The Kevin Sheehan Show - Jayden's Mentor Mariota + Dianna Russini

Episode Date: August 21, 2024

Kevin opened with some Jayden Daniels discussion including Jayden's several mentions yesterday about how important Marcus Mariota has been to his development so far. Dianna Russini/The Athletic jumped on to talk Commanders and a lot more including what Broncos' coach Sean Payton told her about Chase Daniel's visit with Jim Zorn in Washington 15 years ago. Jeff Ermann/InsideMDSports joined Kevin to preview the 2024 Terps Football season and talk some Maryland Basketball as well.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it. But you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Cheon Show. Here's Kevin. Wind Donation is the presenting sponsor of this show. Call them at 86690 Nation or head to windonation.com. Mention my name for a free, no obligation in-home estimate.

Two guests on the show today. Diana Rusini will join me next. Love having Diana on the show. We'll talk Washington. We'll talk NFL. We'll probably talk a little bit about Diana's big move, which came a year ago from ESPN to the athletic, where she is the senior NFL insider. Diana next, followed by Jeff Erman from inside Maryland sports, inside MD sports. The Terps open up a week from Saturday at home against Yukon.

Mike Loxley's group has won three straight bowl games, but, But they start 2024 without Talia Tunga Viloa. Leah is gone after four years. We'll find out who's going to start at quarterback. I think Maryland football still expected to have a pretty good season, just some question marks at quarterback and on offense. Jeff will join us in the final segment of the show. This from Jonathan to start the show, Jonathan wrote me a pretty long email.

I'm going to read part of it. Kevin, I think you've gone. too deep, too early on Daniels. He's been asked to do the bare basics of NFL quarterbacking so far. He proved he can call a play in a huddle and throw a few quick screens. You can't judge a quarterback until you see how he handles the biggest down in football, third down. Until then, nothing to see.

Thank you, Jonathan, very much. Jonathan, I think we are in bare basic agreement on most of what you wrote to me. I am very deep on Daniels as far as believing that he can and will become a good NFL quarterback. There's no doubt. I believe that and I've believed that for a while. But look, I've been wrong before, as we all have. But the most recent NFL high draft choice picked by Washington that I was pretty jinned up about was Chase Young. How'd that one work out?

After a rookie of the year, not very well. But look, I completely understand what he's been asked to do so far. And hence, it's been why I've emphasized over and over again, the preseason means little to nothing. We're not learning much from this. I'm not looking at his preseason results and going deep on Daniels. My feelings on Jaden Daniels have nothing to do with the preseason or even the joint practices or even what's being said. My belief and optimism and going deep on Daniels, as Jonathan writes, has to do with his college football career, specifically last year,

which was one of the greatest quarterbacked college seasons, I've personally ever seen. And as I've said many times, I think a lot of what he did well in college translates to the NFL in today's game in 2024. And by the way, he's done more than just call plays in a huddle and throw a few quick screens. Not much more. I'll concede that. It's basic stuff. But remember, at least he's acing the basic stuff.

Imagine if he was struggling with the basic stuff, you know, calling. plays. By the way, a lot of those plays have been no huddle that he has handled. Up tempo, no huddle, which by the way is a bit of a demonstration that whatever percentage of the playbook is in, he's handling it.

He's got it so far. I do like, though, and you sent me on a bit of a deep dive. This is not deep on Daniels, but a deep dive on something you wrote. When you wrote that you can't judge a

quarterback, until you see how he handles the biggest down in football, third down. There's a lot of truth in that. There is a lot of truth in that. Delivering on third down is right there with turnover margin in terms of the two most telling traditional statistical numbers in relationship to correlation to making the playoffs. These are the two traditional stat numbers.

you know, not advanced. We're not getting into PFF numbers. Traditional statistical numbers that you can find on any, you know, sports or football website, turnover margin and third down conversion offensively. And I went and I looked up the last couple of years on third down efficiency and what it meant to the success the team had during the season. I think we know that turnover margin always is very impactful on wins and losses. But let me just share this with you. So first of all, the average number of attempts on third down per game last year was 13.

That seemed high to me. If somebody had just said, how many third downs does a team generally average? I'd say middle of the pack, you know, the true average would be 10. third downs a game. It's 13. 13 is the actual number. Converting offensively on third down, massive correlation to making the playoffs. Listen to this. Last year, third down conversions offensively. The top 11 teams third down conversion on offense all made the postseason. All right, keep in mind, there are only 14 teams in the playoffs. The top 11, Buffalo finish number one overall, third down conversion on offense.

They converted 49.8% of their third downs. Then it was Dallas, Philly, San Francisco, Green Bay, Kansas City, Miami, the Rams, the Ravens, the Bucks, the Lions. those are your top 11 third down conversion teams on offense. They all made the postseason. The other teams that made the postseason were the Houston Texans who were down there a bit. You had to go down to 17th to find Houston on third down conversion. Pittsburgh, look, they were a horrible offensive team. And then Cleveland was a bad third down.

down team as well. Those were the three teams that made the postseason that were not in the top 11. You go to 2022. 10 of the top 12 third down conversion teams on offense all made the postseason. You know, what's interesting is that third down defensive numbers don't mean as much. Last year on defense, third down stop. percentage. All right? The team that led the league was Cleveland. They did make the postseason. Second was Denver. Third was Atlanta. Fourth was New Orleans. None of those teams made the postseason. Then it was Houston. Then it was New England. New England was really good defensively. They had, they've been good defensively. Then it was Baltimore. Then it was Jacksonville. And then it was the Giants.

So defensively, among the top nine teams on third down stop percentage, only three of the top nine made the postseason. Cleveland, Houston, and Baltimore. Offensive third down conversion clearly means more. You know, one of the things just to add to that other number that's always very significant in the NFL, turnover margin, right? Just in case you forgot, Washington was dead last in turnover margin last year, minus 14 overall. And the total takeaways, 18 on the season, which was 32, 31, 30, 20, 29, 28, 27, tied for 26th in takeaways. The Cowboys with Dan Quinn have been two of the last three years,

number one in the league in takeaways. So one of the things you would look at, by the way, in terms of turnover margin, and say that if you think that Washington isn't going to be the last place team in the league in turnover margin, but maybe with Dan Quinn and the emphasis on takeaways, and maybe with an offensive coordinator that doesn't drop his quarterback back, you know, 50 times a game with lots of pressure knowing that they're going to throw the ball down the field.

I mean, if they just jump eight to ten spots from 32nd to 24th or 23rd or 22nd, you're talking about two or three more wins. You know, two wins anyway. it would probably be worth just on that number alone. But I did think it was really interesting to go back and look at the difference between, well, eventually find the difference between third down offense and third down defense, how much more significant third down offensive conversions correlate to making the playoffs versus third down stops.

And then, you know, I agree. Look, we're not going to know we're not going to know enough about Jaden Daniels after you know, six, seven, eight games. We'll know enough by the end of this season to have

an opinion more likely than not. But, you know, keep in mind, RG3 was the rookie of the year. Chase Young was rookie of the year. You would label both of those players as busts. I mean, Chase Young's still playing in New Orleans. Carson Wentz,

was the MVP frontrunner in his second season in Philadelphia when he got hurt. You would probably at this point label Carson Wentz's career as a bust career, considering he was the number two overall. It just takes time. And I agree with you, Jonathan. We don't know anything until at the very least we start to see him face some third downs. You know, got to face some third downs. You know, got to face some third.

downs, you've got to convert some to stay on the field to give your team a chance to win enough games. This from RJ. RJ wrote me, Kevin, if Marcus Marriota makes the team, then the coaching staff is pandering to Jaden Daniels. Marioita is worse than Jeff Driscoll. We can all see it. If it's about the best player and winning football games, Marioita shouldn't be on the team. It should be Driscoll and Sam Hartman, who at least isn't unknown, whereas Mariotta is known by everybody to be terrible. Well, RJ, you are right about one thing. Jaden Daniels really respects Marcus Mariotta. After Dan Quinn announced Jaden officially as the starter yesterday during a press conference, Jaden held a press conference. And he mentioned Marcus Mariotta several times. When he was asked

about, you know, what he felt immediately after being told he was the starter. He gave Marcus Marioita shout out saying that he's taken him under his wing. He's been a great mentor. He was asked about earning the trust of teammates and he said, you know, Marcus has taken him under his wing, helped mold him into being prepared, giving him pointers after plays, telling him what to look for. And then there was this question where Jaden gave probably the longest answer he gave all day. He was asked about the best lesson that Marcus Mariotta has shared with him. And he said, quote, me and Marcus kind of got a similar story. I mean, blessed enough to win the Heisman trophy, blessed enough to get drafted at the same

spot, and then coming in early, I know that he had a lot of expectations on him, especially coming out as a rookie to get drafted that high. and he kind of felt like he had to wear the cape and stuff like that. So he's just given me his experience through his time, through the league, his knowledge, and he's been instrumental in my development so far here. Without him, I wouldn't be in this position right now. So, I mean, I appreciate Marcus always. We've talked about Mariota and the desire that some of you seem to have to move

from him. Whatever. He's not going anywhere. And maybe that just major point, RJ, that if Marioita is kept, it's because Jaden, you know, wants Marioota around. But I think Adam Peters and Dan Quinn and several other people in the organization from the jump realized that a guy like Marcus Mariotta would be perfect for Jaden, would be a great sounding board, would develop into a mentor, because they do have a lot of similarities. Mario dao was a star at Oregon. You know, Heisman trophy winner, multi-year star, a great college quarterback. Drafted number two behind James Winston. Let me just add, I thought James Winston was going to be great. Did not turn out that way. Marcus Marioda entered an organization that had been losing. They were two and 14 the year before he got there.

and you had a coach that was basically on the hot seat and whizzen hunt. And, you know, Mariotta and Jaden Daniels have a shared experience so far. I mean, we hope that Jaden's overall professional experience ends up being better. But I'm not a big believer in what some of you are when it comes to Marioota, that he stinks, that he can't play, that he's terrible. I don't think that's true at all. I don't think Marcus Mariotta has proven himself to be, you know, a top half of the league or even a top two-thirds of the league's starting quarterback. But he's certainly a backup quarterback and an occasional starter. You know, in Atlanta, two years ago, when they signed him as a free agent on a one-year deal, he was playing pretty well.

When they came to Washington, they were five and six, and he had him on the doorstep, if you recall, from winning that game. They were down 1913. Duran Payne got a fingertip on the ball, deflected it. Kendall Fuller picked it off. But he had played pretty well that year. He didn't play at all really in Philly last year because Jalen Hertz was the starting quarterback. And he wasn't playing really a few years prior to that. The bottom line is in his last four seasons in the league, he's really only started the 13 games that he started in Atlanta in 2022. but he had a couple of good years. He had a couple of good years early. Year two for him, he threw for 3,400 plus yards, 26 touchdowns,

nine interceptions, and they went 8 and 7 that year. The next year, he started 15 games. They were 9 and 6 in the games that he started. He did struggle throwing 15 picks that year. And he had high sack percentage. as he got into the middle portion of his career. But I didn't think my biggest gripe with Marcus Marioo when he was a starter and a full-time starter in Tennessee is I just always thought that he was too casual as a player.

He was too loose with the ball. He was too laid back. Look, Jaden's got some personality similarities, at least playing style-wise to Marcus Marioita. Jaden's super cool, you know, on the field. But I think there's an urgency that Jaden had at LSU that maybe Marcus Marioda never had. I don't know. I'm fine with Marcus Marriota being the backup quarterback this year.

As far as a third quarterback goes, I'm fine with Driscoll. I'm fine with Hartman. Benefit of the doubt, Kev, coming through here. Whatever they decide to do. But I think it's pretty much a lot that Marcus Mariotta is going to be on this team. They paid him $6 million for one year, $5.4 million guarantee. and Jaden Daniels loves him. And you know, it may be more about what Marcus Mariotta is bringing to that quarterback room with a young rookie quarterback and Daniels in it than it is about the best

option to win games if number one goes down. All right, we'll get to Diana Rusini in a moment. I did want to mention that there were a few roster moves today. They signed safety Kendall Brooks and linebacker Chappelle Russell. They released linebacker Keandre Jones and safety Ben Nichel. Chappelle Russell played 27

games with the Bucks and with Jacksonville in 2020 and 2021, but it was primarily on special teams. They're also going to be going into this game against New

England, kind of light at line or with Jordan McGeehurt and probably no intention of playing Bobby Wagner or even Frankie Louvo. So nothing significant here, that's for sure, but just wanted to mention a few of the roster moves. A week from today, we will know the final 53, 4 p.m. a week from today. All right, Diana Rusini next after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey, guys, the slightest of edges make a huge difference in the games that we love. to watch. In shaving, Harries gives you the sharpest edge with their razors. Harry's edge comes courtesy of a combination of two things. The incredible shave their razors

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Give them a call at 86690 Nation or head towindonation.com. Mention my name if you're interested in Windows. All right now is one of my favorites. I love having Diana Rusini on the show, whether it's the radio show or the podcast. podcast. Diana, of course, about a decade ago was with Channel 4, then was at ESPN for many years as part of their NFL coverage. And I actually went and looked this up earlier. Diana's at the athletic now. And it was a year ago nearly to the day, Diana, that this was big sports media news. Diana Rusini leaving ESPN to become the senior NFL insult.

at the athletic. It's flown by. It's a year already. How's it going so far? It feels like 17 years. No, it's been wonderful. It took some adjusting. You go from working at a place like ESPN where you're comfortable,

you have incredible friends. You know where the bathroom is? You know who to call when the computer freezes and breaks down. I remember filling out paperwork when I joined the athletic, you know, first day in the job type paperwork that everybody does when they start a new gig. But it had been so long since I went through that process. And I remember filling out the forms going, what am I doing? Why did I do this? And then once I started to do the work and I started to report and I became part of a really wonderful culture at the athletic.

I realized I made the right decision. So it's been great. And finally, after about a year of meeting with different people and auditioning with different co-host, I finally launched my new podcast called Scoop City with Chase Daniel. And that has been my passion project. Yeah, Diana just launched Scoop City with longtime NFL backup quarterback Chase Daniel, who honestly had one of the great business NFL career. years of all time. I mean, maybe played in a handful of games, but made a ton of money for a long

period of time, which I've always said about guys like Chase Daniel. It means that A, they were smart, and B, they were great teammates. You know, because you don't keep a guy like that around for that long if they're not really smart and they're really, and they're not good in the locker room. He was clearly that. I'm curious, have you talked to him as part of the podcast about his career because he comes up often in the discussion of just, you know, guys who made a lot of money without ever really playing a lot. First time I met him. I just broke the eyes at that.

Like, man, you have a lot of money for doing so little. Yeah. And it's the biggest compliment, right? Sure. And the way you detail who he is just based up from seeing afar and just guessing what he could be like because he's such a good business. person and, you know, 14 years in the NFL is a lot. That's a long time, seven different teams that he's experienced.

He's been around a lot of different cultures, a lot of different locker rooms, and a lot of different teammates over the years, and he's pretty well-liked. And I have to say, I think I probably underestimated not only his likability, but his juice in the league, because we've traveled together for Scoop City to a few stops, Kansas City, one of them where he played, and most recently out in Denver, which is essentially New Orleans West, in terms of the same staff there, because Chase had played under Sean Peyton as well. And, man, the second people see him, they come running over, they give us the red carpet

rollout. It's such a, it's really a gift, and I tell him all the time, because he's so new to the media, he's not told no ever. and I'm told no all the time. So to roll up to practice and have them bring me out to the quarterback to meet Bo Knicks in Denver and have a nice conversation with him while the rest of the reporters are on the other side of the field where I normally would be if I didn't have Chase's juice.

So that in itself has been wonderful. And then I just get these conversations with people that have coached him like Andy Reid, who pulled to be aside after our interview together. And I've known Andy a long time and kind of, he knows I'm trying to get better every season here. And he said, pick his brain. You're going to get so much better at understanding, especially what we're doing, if you soak him up. And, of course, I tell Chase that. And Chase is pretty humble considering, I know we joke with him all the time about, you know,

he made all this money, didn't do much on the field, but he sat in every meeting. And he was behind Drew Brees. He was behind Justin Herbert. So he's been around some really good quarterbacks over his career. And, you know, he's learned a lot. So we had Tom Telesco on the Raiders general manager who was once the Chargers general manager. And I realized mid-interview, he wasn't going to give me too much. He's just one of those general managers.

He's not going to tell me these great stories. So I said, you know what, let's just talk about Chase. And it opened up this whole conversation about Chase's note-taking and just that team mentality. and what better type of personality and characteristics to have on a podcast and someone that just wants to be a team player. And I got really lucky because that's what I got. You know, not that I want to make this about Chase Daniel, because we want to talk some football and find out about your year at the athletic,

but you do know who signed him coming out of Missouri, right? Jim Zorn. Jim Zorn. So he was an undrafted free agent. He was in the office of Jim Zorn. He gets a phone call on his cell phone. He answers it. Chase, this is Sean Payton and New Orleans. Get out of the office now. Go outside and get in the car. We're signing you. Don't sign a thing. And Chase walked out, got me Uber, and he went to Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints as a backup to Jurban.

Well, I did not know that part of the story. I remember Washington signing him. So you're telling me that Washington didn't sign him as an undrafted free agent. There may have been an agreement, but he never actually signed the paperwork because Sean was able to get him out of there. The only reason why I know that story, trust me, I'm not some historian on Chase Daniel. It was just because I sat with Sean Payton on Friday, and he just couldn't wait to tell me this story. The cameras are rolling.

I'm ready to do my regular, you know, broadcaster intro. here we are. And Sean just took over the thing. I was like, tell us sorry, tell us sorry. You know, and Chase gets all into it and they both were giggling about how great of a story that was, because it truly is, right? It's good advice, too. It's great advice to get out of that building and end up with Sean Payton in New Orleans. You know, Sean Payton said something last year, and I'm curious if you know the answer to what he said. He said during the search for the new owner. During the new owner process here in D.C., he said that one of the prospective ownership groups reached out to me and asked if I would be interested if they got the

team in coaching the team. Now, Ron Rivera was still the coach. You know, Sean, having been a Parcell's guy, has a real affinity for the NFC East. And during this little, you know, discussion about the prospective ownership group reaching out to him. He said, I loved Washington from afar. I mean, there was nothing like RFK back in the days in that fan base. I'm curious if you know which prospective ownership group contacted him about becoming the coach. Was it the Harris group? I do know, and it was not the Harris group. So there is definitely conversations being had.

He revealed that during a Super Bowl interview if I was Paul Well. And I had known about it when he was having these conversations because I thought that perhaps that he was going to be the next Washington head coach. So my eye was all on it

because remember he had taken that year off away from football. So that's when those conversations were happening. And look, he has a mystique about him. and most owners want to talk to him. He is magnetic and energetic, and his recall is incredible, and he truly loves the game, and he understands it, and he studies it. He's a historian of the NFL, actually.

So, yeah, I do recall that, and I remember there was a very, very, very small window where I remember thinking that this was going to happen, that ownership was going to, this new owner was going to takeover, and Sean Payton was going to be anointed as the head coach, but that all fell through and it didn't work out. I don't think you'd appreciate if I gave out that information. So I, you know, I love to share stuff with you. So I'll hold back on this one, and maybe I'll check with them and see if you'd like this,

let me talk about it next time. No, I, you know, I respect that, of course, and it's not that big of a deal. I was just curious if you knew, because I, I at the time thought it makes sense to me that it's the group that right now I knew at the time was the frontrunner, which was the Harris group. But you're telling me that it wasn't that group. Yeah. But what I was because I remember the discussion that he and I had had, you know, because he was on TV.

He was still so into football. So we would share notes and talk about things going on in league a lot. And sometimes he would share some of that stuff. So, yeah, it obviously didn't work out. I think for him, the Denver job for him last year, he will never say it on the record, but it was not pleasant. It was not great.

I think people can pick up on the hints the way he spoke of Russell Wilson and just how it was a bad match. And look, I've been critical, I've written about it. If I'm Greg Penner and I'm that ownership group out in Denver, and I bring in a guy like Sean Payton, I'm paying him the kind of money I'm paying him to improve Russell Wilson,

and he basically just comes in here to cut him loose. I mean, I could have hired anybody. Like, why did I need to hire you? So I was pretty hard on him in that regard, but the more I dug on it to from all sides, such as his and even Russell's camp, it just wasn't good to work. It wasn't right.

And I just left the Denver Broncos training camp, not that we want to get into the Broncos, who cares for Washington fans, but I think it's important to hear about places that are turning it around and trying to build, right? Because Sean is now building something in Denver, and the pieces of the details, the small stuff matter to him. They always have. It's why New Orleans was so special. It's his stamp all over it.

And I didn't feel that last year when I was around them. I think he was trying to wedge it in there. But this group bought in, young, hungry, competitive, drinking. the Sean Payton Kool-Aid. And I think that's a good thing. I think that's good for Denver, who is going to wind up starting rookie quarterback, Bo Nicks there, who was absolutely lights out

in the two practices I watched them. It really was, though, and I want to talk about some other teams. Because Denver last year, remember they gave up 70 to Miami in, like, the week three. It was the week after Washington actually beat them. And then they went on a roll. I mean, they were above 500. and one of the games was a Monday night game at Buffalo where they won the game.

And Russell Wilson actually came up with some big plays. And I just, I looked at it and I'm like, he's just figuring this thing out. He's just one of those guys that'll figure it out. But that relationship with Russell Wilson was never right. And it'll lead into a Pittsburgh conversation here in a moment. But I just, I wanted to ask you, I don't want to lose this thought. Because the one thing that I thought about you and others, like you who go from ESPN to somewhere else, especially when that somewhere else isn't TV.

How has it been for a year not being on television as regularly as you were? Well, this is to sort of include Sean Payne in this conversation, I called him the Monday after that game where they got blown out by Miami. Right. And I always call Sean my coffee drive-thru conversation, meaning he always goes to the same coffee shop in the morning, and I know the time he goes, and I know I can get him because he's usually just in line going to order.

And he'll give me five minutes, and it's usually hot takes of something on his mind, or I'll ask him a question of something I'm working on, and fortunately over the years through Bill Parcell, I've been able to build up this relationship with him. And so I called him that morning. I remember saying to my husband over breakfast that I was dreading calling him, but I did it every Monday, and it would be disloyal to, or I would be gutless. I'm not going to call the guy who got blown out because I'm scared to have that conversation

because he looked bad because he was embarrassed because the team looked horrendous. No, he's there for me. I'm going to be there for him. I'm going to call him and tell him, you know, things are going to be great. He answers, he's going to die what's going on. What are you working on today? Like it was any other day, right? I just bring it up.

I'm like, Sean, or how are you doing? What, you know, what's that like when you went back, watched film, like, you know, talking to Ross, talking to your guys. He's like, we've got a lot of work to do. You know, we definitely made a lot of mistakes, and we went up having another good conversation.

And the reason why I'm sharing that with you is the great coaches I have been around have this ability to erase. They are even killed at all times. They have this strength where they don't let us. affect them. And I, they're all human beings. Things bother them. But I've always thought the ones that do it at a high level are incredible at just letting stuff go. Mike Reble was someone like that, too.

I remember on Mondays, I'd see them after a loss. And it just was the same. It was, it, and it's something that I've been working towards because it's emotional control. Right. And I think it's difficult for anybody with the pressure that these guys are under to be able to manage it. But most of them have that mindset just on to the next. How can we fix it? So, you know, the question you ask about missing TV, you know, there are times I miss the energy of television. I'm comfortable on camera. I like it.

I like the pressure. I like the competitiveness of it. I like having to figure out a puzzle on live television when I don't always know how the anchor is going to talk to me or how someone's going to have an interaction with me. I have to figure it out and be live on my feet. I enjoyed that. I enjoyed when I was good at it. I've had a lot more bad days, but the time that I was good, I definitely treasured it. But I find that this last year, Kevin, I put more work into the craft.

It's almost like I went back to the version of me in Washington when I had a scrap and I had a hustle. And I had to be at every practice. And I had to ask questions and text people and call agents. And I just said this to a friend of mine yesterday who's on the national level. I'm like, God, I feel like I'm in local again. And it's not a bad thing. It's just the point of going nationals, you want to be able to get out of that grind. and I'm back in the grind,

but what the grind does for me is it makes me better. And whether I like to hide from it or not, it's who I am. And I think I leaned into it this year, and I just, I've seen parts of my work improve that I wasn't, I wasn't getting better at ESPN because I didn't have the time. I was focused too much on camera, and I wasn't doing enough behind the scenes. And the athletics given me this ability and the space to do it now.

Well, you know, you used words that I've used to describe you and people like you. And it's one of the reasons I've always really enjoyed our conversations. Diana's scrappy. She's a hustler. She is a competitor. I mean, I've said this many times with you before when I've had you on. I don't know anybody else male or female that was all state in four sports in high school. You know, there are only three seasons.

There's fall, winter, and spring, and Diana was all state in four different sports in New Jersey growing up in Bergen County. And that's why, you know, your competitive nature and spirit and scrappiness and hustle is what's gotten you to where you are. And you're in a great spot. Diana is, you know, at the athletic, I mention this all the time when we have been on or David on or anybody. I'm a subscriber. It's totally worth it. Not just for the local reads, but for the national reads like Diana and Mike Jones and everybody else. And I would certainly urge all of you to subscribe to the athletic and listen to Diana's podcast.

Same place you get my podcast. Wherever you get a podcast, it's called Scoop City. It's with Chase Daniel. All right, let's talk Washington. what are you expecting from the commanders? Hard for me to say the commanders, but what are you expecting from the commanders this year? Well, look, I was around them when they were with the jets.

I was out of practice, and I was able to see it because, you know, obviously reading and talking to people there, reading our reporters, and then also talking to the people in the building, and just everything just seemed very optimistic, which it has to be. I love it. It's what Dan Quinn builds. We know he's a culture guy. You guys can hear it in the press conferences.

it's nothing new. It's what makes him great. It's why players play for him. And then I got to see it. Not that I ever had any doubt that Dan wouldn't be able to pull that off in Washington, but sometimes you never know. Is he different in Dallas? Has he changed in Atlanta? Have these stops affected him in a negative way? And from everything I've observed and even having a conversation with him, he's the same old Dan. If anything, I find him to be a little bit more serious, which I like. Not saying that it was bad that he wasn't. He knows he's got a big responsibility here with a very, very talented young dual-threat

rookie quarterback who looks so comfortable out there, who looked accurate, who's decisive, who's got the mental makeup to run a Cliff Kingsbury offense. And that's what was my biggest takeaway. and then even having a few minutes to hang out with Jaden after practice. I never met him before Kevin. You know, you hear things. And look, he certainly lives up to everything that people say about him. And every interview and clip I've seen every takeaway is like this kid's great.

He's magnetic. He's incredible. For the good RG3 stuff, he has some of that good. It reminds me a little bit of that. And I wonder sometimes when I say, that if fans get a little uptight because it was just such a wild run with Robert, but he did have a lot of greatness. And I think Jaden is going to be his own person in terms of the football.

I think he's going to be better than what we saw with Robert in 2012. And as long as they can figure out ways to protect him, the offensive line concerns me the most, that is the one thing I want to keep my eye on early, but I think the commanders are in a position right now. They can start the season two and out based on their schedule. Yeah, I mean, I actually, for the first time since Kirk was here, this is the most optimistic I've been about a season since Cousins was here. You know, part of it is now that all of us know that there's a chance with Dan gone, right?

It's just an organization that's more functional than it's ever been. But I'm just a big Jaden Daniels fan, and I believe in them, And I like Quinn and I think they could be... Oh, they're so different. Kevin, I'm going to try to express this to you. There's small interactions. Ownership with the media. And I go to all different teams.

I go to all different camps. Right. And Washington was always the camp I would go to. And obviously, from my gay local, Dan didn't say hello. He didn't shake your hand. It was like, bow down to me. You are peasants.

We don't like you. and obviously as a year's when it got uglier and uglier and uglier and just absolutely no respect for the journalists that were there every single day covering his team good or bad and you know

with the new ownership group when I saw them on the field nothing but just kindness. They don't need anything for me. Of course they want to have a nice interaction with media for good publicity. I get it. But at least the effort of just

respect is there. And that's always been my takeaway when I've met with ownership there. Every interaction has been great. And they're not over the top, but they just do a good job. And they're locked in. They're listening to a lot of people. And I think they're off to a really good start. So I don't want to come in here and be like, don't be optimistic.

I think you should be. I'm optimistic for the Washington commanders. It's just I think what happens season after season, whether you admit it or not, we all have a little bit of that in us, even if we know that the roster's not great, even if we knew Dan Steiner sunk, even if we didn't really truly believe

in what the head coach was selling us, we're like, well, maybe this is it. And we've done it for years and years. So I think we're all having a little bit of a tug of war with Washington because it's like something in it's like, don't do it. Don't do it again. They're going to hurt you. But this may be the year where at least it can start off on the right foot.

This isn't a blockbuster successful season. it's at least headed in a phenomenal direction. All right. A couple of things. Do you think Brandon Iyke gets traded or not? I don't. I think this is just, I love this story because it's so out of hand. It's so out of control.

It's so unlike Kyle Shanahan, in my opinion, I've always given him so much credit, despite the fact that a lot of these contracts in San Francisco do drag on to the end of the year. I remember talking Nick Bosa last year, and man, he was panicked. Imagine being Nick Bosa, being panicked. You're not going to get a deal. I mean, that's insane. but look I think at this point the San Francisco 49ers kind of playing tough guy there over the last few months

they weren't going to negotiate they weren't going to negotiate and then all the leverage that IEuk was able to create here I think helped them a lot and now it's just mutual assured destruction at this point and I think IEuk winds up figuring out a number that that he's comfortable with and the 49ers got to probably just give him and give him what he wants because they want him on that team. Was Washington ever interested? Yes. Yes, they were. Not in a significant way in terms of trade value with the Cleveland Browns, the New England Patriots were interested. There was a third team involved that isn't out yet that hopefully will be reporting once this all goes down that had their hand in the game a little bit. Remember, San Francisco has Kyle wants a receiver. He's

really concerned that this is a gap that you're going to have in his offense that he needs to fill. So with Pittsburgh having interest in Brendan Ayyuk and not having a receiver in return, he was on the hunt for a third team to get that receiver. So essentially to use that draft compensation that he would have gotten probably from Pittsburgh, he'd be added a little bit more and then get a receiver. But he ran into a few walls. It got close, but he ran into a wall. So that's why I think that he'll go wind up.

getting done because he's out of option. And he's like, he's not going to want to lose Brandon. So I just, I think Washington has shown a little interest, but they backed off. Why do you think they backed off? Do you know why? I don't. I don't. I'm going to, if I, if you were to ask my opinion, I think it was, I think the asking price for him was, would have been too high. Right. Because I use the offer from the San Francisco 49ers at the time was around 26. New England was at 33. So figure Washington realized that they were probably going to have to get up in those numbers, and I don't think that that's the number they wanted to pay.

Who's the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys this time next year? Dak Prescott. I believe the Dallas Cowboys are going to get this deal done. It's hard because it's been so mucky and weird and strange with C.D. Lamb and Micah Parson and Dak getting signed up. We had Stephen Jones on Scoop City, and I've had many conversations with him over the last few months on the record, off the record, about what's the story here? And the Cowboys just always feel good. They're going to get their deals done, and I believe them, because I think they do.

I think they're going to get their deals done. I think they're going to get seen done. I think that's going to get done. And all over the last few months were just one big waste of time. Who starts a quarterback for the Steelers against the Falcons in the opener? I think Russell Wilson is going to start. I think Justin Field is making a competitive competitive as he can

and has taken full advantage of Russell Wilson being injured with that calf situation that he had pushing a sled which still need to get to the bottom of that why is the quarterback pushing a sled I've never heard of that Daniel never heard of that

it seems like a stupid exercise to be doing when you're the quarterback but stuff happened if it wasn't going to be with a sled maybe it would have happened on the field but, you know, Tomlin has been pretty consistent with Russell having the pole position

being the veteran quarterback. I think at the end of the day, the player that's going to take care of the football, which was very hard to tell, and the last game is going to win it. So I still think, we're still going to find out, we're still waiting.

I'm actually flying out to Pittsburgh next week to do a sit-down interview with Mike Tomlin. So hopefully by then, we get an answer, and if not, he says it on Scoop City. All right, a couple more, and then we'll wrap it up. you're so generous with your time. Give me a team in each conference, the NFC and the AFC,

that you think people are sleeping on. Ooh, AFC is the Ravens. I think it sounds like a name we talk about all the time, but I can tell you as someone that's covering the league every single day, I don't talk about the Ravens as much as I used to. Right. Something happens, and I don't know what it is. If anything, look, they also have offensive line issues.

I'm aware of that, but they edit Derek Henry. This is the second year in a Todd Monk in. offense here. Lamar's just going to get better. Lamar lost weight. He's faster. He's stronger. All these great things I'm hearing in Baltimore. I just think we lost a little confidence in their ability to make a deep run in the playoffs. And I think it's time. I think this is a year where they're going to get it right. For the NFC, I'm going to save the Minnesota of Vikings.

And the reason why I say the Minnesota Vikings is because it seems a little messy because it's like Sam Donald. Like, what is... I think Kevin O'Connell is going to get the best version of Sam Donald we've seen. I watched them in practice with the Cleveland Browns last week, and they were significantly better. The Browns, by the way, were my AFC pick about two weeks ago, and I now changed my mind after seeing them up close.

I think they still have a lot to work out. Offensive line issues there as well. Remember, they lost Bill Callahan to the Tennessee Titans, but that was a big loss for Cleveland. And, you know, you say those things, loud and it just, it kind of just falls by the wayside. It's just like, oh, big deal. No, he was a big deal.

The outside Dante Scarnacia, I don't know of another offensive line coach that has that much control over a culture of a O-line room, expectations, responsibilities. That is a major, major loss in Cleveland for them. But I just think what, I think the defense that Brian Flores has built in Minnesota, and just what I, I just have the confidence that O'Connell's going to get the most out of Sam because he was getting a lot of out of Kirkland. year before the injury. So they're the team I'm keeping an eye on. You know, your Baltimore points a good one. I mean, they had the best record in the

AFC. They were the one seed. They hosted the AFC championship game. But the Chiefs keep winning the Super Bowl. Cincinnati's been the team that's been able to knock off Kansas City, you know, when Burroughs been healthy. And Baltimore, because their lack of playoff success, kind of gets forgotten before seasons begin, even though I think we understand that they're, you know, to be in the mix. If you were to ask me what teams are my most, just like, what are they going to be? Because I do this even like when I drive or I push the stroll around. I'm like, what the heck are they?

Which, by the way, even if you're a journalist, it doesn't, that's a fair question. I have this conversation with people who are in football who go, I don't. What are they doing? What are they? I know. I see the same thing. You're talking about the Ravens specifically? No, no.

I actually never revealed the name. I was thinking in my head I never said it. The Philadelphia Eagle. That is the team I am like. I'm headed down there. I want to see it. I want to believe they're good.

Their roster's fantastic. Nick Siriani is now that we'll call him the CEO overseeing. Callan Moore's often. Is J. Merrts going to fit in a Kellynmore office? What does this look like? Is AJ Brown going to be happy with the touches? There's just so many questions I have about what this can be because they should be good.

They should be so good. But I just don't know what it's all going. Well, there's a disconnect between Jalen Hertz and Nick Siriani, right? Oh, yeah. So, yeah, so I reported that a few weeks ago. Yeah. And, you know, it's one of those stories where I said it on the shell when I realized, oh, my goodness, the rest of the world doesn't know this.

I probably need to write this. And ESPN wound up picking up on it about three weeks after, and they did a fantastic piece as well. that is one of those stories that everybody in football knew, but fans didn't. And sometimes that happens. But I know that probably sounds so strange, but this has been brewing for months. This was happening during the season. I remember talking to guys and felt like,

you know, this is not good down here. This is a disaster. They hate each other. You know, it was dramatic at the time. That's not the truth. They don't hate one another at all. It's just there was a disconnect with what they wanted to do. And just like any relationship, you have to work on it,

and it's not always going to be the perfect marriage. Heck, I have a podcast with a former play right now. We run into issues every day. I can only imagine with pressure, with real pressure, with having to win games. You should see me with Leverro every twice a week on this podcast. I mean, it's a nightmare. God bless you.

With that. So, yeah, look, I want to see how this comes together in Philly, because I'm interested how much Howie Rosen is going to be committed to keeping Syriani. This thing doesn't go well. Right. I mean, that's 100% an early season storyline, right? Because they open up with the Packers in Brazil. You know, I think the schedule was when I looked at it, and I'm pulling it up right now, was fairly favorable after that.

But if they don't start off well, Seriani's in trouble. I think an interesting story there is Vic Fangio, who is still one of the most respected defensive minds in the league. And they weren't good defensively. They really struggled with speed. They added speed, you know, to that back seven. It'll be interesting because I think they're loaded. But we'll see.

Great addition. Great addition, in my opinion, in terms of, like everyone says, Seguan, Sequin, and I guess that was a move I wasn't expecting to see from Howie, but I do think their biggest pickup in the off season was Vic Fangio. I do think his name got muddied a little bit coming out of Miami. The guys didn't like him. It just was another example, just not. not the right fit. And from what I was told, Vic just didn't even like living in Florida.

So back, you know, in the Northeast, where everybody belongs. Exactly. Spoken like certainly a Northeast Jersey girl. All right. Over or under six and a half wins for Washington? Over. So how much over? Nine games, I'm going to say. Wow. So you, that would put them in contention for a wild card birth. That's exactly where I have them. That's what I've been kind of projecting for the last few weeks, and I've had these conversations on other shows.

That's where I see. It's the earliest communication via text or phone with a coach general manager player in the last year. This morning, 445. 445, I would have thought I was going to guess like 3.30. No, I just realized it was 3.45. It was 345 because I wound up responding later to a message of something, and I remember looking at the clock going, wow, I've been talking to him for an hour. Most GM's head coaches love talking on a phone.

I love texting between the hours of 4 and 6 a.m. That's where I get all my work done, which is why I'm exhausted by 2 o'clock. Who was the communication with at 345 a.m. this morning? You are so snoopy, and I will not reveal my source. but I came with some information today. So maybe whatever speech you felt I was the strongest in terms of Intel, that's probably the person. That's usually as I'm that simple.

All right, great job. It's so good to catch up. You're doing a great job at the athletic. Follow Diana on Twitter on X at D.M. Rusini with two S's and one N in between those eyes. Thank you. Let's do it again soon. Thank you for the love. Thank you for the support.

I enjoy talking to you. You make me better whether you realize it or not. I say it. You are a pros, pro. And now that I technically am a host of a show, I just realize what you do. It's so much harder. You make it look easy,

which is why you're so great at what you do. So thank you for having me on, and you know I'll be popping on soon, I'm sure. I paid her to say that, boys and girls. Thank you. I'll talk to you soon. Diana Rusini, everybody. A little bit more show to go with Jeff Irman.

jumping on with us here in a moment to talk some Terps football right after these words from a few of our sponsors. MyBooky is the sponsor of this upcoming segment with Jeff Erman. Jeff is going to discuss Maryland football with us. They kick off the Terps do a week from this coming Saturday against Yukon in College Park. At mybooky.ag. The Terps are 20 point favorites in that game. go to MyBooky.ag for all of your sports betting needs as we approach football season and the season gets underway with real football this Saturday, noon eastern from Dublin.

Florida State is an 11-point favorite over Georgia Tech. Could be the first smell test pick of the year on Friday because there is a lot of sharp action on Georgia Tech and a lot of public action on Florida State. So that may be a part of Friday's show. I think that would be the earliest smell test pick. ever. But all of the college lines are up for this coming weekend and for the following weekend where you get the full slate. Georgia right now, a 14-point favorite over Clemson. That's a big opening Labor Day weekend Saturday game. West Virginia and Penn State, that's a big one in

Morgan Town. It's a big one for James Franklin. They are 10-point favorites Penn State is over West Virginia in that game. A lot of really good college football in week one. And we get Florida State Georgia Tech on Saturday. And then MyBooky's got everything you need for the NFL regular season. All of the preseason futures and prop bets, all of the week one lines. Washington's still a four-point dog against Tampa Bay in the opener. Go to MyBooky.ag. Use my promo code, Kevin D.C., even if you have a place where you're betting already. You should have two spots. Take the free money at MyBooky and take the opportunity to comparison shop on point spreads, on pricing, etc. MyBooky.ag promo code Kevin, D.C.

Jumping on with me right now is our friend Jeff Erman from 24-7 Sports and also inside MD Sports.com. Jeff covers Maryland sports like no one else does. at Jeff underscore Erman, E-R-M-A-N, on X on Twitter. So I'm going to tell you that I have not paid attention as closely to the upcoming Maryland football season as I have the last few years, in part because the Leotung of Iiloa era is over, and he was sort of a constant here the last few years, and you knew they'd be good offensively, and they're coming off three straight bowl seasons

and three straight bowl wins, including last year against Auburn in bowl season in the Music City Bowl down in Nashville. There's a new Big Ten with Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA added. Maryland plays USC at home, October 19th. They play out at Oregon in a Big Ten conference game on November 9th. But I haven't been paying attention as closely as I typically do, Jeff. So just start by just telling me what this team looks like right now heading into the season.

I know that they're favored in their first several games. But what are we expecting from Maryland football this year? Well, first, Kevin, I'll say you're not alone in the first part. For whatever reason, the fan engagement has not seemed to quite correlate with the improved results, you know, on and off the field recruiting Maryland's having its back recruiting cycle in quite a while right now. But, yeah, I think there's a lot to be excited about. I think Mike Loxley has, you know, stock the program really well.

You might not have that brand name star player like Leah the past few years, but I think there's more talent and depth and size across the board. He's really focused on building depth. So, you know, with the obvious caveat that two of the most important positions on the field, quarterback and offensive line are still to be determined in terms of, you know, both personnel and how good they are. I think that they are really deep, one of the deepest teams that they've had in a while. So let's start with quarterback, where the Leotunga Viloa era is over after four seasons in College Park, including that first year, which was a COVID-shortened year.

who's in line to replace him when we get to a week from Saturday, August 31st, against Yukon? My guess is Billy Edwards. I think that, you know, he'll get his shot to go out there and prove that he can be the guy, prove that he can, you know, pass well enough to be the guy. That's obviously the biggest question everybody has about him. Like you mentioned, he's been more of a short-yardage running specialit who's only played in a normal role a handful of times, normally when forced into the role by injury. But, you know, they like him a lot.

He's the leader of the team. You know, they feel like I think people, the rest of the players will rally around him. Obviously, if he's the guy, you're going to go with a little more of a running, heavy approach, power running game, read option to try to set up the past because he's a tough, hard-nosed runner who's shown that he can get it done, you know, with his legs. The question, obviously, is the arm. So I would say my guess is that it's Billy and then MJ Morris to transfer from NC State and Cam Edge, the younger guy with probably the strongest arm out of the three of them,

but who needs to kind of prove his ability to make things happen with his legs and pocket presence. So that would be my guess right now. They always seem to be pretty loaded, pretty talented at the skill position spots on offense. So take us through running back and wide receiver on this team. I like what they've got at those spots. You know, Roman Hemby two years ago nearly rushed for a thousand yards as a red shirt freshman. Last year's production fell off a little bit, but either way, he's proven himself.

Not only is productive, but a guy who can hit the home run fairly regularly. Nolan Ray, a younger guy behind him, probably out of all the young guys who haven't really played, he's the one attracting or generating the most buzz out of anybody. Maybe the fastest guy on the team, I think there'll be a lot of people wondering where he came from this year. And then a receiver you've got, I think, one of the better, you know, not the top, but a really good wide receiver won two punch with Ty Feld and Kayden-Kaden Preacher. You know, both were in the top 15 or 20 in the Big Ten in a lot of categories last year.

The ball would spread around a little bit more, but neither one of them has racked up, you know, all Big Ten kind of statistics, but both of them are really good. That's good combo. And then behind them, there's some young talent, but guys in the need. to kind of prove themselves now. Most notably, Octavian Smith and Chalik Notts, a couple of four stars going into their third year.

You say the offensive lines are concerned. How much of it is new? The whole thing. The whole thing. All five are gone from last year, so it's maybe the first time I've seen them have to replace all five. I'm sure it's happened before at some

point, but they're relying on a lot of new guys. Alan Heron, a transfer from a a Division II school in Georgia. They like him a lot. He was committed to Penn State. Maryland flipped him on signing day. Andre Roy, tackled from Baltimore, actually, coincidentally, another guy they flipped

from Penn State. You know, he's had the past two years to kind of put on some bulk. He was a basketball player before transitioning to football at St. Francis Academy. They've been raving about him. Senator Josh Kaltenberger, Purdue transfer, has been the guy since he arrived. I think he'll be an upgrade. the center was not of strength last year. And there are some questions as guard.

I think that's where the most questions are. I know they've got some talent defensively, and there are fewer questions on that side of the ball than on the offensive side of the ball. Take us through the defense. Where is the strength? Let's start there. Yeah, the defensive line is many times more proven than the offensive line. I mean, I think this is probably, you know, this could be the deepest,

defensive line they've had since those free gene years, which, as you know, is somehow 20 years ago already, but they're stacked there. Jordan Phillips, defensive tackle. He could be an all-big-10 kind of guy, just a mountain at 6-2-3-30.

Tommy King de Sote, similar size next to them. The list goes on. They're just loaded. There's not necessarily a superstar in the mix. I think Donnell Brown and Ed Rushor who transferred in last year could be that guy, but the amount of size and depth and maturity they have there is really impressive. All right, so let's talk about what you're expecting.

I mean, I mentioned that their first six games right now, at least on paper, they're likely favored in their first six games. They play UVA in Charlottesville, but UVA is supposed to be awful in the ACC. They've got a game against Michigan State in week two, but they're not supposed to be great. So, I mean, given the schedule, do you think this is another 7, 8, 9 win potential team and another bowl season? What are you expecting?

I think it definitely has that potential, Kevin. The thing is that this has got to be the hardest team to project for them in years because, you know, Tilia's gone after what feels like a decade. You're replacing it. You're pretty talented overall, but the two big positions, obviously, offensive line and quarterback. Our question march, that said, I think the culture and the expectations and the talent level have all risen to a point where even if you don't know what you're going to get there,

you still expect at least seven wins in a low game. All right. Yukon, a week from Saturday in College Park, their first two are at home. So get tickets. They're available. They play Michigan State Week 2 out in college park. But I'm going to ask you, even though we are a couple of months away, I actually am surprised that Maryland hasn't been in more preseason, you know, all too early top 25s. They've been in a few of them, but not as many as I thought.

I think they've got a good team on paper heading into 24-25. What do you think? Well, first off, I respect that you held out like nine minutes until you started with basketball. I know that took some restraint, but, no, I mean, I think, you know, they have talent, they have the potential to be that kind of top 25 team, but there's just so many unproven pieces. I mean, really, you look at it. Julian Reese is the only proven high-level Big Ten player on the whole team.

You know, if you brought in some transfers who should be really good, especially Jacoby Gillespie, the point guard from Belmont. There's been a lot of talk about Felton Miguel, the South Florida transfer, you know, has been reported on many times. I grew up with Bruno Fernando and Angola. There's been a lot of talk that he's going to be really good. Obviously, Derek Queen, when you're getting the McDonald's All-American game MVP, you should have high expectation.

So, you know, the potential is there, but when you get into that top 25, I think you need a few more proven guys, especially when you're coming off the kind of year that they had, and you've lost the guy like Jamir Young. In the Big Ten, like, who's supposed to be good? going into this season. Purdue? Is that it? And obviously, they're kind of rebuilding. Yeah, they are. I think Indiana could be pretty good. They've built up their roster pretty well. They have a very robust NIL operation there, one of the best in the country, so they're able to get a lot of talent.

You know, they're not really, you know, Michigan is rebuilding with the new coach, obviously. I don't think there's like a team that, like, entering last year where it's clear. head and shoulders about the rest like Purdue was. Yeah, I don't either. I mean, you know, lots of buzz about, you know, Rutgers and the recruiting class they have coming in. Yeah. But it's an odd year. I mean, in the Big Ten, it may be at least, you know, heading in the fewest number of teams kind of in the top 25 or in the top, you know, 15 that we've seen since, you know, we entered the Big Ten. All right. Thanks for doing this. Hope you're well. And we'll talk, I'm sure, right,

the season begins. Sounds great, Kevin. Thanks. Jeff Herman, everybody, talking Maryland football and Maryland basketball. The Terps football season opens up a week from Saturday at home against Yukon. As mentioned, they are 20-point favorites the Terps are. The Terps' first six games right now, they are projected to be favored in. They play Yukon and Michigan State at home to open up their season. then they're at UVA in Charlottesville.

They get Villanova at home. Then they're at Indiana before facing Northwestern at home. And then USC comes to town, October 19th, their first ever trip to face Maryland in College Park. The Trojans, if you've ever had a desire to see the Trojans in those uniforms up close and personal, that opportunity exists here on October 19th. The basketball team's got a really good home schedule as well. All tickets for Maryland football and Maryland basketball can be found at UMTurps.com. All right, that is it for the day.

Back tomorrow.