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Goal Line: It’s Finally Here
5 Plays5 months ago
The boys round up the latest in NFL news, discuss EA Sports College Football ‘25 finally arriving, and preview Packers & Bucs
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Transcript
Introduction to Goal Line Podcast
00:00:13
Speaker
What is up Goal Line listeners? We are back with another episode of the Goal Line football podcast. This week we're going to be talking Buccaneers and Packers and how they're looking for next season as well as covering what in my opinion is the highlight of the offseason, the release of EA Sports College Football 25.
Anticipation for Football Season
00:00:32
Speaker
Jordan, what is going on, man?
00:00:33
Speaker
Man, I am counting down the days till football season. We are getting so much closer every week. Hall of Fame games about two weeks, I don't want to say, maybe three weeks. But yeah, it is upon us, man. We are there. College football release just got me jacked for football season all over again. So yeah, man, I'm ready to talk to football today.
00:00:56
Speaker
Yeah, it's all coming together over here also, like you said, with college football coming out. And then we've started flag football practice with my little guy. We already got other parents complaining that our team is stacked up. So we got the target on our back, and we're telling everybody to bring it, man. So yeah, you ready to get into some football talk? Let's do it.
Tragic Deaths Discussion
00:01:22
Speaker
All right, we're going to start it off on kind of a down note, just cause there's been some pretty, um, impactful, um, deaths the past couple of weeks in football. Uh, we'll start with two weeks ago, Vikings, rookie, rookie Kyrie Jackson, unfortunately passed away in a car accident. Kid was 24 years old, just absolutely brutal, man. Yeah. Horrible fourth round pick, right? Yep. Yeah. Out of, I think Oregon. Yep.
00:01:50
Speaker
Yeah. Look like, yeah, he was one of those guys he, uh, you know, he fell a little bit in the draft, uh, just cause some, the way his college career played out, but I know they had some high hopes for him. He had some really, really good potential. So yeah, it does horrible news. You never want to see something like that. Yeah, man. It's sad. Um, and then I think two days ago, Jacoby Jones passed away from the Ravens. Um, he was only 40 years old. Jesus, man. It,
00:02:16
Speaker
It's just insane to say that like dude had his whole life still ahead of him. I mean, he was, he was the key, you know, offensive spark on that super bowl team in 2012, man. He, uh, had really, you know, had a good productive NFL career in that 2012 season. He really caught fire down the stretch for the Ravens and, and sparked them to that, uh, to that super bowl victory. Yeah. He had the kick return touchdown in the super bowl. So.
00:02:40
Speaker
Yeah, just unfortunate. And then good old Nebraska boy, Monty Kiffin, unfortunately passed away as well last week. So yeah, architect of the the Tampa two man. Yeah, we had to start off with that just because I mean, that was some pretty big news in the last two weeks since we recorded. So
00:02:59
Speaker
Fortunately, or surrounding death, but yeah, we just had to kind of talk about it.
Texans' Early Training Camp
00:03:05
Speaker
Not depressing news though. Texans are the first team to have full team training camp starting today. Most teams have rookies reporting this week and vets reporting next week, but it is upon us training camp has started as of today.
00:03:21
Speaker
Is there a reason why the Texans started before everybody else, or it just happened stance? I think every team is different. This is the week the NFL permits you to start. I think a lot of teams do a full week of rookies only, just to kind of get the rookies up to speed. And it says it's their first training camp and stuff. But apparently, the Texans, I think there are rookies reported on Monday, and then the vets reported today. So I don't know the reasoning behind it. It's just I think the Texans are playing in the Hall of Fame game, though, aren't they?
00:03:50
Speaker
That would make sense. Expectations are sky high in Houston this year, so I'm sure they're fired up to just get this thing started, man. Ton of buzz around that team going into this year. For sure.
T Higgins and Bengals' Strategy
00:04:02
Speaker
It was also announced that T Higgins could not come to a contract agreement, so he will play on the franchise tag this year.
00:04:09
Speaker
This is probably his final year in Cincinnati. I mean generally people don't sign the tag two years in a row so Unfortunate for them, but good for everyone else I guess Yeah, and you know the the Bengals the last couple seasons we've seen them have very very slow starts out the gate man if they
00:04:28
Speaker
If they take it a step further and they're just a train wreck out from the start of the season, he could be a very enticing trade target for a contender, man, to take a flyer on for half a season. I don't see that happening. You guys know I'm really high on the Bengals one end of this year, but the story might not be done with T Higgins for 2024.
00:04:46
Speaker
Oh, yeah. And we've talked about it numerous times. This dude would be a number one receiver on half the teams in the league, maybe even three quarters of teams in the league. So Bengals are lucky to have him.
00:04:59
Speaker
I mean, they got to go all in on this season. Like, dude, this is, their window is going to close pretty quick. I mean, the chiefs are just lucky enough to have, cause that's what everybody wants to compare everybody to now is the chiefs, but dude, they have my homes and he is just on a different planet as far as who's around him.
Quarterback Market Insights
00:05:19
Speaker
It doesn't really matter. He just makes it work.
00:05:22
Speaker
It's the same model as the Patriots, you know what I mean? You can load up on defense and offense, you know. I mean, obviously, Kelsey's still Kelsey. But really, even he's kind of interchangeable, man. As long as you get my homes over there, you just think that you could throw any group of replacement level skill players around him and he'll be enough to win the day. That's what the Patriots did for, you know, basically a decade and a half with Tom Brady.
00:05:45
Speaker
the Patriots also had Tom Brady taking a lesser contract every year, which the chiefs don't have that luxury because my homes obviously has to be paid properly. Um, so, but yeah, I agree. But I mean, dude, even, you know, my home signed that deal a few years back, even
00:06:01
Speaker
He's kind of like getting paid like an average QB right now. Yeah. He's underpaid right now. Yeah. He's kind of at market value. He's not paid like, you know, the best player in the NFL and arguably one of the best of all time. So yeah, they still got a little bit of bang for the buck, but you're right. He's not taking the deep discounts that we saw. We saw Brady taking for years. I don't even think he's in the top five for average salary per year right now for quarterbacks.
00:06:24
Speaker
Yeah, that market just resets itself every single year, which is, I still don't know why a smart agent hasn't come out and crafted a contract around just a percentage of the salary cap. Wouldn't that make so much more sense? I feel like that would help out so many of the issues in the NFL with contracts because then you wouldn't have the situation where guys sign a five-year deal and the third year into it, they're wanting to tear up their contract because they've seen 12 other guys get bigger deals, man. I think if you just did a percentage of the salary cap, I think that would make so much more sense. Yeah.
00:06:53
Speaker
The NFL is so weird, man. They did a good thing by changing the way rookie contracts were written and things like that. That way NFL rookie quarterbacks weren't getting paid $40 million or whatever it was the last time it happened.
00:07:09
Speaker
But dude, there's got to be a way to harness this quarterback market. So I'm sorry, man. A quarterback should not be making $60 million. Dude, taking up over a fourth of your cap space is absolutely insane to me. I don't get it, man. This is absolutely insane. I mean, cousins just got $50 million a year from the Falcons. So I get it. Dude, if you're slightly average, you're getting 30 mil, man.
00:07:34
Speaker
No, if you're slightly above average, you're getting 45. Look at what the average annual salary is for quarterbacks. I mean, that's pretty normal now. If you have a good quarterback, he's getting at least 45 million a year. Yeah, it's ridiculous, man. All right.
Brandon Ayuk's Trade Request
00:07:51
Speaker
Also came out yesterday. Brandon Ayuk has officially requested a trade because it doesn't sound like they're working towards a contract.
00:08:01
Speaker
I do. This is going to end badly for them. It's just, this is not good. I mean, everybody knew this was coming with the 49ers. They, they have so many guys that are the top paid guy at their position. They pay D ball that money. Like I think everybody kind of knew this was going to happen eventually. I'm surprised it's happening before this season though. I thought the teardown would happen after this season, but I mean, if I, who doesn't want to be there, they're eventually going to have to budge and trade him. So what do you think? I mean,
00:08:30
Speaker
I'm willing to bet we see Brad and I who play for the Niners this season, man, and we'll figure it out next year. I think he's suiting up for the Niners all season long. I mean, I totally get the tactic of going out there and making it known you're requesting a trade, but I would be very, very surprised if he's not wearing a 49ers jersey week one, man.
00:08:52
Speaker
I would tend to agree with you. The problem is now these guys see how much everybody else makes, and what Ayuk did for that team last year, they 100% need him more than Deebo, I would say. Agreed, man. Yeah, I totally agree. I would take him over Deebo, man. He's a really, really good player, dude. And he's not the most flashy guy, so I don't feel like a lot of football fans probably even realize just how good this dude is. He is arguably the best route runner in the NFL. Yeah.
00:09:21
Speaker
incredible when he's on the field and that's the thing man he's he's pretty reliable as far as being on the field too that's always been the knockabout debos he gets hit so much so he's not on the field uh as much as he should be so i don't know man this is a slippery slope once this starts happening
00:09:38
Speaker
Um, we'll talk about the Titans
Titans Sign Jamal Adams
00:09:40
Speaker
for a minute. They signed Jamal Adams to a one year deal. I'm actually shocked. Jamal Adams was still a free agent at this point. Um, granted he has problems staying healthy, but when he's on the field, dude, he is one of the best safeties in the NFL. It's just the problem of him staying on the field. This was actually like one of the only misses that Pete Carroll had in his time with the Seahawks, uh, trading first round picks for Jamal Adams to the jets.
00:10:06
Speaker
The Titans and signing, big name, washed players. Name a more iconic duo, man. You think he's completely washed at this point? I just think he can't stay open. You may have a little bit more juice than most, but I can already picture the slideshow now going Randy Moss, Julio Jones, Adrian Peterson, Jamal Anderson. I think DeAndre Hopkins kind of beat the accusations. DeAndre Hopkins was getting lumped into that too when he first got to the Titans, but he's still been balling, man.
00:10:34
Speaker
But yeah, the Titans have definitely, they've always had a soft spot for a big name vet to come in and get paid for a last year or two. Yeah. I'm obviously mad. I mean, it's worth a shot. It's not a huge deal. And again, if he stays healthy, he's a playmaker. He's got some dog in him, and they've got a really young defense. So you're never going to get worse from having him on the team. But I'm not going out and buying the jersey right now, man.
00:11:02
Speaker
I'm in kind of wait and see mode to see how this one plays out. Yeah, I get it. But I mean, if he does play even 10 games, that's going to be really beneficial to the Titans. I think like, yeah, the dude can still play. It's just a matter of if he can
Review of New Game Release
00:11:14
Speaker
stay on the field. So that's really it for football news. So let's let's get into our thoughts on NCA football 2025.
00:11:24
Speaker
Dude, so EA Sports, they totally could have gotten by with just re-skinning Madden, you know, slap a coat of college football paint on top of an already decent football game and people would have been happy, dude. But they went so far above and beyond, man. All the little details to make it feel like a college football game. The gameplay feels significantly different.
00:11:47
Speaker
Dynasty mode is like fully fleshed out. We didn't get some kind of good. That's the other thing They could have given us a half-assed dynasty mode like, you know The the good dicey most coming next year to know like the fact that they pushed this one back a whole year from when it was originally announced
00:12:02
Speaker
I think really helped out. You can see that they really put some TLC in this and I couldn't be happier, man. It exceeded my wildest expectations for the first game back for the college football reboot. It makes me really, really excited to see what they do next year. I think next year's got a chance to be like legit greatest sports game of all time.
00:12:24
Speaker
It is, the game is phenomenal. The gameplay is just, it's great. I went back and I started college football 2014 just to compare it to this as far as like graphics and stuff. And obviously it's night and day difference, but just like the way the game moves itself. And I understand this is 11 years of developing and stuff like that. And so much, everything's so much different now as far as how they develop a game, but
00:12:50
Speaker
The gameplay is just so smooth on this game. I was expecting the same thing you were. I was literally expecting Madden, but with college uniforms on. And it is not that at all. This is a brand new game. The way you kick everything like that is different. I love the way they did Dynasty on this game. Their recruiting was always my favorite part about a Dynasty.
00:13:16
Speaker
But the thing that I did not like about the old games is you just allocated a certain amount of points to each recruit every week. This one, you can decide what you want to do with them. Do you want to DM the player that week? Do you want to talk to their friends and family? Or they have an option to send the whole house, which means you do everything and you can gain points based on that. But you really have to think about what you're doing when you're recruiting players on this one more so than the last ones.
00:13:44
Speaker
you could fall off the map with a player real quick if you forget to allocate points to him that week. So I love it, man. I think it's great. I obviously started a dynasty with Nebraska right out of the gate. Um, but yeah, it's a fun game. It is really challenging though. Basically impossible to play defense on this game. Like if you're playing against a good team, good luck not giving up 50 points. I mean,
00:14:06
Speaker
Yeah, I've always had a I've had a solid scheme for years really just run cover to man and controlling one of the safeties that's kind of been my That's been really my video game football defense for decades and it's worked like that's absolutely not working though man coverage is basically useless man I feel like
00:14:24
Speaker
Yeah, I feel like I'm playing battleship when I'm playing defense, dude. I'm just guessing, you know, like F8. And I'm just hoping whatever play I picked, you know, just happens to line up with what the offense called. But I still got to crack the code on defense, man. I think I'll be doing a lot better. Offense is a ton of fun. I've been putting up big numbers offense.
00:14:40
Speaker
Defense it's yeah, I feel like I'm playing a guessing game out there one thing I have noticed and I forgot to tell you this the other day Because I played Colorado the other night and Travis Hunter just absolutely ate me alive on offense And I never used to employ this strategy deploy the strategy at all when I played college football but you know, I've started doing double wide receiver one like a lot just because
00:15:04
Speaker
I do not want that guy to beat me. The problem is, is like, when you do that, it shifts everyone to the left side of the field. And then the right side of the field is just wide open. And I don't know, man, this is going to take some tinkering to get used to it. But I've seen people that, I mean, literally play Madden for a living, their content creators online and they play this and they're like, defense is basically impossible in this game. Like you're, you're going to give up a shitload of points. If you get one stop a half, you should be happy at this point.
00:15:33
Speaker
Yeah, I think I'm going heavy on the zone this year, man, and just hoping for the best. We'll see what happens. Yeah, but absolutely standing ovation for EA Sports. They absolutely killed it, and this was beyond what my wildest dreams even were. And if you're a cheap ass and you don't get to play the game till Friday, thoughts and prayers, we've been playing it since Monday afternoon. Yes, sir.
00:15:59
Speaker
That's it for news, man. All right, you ready to get into our prognostications for next year? Let's do it.
Buccaneers' Past and Future
00:16:17
Speaker
All right, we got the Battle of the Bays this week. Classic NFC Central rivalry from back in the day. That actually was a real good low-key rivalry back in the 90s, man, before the realignment with 32 teams. The Bucks and the Packers, man. Who do you want to do first, Jordan? Let's go, Bucks.
00:16:34
Speaker
Alright, so the Bucks last year went a surprising nine and eight I think a lot of us, you know preseason we thought the Bucks might end up being they were gonna be in the mix for worst team of the league but Behind Baker Mayfield with a big comeback season they go nine and eight when the NFC South one of the worst divisions in football history Three and four and one score games bring back Todd Bowles head coach and they were 20th in offense 14th in defense So really kind of middle of the road
00:17:01
Speaker
across the board. I feel like if they were in any division besides the NFC South, they probably wouldn't have sniffed the playoffs. But dude, they got in the playoffs and did something, man. They knocked out the defending NFC champs to Eagles and had a damn good showing against the Lions, man. So it was a hell of a season last year. I'm extremely skeptical if they're going to do anything to build off of it this year, though.
00:17:22
Speaker
So this to me is a team that I think they definitely overachieved last year by going 9 and 8. I mean, I'm just going to reiterate what you just said. Dude, given Baker Mayfield a three year contract to me is just
00:17:40
Speaker
He's gonna turn back into a pumpkin. There's the reason this dude's been on what five teams now at this point four teams whatever I just I don't trust the dude man. I Granted he has Mike Evans God went to throw to like they have a lot of good offensive weapons. It's just I
00:17:57
Speaker
The dude has proven time and time again that he doesn't always make the best decisions and contract year quarterbacks are always the most interesting thing because dude, if there's one thing you can count on is a quarterback in a contract year is always going to ball out. But what do they do the year after they get paid? So I don't know, man, they have a good team. Like it, I'm not saying this is a bad team because it's not, but
00:18:21
Speaker
You're right. NFC South is absolute dog shit. That's the thing they got going for, man. You'd like to think that the Falcons with new quarterback, new head coach are going to be able to rise up and finally kind of get that spot. We've been looking at them the last couple of seasons and win that division, but I feel like the Bucks still got a good shot at being in the mix this year. I don't see any team straight up running away with the NFC South.
00:18:45
Speaker
No, I honestly think that the max anyone in this division is winning his 10 games. So I got a feeling everybody but the Panthers can be floating around right around 7 to 10 wins, which is pretty. I mean, that's pretty much what it was last year, right? So that's what I think. I think floating around 7 to 10 wins is going to be pretty normal for this whole division this year. I see them. Yeah, I see them win a seven or eight and missing the playoffs this year. I do not think they're going back to the playoffs.
00:19:15
Speaker
It's just I think the Falcons are gonna win the division assuming cousin stays healthy and he actually plays Somewhat like her cousins has played in the past But yeah, I think they I think they win right in that eight or nine game range the Bucks I Still think they're gonna be an okay team. I just I don't think they're gonna. Wow anyone this season I
00:19:42
Speaker
Yeah. So, and you're saying out of the playoffs, right? Yeah. I don't think they make the playoffs. I think honestly, I would say they go eight and nine.
Packers' Season Optimism
00:19:51
Speaker
All right, let's move up to Green Bay, a team I'm very high on. So they went nine and eight last year, six and five and one score games, picked up Josh Jacobs from the Raiders. They were actually sixth in offensive DVOA last year, sixth best offense in the league and 27th in defense. So if they get just a little bit of improvement on defense, they're going to be a problem this season. One thing to know also, man, they are really a, they're really,
00:20:20
Speaker
a tale of two teams last year. So the last eight games, they went six and two and Jordan Love had 18 touchdown passes and one interception that went into that blowout of the Cowboys and then given the Niners a tough game. I'm sky high on this team. Were you out on the Packers heading into 2024?
00:20:36
Speaker
I think Jordan love is going to build off the last eight weeks of last season. Um, I am very high on the Packers as well. That division is really good though, man. The lines are going to be good again this year. The bears will definitely be improved. I'm not as high on them as everybody else is, but, um, they're definitely going to be improved. Um, but yeah, I do not, I'm not going to lie.
00:21:01
Speaker
I do not love that they got rid of Aaron Jones. I felt like when he played, he was the heartbeat of that team. Like, dude, they rode him in that Cowboys playoff game. I mean, he's just, he's so good. And I think they might've given up on him too early. I do like Josh Jacobs though. And it'll be interesting to watch Josh Jacobs in a functional offense and a functional franchise. Cause
00:21:23
Speaker
I mean, say whatever you want about the Raiders, but I wouldn't call them a functioning franchise. They're barely hanging on to being functioning. So they're less than functional. And the other thing with them is can their receiver stay healthy? Like Christian Watkins, I mean, he's got the sky is the limit for this guy, but he can't stay on the field is the problem. Um, but yeah, they got a young receiving court and yeah, I agree with you. I think Jordan love is just going to continue to improve and.
00:21:49
Speaker
It's all going to come down to their defense, man, whether or not they can get stops because I think they'll score enough points. It's just, it seemed like last year, time and time again, their defense would fail them in the end. And yeah, it's going to be a good season for them though.
00:22:03
Speaker
Dude, I mean, we, they kicked the shit out of a really good Cowboys team. And then, I mean, honestly, they blew it against the Niners. Yeah, they had the Niners dead to rights and, you know, Brock Purdy caught magic there on that, that last drive and, and led the Niners down for the victory. And I mean, I think the Packers, it would have been a coin toss game than going into Detroit for the NFC championship. So I said it when we recorded our Superbowl wrap-up episode and I stand by it, man. I think the Packers are going to win the NFC championship this year and go to the Superbowl.
00:22:34
Speaker
I think the thing that screwed them more than anything in that 49ers game is they completely changed their game plan. They were hammering the ball in the first half and it was working and then it's just like they went away from Aaron Jones in the second half. I still to this day do not understand what they were thinking in the second half of that game.
00:22:53
Speaker
All right. Everything that worked. We're just going to try the exact opposite in the second half and Boston, the game. I agree with you. I think they would have beat the lions. Honestly, I think they would have went to the Superbowl last year if they would have beat the 49ers because yeah, they were red hot. Yeah. They just were on fire than last season. Um, I'm going to say they go, I'm going to say they go 11 and six and regular season this year. What do you see them doing in the playoffs?
00:23:23
Speaker
I think they'll be...
00:23:25
Speaker
They'll be one of the two teams. I think they'll lose in the NFC championship game. All right. So Jordan's got him final four. I got him Super Bowl. So obviously we're real sky high.
NFL Season Predictions
00:23:34
Speaker
You know what's great, man? Apple podcast has a new transcript feature. I don't know. I'm assuming it's some sort of AI that's done it, but you can go back and it will, it's basically got scripted out every podcast we've recorded that goes for this chick Foley show everything. So it's going to be real easy for me to go back. And before the season starts, I'll go back and kind of tab out, uh,
00:23:54
Speaker
what we predicted for the records and finishes for each team this year. So once the regular season wraps up, we'll see how many we were on the money on and how many we were way out in left field.
00:24:05
Speaker
Okay. Uh, yeah, I think honestly, I think we're going to be pretty close on a lot of these teams. I mean, unless some team just like comes from the depths and that was like three and 13 or three and 14 last year and just ends up winning 10 games, which I don't see anybody, but I think we're, I think we're pretty close on all these teams. Like a lot of people that listen to the show have like,
00:24:27
Speaker
kind of said they agree with a lot of things that we've said now granted last year me and you made a bold prediction about the Texans and a lot of people were pissed and it worked out man it did and I think we're I think we're pretty good at predicting what's going to happen and things like that but
00:24:45
Speaker
Yeah, aside from me saying Trevor Lords was going to be the MVP. That was a, I wasn't going to bring that up. That was definitely a weak moment in your goal line podcasting. I stand by it, dude. He just needs a little help from his friends. He is having a, dude, I'm a believer in the analytics, dude, and the dude is balling out. He just has zero support down there, man. There's just,
00:25:08
Speaker
YouTube search like Trevor Lawrence dropped touchdown passes, man. It's ridiculous, dude. He just needs a little help, man. He's got Doug Tweakerson as his head coach, too. He doesn't ever seem like he really has a firm grasp on what's happening. Hell no. All right, that's it for this episode of Goal Line. Jordan hit us with some closing thoughts, and we'll get out of here, man. Play college football this weekend, and we're counting down the days till football season, boys.
00:25:37
Speaker
I've been workin' this grave shift And I ain't made shit, I wish I could Buy me a spaceship and fly I swear I can't pass the sky I've been workin' this grave shift And I ain't made shit, I wish I could Buy me a spaceship and fly