Takeaways from Every Preseason Week 1 Game!

21:25Nick Shook:Yeah, we'll keep tracking it. I'm not too worried about the team that was incredibly explosive last year. I'm not either, especially now adding Keaton Mitchell to the mix. If you could watch one running back over this weekend, I would suggest Keaton Mitchell, because to me, he's a really talented player who started to pop two years ago. It took him really a full season to get over that. And if he's number three in a good backfield behind Derrick Henry and Justice Silva, it just gives them even more weaponry. So the Ravens win that game. And the Ravens, you know, they had that long preseason streak.

21:59Start a new one. Get another one going. All right, Saints Chargers. We'll be quick on this. I went to the game today. At one point, late in the first half, it was 3-0. I think the two teams had combined for about 150 yards from scrimmage. It was ugly, and the Chargers ended up winning this game because of their defense. But, man, the Saints offense couldn't get anything going. We're told that they want to be a running team, and they just could not run the ball at all. Spencer Rattler was their leading rusher today, Nick Shook. And Rattler, I don't think he did much wrong, but he didn't score any points.

22:41Part of it was they got stuffed on a couple runs near the goal line or else he would have. He took a big hit trying to run one in and came up about a yard short on third down. He didn't do much wrong, and then he came out of the game. Tyler Shook came in in a two-minute drill, made a couple nice plays, got them moving down the field, and got a field goal out of that. And in the second half, he threw a pick six and then threw a long touchdown after that. So I think the takeaway, Shuck was much more up and down. Rattler was just kind of, you know, shooting for par, not very exciting. And I don't think there's much clarity there in their quarterback battle.

23:19My sense is that Shuck is, like, making up a little bit of the ground that he might have lost over the first couple of weeks of camp.

23:26Nick Shook:Yeah, I'll spend some time just kind of pondering their situation today. as it related to Derek Carr. And I know it's the preseason, and your top two or three receivers aren't playing this game, but I'm starting to understand why Derek Carr was sold on retirement, like on walking away from this situation. It's not nice, bro. It's not going to be a pretty situation with this team this year. Hopefully we get a little bit more clarity in the quarterback competition in the next couple of weeks. Shout out to the woman, few rows in front of me, wearing the Derek Carr shirt today. I just feel like that doesn't age well.

23:58I just feel like it hasn't gotten a new gear.

24:00Nick Shook:It's still the preseason. She needs time to get some new gear. She needs to know who the quarterback's going to be. But I just feel like that's not going to be popular with other Saints fans. I have noticed how quiet Trey Harris, the second round pick of the Chargers, have been in these games. Him and Keandre Lambert-Smith both in this game but couldn't get many catches. Taylor Heineke was absolutely awful. Trey Lance came in and led a touchdown drive that was just all Trey Lance scrambling. So Trey Lance has looked better than Heineke because this is the first we saw of Heineken. It was bad. And I just, I was sitting there thinking, and all these people, and I know most of them got in on the secondary market for cheap, but I just kept thinking, like, it's amazing the NFL keeps getting away with this.

24:43Right? Do I value my job? No, I agree. No, you know what? This one is the easiest take to have because you know who says this all the time? Our boss's boss's boss's boss's boss's boss's boss's boss, Roger Goodell. He always is saying how bad the product is of the preseason. And just like, man, they made the people pay full price. Like some people, the season ticket holders, had to like pay for this game. Is it terrible? It's not good. I mean, there's a lot of fun things to it.

25:14Nick Shook:As long as we're absolved of guilt here. There's been some preseason games I went to when I was in high school that almost every year just got interrupted by like an hour and a half thunderstorm. And I'd show up sometimes coming, or like grade school, I'd show up after football practice on a Thursday to go watch Browns Giants and it would storm for an hour and a half like yeah I mean that's the fun in it the fun is getting to the second half half the stadium's empty and you don't even know who the hell number 47 is that just made that great play who's probably not going to make the team it's a it's a cool thing for kids I brought my son Walker and you can get closer than you maybe normally would obviously for cheaper and it's just laid back and you're just watching some football and it is cool to see how fast it moves up close so there there is part of me that that still loves it but still amazing they get away with it.

25:56The biggest ovation by far of the entire day was when on the Jumbotron, they showed Keenan Allen, the latest addition to the Chargers wide receiver room. A legend. The other legend they had out for the game was Chargers kicker Nick Novak. That was the legend.

26:14Nick Shook:Oh, that's a deep cut. As long as we didn't get another letter from Jim Harbaugh stating the team's intentions. No, they didn't do that this year. I was very curious. Good memory from a year ago. Let's take a quick break and We'll speed things up on the other side, but these were the quarterback battles we were into.

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30:15Nick Shook:So you spend less time sorting through busy work and more time making progress on the work that matters. Put ChatGPT to work on your most ambitious ideas and projects. Get started at ChatGPT.com by selecting Work Mode. Available on Plus and Pro Plans. back on NFL Daily our first preseason recap show two more to go I was sitting there watching the Chargers thinking man like their preseason already seems so long this is already their third game Nick it just feels like it's too much the Hall of Fame game already seems like a while ago so we started talking about quarterback battles our next two games are just young quarterbacks I'm very interested in during the preseason.

31:01And that's Cam Ward of the Titans and then JJ McCarthy of the Vikings. So let's start with the Titans game, the Bucs with a big win against Tennessee. But I liked what I saw for the most part out of Cam Ward, considering the reports out of camp for the Titans this, you know, preseason and training camp. I think it was a nice shot of encouragement that he had a solid preseason performance. Again, it's small sample size. It's two drives, but you did have one long touchdown drive that included, I would say, three good throws and showed some high-level stuff for a first-time appearance.

31:38Nick Shook:Yeah, the running theme between these next two games is, damn, I wish I saw that young quarterback play a little bit more than he did, because J.J. McCarthy didn't play very much in the Minnesota game either. One of those three throws, it almost mirrored his college tape at Miami, where he had all day to throw in the pocket and scan the field. And I'm not using this. This is not a negative. but that was not one of my three by the way i was like that was kind of a pass i mean i hear you though all right yeah and and like he he surveys and then he makes the right decision but he does this like hesitation he like double clutches and then rips a bullet to his intended target for a big gain and i was like okay there's the arm strength there's there's why he was the number one pick but there's also what i saw at miami so again i just i want to see a bigger sample size if it were up to me i'd super sim i'd i'd simulate straight to week one of the of the regular season so I could just see what Cam Ward looks like in a live game beyond the preseason, but encouraging stuff.

32:32I hear you. I mean, I could say that for all of this, but we can't, unfortunately, just sim to the regular season. The three throws I meant were, so that one was the 27-yarder to Calvin Ridley, who, by the way, played, I believe, one series or two series and had 50 yards on three catches. So, like, he was doing everything. But Ward had another play where he got to his second read pretty quick, like looked outside, then found the guy over the middle, got to it. And then he hit a third and nine and a third and six where he hit guys in stride. They weren't always the first read. It was like on time and nothing crazy, but kind of showing different clubs in the golf bag.

33:15Whereas Joe Milton, for instance, of the Cowboys, we'll get to him later. Like he's all two iron, you know, he's all driver. I don't know what it is. You know, Cam Ward, He had one, you know, where it wasn't like perfectly accurate, but it was close enough. But he layered it in over like an underneath defender. That was the throw that he need on that. And so just nothing major, but liked it. Also, Tajay Spears, who supposedly having a good camp, the backup running back for the Titans, is out with a high ankle sprain. So that is disappointing. And yeah, the bigger takeaways from this game, unfortunately, were injuries.

33:55Rashad White Nick is out with a groin injury for a little while don't know if you had anything else

34:00Nick Shook:from this game that caught your eye uh he had a nice run before he went out in that game too um Sean Tucker my guy uh who's kind of buried in the depth chart he's a situational running back big bulldozing back had a really nice run that almost went for a touchdown I think it was the next play or two plays later he scores from like two yards out that was fun to see um Emeka Bucco tallies his first reception as a buccaneer a contested catch really nice I thought that uh Tennessee got away with pass interference on his other target. The Buccaneers obviously put up a lot of points. Kyle Trask ripping the ball over the field.

34:29Nick Shook:But yeah, I mean, that's essentially it. Oh, one last point. Actually, linebacker Nick Jackson, undrafted linebacker. I believe he's out of Iowa. Six tackles, one sack, and one of the most impressive interceptions you're going to see. A la TJ Watt, maybe Aiden Hutchinson off the edge. Just ball gets like deflected or whatever. He just puts his one arm up in the air and snags it. If you haven't seen it, watch the highlights from this game just for that play. It's worth it. Okay. I literally have not seen that play. And I guess this late 29 to 7 bucks victory just lost my interest at a certain point.

35:04Yeah, I like Egbuka making a play. By the way, Kim Ward's out there. The number one offense, at least for now, is Tyler Lockett, number two, Van Jefferson, number three in the year 2025. What are we doing here? What are we doing here, Titans? Let's let those young guys play. That's what the Vikings are doing. J.J. McCarthy, you mentioned it. Not a ton to take away from one drive, but Kevin O 'Connell was encouraged that the operation was good. And I kind of noticed that. I was like, okay, this just looks like a normal NFL drive. And he had one nice throw where he was running to his left. He had one deep out to Jordan Addison, which wasn't right on target, but showed some nice anticipation, and he ripped it.

35:52and had a bad throw too mixed in there. Again, it's one drive. They got into field goal range. Like, okay, let's move it on and he'll probably play a little bit more next week.

36:01Nick Shook:Yeah, the bad throw was a drive killer. It was on third down. He missed a guy that he had open. But he also did what J.J. McCarthy did at Michigan, which is pick up a fourth down with his legs. He threw from multiple different platforms. He, another young guy who looked comfortable. And all in all, given the small sample size, I think Kevin O 'Connell has reason to be encouraged. Again, I would like to see more, but Kevin O 'Connell doesn't like to play most of his guys in the preseason, you know, coming from that Sean McVay tree. So probably not going to see a ton of him, but I believe to this point they have reason to be confident that JJ is going to be prepared for week one as their starter.

36:35Yeah, unfortunately, they suffered a major injury in that game to the reserve receiver, Rondell Moore. And we're still waiting, I believe, to get confirmation, but almost immediately the team indicated that it was serious. And he was out all of last season as well. He was probably their number four, number five receiver. Lucky Jackson is a former XFL guy who right now is probably your number three receiver in week one because Jordan Addison is going to be suspended. So that's unfortunate for Rondell Moore. Two straight seasons missed because of injuries. You hate to see that. Sam Howell, by the way, who's been getting picked on a lot by the Vikings reporters that go to practice and has been losing snaps in practice to Brett Rippon, played very well in the game.

37:26So maybe he's just a gamer. And Brett Rippon. Yeah, what the hell? Yeah, so maybe he's got that backup job back. I didn't have a ton on the Texans, but I did reach out, Nick, to our friend Seth Payne, just for like a Jalen Noel, Jaden Higgins update because it's been quiet. I'm just like, what is going on with them? and he noted how Noel had a nice run after catch in this game that they have been good in practice. He does think Higgins is going to end up starting for this team. So even though I haven't heard a lot, it does feel like those guys are going to be in the spots that you expected going into the season, maybe the third and fourth receiver.

38:01And then after that, it's these guys like John Mechie and maybe Braxton Berrios fighting for spots.

38:07Nick Shook:Yeah, I actually felt like Mechie and Berrios took greater advantage of their opportunities in this game. Mechie was the most targets in this receiving core. He seemed to be the most frequent contributor, or at least the most attention paid to by whoever was throwing in passes, whether it was Davis Mills, or you continue to go down the depth chart all the way to Keaton Slovis. But Berrios, you know, it's interesting because when you're trying to build these rosters and these position groups, you think like, can we have balance in different archetypes out here to really fill out our group? And because there's so much uncertainty with how they're going to build out this group going into the season outside of Nico Collins, and I guess Christian Kirk, I like the idea of Berrios making this team as just a slot guy that you can do a number of different things with if you want to get creative offensively.

38:47Nick Shook:He had a good game. He caught a nice pass on the goal line and then barreled into the end zone for a touchdown. Just felt like a strong day that maybe might make the Texans say, hmm, you know, maybe he does deserve a spot on this roster. He's one of those guys that will be on a roster. I don't know if they could get like a sixth round conditional for him or something like that if he can't make this roster, but he will be on a roster. the offensive line maybe some steps forward Ursary has caught Seth's attention again I'm getting information from the man himself and while I was checking his content out while I was texting him he had a great interview I recommend people check out on his YouTube page Seth Payne with D 'Amico Ryans where among other things D 'Amico Ryans says he's gotten all the energy vampires vampires away from the Houston Texans.

39:37If you're an energy vampire and you're sucking that energy, I feel that, D 'Amico Ryan. Life is too short to be around energy vampires. He's gotten them out of the Texans.

39:48Nick Shook:And you know, if you surround yourself with somebody like that, you can feel yourself getting drained over time. I'm now curious, is that a veiled shot at like a Stefan Diggs or somebody? I don't know. I have a couple notes from this game. No, they talked up. They seem to like Stefan Diggs. Yeah, okay, okay. I don't know. I mean, you should be calling it energy vampires. I don't know. It's a pretty broad term. The rest of the games don't have as big-time quarterback takeaways, but we do have a few ties to talk about. The Bears and Dolphins played on Sunday. They tied. I thought it was noteworthy that the Bears played Colston Loveland only six snaps, like with the very close to starters.

40:26Some starters, there were starters on the offensive line. Like a lot of teams, they mixed, but they didn't start Caleb Williams. but Luther Burden played much much more in this game Braxton Jones was first up at left tackle they're trying to figure out their left tackle and Luther Burden continues to make plays whether it is in practice or in the preseason you could you could see that juice that he had on the field

40:47Nick Shook:against the Dolphins yeah it was a bit of a rocky outing for the Bears offense overall but I mean that's what you get when you're rolling with Tyson Bajan I guess as your first string quarterback in this situation I would like to go on the Dolphins side real quick congratulations to Alexander Madison not only did they swap you one for one not in a trade but by signing you uh with Raheem Mostert but they also gave you Raheem Mostert's old role which is goal line vulture he had a one yard touchdown run in this game so that was uh interesting stand out there and oh by the way we talked about this I think you said this that that Dolphins people that were at Dolphins camp had gotten excited by what they'd seen from Quinn Ewers don't put on this tape because Zach Wilson and then compared to Quinn Ewers night and day difference in terms of quality he has a long way to go.

41:29Nick Shook:Did not look good for him. Which is rough because Zach Wilson went 5 for 9 with 4 sacks taken. Yeah. Wearing 0 by the way. When Nevers went 5 for 18 with 2 sacks taken and 2 fumbles. And it continues a weird week for the Dolphins. Jordan Brooks and a teammate fought at practice in Chicago. And then more importantly, maybe the most interesting thing I saw all week was that the Bears felt like they dominated that joint practice with the Dolphins, especially the Bears defense who picked off Tua three times. I don't think Tua necessarily would have started this preseason game, but they had such a bad joint practice.

42:10They sent them out there even without Tyree Kill and Jalen Waddle ready to play. And by the way, their first drive gets all the way to the end and then it gets stuffed in the goal line on four straight runs, three of them right near the goal line. And that's bringing up all the bad memories for the Dolphins. They did cash in later, but when Tua was in, it was like their old short yardage woes are right there. But from the Bears side, the Bears players said on Tuesday it was their own practice. It was the most intense practice in 10 years in Chicago. Most intense practice ever. They were all fired up.

42:43And then when they came out for the joint practice, both sides reportedly played really well. And so maybe it's a little bit of that offense, especially in the team in general under Ben Johnson kind of turning a corner.

42:54Nick Shook:I think it's really interesting how coordinators take on the traits of the coaches they used to work under because Ben Johnson is pulling right from the Dan Campbell playbook with his entire camp with the Bears including that super intense practice that they had on Tuesday beat reporters were going to social media as soon as it was over saying I've never covered a practice this intense in my career and I'm like whoa wait a second here and they all acted you know all the players oh business as usual we're just out there competing but it was to prepare them for the joint practices and then prepare them for what they were going to see on the field in their preseason game and that goal line stand kind of told me it's kind of working.

43:26Nick Shook:There's a lot of gusto out of this camp about, you know, forming an identity around toughness, it seems, which is very much right out of the Campbell playbook. So I'm really curious to see how does this look in the first portion of the regular season? Me too. I like what I'm hearing. We'll see. The Caleb of it all, we'll see if he plays much in the preseason or not, but they sat him this week and we've said it a lot of times on this show, So the joint practices in a lot of ways have replaced the preseason games for some teams. Although you are seeing just a little bit of an uptick in preseason play from some, like a Tua, that normally aren't playing in the preseason.

44:06Just a little bit of an uptick you saw around the league this week, I thought, for some veterans. The Broncos and 49ers played a football game. The Broncos won that game 30-9. and I saw some Broncos fans honking like, we're looking awesome. I mean, give me a break. You were down 9-0 with Bo Nix against the 49ers backups. I actually watched that. Bo Nix got flagged for a safety in the end zone because of a penalty. They're starting off at Thinlake, right, guys? I mean, none of this matters that much, the results, but you are watching the process, watching who plays first. And yeah, for what it's worth, when Bo Nix was in there, it was a punt, a safety.

44:48He almost threw an interception. He threw 11 passes for 31 yards. They were down 9-0, and they tried to leave him in to leave on a more positive note. And I think he did lead a field goal drive, but they didn't cash it in. And that was all against backups of the 49ers, who only even left their backups in for a couple drives. Mac Jones had a beauty, a 50-yard throw to Jordan Watkins, the great touchdown drive on their first drive. he played one more drive and then the 49ers I don't think they like crossed the 50 the rest of the game like they're no for for real they didn't score another point I don't think they crossed the 50 the rest of the game after that that first it's very fun in preseason action how once guys

45:27Nick Shook:cycle in and out how the the pace of the game can just change immediately like Jarrett Stidham shot to Stiddy comes in with a 14 for 15 136 yard two touchdown performance all that experience from his past in the NFL shining in the preseason. But that's the type of stuff that happens in preseason games. It was interesting. Threw a touchdown pass to Trent Shurfield, former 49er. Catch and touchdown pass at Levi's Stadium. That was nice. Sean Payton said after the game, there's 14 things I'm ticked off about related to this trip, and none of them have to do with the game. That was a mystifying statement to me.

46:09everyone in the Broncos organization is worried. What is he so ticked off about that has nothing to do with the game? It had something to do with the trip, the operation. I don't know.

46:20Nick Shook:Maybe the post-game meal in the bowels of Levi's Stadium wasn't good. From my experience, it's pretty good there. He said he was ticked off. RJ Harvey, I thought, didn't look great. He is reportedly the RB2 behind J.K. Dobbins. Not a big deal, but it was a little indecisive. Sometimes with these running backs, you see him in the preseason, and you're like, ooh, I see it. But that didn't happen for him. I mentioned that long throw to Watkins. Mike L. Williams got hurt at 49ers camp, and he's going to be out a week. And then a couple of their defensive tackles who they want to step up, Alfred Collins and C.J.

46:55West had very quiet games, played a lot and really didn't make much of an impact. So they want to see some improvement there. Let's go to the Eagles and the Bengals, and I'm going to lead this game talk with something that didn't happen during this game. It happened Sunday with the Eagles. Unfortunately, Landon Dickerson left practice on a cart. Was their team scrimmage at the stadium? And we will see what happens there. But that is the bedrock of their team, their offensive line. And they're already starting a new guard, Tyler Steen, on the right side. So they obviously, Nick, just are hoping for the best for Landon Dickerson.

47:33Nick Shook:Yeah, Dickerson has been one of the constants as they've cycled out interior offensive linemen, especially over the last few years, Jason Kelsey retiring and replacing them accordingly. And like you said, Steen coming in at right guard to replace Mekhi Beckton. He's the guy that you can definitely count on to get the job done. One of the better guards in the NFL. So not good news for them. We obviously know what they have at tackle. It's just the strength of their team is in their trenches and it builds out from there, especially on the defensive side. But offensively, losing a guy like that definitely concerns you at this point in the season.

48:04Nick Shook:I mean, we're in the preseason right now. That's why you're a pro. I mean, I know you were driving back for the wedding when that happened. There's no clue. I don't think that you were aware of that until I just threw it on you. You're absolutely right. And I actually blanked on the name of Cam Juergens until I just looked it up right now. And I don't know how I blanked on him because he was my favorite center at that combine. No, but you already, you know, I know to talk about this barn burner. 34-27, Eagles get the win. I mean, Tanner McKee is that dude. I made a joke on Twitter last week when Nate Tice, my friend, was wondering, why didn't the Browns just get Tanner McKee?

48:39And he said this a week ago. It was insane that they gave up something for Kenny Pickett. Why didn't they get Tanner McKee? And I was like, Tanner McKee was untouchable. Tanner McKee is that dude. I was only half kidding. I think the Eagles love Tanner McKee. I know he was behind Pickett last year, but he has only been awesome when he's played. And then when he played in that Eagles game, and I think it was his first throw, certainly his first touchdown to A.J. Brown, he just went for it. Touch, timing, I really like him. I think he's a guy that I'd feel confident in running that system. And he was awesome in this game, for what it's worth, against the Bengals starters.

49:20The Bengals had what happened you don't want in the preseason, Shook, which is that your starters got steamrolled by the other team's backups, which is what happened to them. Their starting defensive players got steamrolled by the Eagles' offensive backups.

49:35Nick Shook:Yeah, that's concerning considering that all the talk in Bengals' camp was, this defense might actually be good. Right. And then Tanner McKee lights you up. Not great for them. I keep thinking about the difference in appearance between Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee and how they could both operate that offense. You know what? They did a tush push, though. They finished the drive with a tush push. Well, he's got five more inches on him to get it across the goal line, so it doesn't shock me. He is a tall dude. It kind of does. It doesn't shock me, but you knew it was Nick Sirianni, just like it's the first drive of the defending champions.

50:12Nick Shook:After they win the tush push case. Right, exactly. He just wanted to. I mean, they do have a lot of tall guys on this team. Johnny Wilson, 6 '7", just had a beautiful like moss type of play where he just plucked it over. Who was it? Was it DJ Ivy of the Bengals who was like 5 '11"? It's amazing. He had a 27 and 28 yard play. The two starting cornerbacks for the Eagles did not look good in this game at all. Adoree Jackson or Keely Ringo. The problem was they were playing the Bengals starting offense. it doesn't go much better for wanting to play Joe Burrow in the preseason. Just Jamar Chase, totally dominant, going up and down the field, like highlight reel throws.

50:53Burrow goes nine for 10. So it was very similar to a year ago. It was like awesome offense, awful defense, and special teams was the difference and they lose.

51:03Nick Shook:And I hate that idea because I just, deep in my heart, I live in Cleveland, but there's nothing I want more right now than for Zach Taylor's team to start the season on the right foot because they just don't do it. Right. And they can do it offensively. And I know it's the preseason, but it is your defensive start. Get it together, defense. Get this thing together before week one, please. So the Bengals are part of the trend to play, you know, some more good players at the start of the preseason. And I really do think Chase Brown, the running back, who looked awesome in this game, and it's just sort of dawning on everyone.

51:40what a monster season he is set up for that to me he's he's like a first round fantasy pick i know he won't go there but he could be uh shemar stewart's looked really good i think they need to play him a little more with the ones for adults with crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis

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54:56Nick Shook:Chat GPT can do more than answer questions. It can help you get real work done. Chat GPT work is built for bigger projects with multiple steps. You bring the goal along with the information it needs, like briefs, notes, files, feedback, calendars, data sets, or project plans. Then ChatGPT can help turn all of that into something useful. An analysis, a tracker, a deck outline, a prototype, or a workflow you can keep shaping. It can also use approved apps, connected tools, files, and browser contexts to help move the work forward. And you stay in control. You give direction, review drafts, approve actions, redirect the work and choose the final output so you spend less time sorting through busy work and more time making progress on the work that matters put chat gpt to work on your most ambitious ideas and projects get started at chat gpt.com by selecting work mode available on plus and pro plans Let's go to the Jets and the Packers.

55:59Jets, 30. Packers, 10. Jets looking exactly like they said they were going to look. Run first. They just ran through the Packers. And the Packers were playing a lot of starters, I believe, on both sides of the ball. And they were just pushing them like six yards back. It was everything that the Jets said they were going to do. They just ran the ball down their throats. It was Justin Fields scrambling. It was Braylon Allen, a little bit of Brees Hall. And I thought the starters on both sides of the ball, for what it's worth for the Jets, looked pretty good.

56:32Nick Shook:What have we talked about? The fact that the Jets are one of my sneaky teams to watch out because I think they're just going to be a more professional operation. And I think it's going to start with the toughness. And how do you prove your toughness? You win on the ground. And they have the backs to do it. They have invested in the offensive line to do it. And then they have a quarterback who can do it when he finds space to run for a 13 yard touchdown. Obviously, it's just the preseason. But I was pretty excited to see this performance, especially earlier in the game from a good portion of their starters.

57:00Nick Shook:And to have the ability down the depth chart to still run the ball pretty effective. I mean, like the number of guys that had carries in this game and then just like 42 yards, 33 yards, 17 yards, 14 yards, like minimal carries, just spreading it among a bunch of different people. I like this idea. I'm really, really fascinated by this team. I just, I simply am. I was amazed looking at some of the practice reports on The Athletic this week that Alan Lazard said this is the most talented group of receivers he's ever played with. I mean, that is... This is a group that we've been concerned about, right?

57:36I mean, that is the biggest bald-faced lie I've ever heard. I mean, I don't, maybe he believes it. Everyone, you know, you convince yourself into things. I don't even know if Alan Lazard, is he definitely on this team? He was in a sling, by the way, after the game because of a shoulder injury. But he was playing with the backups. He hasn't done much. They're not going to be great because of their wide receivers. But Brandon Stevens, who's starting, by the way, the former Raven at cornerback, really struggled with the Ravens last year, according to the people there, has had a great training camp.

58:06So that's good to hear. Some bad news for the Packers. Jaden Reed, according to their coach, Matt LaFleur, is uncertain for week one. He was in a walking boot at practice over the weekend. So that's unrelated to the game. He did not play in the game, but it was unknown previously that he was so banged up. And so that's really bad news. And it means more on Matthew Golden, who had a couple of nice reps in this game. Jordan Love, by the way, playing your starters doesn't mean it's going to work. I think he went one for five. No, it didn't work well. It didn't work for them. A couple drops, just a couple of weird, weird plays there.

58:41But yeah, bad news there for Jaden Reed. It sounds like he's a little iffy for the opener.

58:47Nick Shook:Yeah, they look like offensively with Love on the field, they look like a bit of a disjointed operation. But yeah, I'm more concerned about this group because, look, you finally spent a first round pick on a receiver in Matthew Golden. But you know that Christian Watson is out for a while, if not most of the season. And I mean, after that, if Reed's hurt, it's Golden, it's Dobbs, it's Dontavian Wicks who's you know hit or miss depending on the situation that you find him in Savion Williams like yeah I'm I'm a little bit concerned about this group overall that's not a loss that you can just weather without uh you know a decline yeah and there's been a bunch of banged up players too uh the Bo Melton thing is happening so it he's not quite Travis Hunter Bo Melton it if you're just tuning in receiver for the Packers who has changed positions to cornerback and he's out there playing real cornerbacks spots and reportedly according to Matt Schneiderman at the athletic is a lock to make the roster probably has like a fourth or fifth cornerback and it doesn't hurt that he has wide receiver flexibility but just cool that we have one of those guys back in the league also a fourth round pass rusher Baron Sorrell making some noise having a good game I just wanted to have one positive thing to say about the Packers before we went to Rams Cowboys and I said something positive about Mr.

1:00:04August Stetson Bennett. One of the reasons I went to this Saints Chargers game, Shook, is because I've seen Stetson Bennett too much live over the last two years. And it's been so bad. And it was a treat to turn on my television and watch the greatest preseason trio broadcast team in all of sports. Yes. J.B. Long, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Mina Kimes. And maybe I'm biased. I don't care. I'm right. And you know what I took away other than just enjoying their broadcast? I mean, Stetson Bennett looked like a whole new player. That was by far the best he's ever looked in an NFL uniform. Sometimes maybe with a little bit of patience.

1:00:47We'll see. But he actually might become like a solid backup for them or something because he was spinning it. Easily the best he's ever looked for.

1:00:55Nick Shook:Let's not forget like a third of a third quarter from Sean McVay, you know, joining the broadcast live from the side. Oh yeah. He's let's not forget that, you know, before he passed it off. Cause he had to handle a coaching duty. Yeah. You know, Stetson Bennett's game reminded me a lot of his Georgia tape, which is that you're kind of living on the razor's edge at times. It's a, it's a little like, Oh, hold on to the edge of your seat, but it's also dimes. He threw some nice balls. He threw a great pass on fourth down, down the sideline, an incredible catch that had to be reviewed, stood upon review.

1:01:24Nick Shook:and then they handed to Blake Horm to finish it off. Blake Horm had two rushing touchdowns in this game. It was a really strong start from this offense, just overall. They dominated the Cowboys in the first like 20 minutes of this game. Now, there's two sides to this coin, of course, because Joe Milton's on the other side struggling to get anything going with that offense and most of the Cowboys backups, but I was very impressed by what I saw from the Rams. And yeah, maybe he will be a healthy backup. They have Jimmy Garoppolo seated behind Matthew Stafford right now. We know the whole Matthew Stafford situation, the pregame workout over the weekend, you know, that sort of thing.

1:01:55Nick Shook:That's good. That's good. Progress, progress. But long term, I don't know. Maybe. Or maybe he'll just be a preseason star forever. Who knows? Maybe. Stafford will practice in some form on Monday, like you mentioned, went through a workout. I saw a little clip of Dak before the game talking to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, and he said, we'll see you in the NFC title game. I was like, oh. Okay. I guess this is one of those things you say, but I like that. I like it. You've got to believe in yourself. Kevontae Turpin had the night off, which to me kind of said, okay, he's their third receiver. Joe Milton, you mentioned, started this game.

1:02:34He's the backup now, former New England Patriot. They would have had the number one overall pick, likely Travis Hunter. Maybe Abdul Carter, if not for Joe Milton, playing very well against the Bills backups in Week 18. Some of his throws in this game were crazy. I mean, they were crazy. They were like, he has such a strong arm, but he uses that strong arm on every single throw. And it was kind of rough, to be honest. Sales won down the middle of the field. Yeah, he made up for it in the second half and started scoring some points against the Rams' deep backups. But, yeah.

1:03:13Nick Shook:Yeah, I think the one throw that maybe typifies where Joe Milton is in his career right now with the arm strength being his greatest attribute is when he dropped back on second and seven, I think, and launched a rocket into the end zone into double coverage for an interception. Like, there were times where, I think his best play that he made in this game was on a read option where he took off for a first down. Yeah, it was not the Joe Milton we saw for the Patriots throwing the ball in the first half. The second half, he started to settle in against lesser competition. But for Cowboys fans who, you know, were banging the table in celebration that, oh my God, we finally got a backup up with some legit upside because we got Joe Milton from the Patriots and look at that tape from that week 18.

1:03:54Nick Shook:Cool your jets. Okay. This is an example of how hard it is. He's got upside. Yeah, for sure. For sure. But you got to let him develop. I would probably take Cooper Rush to win a game right now over him, but we'll see. A Kair Elam, I noticed also sat for this game because he's so locked in as their starting cornerback. So that's just the former Bills first round pick. Mozzie Smith continues to struggle, former first-round pick for the Cowboys. It just seems like he might be coming to the end of his time. And it really struck me that when Daniel Jeremiah last week was at Cowboys and Rams practice, he's so polite about everything, the way he says things.

1:04:32But he said that the one group in that game that needed some work, like in the joint practice, you know, the Rams offense looked amazing and the Rams defense is flying around and the Cowboys offense, they made some plays. But that Cowboys defense, like he said it in a very humble way, just like they got some things to work on. I was just like, that's a dig from Daniel Jeremiah. Let's go to the cards and the Chiefs, another team playing a guy in the preseason that really hasn't played much in the past, Kyler Murray. And Kyler Murray threw a number of really nice throws, averaged over 11 yards per attempt and had maybe the worst interception of the entire weekend, including Joe Milton.

1:05:20And yet after the game, he had a great attitude about it.

1:05:23Nick Shook:You know, again, I haven't played in preseason a long time. I've really enjoyed playing tonight, you know. You know, it kind of just, it's football's here again. You know, it's the best time of the year to be able to go out there and just be out there with the guys. Maybe it's not football's back, but football is here again. I just heard that. I like that. I like the attitude. I almost sensed a little bit of sarcasm in the way that he said really enjoyed playing tonight with that smile I think he was serious man I think he was serious that's not nice he finished the game perfect after throwing that pick which was nice he was Kyler he was what you expect from him except that interception which I started laughing when I saw it happen live just because it was like where was that ball going but that happens it's preseason you have time to work that out on the quarterback front with the rest of this game Gardner Minshew replaced Patrick Mahomes after the Chiefs needed like two plays to score because the Cardinals fumbled their opening kick uh Minshew is Minshew and I see why they added him he is still the same guy who can still make a play here and there and also again hanging on the edge you see a little bit uh but the the last thing I was really looking for from the Chiefs was some clarity in the offensive line not a lot of snaps for their starting five Josh Simmons only played 10 snaps So I don't think we're going to get a lot of a sample size from them this preseason.

1:06:40Nick Shook:They were running in a lot of different guys, especially at right tackle later in the game. You know, it's fun to watch as they try to figure this out. But I think they're pretty close to figuring out four of their starting five at this point, maybe three so far. Simmons, Humphrey, Trey Smith. And then, yeah, but we're going to wait and see what the rest of this happens. Just didn't get a lot of sample from them. Yeah, and Simmons was great in the 10 snaps he had. They'll play more next week. Andy Reid always plays the starters. You got to love if you're the Chiefs offense hearing you're going to get one drive.

1:07:10And then that drive happens to start at the whatever 12 yard line or something. Patrick Mahomes with an incredible one for one. I think it was like a three yard touchdown, a one yard touchdown. It was an awesome grab, by the way, by Jason Brownlee, who is battling for a playoff spot. I mean, a roster spot, both him and Taequann Thornton, like could be as high as, you know, the third or fourth receiver. If these injuries don't shake out. Rasheed Rice's suspension is still expected to come at some point. Jalen Watson, by the way, their starting cornerback, had a concussion. Christian Fulton is still coming back from an injury this offseason, so they're a little thin at cornerback right now.

1:07:49And another part of that, Kyler Presser that caught my attention, he said, this is the best I've ever felt in an offense. I'll take it. I just like it. We've got Kyler really exuding, I love football this year for whatever reason, for a guy that maybe some people thought was a little aloof in the past. I don't know if something's changed.

1:08:12Nick Shook:Well, we know what the situation's changed. This is kind of a prove-it year for him with his organization. That would explain it. By the way, they were a little sloppy to start. They had three penalties for 32 yards in the first 18 minutes of this game. Obviously, we talked about the fumbled opening kickoff return that put them in a seven-nothing hole immediately. They did kind of figure it out and finish pretty strong, but again, it's a preseason game, so how much do you take away from that? Interesting note to me, LJ Collier, seems like he's probably fighting for a roster spot. He was playing in the third quarter of this game, but he recorded a sack.

1:08:45Nick Shook:So, you know, nice little feather in the cap there. I would say that's a bad sign. Yeah, former first half pick. Yeah, playing in the third quarter is a bad sign, yeah. Right, anyone playing in the second half, especially this first week, it's not a great sign. Let's go to Steelers-Jaguars. Steelers, 21. Jaguars, 31-25. Big win for the Steelers. Let's just get right to the biggest news of the day. Cam Little hit a 70-yard field goal. I don't care that it was the preseason. This is the new record. I know. It counts as the record. I hate that we can't count this. But it's not like the kick would be any harder in the regular season.

1:09:19Right. It's not like, oh, well, he did it against backups. No. He nailed that thing. That was freaking amazing. I saw that and I was like, wait, 70? Wait, that's my, what? Yeah. It's freaking amazing. Cam Little, you're going to be one of the best kickers in the league. Nice rookie season by Cam Little last year, by the way. Awesome. You somehow took away Travis Hunter being the top story in this game. A game where a top five pick played over 10 snaps on both sides of the ball. I mean, that's ridiculous. It's just ridiculous that he's already doing this. I mean, people are already getting used to it, but it's ridiculous.

1:09:59He had a couple short catches. He had another catch taken away by penalty. Nothing really happened. He played two series at cornerback after that, so he played offense first, and then he played defense. No one threw at him at cornerback, but it's just cool that this thing's actually happening. Full steam ahead. He's going to play both sides.

1:10:18Nick Shook:A little inside baseball moment here. I believe, I don't know if it's been fixed since then, but live Travis Hunter was listed as a receiver and next gen wasn't listed as a corner luckily he didn't get thrown at so I didn't really get to test this out but I was like oh god what if he's in coverage and there's no numbers for him because he's listed as a receiver it's good it's like Madden Madden came up with a new ability for him this year I think it's called Iron Man it's exclusive to him because he plays right like what if what if you're in a in a fantasy league that has points for tackles and interceptions like some people do the individual defensive players.

1:10:52So does Travis Hunter count as just one guy? I would think so. You don't have to draft Shohei Otani in fantasy as like a pitcher and a hitter, right? He just counts as one, I think. I don't know. I don't know. So that's what they should do. It was very interesting. Travis Etienne got all the reps with the starters in Trevor Lawrence. Trevor Lawrence, I thought, looked solid in this game. Weird. Eric Armstead still hasn't come back from his injury. Might not play week one. Brenton Strange, who supposedly has had a really big camp, is their tight end one for the Jaguars and had a big play in this game.

1:11:27And I noted our friend John Shipley said Parker Washington, he was trying to pick who has had the breakout summer of anyone on this team. And he thought Parker Washington, who's their third receiver slot guy, mostly, and Trayvon Walker, he thought were the two best players so far.

1:11:42Nick Shook:Interesting that Walker commented a few days ago about money doesn't motivate him because he's essentially playing for his next contract right now um i actually like that i think that being motivated by production when you're a former number one overall pick is probably more important than money uh so that's that's something to keep an eye on is this his year that he really delivers after you know falling short of it's gotten better and better though it's been a steady climb yeah but it's not when you're drafted before aiden hutchinson and then aiden hutchinson becomes who he is they're always going to hold that against you the parker washington thing i love little receivers especially ones who come from big 10 schools that nobody really knows about.

1:12:15Nick Shook:And then they make a few plays like one season and suddenly they're the heartthrob of that local fan base. So good for him. Well, they really would be deep because they have Deami Brown, remember, and then Travis hunters at wide receiver. So that that's a nice group. If Brenton strange is better at tight end with Brian Thomas jr. The, the touchdown by Darnell Washington in this game was just like, I love Darnell Washington. It's like a sixth offensive lineman. He's just a beast. and it looked like him going up against me. I mean, the cornerback that he just bodied for position was like 5 '11", 180.

1:12:53But compared to Darnell Washington, he just looked like a little midget. We got to do more with Darnell Washington in the year 2025. And then finally, my last point on this game, Shook, I just want to love something in my life as much as Pittsburgh Steelers reporters love Mason Rudolph and swear he's the best backup quarterback in the league. I mean, yeah.

1:13:19Nick Shook:I mean, this is a guy who's carried a lot of favor with them over the years, especially when he had to step in when they didn't have anybody at quarterback a few years ago. He left, he came back. He's on the Tredavious White path back to the old town that loves him. If you watch Hard Knocks last week, you saw plenty of that. but he also was overshadowed by i cannot believe i'm saying this in this the year of our lord 2025 skyler thompson's three touchdown passes in 233 yards i'm never gonna yeah yeah let's move on i'm not even gonna go further caleb johnson by the way they're the rookie running back 10 touches i think 26 yards 10 touches and targets combined so that that's not that's not ideal uh let's move on to the Seahawks and the Raiders, our second tie of the week.

1:14:05This was back on Thursday night. The Raiders starters, Gino, Ashton Gentry were barely out there, but they did not get anything done. If you wanted a takeaway from the Seahawks, probably that Torrey Horton, who Daniel Jeremiah shouted out last week on 40s and free agents, kept that momentum going. He is a story. He looks like he's emerging as a receiver for them. And it just looks like a Clint Kubiak offense or Gary Kubiak offense fullback under center play action so you just kind of like saw what the Seahawks are gonna look like that that was about it but the first the first teamers at least on Seattle side I'm getting my sides confused with Gino coming back there and Pete Carroll it's just like they're all just seem like one team here oh yeah that is kind of weird

1:14:52Nick Shook:I know there was some uh attention paid to how they greeted the fans when they came out of the tunnel uh google that if you're interested uh yeah gino flipped off someone who had a sign that said like who's the biggest bust in nfl history like jamarcus russell or gino smith i was like first of all i thought seahawks fans kind of loved gino for the most part second of all like that's an insane he didn't trade himself well also gino smith just played very well for you for a few years like he's not even and he was a second round pick like obvious it's almost silly to factually go after this poster.

1:15:32But Geno Smith was a second-round pick who just played at like a Pro Bowl level for the last three years compared to – yeah, shut up. I'll shut up. I wasn't going to bring that up, but you brought it up.

1:15:42Nick Shook:Yeah, I had to bring it up because that was my biggest memory from this experience that happened in Seattle over the weekend. That's where we are in the preseason. That's where we are. The change uniform and your fans that used to love you, They loved your soundbite on Monday Night Football. Now they hate you. Jalen Milrow had like a 27-yard run in this game. Like it was nothing. So just. That was his greatest strength at Alabama. Put a foot in the ground and take off. And then the. I don't know if there's a QB2 battle for the Raiders. But Aiden O 'Connell had two just awful interceptions. And then Cam Miller.

1:16:17Who I know nothing about really. But was handpicked in part by Tom Brady. was a Tom Brady approved sixth round quarterback. Comes in and is great late. Gets him back in the game. Has to do a quick drive to give him a chance. It gets blocked at the buzzer, but at least it got close. Maybe this is the start of a Tom Brady-like career.

1:16:39Nick Shook:Well, he was picked later than Tom Brady. Picked 215. Greg, if you could guess any school that he's from, could you just pick one? Well, I read about it like twice this weekend, and yet I still can't remember off the top of my head. It's the home of Trey Lance, North Dakota State. Okay. Carson Wentz, too. That's a quarterback factory. Yeah. Dante Thornton, by the way, for the Raiders, kind of set as their starter. And then there was like a part of this game where there were three linebackers on the field for the Raiders, or at least on the depth chart, it looks like. And the three linebackers are Jermaine Pratt, Devin White, and Landon Roberts.

1:17:14And I'm thinking like, what year is this? And you're playing three linebackers? Jamal Adams had a good game. I don't know.

1:17:21Nick Shook:Pete Carroll said Devin White's back. So, you know, prove it to me, Devin. Yeah, I think the Jamal Adams addition, by the way, is probably the most Pete Carroll move that the Raiders have made since he's taken over. And he was flying around there. I'm happy for him. It would be nice for him to just have a nice season as like a useful player for them because he was a great player whose career went on the skid so hard. I did not think he was going to get another job in the NFL, but Pete Carroll at least giving him a chance. All right, let's talk Lions 17, Falcons 10, And the big takeaway from this game, unfortunately, was Maurice Norris, the player for the Lions, who the game was suspended for because he was out on the field.

1:18:05The game stopped. Eventually, he was put on a stretcher and left. Details were not forthcoming. but when Dan Campbell said after the game, very emotional that Morris was breathing and had all his feeling of the extremities, the phrase breathing really struck me there. And I think everyone was just very worried in the moment. And it's a very strange scene where at first the Lions and Falcons were like running clock just to have the game end. And then the NFL stepped in and just did end the game. So it sounds like he's better. He's been talking with his teammates from the hospital. And, you know, we just wish him a full recovery.

1:18:51And there weren't a lot of other, like, huge takeaways for me football-wise in this game, Nick. Kyle Allen is the backup quarterback right now, I think, for the Lions because Hendon Hooker just kind of can't get it going. He started this game, and he had a couple fumbles.

1:19:05Nick Shook:Allen threw a really nice touchdown pass to Isaac Tesla, who is probably one of my favorite guys out of this rookie class. he's looked good in both of his preseason games so far. He's a Lions fan, which is always fun to, like, match the diehard fan with their team when they become a pro. He had a really nice touchdown grab. Two catches for 18 yards, but the touchdown grab. Keep an eye on him. I think that he's going to find ways to contribute. Yeah, I think he's going to find ways to contribute in this offense, especially first year post Ben Johnson. Just keep an eye on him. It's easy to just, like, bring up some tape at this time of year.

1:19:39It's just like, oh, I want to go see what Isaac Tislad did this week. Oh, there's only two targets. Let's go watch it. Or three targets. Let's go watch it. Oh, I want to watch Cam Ward start. I didn't watch that live. Oh, nine dropbacks. Boop. Press the button. All right. That takes like five minutes. It's fantastic. Pretty soon it'll be 65 dropbacks or whatever it is. It'll be crazy. I want to give the Falcons some note because every team gets some notes if they're listening. Casey Washington has been the Darnell Mooney replacement and looks like he's going to make this team like a third or fourth receiver.

1:20:11There's some spots open, according to AtlantaFalcons.com, at two of the defensive back spots. Rookies Xavier Watts at safety and Billy Bowman at nickel have a chance to win these spots, but they have not cemented them. But the Falcons are sticking with not playing a lot of starters in the preseason or even backups. So there's not much more for me to take from this game.

1:20:34Nick Shook:Yeah, if I had to pick one to win a job at Xavier Watts, he was a stud in college. I think that his play style transitions very well to the next level. And I think that he'll pretty quickly, maybe by the end of preseason, take that job. He was a monster at Notre Dame. I love that pick when they added him. I think he'll take that job. All right, wrapping up with the Patriots and the Commanders. Patriots 48, Commanders 18. Mike Vrabel's diving into piles during fights, getting bloody and then they're coming out and they're sending a message in the preseason week one how do we feel about travion henderson returning kicks i mean obviously we feel great because he took it back 100 yards he scored he scored a touchdown on this first touch i know but also like do you want to do that like yes yes because to me he's a secondary running back for now remandre stevenson looked awesome in this game remandre stevenson is one of those guys that either looks awesome or doesn't look good or fumbles and you can see it or fumbles but like you can see it it's his weights change like over the years and he looked great he had three great runs in this game so they're going to use him both Travion Henderson had a big week of of practice and he also had a catch I believe it wasn't a run where he just delivered a blow to some poor Washington cornerback who I think he might have concussed but it just was like wow this guy can not only has the speed, but can play with some real power.

1:22:05So I think that's going to be what they want to build their offense off is those two guys and Antonio Gibson as the third running back. And in an offensive line led by Will Campbell, that's better run blocking probably than it is pass blocking. That's Will Campbell's at least, Emo, and I think some of the other guys on the offensive line as well.

1:22:23Nick Shook:That explains why they invested in Henderson after paying Ramondre too. That's an identity shift. If we're sorting out this receiver position, Efton Chisholm. I feel like that's not quite one of your guys because Kyle Williams is your guy. And I don't think you can have two guys in the same team. That's just my rule that I'm making up right now on the fly. But Efton Chisholm with six catches, 50 yards and a touchdown, maybe making a bit of noise. And a ridiculous catch at Sunday's practice that got all over the Patriots interwebs where, yeah, he he gets super vertical more than I would have expected.

1:22:54Catches it at its high point, gets his feet in bounds right now. I don't think Kendrick Bourne is making this team. They could maybe get something for Kendrick Bourne. Maybe not on this contract, actually. And by something, I mean like a late-round pick swap. I don't think Jalen Polk, who got hurt in this game, is making this team, although they might be able to just stash him on injured reserve. And so at this point, I think Efton Chisholm has a pretty good chance to make this team as a sixth receiver. Maybe Javon Baker, who's a special teamer, is battling him there. But yeah, I think they're deep enough at receiver.

1:23:31I don't know if they're good enough, but I think they are deep enough.

1:23:35Nick Shook:I think that if teams that are needing receivers are looking somewhere, they should direct their eyes to Foxborough. Yeah, there's a couple. There's some talent there. Yeah, Matt Collins is that wide receiver, sort of tight end hybrid almost, that's starting. And Drake May, by the way, in the joint practices, everyone was all fired up in New England after the joint practices, that the offense probably had their best day in the joint practices against Washington than they've been having against themselves. But something similar happened in the game, Nick, which is that Drake Mays played really well, moved the ball, except for having a big turnover.

1:24:11And he had a bad fumble early in this game, despite the score, where his two rookie offensive linemen up front, Campbell and Jared Wilson, seemed to get confused on a stunt, and that pressure got right to May. but he had to just take the sack, and instead he just kind of started doing something crazy, and he lost the fumble. Do we have something good to say about the commanders here? Nope, just Patriots all the time, because I have so many Patriots notes. They had like three tight ends. I don't know if Kyle Duggar is going to make this team. That is a prediction. I think Kyle Duggar will be traded.

1:24:47They will be able to get something for Kyle Duggar. I think Kyle Duggar and Anfernee Jennings, who started a lot of games will both be traded Kyle Duggar for more than Jennings. Could you get like a fourth round pick for Kyle Duggar? Yeah, I think that he's had. Yeah, I mean, he was good enough to get a monster contract from them not long ago.

1:25:09Nick Shook:But yeah, I think a fourth is a safe. I don't think it would go. I mean, I don't know. I think like the Browns once traded a fifth for Amari Cooper. So it really depends on who you're dealing with. But fourth feels maybe right. late for like he in the right role he can really make a difference but he just did not seem to fit what they want to do and they're now playing him with backups and stuff so it's just like okay yeah I don't think they have a role for him uh to answer your Washington question Jaden Daniels reportedly looked really good in those joint practices too but it's a lot of Eckler and Ertz you know it's they really they could use a uh their wide receiver Terry McLaurin to be back and someone else to step up.

1:25:49Noah Brown's been out, and they really missed Noah Brown, which is a bad sign. Luke McCaffrey just isn't happening. And Trey Amos, here's something positive. Their rookie cornerback has reportedly been a consistent bright spot. Immediate starter. Just really looks like a veteran, even though he's a rookie. So I'm excited to watch him play.

1:26:07Nick Shook:Yeah, they need that because a lot of that defense is veterans. Like if you run through their starting 11 with Amos involved, you have a ton of guys who have played a lot of football in the NFL to this point in their career. Not a lot of young guys other than Mikey Sanders still. So yeah, adding Amos into the lineup, if that's a win, like acquiring a player in the offseason, a rookie, and he can be a starter, that's a huge win for you. Because eventually, not this year, but time comes for everybody, you're going to have to turn over that roster. You need some young guys to be able to stick and produce quickly.

1:26:38I'm glad you made that point, because I had a note from, I believe this, I'm not sure this was from, that the average age of their free agent pickups they're old 30 yeah 30 on average i got heat i

1:26:51Nick Shook:went on dc radio this week and i compared them to the 2007 browns because that was a veteran laden team and the only difference is that derrick anderson was the quarterback of that team he was obviously not a superstar like jayden daniels is and i got pushed back in that you know obviously they're flying you know high after what happened last season they believe that you know they're just like the 08 browns did super bowl and so they don't want to be compared to them because the team that followed the 07 Browns went 4-12. But this is why. Because they're old. And especially on defense, they're very old because Dan Quinn wants proven guys that he knows can come run his defense.

1:27:22Nick Shook:I'm just saying there are pitfalls to that approach. They do have Jaden Daniels. They do. And that's the big difference. Who did the Browns have? They had Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. Yeah. Johnny Newton, he's young. One of my favorite draft picks last year, kind of had an up and down rookie year was playing in this game when most of the starters were not. So maybe not a great sign, but he did have a sack. So is he going to have a role? I hope so. Their first round pick, Josh Connerly, was rotating in practice with Andrew Wiley. And then we will wrap this entire update. We hit all 32 teams with a bill update.

1:28:01And if you forgot, Ja 'Cory Krosky-Meritt, who I was saying, let's follow this guy. He's the type of guy that you want to watch in the preseason. he didn't really have a great game.

1:28:13Nick Shook:Oh, no. The blocking was bad for him. I saw the energy, but we want more out of week two of Bill. Yeah, yeah. He was the most random player that I typed up and was like, all right, let's watch the Krosky-Meritt snaps. That's like a Damon Chihie-Giuseppe reference right there. Once took a punt back for a touchdown in a preseason game. The guy who lied his way onto an NFL team. Ran a fast score. I thought he actually, for 24 yards on seven carries, I thought he looked pretty good. He also had an eight-yard catch, but not a lot of room. Rugged. I'm excited to watch what he does. I want to circle back, by the way, to Connolly real quick, just because he was one of my favorite tackles in this class, especially because of the way he moved at the combine.

1:28:57Nick Shook:Put together some good tape, you know, just little snippets of good tape in his first preseason action because he can move, and he moved well. There was a play there where he went from one block to another seamlessly, very swiftly. I like what Washington has in him I like what we have in you Shooky you came from that wedding hours away you stayed sober you made it happen for the listeners we will be back next Sunday night recapping preseason week 2 play the music we also will be back Monday and we may get an update if I upset my aunt starting with a QB Tears show. Mike Sandoz got those QB Tears where he gets all the smart people to do it.

1:29:41I'm going to go against Mike Sandoz with my QB Tears. Look, when we're talking Krosky Barrett, you know football's...

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