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Touchdown Jaguars!
Touchdown Jaguars!
Episode 118: Saints / Jaguars Preseason Week 2 Analysis
James Gladstone is reshaping the Jacksonville Jaguars with a bold mentality that fans haven't seen before in Jacksonville. The latest evidence? Trading center Luke Fortner for New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khalen Saunders - bolstering the team's biggest roster weakness without surrendering draft capital.
This proactive approach marks a refreshing change from previous regimes that seemed content to enter the regular season with glaring weaknesses. Whether acquiring Travis Hunter with multiple first-round picks or making strategic trades, Gladstone is sending a clear message that contention drives many of his decisions.
Meanwhile, Trevor Lawrence looks increasingly comfortable in Liam Coen's offense, which features a heavy dose of the run game alongside quick reads in the passing game. After the first-team offense bounced back impressively from an early fumble against the Saints, there's growing optimism that Lawrence may have "all the answers" within this scheme. This was one of the many topics "Touchdown Jaguars!" host James Johnson discussed with special guest and former Jags Wire co-host Jacob DeLawrence.
The rookie running back duo of Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen continues to impress, potentially giving Jacksonville the deepest backfield in the AFC South. This remarkable depth provides valuable insurance during the grueling 17-game season and possibly offers a succession plan when Travis Etienne's contract expires.
As the preseason winds down, the Jaguars appear to have established a clearer identity than in previous years, though questions remain about the defense's readiness despite visible improvement from their first preseason game. With a division that appears winnable, the pieces may finally be falling into place for a legitimate playoff push. James and Jacob discussed all of this and more (like Ryan Clark's recent take on Hunter) in episode 117.
Want more Jaguars content? Visit touchdownjaguars.com and follow us on Twitter @TD_JaguarsPod for complete coverage throughout the season.
Also, follow Jacob's work at Andscape.com, including his recent interview with AEW's Swerve Strickland.
James Johnson and Phil Barrera bring you the best and most up to date Jacksonville Jaguars news. "Touchdown Jaguars!" is a tribute to the prospective ownership group "Touchdown Jacksonville!" In 1991, the NFL announced plans to add two expansion teams and "Touchdown Jacksonville!" announced its bid for a team, and Jacksonville was ultimately chosen as one of five finalists. In November 1993, the NFL owners voted 26–2 in favor of awarding the 30th franchise to Jacksonville. James and Phil have been fans of the franchise ever since and have had the honor (and sometimes dishonor) of covering the team professionally since 2017. The rest as they say, is history.
Welcome to the New York City City of the New York City City of the Still running and go. That's it and go. Touchdown Jacksonville 109 yards.
Speaker 1:Incredible Play action Portals Upstairs Wide open.
Speaker 2:Tommy Bohannon Touchdown, jacksonville Looking for Jimmy in the end zone. Touchdown Jaguars. Touchdown Jaguars.
Speaker 1:Touchdown Jaguars.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Touchdown Jaguars podcast.
Speaker 1:Here are your hosts, james Johnson and Phil Smith. All right, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Touchdown Jaguars podcast. I am your host for today, james Johnson, as Phil is feeling under the weather today, so I told him to you know, get better and don't even worry about this episode. And coincidentally, it felt like it was maybe a call from God or whatever. I was texting back and forth with an old friend of mine, who you all may recognize from our days of doing this with Believe and even before. But Jacob DeLawrence, ladies and gentlemen, will be co -hosting with me today. Of course, I'll let him plug all his handles and all that good stuff. Jacob has not been in the football industry for a while, but it's all good. He's been working on a lot of wrestling content, which I'll let him plug as well, man. But for old time's sake, man, I am glad to have you back. It feels like Jaguars wire all over again, man, and I can't wait to see where this episode goes. How are you doing, my brother?
Speaker 2:I'm back. You know you really shouldn't leave the back door cracked because people like me will find a way to just seek in every so often. So that's right. Have no fear, this is not 2018, 2019. No, no, you are in 2025. We are back.
Speaker 2:It is two-thirds of the unholy football apocalypse here and you know, james reached out and was like hey, dog, and I hit him up. I was like hey man, you know, if you ever need somebody to come through, you know them solo episodes be rough. So I was like, if you need somebody, and look at that, sure enough, I'm here. So, phil, relax, I'm sorry, I'm not here to take your spot, just fill it in. Just a quick little drive-by. Just you little drive-by. Just you know, gotta check off the box. Like hey, I did some football work this year. So hey, I'm good.
Speaker 2:I appreciate you having me on, sir, as always, it is a privilege and an honor to sit here and chop it up and talk jags with you because, again, I've told you this before and I will tell you this every time I sit down with you you are by far one of the hardest working men in independent media. Ain't no USA Today backing you. Ain't no Believe. There's no major podcast network publication backing you. You done took what we started from Jags Wire to Believe to now completely independent, and you've turned it into a very respectable news source for Jags fans to get quality information, unbiased, honest, calling a spade a spade.
Speaker 2:And you have ripped your ass off, sir, and you deserve this. So I am giving you your flowers because, while I may not have been around for the last couple years of the ride I've been watching, I still have a podcast on my feed. Wasn't no unfollow? Also, wasn't no falling out between me and him, just schedules and life, and I shifted one way in media, he shifted the other, but I always support my brother. So, sir, again, you deserve everything. You're a great human and I'm happy to be in the saddle with you for this one episode. So let's do what we do best and piss off Jaguar's Twitter.
Speaker 1:Let's do it, and I appreciate it. I really do, man, and I've said this many, many times man, without you and Phil, my career path would be totally different. No ifs, ands or buts, bro. No, if I had met Phil at that training camp, I would have never met you. That would never have led to me getting into media like that and pursuing media like that. That veered us towards you. We met you in the usa today days. You held it down for me a lot too. Not just we.
Speaker 1:We talk about just podcasts, we talk about articles when your boy went able when your boy wasn't able to get content up, you were my first go-to man. You shout-outs to Coach Nick Trist too, man, he helped me out a bunch as well and Phil, man. So again, my career path into this independent path wouldn't be what it is if it weren't for y'all. So anytime we can link back up and do episodes, man, I'm always game. And yeah, as you said, man, there wasn't no falling out. Man, we still brothers from another mother, right? So it wasn't even that, it was just you know. You know we get older, we move on, we go to different endeavors and what have you? And that's what happened, man. I left USA Today, but we always made it clear when we left you at what. Wherever we left usa today, believe we still gonna be in contact with each other. So we've kept to that and that's what has produced this episode is us keeping to our words. So yeah, man, appreciate you coming on. Yeah, go ahead, man, plug some of your, your content.
Speaker 2:Man, let everybody know what you've been working on, man hey, well, I guess I don't really want to plug myself like that, but you know you can find me at anscapecom. That is ESPN's black website. Every month I drop a must buy for shoes. I just dropped August last week. The link is in my Twitter feed. I'm at underscore J Della. Still ain't nothing changed there. I also sat down with former AEW world champion and maybe soon to be AEW unified champions. Where is Strickland to talk about his collab with Reebok? The Answers 3. That is also available on Anscapecom. I occasionally pop through on Women's WrestleTalk. That is Monday, wednesdays and Fridays. On YouTube. Just search Women's WrestleTalk 6pm Eastern Catch a nice live show. So I'm here. I'm there. I do a little bit of everything, you know. I just I try to keep myself just around enough so people don't forget about me, and you know, just let the work work and speak for itself.
Speaker 1:Right, right, yeah, man, I love the swerve interview, which I plugged well, it might be three times at this point when you first put it out on your birthday, and I think I plugged it the third time somewhere on my timeline. So go feel free and look at that, man. And um, yeah, man, that was an interesting collaboration, not just you and swerve, but the, the collaboration with the rebots, because you know me and you be communicating about that as well. Like the shoes, I went and picked up the bucks kicks as well, so I might pick up the swerve joints as well. I just like to collect collaboration type stuff. You know what?
Speaker 2:I mean.
Speaker 1:So yeah, that might be on my radar as well, man, but we're not here to talk about wrestling man. We're here to talk about our beloved jacks, who were in a tie game against the saints. I guess we can't feel too heartbroken about it because it was preseason football Preseason but at the same time, man, a lot of good came from it. Some concerns as well, but I would say mostly more so good. When you look at what the core part of the preseason is, it's about seeing what you can see out of the starters. So we'll talk about that a little bit. But before we get into the game itself, let me plug these handles real quick. You can follow me at Sports Grind, underscore Dunn on Twitter. You can follow Phil at Phil the Filipino on Twitter and no, we don't call it X and probably never will. You can follow the podcast at TD Jaguarswarspod touchdown. Jadwars podcast is the website where, um, we post written content and what have you on there? You can find this podcast on any major platform. If we're not on your favorite platform, let us know and we'll get there. But apple spotify the main ones. You name it, we're there and um. That being said, let's get in today's episode. We're kind of going to freestyle it, which is never a good thing when me and jacob get together, but we'll freestyle it's. Whatever man, you guys will still love it because we always make good content when we're together. But let's start before the game man, we had a trade after the game and it just feels like James Gladstone was up in the booth right Talking to Mickey Loomis and somehow they may have had some trade discussions while they were watching the game unfold. Probably is what happened. Right, if we had to guess. And somehow or another, james Gladstone probably said, hey, we're looking for a DT. Mickey Loomis was like, hey, we need a center or a backup center. And we got a trade. And now Kalen Saunders is a Jacksonville Jaguar. He will come here play defensive tackle for us, a kid that I remember from the combine because of his athleticism. We all seen the viral backflip videos him doing a backflip at 320 pounds and all that craziness. So he was an athletic kid. I remember watching him at the combine, went to the Chiefs, got two Super Bowl rings. So that's significant right, bring some leadership into the mix. But yeah, we sent off what most people would say was a failed Trent Baalke pick right, jacob. Um Luke Fortner right, who me and you have had our discussions about Trent Baalke in spaces, right, and everybody know how I feel about that guy but, and they kind of know how you feel about that guy too as well. But that being said, we got a trade.
Speaker 1:The Jaguars as I don't know if you heard one of our last episodes, but me and Jamal St Cyr from News 4 Jags we discussed how, basically, when you look at the roster, what's the weakness of the roster? Defensive tackle was the number one and that's where that's how we got where we are today with this trade. We got somebody who could back up Devon Hamilton at the nose tackle position, because it was looking kind of suspect at the nose tackle position and, yeah, we got a guy in Saunders. Here, again, plenty of experience Should help us out at the Jaguars' biggest position to need. Keep in mind, the Jaguars also are kind of down numbers there. Mason Smith is trying to get healthy and also Eric Armstead is trying to get healthy. They did like practice in some capacity today, so that's good news. But, jacob, I'll start with you. Man, like, what are your thoughts on this trade? Obviously, it's nothing major. We didn't get like a starter per se, but like a starter per se, but they definitely got some depth at their weakest position, I would say.
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's. Let's be clear, we're making the trade, the second week of preseason and the NFL season kicks off in 16 days from today, as we're recording this. So, like you're not going to make a major blockbuster trade unless you're the Washington commanders or the Cincinnati Bengals and you got one of your disgruntled people. So, looking at this, like you said, it's a trade of need. We need Def on the D-line because, like you said, mason and Armstead have been out most of camp. They just out getting back to practicing. And also the Saints needed an insurance policy because they lost their center to a Liz Frank injury last year. So you know those are a little tricky coming back. So, hey, I need this, you need this, I got what you need. Let's just go and do this real quick. Plus Kalon Sanders, he's in the last year of his deals a $2.5 million cap it. So if it doesn't work out, let him go. $2.5 million ain't nothing because nothing, because, one, the salary cap's not real. But two, two and a half mil, even if it was real, ain't gonna hurt you like that. So you're good there. So, yeah, and like you said, he has two Super Bowl rings. You can argue well, he wasn't a key player on the defense. It don't matter. You sit in an environment like Kansas City and unless you are just one of the most obtuse people will use that word you pick up something, you. You can't help but be in a culture like that with Andy Reid, patrick Mahomes, travis Kelsey, the Hunt family and like not pick up some quality leadership of like oh okay, this is what it's like to win a division multiple years in a row. Basically, your season really doesn't start until the AFC title game. And then you got two Super Bowls out of it and, if I'm not mistaken, he may have been on the team that lost to the Bucs. So you took three trips at least Got two rings. You contributed while you were there yeah, I'll take that. Yeah, come on. And you only two and a half mil? Yeah, come on. Come on, we need some leadership in here.
Speaker 2:It's a new regime in Jacksonville again. So like, let's bring in that winning culture. Let's ask some depth to our one of our weak spots. He's also an insurance policy. He put up relatively solid numbers last year. He had a calf injury, but I think he played in 13 games last year. He's only 29, so he's on the right side of 30, if you want to look at it that way, he was a third-round pick, which means you are expected to either start or contribute, and that's what he's done in his two stops. I don't see anything wrong with this, unless, no, even, if he flames out. Okay, like you said, we moved a center. That was basically a failed ball key pick, so at worst it's a wash. At best, hey, we got a solid defensive lineman and we got somebody with culture that knows how to win. I like it. It's a smart move. It is a very smart move for the Jags.
Speaker 1:Yeah, some things I want to touch on. Man First and foremost. What a difference a year makes, right, because this is the thing about where we would have been last year if Trent Baalke was here After camp and during camp and all of that good stuff. During the preseason, baalke wasn't trying to add no additions to the team, even when you knew your weaknesses and even when it was clear additions need to be made. So, that being said, I want to give and look man. It's his first year. We'll see how it works out with James Gladstone, but I just love this new found ability to understand your weaknesses and do something about it and not just wait until the regular season and just say, hey, what we have is what we have, and let's just try. To everybody out there like Trent Baalke would.
Speaker 1:I love the fact that Gladstone you know he did it in a creative way Traded a failed balky pick. We didn't have to give up a pick for it, by the way, you know, even though James Gladstone is the king of F them picks, right, and you know he comes from that Rams culture of F them picks type of thing, but he found a creative way to get it done. Hey, we don't even give up a pick. We'll give you a center who we're probably going to cut in two weeks, right when the preseason is over, because and we'll talk about this Jonah Monheim, the sixth round pick that we got that James Gladstone got this year, is playing quite well for a sixth round pick, rookie right at center and guard. He's been playing both and that's probably what led them to this. It's like we got our center of the future in this sixth round pick, which is hard to to do. You can hit on some positions in the sixth round, but offensive guard or center or alarming is pretty hard to do. So we'll see, time will tell. It's just two games into this kid's career, two preseason games, but he's looked really good.
Speaker 1:But that was one thing I wanted to touch on and I think it's telling also too, because I think it's a sign of how they felt about the backups behind Devon Hamilton at nose tackle. I don't think they're overly impressed with Jefferson. Another Trent Baalke pick Right, and it was some undrafted kids behind Jefferson. So like I don't think they like what they saw from that standpoint. But all of that said, as you said, he's coming from a winning culture, andy Reed. So there's that, but real quick, I do want to ask this because we haven't really gotten to really discuss this with you in an outsider's perspective.
Speaker 1:Jacob, while we're speaking on Gladstone, what's your thoughts on him? Because I know in the spaces you talked about Liam Cohen, right, and your thoughts on him, but at that time Gladstone hadn't been hired. What's your thoughts on him? And the Jaguars going this young route with a 35 year, this dude like the GM, like it's our age, bro, like which is young for a GM. What do you think that's crazy, right, it's crazy to think me and you could be in a GM chair one day, bro. What do you think of his addition, and you know what he brings to the table and the culture that he comes from, and just your thoughts about him in general.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he's 35, 36. And I'm just like you know, if I'd have went left a couple times in my life, maybe I'd be there too, but no, but, um, yeah, I gave my thoughts to liam in the whole, not hiring for one person, hire for the whole 54, not one. But as far as glass stone goes, so far, so good. And let's be clear, I'm not going to say that the bar was in hell inheriting it from trent balky. But you were definitely sitting in purgatory because, while to give balky his credit, balky was great at finding something in the fourth round, the fifth round, the sixth round, round, the sixth round. Maybe get a seventh round in here. Might pick up an undrafted free agent every now and then. He was great in the later rounds. The problem is you missed early and often. Gladstone only has one draft under his belt. But I'll tell you this much I don't think the old regime would have had the nerve to swing. Hey, you know what? Take our first this year and our first next year. Give me the unicorn, give me Travis Hunter, and let me figure this out. Give me Travis Hunter Because that's a ballsy pick, like that is saying that you know what man Bump that first-round pick. It's going to be in the teens or the low 20s, because we actually going to win the division, we going to be good.
Speaker 2:And yeah, that's where he came from. He came from the Rams. The Rams are the masters of, like you said, man, f-bill picks. Literally, we'll deal with tomorrow, when tomorrow gets here. That's a tomorrow problem. Right now I am trying to win. We are close to winning now. So of course, that's what he knows. It's a gunslinger, it's a gambler mentality. We'll see how it pans out in two, three years, after he gets a couple more drafts under his belt. Maybe he can, maybe will and deal and go make a big trade at some point. But I like what he's doing so far. It's smart. You're looking at your roster. This is a smart trade, like I said, and it shows that he's willing to do what's necessary, because what he's doing and I'm sure Liam Cohen has a hand in this too but what they're doing now is A-Dot 16, ain't no more excuses. All y'all. Ain't no more excuses. The other, josh Allen, allen Hines, I'm sorry, ain't no more excuses. Right, we giving y'all anything y'all can ask for. We plugging in, we covering holes. We'll figure out what we going to do with this unicorn. But like you got BTJ, you got tank, you got ETN. For now, like we, we sure enough the old line we got a six rounder.
Speaker 2:Like you said also, the man is playing two positions in the NFL. Like we want to talk about Travis playing offense and defense. Yeah, that's nice and that's fascinating and we'll get into that. But to be able to play along that O-line, I don't think people understand how difficult of a thing that is. So that Gladstone was able to find a kid that could play center and also slide the guard if you need to, or vice versa.
Speaker 2:And from what we've seen, he's holding up pretty well. You can argue his preseason, yeah, yeah, that's great. Guess what? Some people look like complete, absolute crap in preseason two and they live on practice squad. So like we'll take this as like, oh, we're not saying he's gonna start or contribute, but he, there's something there. So so far I'm I'm impressed with glass stone. It's it's a night and day difference on what was there before. We'll see how these, we'll see how this pans out, because at some point you gotta hit and only time will tell if he hits on some of these moves and decisions and also you gotta win as a team.
Speaker 1:So we'll see yeah, yeah, and I don't want to veer too far from the game, but while we have you, man like this is what always happened, man we veer away from the actual what we need to get on to. But since you mentioned some of this stuff, right, yeah, with jonah monheim, right, um, right, like not, this is not them necessarily saying he's the starter now, but, you know, prop, maybe in a year or two. Now, something that you mentioned I want to talk with you about was the Travis trade. Of course, to you know, give up what we gave up and what have you, and you're absolutely right, that's. That's a night and day difference from Trent Baalke Anytime. Somebody said to Trent Baalke the cost is a first round pick. He's hanging up on you, point blank, period. He's hanging up Anytime. That that's all it take to scare Trent away. Hey, yeah, you want to make a trade, first round pick, trent hanging up on you instantly. Never would have done that. He never would have done that.
Speaker 1:And what I like about that decision to trade up for Travis too is you know, know, basically, how they came to that agreement or to that. That situation was while they were sitting at five. Basically the big three, which would be Tony Bocelli, the EVP, james Gladstone and Cohen. They it sounds like they really couldn't. It sounds like they really couldn't decide on one person that they could all collectively vote on to take at number five, right. So they were like you know what, let's move up. I tell you what, let's give up a first round pick. Let's get the best player in the draft. We can all agree that that's the right decision to make, right, which we'll see and time will tell. We'll talk about Travis a little bit later, but we'll see if that move pans out. But I just like that mindset, man. We would have never. If Trent was here, we wouldn't be thinking about trading up to get Travis Hunter. It wouldn't even be a thought process at all.
Speaker 2:Here's the biggest difference. And again, not to dance on the grave of Trent Baalke, but this was the biggest difference. And again not to dance on the grave of Trent Balky. But this was during the Jags' podcast days. Taven Bryan you took him in the same draft that Lamar Jackson went eight picks later, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 1:That was TC, though.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but still.
Speaker 1:That's a part of our history, right.
Speaker 2:You get the point that's a part of our history, right. You get the point that, like, even that feels like a bulky thing by the fact that I would attribute it to bulky. But that's the point I'm making. Is you have these moments where you right there, like you said, first round, nah click. Second round, click Third. I'll listen, then click, but like, none of this would have happened to any prior regime.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, and it brings excitement to the table. When you got a GM that don't care about picks. You know what I'm saying. And look, I believe in building through the draft. I believe you believe in building through the draft, but when you're as close as we are, right, you already paid your quarterback what you paid him. You already paid Josh Hines Allen what you paid him. That's an indication that you're knocking on the door, that you're close. And, that being said, this new regime has taken that approach of like, hey, we like what's here, we just want to add on to it and we'll see where it goes. But it was always just. I just wanted to get your take on that, because we never have had an outsider's perspective on that, aside from Stodge in the spaces and like I think you came in and you spoke about Liam in the space, but not really Gladstone. So, that being said, we'll get into the game.
Speaker 1:As I mentioned, jaguars Saints, we went down to New Orleans. It ended up being a tie no-transcript, aside from the Trevor Lawrence trip situation where he I think it was Ezra Cleveland stepped on his foot and we fumbled on the first drive. Aside from that, the first team offense showed us everything we needed to show, and not only that, but basically they built upon what we saw last week. So it's like consistency. We're starting to see, which is kind of odd for our offense. I know it's just a preseason, but to see our offense function consistently, it's like whoa man, like what. What am I watching Is this? Is this the new Jaguars? Knock on wood here? Let me knock on this dress over here. But I like what I saw out of the first team offense Offensive line kept Trevor clean.
Speaker 1:Right, that's the most important part. A lot of these guys that you mentioned that we brought in had to play as well Fred Johnson, some others. They had to play as well. So I like what I saw out of the offensive line Also, too. What I really liked about it is after the fumble on the first drive, right, as Jazz fans, we are programmed rightacob to start panicking. The sky is falling. We finna just screw this whole game up and we're finna look like straight up, pure donkey, you know what. But on the next drive it's like they it. It never happened. The phone will never happen. They went right back and started driving right back like it was nothing, and I think that's a testament of Liam's scheme for Trevor, which I want to hear your take on this too, by the way.
Speaker 1:But Trevor said back in training camp that he feels like this offense has all the answers Right and I can tell and I told Phil this last week I can tell that he truly believes that, because in a lot of those third down situations he sat in the pocket, was cool as a cucumber and would hit Brenton Strange for a third down conversion and it's like man, like everything was there mechanically, everything was there in terms of the pass protection, like you could really tell he believes that even in third down situations that they can overcome whatever.
Speaker 1:That wasn't the case with Doug Peterson right, it felt like the goal with Doug Peterson's offense and Phil has said this was just hope that Trevor Lawrence could overcome a deficit and get us out of second and long, because normally we'll be in second and long like second and 13, something crazy like that man. But yeah, what was your assessment of not just Lawrence and the offensive line, but just in general? What was your assessment of when the first teamers were out there? For me, my assessment was that it does feel like they truly have an identity, which they didn't have and they feel like this offense does present all of the answers and them coming back from that fumble like they did and just going down the field with ease and scoring was kind of a testament to that. Now we were playing the Saints, but what were your thoughts on the first team offense?
Speaker 2:We were playing the Saints. Yeah, yeah, that's true, but I mean it looked good, they look solid and it's preseason. I am not going to put that much stock in the preseason, I'm sorry. Like this is one of those. Let's just get the rest out, let's get some reps in and in the case of trevor and company, it's a brand new system, guys. So, yeah, we need to play, we need to look. The only thing I'm taking from this is that we seem to have a base level grasp of the offense, because anything you run in preseason is more or less vanilla. Like we'll throw some chocolate chips in there, maybe in like week three, if the starters play a good bit of preseason, but like it's pretty vanilla, we just make sure do you feel like they have an identity too as well, like because that was the big thing they didn't have an identity last year?
Speaker 1:Do you see like some kind of shades of an identity now?
Speaker 2:I do. I see that this is going to be an offense where you got to make decisions quick and be on time and like I will say that Prez Taylor, he wanted more of the. Let me see if I can hit you with a big one. It's either a big one or a check down. Was basically Prez One of the two? Like, oh crap, btj is not open? All right, etn, five yard check down to the flats. But like this is like, hey, let's make these reads quick and just make a smart read. And I like it.
Speaker 2:Again, trevor, I think is 14 to 19,. 14 to 17 so far this preseason Looking real clean, efficient. Again, vanilla. But there is an identity and, more importantly, we're going to run the ball is what it looks like now. And Tampa Bay had a pretty good rushing attack last year. Bucky Irving and company yeah, everybody's looking at oh Baker threw for 4,000, 71% completion pass and everything and it's like, yeah, that looks great. But also they ran the ball really, really well in Tampa. So you got Tank Bisbee, you got Etienne, you got a couple behind them that look pretty good. I think they're going to run the ball and here's the important thing they ran the ball no matter what O-line unit was in there.
Speaker 2:So we got an identity of quick reads make a decision, trevor. And I think that's when Trevor's at his best is when he can just 1-2, go, 1-2, go 1-2, 3, go, get it out, get it moving. And also we got a run game. Now he had a run game in Clemson. That's why he looked so dangerous in Clemson. He had a ready game with them too. So it's like you can't just pin your ears back Now. Once everybody realized, oh, we can pin our ears back and go at Trevor.
Speaker 2:You saw what happened. And, like you said, also, the fumble didn't just doom everything, because what was that? That's the miami game last year, first game of the season, if I'm not mistaken. What happened there? After a fumble? No wills just came all the way off. So I like it. There's the identity. Like you said we, we have something here. I don't expect most of the stars to play in week three of the preseason. I'm not sure if an announcement has been made yet that I've seen. So I feel good. Let's see how it looks like week one, when the bullets become live and they're no longer rubber bullets.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree with a lot of what you said. As you said, like we could see an identity from the standpoint that they want to run the ball, clearly, and the tea leaves were there, right, they drafted two running backs and in addition to the two they have right, which we'll talk about them as well. But when you look at Tampa Bay's offense you know it was clear like okay, that's kind of a Liam Cohen thing, he wants to run the ball to help his quarterback out, so on and so forth. Um, so, yeah, you right, like I see a similar identity as that you see as well, is let's get these quick reads out, let's avoid being in second down in 10 plus, and the rest will will fix itself pretty much. And also, too, again, I see a quarterback in Trevor Lawrence who is just very, very calm because of that, is just very, very calm because of that, because of the quick reads, because of not being in third and 15 or whatever the case may be. I see a very cool, calm and collected Trevor Lawrence from that standpoint because he was in a few third downs again and he did the same thing he did last week go straight to Brenton Strange in the middle of the field. Right, that's another key part that the world ain't talking about right now is that this Jaguars regime love Brenton Strange in the middle of the field. Right, that's another key part that the world ain't talking about right now is that this Jaguars, which ain't love Brenton Strange, and I think he, you know, like, you'll never, as a tight end, you'll never like, have crazy stats in a Liam Cohen system, but I think he's going to be a great safety valve for Trevor Lawrence and I think, like he's an underrated athlete, because what we knew Brenton Strange for was his physicality and ability to block. But Liam Cohen is untapping some potential in him that I don't even think Doug Peterson, who was, you know, pretty good with tight ends too, was untapping as well. So it'll be interesting to see, you know, where they go with him. But it makes so much sense, right, jacob, when you see how much they go to him as a safety valve and why they got rid of Evan Ingram. Everybody was like why would the Jazz trade Evan Ingram? He was obviously, you know, one of their top offensive weapons because they had a vision that we're seeing unfold, albeit through some simple plays. They had a vision for Brenton Strange who they drafted not too long ago. So there's that In terms of the stats.
Speaker 1:Now I'll just run through the stats for some of the starters. As you mentioned, trevor Lawrence had a good day 8 of 10, 76 yards. He did have the fumble through one touchdown to Parker Washington, another player who I want to you know we'll talk about him in a little bit as well here, jacob but Parker Washington, with the touchdown, just got some yards after the catch. You know they couldn't bring him down. He was right there near the goal line.
Speaker 1:But another guy who people were saying like oh, he's just a practice player, like he only shows his practice, and lo and behold, looks like Parker Washington. Heard y'all whispers and all that good stuff, and he's been great this preseason, by the way. But he got the touchdown for the Jacksonville Jaguars and basial two and scored the other one, if I'm not mistaken. So yeah, real quick. I just want to hear, before we go on the defensive side of things, jacob, here, what are your thoughts on not just Parker Washington and BTJ, but the skill weapons for this group. How do you think they'll pan out? Because we talked about the run game, obviously, but what do you think this receiving core will look like and what are your thoughts on them?
Speaker 2:All right. So you got BTJ, receiver one. No ifs, ands or buts about it. You got the unicorn, travis hunter you're likely receiver two. And then deami brown just coming here in free agency. So him and parker washington are basically on the same playing field like you. Hey, you're both essentially new here. Let's see how this works. But uh, to paraphrase my homie martin z, john Johnson, parker Washington heard y'all talking and he took that personal. Heard y'all talking and he was like all right, I'm going to show y'all what to do, so we'll see. We'll see.
Speaker 2:It's an interesting battle for receiver three. But you have Strange as your tight end Tank and ET into your backfield BTJ, travis Hunter. You got weapons Trevor. You got what looks like a solid O-line. Now We'll figure out receiver three, receiver four Again, like I said, gladstone and Liam are like hey, here's everything, it's on you because we paid you, so we're stuck with you for a little bit. But once we get to a point where that cap hit is manageable because, if I'm not mistaken, trevor has a no trade clause so they can't trade a weather's permission but once that cap hit is manageable, I'm not saying but let's not act like it's not a possibility.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean. Well, here's the thing, though. Obviously, they came here because they love Trevor, obviously, let's make that clear. Okay, gladstone took this job because it wasn't and we see this a lot with GMs it wasn't a situation where you go in there with a cupboard, his bear right, and he saw the potential in Trevor. Long Same thing with Liam Cohen. He came here because, you know, they feel like I would think they feel like they could hit the ground running with Trevor.
Speaker 1:But yeah, as you said, though, you know you always have to have that thought in the back of your head what if it don't work out? You know what I'm saying? Like he probably would be gone before them. They just got here, right, so he would probably be gone before them. But, um, yeah, man, like in terms of what you were saying about the, the skill group, I will say this I think diami brown is gonna take off for this team, by the way, like because he's looked great in in practice again. But you know, obviously he has to see the field and be healthy. He played in that first game and he had a pretty good end around route, which I think we'll see a lot of that with him. But I mean like what a what a good problem to have. Like we really like having a problem of De'Ami Brown being number three and Parker Washington being number four and battling it out and both of them look pretty dang good bro. Like and we've never really been able to really say that about the third wide receiver or fourth wide receiver under Trent Baalke's regime like what a great problem to have, man.
Speaker 1:And I think like more so, the question is more so, who is receiver number five? You know, and do you take six receivers on to the main roster with you? Like that's more so the question that may need to be answered week three, by the way, we'll see and time will tell. I think they stick with five. You put Joshua Cephas at receiver number five and call it a day, but they may stick Irwin in there because of his punt return ability. We'll see that. That's a question that they probably are going into week three looking to find out the answer for. Um.
Speaker 1:Also, you mentioned about the Miami Dolphins thing. Um, I think what they probably will do is they'll play the starters in practice against the Dolphins to get them some good reps against. You know, some high level competition, but in terms of the game and I don't have an inside source on this or anything. But when they get into the game I think they'll just play the backups, you know, and just keep everybody from getting hurt in that regard. But yeah, that's our thoughts on the first team offense. What were your thoughts on the first team defense? Way better outing than last week, I'll say that for sure, because like we were looking a little sketchy last week we couldn't stop nobody on third down. Now again it's the Saints. Got to take it with a grain of salt and that offense does look bad. But what were your thoughts on the jump that they made from the defense first-team defense from week one to week two?
Speaker 2:I mean, yeah, like you said, it's the Saints, so I'm a great. Just on a curve and you know, you look good. I think this is just more so you're getting comfortable in the system. You're getting comfortable in the scheme, the verbiage knowing oh okay, I'm supposed to be here, we should have this Now. I know you'll be here so I don't have to worry about it. It's just comfort, like these are the things that you're expecting to see week two in the preseason under a brand new system. So let's just you know, see how this looks and we're progressing fine. Again, I'm not putting that much stock in any of this because, again, one, you're running a vanilla defense, but you're looking better. You're keeping the lowly Saints in check, so like good job, but also like Saints. So it's as expected. Basically is the way I could just describe it. It's like I need progression, I need to see that you can do your job and now you're getting a little more comfortable in the system. So, yeah, I'm good with how the first team defense is looking.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree, you know it's always good to see your defense make you know them punt. It wasn't just the first team defense, by the way, but they punted the ball's. See the first one, two, three, three drives. Um, at the first two drives excuse me, first two drives they punted the ball. The Saints did. They got a field goal on the third drive. So, yeah, the the defense looked way better. Um, they didn't give up the crucial third downs like they were last week. Um, pass rush was a little bit better. But again, like I don't really want to talk too much about the defense because it is the saints, uh, but at the same time, you know, still having that sense of progress does help them mentally from where they were last week. Um, so we'll see and we'll. We'll see, like, if they even play against the Miami dolphins and if the dolphins even play their starters. But yeah, let's hope that this is trending towards that defense, because a lot of people feel like that defense might not be that great this year, and rightfully so. You know, I can understand that. But let's hope that this is, if this is the last time we see the first team defense, this is the step that can get them into the regular season. You know, running like a well oiled machine, of course. Again, as I said, I think the first teamers will play in practice against the Dolphins and that'll get the first team defense and reps against some some notable players out there on the Dolphins and that'll get the first-team defense, some reps against some notable players out there on the Dolphins end. But I think, that being said, this could be the start. This game could be the start of that defense finding their footing under new defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, who you know. Again, I like what I've seen from him when he was with the Packers and what have you. But we'll see in time, we'll tell, because I do have concerns that this defense. Personally, I think they might struggle in the beginning of the season and start to find their foot midway through the season. I hope I'm wrong on that, but I think this game could be something that gets them going in the right direction. To where they avoid that struggle in the beginning of the regular season. We'll see and time will tell. Now what I will say is you know, I think that Sanders trade kind of confirms the concerns we have about them in the middle, you know, and stopping the run and the interior Popping the run and the interior. We'll see where they play him. He'd probably be a backup to Devon Hamilton, but I do think that kind of does show that they had concerns about what they saw against the run, these first two weeks at least. Them getting Saunders, we'll see. But all of that said man, I am excited to watch this defense, but that interior scares me, me. I like the addition of saunders I hope we can get. The key is hopefully to get mason smith and armstead back so we can get that push in the interior and we can get off to a better start than you know I'm hoping we get off to. But we'll see and time will tell on that.
Speaker 1:Jacob, um, were there any other additional takes you wanted to add? Well, no, yeah, actually I do want to mention, um, some standouts that caught my eye, aside from the starters. Um, as you kind of mentioned and alluded to, uh, basial, tooting, the fourth round rookie running back that we got continues to look good. He got a touchdown man. Uh, continues to look good, he got a touchdown man.
Speaker 1:Continues to impress, second week with him coming away out of the game with a touchdown. Also. Laquint Allen, the seventh round rookie running back as well, looked good as well, so I was impressed with what I saw out of them. I'm very excited about this running back group, jacob, in terms of just them as a group. Even and I doubt they trade ETN, but even with factoring in the fact that they probably are going to let Tank and ETN lead the way, I'm still excited about those two young rookies. Man, I want to know your thoughts on them and, like, do you see, like what kind of role you see out of those two the two youngsters, because obviously we know what we got in the veterans but the two youngsters and how you felt about how they looked in these last two weeks.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they are looking really, really good. If we're going to be honest, that is probably the deepest unit on this team, on both sides of the ball. I say it's probably the running back position and as far as, what do I see out of them? I got to say that it'll probably be running back three. They'll probably get those spare. Maybe a third down rep here, or maybe we'll throw a special package in get a breather, a third down rep here, or maybe we'll throw a special package in get a breather.
Speaker 2:But it's interesting because you have four what looks like serviceable to really good options. Do you carry all four into the regular season, like I know you just drafted two of them, but do you carry all four? Maybe you work one in the special teams that want to be a runner. Let one be a return man. But I think the bright spot is it's a good problem to have, because if Tank or ETN go down for one, four games, five games, not wishing injury on anybody by any means, but if you happen to lose one of them for a stretch, I think we've seen in these two preseason games we have one, if not two, backsseason games. We have one, if not two, backs that can easily slide right in. So it's a good problem to have we got Duff. I just expect them to get in where they fit in and, you know, play their roles and be ready to go. I'm not expecting significant carries and touches for them, but I expect when they do get their moments they're going to make the most of them and they'll make everybody that hasn't been paying attention go.
Speaker 2:Oh, where'd he come from? Oh, okay, gladstone can go find some talent in the draft. Okay, we got promised Now we might not have to pay Trevor or Tank. I'm sorry, travis or Tank Might not have to pay one of those now. Potentially, if we get into that situation because, as we all know, running back is still the most disrespected position where it's like ah, what are you 27 looking for contract number two? I don't know, dog, I ain't really trying to pay you 13 mil a year. I just go get somebody out the draft. You know, start back over. Unless you're a safe one a Derrick Henry you know those are back over. Unless you're a safe one, a Derrick Henry, you know those are a few farting in between. So it gives you options and it gives you something for the now. Worst comes to worst and it gives you something for the future, which is not something this team has had in the past, in the prior regimes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think with ETN we've discussed this, like me and Phil have. But just I'm saying it to you, I think, with ETN that of course he on the last year his deal. You know the tea leaves are kind of at first I didn't, I didn't want to believe it, but the tea leaves are there. They drafted these two running backs to be a succession plan for ETN. I think Allen especially might be the one they view to replace ETN, but Basialtoon is making a very hard conversation for him to be the one because like he's got the physicality, he's got the explosiveness, like it was one play right where it was fourth and one, I think, or third and one. They stopped him behind the line. He kept his legs turning and got the first down, like it would have, you know, if they stopped him where the initial contact was made, that would have been a loss or no game man. But like Tootin is really really I was really higher on Allen and Tootin before this, but after watching Tootin these last two weeks, man, like they might have struck gold with that. Which should we be surprised? Because obviously Liam Cohen knows how to find him right with Bucky Irvin' and the other running back from the Bucs is escaping me right now, but obviously they know how to find running backs without spending a third round pick or higher on it. But yeah, man, I think, like you know, they just got a plan in place for when etn they probably I doubt they resign them. Uh, when etn's last year is up, this year you know they'll just. It's next man up, bigs, believe the way. Basial two and number two behind him and I think Allen like I think his niche and me and Jamal talked about this might be third downs because he is the better pass protector out of all of them, arguably you know that's crazy because he a rookie, but he's arguably the best pass protector out of all of them. I like what I saw out of him, not just in pass protection but just catching the ball as well, and he's sneaky fast too. But I think, like the niche for him and the idea with him is he might be a third down guy but yeah, man, as you said, deepest position on the team.
Speaker 1:It does get me real excited about what the future holds, and not even the future, but the regular season holds for these guys kind of mentioned it too, like is it a bad thing to have four guys in a 17 year season. You know 17 game season, right, like we forget man. And then the owners are trying to add more, by the way, which that's another story for another time. But 17 games is kind of rigorous for a running back, right, and we saw last year Tank and Etienne got injured. So is drafting these two kids the wrong thing to do, like, I know it's an easy position to hit on, but it's double dipping and running back for your first draft class If you, james Glasson, was that a bad idea?
Speaker 1:I think not and I think we'll see these kids. You know they'll have to step in, you know, for a game or two, if an injury occurs, and we'll knock on wood. We don't want that to happen, but you know it kind of feels like it's the inevitable with how long the seasons are, like your running back, one and two generally miss a game or two. It is what it is and I think those two kids have shown that they will be ready, albeit again, the preseason. I think they'll be ready to step up when that time comes in terms of, you know, if we're dealing with injuries at the running back position, all right. So I guess, jacob, you want to get into the Ryan Clark thing?
Speaker 2:yeah, we can go ahead and talk about that real quick. I'm sure that's what everybody is coming to us for. So basically the whole context of what Ryan Clark said because we love to just see headlines and, you know, go off of that is basically Travis Hunter has to play both sides of the ball at a high clip on both sides, which is fair in like because you gave up two first round picks for him. You gave up this year's pick and you gave up next year's, so essentially you gave up two players for one, but what you were hoping is that you gave up two players to get two players in one. So I get it. I see where he's coming from with that premise.
Speaker 2:And Orlowski was like well, if he catches 50-something balls and has like 2,000 yards and like seven touchdowns, you know, if Trevor Lawrence looks like Trevor Lawrence, like we thought he would be, then it's absolutely worth it to an extent. Because let me ask you a question Would Travis Hunter, if he was strictly a receiver or strictly a corner, would he have been the first receiver or corner taken? Because I can make a very strong argument that I don't think he's cornerback one I'm sorry, receiver one necessarily'm sorry receiver one necessarily Cornerback probably, but I don't know if he's the first receiver off the board. Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 1:You probably heard me say this I always thought he was a better cornerback than wide receiver. Anyway, he's a phenomenal cornerback to me, like amazing, fantastic cornerback. Phenomenal cornerback to me, like amazing, fantastic cornerback. The ability to just contort his body and you know, either intercept or break up passes that nobody else can. He's like Mr Fantastic, shout out to the Fantastic Four, like Mr Fantastic, how he can contort his body and like reach around receivers and what have you. But yeah, I mean, like when you look at Travis Hunter, the receiver, and comparing him to that receiver class, no, I don't think he would have been wide receiver one, I probably would. I'll be more inclined to take him as cornerback One of the class that we just had over wide receiver one.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because I just had to go pull up the first round. You had a Ted McMillan from Arizona who many people considered receiver one. You had to do let's see who else from receiver we had. He may uh. Ibuka from Ohio State went. Matthew Golden also went in the first round and let's not forget this, if there was not a pending sexual assault charge, isaiah Bond was likely a first round pick and likely top 15, top 10 pick as well.
Speaker 2:And I don't see Travis being better than two of those three head and shoulders wise, where it's like a consensus. And again, this is no knock on travis sunner. I love travis sunner. I think he's an amazing player, amazing human being, from what I've seen. Like the man just went to class, got his degree and then went to football and went home, like that's it. Like man just wants to football and go home and fish, that's it, perfect, love it. It's just you got to remember coming out of high school.
Speaker 2:No one played in the country but he came out as a corner. He was a shut down, locked down, eliminated side of a field corner. He went to Jackson State. He was a corner and he shut down a whole entire side and then he got some reps in at receiver at Jackson State and then go to Colorado. You expand the role. But you think about his Heisman season. Most of those plays that you think about were him as a corner, him causing a fumble in OT, him breaking up passes to win games, him coming with I believe it was a ucf game, like three o'clock in the afternoon on fox. Him making a pick on a sideline from nowhere that like I still don't know how he picked it as a corner, corner one, absolutely.
Speaker 2:I just don't know if you take a corner that high in the draft so I get where ryan clark is coming from. Like you now have to play both sides to make this worthwhile because, bro, we just gave up two picks. We didn't completely mortgage the future for you, but we need you to do something, and the conversation dove into. Well, if trevor looks good and ryan clark, to his credit, said thing that I think a lot of people need to realize trevor lawrence ain't nothing to do with what Travis Hunter looks like. Don't try to attach Travis to Trevor or vice versa for Trevor to look good, because I think somebody I think Rosario mentioned that. Like if Travis plays defense and gets six picks and catches 50 and Trevor Lawrence stinks Hunter, oh, as Dan Oloski, and he's like well, what Travis did doesn't matter. And Ryan Clark immediately goes no, no, trevor Lawrence is responsible for Trevor Lawrence. What Travis Hunter did in that situation matters, but he's like. The matter is he played both sides enough.
Speaker 1:So yeah, if he does it, if he ends up becoming primarily receiver two, then it's not going to feel like it was worth it so I think this, I think the lack of success will for the jacksonville jaguars organization will kind of help the jacksonville jaguars on how they feel about the travis hunter pick. Right, jac? And what I mean by this is if the Jaguars offense looks great and they're clicking, chances are it's going to be because Travis Hunter and Trevor Lawrence are doing their thing, and what have you, and we'll end up in the playoffs. If we end up in the playoffs, jazz fans aren't going to care that we gave up that first round pick because we've had such a lack of success over time. Now the national perception might be different. Right, they still can say like, hey, you gave up too much. Um, you know, there still was a lot to pay, but for us we've had such a lack of success. I think if our offense continues down the path that they are and again, it's the preseason, so we can't put too much into that but if they continue down the path that they're going and they continue to look like they're looking, and if Travis Hunter is a key contributor to that on the offensive side and you know whatever he could contribute on the defensive side, you know I don't think we're gonna care that we gave up that first round pick and I think that's James Gladstone's mindset too is like nobody's gonna care if the Jaguars are winning and go to the playoffs and consistently go to the playoffs. We're not going to care about that first round pick because it'll be a top 20 pick, whatever the case may be.
Speaker 1:But also something too worth mentioning too as well, jacob, I think, is, while a lot of national pundits get caught up on what we gave up for him and that additional first round pick that we gave up for him, I think James Gladstone mindset is you know, even if Travis doesn't work out as much as we think he will and he's still an okay player to great player and not elite player I can still compensate for it in another way. I can pick up with that first round pick that we would have had. Instead of having that first round pick, we could pick up a marquee free agent next year. That'll make up for that, because I looked at the salary cap, we're looking pretty good next year. Salary cap wise I think we're top 10. So maybe james gladstone's mindset is like, even if it doesn't work out where he's elite right, that first round pick, we can overcompensate for that by getting a top tier free agent next year and you know nobody.
Speaker 1:I don't want to say he would cover it up, but again, I don't think it'll be as noticeable with the way that James Gladstone operates and we see, like we mentioned earlier, how the Rams operate. I really don't think it's going to be that noticeable. Like who was noticing when the Rams was missing out on all the first round picks? They had right. It kind of went under the radar because they were constantly knocking on the door to go to the Super Bowl or making noise in the playoffs. And I think James Gladstone thinks in a similar way. We're going to be contenders for a long time, constantly knocking on the door for a Super Bowl. Whether that happens or not, time will tell. But if that's the case and they operate like the Rams, nobody in Jacksonville is going to care about that first round pick. We gave up and we might give up some more heading forward. You know what I'm saying, depending on how things go. But that's just me. That's just me.
Speaker 2:All right, so fair points. But let's put some context to this. Those picks that the Rams gave up were for finishing pieces, were for established names. We'll throw a pick to get a Von Miller. We'll give up this to get an OBJ, to get a Jalen Ramsey. These were finishing pieces and things. So let's just add that context. But I see where you're coming from with the principle and the argument of it. Very solid point.
Speaker 2:However, let's do this. Let's say Travis Hunter catches 60 passes, thousand yards, five touchdowns. On the flip side, on the defensive side, let's say he comes away with four picks, a forced fumble and like 10 pass breakups, and we'll say about 20 tackles. It's about a solid season as a corner, right. But let's say the team goes 5 and 13, 6 and, I'm sorry, 5 and 12, 6 and 11, maybe at best 7, 7, seven wins, eight wins, do eight and nine.
Speaker 2:Then what Then? How do you feel? Do you feel like you wasted that pick? Are you now looking around Travis and going? He did his job.
Speaker 2:16, btj, etn, heinz Allen, rest of y'all. What's going on here? How do you look at it then? Do you feel like you still wasted the number two pick? Because who would? And here's the other thing to take in consideration. With this and like again, we're in that part of the year where you got to talk about something on TV for ESPN for 10 plus hours, the year where you got to talk about something on TV for ESPN for 10 plus hours a day. You got to talk about something. So let's keep that in mind. We're preseason. But my main thing is if Travis Hunter again, 1,100 yards, seven touchdowns, 50-some catches, four picks, a forced fumble, some pass breakups and like 20 tackles, is that worth it In the immediate? Like long run? Yeah, he could be a gold jacket, be great for the Jags, ultimate time, all pro and yeah you'll say it's worth it. But year one you get those numbers, is it worth it?
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, with the records you mentioned. Yeah, you got to feel like nah, if they end up with one of the records, but that's the thing I don't feel like. If he put up the numbers you gave me, I think they went in the division. And another factor that's factoring into this for me as well too, jacob, is the jaguars can afford to make a gamble like that and it working because they are in a weak division too. By the way, I'm not super high on the Texas because of their offensive line. We'll see what they look like, but I'm not super high on them. I think this gamble, ultimately, if he put up those numbers and granted everybody stay healthy too, he put up those numbers, I think we're in the playoffs honestly. But no, now, in the situation you mentioned, if we come away again and I already said this if we come away with seven wins to less, then it kind of feel like a waste.
Speaker 2:And I put those win totals because you can have great numbers and they're empty stats, like empty calories, like empty stats is the thing. And again, this isn't to wish or foreshadow anything negative toward Travis. This is let's explore all possibilities and, realistically speaking, we'll probably fall somewhere in that bubble, maybe a little closer to 10 wins, maybe a little lower on his numbers, but that's probably the parameters we're falling in, given off of the talent we've seen what we've seen. This is a safe bet. And yeah, it's a two-team division. Like let's keep it above.
Speaker 2:Colts are a dumpster fire. Almost Like you got Daniel Jones, unlessy dimes can turn back the clock. Or like I figure it out, you don't know what they're doing with anthony richardson, like he is now the backup and I saw something I was like he's younger than uh, chador, he's younger than bo nicks, he's younger than a bunch of people and it's like, yeah, he only had like 40 starts between high school and getting to the pros, but still so, that's Indy. The Titans have a decent to very good defense, depending upon the day. But that offensive side of the ball look, ken Ward, like you, look great. You are arguably the least talked about number one pick ever, which is a good thing for you. No expectations, fly underneath the radar, do your job, but that Titans offense is not going to be great. The Titans are not. Six wins is the ceiling for the Titans. So yeah, it's you and the Texans. And the Texans have a top 10 defense. That is very scary when it's clicking. Just ask the Chargers and they're like yeah, you're right, that O-line isn't great in Houston, especially after you got rid of Tussle, and like what are we doing here? But also they're kings of the division. Like.
Speaker 2:There was a window where this was supposed to be Trevor and Jacksonville and Houston hired a new head coach in D'Amico Ryans and when he got a quarterback and then immediately when he got a defensive signal caller captain on the field and Will Anderson, so like, and they took it by storm they grabbed the division by the horns and said it's ours now. So until you prove me otherwise, jacksonville and yes, I know those Jacksonville-Houston games are always a toss-up, no matter how good or how bad one end is, they're always dogfights. I have to lean toward Houston, not to say Jacksonville can't get in as a wild card potentially because AFC East is the Bills and maybe the Patriots, afc North should be the Ravens, and maybe you get the Bengals or the Steelers, depending upon which one, if the Bengals can figure out defense and the Steelers can figure out offense. And then you got AFC West, which, honestly, all four of those teams are going to be above 500 and going to be probably close to 10 wins. So you could sneak in.
Speaker 2:You could sneak in as the Jags, as a wild card, but I'm just looking at this like all right, you missed the playoffs. You end up in that 7-9 win bracket, which means you're probably picking 10 to 15-ish, 10 to 20, give or take. Is it worth it?
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, all valid points, man, all valid points, I think. In the end I think it will pay off. But hey, I've been wrong, right, both of us have been wrong and both of us have been massively wrong at times. So we'll see, man, and time will tell on that. But I thought it was an interesting conversation, man, and yeah, I mean, like you said, you do have to find something to fill in the time with. So I guess we can't really blame them for like bringing up that conversation because it is a valid, like that's a legitimate I'd rather listen to that than the other bs that they be talking about on there like it's a legitimate conversation to have right, it's not as hot of a take as it seems like.
Speaker 2:If you just look at the headline, like I let me google it again because what it pulls up is kind of hilarious. It literally is what is travis hunter, a quote, waste. And waste is in all caps of a number two pick. And then it's like, oh, you can't call him a waste. It's like bro, it's week three of the preseason now.
Speaker 2:Like we haven't played any meaningful society in a whole have to like stop being so headline clickbaity driven and actually put back nuance and attention into things and read stuff, actually listen and hear things out. Like yes, like I joked with you when you texted me. I was like, yeah, let me come through and spit some hot takes for old time's sake, because somebody will hear this. And just hear the one thing that I say. That's like oh, oh, he's trying to be funny or he's trying to make. And it's like no, listen to the other three sentences after that. Like we need to bring back nuance to sports discussion and just in general, like let's bring back the actual thought out, the understanding, and like not just the clicky, ooh, hot take, headlining barbershop talk, water cooler, gotta get my jab in bit like no, we used to be a proper country with these things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, no, you're right, You're right. Somewhere down the line we became so reactive to titles and not the context of things. But you know, here we are, man. But, yeah, man, it was good to have you back man and a great conversation. We definitely got to bring you in more, man and a great conversation. We definitely got to bring you in more. Any other closing remarks you want to make or want to plug anything before we go ahead and head on out?
Speaker 2:No man. Like I said, I just want to say thank you again. I appreciate you letting me share your platform and the stage with you. Again, I say this and I continually mean this, and you know I mean this you are my brother from another mother. Like we said before, it is always going to be love here. You are basically like family to me. So again, I thank you. You are again one of the hardest working men in independent media Period. Point blank Hands down. I will put you up against almost anybody that doesn't have a machine backing them up against almost anybody that doesn't have a machine backing them.
Speaker 1:Again, bro, I appreciate it, I feel like it too, man. Like in terms. I'm not talking about like in a boastful way, but I'm tired as all. Get out bro.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like the man's Twitter handle is sportsgrind underscore Don. No, he literally grinds Like the man works for this because to take something, and yeah, you can use to believe in the USA Today backings and all that, and like that'll get you a fan base off the ground to start for those that like the work that we did before, but to keep it in the build and just to see it elevate and grow bit by bit. Every soft, and I'm just looking at things. I'm like, all right, now he's doing TikToks, he's growing the audience here. Looking at things, I'm like, all right, now he's doing tiktoks, he's growing the audience here. I'm like, oh, him and phil are in the press box getting press passes.
Speaker 2:As an independent media, it's not an easy thing to do. Like I am proud of you boys, absolutely. And again I'm here. This might sound like overkill to whoever's listening to it. I'm trying trying to blow smoke up. No, this is genuine. I am proud of you boys. I am happy that I was a part of this a long time ago and I'm happy to still see y'all working.
Speaker 2:Anytime you can't find Phil gets sick, staj can't slide in, whatever reason you need somebody, just text me. If I can make it work. I will pull up for you. You one of those folks that, hey, yeah, I got some time. I hey, man, I might have 15, 20 minutes, but I can give you those 15 20 so that way you don't do a whole episode by yourself. But again, thank you. I appreciate it. As far as me, find me on twitter at underscore jdella, that's j-d-e-l-a. You can find my writings and musings over at inscapecom.
Speaker 2:August of Must Spy Guide is available and live now. It should be one of my most recent tweets on Twitter. It's right there. I might retweet it again. I'm sure James will probably give it a push again too, which I greatly appreciate. Everything, sir, and yeah, that's it, man. Thank you, I could do this all night with you. This felt good, felt great to be back. I could do this all night with you. This felt good, felt great to be back. Did you miss me, guys? Did you miss me? Don't, don't lower the show's rating just because I came back for an episode. Like, keep these boys at five stars, they deserve this. Just just hate on me on the comments for this one episode. But did you miss me? Did you miss me? You might get a little bit more of me now no-transcript.
Speaker 1:It was times where me and you were talking about Swerve back in Lucha Underground. Now you interviewing the dude. You know what I'm saying. Like it's crazy to see things coming full circle. But, um, you know, for you to say what you said about me, I feel like the grind and um and you already had this before you met me, but I felt like some of it rubbed off on you as well, and to see what you're doing, man, that makes me feel like I'm doing things right as well. So, that being said, man, appreciate the kind words, man, love the content you're putting out. Can't wait. You whispered some names that you might be able to work with in the future that I'm and I'm gonna stick with you on this too. I'm gonna stay with you on it. If they don't happen, I'm gonna get at you, be like hey, you said you was, you was going to do this interview with such and such. Go ahead and you know, get up on it, man. You got some interviews that you say you got in the in the woodworks, that we, we definitely want to hear.
Speaker 1:Wrestling-related interviews, man, some names that people have seen on both you and my timeline and Phil's timeline. So whenever they're completed, shoot me the link. Of course I'm going to post it. Facebook, you know me, I don't care. Facebook, and now Instagram got a retweet button, so that's even more dangerous. Facebook, you name it, I got you my man. And yeah, man, appreciate you coming on. Man, it was good to have you back. I am sportsgrind underscore done. You can follow him at Jadela on Twitter. We'll link all of his stuff as well. Also, website touchdownjadwarscom you can find our archive episodes and written content on there. Phil is at Phil, the Filipino at TD Jaguars pod is where you can find us on Twitter. Again, we'll never call it X, but all of that said, until next time, everybody.
Speaker 2:Real quick, real quick, real quick. One last thing before we get out of here. I'll be remiss to not give Phil congratulations on landing. I believe this may be his first voice acting gig One of his first, definitely. I saw the post today on Instagram. Salute, sir, congrats, great work. I remember when you made the post like I want to get into voice acting. Congratulations on landing your first role, sir. Again, I am proud of you, just like I am proud of James Yep, wait for it podcast. Y'all boys have been grinding and doing everything from the bottom with no backing. So, phil, congrats on the first role of Minnie.
Speaker 1:It's just a start for you, sir. Yeah, shout outs to Phil and congrats on that man. I retweeted that. Feel free to check out. And it's just one part of it. Of course, the rest is coming out later of the project that he's voice acting on. So, yeah, shout outs to Phil. Like Jacob said and you're right, we would be remiss, not to mention the work that he's putting in We'll wait for it and also that he is putting in with his voice acting endeavors. So, all of that said, I'm James Johnson. He is Jacob DeLawrence. All of that said, I'm James Johnson.
Speaker 2:He is Jacob DeLawrence, and until next time we are signing out and look forward for more episodes from the two of us as well. Down the road, everybody take care.
