Transcript
Speaker: All right, lads, welcome back to another episode of Who's Got the Ball. Myself and Shane here back once again. Shane, what's the crack? Yeah, it's normally this where we go into what we did at the weekend, but we only recorded two days ago, so we haven't actually had a weekend. So what have I done? I've worked is all I've done between the episode with Conan and the episode today with Evan. So should be another pretty quick intro to get through.
Speaker: Yeah, we were closer with the time, but not much closer. We were pretty much the same as the episode Conan in terms of going over time with our recording. Yeah, as Shane said, we record this a little bit advance. But yeah, I give that disclaimer when we get into the show because I will be away in Mayo as you're listening to this with my family for the week. Celebrating the All-Ireland.
Speaker: That's it. Yeah, I had to go down and see all my male brethren and get on the pints with them. But yeah, I'm looking forward to going down there it should be good buzz after them winning. But yeah, like you said, nothing really to talk about in in terms of catching up with things. We'll give you the full rundown in an episode in like, well, this will be a week after you hear this. You'll hear what we've done in two weeks for us, but a week after you guys are listening to this. They're doing time maths here.
Speaker: It's never good on a podcast, but... This week we had Evan on, did the full NFC preview like we did with Conan in the AFC. So we hope you enjoyed both episodes. um And if you did, we really enjoyed making them. So we'll hope to bring them back next year as well if you did enjoy them. And we'll give a prediction style like episode closer to the start the season with our picks for various playoff wins. And Shane, I'm sure we'll pick the Falcons to win everything as you learn. Yeah, that's my forte is the prediction pod. looking forward to that now. Well, let's get into this one and hopefully you enjoyed both episodes. Do let us know. We love to hear feedback from you. So let us know what you thought, but let's jump into it.
Speaker: Okay, we're back again for the NFC portion of this bumper preview for the season ahead. We've got Evan on deck. Evan with the quality mug. If you're um if you're on podcast platforms, you need to get onto YouTube to check that mug out and subscribe while you're there. Evan, how are you?
Speaker: I am glorious. How we are you all? Good. Doing well. was Doing well. Happy to have you back once again. Had to get you on for the NFC version because we needed to get the Cowboys talk from you. So we're going to start with the East. You'll have known from last week how this goes, but we are recording this about a week in advance before we throw it out there to you guys. So If there is a contract or two that have been signed or something like that, or there's an injury, we don't know. right Don't kill us. we' We're just a little bit behind on timing, but all the takes are still the same. So we're going to start in the and NFC East, as we did on the other side in the East.
Speaker: And I'm going to go up first with the Giants. So the G-men. There's no reason why this season should be as bad as the previous two, in my opinion. John Harbaugh at the helm, a huge upgrade on Brian Dayball and a true leader that the team most definitely needed.
Speaker: Malik Neighbours back on the field from day one of training camp is certainly a great sign for this team. And he has the freedom of movement that, you know, a lot of people were worried that he wouldn't have straight out there. Synchronized drills with Odell Beckham looks pretty nice. Um,
Speaker: The depth at the receiver position is also a positive, I think. Malachi Fields was was a good pickup in the draft. In addition of Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin, and I mentioned Beckham already during free agency, adding Isaiah Likely also gives Jackson Dart a clear secondary target. I'd say he'll be the number two behind Neighbours in terms of targets.
Speaker: Other positives then, Cam Scadabo's injury or return, drafting Rees, him falling to us is great, Francis Mowinoa to shore up the offensive line. Colton Hood in the second round kind of adds a bit of a ball hawk, a corner for us. But on the other side of things, there was plenty of drama this offseason surrounding Jackson Dart after he he chose to walk out Donald Trump at a rally.
Speaker: and introduce him. Abel Carter voiced his dispotas dissatisfaction of that on X. Cannot blame him for that. I would be in the same boat. But it was addressed by both players earlier in the summer.
Speaker: They seem to have hashed it out behind closed doors. And if all goes well, i think those two guys will be the most important giants for years to come. And Carter is the type of guy that if everything kind of settles off the field for him this season, he could be an absolute superstar because his time to pressure was one of the best in the league. He just didn't convert it with sacks, but he may just blow everyone's minds this year, I think.
Speaker: what What do you guys think about a possible wildcard appearance for the Giants this season? I think you're being a bit hopeful there, to be honest. I do think you're in a much better place, and I do agree that it won't be as bad as the last two years.
Speaker: With Malik Neighbours, you could just talk about him all day. he's He's a genuine offensive star for Jackson Dare. Isaiah Lightley's good pickup as well, but I just think the division is just so competitive that he'll be fighting with the Commanders for third.
Speaker: Fair enough. Evan, do what do you think? i think I think it is a tough one because, yeah, like with our division, you know, being a Cowboy and you being a Giant, our division is pretty, I would say it's fairly strong or it's getting stronger, most definitely. You've got insane future prospects on your roster. I mean, I do like Jackson Dart a lot. I think Cam, a warrior, put his heart on the line when he played at Arizona Sun Devils.
Speaker: Malik Neighbors looks great. And then, like you said, your defensive end, I mean, year two is going to be huge for him, I think, because if I'm not mistaken, I think we swayed with him as um defensive rookie of the year, but the last time that we did those call outs. But yeah, I think he has a ah massive chance to show up huge in year two. And who doesn't love John Harbaugh?
Speaker: Like, I'm very excited for you this year. Yeah, I think the Harbaugh effect for me is the thing that, something that more than anything like you said there's pieces there and there has been slowly building for a while but I think free agency was strong this year with likely pat Patrick Ricard at fullback is going to be massive as well in terms of how we can run the ball we're going to be more physical and then Tremaine Edmonds on defence He's going to wear the green dot. He's going to lead the defense. So I think all those are massive pickups.
Speaker: Yeah, i'm I'm feeling pretty positive. I think we could make a push to to get wild card spot, maybe eight or nine wins. And if it if it goes right for us, maybe 10. But we're moving on to the Dallas Cowboys now. So we've got to see what your thoughts are for your team, Evan.
Speaker: I couldn't be more excited to see this team come back around for another year again, especially with a lot of things that have happened and changed. Christian Parker, what an absolute pickup, I think. He's going to bring a lot to the defense in terms of what he had in Philly. So I'm looking forward to seeing the defenses there. But overall, we've got the best on one side of the ball and the worst on the other.
Speaker: First year, Shadi making some powerful play calling was absolutely huge. I think everyone was a bit unsure of how that was going to go. i believe when we did our picks the last time around, i think I put him in as a potential prospect for for a coach of the year. But yeah, he did a great job. We were the number one passing yards in offense in the NFL. I think 4,735. We were number two in total offense, 6,663 yards. Number 32, though, in points allowed, 511 points. That average, 30.1 points per game. That's insane. That just can't happen. 32nd in pass defense. That was 8.1 yards per attempt. It's just not going to cut it. I think we talked about it the last time, zo where I talked about the boys, where it was like, yeah,
Speaker: It's all been a good score in 30 points, but you're letting up 30 as well. you know what mean? So it's it's a tough one. yeah The offense was electric. George Pickens had his moments, but then he also looked a bit lackluster at times as well, where he just wasn't trying. There were some of those weird highlights that were floating around.
Speaker: i think as well the other thing too was giovante williams giving us a run game that we didn't really expect to have he pushed out 1201 rushing yards after coming over from a poor show in denver after suffering a knee surgery or i think he had a knee surgery but it was definitely a knee injury anyway so that was a bit like how is he going to play we didn't know and he turned out great and and then arguably arguably drafting the player of the draft in Caleb Downs. That immediately puts our defense into a great position. But hopefully, I think if the defense can just play good, I think we have what it takes to to make it get a Super Bowl appearance.
Speaker: Honestly. okay Okay, that's a big one. That's a big jump. I think i think a playoffs are definitely in play for my for for my money on this one. like You laid it out nicely how good the ah offense was. so you know, that's kind of still the same and Pickens being on a, being on that one year deal, he kind of needs to come and prove it now and earn his contract next season. So I think he'll, he'll definitely come at a point to prove. I mentioned Jaden Blue last season. I thought he might be kind of a breakout, but he didn't do anything, but maybe he gets the touches this time. He'll be behind Williams, as you mentioned, but it's the additions on defense. Like Rashaun Gary is a great pickup from Green Bay and Jalen Thompson from Arizona and then Kobe Durant from the Rams. Those are all very, very solid players. On top of, you mentioned, obviously the star is drafting Caleb Downs. But then Malachi Lawrence is is a really good pickup. He was my sleeper of the draft too. Yeah, you've got the UCF Knights jersey on your, or T-shirt on right now, repping Malachi.
Speaker: But i yeah, I think it's a big, know it's a big upgrade, like very, very big. But I just think maybe playoffs. I can't see this jump to Super Bowl just yet, although I wouldn't be opposed to swinging that way if Jerry Jones continues his stammering and stuttering about trades every chance he gets in front of a mic and he actually trades for Max Crosby or something. Then I could jump to see getting that far.
Speaker: Yeah, I just think it's going to be a consistency again. and Obviously, you need Dak Preston and CeeDee Lamb to just just keep doing what they were doing last year, keep that relationship going. But consistency has always been an issue in Dallas.
Speaker: The amount of points you give up is is wild. like If you wanted to watch a game, there was going to have 70 points, you just stuck on the Cowboys every single week. It was pretty much it was that simple. Yeah, I don't think you're a playoff hopeful, but I do definitely think you're you are well in a playoff fight. And who knows from there, if you can not fall apart for change, then you never know how far you can go. All right.
Speaker: A couple of different sides of the coin there. What about the Eagles, Shane? are you feeling going into this year for them? Yeah, so this is our first actual Super Bowl contender here of the three teams that we've spoken about so far.
Speaker: I just think they're still elite, despite the fact they had quite a down year last year. ah They have kind of reloaded rather than rebuilt their funds. So they did lose some big players. They lost Blankenship off the defense, who was himself in one of the white corners, along with the main man, Cooper Dejean.
Speaker: Saquon Barkley is still one of the most dangerous running backs in the league and I don't think that's going to stop anytime soon. I think that's a Saquon Barkley jersey behind you. and go to rest Yeah, so if you get Giants fans to love him, everyone loves him. He's just absolutely superb.
Speaker: Their defense has the potential to be really solid. They've given Carter a new bumper contract as ze which i think was a good so good move. Can they just generate pressure without blitzing remains one of their biggest strengths. I think their defense is where it's at. And if they get their...
Speaker: if Jalen Hurst can get his passing going like he wasn't able to do last year really Saquon Barkley keeps running the ball the way he runs it yeah did they'll be right in there in the conversation for getting another Super Bowl appearance Evan what do you think Yeah, I agree. And i think I think the one thing too is like the in the year previous with their defense, it was insane at how dominant they were. Just those front four alone were so powerful, so good at stopping runs, putting insane pressure on the quarterback, and then still having the players then in the backfield to just deal with receivers or tight ends or whatever it might be.
Speaker: um If they can maintain that power and pressure, I think that front four is going to be really annoying to deal with again. But on the flip side of that too, it's like, yeah, the loss of Brown to the Patriots, I think was almost a little ray of light too for Devontae Smith.
Speaker: Arguably someone who could be 1B receiver or, you know, yeah he's definitely a 1 in some teams across the league. So I think he's going to really eat this up um and deliver on his opportunity to step up and be a true wide receiver 1.
Speaker: The only thing I don't like about Devontae Smith is that I don't think the number six suits him. I think he's more of a number seven. I'm a bit of a i mean bit of a jersey number... I'm a hater, honest. like I hate in football if left footer is wearing number two because that's a right-back jersey. I just don't think number six suits Devontae Smith, but that's the only issue I have with him.
Speaker: I think that's what's stopping him being a true wide receiver one. Any number from like two to nine shouldn't be wide receiver number at all, I don't think. No, it shouldn't. And Matt Garbuka is after moving number two now as well. Just stop. Like, what are you doing?
Speaker: But i I don't know. to be honest with you, I don't agree with with your guys' opinions on this. I think the Eagles are in for the final nail in the Sirianni coffin this year.
Speaker: I think they're going to crash. um Look, I know the AJ Brown thing is... He's obviously a huge player and a huge loss to any team.
Speaker: And Devontae Smith can definitely step in there in like a 1B. Makai Lemon is a great pickup too, but AJ Brown is one of the best receivers in the NFL. Even even if he is a bit of a diva, you could throw him the ball at any time he's coming down with it in a way that no one else on this roster or on many rosters comes down with.
Speaker: um galen hurts he's cycled through a lot of offensive coordinators let's see how he does under sean manny and maybe it'll be good maybe it won't be daquan barkley was running out of juice last year so let's see oh that goes another question mark losing josh sweat as well Okay, you've got another year of Jihad Campbell. You mentioned Cooper Dejean going into his third year in the league. Tariq Wollin is another diva who they just picked up. I don't know how that's going to work out.
Speaker: I like the Jonathan Grenard pickup, but he is injured. So we'll see how how long it takes him to get back out on the field. I think they've continued to have a good a very good roster. But it's always the question mark around Sirianni for me. And there's another question mark around Jalen Hurts. So I don't know if they're going to rear their head again and be the final kind of, this is it for this team. I just think that the division right now, the NFC East is very strong and the Eagles might get found out in in this year and kind of when things don't go their way, they do tend to crash and burn.
Speaker: But yeah, that's my two cents on them before I move into the commanders who I have also got for this rundown. Yikes, last year was not a good one. I was not hot on the team last year. I i was the only one out of the three of us that didn't have them making the playoffs.
Speaker: I think the roster was too old and not everything was going to go their way as it did the season before. But at least there's a lot of new faces this time around. And those of a younger age variety, I think Dan Quinn will be more than happy to work with these guys going forward. You've got Leo Chanel.
Speaker: Charles Amenehu, both from the Chiefs, Adafi Owe from the Chargers. And I think a very good pickup is Clayvon Chason from the Pats. he did He did really well for them last year on their run to the Super Bowl, so he can add some more pressure off the edge. and The additions that they've got there are good, but Sonny Stiles is the biggest addition of all.
Speaker: Getting him through the draft at the seventh pick, that could be the steal. um Another Ohio State Buckeye, I and know you mentioned Caleb Downs already, Evan, but like one of these two is probably both are going to look like ridiculous steals where they went in the draft because of how good they are.
Speaker: For me, I don't think any of this matters if Jaden Daniels can't stay on the field though. Last season, he managed just seven games. He was limited at times then due to these injuries because he just didn't look the same kind of rusher that he was the year before in his breakout rookie year.
Speaker: And that's kind of what sets him apart in the league. The offensive line does remain the same across the board. And Josh Connerly is the year more experienced, but I'm not sure Daniels will be as well protected as he should be. And maybe that's why the new OC, David Blau, wants him to take more snaps from under centre.
Speaker: where they can kind of look to the running backs to take some of that running running heavy um offensive plan away from him. But they're going to have to rely heavily on Krosky Merritt or are Bill, as people were calling him last season.
Speaker: He didn't live up to the hype. And now he's their main back. I thought Caterin Allen in the sixth round was a great pickup, but he is a sixth rounder for a reason and he is a bit of a project.
Speaker: So maybe down the line he could pass Rashad White on the depth chart, but I just am not convinced by their running backs. And I do see this team struggling to reach the playoffs, maybe narrowly missing out just because of the strength of the Giants and the Cowboys and their improvements, and as we kind of mentioned already.
Speaker: Yeah, I have very little to add to that, to be honest. I i think it's them and the Giants who will be fighting it out for a third spot. There's so much pressure on Jane Daniels' shoulders this year to stay healthy and stay on the pitch and try find that form he had in year one. But yeah, I think they might have another struggle. It could be another tough year for Washington.
Speaker: Yeah, I see them as just a clear fourth in in our division, to be honest. I think they're sat at the bottom. They're they're far behind us, the Eagles, the Giants. um They've got a lot of struggle. And yeah, like Bill didn't really live up to the hype last year. Do you know what it felt like as well with Jane Daniels? It felt very much like the quarterback at Houston.
Speaker: We talk about CJ Stroud in his first year. i mean, he had an electric year and then just fell off the map. And that's kind of what I feel like we're seeing with with with Daniels. So if things can turn around, if he can become electric again and make those extensive plays on his feet, I think they have a chance to do something. But I still see them sat in fourths.
Speaker: yeah i just think that the the whole fact of his injury issues like coming into play is is a massive part for this team because he is kind of everything for them on offense and dan quinn you know he's he's done it he did well the first season but i think he failed before as a head coach and i don't know if he's gonna succeed here and if he'll be given really much rope if this falls short like but but that's Jaden Daniels and the commanders wrapping up the NFC East so we need to move on to the NFC North this is another stacked division absolutely stacked Evan you're up first with the Bears what do you think about the Bears heading into this one
Speaker: I agree. This is such a fun division when when you look at it. But yeah, the the Bears, look, they were super fun to watch last year, specifically Caleb Williams. I mean, he had some electric and insane plays going on across the weeks. It was so fun to watch.
Speaker: um Shouts out to him getting the Madden 27 cover, by the way. some some baller pitchers in there but yeah it was a great first year under ben johnson who i think we all knew was going to come in there from jumping from the oc at the lions to head coach we thought yeah there's going to be some glory put on here on show and sure enough there was some glimmers of it Overall, they did only finish 11-6, but they were the NFC North champs, so if there was that.
Speaker: There was more investment in the offensive line further helping Caleb, so I think that can only be good. And I think he was just shy of the 4K passing yards mark last year, the 3,942 yards, so...
Speaker: With those minor changes and with going into the second year underneath Ben Johnson, I think, yeah, expect him to pass 4K. But similar to the Cowboys, strong offense, but their defense was a little bit lackluster. Like they ranked sixth in total offensive yards. However, they were 29th in total yards allowed. So very similar to us in that respect. And also their season season.
Speaker: while it was 11 and 6 their season could have gone either way they were seven and four in one score games um so if you look at that yeah their season they could have been towards nearly mid of the nfc north Yeah, I'm going to jump in here and straight off the bat reiterate what I said a couple of weeks ago when I had gone on and it was the two of us I said it's my hot take for the year that this team is going to crash out.
Speaker: I just think that that Madden and cover was like the final nail and in what i already believed for this team. Look, the wide receiver room is a bit questionable. I like Luther Burden, and but Roma Dunday is pretty good as well, but they're both okay. And then you add Khalif Raymond, he projects as the third starter. you know its It's not that great.
Speaker: um I don't know ah what people's opinions on are on DeAndre Swift. like I'm not overly sold on him either. I know they added on the offensive line, but they needed the depth because if anybody got injured on the O-line last year, they were fecked. And luckily they never did, which never happens. So surely someone is going to go down at one point this year on that line.
Speaker: And you mentioned the struggles with the defense. They added Kobe Bryant, which is a nice pickup, and Devin Bush. But I think... Dylan Thienemann as their first round pick, ah although it is a good pickup, it's not very flashy. And maybe a few years down the line, they'll reap the rewards of that, but it might not be an instant impact. I do think that this is going to be a bit of a step back for this team. And that Madden curse of being on the cover may well continue for Caleb Williams. What do you think, Shane?
Speaker: Yeah, I agree with you. I was going to mention the Madden cover as well. It's like highlighted here on my page. I just think, I think it was too early to be giving someone like him a Madden cover after one good year after, yeah, it was a good year. it was It wasn't a great year. Like, I think there was probably better options out there, but he's kind of, he's slowly becoming the face of the league somehow. I'm like, how have you picked this fella as the face of the league now when he's still at the Josh Allens and them of this world?
Speaker: I think their wide receivers, they don't have a wide receiver 1, they don't even have a wide receiver 1B. They're all wide receivers, 3, 4s and 5s, and they're going be the 3 starting. So they're really not giving Kelly Williams any sort of weapons to go out there with. And like he can't fling that up in the air and say, oh, he's definitely to come down with it because no one is.
Speaker: And I agree with you on DeAndre Swift. he's never He's nothing more than a wide receiver two again. Sorry, a running back two. So that they all their offensive pieces, none of them are are like stand out. Give it to him, he's going to do something with it. So yeah, I think they're going have a struggle as well. I don't think, especially in the way this division is, there's no way they're they're getting out of it again, I don't think.
Speaker: Yeah, I think that Williams' like face of the league thing all stems from that like crazy couple of throws he had in the playoffs. Because he can have those crazy moments, but you know that doesn't make this a complete team. and we've outlined the players there that like they've got and i think they're they're probably their best receiving option is colson loveland who looked so good last season yeah especially in the back half and i think kyle monunga is way better than deandre swift as well so it's probably the guys that are maybe a little bit less expected to step up that will maybe step up a little bit but yeah it's not enough for me for this team detroit lions then shane i know you backed them to the health last last year what's your thoughts on them this time around
Speaker: I'm not going to back him as strongly, but I do think if things go right from they are a Super Bowl contender this year. I think they are definitely getting out of the division this time. They're one of the easiest schedules in the NFL. They're also one of the most complete rosters. Demir Gibbs is possibly the best running back in the league himself, and Beeson Robinson are definitely up there.
Speaker: I think Isaiah Pacheco is a good foil for him as a running back too now that Dave Montgomery is gone. think Dave Montgomery wanted more touches. I think Isaiah Pacheco will be... a bit happier to sit behind and just see how it goes. And I think the fact that himself and Gibbs are similar, just not in terms of quality, but just kind of in stature and stuff, I think it will actually be more helpful.
Speaker: He's a good receiver as well if they need him. Gerard Goff is playing the best football of his career. They just looked like one of the most physical teams in football as well on defense with Aidan Hutchinson. He's one of the most one of the best pass rushers in the league.
Speaker: They've addressed the depth on both sides of the ball and didn't just go out there chasing splashy signings all over the place. they kind of They saw what they have and they're just like, okay, we're not far off here. We just had a bad year. They just lost so many close games and they kind threw away a couple of games as well. They did lose both coordinators heading into last season, which obviously made a massive difference to them as well.
Speaker: I wouldn't say they're Super Bowl or bust, but I think they really have to be showing some sort of sign they're going to win it this year. Dan Campbell, his head might finally be on the chopping block, but I don't see why they're not still playing in deep January.
Speaker: Joel, what do you think i think? I think that's pretty fair overall. um like I do think they're still a fun team to watch. I do love watching aggressive Dan Campbell football.
Speaker: I love when he makes those calls and he's just like, we're fucking going for it. He's all in. And the team is all in. Obviously, little bit sword, you die with a sword, but it's super fun to watch. I mean, Amin Ra St. Brown is just elite in in all aspects of the game. And the one person who I really liked last year as well, who we saw glimpses of, was Tesla.
Speaker: Tesla was unreal at points. He was such an electric rookie to watch. Some insane catches, some insane touchdowns. So I think we might see a little bit more of him. But yeah, I think Gibbs is actually going to eat up the fact that he is just dedicated RB1.
Speaker: Take him to pound town, you know? I don't think we're getting to the Panthers that keep pounding in a bit. But I think that that is a great show. Just you could give you like there's not enough touches to give Gibbs in any game of football. He's that good. Interesting when you mentioned him and Robinson are the two probably best in the league. They're both. not currently practicing yet in training camp because they want contract extensions and they both probably want to be the one to earn more money. So whoever goes second is going to earn more.
Speaker: So that's kind of an interesting one to watch. and I really liked the draft pickup of Blake Miller, just an absolute beast on the line. He was playing with all sorts of injuries at Clemson and that's the type of guy that Dan Campbell loves.
Speaker: Obviously you add him on the other end to Penny Sewell and you've got two solid bookends. I think Tesla is kind of projected to be their third receiver behind Amon Ra and Jameson Williams, which is interesting.
Speaker: And you add ah the human Dort from Arizona for some speed there. So a couple of interesting additions on offense. Defense, for me, it's more the guys that are returning. Like...
Speaker: Brian Branch coming back from injury, Kirby Joseph coming back from injury. Those are huge, like in the heart of your defense, not to have them. And then all of a sudden you get them both back like like new sign-ins. Yeah, I think that this team is going to look very good this season and I think they're definitely getting to the playoffs. But what they do when they get there is is and is another question.
Speaker: Yeah, I don't know. Like, Evan, what do you think? Do you think they're actually proper Super Bowl challengers or what? that I have to say, that human dorge was fucking good. That was good. Yeah, I don't know. I don't think...
Speaker: Again, like when we when we just briefly went over the Chicago Bears there, like and they finished 11-6, again, there's so many close games that that could have gone either way. That could have been, or that should have been, the Lions. You know what mean? So I think the league or the the division as a whole, I feel like, is pretty much nearly up for grabs. And I think the Lions could definitely get there. I just don't know if they have enough to make a deep playoff run.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah that's fair that's fair. I think especially with the injury issues over the years, like these things tend to crop up in bunches. So let's see. The Packers up next. This team is a tricky one to dissect.
Speaker: The wide receiver room is weaker than last season already. like They've lost Dontavian Wicks and Romeo Dobbs. But Jaden Reid... and Christian Watson, like they're certainly seen as the guys now because Reid grabbing 50.25 million over three years and Watson grabbing 90 over four years, like those paydays are no joke. So if you're going to get that type of money, you better have the production to go alongside it. Matthew Golden, first round pick last year, he's going to have to step up.
Speaker: But I do think that Tucker Craft returning from his ACL injury will be the main one for Jordan Love. I think he's the one that he looks to quite a lot.
Speaker: But then another guy returning from ACL injury is Micah Parsons. And he looks like he won't be back till halfway through the season. So that's not ideal. think if you're going to get your best player back halfway through the season, yeah, that's that's not helpful at all. Like they signed Javon Hargrave.
Speaker: from divisional rival Vikings, but he's also nursing a knee injury. Matla Floor did say it's not that serious, but another thing to look at. And they did lose Quay Walker and Rashawn Gary, who we mentioned is at the Cowboys now.
Speaker: Losing them two from the linebacking core is is less than ideal too. Now, Zaire Franklin did come in on a... on a trade but he's going to have to hit the ground running next to van ness and edrian cooper to really fill the void of the players that they lost i i just think nothing really stands out then either in the draft class because they didn't have their first round pick after the parsons trade and i do feel like the division as the whole is too strong for as i said a team that will not have their best player for the first half of the season they'll just be trying to stay above water for that point like i think
Speaker: I see these Packers being too far behind s when Parsons returns to make that push for the playoffs. And I do think that the fans will start turning on LaFleur because he doesn't really have much involvement on the defensive side of the ball. And I think that will come out in the wash.
Speaker: And losing Jeff Halfley as their DC doesn't help him either. Bringing in Jonathan Gannon, he's going to have to do a lot to live up to what Halfley did. And and he's going to have to bail out, I think, Matt LaFleur's lack of involvement on that defensive side, which Halfley was happy to do.
Speaker: I just don't see it going well for this team this year. Sorry, Packers fans. Yeah, I mean, I agree. I think that this Packers team is a bit chalked. They don't have explosiveness on the offensive side. They've got a very average defense. And like that, with the loss of... With the loss of...
Speaker: Oh my God. Parsons. Parsons. Holy shit. With the loss of Parsons and then being out for so long as well. Like, yeah, it's just, you're gone too far into this into the season. And then when you're comparing the division as a whole, it's just tough. It's just tough. I don't think you're going able to do it. I like Jordan Love. Don't get me wrong. I think he's fun to watch. I think he'd play as well. But like,
Speaker: yeah in terms of pieces what does he have like we shouted out christian watson uh last year for having moments and stepping up towards the latter half of the season and he did he put on a good show um but i don't think it's enough um they lost too much they've got too many injuries ongoing and this team is kind of just yeah trying not to drown essentially yeah Yeah, I agree with both. I think when you put so much money into signing someone like Michael Parsons that when you then lose him, you're like you're you're starting on on a downstop and it's very hard to get back up the top of that hill then.
Speaker: I think they'll have a tough year. It's a very strong division game, as you said at the top. And I think they might really, really struggle to get a winning record even with the way things are looking at the moment. and So I think they're one to watch, but not for a good reason.
Speaker: Yeah. And you mentioned Watson as well, Evan, and like his entire career has been like three good games and then an injury. So it's like, do it do we see that again or or what's going to happen here? i just think way too many question marks and way too many injury issues. And as I kind of highlighted, I'm not fully sold on the floor. But last team then in the NFC North is the Vikings. Evan, you're up.
Speaker: yeah and like this is i suppose what we're talking about is the competition in this division is really strong and i think that's why the packers are going to fall short of maybe their expectations as a whole but yeah the last is the vikings i honestly think that their upcoming season really hinges on their quarterback situation um yeah last year they went on a five game run towards the end of the season with nine but the quarterback play just wasn't there uh the signing of kyler murray was the thing i think to save this offense colorbury on a one-year deal for what was it 1.3 million that's a massive investment i think he's such an athlete he's got a massive ceiling and i think with kevin o'collin uh this could provide a huge offensive season on paper
Speaker: He's better than JJ in every way. He's definitely your starting QB1. He's a better passer. He's a better scrambler. And I believe as well in Minnesota, he probably has the best weapons he's ever had with Jeddah's Jordan Addison.
Speaker: And then they recently signed Juwan Jennings, who I think it was a one-year deal for 13 mils. Overall, JJ McCarty is not ready. He played 10 games last season and he only completed 57.6% of his passes. And he threw 12 interceptions.
Speaker: If Coyle manages to rule the North, yeah, you could see him getting a juicy extension following year as well. i mean, what is he? You think he's 28? He's got loads of gas the tank.
Speaker: So expect that. But yeah, overall, I think Minnesota could do well this year. Yeah, I think the only thing that could cost Minnesota this year is if a new Call of Duty game comes out and Kyler Murray forgets it to play football again.
Speaker: I just think, i think theyre like he is such a weapon both throwing and running. And then when you add in the wide receivers you named, if they're good at running back as well. Not great, but they are good. And their defense is solid and enough that Yeah, i'd like you when you look in this division, they are probably the strongest outside of the Lions.
Speaker: So I think they're definitely getting top two with the Lions and we'll see from there then. But I think, all jokes aside, think Kyler Murray's a great pickup. As you mentioned, he's so cheap as well because... He just didn't really show it towards the end of his time in Arizona that he is really going to be on a fight now to say, only getting one or two million here. I want to quadruple that or 10 times that going into the season after. So I think this is a big year for him.
Speaker: i think minnesota Minnesota are going to reap the rewards this. Yeah, yeah, I agree with both of you that this team is going to be one to watch for the season ahead. And Shane, I think that's true that they're probably second best behind the Lions is dead on. Most people probably have the Bears pegged for that, but I don't think so. I think...
Speaker: They're going to run the shit out of the ball this year. watch Just watch watch what they do this season. like They're one of the only teams I think I've ever seen to draft a fullback in the in the fifth round.
Speaker: This guy is going to just lead block for everybody and anybody. Kyler Murray is going to run with the ball. They're going to have Aaron Jones, obviously, as their lead back. Jordan Mason is a great backup. Xavier Scott is actually another solid player that they they have sitting in there as well. They drafted a rookie running back in the sixth round to take a flyer on.
Speaker: so So they're going to run the ball, and Kyler is going to be part of that. And then once... You get used to them running the ball, they're unleashing over the top to one of Addison, Jefferson, or Juwan Jennings. I think that Kevin O'Connell is going to have a field day this season with Kyler, and he's going to dial up something very, very special. I think this team could make a lot of noise because...
Speaker: Their defense is a class already. And they added Caelan Banks and and James Pierre from from Pittsburgh. But then you've also spent like another four later round draft picks on the defense. And I'm sure those were all kind of dictated by Brian Flores along with the scouts.
Speaker: So if he sees people he likes, they're probably going to work. and I can't wait to watch this team. I think they're going to be unbelievable this season. I actually think they're going to make a massive jump and probably win this division. Yeah, i don't I don't hate that shout at all, honestly, especially when you have anything that has Justin Jefferson needs to be pushing to win at least divisions, if not Super Bowls. So yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker: Yeah, it was your shout there last week that you said we could see him move. So if he doesn't go the way we've just predicted, maybe he will want out of town. So they'd want to make sure that they they keep the main man happy. Yeah.
Speaker: God, we just did two brilliant divisions and now moving into the NFC South. Apologies, everybody, but here come the Falcons, Shane. Well, at least we're starting with probably the only team that's actually decent in this division. Bucks are probably okay as well, but...
Speaker: I mean, in the division with the Panthers and the Saints, the Falcons have got to be top of the pile in coming out and winning this division. Drake London, Peter Robinson, Kyle Pitts came on massively last year.
Speaker: Their issue is quarterback. It's always going to be quarterback when you have Michael Penix recovering from an ACL and your first option is the main man himself, Tua, can't stay fit, Tuggan Vailoa. And I'm so happy I didn't absolutely butcher that name, get in.
Speaker: I think if they can keep him, if they can keep him on the fields, he actually has passing options. He's already off the field. He's already off the field in training camp. If they can get him on the fields, then Drake London, Kyle Pitts are really good pass catchers. And obviously, B-John, we were just talking about him. He's one of the two best running backs in the league.
Speaker: Their defense is going to cost them, I think, as well as their quarterback play. horse As i said at the top, they have to be trying to win this division because two of the three teams they play are absolutely garbage.
Speaker: Sorry, Conan. Damn. but going in on the Panthers there. well I've got the Panthers in a minute, so I'll give him my thoughts there in a sec. But yeah, this team this team is shite, in my opinion. but just like I'm just like looking at this roster and it's like the offensive line is not that good.
Speaker: Michael Penix and Tua are both not... They had to sign Cooper Rush for someone to actually take snaps during training camp. that's that's a That's a terrible start. They signed Jahan Dotson and Zaccheaus. Like, come on. Those are your second two receivers.
Speaker: James Pearce, we know the off-the-field issues there after just drafting him in the first round last year. They've got, as usual, Jesse Bates and Xavier Watts as a great duo at safety. And they've got a couple of nice players across the roster. But I just fall... Too many times I've said this team is going to do well. And every time I've been wrong. So I'm just not buying it this year. i can't buy in again. Tua was back-practicing on Thursday, apparently.
Speaker: that he couldn't be back practicing on Thursday. Tua Tunga was spotted back at Atlanta Falcons practice on Thursday. back at practice. He was standing around, mate. He was standing on his hands and his hips. Expectating.
Speaker: Go on, Evan. You can have a go at this crowd as well. ah Look, this team is chalked, isn't it? like there's There's nothing really great to say about this team. Yeah, sure, they've got Kyle Pitts and yeah, sure, London's great. But like, yeah, overall, on I feel like on both sides of the ball, this team has holes everywhere. um I don't think they're strong enough to to to pull off a decent record. And like that, it's like, yeah, we may have looked at the Falcons before and potentially backed them, but not this time, guys. I'm sorry.
Speaker: Yeah, I've just fallen for it too many times, to be honest. And Shane, I don't remember you falling for it before, so this is your first time you learned how they break your heart. It's okay. They do it to everybody. They're not going to break my heart because I couldn't care. I won't think about them again after we've done this section until... Okay, whatever you say.
Speaker: mean I love the Falcons. Shane Fleming. Okay, let's move on to the Panthers. Say hello to your NFC South back-to-back champs. This team are going places and a lot faster than their divisional rivals.
Speaker: The growing strength of Tett McMillan and Jalen Coker ah should mask any of the issues that Xavier Leggett has shown with a subpar first two years in the league. Chris Braswell, nice pickup.
Speaker: In the third round, unfortunately, he does he did get a and a nasty LCL injury, which I am all too familiar with. Just have one of them myself at the moment, and it's not nice. So he's going to be out for eight weeks. But when he does come back, they're getting the first team all SEC receiver and to add to their other two quality receivers.
Speaker: O-line has more depth now with the additions of Rasheed Walker and Luke Fortner. And then they did select Monroe Freeling in the first round. So that's another uptick for this team. The big splash made on Devin Lloyd and Jalen Phillips. so They're the moves that I like the most.
Speaker: I love Lloyd. Like last season, he was so good from linebacker to grab five interceptions. And then Phillips, there's a reason why the Eagles went after him. Five sacks he added last season to his career total of 28 across five seasons. and cornerback too well then of Mike Jackson and JC Horn they're my favourite two corners in tandem in the league like it's just nearly impossible as a receiver to get anything against them last year they had nine interceptions combined they each had a career year with Jackson having four and Horn having five so a career year for each of them in the one season and then there's Derek Brown
Speaker: Good God, is that man an animal. 6'5", 320 pounds. It's no wonder Brian Baldinger did multiple breakdowns last year of him pancaking offensive linemen on the other side. He just loved an old pancake, does Baldy. But Brown had a career year as well, five sacks. And I'll say it, I've said it multiple times, but Adjuro Everall is the DC on this team. He has to be next in line for a head coaching job after what he's done with this defense over the past three seasons.
Speaker: I didn't mention Bryce Young yet, but the Panthers quarterback is playing for his contract this year and he'll need to be more consistent if he wants to earn a big one. I do think that if he leads his team to a second straight division and another playoff berth, he will get paid quite handsomely. But I'm interested to hear what you guys think on on Bryce, because that's the biggest question on this team. The rest of the team is just ticking upwards for me.
Speaker: I do think the hour is pointing upwards, but I don't think they're doing anything serious this year. Even if they win the division, they're going out in the first round of the playoffs again for me. They won the division last year and they put it up to and the Rams in the first round of the playoffs. So like they're like you were shiting on them there when you talking with the Falcons. They're not a terrible team.
Speaker: They're not terrible, but they're they're they're not... I don't even want to say they're not special because they're clearly not special. I just i think they're good. I think they're lucky with their division. They might be lucky their division if Tua and Michael Penix and the Falcons show me in a quarterback.
Speaker: i just i I think they're improving, but I just don't think they're there yet. And Bryce Young, yeah, I think he'll he'll be he'll be looking for a contract, that new a new team next year as a wide receiver too.
Speaker: Oh my God. That's a slander, lads. The slander. Ev, what do you think? is i I think I had this team written off last year. um And I knew that they were getting McMillan anyways, but I still had them written off. I didn't think that they were going to a whole bunch. And i certainly didn't think that they were going to top the division as a whole. So that was a huge win for them overall.
Speaker: Yeah, their offense looked great. It looked fun at times. I think one thing that was sad to see was Leggett just falling off the wagon. he's probably been one of I don't want to say bust but like he's been the wide receiver bust in terms I don't want to say bust but I'm just going to call him a bust there's not really much else I can say about him yeah he was unfortunately and like for somebody as well to have such a fucking personality my god that man's a weapon on the right the fellas eating raccoons like left foot and centre that's probably why he's a bust so yeah Yeah, don't know. It's tough to watch at times, but they provided and like, yeah, Bryce, he provided some highlight moments last year, well able to extend plays keep getting those yards, keep getting those first downs and keep dragging and willing the team into the top of the division. I think there'll be a fun one to watch again this year.
Speaker: But ah yeah, again, i think they're going to hit the playoffs and maybe get a win and then probably fall off as they they face tougher opponents down the line.
Speaker: yeah Yeah, that's fair. I think it's it's hard to gauge when you're in this bad division, like how good they're gonna be. But I do really like them. I think that they're going to be... They're going to be a very solid team this year. And Bryce Young did show a lot of and solid play in his game-winning drives, maybe not across games. But when it mattered, he was good. So let's see what he can do.
Speaker: Evan, so you're up with the Saints. where I know this is no this is Conan's team, but I did want to show him some love. Okay. But yeah, no, overall, like they they had a good season last year. Like Tyler Schock was born, you know. ah He was a real reason for optimism with them. Gave them and a new feeling offense. He had nine starts.
Speaker: with 67.6% pass completion. He threw 10 touchdowns. He only had six interceptions. So we're keeping those numbers low there, which is nice. Olava is still their prime receiver, but they did add to this by drafting Jordan Tyson from the Arizona Sun Devils, which I think was a great pick at eighth overall.
Speaker: ah Jordan Tyson played nine games in his final college season, and he had 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns.
Speaker: Solid stats across the board. We're happy to see him and bring him on board. They do still have Kamara, obviously, who's a versatile weapon. But I suppose Kamara is kind of really pushing on now. He's coming towards the latter part of his career. So will we see more touches towards maybe Miller and Estame as well? um I think those guys have a chance to really shine too.
Speaker: Their defense is still a work in progress. So a bit iffy there, but who could forget our boy Charlie Smith? I mean, the guy took over kicking duties from the last six weeks of the regular season. He went for two out of 16, so 75% on field goals, 13 for 13. He went 100% on the extra points, and he kicked a career-long cheeky 57-yarder against the Titans in week 17.
Speaker: What's not to love? That onside kick too. Yeah, onside kick, yes, exactly. Overall, like the Saints will definitely be striving to top where they finished off last year. It was like 6-11. And they'll definitely want to be battling for wildcard relevance. But i think I think they could do really well this year. Yeah.
Speaker: No. No? You're not buying in No. I do think they'll be competitive a lot of weeks, but I think they're just there another kind of middle of the road.
Speaker: They're not a general contender for anything. If they were a football team, like they're they're not bad enough to go down. They're not good enough to kind of push up. I think they're just middle of the road. That's where they're going to be. I think...
Speaker: their quarterback issue, I think they're still searching for the long-term answer there. i think I think they have a lot of searching to do before they start becoming a contender again. Look, there's just no Atlanta Falcons at the end of the day. Look, to be honest, Shook looked fine.
Speaker: Spencer Ratter also looked fine. He also looked fine. Like, through the first nine games that each of them had, right? You had Rattler had a 67.7% completion.
Speaker: Duck had 66.4. Rattler, 1,600 yards. Shook, 1,800 yards. So he he shades it slightly. Rattler, eight touchdowns to five interceptions. Shook, seven to five. They both had an 86.5.
Speaker: prosperating like then shook went on and played a couple of extra games the games that shook played were like literally needed less than preseason games he played against teams that just weren't even trying to play football anymore and even on the last day of the season they went out and lost to the falcons who were in dire straits at that point and like that's another game that they should have won like that winning streak i think oil yes it was impressive and There's some bright sparks on the roster, like the addition of Jordan Tyson, like the addition of Travis Etchen, as he is now known.
Speaker: Like, you know, a couple of other people, but I like i just can't get behind this team. I know Cunhan is going to be so annoyed, but like Tyler Shook is just not it in the long term.
Speaker: And while he may tie them over for another year, they should be looking to, I think, draft another QB in the stacked class the following year. And maybe he may stop them. doing that because he might win them four or five games more than they want like they want to win like two or three and he might have them up at seven so yeah he's fine but he's just I don't think he's enough for the future in my opinion yeah I agree I just don't I don't really care about him to perfectly honest I'll let Conor and do the caring and I'll just laugh in the background with my wonderful Jets and the absolutely team I love the most the Atlanta Falcons
Speaker: Yeah, there no Falcons, as you said. No, there are no Falcons. Well, another team where there Falcons are the Tampa Bay Bucs. What do you think of the Bucs, Shane? um I think the Bucs are potentially a Falcons, to be fair. I think it's going to be weird for this year. It's their first year in about 10 years without Mike Evans, and they also lost Levante David, who retired.
Speaker: I think losing Evans is just i think it's just so significant for them, because they're losing one of the most reliable receivers in the league and all those thousand years up until last year.
Speaker: And he was just unlucky with injury last year. He'd have absolutely gotten there if he was fit still. So I think that's a massive loss for them. Obviously, Baker Mayfield stays as the undisputed man under centre.
Speaker: Should he be the undisputed man under centre? We'll have to wait and see. you I think he's had two really good years there, but I think he's always so close to having another meltdown and just kind of falling off the cliff and this whole team will fall with him then.
Speaker: They inf invested heavily in the defence. They brought in a good few young talent. I think they kind of needed that as well. course If young receivers don't emerge, then I don't see how they can take a step forward again this year. They can compete for the NFC South, but will they win this?
Speaker: but have to wait and see. Yeah, I think they will continue to compete because they're they've got some solid players, but I just don't think they'll win it. And I think they'll fall short again. like Mayfield, I swing the other way. I think he's a very, very good quarterback that's kind of dragged them as far as they can go at times. And he's played through injuries and just he's just a dog out there. That's the best way to say it. And...
Speaker: I think losing Evans is big, but they've got a nice core with McMillan and Ibuka coming through. And then on the defensive side, you did mention they they got some nice young talent. Josiah Trotter, obviously son of a former NFL player. So he always knows those kind of guys always know how it's done when they get into the league. And he's quite a hard hitter. And then you've got Reuben Bain as well. Two people are, you know, getting on maybe his shorter arms than people would like, but he he looked like an absolute beast in college. So yeah, add that to some other good players like they picked up, Andaloni, Aishan Robinson. i liked Rakeem Nunes Rocha, that the Giants see the good rotational piece on the defensive line.
Speaker: But yeah, you mentioned it, losing Levante David, losing Mike Evans, the question marks around Baker's contract. He wants a long-term one. They don't seem like they're going to give him one. Vida Bea is holding in and he's interested in being traded away. That's their best defensive player right there.
Speaker: I don't know. I think it's too many question marks for this team to win this division for me. Yeah, it's ah it's a tough one to watch because i think at times on on both sides of the ball, they've got a huge presence and they've got they've got a lot of stars around.
Speaker: But it's like it is. It's getting to that point now where it's like there's just there's no there's no success. They're not... making those ah long playoff runs that they want to make.
Speaker: And what it's doing now is like players are pushing towards maybe the latter part of their career. They're like, okay, I need to get up out of here. need to be somewhere where I can win. mean, losing somebody like Veya is, or potentially losing somebody like Veya is not what you want. That guy is an absolute unit at just being massive and standing there and pushing people out of his way and stopping runs. And if you lose someone like him, that's a tough gap to fill. No pun intended. But yeah, like their offense is fun to watch. And yes, Baker does seemingly just grab his team by the collar and pull them through games at times when he needs to. But I think, yeah, we're looking at struggling team who just can't seem to get it right. And I feel like it's definitely losses of players leaving or injuries that are really holding them back as well.
Speaker: Yeah, I have a question for you, Evan, as a Cowboys fan. I know Jerry keeps coming out and saying, we're certainly interested in making a trade. He loves saying that. That was terrible. Jesus. Yeah.
Speaker: and yeah But what do you think if he comes and grabs Vita Vea for your defensive line? does that Is that the move that would tip you over? I think that would you couldn't really go much better than him or Max Crosby.
Speaker: Yeah, agreed. I think, yeah, the rumor mill of Max Crosby um and and now this new looming one, I do love when this man gets on the microphone because you don't know what's going to happen. You don't know what's going to be said. It could just be mumble.
Speaker: But if it's just something moderately interesting, you're in. you know what I mean? Yeah, that would be insane. That would be a massive piece to gain. um But I suppose we just kind of need to play it out and see how things go. But he would be a massive piece for us, definitely cementing us as a real threat on the defensive side even more.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. and i was interested in in your thoughts there because think that would be a perfect one for you guys with the draft capital you have. Dan, you're going to throw something in there. look like You look like you're going to talk, but apparently not. No, I'm good. Keep bringing the energy, Shane. It's super. Cardinals.
Speaker: Okay. This team's... I just did the Falcons, or I just did the Panthers last, and I was hyping them Don't think about my Falcons like that. sorry.
Speaker: I just did the Panthers last. and I was trying to give them as much juice as I could. I cannot give it to this team. This is an awful team. Look, where else to start but with that Jacoby Brissett contract?
Speaker: this is but This story is ridiculous. Last year, he threw for 240 yards per game for the Cardinals and gave their offense a new lease of life, but they just continued to lose. This season, the team quite clearly wants to tank and grab a high pick in next year's draft because it's stacked with quarterbacks. So after losing Kyler Murray, Brissett was obviously destined to be the one to again lead the team into the abyss.
Speaker: But he did not want to play for the 4.9 million that he did last year. No, he was holding out to get that big payday. And for some unknown reason, the team decided, no problem whatsoever. Let's give him 10.6 million pay rise.
Speaker: Now, to be fair to him, he earned it with his efforts last year. But this team wants to be as bad as humanly possible. And everybody knows it. So they could just stuck with Gardner Minshew.
Speaker: And inevitably, they'd fall to one and seven. They'd let Carson Beck have a crack at it because they used a third rounder on him. And the end of the season, and you would just get to a point where, yep, they're perfect. They're in the number one overall spot. They can get whatever quarterback they want. But they went and paid Brissette.
Speaker: way too much money to do a job that he may actually do better than they want him to do. On the other side of things, outside of Bursette, Marvin Harrison Jr. has to step up now. He can't continue to be outdone by Michael Wilson. And outside of those two guys, I think adding Kendrick Bourne wouldn't exactly get you too excited as a Cardinals fan.
Speaker: Trey McBride is still there. God help him. He really needs to start looking for a serious football team. pray and Trey is like someone who's at the top of his position in the NFL and he's stuck on a team like the Cardinals it just doesn't seem right and then Jeremiah Love he may well need to start looking for his next serious football team too I know he's only just drafted but what on earth is going on with this team like who signed off on this pick right they've they just signed Tyler Algier they already have James Conner
Speaker: And the whole rest of the roster smells like absolute farts. And they go, yeah, we'll take Jeremiah Love with the fourth pick when you need to pick literally any other position of value.
Speaker: Like, I just guess the only thing I can say is positive is Josh Swett is a nice addition. They still have Buda Baker at safety trying to make the best of this bad situation. But the team is terrible and they're probably going to win no more than four games.
Speaker: I'm just really happy I didn't have to talk about this team for 90 seconds of you've done. I can get away with doing 30 seconds and we can move on with our lives then. The Jeremiah Love pick is absolutely wild and they've made him the highest paid running back in the league as well. I'm pretty sure I read that somewhere. As a rookie, I think.
Speaker: as a rookie, okay. They've just, they've done nothing that's positive this offseason for me. And the Brissette thing is just kind of the icing on the cake. Every decision they've made has just made them worse, in my opinion. Sorry, he's made them...
Speaker: Yeah, they're just crap. There's very little to say. I literally, see i have three lines written down here and honestly, it's like trying to move on from Carla Murray and you're going with Jacobi Brissett and you want to finish last. Yeah, best luck. You should have stopped with Gaird Minchiu, kept that 10 million in your back pocket and then just to see see where you roll because they just have nothing going for him.
Speaker: Except Trey McBride, who I think is an absolute, I think he's the best tight end of football. I think he's better than Brock Bowers. Yeah, Trey is so good. And you do, you feel you feel for him being in the situation that he's in.
Speaker: But yeah who knows how things go down the line. Maybe he can get a juicy payday somewhere else that deserves him and will actually make use of him and make a good run out of him. But yeah, the pick is crazy, but it's Jeremiah Love's love, so but why not? But yeah, I agree. The quarterback situation is less than ideal. And I would have rather had them, yeah, start maybe Minshew, see how that goes. Probably not great. And then bust out Carson Beck and just let him sling it. I think the best thing that they could have done was at least give someone like him a chance
Speaker: um Let him get reps on the field. Let him show face in the NFL um and see how it fares out. It might not fare out great, but at least you'll get actual on-field view and experience of him rather than just seeing him week-to-week training.
Speaker: Yeah, I agree with that. I think there's no point in wasting a third rounder on him to have him sitting third in the deck chart and then next year you pick your true quarterback and then he doesn't see the field anyway. It feels like a waste of draft capital when you have so many teams as well.
Speaker: I think they've wasted every single pick they had the draft this year. And I think whoever, as you said, whoever was in charge of doing that needs to be, i'm just going to say fired, I'm not going to say anything that's going get to get us taken off YouTube. and Yes.
Speaker: Okay. On that note, we'll move on to the Rams. Thank God we have three very interesting teams to talk about here now to finish off in the NFC West, but the Rams are first up for you, Ev. Where do we even start here?
Speaker: Where do we even start? like Not only is there a stacked offense, but there's there's also a stacked defense, and even more so with... The most powerful trade this offseason by trading for was Garrett. ah That obviously that was borderline illegal what they did.
Speaker: Like the Browns in return, yeah, they got Jared first. They got three draft picks, including a 2027 first round pick. That was all well good. And then after getting him, then they reworked his contract. about Five years, 208 million.
Speaker: thats insane The reigning defensive player the year who set the season, at the single season sack record with 23. What a milestone. um And then jumping over to the other side of the ball, you have the reigning MVP in Matthew Stafford. It's a crazy matchup and it really shows what McVay is trying to do and build in L.A.,
Speaker: He was the number one passer in yards with 4,707, the number one in passing touchdowns, 46, and he only threw eight interceptions in his 17 games. Insane stats.
Speaker: ah He's throwing dots to Devontae Adams and Puka Nukua again. Puka was actually the Offensive Player of the Year finalist who slow slightly lost out there to JSN, who was very worthy of it. But Puka is no joke. 112 receptions, yards and It's just monstrous work coming out of white out slot but What can you do? They're already down as the front-running Super Bowl winners. and And I feel like anything less than a deep playoff run is just going to be a massive disappointment.
Speaker: Yeah, I think it's a borderline disgrace that I didn't get to talk about the Rams after the fact that i basically talked about the Rams when we were doing the other side of this, which you heard last Thursday. I said straight away, and my first line was the LA Chargers will be the Super Bowl winners, but I meant the LA Rams. That's how I was talking about it the whole way through. I think they only have one or two issues. I think getting Puka, getting his head screwed back on.
Speaker: I don't know if he's still off in the summer camp that is called rehab in LA or if he is back out and practicing fully. And the fact that they used their first round pick on a quarterback, which made absolutely no sense to anyone by bri by picking up Ty Simpson, but he has signed a four-year contract now.
Speaker: I just think i think they're too strong. Both sides of the ball, as you mentioned, their offensive joke, their defensive joke. They're my Super Bowl winners, not the Chargers. Yeah, I don't know how how to really look past this team, especially considering...
Speaker: the unbelievable talent they already had. Like, you just go down the list, Braden Fisk, Puna Ford, Kobe Turner, Byron Young, Nate Landman, Cam Carl, Cam Kitchens, and then you go and say, okay, let's add Myles Garrett.
Speaker: Our biggest issue was having weakness in the cornerback spot. Let's add Jalen Watson and Trent McDuffie, two of the best cornerbacks from the Chiefs. And then Aaron Donald is probably going to join up with us at some point and play on the opposite side to Myles Garrett. Like... guess You need to triple team one of them. it's You can't do both. This is going to be a quarterback getting obliterated over and over and over again. Like Jacoby Brissett, he needed that 10 million to face this team two times a year because he may not make it out of these games a alive if Aaron Donald comes back.
Speaker: A funny one. That's why I'm in interested why i'm happy to like this podcast is recorded so I can cut clips out of it of me saying that Ty Simpson is going get picked by the Rams a few months out from the draft in the first round when I heard they had the 13th pick. Just an absolute random thing to say. and just i just had a feeling.
Speaker: And then it's lucky that one of the one million things that you throw at the wall eventually sticks and you can just clip that up and you look like a genius. Just like when Shane predicted the Jets getting to the playoffs last year.
Speaker: very similar outlook but but no i think for this team is is stacked the weakest thing is the offensive line they did use a third rounder on an offensive lineman to add some depth but i feel like they they need like maybe a little bit more because if someone does go down they might be in a bit of trouble and stafford is old so and in in a quarterback sense so if he does get injured you know like that's that's big trouble so that's the only question mark i have but They're also my Super Bowl favorites. I do think that they'll win it. Ev, do you think they'll they'll win the NFC? or the
Speaker: I think they're in it to win it, honestly. If they don't, want it would be a shambles. um just yeah That would be a huge clinical error. I also do want to say i don't actually mind the Ty Simpson pick because yeah I like that this team is literally like, fuck those picks. And the fact that they used one...
Speaker: to get a QB to just kind of sit behind the Stafford and learn. Like, who better than to sit behind than reigning MVP, absolute legend at the position, and then potentially set themselves up for a year or two whenever it does come to that point where Stafford has to step aside and say goodbye to the good game that is American football. I think he's a great person to have there to to learn. Yeah.
Speaker: And who knows where that team could be in the future when he's actually throwing balls for him. It'd be an interesting interesting one to see. Yeah, I agree with that sentiment. I think down the line, everyone would think, well, was a masterstroke, but now it's kind of like, oh, you wanted to win now. Why didn't you use your first rounder to do this? Well, look, you have to prepare for the future too. Like, it's not all about just now. And they've done pretty much think about that whole thinking about now thing for everything else that they've done. So...
Speaker: Yeah, let's move into the Niners then, Shane. What do you think? They do start their season against the Rams in Australia, by the way, which is an interesting wrinkle. This whole Australia thing has absolutely thrown me for, like, the game is starting like, 10 a.m. Australian time, so it'll be on at a decent time for America. I will just apologise. Evan, I wasn't ignoring you as you were making points about the Rams there, and my phone is ticking slowly towards dying, so I had to pull my charger out and try and get it plugged in before I ruined the whole podcast.
Speaker: I think for the Niners, after, like, they had a disappointing season last but they've gone all in on bouncing back now. We've talked about it already. Bringing in Mike Evans is such a good pick-up. Add that to George Kittle, who had a good a good year last year until he went down.
Speaker: if he comes back even remotely healthy, I think they are in a really strong position. Obviously, McCaffrey stays fit, which is always the question, um if if he plays every game, he's going to get 20 touchdowns. And that's just some base to have. But it is about keeping him fit.
Speaker: <unk> I'm worried about that health, though. Do you think yeah he can stay upright? Yeah, I might. I never do, to be perfectly honest. Ever since I had him in fancy football one year and when he was still on the Panthers and he just started falling apart then, I just kind of, I always have a feeling he's going to go down. And if he stays on, I think it's probably, it's,
Speaker: It's a bonus to the 49ers if he plays all 17 games. Same with George Kittle coming up this year. I still think Brock Perry is a really, really decent quarterback. I don't think he's in that superstar bracket, but the fact that he was the last pick in the draft and he's gone on and he's making a serious career for himself, I think that is such a credit to him.
Speaker: And you don't do that without some sort of talent. So I do think he definitely has this. I don't put them as a Super Bowl contender this year. I don't know why. It could be because I am worried about the health of them.
Speaker: I think they're a really, really strong team, but I just think the teams we spoke about last week and a couple of teams spoken about today are just in a much better place than this Niners team is. So they are good. They're really good, but they're not elite. And I think there's a couple of elite teams who are going to pip them to the post this year again. Evan, what do you think? Yeah.
Speaker: Yeah, this team is in such an interesting position across the board. And are the theories of the electrical substation injuring their whole team? Is this still real? I think they said they got the scientists to check it out, whatever that means. Could literally mean anything.
Speaker: yeah yeah Yeah, look, whether or not that's true or not, this deal is this team is still... average they're good and they're good i mean you've got weapons like and again like you said Shane yeah Brock Purdy is good McCaffrey is so dominant when he's healthy Kittle is so dominant at the tight end position because im i just I just don't think they have enough in the tank to be a serious threat to
Speaker: maybe 30% of the rest of the league. I think they do hover around a sweet spot um in terms of their overall team, but I don't think they're a massive competitor at all in the grand scheme of things.
Speaker: Yeah, I think there's too many strong teams in the in the NFC for them to get to the playoffs, personally. I think like ah just don't think they get there with the injury issues. Mike Evans is is another injury-prone player. Christian Kirk has had his injuries. They added him. And Ricky Pearsall, I was expecting a big season from him last year. He had more injuries. And then that PCL injury that he got last year is swelling up already in training camp.
Speaker: Did he get shot or was that someone else? Yeah, did get shot. That was before his rookie season. So, yeah, he's he's obviously not the most lucky guy. But that the wide receiver trio,
Speaker: Along with George Kittle, who is going to get injured. He's just going to get injured. He always does. There's too many injury issues. And then you add in McCaffrey's question mark. Garenda was backing him up as a choice, maybe second or third choice over the last couple of years. He got injured last years season. Michael Williams was injured in his rookie season.
Speaker: alfred collins was injured like there's just so many injuries on this team then i think they have the most travel of any team as well around the world for the season with the international games so that's not going to help them with their recovery and yes i do like the additions bringing back drake greenlaw and uh from your cowboys is a really good pickup too But I just think it's it's it's not enough. I think they'll probably end up with maybe eight wins or they get nine and it's not enough for the wildcard spots. I just think too many good teams in the NFC for them.
Speaker: Yeah, but thought I think when you're listening to injuries there, it has to be the power session. there's There's no way one team is is literally that unlucky that every single superstar they have gets injured every single year, almost guaranteed. They need to move training base and then there'll be a Super Bowl contender again.
Speaker: Yeah, the end it you see, the NFL would love that to be the story because then they don't have to answer questions about player health, player safety, the turf, anything like that. It's just like, oh, yeah, it's the power station, guys.
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. But last up, one team that doesn't live beside a power station is the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe if they did, they hit they might not have won that Super Bowl, but they are the reigning champs.
Speaker: They were always going to lose some of those key guys that they had to pay. Like, they couldn't pay everyone after last season, but I do feel like they were rated quite a bit this offseason. They lost Kenneth Walker. I think he's probably the biggest loss of the bunch.
Speaker: Then also Kobe Bryant, Bayamaste, Rick Wollin. And possibly the biggest loss of them all then was Lynn Kubiak outside of Walker. Because if you lose an offensive coordinator who managed to get the most out of Sam Darnold that any play caller ever has, it's going to be a big loss.
Speaker: The main efforts of the Seahawks during free agency were to pay as many of their guys as they could. i think they managed to do quite a good job with some of the paydays they gave out. Rashid Shaheed, Josh Jobe, Derek Hall, and then most importantly, JSN, who got a four-year $168.6 million dollar contract this offseason. He deserved it for his unbelievable output across the last two seasons, but specifically last year. in the regular season, he had 105.5 yards per game.
Speaker: and 10 touchdowns in 17 appearances. It's just truly astounding. I'm sure that the new OC, Brian Florey, will be dying to get a repeat of that out of him. But that kind of season doesn't come around all that often. and I think it'll be interesting to see the evolution of the offense under their new leadership and the addition of Jadarian Price at running back and at the end of the first round this year. I think that will likely ease the burden on Darnold because Kenneth Walker kind of played that similar role play action worked so well for Darnold and i think coming from a Kyle Shanahan led team, Florey is likely going to opt for that kind of play action set up that I refer to a lot before last season started and again during the season that's the best way to get the best out of Darnold
Speaker: And then the defense is just so good. It's up there with the Texans as the best in the league for me. And I think it's the best in the NFC. McDonald obviously leads that and he leads the team. And I think with him at the helm, a repeat of last season is certainly possible. But the unknown of Flory coming in at OC and how he gels with Darnold is the biggest cause for question, I think. There's not much else that I have too many questions about. I know they lost some players, but they gained some guys too. And they look very, very solid. They're still of the best teams in the league.
Speaker: But can they go back to back in an NFC that now has their Rams even more stacked than ever? I don't think going go back to back. And my main reasoning behind that is Sand Arnold.
Speaker: Obviously, he had a career here last year, won his Super absolutely incredible. But as you said, the change in OC is massive from the fella that really showed he believes in him to someone who has never worked this. I think last year was kind of a one and done for him, maybe. I've...
Speaker: Like what I saw from him as a Jets just did not add up to what we saw last year. And I know players get better when they get older, but no one gets that much better and kind of stays at that elite level. So I think they they are such a well-coached team. they' They have so much young talent, but I don't think either team that were in Super Bowl last year is getting back to that Super Bowl this year.
Speaker: yeah I very torn ah feel very I feel very conflicted because the year before at Minnesota I thought Sam Daryl was putting on a show but then he wasn't all of a sudden yes exactly so it was like okay are we seeing consistency issues or what's going on But then obviously when he got the deal to go to to Seattle, I think that was huge for him.
Speaker: Again, you were going from one weapon Justin Jefferson to an upcoming weapon in in JSN. The year before that, he had an unbelievable season. And with Darnold, performed again and put out another unbelievable season. Albeit, the Super Bowl was heavily carried by Kenneth Walker, who I called MVP before that game. You did.
Speaker: But yeah, that, I mean, that was just an absolute Kenneth Walker show. The defense is cracked to bits. They're so good across the board. um I feel like they could do it, but obviously the OC changes, mixes things up. Do we see Sam Darnold inconsistencies again? Who knows? But I think overall, this team is obviously going to be one to watch. They're going to put on a show. Jason is going to put up massive yards again, and probably. And he probably should have got the Madden 27 cover. So...
Speaker: Yeah, I would agree with that. I think you'd be a better cover star. And I agree with your point, Shane, that I don't think either team will make it back. I think probably because the Patriots, I just think that they had everything going right for them. You can hear in our preview last week what thought about them, but the Seahawks are just in too tough conference. I think the NFC has too many good teams for a team to go back to back.
Speaker: Yeah, I agree 100%. I just think you have the Eagles, you have the Rams... who else you have the Lions obviously the Falcons of course like these are all teams who are going to be real issues for the Seahawks they're all outside though like the three I mentioned before the Falcons are they're probably better than them and if they're not better than them they've better schedule than them in the Lions case where I just think it's going to be so difficult for go back to back and could be a bit of a transition year I still think they are they are clearly elite they won the Super Bowl god damn it they are elite like can they can they go back to back I just don't see it
Speaker: Yeah, yeah. i think I think you're on to something there. Well, lads, thank you very much for everybody who stuck it out this far to the very end to hear all our thoughts and opinions. But that's every NFC team previewed going into the season ahead after every AFC team was previewed last week.
Speaker: Another episode in the bag. Evan, appreciate you coming on once again. we will have you on again very soon. It was a pleasure as always. I appreciate it. I'll definitely be on again. I'm down.
Speaker: I'm down. You don't get to make those decisions. You can't say you'll definitely be on again. we we might look We might look at this back already and say, Jesus, he was absolutely crap. Let's never get him back on again. So watch yourself there and now, young man.
Speaker: All right, my apologies, my apologies. That is true. Yeah, I thought so. Well, look, if myself and Shane made it this long, I'm sure you can get back on for an episode. But yeah, lads, like and subscribe, share all that good stuff that we usually rap with, and we'll leave it there, and we'll catch you again at the same time next week. I'm about to piss myself.
