The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Bruce Gradkowski of Pro Football Focus

Episode Date: January 29, 2020

Bruce Gradkowski of Pro Football Focus

Now, please, to be joined by Bruce Gradkowski, former NFL quarterback, and now with pro football focus. Or finally shorten it down to pff.com, right? Yeah, exactly. Make it easier for everyone. Yeah, I know. It's easier for me as well. I've actually, truth be told, I've been subscribing to that website, I think, for four years now. So I'm a huge PFF guy, especially the fantasy tools, man.

And you know what, too? I've just kind of been introduced to this past year working for them. Yeah. And it's amazing to me, honestly, continuing to learn what they offer. And honestly, like, working with the guys day in and day out, it just really blows my mind because everyone, they're all football guys. They love the game. And it's a bunch of coaches breaking down film that aren't actually with NFL teams, college teams.

So the amount of data that we're collecting and that we put out there, it's amazing. And I give them so much credit for the accuracy because. every grade that goes into it, man. There's a ton of group chats that we talk about, whether it's protection-wise, quarterback-wise, receiver TV. It doesn't matter. Always trying to get it right. So it is pretty cool how we do the grading.

Yeah, I love what you said. They're football guys because, you know, everybody's like, oh, look at these nerds with their numbers and their stuff. They don't know what they're talking about. They don't watch football. I would guess anybody on pro football focus watches a ton more tape than some random, you know, old foggy columnist who's calling them numbers nerds. Oh, absolutely. They watch even

like more than me. A guy that's played 11 years in the NFL, I'm blown away about the time commitment to break down all the film. I mean, we grade every player every player, every game, every snap. I mean, it's amazing how much film we're watching.

So, you know, I give everyone a PFF a lot of credit. And it's fun. You know, for me, I stay engaged. You know, I'm learning a ton. I see so many concepts and schemes. And it's funny because Andy Reed and Cal Shanahan are two of the coaches that I always love grading their games because I'm going to learn a new concept every time and it's pretty cool so just imagine given these two offensive geniuses another week to prepare for this game there's going to be some pretty special point yeah you got to be drooling over this Super Bowl matchup then I mean if you talk about coaches and matchups and all that stuff you could you probably couldn't pick much of a better matchup yeah no I think it's perfect for us because you look at what the Niners have been able to do defensively they're really good good at getting pressure on the quarterback by only rushing their front four.

And this way, you know, Richard Sherman and those guys on the back end can play a lot of coverage. Sherman's smart. He's able to read concepts and jump routes. But I'll just tell you what, like what they're able to do defensively is a great matchup for Patrick Mahomes because Mahomes is something special, man. It's going to be interesting to see if the Niners can slow them down. Yeah, that's the thing to me, though, also. I mean, I think sometimes when you get this defense in this front set,

from the San Francisco 49ers. I was bringing this up earlier. It kind of reminds me of those Giants' fronts against the Tom Brady and the Patriots defenses. It was like, wow, this Patriots offense, they're so great. They're awesome. Tom Brady, well, guess what?

How are you going to slow down this front seven of the Giants? And that's what I think sometimes, I mean, when you have all four of those guys up there, both in Armstead and Buckner and D4, whoever I remember. I mean, you got, there's just, to me, that is going to be the difference made. when it comes to this game on someday. No, absolutely.

So you have to watch for Andy Reid this screen game, right? Yeah, they're not big running the football like the Niners, but how do you supplement that? How do you compliment the run? You shoot the ball outside to quick screens, receivers, get the ball in your receiver's hands and let them do the work. This way you slow down that pass rush a little bit. Patrick Mahomes with his athleticism.

Chiefs don't have any speed time. Do they? None, none at all. It should be interesting, man, to see Richard Sherman matched up on Tyree Kidd. Of course. So it's going to be cool. Yeah, it's got to be a dream for you. But let's focus.

So we're in broadcasting in Houston. So let's talk a little bit about the Texans. Did you hear the news? Bill O'Brien named general manager. I like the expression on your face because that's probably, that's how you know you don't root for the Texas. It's us when we're in Houston and we heard that we go, our expression was this.

What? What's going on out here? And it's not necessarily a surprise. he'd been running the team anyways. But what do you make of that? First of all, just evaluating your thoughts. You talked about some of your favorite schemers being Kyle Shanahan and Andy Reed. What do you think about Bill O'Brien and what he does with the Texas?

You know, I mean, look, I think he's been consistent, right? I mean, I think it's hard to continue to try to change coaches and bring new guys in year and year out. So I think Bill O'Brien, what he's done in Houston, he's done a good job. I mean, you know, they're always competitive. You know, last year going on that long winning streak. this year staying competitive again. And, you know, it's the quarterback, right? It's Deshawn Watson.

He keeps you competitive. Each and every game you're never out of because of that guy. The only thing Deshawn Watson sometimes has to do, as you know, is protect that football. You know, in the pocket, sometimes those unnecessary sacks turn into fumbles. And you just can't have that. So I think Bill O'Brien has done a good job handling Deshawn Watson because he's so dynamic, so talented. How do you get the best out of him? and also try to kind of minimize those mistakes.

Yeah, and you know, I mean, a lot of people come down hard on Houston and on Bill O'Brien. I think one of the things he does is he does do a good job of playing to his team's strengths, obviously learning that from Bill Belichick. You kind of have to be, you have to change it up week to week. And one of the things, you know, people want, oh, well, why are we running on first down? Well, what do you want, you want, Deshaun Watson to drop back 50 times with this offensive line? So that's why there's usually a reason for what Bill O'Brien is doing. And then the complaint would always be, well, the talent's not there.

They're this in the offensive line or the secondary. Well, now he's been the GM. Now it's going to be running his second year. So there's going to be no fingers to point now that he's the GM and the head coach. Well, and that's the truth there. I mean, and I don't know. I mean, do you think there as many people even interested in being the GM here with their draft capital and what they've done the past year of? Right.

He traded it all the way. It's like nobody wants to be GM. I guess I'm GM. Yeah, right. He set himself up right. Well, it's going to be easier, right? He didn't have to worry about him. He can start his draft board at 33.

Yeah. Yeah. So it's going to be interesting. But you know what? One thing I do agree that the general manager and the head coach has to be on the same page. Now, in this case, it's himself right. They're probably on the same page. Hopefully. I'm sure there's not going to be a lot of arguing going on in those draft meetings. So I don't hate the thought of that's how it's going to be ran.

You know what I mean, you see Bill Belichick and what he's capable of doing. And these coaches, man, they're studying all the guys anyways. So I don't hate that decision. If Bill O'Brien's your guy, you might as well go all in like this. And that's what Houston's doing. Yeah, I mean, because the foundation's there, right? You've mentioned Deshawn Watson. And where do you place him as far as tiers?

Because obviously we got the tier one, which is, I think, Mahomes. You probably put Lamar Jackson in there now. The Russell Wilson's, the Aaron Rogers. Because this is a guy who, I mean, he has been the Golden Child, right? National Champion at Clemson. In his first six games as a Houston Texan, he was throwing all these touchdowns against Seattle. Doesn't have any fear. Has the clutch gene?

Won a playoff game with his level of play against the bills. But to me personally, it just seems like there's more warts on his game than some of the other guys that you can put to. So where do you put him in just like a ballpark of top top tier, top five, top 10, top 15, somewhere in that neighborhood? I mean, I think he's definitely in the top 10. I think he's so dynamic and special. and you really always have a chance when he's behind center. Now, look, let's not forget that he's still young in his career. I mean, grading him this year for a targeted depth of 20-plus yards downfield,

he's graded second behind Wilson at 98.2. Wow. So he's thrown for, you know, 1,100 yards or so, 11 touchdowns, 5 interceptions in that range, 28 big-time throws for us. So the guy can sling it around the yard. And he has the dynamic ability to keep plays alive and extend them. So that's why you have a chance because the game's getting away from a Philip Rivers, stand in the pocket and deliver.

Now you have to be able to do that in a sense, which Sean Watson can. But he also can extend the plays which saves your butt a lot if you're the offensive coordinator. Bruce, Kradkowski, 11-year NFL vet and analyst for pff.f.com pro football focus. You know, got to get you out of here with the prediction. You talked about it. It's going to be fun. I think it's probably a film watchers dream for you on Sunday. How do you think this one plays out?

You know, I think the Niners are the complete team. I think they're a more complete football team. So I think they're going to win this one. I think it's going to come down to how much they could just slow down Mahomes enough to get the win. And then it's Jimmy G. You know, Jimmy G, I'm a fan of his. I think he has the it factor to get it done.

like just watching him over the last couple years. But he has to make significant plays in this game. So it's going to come back to the quarterback play. But I think the Niners pull this one out. What about you? All right. I think I'm with you. It's the old adage defense wins championships is often wrong, but I think it rings true.

And it's hard to go against Mahomes. It is. It is definitely. All right. Well, that's Bruce, Gratkowski. Anything you want to talk about what you got guys got going up at Pro Football Focus? No, just, I mean, exciting time. I mean, Super Bowl's here, and then we'll start getting into these draft guys.

I will personally endorse. I want my chat. You guys cut me a check because, as I just said, I've been subscribing for you. I love pro football focus, man. I love the work you guys do, especially the fantasy side, the NFL side's all great stuff, great information for me. Yeah, thanks, brother. All right, Bruce Radkowski here in Houston, Texas on Sports Talk 7.