NFL Training Camp Takeaways for EVERY NFC Team

00:00:05
Speaker 1: Welcome to NFL Daily, where I am thrilled to be back in the Chris Westleyan podcast studio with two of my favorite people, Patrick Claiban and Jordan Rodrieg. Before we get to them, we have to talk about the shooting that happened at in around three forty five Park Avenue in New York City on Monday. If you're listening, you probably have heard about this. It was happening just as we were taping out at Rams Camp on Monday, and since we have learned from the police on the scene that a man named Shane Timura killed four people, including a police officer, before killing himself with a gunshot to the chest. An NFL employee was among the many people hurt, and official say Tomura had a documented mental health history. That's a building, obviously that is near and dear to everyone who works at the NFL's heart. I used to work in that building. We obviously know so many people that are there, and it's it's a huge building, and obviously the tragedy goes beyond just the NFL scope. But our thoughts are with everyone there and obviously we'll be we'll be following this, but there's not much more we can say other than we just hope everyone is safe and everyone gets the help that they need. And there's no great way to transition out of that. But I am happy, as I said at the top, that you guys are here with me on this show and that it is one of my favorite formats to do. I mean, I'm I'm a sucker for hitting a lot of teams in one show. And who better to go and hit every single NFC team with than Jordan and Patrick. You've been on the road in the NFC West. You've just been on the road. We missed you, Patrick, But welcome back to NFL Daily.

00:01:49
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's good. It's great to be back and here in studio with you guys where I go out and then I just become another fan. It's like I ask Great, like, hey, do you need me to take the microphone? He's like, no, we got it.

00:02:04
Speaker 1: That was a lot of pre taping, a lot of top twenty five players, and like I said, yeah, we're gonna go through each and every team, and we're gonna start with a team that to me, I wrote more notes on than any other team.

00:02:14
Speaker 3: I'm gonna be handling the NFC East.

00:02:15
Speaker 1: We each took different divisions and it's actually the New York Giants, and I'll ask what you guys think here, but like, I love that their biggest players are making a lot of news.

00:02:25
Speaker 3: Unfortunately, one of them was Malik Neighbors.

00:02:27
Speaker 1: He left practice Tuesday with a shoulder injury, but it does appear that he's okay, that it's not going to be anything serious. One thing that's really struck me, though, is their rookies. Abdull Carter, Like every rep that you see of him and every report that you see of him just seems like he's having an absolutely ridiculous camp and it just it just absolutely pops.

00:02:46
Speaker 3: I listened to the Giants Nation.

00:02:47
Speaker 1: It's a good podcast Bobby Skinner, and he's like like he knows it's camp, but you just are watching him and you're like, he's better than Brian Burns and cave On Tibodau. I mean just that like practicing like we got to see in the games. But I guess it's not total shocking, but he's just giving Germaine an illumin or the right tackle all sorts of business. Who's a good right tackle, and so I think you can get excited about that. At the same time of understanding that it might take Jackson Dart a little while to get going. The practice reports the first few days of camp for him were rough, supposedly like turning the corner a little bit, making some quicker decisions after that. But in terms of big time rookies that that was like the first takeaways at Giants camp.

00:03:26
Speaker 2: And I think it's that it falls along which it feels weird to say, falls along with expectations considering, right, the pedigree of Ebitdole Carter versus you know, a couple of other you know, highly touted edges that have been in the league and haven't necessarily had the production to match how we felt about it, especially pre trade Brian Burns, like the first when we thought maybe Brian Burns is going to get traded, you know, the production has kind of fallen off since then, and for Jackson Dart, especially with the the eye test and like I think maybe like twenty twenty plus combined years of with their other quarterbacks. Yeah, it's gonna it's gonna look a little bit different.

00:04:04
Speaker 4: I've been really not wanting to like be real takey as camp started, especially because Pad's just came on this week for most teams. I can't help myself because I really think the Giants are gonna be one of the best defenses in the NFL.

00:04:16
Speaker 3: I said it.

00:04:17
Speaker 1: I'm sorry, Okay, I like that. I think they get Dexter Lawrence back in practice, bron Are you freaking kidding? He's on a pitch count and Carter be next level right away would just change everything. And he does have a chance to be a Miles Garrett type of player who has that sort of impact right away, and you think, like Edge Rusher, like it shouldn't be really that impressive, you know, impressive early in camp.

00:04:41
Speaker 3: If they're popping like that.

00:04:42
Speaker 1: It's like, you know who had like the best first week of camp that I can think of from like a rookie over the last five years where everyone was going nuts, Aiden Hutchinson. Everyone was like, he's the best player on the Lions defense already, and it was true.

00:04:54
Speaker 3: And you know who had a bad like first month essentially, I can't like it was Trayvon Walker.

00:04:57
Speaker 1: Sometimes these things actually do tell you Trayvon Walker's become a better player.

00:05:01
Speaker 3: Get off me, Jaguars fans.

00:05:03
Speaker 1: But rookie year, it started out a little so The other thing interesting about their rookies there Camp Scattaboo is like taking first team reps and by most accounts has a chance to have like a major role, including starting, and not like he's getting all of them, but just looking at who's you know, performed the best at camp so far, like it might be Skataboo. So like this is to me just a fascinating team. The big downer is Andrew Thomas has not been in there at all, so it's like taking him like a little longer to get going than you would hope. And to me he's the lynchpin of that entire team. But you have like a cornerback two battle with Deontay Banks and Cordeal Float that's a real thing. Flot might actually win that thing. But there's like a lot to be excited about that this team might be different. Theo Johnson might be their like second most targeted.

00:05:48
Speaker 4: Receivers a lot of passes right practice according to the reports out of Giants, it's cool, Okay, Does anyone think that Camp Scataboo is if Brian Dable could go back and become a running back in another l it's just a ball of rage?

00:06:02
Speaker 3: Are you just saying like he's white. There are many of them.

00:06:07
Speaker 4: I literally just explained what I meant. He's a ball of rage running at you.

00:06:11
Speaker 2: Attitude wise, every movement is violent. Yes, much in the same way that Brian's Able might just start screaming at a backup quarterback up.

00:06:19
Speaker 4: Yes, it says it's an annual thing. I follow, you know, my colleagues Charlie Carroll and Dan Dugan out there and I have notifications on and I because I always love the first post of the of the year when Dan Dugan says, well, it's the first annual Brian Dable freak out here was the victim.

00:06:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, he has not like gotten any more chill and Scattaboo is definitely not chill. He he seems like a guy who at some point will get into a training camp fight with one of his teammates. Uh, not like that's a bad thing. There's just like there's those guys on every team. We're going to get to one on the Packers lately, Nate hops just like it goes as like a little over the edge. All right, let's go to the Cowboys and yeah, we're we're front the show with a couple of teams I feel like I had a lot of news.

00:07:03
Speaker 3: I mentioned at the end of our show with the Rams.

00:07:05
Speaker 1: Tyler Geyton is officially out four to six weeks with a fracture. He is the left tackle of the Cowboys, by all accounts, had improved so much and was looking really good this offseason, and as part of the reason why I kind of planted a flag on Cowboys optimism last week, saying, like, man, this young offensive line, like it could go wrong, but the ceiling is to have a top like six or eight really young offensive line, and kind of like the Bucks then last year, like suddenly you think that team is much better Since then, Terrence Steele, the right tackle, has gotten high ankle spring. Tyler Guiton's out four to six weeks. Initially they feared worse, So I guess that's good news, but not really. You're gonna miss him. And then in theory you could move Tyler Smith out to left tackle, but his primary backup, Robert Jones, who they signed, is out for two months. So I don't think they're gonna mess with the interior from the buzz that's going out there, and they're just going to have some backups at tackle, especially left tackle for a little while. That that's concerning another injury Jordan is Kaylan Carson, who had been lining up with the starters at cornerback because they're so thin at cornerback, is out four to six weeks. So I'm already like losing my Cowboys optimism.

00:08:11
Speaker 4: I know you had, but you also I think I want to have it.

00:08:13
Speaker 3: Overall, this is none of these are death.

00:08:15
Speaker 4: Flows, and you gave yourself it was the take expert cushion. You gave yourself, you said. But their variance is among the cre a lot of air in the entire league.

00:08:25
Speaker 3: Yeah.

00:08:26
Speaker 4: My everything that I see reporting wise out of Cowboys camp says that they do not want to move Tyler Smith if they don't have to, because moving him from left guard, kicking him out it's totally it's obviously totally different footwork. But they're not sure locally yet how much time Tyler Guiiten is truly going to miss. And so if it's only a game or two, you really don't want to mess with that continuity and flip flop guy's position.

00:08:49
Speaker 2: In my position, yeah, they've already dealt with enough, and so you create this cascade of issues where you're creating another that you have to solve if you move Tyler Smith when you already do with enough of these issues with Tyler Guiden's injury, and so it's you just have to wait, Like you can't be overly reactive because now you got to react to your reaction.

00:09:08
Speaker 4: You mean the Cowboys are trying not to create their own issues.

00:09:12
Speaker 1: Well, first, I know it's crazy because Jake Ferguson got that contract and I think it's quite team friendly, but it's also weird because he's coming off a bad year. But man, they have a lot of guys that are up for contracts that aren't named Michaeh Parsons. It's just like a lot's going on. Like Deron Bland, they're talking about a new contract with him too. Tyler Smith is going to get a top of the market or deserves the top of the market guard contract. And then you have Micah's there too, like Trayvon Diggs will see when he gets back, he's not there right now. So like when you're lining up at practice lately, it's been Kayer Elam and it was Kayln Carson, and they've got some undrafted guys. Kyer Elam was a guy who came in. Doron Bland is back with the team, though supposedly at running back. Like I thought this was going to be a battle and we'll see, but it seems like it's just Miles Sanders.

00:09:58
Speaker 4: Yeah.

00:09:59
Speaker 1: I was listening to Love the Star podcast and they kind of thinks he's actually looked good. He looked better than they expected. I was reading between the lines. Javonte Williams maybe not as much. And Jayden Blue is like an exciting, young, explosive guy who had this crazy one handed catch down the field and they want to get him in the mix, but it's probably gonna be Miles Sanders and then just the other like drum beat out of there is a lot of Donovan Eziraku love, and that's part of my Cowboys love, like that edge group. If Ziraku pops and Sam Williams is out there and he's back like Marshaw Nelan eventually like Cowboys are good, maybe you'll become a Cowboys fan again.

00:10:36
Speaker 2: No, that's not happening, but I do think right the reason for optimism, it's all there, And yeah, we could we could couch it with some caveats and talk about Thinness, but uh, let's be honest. Uh DA's there. Uh yes, Like the offense will score points, Micah will be explosive. Eventually, the deals will get done. The Cowboys will end up paying more than they should because they should have done them earlier.

00:10:58
Speaker 1: Like that, and then what I don't and then we'll see it play Trevon Diggs and Sharon Revel who was a high pick for them to get healthy, because like that, their cornerbacks being heard, their offensive line being heard. That's more the thing that I'm worried about. But George Pickens, by the way, he was chosen as as the star of the week. I believe it was by the Dallas Cowboys dot com. But you know, they still got to pick five guys and Pickens has come out there and he's done something. Let's go to the commanders. Terry McLaurin is back in the mix, but he's still on the pup list, so he has an ankle issue he's working through as he's trying to get that contract done. Speaking of contract, I was curious, like what von Miller's contract looked like. He got three million dollars guaranteed, so you would think he like is actually going to be on that team.

00:11:40
Speaker 3: I don't think there's much risk they would.

00:11:41
Speaker 1: They would cut a guy who got three million dollars guaranteed, although it has happened before. He'd have to look pretty bad. They had the lesser know Herbig retired. Nate Herbig, who was an offensive lineman for the Steelers and was with them, was coming off an injury, so happy trails to him. One of those early retirements of camp. And it's been a lot of debo. Remember everyone was getting on debo in the off season because he kind of like looked a little bigger on one of those well he did like a Luka Doncic, because when you're seeing him in camp he is looking sleek and everyone's just like, it's a whole lot of debo.

00:12:13
Speaker 3: Sorry, are you feeling the debo?

00:12:15
Speaker 4: Love? I was last time. I said, Man, you do not want that guy hitting you or running at you, or catching the ball and running past you at any weight. I don't care.

00:12:23
Speaker 2: Yeah, the all season weight concerns based on pictures are always something that it's like, what are.

00:12:29
Speaker 1: We My concern is he's had weight fluctuations and not looked as explosive consistently over the last few years because of those injuries as he has, but I think right now he's healthy, so that's great.

00:12:39
Speaker 4: Maybe he just ate some sort of inflammatory food that day. You know that happens to the best of us.

00:12:44
Speaker 2: It's going to start selling tummy to you on TikTok and like a little bloated.

00:12:47
Speaker 4: What were those things that went around and the era when like the reality TV steroids started of the kardash or whatever, it's like the weight train or the waste train. They were like a thing that you had like a freaking modern day course at what are we doing? What are we doing to women? What are we doing to women? And to Deebo, let's not do any of these things.

00:13:08
Speaker 3: Be happy body.

00:13:10
Speaker 1: One thing I noticed on Tuesday was like it was a veteran rest day for Marshall Lattimore and Laramie Tunzel and von Miller and zach Ertz and Cleveland Fair. And that's all cool, Like you should have these veteran rest days everyone see how business super veteran. But it was just it's just a reminder this team is a little older than most, so it's it's just it's something I'm monitoring. And then finally on my preseason watch list, everyone is loving themselves some Jacory Crosskett merit the running back youngster for Washington, and that's what the preseason to me is all about. Like every single writer in Washington is like, this guy's been the most interesting guy in camp. This like you know, bowling ball of a young running back. So just someone I want to watch. We'll finish our NFC East with the Eagles. I don't want to go too deep because we're gonna have a deep dive into the Eagles on our next show with our friends Bo Wolf and Zach Berman.

00:13:59
Speaker 3: But Jalen Carter is back at practice. That's really good.

00:14:03
Speaker 1: And Jalen Hurts is still doing the thing where he's kind of like cosplaying as Michael Jordan.

00:14:08
Speaker 3: What do you think about that it might be too hard?

00:14:10
Speaker 2: No, it's it's not. I don't think it's it's being too harsh.

00:14:14
Speaker 1: Eventually, like he says his quotes and he wears the Jordan gear and I don't know.

00:14:18
Speaker 2: Well, yeah, it's you know, so what, he's a fan, you got a brand, right, But eventually people will stop asking him, stop asking him stuff, like because a lot of times it's like throwing Jalen a lob. Yeah, where it's like Jalen h I saw an article from Eagles smoke fan twenty seven dot com who said that you weren't good. What do you think about that? And then like Jalen will drop a quote like, you know, the galaxy doesn't care about.

00:14:46
Speaker 3: Galaxy.

00:14:47
Speaker 4: He doesn't care about starts a thing.

00:14:49
Speaker 2: You know, it's it's just something random like that.

00:14:52
Speaker 3: You do that was good?

00:14:54
Speaker 2: Yeah, but because that's that's what it felt like. I love I love Jalen, but at a certain like I did too shout out to him. I just you know, yeah, we didn't. We can let it, let it rock.

00:15:05
Speaker 3: We'll keep an eye on Devada. The smith was out of practice.

00:15:07
Speaker 1: But like I said, we're gonna dive deeper into the Eagles, So I think let's just save that conversation.

00:15:12
Speaker 3: A lot of a lot of moro O jamo talk.

00:15:14
Speaker 1: They're their young safety Andrew mccouba is out with an injury, so that's that's a concern. Uh, there's a battle a guy I've never given up on, a Dori Jackson, who sneakily had like two incredible cornerback seasons. To me, he is the picture of what a cornerback is the highs are high, the lows are lows, and he might be winning that first team battle right now at cornerback. All right, let's go to the NFC West.

00:15:38
Speaker 4: Chaos is back, yay in a big way. All throughout the NFC WES we talked about it a little bit. I'm going to start with I think collectively the favorites across the board, maybe not in Vegas right now, but collectively across the board, the Los Angeles Rams. We were just at training camp with them earlier this week. Matthew Stafford still is not throwing. I'm personally eyeballing the joint practices with the Cowboys on August fifth. If he's not throwing by then, then I start to get actually worried. But the thing about having Jimmy Garoppolo as the backup is they're actually installing the actual offense, what we will actually see from the offense. Obviously, your definitive three receivers are Puka Nakua and DeVante Adams and two two out Well, Puka and Davante are one A and one B. I would not look at them as one and two. I would look at them as like orbital players who are going to rotate a lot and move a lot around in the system. Terence Ferguson getting some first team reps, getting worked in, and I think he will definitely be more in those pass catching mismatches with Colby Parkinson maybe taking up more of the backside blocking stuff. And Tyler Higbee obviously is still the starter. Alec Jackson is still the left tackle. He's still not practicing in full. Just something to watch. DJ Humphries was taking announced the seas, which is scary. He's in, yes and easy, there's more of that. He's dealt with it before, and he is in. He's receiving tree. I did talk to somebody at RAMS who was feeling just really optimistic about his overall status. However, obviously you're gonna wait. They are going to be adamant about waiting until they know for sure it's safe for him to be back on the field. So it is DJ Humphries playing first team left tackle. You're seeing a lot of motion, a lot of tight end usage, a lot of DeVante Adams, a lot of Puka and Akua on offense.

00:17:22
Speaker 1: So far, maybe better, you know, than they've had at swing tackle in the past. J Humphries a little bit of a boomer bus guy, but when he's healthy and right has been a good player in the league.

00:17:33
Speaker 3: Yeah, it was.

00:17:35
Speaker 1: It was disarming to be there and see so many first team reps for Kannada Mumpfield, a man I was not familiar with, but it's getting a lot of first team reps.

00:17:43
Speaker 3: Jordan Whittington.

00:17:44
Speaker 4: Back when somebody was a beat writer for the Rams, somebody said, this is a player you need to watch because he is a perfect fit for the Sean McVay offense, especially when these other guys get arrest day. And also, I don't think it's going to be easy for them to keep Jordan Whittington off the field. He anytime he's on the second team, he is so explosive. He just doesn't belong there. He like, it is going to be so hard for them to keep him off the field.

00:18:08
Speaker 1: Yeah, some depth, and as someone who usually goes to one preseason game, you know some people I know that I'll get to a watch.

00:18:16
Speaker 3: We'll see if the.

00:18:17
Speaker 1: Emmanuel Forbes reclamation project works out from Washington. I know you know you were in Arizona, you were in with the Rams. You were not in Seattle. Are you going to be going to Seattle anytime.

00:18:30
Speaker 4: I'm going to try. I so far, I only have until August's eighteenth planned in my life slash schedule, but I'm going to try to get up there. It's super interesting because it reports out of camp right now in Seattle is that the defense is not only asserting themselves, I would say politely, but also they have this identity and this like vocal just assertion of who they are and what they are. And I get it because of how they have come along so far under Mike McDonald and that first year going into that second year, the ascension of all these players, there seems to be a collective sort of identity within that group. And my colleague Michael Sean Dugar was saying, actually saying, he's waiting for someone on offense to take the role of the trash docker. He's hearing it only from the defense and not vice versa.

00:19:23
Speaker 3: Sama.

00:19:23
Speaker 4: When the pads went.

00:19:24
Speaker 3: On exactly that with a lot of like what if he became that though, or we're just going to dark Sam.

00:19:31
Speaker 4: Like if you just had like the let the let the the you know, the demons out a little bit. But the first, second and third string defense all quote unquote one, the move the ball drills earlier when the pads first went on, so that's when we actually start to count things. But actually, I would say for Darnold's favorite, there's been a lot of positive reporting about how he's played, how he's managed kind of his new role the team. They're still obviously working out what these receivers are going to look like, and all things lead back to the offensive line with this group and whether it will be a detriment to what they're trying to do or whether it will actually supplement and compliment what they're trying.

00:20:06
Speaker 1: To do with ken Walker, Yeah, they have battles at center and right guard. I was a little surprised that they're making Olua Timmy who without finished last season. I was they well battle for that job and that that's what's happening. It really seems like marcuz Veld the scantling as their third receiver and they're making Jake Bobo and the rest of them fight after that, which not in love with.

00:20:26
Speaker 4: I think they're going to use the tight ends a lot too, are you.

00:20:28
Speaker 2: I Mean, look, the late late season pushed from MVS was was notable and you know, pretty much a hopeless New Orleans spot. You know MVS made some plays down the stretch. I don't know that. You know, you want to build the whole plane out of MVS. Yeah, And I don't think right if of all the coaching staffs in the NFL, like if any coaching staff is going to try to take things lightly on the offensive side of the ball and like trying to make everything look I don't think Mike McDonald's going to be a part of that operation. So like, yeah, it could look rough at spots in camp, and maybe a little bit better when the same.

00:21:06
Speaker 1: And Elijah Royo, the rookie, is like so active they're using him in the slaw all over, so maybe he's really the I think they're.

00:21:12
Speaker 4: Going to use both of those tight ends A J. Barner and Elijah Roya. I think in this Koubiak system, you definitely want to use a couple, at least a couple of tight ends. And Elijah Royo was one of the more exciting prospects at the position coming out raw sure, but also like high comp super high upside. One thing injury wise to keep an eye on out of Seattle, Ernest Jones. He missed the first padded practice due to what the team was saying was a personal reason. But just as notable for this this is he had the knee surgery in the off season. He's obviously an absolute star for them, especially in the run game and as a blitzer, but he has not fully practiced yet missed OTAs in mini camp. So just just something to keep an eye on. Not no need for a huge concern just yet.

00:21:56
Speaker 1: And this would maybe change this stance, but we're not allowed here at the NFL to gamble or suggest gambling really, although we have a show game debut where we do pick games every week for what it's worth in the scores. But if there was like a way that ahead of time you could you could just pick who based on the odds, you know, would be like a sneaky pick to finish the season number one defensive DVOA.

00:22:22
Speaker 3: You know, I would like the Seahawks' odds.

00:22:24
Speaker 1: Because I would assume they wouldn't be in the top five going into the season, and yet I think they have like a higher chance than people would realize of like literally being the best defense in the league.

00:22:33
Speaker 3: I think it's on the table.

00:22:34
Speaker 2: You mean, like playing the number.

00:22:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm playing the number but I'm but I'm thinking saying that I think they'll be in the top five, you know, and I think they could be number one, because because I don't know anything, it's hard to predict.

00:22:45
Speaker 4: Or I think their absolute rock bottom floor is still a top ten defense.

00:22:48
Speaker 3: Right, which is that's a good place to start.

00:22:50
Speaker 4: Really hard to find a place to criticize or be concerned about, truly, because even if you're worried about the return from injury and you're worried about, you know, the knee with Ernest Jones, you're they're not asking him to do things outside of what he's best at, and they're bringing safety help and help via the slot and Julian love, help for him to not necessarily have to move latterly in ways that would put him in harm's way. So it's just smart. It's a smart defense full of talented players. What could go wrong?

00:23:16
Speaker 1: Yeah, the combination of like, continuity, relative youth, all of it.

00:23:21
Speaker 2: I love it.

00:23:21
Speaker 1: I know you love the Cardinals. After idea, say you love your guy Trey McBride.

00:23:26
Speaker 4: Yes, and got to talk to him in Arizona. Didn't go in with really any expectations about how, you know, the conversation or you know, sometimes you catch guys. This was really high energy practice. You catch guys after that you're not sure. Oh my god, just had the best conversation with him, and really grateful for the time. Really special special person, special player. I think he's one of the best tight ends in the league. Not the best right now. George Kittle is up there obviously always. So this is a super interesting team because they've improved every single year, and when I went to the practice, you could really see they know where they're supposed to be. There's urgency in practice. What I thought was the most interesting two things that I want to note to you guys that stood out to me about being there was first of all, a lot of seven on seven red zone install they obviously need to score more points, they need to finish drives, and a lot of red zone install a lot of different types of things with Marvin Harrison Junior, trying to get him comfortable in a little bit probably a bigger role. Still, this offense will still funnel through the tight ends, but so far in training camp that is a super key point of emphasis for them. Little designed runs for Kyler in the red zone as well, which I think would behoove them. I think that would be a positive thing if they can sustain that through and Darius Robinson. They won't have Walter Nolan because who knows how long, because they haven't given a timeline for the injury yet suffered the injury in camp. The first round pick, who were all really excited about Greg's favorite player in this draft, but they are really high on Darius Robinson, and you can almost see, like the second rounder line, you could almost see him like flip the switch, understanding I have to be this guy and obviously looks the part, fills out the jersey, but was really attacking these practices and impressing teammates and having Kalais campbellback's great too.

00:25:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's the red zone work. Essentially, it made me think back, not just for the Cardinals, but for the Rams, the forty nine ers, and the Seahawks, especially the division essentially came down to seven or eight plays executing in the red zone, and of course the Cup has had like the most notable and spectacular failure in the red zone. But that was just one of those things that sometimes happens with football, the ball not being round. But you can right drill and practice certain scenarios to extent where the execution can be on point, even if the result isn't what you want, you can have that level of execution. And I really think, like division wide, that should be the focus.

00:25:58
Speaker 4: I love that about the NFC West. It comes down truly to the margins, truly to the tiniest but most important of you.

00:26:05
Speaker 1: They've lost two potential starters for the season and the secondary we mentioned it's Starling Thomas, not a household name, and they do have good depth, good young depth.

00:26:15
Speaker 3: Overall.

00:26:16
Speaker 1: I think their starting group is still strong, but they've kind of lost that Wilgo room right off the bat well. The other thing that stuck out to me just as a fantasy guy, they tried they've been trying to like ask Gannon about you know, is Trey Benson.

00:26:32
Speaker 3: Is he going to have more of a role this or that?

00:26:33
Speaker 1: And the steady drumbeat is like, no, we want to ride James Connor until the wheels fall off. So James Connor workhorse season like it's not ending. I don't think anytime soon.

00:26:42
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's interesting too. You mentioned the defense. I think that our guy Will Johnson is going to really get a shot at this, and he should. But that's the thing, it's a rookie. Sometimes, coaches, we'll play rookies early, especially in a defense like this. But I think it's going to be a rotation with Ger Williams, Max Melton, and Will Johnson. Then obviously Williams has outstanding experience in the slot, so he can be sort of an inside outside player and when they have three corners, you know obviously that he would kick inside and maybe Will will Johnson goes on the outside.

00:27:12
Speaker 1: All right, let's wrap the forty nine ers will be the last team here before we take a little break. The NFC West, Yeah, where they finally had some good wide receiver news. Ricky pierceill back on the field making some catches, so that.

00:27:25
Speaker 4: That yes, they did. Yeah, he's working his way back into practice. Still pretty concerned about the overall depth of that position group. But I you know, also would say that I think the other news that was really really good out of forty nine ers camp that I think is the news coming out of forty nine ers camp is Christian McCaffrey back to his old workout schedule previously when he was sort of at the top before the injury back to his his routine, back to these highlight reel shimmys and shakes on his routes in practices. And I think that because you have a healthy Christian McCaffrey and a healthy George Kittle, you're going to use them as mismatches so often in the passing game that maybe you're not super worried about the fact that Juwan Jennings is in a combination a little bit of a calf issue sitting out of practice, and also there's a contract situation brewing, and then also Brandon Aiyuk is not going to be there for an unforeseen still amount of time several months at least. If you have those two guys actually in your passing game and supplementing them with a healthy Ricky Piersol, hopefully they get another one of these guys back, Cowing maybe then that could be exciting for them.

00:28:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, Jacob Cowings is like a young speedster that they're hoping is going to have a big season, but it is out right now. Yeah, they need Juwan Jennings back because otherwise, like I mean, I forget who they were like putting out there as a starter at wide receiver in these practices, it was Hawkins, a man I wasn't and I'm just like, wow, they are thinner than you expect. And then at cornerback it's it's kind of a position to watch their little thin there too. Like the former Seahawk Trey Brown right now is lining up like the secondary and the offensive line for me. For the forty nine ers, it was Jordan Watkins, by the way, is kind of like right now their number three receiver.

00:29:12
Speaker 4: Yeah, the local people love them, right, so maybe.

00:29:15
Speaker 1: Maybe he'll turn turn out to be great. It's just like names we don't know as well. The entire secondary safety is kind of wide open. It's the old Falcon. Richie Grant is in the mix there. They have a lot of rookies on the defensive line, just so much uncertainty on this team.

00:29:29
Speaker 4: But a lot of these guys played for Robert Sala and so he went out and found like Jason Pinnock, who might be filling in in a big role, has played for a cup of coffee for Robert Sala And it's like it's these guys who it's like, you know, you really would rather have Malik mustaff Up be on the field.

00:29:46
Speaker 3: Right coming off a torn Aco.

00:29:48
Speaker 4: Yes, but he's still going to be recovering for a while. And so now you have to plug and play with these patch veterans. We've seen this work before for teams.

00:29:56
Speaker 1: So we are done with the NFC West here and we you know, put the call out to you guys, which divisions would you want to cover?

00:30:04
Speaker 3: At least I did that with Patrick.

00:30:05
Speaker 1: And he's built different because he had the number one overall pick and he just goes, what did you say? Yeah, give me the dirty NFC South. I mean he's built different. Literally, he is built different, but we all are, but he's built different. We will hit the NFC South right after this.

00:30:25
Speaker 2: It's a fun division.

00:30:27
Speaker 3: I love that no one at NFL network like, choose it, get him.

00:30:32
Speaker 4: I would choose you every time South, get him in the trenches.

00:30:45
Speaker 1: So if I heard it one time, I heard it a thousand times over the month plus that Patrick was not on the show, Like where is Patrick? The clay Bon vivants we're saying the clay Bon Bonds were saying it what the slave bonds?

00:31:07
Speaker 3: The clay Bony Bears. I don't know. We need a nickname for the massive Patrick fan base.

00:31:14
Speaker 2: How's How's it any more than three people, the pat Pack. The pat Pack, well that that that's that's so heart enn it nick that good people would notice my apps.

00:31:24
Speaker 3: The clay Bon Voyages, Now, that wouldn't really make sense.

00:31:28
Speaker 4: I like the clay Bony Bears. I like that.

00:31:31
Speaker 3: I like the clay Bon Vivant, huge boniever fan.

00:31:34
Speaker 4: A really massive fan base, really in its feelings.

00:31:38
Speaker 1: I like that. I think I like the clay Bon Bonds. The clay bon vivance is pretty good word that we don't use enough in general.

00:31:44
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think because you know, the the dark period, right, and then our first vacation in five years. Yes, my daughter left California for the first time, oh in her life. Exciting, Yeah, I kind of. But yeah, no, no concern to it had to be seven people. Maybe.

00:32:04
Speaker 1: No, We've got a suggestion from the back room the clay Hive. That's pretty good too. That's pretty good too.

00:32:11
Speaker 3: So we'll leave it to the people. Just let us know, you know, just throwing.

00:32:16
Speaker 4: Just throwing pat Pack out there one more time, you know, I.

00:32:21
Speaker 1: Might, I might not allow that one. I've got final editorial. I just like I like going off the name too. I guess his name is Patrick well, that's true.

00:32:31
Speaker 3: I like it all. My son calls you, my son calls you. Slave on.

00:32:35
Speaker 1: So we're getting to the NFC South A Division only. Patrick, Yes, it would get down with but I did want to mention, sorry, just a couple AFC items before because this is an NFC heavy show. But we did have a couple of injury items happen on Tuesday. I'll just fly through unfortunate news and we can get into this more another time. But Martin Emerson, who's a good starting young cornerback for the Browns entering a contract year, tore his achilles on Tuesday. So that's the strength I believe of their team, their their cornerback position, and now they're losing obviously one of their best players, and that's really unfortunate. Isaiah Likely is reportedly out a few weeks the tight end of the Ravens after getting carted off the field. The Chiefs had three they're really their top three other than Rasi Rice. Their receivers leave practice with injuries, but we'll see it doesn't sound like any of them are serious. Christian Gonzalez was among the people that left practice with an injury. But it's always tough to know how just dropped into your feet on that one. It's always tough to know how serious these things are. But obviously at torn Achilles and out a few weeks in terms of Martin Emerson, unlikely, that's serious.

00:33:41
Speaker 3: That's unfortunate.

00:33:43
Speaker 1: Let's get to hopefully more positive news in the NFC South.

00:33:47
Speaker 2: Okay, well, well, eventually get to some positive news, all right, but it is to hear about the the Emerson injury is tough because we just talked about Loll McDonald with the Cardinals in the last block and how he fell down the draft board because of these concerns, and it's just like injuries are going to be the one constant thing in the league. It's got to get the player right. You get the player and hopefully they have an opportunity because injuries happened like Darnel Mooney, and the Falcons really have not too many guys that can get open, like Darnell Mooney had a shoulder injury. The timeline is two weeks and then they're going to reevaluate, is what Rahee Morris said on Tuesday. Ray May mccleoud got some reps at the X when Mooney got hurt last year, positive note, switching to to good news because so much of this Falcon season, and really the entire Terry Fontina is a good GM take that I had this offseason I will have to wear for the rest of it.

00:34:42
Speaker 4: I can kind of mysteriously disappear from the show.

00:34:44
Speaker 3: For a while. I always I have the memory of a goldfish, so I would have forgotten it.

00:34:50
Speaker 2: I'll never forget. I'll never let anybody forget that, whether I'm right or wrong. I was banished went to the Gulf of Mexico because that's the name of the body of water.

00:34:57
Speaker 5: Yes, but either way, top ten GM. You had him in our guest and James Pierce Jr. Is going to be a whole lot people determine that, and he has been solid in practice. He's gotten in a couple of dust ups. We talked about training camp fights earlier. There's a couple of different ways you can look at training camp fights. Where Morris chose to say we like aggression. They wanted a little bit of an edge. I guess the couple on Tundra when they drafted James Pierce Jr. They got that he doesn't like that it waste time. In practice, they had to cancel.

00:35:26
Speaker 2: It development period because there were multiple dust ups, but he did appreciate the way that he bounced back. It was beef with Ryan Neuzl the center and Caleb McGarry multiple times, but Leonard Floyd came in backed him up. Everybody's fine, Leonard. They'll have an opportunity with a joint practice with the Titans next month middle of next month to hit somebody that's not in their uniform. Jeff Aldbrick was talking about it, said they'd like to create a culture a style of play which is violent and aggressive. At times, they went a little too far and so but the ports on James Pierce Junior have been good. The other edge, the top pickt out of Georgia, who is Jalen Walker, did not practice. There was a bit of a management period over the weekend, which is something that they are taking and evaluating, and I think it's notable because he's a rookie and they're still kind of managing some reps, which I think is a league wide thing. With player performance and the data being so kind of ubiquitous, with the way teams are going about things, there's not as much of this hard line like, yeah, you got to get out there and hit and be violent all the time. If you notice a guy is starting to lag a little bit, you give him some time to manage their bodies, which which I think makes sense. And of course from the fantasy perspective, everybody wants to know Kyle Pitts. You know, is this I really think if you, if you want to talk about volume the Mooney injury, if it does become a longer term thing, there's just more ball, some more availability to go out to the tight end. But if you, if you're a Kyle Pits believer, you just have to continue to believe at this point, at which I do.

00:37:09
Speaker 1: And I think there are many left. I don't think, yeah, everyone about we're starting to.

00:37:14
Speaker 4: See Kyle Pits headlines that also are included in the headline for real this time. So that's where we're at right now.

00:37:21
Speaker 1: He's reportedly as healthy as he's ever been, so that's good. The main thing to me with Kyle Pitts, beyond like them saying like he's looked good, is just there are no issues. There's always issues for him injury wise, and so when I point out, like I know he has the name Kyle Pits and there's this idea that he's explosive, but he actually hasn't been explosive actually on the field, like maybe now he is truly healthy. Same same thing with Kirk Cousins. He's still there. I just like to remind people every once in a while, Kyle Kirk Cunins is showing up to work every day and like throwing passes and he's a quarterback on that team.

00:37:58
Speaker 2: And on the quarterback show Uparently it's a you know, Kirk's feelings regarding the rookie that they drafted being better than him, just being worn on his sleeve at.

00:38:08
Speaker 1: A certain interesting and it's I haven't made it that far yet. I'm spoiling it. It's like a little bit of a slog. Not even it is a slog. It's okay, we can have television criticism on the show.

00:38:20
Speaker 4: It's not a pat Pack pick of the week for your viewing it.

00:38:25
Speaker 3: I don't really want to trying.

00:38:26
Speaker 2: To make make it happen.

00:38:28
Speaker 3: The bon Vivans will, the Clay bon Vivans will.

00:38:32
Speaker 2: I'm just the fact that people notice my absence was is heartening to me.

00:38:38
Speaker 3: To the Buccaneers anywhere anywhere you want to go okay, please.

00:38:42
Speaker 2: Yeah, start with the bad news. David Walker on Friday towards a c L there was some hope that they get him in the MRI machine and get out some good news. They did not. Both said they still feel like they have a lot of depth at Ed Rusher positions. Uh Reddick and Yayadiyabi feel solid about that. One note that was interesting to me, Christian Izian. The safety Todd Bowles said, he made the team already interesting, there's no question, like he laughed about it when the reporters in Tampa Bay we're asking, you know about the secondary, it's like he's made the team. I love what he brings to the table and the way that he plays, way he prepares. So he's good. A Mecca Abuka as intended like. They asked Todd Bowles if he was surprised about his level of production about a style of play. He said, no, it was no surprise. He goes out there and makes plays. In fact, I had to go out there and tell him that everything does not have to be perfect because he's he's just that guy. So, you know, as as expected for you know, one of the the more NFL ready receivers, which I think maybe that that tag did him to disservice call him good.

00:39:51
Speaker 1: I think so too, because it gives you this idea of a low ceiling, high floor guy. Also, whenever anyone says NF already, I found that the scripture to be no more predictive than anything else. Like I don't think the average prospect that's said to be nflready is any more NFL ready than anyone else.

00:40:11
Speaker 3: Sometimes they hit the home run with that.

00:40:13
Speaker 1: I like they asked Baker Mayfield about this season on the New Heights podcast and they didn't even lead him to a buco or like who's looked good, but they just asked him about his season, like the season in general.

00:40:24
Speaker 3: He's just like, well man, Miko Buka is a total stunt.

00:40:28
Speaker 1: Like that was like the first thing that Baker Mayfield said about like I'm so excited about this season because in his words, he had yack potential out the wazoo and pointed out, I think this is ball knowing. As of course, Baker Mayfield is a ball no er, just how he trusts his hands so much, like he never leaves the ground and he always is so deceptive in making the catch even if the cornerback is in a great position.

00:40:50
Speaker 3: Baker just like, couldn't say enough and I'm in. I know you're in.

00:40:54
Speaker 4: He's my favorite player in the draft. In fact, now that we're making up band clubs, how about this e mecca? Is it emica or because I've heard it pronounced both ways, a mecca or I think it's a mecca? Okay, a mecca, a boot club?

00:41:08
Speaker 3: Okay, Okay, that's good. Well they actually can and should do that.

00:41:12
Speaker 1: If you're listening to me, whoever is involved in making those big posters in the end zone for the Buccaneers where everyone's got their own section, you know in Tampa. You know what I'm saying. Yeah, I think there's a charitable part of all of this, and I'll donate MC club.

00:41:30
Speaker 4: I'll donate because he he he's a joy, good, good freaking football player. That's what should have been his draft tag.

00:41:38
Speaker 1: A lot of teds Johnson pop two man as if they need another wide receiver, and this is the time of year where like smaller receivers, we're going to get to one with the Panthers to tend to shine the most because there's not you know, as much tackling and everything but it's been a good camp for Tess's that's my trend piece, tes Walker in Baltimore, Tesz Johnson.

00:41:58
Speaker 2: And of course they're types very very different. Tess Johnson said, you know, because they were asking him. You know, he wants to make guys miss every single time he catches the ball. That can be a detriment to some guys, but in camp, you know, you're trying to make a team, trying to make a name for yourself. Go ahead, try to shake down six guys and go go for sixty yards, which he's been trying to do. The Grizzard era has had a nice start, according to Coach Bowls, and they are going to have a nighttime stadium practice. They asked thought Bulls what it does, and he's like, nothing other than to get them prepared. They do have four night games this year, and so they get a night time prep schedule as well as there's some record breaking tempts in Tampa, and so it gives them a chance to cool.

00:42:42
Speaker 1: And probably, like to be fair to Todd Bowles, I doubt he came up with that plan, although maybe he did. It was probably just like, hey, let's let's get the fans in here and I it'll be cool and anything. You know, fan forward, I'm all for. Are you want to go Panthers or Saints next?

00:42:58
Speaker 2: I have Saints next, just because I don't know why he did that order, but yeah, positives for Calvin Banks had some opportunities to look good. Unfortunately, the Trevor Pinning experiment might be running out of locations on the offensive line.

00:43:12
Speaker 3: I think he's starting he's a guard, but it is there has.

00:43:16
Speaker 2: Been some like Brian Breesy had an opportunity and this was this was pre Pads where there were some embarrassing reps for Trevor Pinning at guard. Speaking of Brecy, the Saints defense, both Chase Young and Justin Reid have mentioned freedom within regards to Brandon Staley's defense, and I don't think that's just folks taking a shot at DA although there have been.

00:43:40
Speaker 4: No that's the same thing Jalen Ramsey said when he played in for Brandon Staley for the first time. I love that Justin Reid is in that system. Yeah, I mean he's going to be that the do it all conductor of that system. And I know Staley catches a lot of heat, but like he's got a good plan for his defense, and it maximizes players and it gives them answers to the test that they're seeking and allows them to play in a way that makes them feel comfortable. And that that was what it was with with Jalen and he said that all the time. And I love that they're feeling that. I'm not. It's just it's cool because Justin Reid deserves that.

00:44:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, And it's one of those places where comfort allows you that level of aggression and confidence to play. And that's worked for Granderson as well, where coach Moore actually highlighted our Granderson a couple of times in camp in the in the post practice speeches to the team where they put Granderson tape up and they're like, this is what we want as a New Orleans Saint. This is the level of play and competition that we'd like to have. So this this daily effect has been good. Over on the offensive side, it's it's shuck, it's rattler. J Cayner hasn't seen that many reps, but they're you know, they're alternating.

00:44:47
Speaker 5: They're playing football first team reps, and I've.

00:44:51
Speaker 3: Tried to get excited.

00:44:52
Speaker 1: It's early, Like supposedly the Bucks defense has kind of been dominating too, so you just you never know when a de fences dominating early.

00:45:01
Speaker 3: But all accounts, you know.

00:45:03
Speaker 1: I've been listening to the coverage and our friends at the Saints block party podcasters we'll see down there at Saints training camp and Irvine. I think the offense has been rough overall, and that Rather's been better. That Chuck is looking like a rookie, kind of like a Jackson Dart type of thing where he's just holding on to the ball and not making decisions.

00:45:22
Speaker 3: It is so early, I don't want to go too crazy.

00:45:25
Speaker 1: My bigger takeaway actually is the story, which seems like it's just like a like one of those features that means nothing, but I actually think does mean something. That Kellen Moore was showing the Saints Pacers basketball footage. I love a good cross sport comp That says a lot to me about who he wants them to be. Like the fastest paced team in the entire league by a decent amount, that played their brand of football. Now can they possibly pull that off with this quarterback? I don't know, but I do think like Kellen Moore is banging the like, let's get a lot of plays in let's play extremely fast. It's risky, that's putting a lot on their defense potentially too to be on the field more overall, but it's in I find it interesting if nothing else, if they're actually gonna play that way.

00:46:16
Speaker 2: Yeah, and it's tough to get the the image of Hoghy going down in Game seven out of my head. But you know, as far as like a comp because this Saints team, especially wide receiver, is very very thin, they're gonna need They're gonna need those guys to to all make it through and perhaps you know, see how things go, somebody that's probably a good football player is going to be cut from somewhere else, and you know, be on the lookout for the acquisition there because through the draft, through free agency you waited, uh to try to get some explosiveness there.

00:46:49
Speaker 3: And it's just it's all Shaheed baby, all the time.

00:46:52
Speaker 1: If I have a takeaway one, if I had to pick one takeaway from Saints early Nick Underhill and Mike Triplet who do New Orleans football, like, it's kind of just Shaheed dominating everything like volume plus like he to me is an early fantasy winner. Yeah, and I and he's added weight in he's so fast that you don't worry about him slowing down that like if he's the one and a lot of if it's one A and one B whatever, it's going to be like I am buying my Shaheed stock.

00:47:21
Speaker 3: Although this offense, I know.

00:47:22
Speaker 2: As you should, as he made plays the literal first time he got his hands on the ball in the NFL, and the player that I will point to for the rest of my chance to speak into a microphone. Ever, as a failure of the entire draft process for a guy who had his level of production at school, granted, you know, at a lower level, whatever that means, he's come out and produced ever since. And yeah, if you're if you have hoop dreams or whatever.

00:47:49
Speaker 4: To try to another crossboard reference.

00:47:50
Speaker 2: Yes, it's like the systems in place to evaluate talent utterly fail sometimes.

00:47:57
Speaker 1: Like in if everyone's worried to about the Saints offense, thinking if if you get a ton of plays in, you get more yards in such stowns, it hurt you know, your defense.

00:48:07
Speaker 4: A little bit of a throwback Kellen Moore, Boise State, Kellen.

00:48:10
Speaker 2: Right, that's.

00:48:12
Speaker 1: Because everyone we're asking the question, what is a Kellen Moore offense, and the Eagles, you know, played out a good pace too. I think it's the single most underrated part of why they destroyed the Chiefs in the Super Bowl is they were playing so much faster than Spags of all people was ready for. Like the tempo in that game was awesome, and so maybe Kellen Moore bringing that over all. Right, let's wrap up the South with the Panthers.

00:48:35
Speaker 2: Okay, so the Panthers have their first day in Pats on Sunday. Dave Knaalis loves his basketball team of wide receivers where he's got the full spread. As you mentioned, you have a team ac who they did note which the team obviously felt because of where they drafted him. The forty time concerns go out the window when you see him actually playing football. He's been good. He's been solid. Of course, the they've given Adam Thelen some of those management days and times for him. And Hunter Renfro, who his college coach Dabos when he was at camp and made a comment about Hunter Renfro not really looking like much, but then he puts his helmet on his Superman So I asked Bryce about that, and Bryce was like, I don't think it's you know, I have the right to be talking about other people's bodies very dead pan, which is like classic Bryce and hilarious.

00:49:28
Speaker 3: I think he's Yeah, I.

00:49:29
Speaker 4: Love him so much. Also, the Panthers have never once drafted a Clemson player, and yet Dabo's there at the brink they've never drafted.

00:49:37
Speaker 1: He saw an opportunity for one time they've never quote was, yeah, I'm not the one who should be talking about what a normal person's body.

00:49:43
Speaker 2: Literally.

00:49:44
Speaker 4: Good for Bryce, Gosh, I love that guy. Oh my god.

00:49:47
Speaker 1: I'm buying Renfro as a guy who's back in the NFL and helps this team out in a position where you're not really sure what you're going to get outside of feeling like tech mill and I think is going to be starting and I have faith in can be solid, and then maybe Renfro has a bigger role than people think.

00:50:07
Speaker 4: I just really like the vibes of that room because you've got Lagette, who's just a joy to be around, it seems like, and you've got Tet, who, by all accounts teammates loved, very chill guy, competitive, feelin sort of the you know, driving the minivan to school with all the younger guys in the back, you know, and Hunter Renfro, who again by all accounts, is like great to be around, nice, nice dude, and Bryce is an all time nice guy. Like you want everybody to have some teeth once it's time to play, which I expect they will, but I just I like the vibes they say.

00:50:40
Speaker 1: Like, don't overreact to the one on ones. It's tough on the corner back and everything in this setting. Of course, Hunter Renfro is going to be good, and that's setting, but you can take yourself out of that and actually watch it and see Hunter Renfro like make j C. Horn just like undress him in a way where the footwork is like, oh, that's actually back to peak under renfer where he gets opened by five yards within about a second and be like ooh, I can see the pop.

00:51:06
Speaker 3: So I saw the pop.

00:51:07
Speaker 1: As long as he can stay healthy, like I think they might have kind of some found money there. It's like a third fourth receiver. I'm not getting crazy, but someone that can help them out.

00:51:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, and there's still obviously not just based on what happened last year, but defensively there's a waste to go with regards to talent Acquisition, actually released Josie Jewel, who of course had the brain injury last year. Still dealing with that Christian rose Boom.

00:51:31
Speaker 4: We'll get an opportunity was the green dot in LA last year, and so you know he'll have a.

00:51:36
Speaker 2: Chance to try to make something go on this defense that doesn't really have a lot of reason to celebrate, but you know, there's always a chance.

00:51:48
Speaker 1: Okay, So there's always a chance on these shows when we hit all sixteen teams that we get a little meaty. But I've heard from the people, not only do the Claybond Vivans you know, miss you, Uh, they want to hear from each and every team in the NFL. So we're gonna take a quick break and then we'll wrap up with the.

00:52:05
Speaker 3: NFC North.

00:52:21
Speaker 1: H y back on NFL Daily and uh, if you're watching on YouTube like subscribe, they faded in with uh Mike McDaniel and his glasses.

00:52:37
Speaker 3: And uh they were of a commentary on all the frames rating back to me.

00:52:43
Speaker 1: Then, I mean we're both you know, smaller individuals. Certainly Mike is for like an NFL coach, I would take it though. These are new frames. So when glasses today and I'm feeling.

00:52:57
Speaker 3: Good at it. Should forget Lasik. I likeses. That's what I say.

00:53:02
Speaker 2: Your vision, your choice.

00:53:07
Speaker 1: Do I have the vibe of a Mike McDaniel like I could aspire to? But I don't think so. The Lions, Let's start with them. I feel like we need to just do more on the Lions. I have a bat I'm bad at self scouting, but I feel like the Lions are almost under talked about for how like fascinating and excellent they are as a team. So we'll try to make your show right here. I know, but I don't really even know if that's remotely true. I do love hearing that Aiden Hutchinson is like the best player on the deal, Like he looks like his old self. There's no ramping up. Maybe that's a benefit of like how early that injury happened and everything, But it's just been by all accounts like full hutch He's back. Looks like one of the position battles has already been decided. Somewhat surprising that Dan Campbell kind of indicated on Tuesday Graham Glasgow, who's been there as a as a reserve kind of swing guy, like play you know a lot of starting positions is probably going to be the center, not the rookie Tate Ratliche, who had the first three days of camp at center.

00:54:06
Speaker 3: So maybe they didn't go well.

00:54:08
Speaker 1: I don't really know what happened, but there's a good chance Ratleige is going to start for this team anyways at right guard. So it's just figuring out the right equation and wanting to get as many reps as possible I think in those spots. And maybe they just decided the rookies not ready for center, but that he'll be ready for right guard, which is obviously.

00:54:26
Speaker 3: Very important too.

00:54:26
Speaker 1: And this is a team weirdly as talented as they are, Like I am really interested in the rookies on this team, like Tyleek Williams.

00:54:35
Speaker 4: This.

00:54:36
Speaker 1: Big guy, and then like a fire hydrant like has a chance right now because of injuries, like he is lining.

00:54:41
Speaker 3: Up as a starter.

00:54:42
Speaker 1: Some people thought that was a reach for them, but a guy that they absolutely wanted and so far he is starting right now. So even though they have so many like great players, I think it is a team where I'm looking at both the rookies and like the development of some young players.

00:54:57
Speaker 3: We can get into that are really important to them.

00:55:00
Speaker 2: Well, everything you're concerned about, the development being that Aaron Glynn as well as you know Ben Johnson or elsewhere. Yes, developing players and both fan bases there in New York and Chicago are feeling good about the level of development where it's it's going to be different for the first time in a long time, and knew what he's gone and you just wonder what that process is going to be like. But you just have to have faith and Coach Campbell and I think I think our podcast as an institution does respect yes and pay attention.

00:55:32
Speaker 3: To the no we do.

00:55:33
Speaker 1: I just like if I was like recording what teams get the most, I'd like to actually get data on that.

00:55:38
Speaker 3: Can you go to work on.

00:55:39
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'd like to get down on that too, because I actually believe that something that fans off and complain about is not actually the case.

00:55:46
Speaker 1: What that we go to rams. But we did just do a whole show, but it had been like like a month before we doing training camps. Yes, they happen to.

00:55:52
Speaker 3: Be in the area.

00:55:53
Speaker 1: We do not, unfortunately have the budget to leave the area, but we are able to drive to the camps that are nearby and there.

00:56:00
Speaker 3: It was a great time.

00:56:02
Speaker 1: I loved hearing from Colton Pounty, who I think is one of the best beat writers in the game. He works for The Athletic that he thought Terry and Ardold was maybe the most impressive player in all of their training camp. But then on Tuesday we heard that he left with a hamstring injury. That's obviously, like you know, one of the least favorite things that you can hear at this time of year, because that could be a multi week thing to try to get him better. But his development is really important. Hendon Hooker, I think his development is important as like their backup quarterback, just just in case they need it. And I mentioned like the rookie class, I mean, like there are potentially some snaps available for these rookies and Isaac Taslaw who was like this total surprise third round pick. Some some like big play pop and then everyone's doing the camp pipe thing with this seventh rounderd Dominic love it. So I'm going to keep an eye on him like in camp. But like as if the Lions needed more weapons, I know, I mean.

00:56:55
Speaker 4: They know what they like, right, They go after trades of guys that they like Teslaw was certainly no different. And even the late round picks, they go after these traits of players and they say, Okay, we like you. We don't really care what order we draft you in, what round we draft you in. And I think people were really expecting and hoping that Teslaw would pop in camp because they were ready to. I think people were ready to be excited about him. He seems like an interesting it'll be interesting to see like where he fits in specifically, but in like what positions he plays or I.

00:57:25
Speaker 1: Feel like he would be in the Jamison Williams track. But Jamison Williams is obviously there, maturing and better each and every year, using Jimmy or Gibs a little more, maybe as a receiver, not that they didn't do that before, but maybe even expanding that a little bit. Alex Aandzeloni who wants a new contract and they're like chanting pay Alex at Dan Campbell when he's doing interviews, which is kind of funny. He's back, though, he's not going to do a hold and he's going to practice. Let's go to the Bears, another team where I think the rookies are really interesting. Luther Burden, who they took high in the second round. Has basically been day to day since May. Like he's getting closer, but he is he is falling behind, missing that much in mini camps and OTAs, and now the first week plus of training camp.

00:58:12
Speaker 4: Was back as of the day we're recording this. Did get into practice as of the day we're recording this, which is a Tuesday.

00:58:18
Speaker 1: That's great to hear, and they've been trying to do more. Caleb Williams under center. That's interesting to hear. Like they're they're playing Ozzie Trapila, who they drafted.

00:58:26
Speaker 4: My second favorite prospect second.

00:58:28
Speaker 3: Round, Like that was a little surprising.

00:58:30
Speaker 1: Is their left tackle, but Braxton Jones has been hurt, but he might get to start. Colston Lovelin is back out there now. He was injured obviously in the in the off season, and he's making catches. So that's great to hear, but it's it's a lot of the Bears often struggling. That narrative hasn't changed yet, so it's been a little bit of okay, like take everyone, take a deep breath, but like it hasn't been right off the bat. Ben Johnson's offense just lighting it up in training camp, which is normal.

00:58:58
Speaker 2: Yeah, it goes the process of trying to execute the little things which aren't little, you know, they're they're very big. But I think people have this expectation of, yeah, you know, we're gonna run hooking ladders, jack backflips to you know, Braxton Jones, and it's just that they're working on process, getting plays and executing like all the things where it really fell apart last year for the Bears. They're kind of starting from the ground, which makes sense.

00:59:24
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think if Bears fans do not want to panic about this or sky is following this, go back and watch some of Ben Johnson's early games that he's that he called for the Lions, some early offenses even before he was in the the OC chair, when he was still a coach there. Look At how messy some of that stuff was. Look At how difficult some of that stuff was. What I like hearing out of Bears camp right now is they are stress testing Caleb Williams because there are certain things that he is just going to have to do better on a fundamental level, as any quarterback who comes into this league has to know and has to understand and Okay, so he happens to, by the way, be a year behind on all of these little types of things that will become the standard in this building. It's not going to be this like gorgeous piece of artwork immediately, and anyone who is expecting that is fooling themselves.

01:00:17
Speaker 1: Well, then I think Bears fans are potentially fooling themselves. I think the expectations are high. But I love that compy made to that Lion's offense because that was a bad offense for most of that season, and they really took off in December, like suddenly you were like, oh, like okay, this is totally but they were under twenty points a game for three quarters of that season essentially, and then they took off, and that happened.

01:00:41
Speaker 3: Sometimes.

01:00:41
Speaker 1: I think this team is more talented. I think they don't have to have that big of a learning curve, but they could. They should have won obviously they have for a week. By the way, their second rounder Shamar Turner, I mention mentioned in that rookie recap, is going to be out a month. They are pretty deep at defensive tackles, so I would say in terms of like early impact, I don't think that's gonna hurt this year's team, but Jalen Johnson, their their best cornerback, one of the best players on their team, is missing several weeks of camp with an injury.

01:01:07
Speaker 3: So you never like to see that.

01:01:09
Speaker 1: Don't like to see Justin Jefferson out with the hamstring? Is there even like this, like the smallest bit of concern that like a player that could when he's out or I don't know, anytime Justin Jefferson, I know, because it's like hasn't even been treated as a thing. So it's like, I think people almost are so used to players almost sitting out early in camp, but you know, it's definitely something to monitor. You hope you don't look back in November and think, like, oh, that's that's been a nagging thing all year.

01:01:34
Speaker 2: Yeah, Like sitting out to manage workload is one thing, but like having an actual injury. Yeah, it's definitely cause for concern for one of the best players.

01:01:43
Speaker 4: Off tissue too explosive speed, soft tissue injury.

01:01:48
Speaker 1: It's yeah, favor to hear, Yeah, it's it's not great. Lucky Jackson has been the one mostly replacing him, which was surprised to hear. They're actually pretty deep at receiver. I like their receiver.

01:01:59
Speaker 4: The reason why that's happening is because they're like, hey man, this will never be a thing you need to do, but we need someone out there. Like, and I say that super respectfully, but you're not coming in and replacing Justin.

01:02:11
Speaker 3: Jefferson, right, keep everyone else.

01:02:15
Speaker 1: Tell him.

01:02:17
Speaker 4: Running those routes. That's all you are, Right.

01:02:20
Speaker 1: You have Jalen Naylor, who's kind of gonna be there three most likely. You have Ty Felton, who was a rookie, Like, keep him doing what he does. You have Rondelle Moore.

01:02:28
Speaker 4: Yeah, you're not trying to move all the other pieces of the offense around.

01:02:31
Speaker 1: But who knows, he's like a third year undrafted guy that that maybe is his earniest spot on the lucky break.

01:02:37
Speaker 3: You know. I like what you did there. I I like this theory.

01:02:41
Speaker 1: I've I've heard from Purple Daily that what Jordan Addison does well and Justin Jefferson I think said something interesting that like, hey, Jordan Addison actually does some things better than I do, like in terms of wide receiver play, in terms of how quickly he can get open and is like his package of releases.

01:02:58
Speaker 3: I don't think that was it specifically, but just I was.

01:03:00
Speaker 1: Like wow to say, like on the quick stuff that maybe Jordan Addison not only is he one of the better second receivers in the league, but that he fits with JJ McCarthy is good at, which is probably the quick passing like a little more naturally like McCarthy hasn't always shown like the best touch on the intermediate throws. It's like all fastball all the time. And that's where Justin Jefferson does a lot of work. Obviously, you know JJ, that the two jjs can get going down the field, but that you might see a little uptick in maybe like the production is like a little closer between them. Obviously Justin Jefferson's a much better player, but that Addison might even have a better fit with with JJ McCarthy in this offense.

01:03:36
Speaker 3: He's going to get a lot of reps this camp.

01:03:37
Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, I for one would like to see more quick outlets, quick releases, things that you know, solutions to pressure. I really would like to see that built in more regularly into this offense. That's what killed this offense last year was their line fell apart and they didn't have enough answers to quick pressure, including the run game.

01:03:56
Speaker 1: You need it in practice when you're going against Brian Flores because John tell Us is out there, who just got his contract, and he's saying, like, we feel like we're at the masters level now, like we have graduated.

01:04:07
Speaker 3: And it's true if you when I'm making that list of the best so much.

01:04:12
Speaker 1: Yeah, when I'm making the list of the best defense is like Seattle's my pick of like the underdogs to pick it. But I think the most likely team personally is the Minnesota Vikings, with all respect to the Broncos, who was another good option, but I see it because the.

01:04:25
Speaker 3: Continuity and the talent is crazy.

01:04:26
Speaker 1: If they have a weakness, it's cornerback, where you love Byron Murphy, but Isaiah Rodgers is their cornerback two coming from Philadelphia, and right now Jeff Acuda is their cornerback three.

01:04:36
Speaker 3: Just something to keep an eye on.

01:04:38
Speaker 1: Makai Blackman is there, and for the third straight training camp, we're hearing that Sam Howell is not getting a lot done as a quarterback. So that's it's a little concerning if if JJ McCarthy ever went down. Let's wrap our sixteen teams with the Green Bay Packers and we haven't had any sound on the show, so let's just listen to Jordan Love with our friend Stacey Dales on NFL Network talking about a good surprise from draft weekend.

01:05:06
Speaker 6: First off, I was definitely surprised, you know, going in that first round, having the draft here in Green Bay and hearing them, you know, Martin Murfield, they're talking about for the first time since two thousand whatever getting a receiver. So I was pretty excited about that. Bringing Matthew Golden ring say uh from TCU and men, those are two guys that I think are going to add, you know, just a more dynamic threat to our passing game. But like you said, we got a lot of weapons. We got a lot of different guys, like you said, that can do different things.

01:05:32
Speaker 1: Well, one thing I've noticed, like about the camp reports, and you can hear from Jordan Love, there is like they're throwing Matthew Golden into the deep end right away, like that.

01:05:40
Speaker 3: End around first team.

01:05:42
Speaker 1: That's what I want him and Jaden Reid kind of getting the most targets about what you expect.

01:05:46
Speaker 4: That's I mean, I said it when he was drafted. I think he's going to be the volume one receiver. It might not look like an X all the time, but I do think he will ultimately be the volume number one receiver on this offense.

01:05:59
Speaker 1: There's a reporter for them in Herman who who's been banging that. Dontavian Wicks has been looking fantastic. He's gotten a lot of volume too.

01:06:05
Speaker 3: You never know.

01:06:05
Speaker 1: He is a talented enough player where if your biggest problem is drops, that's something that can correct itself.

01:06:11
Speaker 3: He does get open, He's explosive. He could be like a nice three for them.

01:06:14
Speaker 1: I think he got hurt or at least left practice on Tuesday, so we don't know if that's serious or not, but it didn't It sounded a little more serious unfortunately Patrick for their their backup running back Marshaun Lloyd, who had a non contact injury. They were kind of careful to trying to say that that wasn't the play that Nate Hobbs ran into him and also kind of hurt him. They were trying I think they were saying that that that it was separate, But there's been some a bunch of those Nate Hobbs plays to the to the point where the coach had to like take him aside. And say like come down, bro, like we don't want to hurt anyone, but that's disappointing from Marshawn Lloyd, wh's a young running back and maybe we'll see how that backfield like looks like beyond Josh Jacobs.

01:06:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, and ultimately that's it's going to impact Josh Jacobs as well because his workload was so exten so last season. We saw the way that Lafleur was managing his workload in the preseason early and then it's like all Josh Jacobs all the time. Well, that's difficult to do, you know, back to back years where it's you're gonna have to get those carriers from somewhere and it puts more on agels.

01:07:18
Speaker 1: They did get back Elkton Jenkins, who is not going to hold in. He's not going to hold out, and he legitimately was just hurt and he said, like we really tried, like we negotiated a lot and they're not going to give me my deal. And he basically he was like you know what, Like I get it. I am focused on becoming a great center. I'm under contract for a couple of years. I am going to be like the best center that I can possibly be they asked him for his permission actually to to change his positions because that can affect your money too. And he hasn't played center at the NFL level, and he's been an awesome player at tackle and guard. It's he is literally the most versatile offensive lineman in the NFL. And he sold me he has a good attitude and I love that offensive.

01:08:04
Speaker 4: I am always pro players getting paid, as I know we all are on this show, but I can't help but kind of go oh when I hear that, because we need to figure out bottle whatever the Packers do scouting wise, to find these homegrown offensive linemen year after year after year, because not only is it a highly highly talented group, but also they just sort of seemed to be so for the team. Whatever the team needs, they seem to be for just this very team first all the time.

01:08:34
Speaker 1: In general that team is I totally agree, and I think there are a greater than the sum of their parts offensive line, Like year after year, there is something organizationally to that.

01:08:43
Speaker 2: And with that perspective from him and the way he's approaching it, it makes me wonder what the gap was, like, what's the maybe it was huge's.

01:08:50
Speaker 4: What someone's gonna pay it.

01:08:52
Speaker 1: It was probably huge, and he's kind of like, I'm going to get an All Pro season and then you're gonna pay me a ton of money.

01:08:57
Speaker 4: I get and if not, someone will like guaranteed.

01:09:01
Speaker 3: Yeah, I also have kept an eye on that.

01:09:05
Speaker 1: You know, right now they have Keishaw Nixon and Nate Hobbs outside and uh Bullard in the slot, who's like a safety is at the best group.

01:09:14
Speaker 3: We'll see.

01:09:15
Speaker 1: They might have Carrington Valentine who's played a little better on the outside, and then you move Hobbs to the inside where he was good.

01:09:20
Speaker 3: We'll see, But.

01:09:21
Speaker 4: It kind of depends on I mean, I'm this, I'm I've been on this beat for a couple months now. Is like, listen, if you're you might want a bigger player in the slot. That might be why they're trying to do this, because look at all the tight ends they're going to have to defend in their own in the NFC North. I mean, all these teams are moving these bigger players down closer to the unavoidable area of the field so that they're in these matchups with the tight ends more often because they're losing the math often everyone is against these tight ends.

01:09:50
Speaker 1: It's a great final point to wrap the show on. We hit it out of the park and we can try to come up with more Claybonn fan base names. No I think Pat we should marry up. No I think bon Vivans Bonnie Bears could also be. What a great show every team in the NFC. Uh. We are going to be back in this studio Jordan and we're gonna all the news of the day and do a deep dive on the Eagles.

01:10:19
Speaker 3: Looking forward to that.

01:10:21
Speaker 1: For Thursday's show, Patrick, we we release you into the inside training camp Wild Enjoy.

01:10:29
Speaker 2: Have a new intro cell this year.

01:10:30
Speaker 3: Yeah, the bon Vivants, they're represented. That's how you know football is back.