The Kevin Sheehan Show - The Jahan Dotson Situation

Episode Date: August 13, 2024

Jahan Dotson played more snaps than any offensive skill position player for the Commanders on Saturday against the Jets. Why? Kevin opened with the situation facing Jahan Dotson. He then welcomed on Ben Standig/The Athletic to discuss in more detail. Kevin had more on the Jayden Daniels "audible" to Dyami Brown and talked Ben Sinnott too. He finished up with why he thinks Steph Curry should have been the Olympic Men's Basketball MVP instead of LeBron James.  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 Cheyenne Show. Here's Kevin. Hey, Dan, obviously the starters don't typically play a lot in the first game, and they didn't. But Jahan ended up playing, I think, more snaps than any of the receivers. This is curious why for him to feel that was a good for him to do.

Yeah, I think we're right in the middle of that competition, you know, at receiver and trying to find out slot and inside and outside. So moving guys into different locations, Ben, that's a big piece of it. and you'll see more of that this week as well with him and with some of the other receivers. We're really digging into that group and it's a really competitive group to push it. So you'll see more of that same with his reps increased again this week. So I guess I'm going to make this a bit of a thing today, but I think it may deserve it. That was Dan Quinn answering a question earlier today from Ben Standing about Jahan Dotson.

Is Dotson's position on the final 53-man roster safe? I would say yes, but it's clear that his role on this team is far from defined. The show's presenting sponsor, as always, is Windonation. Call them at 86690 Nation or head to Windonation.com for a free, no-risk in-home estimates. So Ben was on radio with me earlier today, and he mentioned that Jahan Dotson played more snaps than any other receiver on the roster Saturday against the Jets in the preseason opener, and that he was going to ask Quinn today why, which he did at the press conference. And Quinn's answer, while not super concise or clear, it had enough in it to indicate that Dotson is in. a competition to kind of figure out where his fit in this offense is.

Jahan Dotson played 32 offensive snaps on Saturday. And the important thing in that 32 number isn't actually the number, but it's the comparison to the other players on offense that we would all assume our starters, you know, or are perceived starters in the opener at Tampa. Terry McClure, 11 snaps, the first drive of the game he played, and then he was out. Jaden Daniels, 11 snaps, first drive of the game, and then he was out. Sam Cosmi, 11 snaps, first drive of the game, then he was out. The combination of the two running backs that we expect to be on the field in the regular season,

Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Echler, they combined for 11 snaps on that opening, drive and then they were out of the game. The center, Tyler Biotic and the guard, Allegretti. They played 14 snaps before leaving the game, but that's because Marcus Marietta was in there for three plays on the second drive and Biottoe and Biotrude stayed in for those three plays. So for them, it was two drives and out. For Dotson, he was on the field for multiple drives. He played with the twos, he played with the threes, he played with multiple quarterbacks in the game, he played 32 snaps nearly three times the number of snaps that Terry was on the field for, that the other perceived starters were on the field for. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that Dotson

doesn't have a lot to prove, that he shouldn't be competing. I'm not saying that he's, you know, a position on the team that is anywhere near the same as Terry McClearns or even Sam Cosmes or I think at this point we can safely say Jaden Daniels. I am saying, however, that I thought Dotson was the number two receiver on this team or certainly a receiver who would end up with a high snap count, with a high target count. I even said at some point during the offseason, I thought Dotson with Cliff Kingsbury and Jaden Daniels could lead the team in receiving yards and even receiving touchdowns. And I think what we learned Saturday and then today, thanks to Ben, is that Jahan Dotson is competing for something. The issue is what is that something?

Well, Quinn said, you know, his reps would increase this week. And I would expect, by the way, everybody's reps to increase this week. This second preseason game since the league moved to three preseason games and 17 regular season games, this is the game where everybody's reps snap counts increase. I would expect the starters to play at least a quarter against the dolphins. By the way, as an aside, I'm not sure why teams don't use the final preseason game, the third preseason game as part of the major tune-up as well, sort of the dress rehearsal pre-season game,

although there really aren't many of those anymore either because the dress rehearsal used to be a half or even into the third quarter. And now for most teams, it's, you know, instead of one series for the starters, it's like three or four. But the reason I say that is that the final preseason weekend is still two plus weeks before the regular season begins. It used to be less than two weeks before the regular season began, or the final preseason game was, the fourth was.

That would come, you know, Labor Day weekend, that Thursday, Friday, sometimes on a Saturday night, and then the regular season was a week from the following Sunday. So some teams, you know, literally had their final preseason game, you know, eight days or nine days before the regular season started. So understood why the fourth preseason game with the old schedule was a game in which nobody played. But this third and final preseason game comes two plus weeks before the regular season begins. But anyway, I digress.

I would assume that all of the players that played, you know, 11 snaps, one series and left are going to play significantly more. on Saturday night. Terry and Sam and Jaden Daniels, etc. By the way, Diami Brown had 19 snaps in the game on Saturday against the Jets, far less than Jahan Dotson. But I think Jahan, you know, at least according to Quinn, will be out there for many more snaps and beyond when kind of the starters go in and get their quarter or maybe a little bit more than a quarter and then leave the game. Now, look, Overall, it's clear he's in competition for something. You know, he's in competition to find the right spot and where he kind of, you know, fits into this overall receiver group.

Do I think there's a chance that he doesn't make the team? No, I don't. And by the way, it wouldn't even come down to that, you know, in terms of him being released. They would never cut a Jahan Dotson. They would try to trade Jahan Dotson. And I would imagine that there's a mid-round condition. at the very least for a Jahan Dotson. If it got to that point, you know, if they said, look, we've got Terry, we've got Diami,

we've got Zakias, we really like Luke, there's just, you know, Jahan can play, but it's crowded at that spot, and we like some of the guys that are in front of them, and we just didn't figure out the right fit, and maybe they would look to move on from him. You know, I still wonder a little bit about Brandon Ayyuk. I think the reporting here recently has been, The 49ers and Iyuk are trying to work it out for him to stay. I'll leave that one alone for today anyway. I'll just say this.

I don't think that Washington was never in on the possibility of Brandon Ayyuk. I think there was interest at some point, and maybe the price got too high, or maybe just the timing of it didn't work out. The team, by the way, it was announced or reported, excuse me, earlier today, several of the beat reporters. They're working out Martavius Bryant tomorrow. That's a name that I haven't heard in a while. He hasn't played in the league since 2018,

but it's a receiver that they're bringing in, a former NFL starter. He had the drug issues. He was suspended for a year. Then he violated that suspension and had an indefinite suspension. He was reinstated late last year. The Cowboys took a look at him,

but turned them loose. But yeah, I mean, I don't think Martavis. Bryant is the answer either. John Dodson's competing for something, that's for sure. I would guess it's for a spot in, you know, the rotation, the top three to four receivers. And right now, Terry and Diami and Zakias, they might be the top three right now. I'm going to try to get Ben. I've texted him.

I'm going to try to get Ben on the show. So stay tuned for more on the Jahan Dotson situation. Is it a situation or have I just made it into a situation? I think any time a player who is perceived to be a starter, and I think most of us assume that about Jahan Dotson, that he was the number two receiver, you know, entering this off-season, entering the off-season activities into training camp, And that player who is perceived to be a starter in the very first preseason game is still on the field long, long after the other perceived starters have left the game.

I think at the very least it's noteworthy. And then when the coach is asked about it, and he uses words like competition, he's in a group of guys that are competing, trying to figure out what they do, inside, outside, etc. It's a situation. I mean, it's a situation on August 12th. Ben hopefully will jump on with me before the end of this show. This from Marcus via email. Marcus wrote the following. Kevin, I don't like that Jaden went rogue on Saturday.

First game, and he's going against the coach's wishes. Not a great look. Marcus, oh Marcus. Well, Marcus, first of all, let me just make sure that everybody knows what Marcus is talking about in case you didn't see the preseason game. Jaden Daniels on the first third down on the one drive that he played, the call was a bubble screen, and he checked to a deep shot to Diami Brown. It was actually a check to basically five verts, vertical routes. Everybody's all go. All five receivers are going down the field, and he's going to pick the one to throw to, and he did a nice job looking off the safety, and then he threw to Diami Brown,

and it was a perfect throw and a great catch. A check and audible that apparently wasn't approved of before he did it. That's what Marcus was referring to. I'm sure most of you at this point have heard. heard the Dan Quinn explanation of the check. An interesting question. Here, I'll play it for you, just in the event. You haven't heard it.

To have Gene check into that big play. I mean, how encouraging is that to see a guy come out? Just have no fear to. It's an interesting question checking into it. I thought of Top Gun. Do I have permission to buzz the tower? No ghost rider, the pattern is full. And so I think on that one, he wanted to ask for forgiveness and not

permission and then throw, you know, an absolute dime, you know, over the top of the Diami to go. So it was a really cool play. I think it probably illustrates for him, the awareness and checks and things that go into it. So yeah, he did not ask for permission. So he went ahead and buzz the tower anyway. So it was a really cool play. I said on yesterday's podcast that Dan Quinn was incredibly honest in that answer, and he didn't need to tell us that. I did a show yesterday is kind of a post-game show to the Jets game on Saturday. I did my game take, things I like, didn't like, et cetera. Pretty short show.

If you missed it, you can check it out the August 11th show. But back to Marcus's email where he says, I don't like that Jaden went rogue on Saturday. First game and he's going against the coach's wishes, not a great look. look, it's not like Marcus he was supposed to take a knee at the end of a game, and instead he checked to a flea flicker. I mean, come on, it's the preseason. And by the way, you know, that was his second pass attempt of that game. The first pass attempt was on the play before the big completion to Diami Brown.

It was a called screen to Echler, and he sailed it over Echler's head by like three or four feet, maybe some nerves there. So I kind of like that he was able to come back and get a big play because if the next play after sailing the ball over Eccler's head had been a bubble screen that got blown up at the line of scrimmage and they had to punt and that was it for Jaden, that wouldn't have been as good as what happened following the check, which was a continued drive that ended in a touchdown run

on a read option keeper. He saw two receivers on the side of the field that they were going to run the bubble. They were playing press coverage. He knew the play would get blown up. He got out of the play. I think, you know, overall, I understand why they didn't want him checking. They didn't want him in pure dropback with the offensive line being compromised, etc. But, Marcus, this was a nothing burger.

You know, maybe in hindsight Quinn could have kept it to himself instead of going, with the top gun buzz the tower reference, but I don't have a problem with any of it. He was going to unload it quickly anyway. He knew why they didn't want him dropping back. So the ball was going to come out of his hand pretty quickly, and that was that. All's well that ends well.

This from Lawrence, Kevin, you have to get Cooley on to talk about Ben Sinitz game. He was Cooley's double. Yes. Cooley recognized Ben Cinnett as a doppelganger for Cooley because he did a film breakdown after the draft. He loves his game. And yes, some of the yards after catch and his style overall looks so much like Cooley. I called Cooley today to tell him to watch some of the highlights of Cinnett.

He had not seen the game and hasn't seen the highlights yet, but he did say that he heard from, I think it was his father and wife. law about Ben Senate. But this was Dan Quinn earlier today talking about Ben Sinit's performance on Saturday against the Jets. When you see a guy, a guy you pick in Ben Sinit, you see him on tape beforehand, you see him in practice, and then he comes into the game and makes that kind of playware. Not only the catch, but then it starts to shed people.

How do you evaluate that? I don't think it surprises you, but it's certainly a huge positive. It was a huge positive. I think it's a good question because you're one of the day, did you see what you saw then come to life now? And that's what you wanted to do whenever you select somebody or add somebody to the team to say, this is what I think he could add.

And so I think we were clear on the run blocking, you know, about the physicality of what he could do. And we really wanted to see the downfield throws and what does that look like? Can he extend and, you know, create separation? And as, you know, all the good tight ends do. So it's nice to see that. I've seen that with Jaden.

I've seen it with Ben. I've seen it with Sainmerstil. I saw it with Coleman, are they doing what we thought they could do? And so that's a big piece of it. It happens some in Free Agency Chick, but it's a little bit easier because it's apples to apples. You saw them play against Philadelphia. He did that trait. So, okay, we're seeing the same things here.

But when it happens from the college side, that's why I think the college scouting is like where the real art of it all is, because it's how do they transfer that skill onto your team when they're not playing, you know, whatever that competition might be. So I thought for he and for some of those other teammates, that was a really good thing. Interesting answer there from Dan Quinn because he was reflecting very much on the draft process, you know, that you don't really know until you see it. You can project a guy and you can project the fit and the scouts can do a really good job. But, you know, look, the draft.

as we know, is a business in which three years after a draft, if 37% of the guys you picked are contributing, it was successful. You know, basically two-thirds on average don't work out. It's a hard business, the draft. But he mentioned, by the way, more than just Senate, right? He mentioned that they've seen some of what they had projected when they picked players in Jaden, in Sanra Still, and in Bram. and in Coleman. So he gave you some of the other players that he feels comfortable that they got the guy that they thought they were getting. Senate, by the way, on Saturday really was an absolute load to bring down. I understand that he's playing against twos and threes, or even deeper into the

depth chart. But he looks like a guy that has a chance to be a contributor, even as a young player, at that position. All right, I just heard from Ben, he can jump on with us and he can do it now. So we'll get his thoughts on the Dotson situation, and we'll get his thoughts on other things as well. And we'll

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Standing, of course, from The Athletic at Ben Standing on X. And his podcast has a new name to it. You can still get it anywhere you get your new podcast. What did you tell me the other day about the podcast, or what did you tell me today about the podcast? You said something that... Yeah, I appreciate you mentioning it. It's a new name, but it's a new feed. New feed. That's the...

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So I talked about Jahan Dotson in the open to the show. I played your question and Dan Quinn answer. I talked about how you brought this up with me today on radio, and it had not really occurred to me that John Dotson had the most snaps of any of the skill position players on offense, and other starters, or at least perceived locks to be starters, were in and out pretty quickly. So you picked up on this. You asked Dan Quinn about it today.

What did you think of his answer? What do you think we learned from his answer to your question? I think we learned that John Dodson is in the competition with other guys for work. You know, it's, look, there could be all kinds of reasons as to why you want to play a guy longer than we would expect. You know, who knows? He wants to work more in his conditioning. getting a better rhythm in Cliff Kingsbury's offense, you know, whatever it might be.

But that's not what Quinn said, right? He said, and correct if I'm wrong, because these things going out of my head. I'm just listening, but he basically just said, it's a competition that we're trying to see different guys at different spots, and, you know, that's kind of it. And, you know, separately, it was another session with Dan Quinn

where he later mentions Diombi Brown or is after the Army Brown and talks him up. He's done that several times in camping, part for catching the ball, but also just his general energy out there on the field. And then you have Alamadei Zakiaz, to my eyes, like if you ignore, you know, who's where on the depth chart and kind of who's going up against two in practice, he has looked about as sharp to me as any receiver not named Terry McCorn.

So, you know, it is interesting. My view all along has been that, like, okay, some of these people on this team that we know are probably having the fight for East. either their roles or their jobs, i.e. like a chairman Davis, I think we're at a point now where I have to put John Dotson in that list, based on what we heard today, in terms of his role, I don't mean being cut or anything. I just mean like, I'm not going to automatically pencil him right this minute as number two,

even if, you know, on a certain level you would think that he would still be that guy. Well, if you weren't interested in keeping him around, you wouldn't cut him. You'd try to trade him. I think there would be some value in trading Johan. and not where they picked them at number 16 overall in the first round. But, you know, one of the things that I mentioned is that on that, you know, unofficial first depth chart that they have to put out prior to the first preseason game, Dotson was, along with Terry McClure and Zekees, they were listed as starters at wide receiver. Yeah, and like I said, I'm assuming week one against the bucks, if they open into three receivers

said, I would still imagine John Dodson's out there. But, you know, and just to be clear on what we're talking about with snaps, as we know typically in the first preseason game, the starters, a series, maybe two at most, right typically. You know, each each unit might be a little bit different, but that's generally how it goes. and Terry McCorn only played 11 snaps, Zakiath only played 10. Okay. John Dotson played triple that.

He played like 32, more than any receiver. That's one of those positions where every team has a truckload of guys that you could say go play the entire, you know, last three quarters. If you just don't want to risk anybody and call it a day, and it'll be fine. And here they played one of their perceived starters in a recent first round pick, 32 snaps.

That is a lot. So, yeah, I mean, it is definitely notable. And, you know, I don't know. I don't know if it's a wake-up call, trying to be a wake-up call, if it's some actual concern they have with him, or I don't know. But it is, yeah, it's stood out in his answer by basically not explaining it away simply other than just saying competition.

Okay, well, I mean, the key, if he didn't play all those many snaps. I mean, Luke McCaffrey played one left, but, okay, he's a rookie. I mean, that's, yeah. And some of those players you're talking about came in at a different point during the game. Like to your point, he played 32 offensive snaps, the most of any skill position player on the team. And among those that we all perceive to be, you know, starting players who would play the first series and then leave after the first series, he was clearly not one of them. Terry McLaren was, Jaden Daniels was, Sam Cosmy was, the two running backs combined for the 11 snaps. Echler and Robinson, they didn't come back at any other point during the game after that first drive.

Biottoe only played 14 snaps, which means he was in for three snaps with Marioita, as was Allegretti. And that was basically it. Everybody else kind of came in after those players. came in and he stayed in. It is notable. There's no doubt it's notable because it's very clear that he's not one of those guys that you just pencil in. He's competing to be on the field a lot in the opener against Tampa Bay.

I think that, you know, that's what you kind of sensed from watching it on Saturday. And I think that's what Quinn probably confirmed. Yeah. And look, there were other guys that we. I'm sure all know that to some degree they were in the game for extended snaps, like Jamie Davis and Federer and Mathis were playing into the... But we knew they were fighting for positioning. Yeah.

Exactly. Even like a cornerback, I got in, I don't know the snaps off top of my head, but, you know, I saw Forbes and some of the other, you know, higher rotation, defensive backs out there for more than just the first or second possession. And okay, fine, you want to get in some work. Like I said, you can justify these things, but they didn't play 30. use this. So, yeah, it's very curious. And like I said, the fact that Quinn didn't give, you know, the response wasn't a way to justify it without it being, you know, viewed as concerning is, yeah,

to use the word again of the day, notable. I wanted to ask you this after, you know, Quinn answered your question. And I, and I don't know the answer to this. I know what they showed us on Saturday in terms of punt returners. But I know early, in camp. Dotson caught some punts, right? I think he did. He was among the players. Maybe it was OTAs or a mini camp. But I'm assuming that he's not really in the mix at all to be a punt returner. That that right now is, you know, we saw on Saturday, we saw the two players who were back there on punts. We saw Zakias and then we saw number 84, Davis, I think his name was. So, Dotson has still been in practice with the returners.

I mean, there's like seven, eight guys, so it's not just a couple. Okay. Four, but there have been back there, too. So Dotson's been back there. But, look, he was back there last year as well, and I just, you know, okay, fine, you want to just make sure he can get, you know, he's ready to go if you need him to or maybe pop them in there for one of a big play or whatever. Yeah, I, I did, my basic thing was, like, when I got, I don't know, excited to the wrong term, but the interesting thing was the key is returning the punt. the other day was, here's a guy who's making the team already. So if you can get him to be the punt return, then you don't have to use a spot for somebody

like James and Crowder. Now, the same thing would apply with Dodson, obviously. So, yeah, the fact that now he's back to returning punts, I don't think they did any of the big thing like that today, but he was back to returning puns. So far in practice, suggest, okay, well, maybe, in fact, he is more in the mix, and it's not just, you know, in case of emergency, it will. I, you know, it's not something he's done a lot. And, again, I don't want to, like, suggest he's definitely not the,

and now I think either one of us are saying this, but that he's definitely not starting. But I think we have to, it just with say a political election, we would have to take it away from strong lean to something. Toss up? Or something to that effect. Yeah. No, I mean, I think right now it wouldn't be crazy if they were playing the Buccaneers Sunday that when they were, you know, in a lot of.

personnel, three receivers on the field, if it was Terry, Diami, and Zekees. I think that that's something that we all consider is in play now. There was one other thing on Dotson, and you had mentioned this to me previously, and I just wanted you to share it with everybody, and that is that early on in camp maybe, or maybe it's still, that you've noticed that Dotson seems, to be a little bit off? Maybe that's not the right description.

Do you know what I'm saying? You had mentioned to me before that it didn't seem to be super smooth with Dotson from the beginning of camp. Yeah, look, obviously he's coming off a down year, and, you know, how much of that was about all the things that kind of went wrong last year with the play calling and a young quarterback and whatever. Okay, so he didn't have a good year. But, okay, so he comes into this year, and I don't know,

it just felt like he was a little, maybe lacking a little bit of confidence or just seemed a little bit off in the first week of training camp. He definitely did not look the part of some drops and just didn't look sharp. But, you know, the offense at that point was still doing all the installs. And as they added more installs and getting the ball down the field more accordingly, he seemed to get going again. So, yeah, there was something off about it. And that's what I thought, okay, maybe we're past whatever that hiccup was.

But the fact, again, that he was out there that much is notable. And I'll throw this in as well. So, like, when they signed the key at this off season, a couple of years ago it had to, you know, pretty good totals, you know, in terms of the receptions, anyone that filled with the Philly last year and just was completely out of the rotation because they have, you know, a bunch of other guys. And I didn't love the signing because I'm like a way, you're bringing in a 5-8 guy to go with Terry and Johan.

John, like, that's why I was like, okay, well, maybe Luke McCaffrey is going to be the starter, because that would be a pretty small group. Well, okay, if we do play this game that Johan is maybe more in jeopardy with his role than we think, okay, you have Terry, who's obviously very fast, but he's not like the NFL burner. Diombi Brown, though, he is that kind of guy, and he's, like I said, has played well, and Dan Quinn's brought him up several times. And then Zakiya as that sort of, you know, slot receiver, you know, again, that kind of fits the mold. So it makes me sense to have either Dodson or the key of them, not both, in my view, generally speaking, especially just to give Daniels some more size out there other than just whoever's playing tight end. So, yeah, it's all interesting to say the least. And maybe this all goes away if Dodson looks sharp at the joint practice and at the game at Miami.

But we take notice. And like I said, Dan Quinn's given us no reason at the moment to not do that. You know, I remember kind of the first time where I even kind of noticed Zakias. It was the game here against Washington in 2022 Thanksgiving weekend. He had a big game, and I just went to pull it up to see what it was statistically. He had five catches for 91 yards. Marioita was the quarterback that day for Atlanta. And if you remember, they drove the ball down the field at the very end of the game,

and Duran Payne got his mitts on a Marioita pass. deflected it and Fuller picked it off in the end zone to secure the win. That was a massive win. And it was basically the beginning at the end of Marioada in Atlanta. But Zekees had a big day. I mean, you know, not that this is news to anybody, but imagine if the four first round picks of the Ron Rivera era, Chase Young, Jamon, Davies, Jehan, Dodson, and Emmanuel Forbes are one is no longer here. and the other three are fighting to either make the team or just to be kind of in the rotation on game day. That's kind of where we are right now.

Look, that Jamon Davis draft did produce Sam Cosmy, Benjamin St. Juice, Diami Brown, John Bates, Derek Forrest. You know, there were players who are going to more likely than not, several of them be on this year's team. and the Dotson draft produced Brian Robinson Jr. At this point, that's it. But man, I don't know that any coach or GM, because Ron was both, has ever had on his resume a four-year stint in the same place

where their first round picks went 0 for 4. I'm not saying that it's over for any of these guys, because I don't believe that to be true. I actually thought Forbes fought his guts out, as Coach Joe would say, on Saturday. But the Dotson thing is interesting, man. It is interesting, at the very least. I think that he's a great route runner. They've talked about that. But clearly there must be something that they like more, at least as of now.

There's a ways to go. Yeah, well, like I said, hopefully, you know, the best case might just be try to use it as a wake-up call or if he is dealing with something like just isn't quite clicking here for whatever the reason that, you know, getting him this kind of work helped. By the way, just to add to that more. Daniels played the first 11. Marriotto was in like for a three-and-out, so the last 2017 or so. Triskel and Martin. Yeah, so it's not like he was working with even Marriota for all. Anyway, So yeah, so we'll see.

It's going to be interesting to watch. And, you know, like I said, you know, here's the other thing, right? Diombi Brown has been a training camp hero for most of the last three years, and then for whatever the reason, it has not worked out. So seeing in the regular season, so seeing him have a good camp, that tracks with what we've seen. The question is now what?

And Dan Quinn even said that, look, I don't know what happened before, but, you know, he's doing fine by us. So we'll see. Maybe this is another example. of where the new staff is getting something more out of him. Ironically, wide receiver coach, Bobby Ingram is one of the holdovers. So it's not even a new position coach. But, you know, I think it's going to be interesting.

And look, this is probably the game. It's unlikely the main starters are playing in the third game. The Wiesie John Dodd's out there in the third game. That's a real story. But this is probably the game where whoever's going to, you know, the main players to get in work, it's going to be this week. A couple of other quick things, and then I'll let you run, and I appreciate you jumping on. The fact that Zakias is out there in front of James and Crowder, both as a receiver working primarily in the slot,

and as the punt returner, tells me right now, not that it's over for Crowder by any stretch of the imagination, but that he trails Zakias for a spot that I can't imagine there are. are two spots for. You know, it's, it's either, I thought going into this camp, it was either Zakias or Crowder, not both. And I actually thought maybe Crowder would have the advantage. I didn't realize how fond they were of Zekees and how high IQ they speak of him being and great culture guy, the whole thing.

But do you agree with me that right now Crowder could be in big trouble in terms of making the team? Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think, you know, look, I like James and Crowder. He's one of the few guys they brought back, right, who was on the team. I'm sure he was a free agent. But, you know, a minimal kind of a deal. And solid guy in the locker room, you know, he's not going to ruffle feathers.

Even a receiver, when he's gone out there, he can still help. But, you know, he's on the wrong side of 30. This is a team that's, you know, trying to get younger, all that stuff. And, look, he wasn't that interesting last. year at Pumerturner. So they can improve on that or at least at or at a minimum, use that roster spot on a younger player, whether that's a Bryson's or main at receiver or at another position altogether. But you can't do that if you don't have somebody else to return punson. Yeah, if it's a guy like Zakias, that would be pretty significant.

So, yeah, I definitely, at a minimum, think Crowder's been on the bubble this whole time. It was just, you know, would anybody else be able to step up? And like I said, so far they've had some other guys. And then, you know, to add on to the kick return or part, Byron Pringle, Casimir Allen had two at the night's return the other day. If you're keeping either one of them, that sort of also eliminates probably the Crowder spot. Right, because you can't keep all of them. So, yeah, so I think Crowder spots definitely in some jeopardy for sure.

I mentioned yesterday, and you and I talked about this on radio on the show yesterday, that I think Kaz Allen's interesting because you typically don't run a a reverse for a player like that in a preseason game, but they ran a reverse. They wanted to see what it looked like with him touching the ball offensively in maybe multiple ways because they threw to him as well, and then he was back on kickoff returns. And the reverse produced a positive play. It was 11 yards, but there was a penalty. But he looked good running it. I mean, he's quick. I mean, he is, you know, he's a smaller, quick guy that has a nose for the end zone, you know, holds the record for the most touchdowns in a high school football season and returned, you know, kicks at UCLA. I think that they like him and they're going to give him every opportunity to make this team as a returner.

And then potentially, if he does make the team as a returner, utilize him offensively. That wouldn't surprise me at this point. I thought that was notable on Saturday, the reverse, and then throwing to him. Yeah, and again, you know, you got to take the bits, you know, the crumbs that we get from Dan Quinn when he's mentioning a player, good or, or bad or indifferent, whatever. And, you know, after the first day of pads, he mentioned a four or five guys, and, you know, you wouldn't think that the five-foot-nothing returner would be somebody he's mentioning in the context of good competing in the pads. but he did specifically mention Kaz Allen in the return game. So, again, look, he's an electric talent with a ball in his hand. The question is just, you know, can he, what can he do?

He's not, he was not a punt returner at UCLA. Kickoff. Sort of, yeah, he was a kickoff guy. The new rules, I mean, you wouldn't think that his body type would be the ideal for this now where it's more compacted space, but at the same time, you'd make one move and get passed somebody, there's nobody else there, and he's going to be able to run by everybody. So it's interesting, we'll see, again, I don't know, you know, I don't want to put the car before the horse on a guy like Bryson's and Germain because, you know, there's a reason he was

undrafted, then kept on a practice squad and all those things, but he's looked pretty good in my eyes and in my... You've been on him for a while. You love his size, and you've been on him since, you know, for a while now. We have debates in the media on the sideline about which of us, whose guy is who, and a lot of us claiming Brayton-Termaine, so

I appreciate you. I appreciate you saying that. But yeah, so, I mean, my point is just that, like, you know, look, they could keep seven receivers. I just did a new 53 projection on the athletic, and at one point I had seven and then I switched it six times. But you could do that, right?

I mean, it's not like, it's not inconceivable, especially if you only keep maybe two quarterbacks, you know, So maybe he does fit. He's young, explosive, fast. The question is just, you know, can he hold up and can he do that job? And if Dan Quinn is, like I said, he already mentioned him once, you talked about getting him the ball. So, yeah, clearly he's somebody we have to keep an eye on. I know that Quinn was asked about Jamon Davis lining up as a defensive end in the preseason game.

So where is this headed? Is he going to play at all at lineback? or is he now a 4-3DN with his hand in the dirt, and that's how he's going to have to survive if he survives? Well, so prior to a few hours ago, I would have said, yeah, I mean, look, it looks like that's the case. He's been mostly working with his hand in the dirt. We talked to him after practice, and he did say, you know, he's still, you know,

paying attention, he's still involved with the linebacker room. He's got to stay sharp there because, you know, it's not like it's been a declarer. He's definitely over here, but that's where it seems like it's going, and they want to see what he can do there. I think, again, I don't know how he's playing a linebacker of Louvo and Wagner are healthy. Now, the thing is, a couple hours ago, we learned that Jordan McGee, the very interesting day three pick that they had out of Temple. He, Dan Quinn said he suffered a knee injury, said he basically wouldn't be playing this week. Right. I think the question is, what's the actual deal with that knee?

if it is something that's more, you know, hopefully it's minor, but you hear the knee and you get concerned, especially if they're already saying he's out this week. So presumably they're still going to have to go take some exams. So that could be interesting if all of a sudden he's limited or out or start the year on IR. That's pure speculation. But then at that point, then maybe Jamie is back into more of a linebacker mode.

But we'll see. I think, you know, I didn't have him on my 53 last one because there's a better defensive end. on this team than him, but I will say this for James. You know, I never want to pretend we know what these guys are really about as people and thinking and what's in her head and whatever. He has seemed lighter to me this year. I don't mean physically, I mean mentally, spiritually.

He has seemed like he's been in a pretty, you know, good, upbeat move, despite the fact that he would think, boy, he's getting moved positions, if at the other. I imagine he is taking to this new coaching staff. I think it was Quinn. Maybe it was Joe Witt. saying that, hey, yeah, we're trying somewhere else, and he is all for it. He's not pushing back. He's not being, you know, he's not being anything other than just a guy who will do whatever

we're telling him to do. And I think that does obviously go a long way with the new staff. So, you know, it's possible he's in greatheets himself enough that they say, hey, clearly the physical tool of athleticism. He's going for it. Let's figure out a way to keep him. And then again, if something is wrong with McGee, hopefully it's not. But if there is, then maybe that's a way also to, to say,

to get him Jamie to stay on the roster. Thanks for that. Appreciate it. I will talk to you later. Look forward to, and see it. Bed standing, everybody. A few more things to finish up the show with, including I didn't know yesterday when I was recording the show that LeBron won the MVP of the Olympic men's basketball tournament.

That seems wrong to me. I'll discuss that and other things right after. These words from a few of our first. our sponsors. This segment of the show is brought to you by Wind Donation. If you've been thinking about new windows, just do me a favor and give Windonation a shot at giving you a free estimate. That's all I'm asking. If you've been thinking about new windows because your windows are older, it's costing you money. Your air conditioning bills are too expensive. Just call Windonation at 86690 Nation or go to Windonation.com. Mention my name and they will come out.

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This sale ends August 31st. Buy to get two free with no money down, no payments, and no interest for two full years and a $250 extra credit when you mention my name. Call them at 86690 Nation or head to windonation.com. I got this from my guy Seth who wrote, We get it already. The preseason means nothing. So why don't you talk about something else? I am going to talk about something else here in a moment. But I wanted to add a piece of data that I went and found

to just kind of once again, emphasize, illustrate just how ridiculous it is for anybody based on a joint practice or a preseason game to get hyped up in any direction, positively or negatively, about what you've seen. Because I found this. In 2022, Kenny Pickett was the only player picked in the first, the only quarterback, excuse me, picked in the first round of that draft. You remember that draft Sam Hal was selected in that draft. Kenny Pickett in his first three preseason games as a Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback went 29 of 36 for 26 for 261 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions. And people in Pittsburgh were referring to Kenny Pickett as the

savior and that Kenny Pickett had just completed one of the greatest preseasons they've ever seen from a rookie quarterback. He only threw seven incompletions in 366 attempts, 261 yards, three touchdowns, no picks. When the regular season rolled around, he was not the starter. Mitch Tribisky was the starter. But when he played in his first regular season game, it was week four, and he came in for Tribusky, I think in the second half, where he promptly threw three interceptions and fumbled the football. On the way to what was a horrendous start to his rookie season in his first four starts. There were ups and downs after that, but I think most of you know, he's not even on Pittsburgh's

roster anymore. He's a backup for Jalen Hertz in Philadelphia. The point being, once again, just don't take any of what you watch or what you read seriously this time of year when people are definitive in what they think they're seeing. It's just usually not, you know, transferable to a real game in the regular season. All right. I wanted to finish up with this because I talked briefly about Steph Curry's performance on yesterday's podcast. I think I did. Maybe very briefly at the end. The Olympics are over. And I did watch some of the closing ceremony stuff last night. Man, that national anthem from her. She's just, she's one of my favorites. Man, she is one hell of a guitar player.

Anyway, the Olympics are over, and I found out yesterday, I didn't know this, I don't know why I missed this, that LeBron James was named the Olympic Men's Basketball Tournament MVP. Steph Curry wasn't the MVP, LeBron James was. And let me just say, LeBron James was. And let me just say, LeBron James was outstanding. I'll say what I've been saying for a long time now. LeBron is almost, he's 39 going on 40. I think he is the best he's ever been in his career. He is certainly a better all-around player than he's been in his career.

He's the best he's ever been as a shooter. He is more physically imposing than he's ever been. I mean, he's bigger, he's stronger, he's faster. than I ever remember. And LeBron was critical to the U.S. winning gold. He led the team and assists, rebounds. He was second in scoring behind Curry. LeBron was great, and he's played that way here recently. I mean, he's played that way throughout his career, but he was awesome, and he was great in the game against Serbia. I can't believe that about LeBron James, I believe that this guy who's going to be 40 next year is actually better than when he was 30.

But I do believe that. But as far as the most valuable player, you know, in this tournament, it was Steph Curry because the two most important performances which led to the U.S. winning the gold medal. And I say performances, plural, because Steph Curry in the semifinal comeback win over Serbia, scored 36 points on 12 of 19 from the floor, 9 of 14 on threes. He had five threes in the first half to keep the team close as they were getting their ass kicked by Serbia. And then he had the three-pointer which gave them their first lead in the game since early in the first quarter with 220 left. Clutch shot, go-ahead shot.

They didn't relinquish the lead after that. They went on to win a great basketball. basketball game 95-91. Kevin Durant said about Steph Curry's semifinal performance against Serbia. He said that was a, quote, godlike performance, closed quote. And then in the final against France on Saturday, it was perhaps the most memorable game of his career. That's saying a lot. This dude's had an unbelievable career. He had eight more threes in that four of them, as I'm sure you know now, in one of the most dramatic close-out performances we've ever seen in basketball, period.

He had four threes over the final two and a half minutes, the last one, while being double-teamed to clinch the gold medal game against France. In the two biggest games of the tournament, the easy MVP was Steph Curry. Now, you could make a case for LeBron and the semis, but Curry led him in scoring with 36 and hit the go-ahead dagger at the end of the game. You know, the thing that I was thinking about was, okay, well, it's a long tournament, right? Maybe it's just that LeBron was so great in all of the games, and he was. He was outstanding in all the games.

But, you know, they only play six total games. They play three in the group stage, and then they played three in the knockout stage. And Steph Curry, by the way, also led them in scoring in their win over Serbia in the group stage game. I don't know how anybody watches one of the most incredible clutch shooting performances in the history of international basketball and picks somebody else to be the MVP. Steph Curry made 17 of 27 from behind the arc. He shot 63% from behind the arc in those final two games. Overall, he was 20 of 33 from the field in the final two games. that's 60.6%. And they needed all of them.

They don't win gold more likely than not without Steph Curry doing what he did in those final two games. If you were watching the game against France, there was major deference to Curry down the stretch. KD, Kevin Durant had the ball after Curry was double-teamed. He didn't even look at the basket. He gave it right back to Curry. That's Kevin Durant. he's the greatest shooter in the history of the sport, period. Tommy will never, ever win that argument. Steph Curry is the greatest shooter in the history of basketball.

He scored 60 points in the final two games, shooting 60.6% overall and 63% from deep. That was all-time great. Sure, I guess if he weren't in the game, it could have been Booker, it could have been Durant, it could have been some other great shooter. difference between those guys and Steph is that Steph just doesn't miss

as much as they do. They're not going 63% from deep, and they needed all of them in those two games. I thought that Steph Curry should have been the MVP, but I acknowledge how great LeBron James was. You know, during

these Olympics, and I talked about them a little bit here and there before I left on vacation, I watched track and field and men's basketball. That was basically it. I thought the track and field was great. And I was, traveling and I was away on vacation. So I was watching it in Ireland, you know, at night, some of the wrap-up shows. But I was following the basketball all along. You know, the game, I didn't expect to be as pumped up for the game as I was on Saturday. I really was not. And the

intensity of that game, the electricity of that game was incredible. The win over Serbia, the comeback went over Serbia, I did not watch that game live. I wish I had watched it live. I watched the condensed version of the game. Steve Kerr said about that semi-final comeback win over Serbia that it was, quote, one of the greatest basketball games I've ever been a part of, closed quote. It was really exciting and I don't know, in some ways I think some of you probably would prefer watching the U.S. international league games than the NBA.

But man, basketball just so huge around the world, so big in France, obviously. I didn't mention that Kula Bali actually played a bunch in that final. He had sat in some games without getting much time, but he got a bunch of time in the final against the U.S. and had a couple of big shots. All right, that is it for the show today. Tommy will be back with me tomorrow and I'll share a little bit more about my trip to Ireland with him on the show.

Have a good night.