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Goal Line: AFC South
66 Plays2 days ago
The boys discuss trade talks concerning some disgruntled NFL stars and preview the AFC South
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Transcript
Introduction to Goal Line Football Podcast
00:00:15
Speaker
What is up, Goal Line listeners? We are back with another episode of the Goal Line Football Podcast right here on the feed for the Chick-fil-A show. We're officially halfway through with our preseason slate of episodes. Jordan, what's going on, man?
00:00:29
Speaker
Yeah, just ah I'm really ready for football to start, man. It's just ah there's just something when July ends to the beginning of football season that just feels like it takes forever to get there. So, yeah, I'm just I'm beyond ready for football to start, man.
Arlington Tigers 8U and Scrimmage Strategy
00:00:46
Speaker
Yeah, man. My Arlington Tigers, 8U. We are in full swing. We're in full pads now, going hard. Team's showing improvement every single day. Brett's enjoying himself. We're actually going to scrimmage, man. I was lucky enough to get it set up for us to scrimmage team that's not in our league, right? I was able to find an 8U team outside the league because we got to be strategic, bro. we We don't want to go up against somebody we're going playing in the regular season, right? Yeah, for sure.
00:01:09
Speaker
Yeah, man. So we got that set up going down Tuesday. It'll be fun to see the boys compete, man. We got one kid. Our team is actually like, he's like freaking Bron Breaker out there, man. Running the ball, dude. Just like when he's running, like our biggest hits or when he's on running the ball. Cause he's just, he's looking for contact, man. i'm Seeking it out. So looking forward to see what he does. Uh,
00:01:27
Speaker
When we go up against a team wearing some different colored jerseys, man. With that, out of the way, we are going through our previews.
AFC South Division Preview
00:01:35
Speaker
We're officially to the AFC. We ran we finished up with the NFC last week.
00:01:38
Speaker
With AFC South, kind of going into it man, for you, the teams. Is it safe to say this is the most juiceless division in football? Yeah, there's not much to it at all. there was There was not a lot of exciting stuff happening. There was two notes I wanted to hit on before we got to the FC South.
Terry McLaurin and Micah Parsons Trade Drama
00:01:54
Speaker
Two things happened since we recorded last week.
00:01:57
Speaker
ah Terry McLaurin and Micah Parsons both have requested trades from their respective teams. ah That is not good for either one of those teams.
00:02:09
Speaker
Yeah, it's a mess, dude. I think it's probably going to get uglier since they're getting resolved. But, dude, to me, man, I'm reading these. I'm following these under, like, the Vaughn Miller, like, Brandon Ayoub trade requests. I think there's very low probability either of these guys take a snap on other teams.
00:02:25
Speaker
The Micah Parsons one is way worse. I think the Terry McLaurin one gets resolved. Jerry Jones talked again today, and, dude, he's just shitting on Micah Parsons every chance he gets. I mean, today he basically said – It's all on him whether or not he's on the field in week one. like like They have no part in this at all. i don't know how much of this you've read into, but apparently Jerry Jones does not talk to the player's agent. He only talks to the player when it comes to contract negotiations, which...
00:02:55
Speaker
I mean, looking at it, it's like, well, yeah, that's what I'd want to do, too. I wouldn't want to negotiate with a guy who does it for a living. I'd want to negotiate with the football player more than I would the actual agent that knows what he's doing and knows how much money his client's worth. And i don't know, man, the Cowboys are an absolute disaster right now. I don't know what they're doing.
00:03:17
Speaker
I agree. It's definitely the ugliest of any of the the kind of, you know, star player trade situations that have popped up the last couple of seasons. But, dude, I still feel I think he's too good of a player. And I think there's too much money to be had by him regardless what they end up coming with. Man, I still if I'm if I'm putting down bets right now, I think he's on the field for the Cowboys this season is as bad as this kid. I feel like we've seen worse situations of this ultimately get resolved.
00:03:41
Speaker
I don't know, man. Dude, the fact that he does a podcast every week too is also not a good look because you know he's going to air that shit out. like i just I don't know. This one just seems worse than most. like I agree with you. Usually these these get resolved, but it seems like both sides have dug in their heels pretty hard. and Dude, if I'm Micah Parsons, I'm absolutely not playing a snap until I get a new contract. like There's no chance I'd step on the field. I mean, he was hurt last year already. like Dude, you're you're always one injury away in the NFL. like Can you imagine that dude gets hurt this season without a new contract?
00:04:16
Speaker
ah There's just no way. He's too good of a player. ah so yeah if So if he doesn't, where do you think like is the number one landing spot for him? Let's say let's say this the bridge does get blown sky high.
00:04:29
Speaker
Cowboys got to move on. Where do you think he's going? ah The Ravens.
00:04:37
Speaker
That would be nasty, man. The Ravens are able to pick him up. Dude, if there's any team, the Ravens or the Eagles seem like all any player requests to trade, that's the two teams I'm looking at immediately.
00:04:48
Speaker
Yeah, I don't know, man. I still think I'm willing to bet week one Cowboys defense, Michael Parsons out there, man. what what What are you saying? When and where does Michael Parsons make his debut this season? Well, he hasn't practiced yet.
00:05:00
Speaker
He's come. He did get injured last season. I don't think he plays week one no matter what at this point. I think we're already too far into it. I mean, dude, we're less than a month from season opener at this point. I just I don't see him playing at this point in week one.
00:05:15
Speaker
I don't think this gets resolved, dude. I think Jerry Jones is just going an asshole about this. ah You don't hear him talk about this, about people like this, unless like he really believes that he's right. he Yeah, he he's good and pissed off and this time, for sure.
00:05:30
Speaker
I think he gets traded, but I mean, I just, I don't know to who. I doubt he suits. If he does play for the Cowboys, it ain't going be in week one. I'll say week four at the earliest.
00:05:42
Speaker
All right. So we got a little bonus action for our our predictions, man. We'll keep buying this one. I'm i'm saying he's still got that star in his helmet. Jordan says he ends up somewhere else this season. Time will tell. Like he said, luckily, Michael Parsons got a podcast. so We should be able to get some live updates as this thing has ah is playing out because it's been very public and very ugly so far.
00:06:01
Speaker
um I saw even Des Bryant dusting off the cobwebs to get back in the mix on this one. man I guess his name got brought up as an example of you know another negotiation that went bad yeah damn near a decade ago at this point.
00:06:12
Speaker
Yeah, not good.
00:06:16
Speaker
what was ah was there another Was that it before we dive into the divisions or
Tennessee Titans Recap and Future Prospects
00:06:20
Speaker
something else? Nope, just Terry McLaurin and Michael Parsons. That was it.
00:06:25
Speaker
Yeah, Terry McLaurin, I think he's definitely coming back. I think they break him off a little cheddar, man. and He seems just like a perfect fit for Washington. He's really the leader of that freaking team, man. Dude, if they don't sign him, then what the hell was the point of the Debo trade at this point?
00:06:38
Speaker
Yeah. yeah are you both debo i like Debo. He is not wide receiver one at this point. it's not Especially not on that team. like They need Terry McLaurin on the field. Yeah. all right, let's get into the NFC, set excuse me, the AFC South kicking off with the Titans. Worst team in the league last year, three and 14. That's coming off a six and 11 campaign, a six and 11 campaign campaign that had some glimmers of hope in 2023. But they were bad, man. Two and six and one score game. So couldn't get it done in the close ones.
00:07:07
Speaker
Dude, you know, obviously I'm biased. They're they're my my current favorite team. Yeah. I really felt like watching the games, like they played some pretty good ball last year, just had some bad breaks and, you know, just really couldn't close the deal. But no, I think I was wrong, man. These guys were 27th in offense, 30th in defense. The defense was somehow worse than the offense last year.
00:07:28
Speaker
ah Last year's success, no, I think it was an abject failure, man. Like I said, Will Levis showed some promise in that 2023 season when he came on. Obviously, he torched the Falcons. Jordan remembers that one fondly.
00:07:39
Speaker
um Had the big Monday night football game where they came back from two scores down against the Dolphins. And just, you know, he had some flash plays, man. it was It was up and down in 2023. um But, you know, he freaking, you know, he...
00:07:51
Speaker
He looked like there was there may be something there. And then last year was just – I mean, it's it felt like for the first month of the season, he was like trying to top whatever his low light was from the previous week going forward.
00:08:03
Speaker
Yeah. I, yeah it's tough to say that last year was a success. We'll, we'll see what happens with Cam Ward. Cause if Cam Ward ends up being the truth, then dude, they got the number one pick and drafted Cam Ward. Like I'll say 2024 was a success if Cam Ward ends up being great.
00:08:22
Speaker
But I mean, yeah, overall that this was a really bad football team last year. They spent a lot of money in the offseason, man. They spent money. to bring bri They brought in talent. um you know they but They had every intention of competing for a playoff spot last year, and they ended up number one pick in the draft. Yeah, dude, they traded for LeJarrius Sneed before the season started. They brought in Ridley. like i just It just went up in smoke so fast.
00:08:45
Speaker
I do think Cam Ward has the potential to be really good. I just don't know with with the surrounding, the supporting cast that he has, it is if this team will be good enough. But yeah, Levis is probably done either way on this team. I mean, obviously he's out for the season this year, but i just, I don't know, man. Not a good look. The Will Levis thing is not good.
00:09:10
Speaker
Good football player, man. He's the kind of guy you love having in the locker room for sure. guy He plays his ass off, right? That cannot be questioned. guy plays hard. He competes. But just, dude, it's like the awareness and the decision-making, man. is just he's He's got that self-destructive streak when he's out there playing QB, man.
00:09:28
Speaker
um So I don't even really know how much of a future he has in the league. i don't know if you've if he's even backup material, man, because he seems like he's just a crash out waiting to happen every time he drops back to pass. Yeah. um I will say it's almost perfect. His last pass as a Titan was a freaking 80-yard bomb for a touchdown. That was literally his last ever pass as Tennessee Titan. was in the last It was in garbage time last game is last season, but he put an absolute freaking seed in there, man, to freaking like about 80 yards out on a deep post. And it was like, yeah, that that that fits, man. That's kind of just the perfect way for him to go out.
00:10:01
Speaker
Yeah.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Past and Future
00:10:02
Speaker
um Outlook for this season. ah to me, I think we're going to see five, six win team at best. Like I just, yeah i just don't see that they're going to improve a lot on last year. I mean, like I just said, the supporting cast is just not there for Cam Ward. We'll see what Ridley does this year.
00:10:22
Speaker
Dude, his biggest problem is he's never motivated, man. It just never seems like he's motivated enough to play football. Like there's games where he can't, he can't put any extra juice on the game like he used to, man. Yeah.
00:10:33
Speaker
There's games where he just like has ungodly numbers, and those are obviously the games that his friends are betting on, and then the rest of them he just goes out there and fucking runs through the motions doing cardio. Dude, I still remember the first half of his first game on the Jaguars, the season before last, and it's like, dude, this guy is going to be the freaking truth, man. He's about to be you know the best wide receiver in the league this year, and it just we've only gotten fading glimpses of that since then.
00:10:59
Speaker
I'm with you, man. You know, the case for the Titans is there's still a lot. I think there's some decent talent on there from the last couple off seasons. um And it's a weak division, right? To me, the bar is pretty low to at least be competitive, man, stack up some wins in this division and kind of be in the mix.
00:11:16
Speaker
um But I still think unless Cam Ward absolutely just catches lightning in a bottle and it is like, you know, and almost Jaden Daniels, like RG3 level rookie, I don't see this team getting, you know, I think,
00:11:29
Speaker
I think seven wins would be a smash success this year. i'm I'm kind of with you, man. I'm probably leaning more towards five, maybe six if they get some good breaks. I think it's going to be another rebuilding year next offseason, some more high draft picks, and then maybe really make a run there in 2026.
00:11:45
Speaker
New stadiums opened up in 2026. I know ownership is motivated to put a winner in there, man. So I think the pressure is on this coaching staff, dude. I think if ah if Callahan doesn't show some marked improvement, I think he's gone and they'll bring it. They're going bring in whatever the sexy new hire is and probably spend a lot of money next offseason. But this is going to kind of be a weird year in ah in Nashville, man, with, ah you know, you know, you got the exciting rookie QB, but they're also about to be undergoing a real big franchise transition when we when we move into the new Nissan Stadium.
00:12:15
Speaker
Yep, I agree. All right, let's go down south to Jacksonville Jaguars, man. Guys, 4-13 last year, so barely better than the Titans. This coming off.
00:12:27
Speaker
Back-to-back seasons were very competitive. You know, 2022, they win the afc South, and they go and win a tough playoff game with just an epic comeback against the Chargers. 2023, they start off really, really good, and then they fade down the stretch and end up losing to a Titans team that had nothing to play for to get bounced out of the playoffs.
00:12:43
Speaker
These guys were really unlucky last year, 3-10 in one score game. So that's something, you know, if you win half of those this year, that that's four additional wins. But 26th offense, 28th in defense. So again, they're right there in the basement with the Titans, man. Doug Peterson gets fired last year, complete and total failure on all levels.
00:13:00
Speaker
Yeah. um i So, I mean, we've talked about this for two years that we've been talking football together. i mean, obviously through a podcast, but dude, I just, I don't see it in Trevor Lawrence, man. I just, there's just something about him.
00:13:17
Speaker
i don't know if it's just like in his head or what it is. Cause the dude has all the talent in the world, but i just When the game's on the line, it's just like he like fades for some reason. I'll never understand it.
00:13:34
Speaker
All the analytics folks will tell you that he is one of the ah you know he's one of the guys that gets the least amount of help out of anybody out there. Drop passes, bad plays by his O-line. But at this point, man, it's been a long enough track record. We've seen good QBs ball out. you know If you're truly this generational great quarterback that you're supposed to be we've seen him overcome whatever supporting cast they got around him man so I'm kind of with you I I've sold off a lot of my Trevor Lawrence stock man I was I was really high on the guy for a while just because all the intangibles so and again we we've seen it at times man at times when they got that thing humming he looks great dude he's mobile got a huge arm seems like you know he's got the fire he's got the guys behind him um
00:14:15
Speaker
But it's it's been a rough couple. It's been a rough season and a half, man. I'd say i'd say the second half of 2023 and all of 2024 have not been good to the the Trevor Lawrence supporters out there. You're your mid-season MVP in 2023 and then doesn't win another game.
00:14:32
Speaker
The numbers back it up. i so I know it didn't play out. I still think that was a totally sound pick, man. I think you know i i thought if the the Jaguars could have freaking rose up to his level, he was due to really start putting up some big numbers. But...
00:14:45
Speaker
Obviously, it didn't happen. ah They got Liam Cohen, one of my favorite offseason hires, man. I think this dude's going to be cool. like everything I've seen out of this guy, man. Love the vibe. Love the energy. Remember when you thought that was their I think that's going to be a big upgrade.
00:15:01
Speaker
Dude, I honestly did not even think he was the head coach, man. Like the the vibe he gave off at the press conference, like I was like oh, they got a new GM. You know, that's the coach, dude. um But, you know, the clips I've seen since then, I like the way he interacts with the players. I just I think he's going to be a good coach, man. and And he's been running Tampa Bay's offense, who has really been one of the, you know, quietly one of the most explosive offenses over the last couple of seasons.
00:15:23
Speaker
um Doug Peterson to me dude I think he's a good coach but he's definitely more like he's the guy you bring in with a veteran roster to help motivate him and get him over the hump I don't think he's built for for taking a team out of the mud like what the Jaguars have needed um the last couple seasons yeah they lose Christian Kirk who is probably you know arguably the most reliable target for Trevor Lawrence but they got Travis Hunter man They also lost Evan Ingram, which I think is the bigger loss out of those two, honestly. like Yeah, was good. He used Evan Ingram a ton.
00:15:54
Speaker
I'm still interested to see what Travis Hunter actually does in the NFL because I just do not believe there's any way he can play both sides the entire game. like He keeps saying he's going to.
00:16:05
Speaker
Dude, college is a completely different ballgame than the NFL. Like, NFL, them dudes are hitting, hitting you. Like, he's going to come across the middle and get smoked by somebody realize this ain't college anymore. and just...
00:16:19
Speaker
I mean, if anybody can do it, this kid can probably do it, but I just – I don't see it. And ah i think him playing both sides is going to make him worse on both sides of the ball rather than him playing one side really, really well. I think he's going to be average to below average on both sides of the ball playing both ways as opposed to if he just focused on being a receiver or just focused on being a cornerback.
00:16:42
Speaker
I think he'd be a really good player. I just – I think this is a mistake doing this in the NFL, dude. Again, not not even remotely the same game.
00:16:53
Speaker
On the Jaguars' current depth chart, he's listed as a starter at wide receiver and a backup at cornerback. So I know they said he's primarily going to be offense, man. To me, yeah, I'm i'm with you. i don't i feel like being ah like a package player on defense is tough, man. Defense in a lot of ways, it's actually a lot more complex than than offense, man. I feel like I can see – being a full-time quarterback and having a package of plays for you on ah offense. You know what mean?
00:17:19
Speaker
um But vice versa, that just from, you know, from all my football sensibilities, that just seems like it's going to be awkward at best. Yeah, it's just it's setting the kid up for disaster, too. Like, i get he wants to do it.
00:17:32
Speaker
But, like, dude, this is the NFL and people are paid a lot of money to make decisions like these. And I hope this is not going to be a scenario where he gets pissed off when they tell him, hey, dude, you're not playing defense this game or anything like that. And he doesn't seem like that's what he's going to be. But, I mean,
00:17:48
Speaker
This dude, every time he talks, says he's playing offense and defense. So I guess remains to be seen if they actually let him do it. But I think it's a mistake if they let him do it because I think this dude could be really good playing one or the other.
00:18:03
Speaker
It's got to be pointed out. The Jags are one of the most dysfunctional um organizations in football. So, you know, I could totally see him dictating it. You know, maybe they put the feelers out before he's drafted. Like, you know, do not draft me to this team unless, you know, you're going to let me do this. Because I see why he wants to do it from a marketing standpoint, right? It's going to make him stand out.
00:18:24
Speaker
gonna help with the the popularity and the marketability but yeah i'm with you man i think you're gonna it's gonna water down what he's doing on both sides of the ball and dude the guys at the nfl are so talented there's just no need for it you know what i mean like the the gap between the guys that are starting you know the you know the gap between the best wide receiver in the nfl and the 50th wide receiver in the nfl is not that much and i say that to point out like there's just no point to having a guy playing both ways man like he's not going to do a better job playing corner than whoever the otherwise number three cornerback on the depth chart is
The Challenge of Dual Roles in the NFL
00:18:54
Speaker
doing it. That's doing it full time. It just doesn't work like that at this level.
00:18:57
Speaker
I agree. And I mean, there has obviously been players that have done it, but like, dude, look how long ago we're talking at this point. Like the NFL has just evolved into a completely different game at this point.
00:19:09
Speaker
Every guy, i mean, God damn, the defensive linemen run the same forties that the guys did in the nineties that played wide receiver. Like, this Yeah, it's not the same football anymore. Like, I love when people are are like, oh, this guy could play in this era.
00:19:23
Speaker
Dude, you can't say that the eras are just complete. NFL is the most distinct sport where you can like tell the eras apart, like. Yeah, the the hitting was – and you wouldn't get a ah personal foul for for some hits in the 80s and 90s. I get it.
00:19:39
Speaker
But, like, dude, the the I just said the defensive linemen are the running the same 40-yard dash as the wide receivers were in the ninety s Like – I don't think people realize how insane that is. I mean, just take Aaron Donald for for an example.
00:19:53
Speaker
The dude was 300 pounds and he was running like a 4-5-40. I mean, like just just think about that. Just think about 300-pound lineman lining up as wide receiver and running the same speed as the wide receiver. It's just, i don't know, man. I just think people don't like think enough about that before they say things about this guy could play in this era.
00:20:13
Speaker
Dion's the last guy I remember doing it both ways at a really high level. I just looked up his stats. The biggest year he had at receive. So he was obviously full time cornerback every single every single play. That's where he made his bones. His biggest year receiving was 1996 and he had 36 receptions for 300 yards and a touchdown. So we're talking, you know, one touchdown and Basically, two two catches a game, man, is what he, you know, averaging less. He averaged a little over two catches and about 20 yards receiving per game that year. And that was his most prolific season ever as a receiver. And we know, you know, I love I love Travis Hunter.
00:20:47
Speaker
I don't think he's Deion Sanders, man. No, I mean, I don't think that's an insult to him at all, dude. It's definitely not. He's one of the greatest athletes we'll ever see in our lifetime. And you just said his stats and that's what he did in his best year. Like, it's it's just not possible in the NFL, man.
00:21:06
Speaker
Yeah.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans Outlook
00:21:07
Speaker
All right. Outlook for the Jags, man. I see them being, you know, it's just like last year, man. I hate going chalk, but I kind of see them being about a step ahead of the Titans, man. I do think, assuming Trevor Lawrence comes back for that big concussion he had in last season, i think I think they're just a little bit further along as an overall roster and especially at the QB position.
00:21:27
Speaker
But I'm thinking like eight wins tops, man. I'm thinking these guys are in like the 6, 7, 8 win range. Yeah. See, i I think they can win 10 games and and flirt with a playoff berth. I really do.
00:21:39
Speaker
This division is not good, and I think they can get some wins in the division, and I think they can win enough games on the rest of their schedule to make them decent enough. I'll say they – I'll go with the final. They go ah they win nine games, so but I seriously think this team can push for a playoff spot.
00:21:56
Speaker
If Trevor Lawrence is as good as all the analysts say he is, then I think they can push for a playoff spot this year.
00:22:04
Speaker
fair enough, man. i'm with' I'd love to see it. I'm still a Trevor Lawrence fan, and you know i'd I'd like to see them have some success. And like I said, I like i like what you're seeing out of Liam Cohen.
Indianapolis Colts' Quarterback Concerns
00:22:12
Speaker
Up next, we got the Colts, man. I know our buddy Hawk is listening. Dude, I think these guys might be in the mix for the first pick in the draft, man. I am not inspired at all. this These guys went 8-9 a season after going 9-8. These guys were 8-6 in one score game, 17th in offense, 24th in defense.
00:22:28
Speaker
I also don't know how they won eight games last year, man. Like, they had a mix of freaking Joe Flacco, And Anthony Richardson at QB, you know, we we we saw AR, you know, the first QB ever to just take himself out out of a play for ah for the heck of because he needed a break.
00:22:46
Speaker
I mean, 8-9 is a decent enough record, but I still thought last year was just a disaster, man. There was just no no good vibes at all coming out of Indy last season. Dude, I had to double-check my homework three times on this team.
00:22:59
Speaker
They went 8-6 in one-score games. i don't think you're hammering that home enough that they went 8-6 in one-score games and they were 8-9. It's probably a bad team that was exceptionally lucky in these one-score games. Bro, they had three games where they lost by one more than one score. like that Three games were decided by more than one score. That is absolutely insane for a team that went 8-9. just...
00:23:22
Speaker
they are they're like the definition of just a middle of the road football team like i would like seriously when i'm doing when i was doing this and uh putting these in i'm just like looking at i'm like how the fuck did they go eight and six and one score games like and then end up eight and nine like usually you think eight and six and one score games this team probably went what ten and seven yeah They never beat a team by more than one score all last season, man. I i was lucky enough to see this team play in person against the Titans in Nashville.
00:23:54
Speaker
That was honestly the most boring football game I've ever watched in my life, dude. It felt like both teams should have lost that game if it was somehow possible. but You know what the funniest thing is is? I feel like I watched the exact same game in Las Vegas again with the Falcons and Raiders. It was the most mid-football game I've ever watched in my entire life.
00:24:13
Speaker
And it makes sense because I got to watch Kirk Cousins and Desmond Ritter duel it out. So it makes sense that it was a mid-football game. Falcons legends, man. Who do you think is starting week one, man? Daniel Jones or AR-15? I think it would be a really bad look if AR-15 wasn't starting week one. So all I will say it's him week one.
00:24:32
Speaker
He could be a beast, man. think it's going to be a Josh Allen situation, dude, where he was kind of wild and of control the first couple seasons and ends growing into one of the best QBs in the league. But I still feel like even those first couple years with Josh Allen, we saw a lot more bright spots than what we've got out of Anthony Richardson so far.
00:24:51
Speaker
Yeah, I'm not getting that vibe at all. like i just Anthony Richardson is just, I don't know. he His completion percentage is just... It's not good. I don't know, man. This is just like... Dude, it's perfect that he's the quarterback of this team because he is the most mid-quarterback as well. like it just There's nothing... don't know if he's mid. I feel like he's bad, dude.
00:25:15
Speaker
ah He shows flashes of being mid, I'll say that. like he He shows flashes that he could be really good. I don't know what his deal is, but i yeah't I don't get the warm and fuzzies when I watch Anthony Richardson play, and I'm damn sure not going to get the warm and fuzzies if it's Danny Dimes.
00:25:33
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, Richardson's got all the physical tools, man. Like, coaches could find a way to kind of, like, get him unlocked or whatever, yeah, like, you see you see the promise. I see why you draft this guy freaking fourth overall in the draft, man. But, dude, it was just... Nowadays, everybody... i feel like I feel like I could go out there and complete 60% of my passes in the NFL, man. These QBs are putting up such efficient numbers nowadays.
00:25:56
Speaker
This guy's barely over 50% on his completions, had 11 touchdowns, 13 picks, like... Dude, it's just not good at all, man. um that That's his stats over two seasons. And on top of that, he can't stay healthy. You know i mean?
00:26:08
Speaker
Bro. On top of all the inconsistency and the lack of success, the guy can't stay on the field. Dude, the craziest thing is they got Daniel Jones, who I feel like is exactly everything you just talked about. Like, he has all the physical traits to be a really good quarterback in the NFL, but then you look at his stats and it's like, what the fuck is this guy doing?
00:26:28
Speaker
Like, yeah I mean, he's a career 64% completion percentage. it I mean, which is better than AR, but good Lord.
00:26:37
Speaker
Let me pull up Daniel Jones' stats. He's like how he's looking, man. I feel like Daniel – I don't think that Indianapolis was it. I feel like maybe he was a guy just needed a little bit of a change of pace because he went – he got traded to – or he got released and signed on with the Vikings last year, right? Yeah.
00:26:54
Speaker
Yeah, but then I don't think he ever got on the field with them. um Well, obviously not. Let's see, man. Tim Darnold absolutely slinging it last year.
00:27:05
Speaker
Yeah, since that 2022 season, which even that one wasn't great. That year he was 15 TDs, five picks. I think that year he was kind of just, you know, he did a lot running the ball. And it was, you know, handed off to Saquon to get out of the way. he's never Honestly, his he's regressed, man. His rookie year, 2019, he went out and threw 24 touchdown passes against 12 picks. Remember, he had that like 80-yard run. And I think that was the second season, man. We had that like 80-yard run.
00:27:29
Speaker
Then he tripped up before he fell. So he actually showed, yeah, showed a lot of promise those first years and looking at strictly, obviously what we've seen, the eyeball test, he hasn't passed it at all. Numbers kind of bear that out, man. This looks like a guy that, andf you know, once they had kind of one round of ah film on him, they were able to shut him down. It's really surprising. He lasted as long as he did in New York with these kinds of numbers.
00:27:49
Speaker
to They chose Daniel, the Danny dimes over Saquon Barkley. Jesus.
00:27:57
Speaker
Yeah, I just – I mean, I get – you know, yeah, I take a QB over running back nine times out of ten, but that's the the tenth time, dude, where you just don't do it. I don't know – and Brian Dayball is a guy i trust, man, so I just don't know what he was seeing – At a Daniel Jones, man. i mean, I honestly, at the time, dude, i think it's a little bit of revisionist history, man, for that to throw them under the bus for not taking Saquon. I want to let both guys go, man. You know what I mean? Saquon hadn't been super reliable either for them. I probably, I probably let both guys go at that point.
00:28:28
Speaker
Um, But yeah, the fact that, you know, the way they end up presenting it, that, hey we're going to pay this guy and let Saquon go, like, yeah, just absolute disaster. It was not good. Outlook for the Colts, man. I think these guys are last place in the AFC South. i think I think the Titans pass them up. I think the Jaguars pass them up.
Houston Texans: Past Struggles and Future Optimism
00:28:47
Speaker
I'll also say they win seven games, but I don't think they're going to be good. How are they winning seven games dude i with the one-two points of Daniel Jones and AR-15?
00:28:59
Speaker
How the fuck did they win eight games last year? So you just you say the Colts mid-magic will carry them to ah to seven wins? Dude, they'll probably be seven and eight in one score game somehow this year.
00:29:13
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I'm with you, dude. That kind of feels like no matter what, they've kind of got this Groundhog Day thing going, where no matter what they do, they're going to be right around 500. I'm with you, dude, but I don't see it, man. I'm looking at their schedule right now.
00:29:27
Speaker
I'm having a hard time finding five wins, man. I'm calling Colts last place, man. All right. And then let's go to the Texans, man. Now, this is an interesting team, dude. They've gone 10-7 in the last two years.
00:29:38
Speaker
2023, we're jumping for joy, bro. people People are hanging from the freaking rafters in Houston on this 10-7 season. D'Amico Ryan's first year as head coach. Last year, expectations were sky high, man. like I need to go back and listen, but I think we were thinking this was going to be like 12, 13, 14 win team.
00:29:57
Speaker
And it just never materialized, man. They were a lot of close games, a little bit of sophomore slump from CJ Stroud, but I still thought he played pretty damn good. These guys were 19th in offense, 14th in defense, just like 2023. They were good in the one score games, man. They went seven and five and one score games.
00:30:12
Speaker
I think if they get balanced that first play, first playoff game, it's a failure. I'm still caught a success, man. They had a tough, uh, LA chargers team come into town and they handled their business against them.
00:30:22
Speaker
um, So, yeah, I think it was another success, but I don't think they took the next step forward we were expecting them to but before 2024. one's tough for
00:30:34
Speaker
dude. They were They were down one point going into the fourth quarter the to the Chiefs in the divisional round. like i I don't think last season was a failure for them, man. They lost two of their best players.
00:30:49
Speaker
that This is the thing with this team, dude. I really hope eventually we get to see their wide receiver room stay healthy because they have lost all their receivers at some point the last two years. like Dude, can you imagine last year if they would have had Tank Dell, Nico, and Stefan Diggs all year? like we never We got to see it one game.
00:31:07
Speaker
They all played together one game. Then Nico got hurt and was out for a little while. Then while he was out, either Tank or so I think Diggs got hurt first. And then he was out for the year. And then Tank went out for the year when Nico came back. Like...
00:31:22
Speaker
This team is just snake bitten by injuries, man. I still feel like last year for them was a success, honestly. I mean, yeah, I get it. like the expectation yeah it was It was a good season. Yeah, it was definitely a good season. i just feel like maybe for them, I think maybe they they fell slightly below what the expectations may have been. um You know, heading into the year. That's all I meant by that. I mean, if you're of the final eight teams in the NFL, it's a good season no matter what.
00:31:48
Speaker
They got a badass defense, man. Like, their defense did carry them a lot of games last year. And, yeah, like you said, C.J. Stroud, maybe a little bit of a sophomore slump. I feel like he's going to have a really good season this year. They got a good team around him.
00:32:03
Speaker
Traded for Christian Kirk, got Nico back, fully healthy. Yeah. running back questions is they got some questions there, but I think this team can be really good, man. I really do. Like they, they have a good enough roster to be really good.
00:32:18
Speaker
And just law of averages, man. um You know, if you have a if you have a season where you're that unlucky with injuries, it's just bound to bounce back to next year. I'm with you man. I think this team is poised for a breakout, dude. I think these I think they are going to feast on the AFC South this year. I think this team is getting the 12, 13 wins are going be in the mix for the the one or two seed in the AFC.
00:32:39
Speaker
Yeah, I think they're going to be really good. I mean, losing Laramie Tunsil is not great, but you knew they were going to have some salary issues eventually with the team they got. Like i said, they did get Kirk. They lost Diggs.
00:32:52
Speaker
I like Jaden Higgins. I don't think Diggs was that much of a wash, man. I don't think losing Stephon Diggs is going to up being that big of a deal long term for them. It ain't Stephon Diggs from four years ago, that's for sure. And I really do like Jaden Higgins, the receiver they drafted out of Iowa State. yeah I'm with you.
00:33:08
Speaker
I don't think I'm as high on them. i think they probably win 11, 12 games, somewhere in there. I don't think they're flirting with the one seed, though. I think they're probably three seed when it gets to playoff time.
00:33:21
Speaker
Yeah, to to be clear, I don't think they're, you know, a top three team in the AFC, but I do think they're going to put together a very, very strong regular season. And, it and and you know, because of the weak division, I think they're going to be elevated a little bit. And, you know, you may have a better team having to travel into Houston for the playoffs to ah to get a win.
00:33:39
Speaker
Yeah.
NFL's Influence on ESPN Broadcasting
00:33:40
Speaker
All right. So overall final predictions, man, I'm going bottom to top. I'm going Colts at the bottom, Titans, Jaguars, Texans. And I think Texans are probably the only team that gets in the playoffs out of this division this year.
00:33:52
Speaker
I'm going to go Titans, Colts, Jaguars, Texans. You bastard. Dude, I just don't see a lot to be – mean, Cam Ward is going be exciting in Tennessee. I just don't see anything else that team. The glazing of Cam Ward is Krispy Kreme levels with the Tennessee media right now, dude. People are in love with Cam Ward. That is not good.
00:34:14
Speaker
you You want to hear some like negativity for a rookie. That is not good, buddy. but He's getting treated. You think he's getting the kid gloves treatment right now? That is not good, man. He's coming out week one and throwing a pick six first pass of the game, guaranteed.
00:34:34
Speaker
yeah Did you see your boy Shadour is starting week one preseason for the Browns? Yeah, he's also the fourth string quarterback. This is window dressing at this point. like don' Don't get too excited. Hey, man.
00:34:45
Speaker
ah You know, i'm I'm not an NFL coach. Obviously, I'm a long way away from that. I can tell you for a fact, I've never once let my fourth best player start in any kind of game at any position, man. So take it what it's worth. I'm still saying Shooter is rolling out there week one. Falcons started their third and fourth string quarterbacks for all of preseason last year. So that should give you a good idea.
00:35:07
Speaker
this is this is what how that worked out for yeah This is what bad teams do, buddy. this is This is what the bad teams do in the NFL. they They fuck up and sign six quarterbacks in the offseason. like That's what bad football teams do.
00:35:21
Speaker
So who are you who are you calling right now that comes out of this battle royale as the week one starter for the Browns? Joe Flacco is their starting quarterback week one. i I don't even see it as even like a question. and Who is wanting to see Flacco start for the Browns? Stefanski just said yesterday they're very close to naming a starting quarterback for week one. There is nothing that I've seen from practices and the reps they've all been getting that would tell me it's not going to be Joe Flacco. I'm telling you they're starting Joe Flacco week one.
00:35:50
Speaker
I didn't say it was the most exciting. I'm just telling you it's the most Browns thing to do. Oh, we should have gone on to any other team besides them, man. what ah just we do He's doomed. We do have to talk about one more thing before we get off here because I meant to lead off with this. Did you see the NFL sold the NFL Network and Red Zone to yeah ESPN?
00:36:14
Speaker
I did. And now the NFL in exchange for 10% ownership stake of ESPN. So with it they've already been, you know, in bed together for decades, but now it's official, man. They're basically married. I do not. I did see Scott Hansen still going to host Red Zone. So that's good. Hopefully we don't get too much of it.
00:36:29
Speaker
it's It's only confirmed for this season, though, that he's going to still host Red Zone. Oh, dude, I think they keep it, man. I mean, even though as fucked up as ESPN has gotten over the last 10, 15 years, dude, there'll be blood in the streets if they try to take Scott Hansen off Red Zone, man. that he's ah He's an American institution at this point. I'm telling you, dude, watch. It'll be Pat McAfee in three years will be the host of NFL Red Zone. I'm telling you.
00:36:53
Speaker
I mean, I like, I like Pat McAfee and the gang, but I don't know, dude, they gotta be smart enough to know, like, I mean, red zone is a a perfect media property, dude. Like just, just leave it in this corner. Don't touch it, dude. Wait, wait till they introduce commercials into red zone too. That's going to really piss people off too. Cause that's going to happen for sure.
00:37:11
Speaker
Well, What I'm expecting for Red Zone is like the highlights are still there, but like we're not getting any commentary. They're just going to have, you know, like Stephen A. Smith and whoever on there just arguing about, you know, why the Cowboys did what they did while the highlights are just playing in the background. It's going to be a debate show with highlights on is just like be real in the background.
00:37:30
Speaker
I mean, let's be honest, like name one thing in the last like five years that yeah ESPN is still doing really well outside of ill I'll give them this. The college game day is still good.
00:37:43
Speaker
And I do like their college football coverage outside of that. I think yeah ESPN's coverage of sports is absolute dog shit at this point. Sports center is unwatchable. Yeah, Manning cast is good, but i think that I think for the most part they let Peyton Manning just kind of run his thing, dude. I don't think there's a ton of input on that. Yeah, that's just because Eli and Peyton are hilarious together. That has nothing to do with ESPN. I mean, it was a genius move putting him on there, but i don't and there's no script for them to follow. That's just those two being two goobers is all that is.
00:38:15
Speaker
Luckily, you know, with NFL owning 10% ESPN, I think they're still going to have a say on this, man. The NFL is generally pretty smart. Maybe maybe they can put some ah some hard lines down on Red Zone because I love Red Zone. it's just it's it's an app It's just perfect,
Episode Conclusion and Preseason Week Preview
00:38:28
Speaker
man. It is, but they will do commercials. It's just the way yeah ESPN does everything, man. They're all about advertising.
00:38:35
Speaker
All right, that's a wrap. Jordan hit us with some closing thoughts, and we'll get out of here. We got a full week of preseason this week, and we will be discussing it next week. Have good week, guys.