. Let's get to Brian Thomas Jr. My guy. You know what rules?
Starting point is 00:36:23 Speed rules. No one ran faster on a football field than Brian Thomas Jr. on that long touchdown pass against the Colts, which unfortunately got a guy fired. The Colts cut their cornerback a day later after giving up this touchdown. And that's not nice.
Starting point is 00:36:42 And it's nice to have great speed. We knew that about Brian Thomas. But the thing that really impresses me so far this season are his hands and his versatility. He is ready to go. He's scoring touchdowns, but I went back, watched his targets, and he's been really good on Inbreakers.
Starting point is 00:37:00 Like, I'm not saying he's Chris Godwin, but people thought he was this one-trick pony coming into the league, and he can run routes. And because of that speed, which is maybe the best in the entire league, like it's Tyreek Hill level speed. It's Rashid-Shaheed level speed.
Starting point is 00:37:16 Look, when he breaks off his routes, when he's doing some of these comeback routes that I watch, like he's opened by five yards, people are just so afraid and there's been a lot of contested catches on the go balls. He has more long receptions than any rookie in the league, almost than any player in the league. He's averaging 18 yards per catch. I mean, he's in the top like seven or eight of just yards in the league right now. He is absolutely awesome. And yes, does it help that he's helping to confirm my priors? Let's throw up the tweet I had. Yeah, you know, before the draft
Starting point is 00:37:49 when I wrote my only draft take so far is that you can't. You can't take Brian Thomas Jr. too high. Okay, fine. I feel like good about that way. It's a little surprising set of a twist ever. I feel it good. Because you know who else? Who rules?
Starting point is 00:38:01 I rule! With that tweet. I'm sorry. I was not expecting. Security head to escort Greg Rosentthal out of the building today. There's just been a lot of shows this week and not a lot of sleep and packing. He had soup for lunch. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:38:18 I love soup for lunch. I see nothing wrong with that. The huddle went. Was it broccoli cheddar? No, it was Pazole. It made you feel a little spicier than the... It was really spicy, and I love spicy food. No, it was great.
Starting point is 00:38:30 I just, it was a lot, and I liked it. I just didn't expect such an intense lunch, but I applaud the huddle. That was before this... For going big, yes. Intense lunch, intense show, you know, it all. It was, I was sweating. That's aggressive. That Pazole was the Brian Thomas Jr.
Starting point is 00:38:47 Of the huddle's menu options, like big and bold and coming right out of the game. as one of the best in the league and you've got to recognize. And you're getting on a plane right after this. I hope you're okay. Is that like a bad? We talked about digestive foods. I was like, she thought soup would be good. Why am I going over this with you guys?
Starting point is 00:39:06 All right. Give me another guy who rules. Okay. I, we saw him last night on the field and he is not one of the players. He is one of my absolute favorite figures in the entire NFL. And no, it is not Big Red. It is Steve Spagnolo. I love Spagg's so much.
Starting point is 00:39:26 We know what he's been able to do with this defense and how for so many years it was the offense that was powering the Kansas City Chiefs. And then at some point last year, actually kind of from the beginning of the season, the defense quietly started being the engine of this team. And Steve Spagnolo, he is just such an interesting person. He got married at the Vatican,
Starting point is 00:39:47 which is just like a really random fun fact. um his wife maria makes the most incredible italian meatballs you've ever had in your life and chris jones uh frequently will request the meatballs before big games so she will make chris jones some homemade meatballs and then he goes out and balls out for stees fagnolo's defense so he's just one of the nicest guys in the world and he's so talented i love to see his defenses thrive i love when he goes and tries to call timeouts even though he can't because he's not the head coach but he's like transported
Starting point is 00:40:26 to another time, a simpler time perhaps where he could actually be the one to call the timeouts. He needs a shot. He needs a shot as a head coach again. Does he though? He does. He does. Because he was not set up well. No, he wasn't. And there are people in the Rams building
Starting point is 00:40:42 at the time that would agree with you that he could have been a really good head coach and that was a brutal situation in St. Louis for a variety. of reasons. They were moving. Personnel being part of it. And yes, that hanging over them being another.
Starting point is 00:40:56 But I would push back and say, when they showed those Super Bowl wins he had last night on the Monday night football broadcast, I was just thinking, like, wouldn't you rather have Steve Spagnolo's career than virtually any head coach of the last, like, 25 years? Like, isn't it a good thing to be happy with what you do? Maybe have, like, slightly less stress than that. that the headman does, more job security because he's so good at what he does, working for a great man and Andy Reid that he loves with great players in a great situation. Like, isn't that better than basically any, almost any head coach resume and just life
Starting point is 00:41:36 that you could come up with over the last, like, 15 years? He's done it. I know I've talked about this on the show before, but it was just such a moment after the Super Bowl when I grabbed him and the confetti was still falling. and he had tears in his eyes and he was just like this defense is we're never all going to be together again and he just came from such a like it almost felt like a dad place
Starting point is 00:42:02 and these were his kids and he was so happy and so proud but so it was so bittersweet for him and he just I mean losing Legerious need he wasn't sure obviously about Chris Jones and you know how how important Chris Jones is to that defense but just those personal ties, it just makes me like him so much more because the game means so much to him
Starting point is 00:42:25 and you can see those relationships how they are in his life. I don't doubt that he'll get interviews either, but I would posit that he, I think, is wise enough now to know the difference between jumping into a terrible job, which we talked about. I mean, there's a lot of them that can exist
Starting point is 00:42:41 in specific few in particular and jumping into a bad one versus, you know, accepting and really understanding the value of your own situation. I just think he's, he's, you know, I don't want to say, call him old, but he's wise enough, he's old enough, experienced enough to understand the difference between the two things because of all the experiences he's had. I also love that he reminds me of, like, someone who could be running a surf shop in Ventura.
Starting point is 00:43:06 Yes. You know, like, and then, but then he has a shorehouse down at the Jersey Shore. Okay, so then there's like, there's something beachy there going on. Yeah, there's something paddleboard situation. Good job, Jordan. I love that. And they're getting better every week too defensively. They're sort of the opposite of the Jets.
Starting point is 00:43:25 They've had the second toughest schedule for defenses. And so that's why some of their numbers aren't like amazing. But now you watch in a game against like a Saints team, which isn't quite as good. And they dominate. But they've had to play Baltimore. They've had to play Cincinnati. These teams always get better as they go.
Starting point is 00:43:40 And you're right. You're kind of like if I had a Colleen doll and I would, and you like pulled, you know, the string. at the back to make her talk, like Colt stuff would come out and Steve Spagnolo stuff would come out. There's always like every couple months, we need a nice little Steve Spagnolo. Bag season. It's starting
Starting point is 00:43:58 early this year. I absolutely love it. All right, give us... Okay, Pat Certain. Rules, rules, rules, rules. That's a good one. Two interceptions against the Raiders, including 100 yard, pick six, during which he reached a top speed of 20.92 miles per hour. Hello. According to next gen stats,
Starting point is 00:44:15 four targets across 40 coverage snaps, so highly productive on the targets that he was given, I guess. So he has shadowed Mike Evans, D.K. Metcalf, Garrett Wilson, George Pickens, and collectively allowed against those guys, eight catches for 85 yards, and then just two more receptions this last weekend. He's not actually been targeted much because why would you target him? But it's when he is, it's a 52.7 passer rating. And guys, this rules the most.
Starting point is 00:44:43 Next Gen stats always does these matchup boxes on their website. and they always go, you know, Pat Sertain versus X receiver, Pat Sertain versus X receiver. And from the Raiders game, it literally just says Pat Sertain versus Raiders offense. This guy, freaking rules.
Starting point is 00:45:02 He absolutely does. And I do like that more than other positions, it does feel like one cornerback always has the belt. You know, that more than other positions, and maybe it's because they like to talk it up and it's the bravado of the position. and you're just out there on an island. And there's always, like, one quarterback who has it,
Starting point is 00:45:20 cornerback, and right now it's certain. I want him to, does he have a cool nickname? I want, I want people to, no, I'm not sure. He's at that status, like lockdown, lockdown status to where I think he deserves. There's just, like, so few players in the game that even get a chance to do that. Like, Soss Gardner could do that, but they don't use him that way. You could call him certain, that of Sertan. Not bad.
Starting point is 00:45:43 It's fine. It's fine, but we need to start somewhere. It's fine. All right. You know who's not fine? I'm having a trouble here. I'm not going to go under the radar. I'm going to go with C.J. Stroud just because there are few players in the NFL that I would rather watch or hang out with. Like, he might be number one at the apex of just like, hey, if you could just get a beer
Starting point is 00:46:03 with a player, C.J. Stroud. He just seems like an awesome guy. But also, if there's one player, I could choose to watch play the quarterback position. And I think if I was starting a team and just, one quarterback I could have. I know there's a lot of great ones. It's C.J. Stroud. I mean, some of the plays that he made in this Bills game, and yeah, yeah, the two turnovers. And if you're watching it on YouTube, you can, you can see on the coaches film. Just these throws into absolutely tight windows. He's the type of quarterback I love. Like, to me, he sees the game so beautifully. He can make every certain throw that you want to make, whether it's touch, whether it's power.
Starting point is 00:46:42 The accuracy is crazy. He knows when to go for it. He goes through. was read so fast. And I think right now, he and Nico Collins are playing so well. It's totally covering up for a poor coaching job by this Texan's offensive staff. Like, they are sloppy, not just the penalties and the terrible run blocking, but even the passing game seems a little disjointed. And there's a lot of pressure in C.J. Stroud's face. And he just makes it work. And he would never blame. If anything, he is building everyone up around him. He seems like a true leader. He is my favorite player in the NFL. I think, you know, Gino's there too, but just like he is the dude, CJ Straff. Yeah, he rules. And you know,
Starting point is 00:47:21 what I like about him, too, among many things, is that this is, you knew that the defenses of the league we're going to try to catch this offense this year. They were going to try to do different things to try to expose some of the weaknesses, not having Joe Mixen also really has hurt them as well. But in terms of that lack of, I guess, cohesion that you're talking about, you knew that they were going to try to disrupt them in certain ways, but you have an elite problem solver in C.J. Stroud. Not only do you have an elite tool, if you're a coach, an elite tool with which to problem solve because C.J. Stroud is that person and player, but he himself is doing that. He's not making, he's not repeating mistakes,
Starting point is 00:47:57 really. Very rarely do you see him make the same mistake twice in one game, let alone twice in one season. And that's other than the fact that he also, he knows ball to the point where his his quarterback and league takes are excellent. Love that. And I love that he, like, doubles down on them, too. Like, he knows that he's right. And it kind of reminds me of you in a way, Greg. Oh, wow. Knows that he's right and doubles down.
Starting point is 00:48:20 Don't tell Greg that. My God. No. We build him up just to break him later in the show. But, yeah, he rolls. I'm with you 100% on this. He gets better every single week, it almost seems like. And the only thing I'm worried about now is Nico Collins being hurt and how that kind of
Starting point is 00:48:37 changes the offense with all of the things that he's already making up for. I think it would have been natural for him to take him. take a little bit of a step back this year, which with defense is preparing. And I think that is sort of happening opposite him, but he is just too good and too smart to let it happen to him individually. Problem solver is a great way to put it. Let's do a speed round before we go. So we'll just be quick on these. Rapid fire. Go for it. This is super quick. I will let you guys listen first to who my guy is that rules.
Starting point is 00:49:08 Here we go. Shank it down and gold. The Holmes in the gun The two in New Orleans P-Rine in motion There's a shotgun snap The fake handoff The quick throw at the goal line It's intercepted on the play
Starting point is 00:49:19 By Saunders He runs the big man The 10 Near sideline 20 On the near side lane 30 Got a block and from behind The former chief is taken down The Saints big man
Starting point is 00:49:30 Got it on the ricochet At the goal line On a pass intended For Smith Schuster That was a fit pick That was a thick pick. That's the part that I love. The thick pick.
Starting point is 00:49:43 I mean, Kevin Harlan is my all-time favorite broadcaster. He comes up with these things right on the spot. I mean, there are some of the most epic games that I've listened to him call the Black Cat that came out. The Yes. I'll never forget that. I love, when I leave here on Monday nights after I finish the pregame show with Mooch, I always put on Westwood One and I listen to Kevin Harlan. Kurt Warner on the call
Starting point is 00:50:10 and it's my favorite and I text Kurt throughout the whole thing and it's just Kevin Harlan his voice is incredible he's on it all of the time and he's funny
Starting point is 00:50:20 he's low key funny maybe high key funny I don't know I mean as he's making that call he is thinking in his head thick pick I have this to button it at the very end
Starting point is 00:50:31 and he's such a good broadcaster no fault of Ross Tucker there who's filling in for Kurt Warner because I recognize that Ross did a good job of letting him take the lead there. Absolutely. But Ross did kind of come in and stepped on the thick pick. So Kevin Harlan knows I need to say it again to make sure everyone hears it.
Starting point is 00:50:50 What a great call. I love it. I love it. Exactly. I love it. Okay. I think that Torrey Taylor, the Bears, oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:51:00 Rules, rules, rules, rules, rules. He is a 27-year-old rookie in Ozzy who didn't start playing football until 2019. This is me as a football player. Famously texted him when he was drafted in the fourth round that they wouldn't be punting much. Plot twist, the Bears punted more through the first three, three, four games than any other team in the league.
Starting point is 00:51:21 But he single-footedly ices teams by flipping field position. He iced the Rams game. His four punts that day, four of his punts that day were inside the 10, including the game sealing one that landed at the eight. Jalen Johnson said, I haven't been that pumped up.
Starting point is 00:51:37 for a punt in a long time. I love it. Tori Taylor rules. I love his attitude. I heard him say, I want to go out there and dominate the game when I have the ball.
Starting point is 00:51:47 I get to have the ball like five to eight times a game. I want to dominate. You just don't hear punter's mentality. I absolutely love that. My last guy who rules is Brock Bowers.
Starting point is 00:51:57 This guy's better than I think we expected coming into the NFL. That touchdown that he had his first career touchdown. That is one of the best first career touchdowns of all time to
Starting point is 00:52:07 Moss a guy like that and then race in for the long score. He, I think, has as much burst as any tight end in the history of the league. Just those little short routes that they were throwing to him on Sunday's game, Minchu, and his ability to go from zero to five is special. It's crazy. It is so much better than most wide receivers. I mean, and he's playing tight end. I really think he has a chance to be an all-timer.
Starting point is 00:52:35 And the more I watch him, I just think. He's really exciting. He rules. I'd call him a power receiver or something like a hybrid because he's going to be playing receiver, but he has the power and the strength and the ability of a tight end and can obviously do some things in the blocking surface as well. But like we got to think of a different name for that position because he's going to be doing things that are not.
Starting point is 00:52:55 But he's out there. He's playing tight end. They're using him all over the place and stuff. He's doing the thing where he's messing up the opposing formations. He's playing a little fullback. He's blocking some too. He would probably rule a little more if he just came home. you know and just just shave that that head but um he's going strong oh wow personal attack i mean he
Starting point is 00:53:13 knows it he knows it he's heard it a lot brock bowers is incredible they do need some type of subset though in the tight end category for these incredible pass catchers and daniel jeremiah talked about brock bowers leading into the draft how great and talented he is and how he should be taken as high as he ended up going and i i think he's already right there with the best players at his position as a rookie, which is wild. Let's take one quick break. We're going to wrap up with a little TNF preview after the break 49ers, Seahawks. Guys, I rule.
Starting point is 00:53:56 What's up, everybody? Daniel Jeremiah here. And I'm Bucky Brooks. On Move the Sticks, we take you inside the game from Scouting Reports and player development to team-building philosophies, Coaching trends and how front offices construct winning rosters. Every week, we study the tape, talk to decision makers, and share the insights you won't find anywhere else. It's the kind of conversation that connects the dots, from college football prospects to the NFL stars of tomorrow.
Starting point is 00:54:21 We break down the draft, analyze matchups, and evaluate how teams put it all together on game day. Plus, we dig in the coaching strategies, roster construction, and the trends that shape the league year after year. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love understanding the game on a deeper level, we give you the full picture. If you want insight that goes beyond the box score, this podcast is for you. Don't miss it. Listen to the Move the Six podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Matt Jones. I'm Drew Franklin.
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Starting point is 00:56:19 Talking 49ers, Seahawks. Interesting timing for this game on Thursday night. I'm going to miss it. I'm at least going to miss the TNF recap. No. Both teams, I think, are coming off of humbling losses. losses that make you question your team inside the building that maybe we aren't as good as we thought we were.
Starting point is 00:56:42 Now they're facing each other, three and two Seahawks, two and three 49ers. We could have a situation, Jordan, where there's not a team in the NFC West with a winning record after week six, which is pretty surprising for what we thought was going to be one of the best divisions in football. Yeah, and it still could be down the stretch.
Starting point is 00:56:58 Guys get healthy on a couple of these teams, But this is going to be an interesting game, not just because the stakes feel high in terms of needing to get back on track a little bit. But you can see certain flaws that might not be fixable just by getting people healthy, getting people back in the roster on both sides. 49ers' defense looks a little suspect, more suspect than we thought it was going to look. And then on the converse, the pressure, I mean, it's just awful. You could see it start to wear a little bit on Gino, who's having to complete over 55% of his, throws under 2.5 seconds or less. He's been playing outstanding football, but how sustainable is this when the tackles are not holding up in a big way? Sunday was crazy. His time to throw
Starting point is 00:57:40 was like 2.3 in that game. He's like Aaron Rogers out there. They're both just getting rid of the ball so quickly. But Gino's not doing it because like he doesn't want to get hit. In fact, he's running better than ever. He has one of the most rushing values in terms of EPA and KBR in the league. He's doing it to try to make positive plays happen. Right. Because there's nothing else they can do because the pressure, the outsides especially, the interior is given up, you know, some, I think it's like 38 pressure, something like that.
Starting point is 00:58:06 But the exterior is now what really, you know, at least you thought, you know, Charles Cross was going to hold up. But both of those tackles are really struggling right now. They are. And I mean, to your point, Greg, these, the losses that they're coming off of. I mean, I was so surprised that the Seahawks lost to the Giants
Starting point is 00:58:23 and that the Giants looked as good as they did. So the Niners, though, Two, I mean, blowing that lead, now they're 0 and 2 in the NFC West, they're 0 and 3 in the NFC. All of this is going to factor into a potential tiebreaker at the end of the season. So this game is so massive. It's almost like who is more desperate. And it shouldn't be this high of stakes this early in the season,
Starting point is 00:58:47 but it actually is. And the Niners are having massive red zone issues without Christian McCaffrey. They can't figure that out. Six red zone trips, only one touchdown. They were the best in the league last year. and red zone efficiency. So there's just a lot of issues on both teams that they need to figure out
Starting point is 00:59:04 on a short week with a lot of injuries. And they can't even rely necessarily on their field goal unit at this point, even if they do struggle in the red zone because Jake Moody has got a high ankle sprain and they had to go sign Matthew Wright because they were in sort of a sudden change who was kicking the ball for us situation in the last game.
Starting point is 00:59:20 So even with the red zone, you can't be certain that they'll come away with points at all in that situation. Right. And the Seahawks probably look at the 49ers if they're being honest and say, hey, actually, this is a team that we should be able to protect
Starting point is 00:59:32 Dino Smith against. Yeah, they have Nick Bosa, but hopefully, you know, Charles Cross can help there and you chip him when he's on the other side. But other than that, it's pretty thin in terms of the 49ers pass rush. And they had that one week
Starting point is 00:59:44 where you play the Patriots and everyone feels good about their pass rush after they play the Patriots, and then it's a comeback down-to-earth game. They're a little banged up there, but they also lost Yaturgros Matos, who was playing at defensive tackle. I didn't think they were as,
Starting point is 00:59:58 deep as they could have been to begin with. And then they've had injuries on top of that. So it's not the 49ers defense that you know, that in theory you love. The Seahawks would love to run the ball, I think, a little bit more and better. They are number one in the league the last month in terms of neutral, like, passing rate, which means on normal down and distance, they're just passing the ball all the time. You would like to see Kenneth Walker get involved, but partly because they don't trust their run blocking that much. I came away from these two games a little stunned.
Starting point is 01:00:28 Like if you just watched it on Red Zone a little bit or you saw how the 49ers blew a lead or it was the field goal block in Seattle and you think, okay, well, that sort of thing happens. It's like, no, the Giants could have won that game by 20. They dominated in both trenches. They were the better team by a good amount. And the Cardinals were similar.
Starting point is 01:00:45 I think the Cardinals were a better team that day who had some bad luck on a return touchdown and they still found a way to win that. They kind of got physically manhandled. You just don't normally see that with the 499. The Giants ran all over the Seahawks in this game. 175 rushing yards, where the Giants, they were averaging about 85 rushing yards per game coming into this. They also didn't have Devin Singletary.
Starting point is 01:01:07 So it was Tyrone Tracy, who had 129 rushing yards on 18 carries. Like, he went off. Yeah, if there's one coach who I know is going to just hunker down and run the ball at somebody, it's going to be Kyle Shanahan. Mike McDonald's had to stand up there at the lectern and talk about unsound technical work and fundamentals. and gap accountability in the run game almost every single week. Now, this is a defense that was supposed to make that area one of its strong points. I look at their linebackers, and it's a problem.
Starting point is 01:01:40 They got cooked by Brian Davel. Brian Davel came in and there and was like, hey, you guys are on a short week. We've had a little extra time from Thursday Night Football, and he handed it to Mike McDonald. It kind of reminded me of the game to help get Mike McDonald's this job, Mike McDonald versus the 49ers, when it was Ravens, 49ers on Christmas.
Starting point is 01:02:01 I can't forget it because I was here. And that matchup is what partly got Mike McDonald this job. Can he be the Shanahan killer? Can he be the McVeigh killer? Like, we'll see when he plays the Rams this year. But that, to me, is fascinating. He does not have the players at linebacker that he had when he was with Baltimore. No one really does.
Starting point is 01:02:21 Or, you know, that the 49ers do, frankly, with Fred Warner. And so he's having to adjust and they were a big time problem in the running game and the passing game last week. The Seahawks rushing defense for the 2024 season, they are allowing 4.5 yards per carry and five rushing touchdowns so far. And this is going to be a Kyle Shanahan 49ers team that I don't think will have any problem hovering down and running the ball. No, Mason's looks awesome. I mean, he had that fumble last week, but he literally has more yards than any 49ers running back in history. And I remember when that first game that he came in and I was doing the pregame show for it
Starting point is 01:03:00 and we were like, okay, well, it's going to be Jordan Mason and what? Should we pick it? I don't feel good about the Seahawks right now, but I will pick them because that's what I want to root for. Really? They have their throwback uniforms too, those fun 90s. Those just need to become their uniform.
Starting point is 01:03:17 I love them. I'm going to pick the 49ers because Brock Purdy, I think overall is playing really well. I think that perhaps you can that are last week more of an outlier game from him than how he has showed up across the season inclusive to not having a lot of his skill players around him. So I do want to pick the 49ers in this game. It is interesting. You're hearing some reports out of there of things feeling
Starting point is 01:03:41 weird, just a little bit off, lots of moving parts. Who purdy? Obviously, no, no, the 49ers building as a whole. Things feeling a little weird, just generally off in terms of there's just a lot, been a lot of moving parts around that building so far missing players adding players back you know some some long-term injuries so but i do think that brock purdy's going to play better this week i am god this is such a toss-up this game i'm going to go with the niners right now just because i'm not sure about these seahawks injuries that they have reek woolen uchena nuosu biron murphy i mean these are significant players that aren't playing right now and i mean they didn't they put out the estimated practice report
Starting point is 01:04:21 today, and that would be a do not practice for them or didn't participate. So it's just, that's going to be the determining factor. Yeah, they got new Oso back who was supposed to be their best pass rusher for less than a full game, and he is now going to injured reserve with a thigh injury, which was a new injury. It's good that you pointed out.
Starting point is 01:04:37 Talaneo Fonga is reportedly going to miss about a month or so with a wrist injury. Although his replacements looked really good. I thought Malik Mustafa has made some plays for them, so that's been a nice fine. That was this week's TNF preview, presented by Prime Video.
Starting point is 01:04:52 Be sure to watch the San Francisco 49ers take on the Seattle Seahawks this Thursday on Prime Video. We do have some news surprisingly at the end of this show. Derek Carr is expected to miss multiple weeks with the oblique injury that he suffered against the Chiefs. The Saints have two games in the next nine days. One of them is against the Buccaneers, a big division game, and then the Sean Payton comes to New Orleans game
Starting point is 01:05:23 and they're not going to have Derek Carr. That is a bummer. Really interested to see if they're going to start Jake Hainer or Spencer Rattler. Well, Mike Garifolo is saying that Spencer Rattler is a strong candidate. Let's go. Good. And Derek Carr's absence and he cites sources
Starting point is 01:05:45 telling himself and Ian Rappaport. That is awesome. That's good teamwork. Thank you, Jordan, for helping. helping us out there because I really loved what I saw out of Rattler in the preseason. He is not a normal fifth round pick. He is talented. He's fun. He is going to,
Starting point is 01:06:00 he's going to throw that ball around. I don't know how it's going to go against the bucks and Broncos. That is a tough assignment. But I think it'd be more interesting than Jake Hainer. And yeah, this Saints team, which we were so excited about after two weeks is staring at two and five. And this is how you manage the season.
Starting point is 01:06:16 You've got to get one of those two games. You've got to get the Sean Payton Bowl. Have to. I'm looking forward to. to that TNF recap. Also looking forward to this week's TNF recap.
Starting point is 01:06:25 So it's that one, this game we just talked about, that's going to be covered by Patrick Claibon and Nick Shook. Everyone that's listening here, if you haven't been hearing me talk
Starting point is 01:06:34 about heading to London, I ask for your understanding with a little disruption. I like that each week on this show, we've had a nice routine. What a great crew.
Starting point is 01:06:44 This is. See you next Tuesday. I love our CNX Tuesday group. That's our text chain. Yeah. So the listeners And yeah. That's the name of our tech change. So we got, we got the preview show normally with Patrick and Steve. We've got the recap show. And it's the same every week, which I really like
Starting point is 01:06:59 that regularly. As a listener, I like that too. But this week's going to be a little bit different. I'm heading to a plane right now, heading over to London. He has a PJ waiting for him. You end your suitcase. That TNF recap will be taken care of by my friends Nick and Patrick in the middle of the night. But before that happens, we're going to have a preview show going up a little bit earlier, and I mentioned that because I'm going to actually tape it at the Greenwood Sports Pub in London. And I don't know. I'm just like throwing this out here. Should I just have people come by if you want to? Are you asking us? Yeah, I don't know. I'll be right there. Yeah. If any listeners want to come by. Now, it's not going to be like a live show or anything.
Starting point is 01:07:42 So maybe, maybe show up like before and it'll just be a nice place to have a beer. And then after we're done, we can have some, we can have some. We can have some. you know, beers or some fish and tips. They'll come out. I had a meet up for ATN when I went to London. So that is at the Greenwood Sports Pub. It's Thursday afternoon. So I know people are working. We're going to be taping and be there from about 12 to 3 or so.
Starting point is 01:08:05 But we'll be wrapping up between 2 and 3 p.m. But come along. You know, help out the Bears sports pub. Why not? I mean, it's kind of wild that they have an official sports pub like it while they're over there. And so that would be fun. And it would be fun to meet some. NFL daily listeners.
Starting point is 01:08:22 So that show's going to go up a little later in the feed than the preview show normally does, but it'll still be there pretty early on Thursday. And then, yeah, Sunday, it's going to be a different crew for the recap show. I'm excited to get some voices I really love. Ollie Connolly is going to join me. Nat Coombs is going to be on the show. Phoebe Schechter, who I work with at Sky Sports, is going to be on the show. So it's going to be a lot of fun.
Starting point is 01:08:43 I'll miss you. Yeah. But I won't. But we'll see you next Tuesday. Right. I know. I was going to say, like, they said like, hey, how do you want to do this? this trip, I said, well, we can do it, but only if it does not disrupt the Colleen and Jordan.
Starting point is 01:08:55 Can't interfere with it. This is such a pivot from his outbursts earlier. I know. What's coming down the, down the pike here? I need to get you in my favor before. You never know what could happen. I hope I make it back. All right, let's go. That was it for NFL Daily. And yes, when it's time to head over to London, you know that football is back. See you on the other side. Have fun. 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
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