Into our number two, welcome back or Good Afternoon. I'm Jim Rome. Program brought to you by FanDuel. My thanks to my pals at FanDuel. My thanks to Beanie Wells, big time showdown, Ohio State versus Texas.
Totally different situation this time around. As he mentioned, the game is in Austin. The game is at night. It's going to be under the lights. We know the Longhorns have a lot more help now for.
Arch than they did last year. And as Beanie pointed out, he was a very different quarterback by the end of the year than he was when they got him early in the year and they shut him down 14-7.
So can't wait to see that game. Tough, tough game. I agree with him. I think that there's a lot of pressure and a lot at stake for both these programs. I think Texas needs this one worse.
I think Texas, I think there's more pressure on Texas. And Steve Sarkeesian and the Longhorns need this one worse than Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. Don't get me wrong. Ohio State's going to want this game. They need this game.
But I think Texas needs it even worse. Really tight game. I've already hit the longhorns. I think Texas finds a way to grind it out. I think they find a way to get it done.
But But a tough, tough game to call. 1-800-636-8686. I do want to start hour number two. by mentioning that it's now been a quarter century It's been a quarter of a century, but I'm sure you can all remember exactly where you were. what you were doing.
and how you felt 25 years ago today. I know I do. And I do want to take a moment to acknowledge September 11th. It's been 25 years. 25 years, and while so many have tried to get over those horrific attacks of that day.
That'll frankly never happen. That will never happen because you don't ever get over something like that. You simply hope that you can get beyond that. But on this day we remember the people that we lost. And those families who still must live without loss.
We remember. The absolutely unbelievable courage that we saw both from first responders and even ordinary people in the most horrific of moments.
So today we honor them. We remember them. and we will never, ever forget. You know, I've played this before, and I sometimes struggle with it on this day. But It's such an amazing story.
And I know some of you, many of you have heard this, but some of you have not. I do want to reset this today. Former Georgetown coach John Thompson. Told an amazing story, and I didn't know it at the time. It wasn't until after the fact.
that I found out about this. But he tells a story. And forgive me if you've heard this, but he tells a story of how one of my TV producers at that time. A guy named Danny Schwartz, Who I was always really fond of, still am. He tells the story of how Danny Schwartz, a television producer from The Last Word.
saved his life. On that fateful day. And I want to replay this. This is former Georgetown coach John Thompson. We tried to book him on the show, and he did not want to do the show.
I want him to pick up that story. I talked to a young man, the guy was very pleasant. And he and I went back and forth and talking. And it wasn't hostile. But anyway, what he finally said to me is, he said, Coach, He said, if you promise me that you'll come on the twelfth, I will get you.
back to Vegas immediately after we do the taping. He said, and I will. make certain that you get there in time for whatever you're trying to get done. And I'm sitting there, I'm saying to myself, oh hell, I don't want to do this. And the guy.
Was nice. I mean, he was persuasive. He wasn't hostile with me.
So I said, Okay, son, I'll do it. I said, I'll come on the twelfth.
Now If he had not had tried to been persistent with me, I would have insisted that I stay and get on that plane on the eleventh.
Well, when the nine eleven thing happened and everybody, the Pentagon was hit and the buildings in New York, of course, were first hit. I was on the phone with Mary Finland, and she said, well, look, They hit. you know, uh building in New York. I said fine.
Okay, so we thought it was probably somebody who was intoxicated. And then while we were on the phone, there's a lot of people where the second one hit. And I'm saying, oh my God, what the hell is happening here?
Okay, so then we got off the phone a little while after that the Pentagon was hit and she called me back, Jim, A little while after we were all reacting to the Pentagon getting hit, and she said, John. She said. Look at your itinerary. I said, Yeah, no, I'm supposed to go on the twelfth. She said, No.
look at your itinerary. You were supposed to go On it, on that plane. She said that plane was the plane you were booked on. If that kid hadn't talked you out of it, you would have been on that plane.
So, you know, and and and making a shortcut around the whole story. I've been a Jim Rohn fan. Anybody talk about Jim Rohn, I'm whipping their ass. I'm going to tell you that right now.
So that's John Thompson telling that story. What I ultimately did. Was John Thompson had never spoken to Danny Schwartz after that?
So I was able to conference the two of them in on the show together so they could have that conversation. Name, young man? My name's Danny Swartz. How are you, coach? Let me tell you something, Danny.
If you have been in DC, you look me up. Oh, I will, my friend. I will. Thank you. Everybody, believe me.
Roma, I appreciate you doing this because people have asked me his name. I said, I don't know. You know, I didn't I didn't know what his name was, but if and and I commend you on how you did your job because I was antagonistic in those days. I've mellowed some, I'm an old fat now. But I I was antagonistic and how you handled it saved my life, and I appreciate that.
I really appreciate that. Yeah.
So that was John Thompson talking to Danny Schwartz, and he said, I'm so glad that you did that, Rome, because I didn't know his name.
So he got a chance to thank him. And again, I want to. juxtapose this with Thoughts and prayers to everybody who lost their lives on that day? Thoughts and prayers? to everybody who showed extreme courage on that day.
The first responders, the ordinary people, you know, thoughts and prayers with the survivors. who lost family members, who still live with us even to this day? But That story in and of itself. was always just It's so incredible to me, and I didn't even know it. Until after the fact.
You know, then there's a lot of talk today about the role that sports played. in the aftermath. When we all came together nationally, and the Mets, and when they played, and when Mike Piazza hit that home run that nobody will ever forget, I mentioned it. Last week, because it was Mike's birthday, But Mike came on the show and we talked about that big home run that he hit and what it meant and what that moment was like. It was one of the most gut-wrenching, you know, heart-wrenching experiences.
And that whole week was so surreal. I remember driving back on a bus. We were in Pittsburgh, and I remember the night before we were watching Monday Night Football. It was obviously in September. And just getting that call in the morning, knowing what was going on, and then the next day we took a bus back to the city because we were off that whole week.
Obviously, games were canceled. And driving up to 9-11, seeing the spotlights and the smoke coming out of what was the World Trade Center, it's just, it's surreal. And then meeting the families and the firefighters and the people and seeing the long walls of plywood with pictures. Have you seen this man? Have you seen this woman?
And the names? It's just, again, I mean, just thinking back now, I'm starting to get a little bit stirred up.
So it just was this surreal week. And to see the way the city rebounded and how we were able to pull together and then somehow, some way, you know, try to move on and try to live life. Enjoy life is just something that probably, you know, without a doubt, be be one of these things that will just stay with you forever. Hearing him and hearing that gave me chills. On the stream right now, we're playing the home run.
Watching that. He's giving me chills. And then, on top of that, a good friend of the program from back in the day, it's been a number of years since I've spoken to Todd Zeal, but Todd Zeal was always a very, very good friend of the program. Always had great, great respect for Todd. I actually liked the guy very, very much.
Todd Zeal came on, and I got his thoughts and what he thought about that Mike Piazza home run at that moment. That was unbelievable. It was met with such huge ovation by the fans, but it was different than anything else. It wasn't about the baseball game, it was about. New York, it was about the local hero kind of putting us over the top.
It seemed destined. It was. I just remember it wasn't, you know, it was a huge home run and it was a celebratory event when he got around. to home plate into the dugout, but it was different than that of of a game winner or a go ahead big home run. It was a lot of emotion and and sort of sense of pride for the city.
Obviously, extremely well said by Todd Zeal. One more thought on that. Former pitcher Al Leiter came on the program, and I got his thoughts as well on Mike's home run. It was beyond the game in which Piazza had the big home run, and we beat our nemesis and the Braves. It was just.
I I was living in the city at the time, and I know at that time the Mets, we probably had about fifty percent of the guys that were actually in Manhattan. And for months, I mean, it was just such a somber feeling. But I think what really sticks out is You know, how our organization as a whole, everybody involved, I mean, it was a kind of a. a um a staging area for all of the supplies and whatnot for the uh The police and fire department at Shea. And I remember hours, Bobby Valentine, a lot of us just.
box some stuff. And our mind even though we were there, your mind obviously couldn't be nearly as focused as it would take. But we were spending days in the parking lot helping with all these supplies, going back and forth to ground zero. And then we'd walk over in the clubhouse and we had a game that night. Most of the guys that weren't playing obviously we're able to spend more time.
But it just sad for everybody. But I know, as the President said at the time, we need to get back to trying to be somewhat normal. And I know baseball in New York, us having the first game. Fiazza's incredible night. uh really, you know, kind of softened some hearts.
Al Weider with his thoughts on this program. in sharing his thoughts about that game.
Some reaction on chat. At Davy Dogg747, quote, thanks for the remarks, Jim. Never forget. We will never forget, of course. Haunted Double O'Horse.
This story still gives me chills, even though Coach has passed. Corey Elder, fifty eight forty three. Worked in New York City. for one and a half years, from nineteen ninety eight to mid two thousand, One guy I worked with was killed in the attacks. Hit me very hard watching that happen live.
was driving into work. when the first plane hit. As I mentioned when I shared my thoughts, we all remember. If you're old enough, we all remember where we were. When we saw that, when we heard about that.
I was at the station. Doing the show. We all remember. Of course. Lis in Fall City, quote, those days after 9-11 were so eerie and heavy.
We'll never forget. Yeah.
So 25 years. A quarter of a century. I wanted to share my thoughts, and I wanted to acknowledge that. If you want to talk about that, we can. If you want to move on to something else, we can do that too.
But I absolutely want to acknowledge that. Obviously. All right, you have your telephone number. If you want to find me on X, you can do that. If you want to find me on email, you can do that.
If you want to find me in the chat, And speaking of chat. I've heard your conspiracy theories, chat. I know you think that I'm in chat with you. During the show, chat. Ha ha ha.
Ow, I know that you have no idea what goes on. Or what goes into us doing this show every single day. If you had any idea what goes into us doing this show, getting it ready, me hosting the show, you would know how absurd it is that you think that I have a burner phone and I'm actually in chat. During the show, along with all of you. But I've seen that.
Hey, Rome, if you've seen that, then how do you, what do you mean you're not in here? It's worked its way back to me. I haven't actually seen it, but I've heard the conspiracy theories.
So I want to hit on that too. also still had Daniel Jeremiah. DJ comes up at 140. All right, so whatever you want to hit on, go ahead, hit me up. A few years ago, a loss in our family was a reminder that life is unpredictable.
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Alright, so I knew they had two songs. Fair enough. I I don't know. My first thought when I saw the Jonas Brothers I'm like, what? They couldn't get Hansen?
Brother. You imagine if Hansen busts out mm bop. For 100,000 Aussies, That place would have gone wild. Middle-aged Hansen bros busting out Mbop would have been better than the game. All right, so what I don't want to do, next topic.
I don't want to fail clowns you. Fail clowns. I never do. I hate that gloss. I think it's so lame.
For the record, I hate Dak loss. It's lazy. It's stupid. Worst of all, generally, it's Well, actually generally it's accurate, unfortunately.
Now, never more so than right now. Right now, it's extremely accurate. You have to admit, Falcon fan. If there are any of you left. It's actually perfect.
Especially on a day like today. A day where the Fail Clowns named their week one starter for a brand new season with a brand new head coach, and a brand new front office, and a brand new hope. for a brand new future. And that starting quarterback is Cooper Rush. Y'all ready to fuel the rush?
ETL? Because you're never going to believe this, but Tua is heard. Atlanta. Tua is hurt again. Apparently the oblique The two it tweaked on the practice field yesterday is going to keep him from starting the season.
And apparently Penix still does not feel good enough to go himself. even though he's been medically cleared. And there no longer is any medical reason he can't play, apparently. But again, I don't want to say that I've got a threshold for his pain. He says he's close.
He's just not ready yet. Tua is already hurt again.
So, Cooper Rush is going to bring in the new Fail Clown era. Fail clown. You know, as I just mentioned, I know we have an entirely high threshold for all of these guys' pain. We all have an incredible threshold for their pain. And I'm not trying to judge Tua for getting hurt again.
For Pennix, not feeling quite ready yet, coming off his third major knee surgery, I could see where he might have some concerns. And by now, he would know a thing or two about recovering from knee surgery because he's had so many. But it's just kind of hard to shake this feeling. That It was always going to come down to something like this. And I don't think anybody actually really wants that job.
I don't think anybody anywhere really wants to be the Falcons quarterback. It's almost like a QB competition. And the competition was to not win the job. Like, I don't want to be. I don't want to be that guy.
Now the good part for you Falcon fan is you actually caught a break today. At least in my estimation, because I like Cooper Rush as a backup. I would rather play Cooper rushed into a Because I flat out think that he can do a better job of helping them win and gives them a better chance to win than Tua. The issue with Tua Is that he's never available, and now when he is available. He's terrible.
I know that's harsh. But it's just true. And the dude going down before holding back Yeah. hurting his back in practice. before week one just shows you he's never available.
He's one of the most injury prone quarterbacks that there's ever been. But he also does not overwhelm when he is out there with athleticism or arm talent or arm strength or leadership. This is why. There's a reason why he's on a veterans minimum contract right now. All those reasons.
And it's why the Falcons should have expected this was going to be exactly what they were going to get. This is all part of the two experience. And I'm not sure that I would have wanted to sign up for the two-way experience when we already knew.
So, Matt Ryan and Kevin Stefanski have got to figure out what they have in Pennex, if anything at all, so they can move forward. They can't figure that out until he's comfortable enough to go out there and play.
So until then, the fail clowns. are in limbo and they are the fail clowns. Which is a shame because, as always, the NFC South is incredibly winnable this year. And the Fail Clones actually have talent. They've got playmakers, they have talent, they have a chance.
They just hired a two-time coach of the year. There actually are things to like about the fail clowns. Just not their QB1. Or even a QB2. And instead we get their QB3 in week one.
Because the fail clowns are going to fail clown. But at least they're QB3. is better than their QB two. I'm just confused why Matt Ryan Would ever sign up for any of this. Yo matty ice You haven't fun yet, my guy.
I mean, I think the world of that guy. But you left? That CBS Studio desk? Great gig? You were getting good at it too?
You left that for this? Turns out running the Falcons is not so easy when you don't have you playing QB. Matthew Ice. Good luck finding the next Jew, dude. I don't think that's going to happen.
Or maybe it should just be you. Not you in your prime. You today. Why don't you come out of the front office and actually start this week? I mean Philip did it.
If Philip could do it, why can't you do it? I'm gonna say Matty Ice. Coming out of the front office, right down to the field, would give the Falcons as good a chance of winning. as they would have if Tua actually got that start. It's not Ryan, it's Ryan.
They finally lived up. to the fail clown or flip down to the fail clown. Monika actually they have it. No way two is not ready. Who didn't see that coming?
Pennex allegedly is cleared. but not ready. Two is not ready. And it's a good thing you got Cooper Rush, who I'm going to argue gives you a better chance to win his QB3 than your QB2, who was going to be QB1.
So this is your Falcons update.
Some other things I want to get into. I mentioned it's a huge weekend both in the NFL and in college ball. Remember a number of weeks back when San Diego State head coach Sean Lewis came on the program, and he was fire. I mean he was intense. And he was ready to roll.
And it was several weeks back, maybe a couple of months, where he came on the program. And I said, I know you're looking at what's right in front of you. But But You've got an enormous game early in the season against UCLA. And he actually embraced that question, and he knew. He knew what that game meant to him and the program.
And that if they could beat a big a Big Ten school. And if you're going to get UCLA, you've got to get them right now. He he knows all of that.
So now that we are the day before, Sean Lewis knows exactly what's at stake, and he dropped this bomb on the Bruins when talking about the opportunity that his program has. Plenty of experience where there's a galaxy of stars and talents on the other sideline, and I'll take me and mine against them. all their polos, all their khakis, all their resources, all that. Put the ball down. Let's go play.
Uh oh. My God, I love that. I mean, I love that. I love that you're saying, let's go. Let's go.
I'll take my guys. Against theirs. Any day of the week. And the They can bust out with their polos and their khakis and all their resources. I would say this to that.
One, yes, they have polos. Yes, they have khakis. I don't know about quote all of those resources. They may have more resources than you have. But I don't know about all of those resources.
When did UCLA become Ohio State? When did UCLA become Texas Tech? Didn't the AD just get clipped because of all the money that they're hemorrhaging every single year?
So I know what Sean's doing. He's getting these guys fired up. All their polos, all their khakis, all their resources, all that.
Okay. Polo smack is good.
Okay, all the smack is good, by the way. I like it all. All their polos, all their khakis, all their resources. But the reason they fired their AD is because they were losing tens of millions of dollars a year.
So they don't have all those resources. They may have more than you. In fact, I'm not even sure they have more than you, given how much money they're losing every single year, and that the guy who replaced the guy they fired is doing the job for free. Either way, I like that energy. I like that smack before that game.
He knows. He knows what a win over a Big Ten squad and UCLA would mean to his program right now, just as he knows if they're going to beat UCLA, they better do it right now. UCLA is gettable. Right now, compared to what they're going to be soon. Because we know That program's going to turn.
All of a sudden, now we've got some SoCal football that is pretty spicy. Who knew that San Diego State v UCLA would be that spicy? Love it. Love it. Then back to the Rams.
Speaking of SoCal football. Less need So I mentioned I think that Sean McVay is the best coach in the NFL, except on those days when he has to go up against Lobster Jr., then he's not the best coach on the field even. But Les Need was on sixty minutes. And we know Lesni's not afraid to make a trade. We know Lesni's not afraid to give up his draft picks.
I mean, FM picks. F them picks. He told 60 minutes. that he would not trade Sean McVeigh, Not for one. Not for two, not for three, not for four, not even for five first-round draft picks.
How many first round picks is Sean McVay worth? If I could write on this whiteboard here, I would write there's There's no trade chart. For sure, I'll make that. Doesn't matter how many first round picks someone's offering you. Not on the table.
Not on the table. AI says Sean McVay's worth three first-round picks. You're still not pulling the trigger on that trade. Still not pulling the trigger. Not for four, not for five.
Not so How about six? Not four. How about seven?
Now six. Les, you know you're doing it for seven. I mean, I see him working. The two of them, Sean McVay is a genius. Sean McVay, I think, is the best coach in the NFL, even though he just got worked.
And that decision blew up in his face to get there a day early. I still think he is the best coach in the NFL. Look at the guy's freaking coaching tree. I know, I know. The coaching tree actually started with the rat himself, Rat Shanahan.
I understand that. But look at all the guys that have come directly through Sean McVay, that have worked for Sean McVay, how he's gotten them ready. Look at how many games he's won. And then look at how well he works with Les Need. I believe Les Need.
Even though less need. Will always move his draft picks, and especially for game breakers and guys that he thinks can get them over the hump. What he's saying is. The coach is actually irreplaceable.
So that was curious. Not one, not two, not three, not four, not five. Yeah, but what if that whiteboard says ten? But if somebody is willing to give up 10 first-round draft picks, not that anybody would. I can't see Sean McVay coaching for ten more years even.
personally. He's already a Hall of Famer. He's 40. He got the job when he was 30. He flirted with retirement already.
I'm not saying that he's burned out. I'm not saying that he's not. Totally Locked in with that passion. But the guy does run pretty hot. They all do.
That's a hard, hard job, and he's had it since he's 30. He's already 10 years in. Do we think that Sean McVay is going to coach 20 years in the NFL as a head coach? I don't know about that.
So that that was interesting, I thought.
Something else I thought was interesting. I'm going to hold that thought. Because I've got Daniel Jeremiah coming up when we come back. I want to make sure I'm on time for DJ. That's next.
Still ahead, Alvie's week. It was. That's an hour number three thing on Fridays. ATP coming up, hour number three. If you want to jump in on any of these topics, hit me up.
If you're in the chat, it's a good place to be. If you want to get to the X, we still are all about the X. Stop saying we're not about the X.
Something else you should stop doing is assuming chat. that I'm in the chat with you while I'm hosting the show. I'm good. I'm not that good. I know some of you think that I have a burner and I'm in there with you while I'm hosting.
I mean, come on, really? Daniel, Jeremiah, when we come back. You're listening to the Jim Rome Show.
All right, welcome back. If you're on hold, you want to stay there. If you want to jump up in here, you know where to find me. Four different ways to get through here and engage. But.
Right now, We are joined by one of the best dudes on this planet. He is an ESPN and NFL network analyst, a former scout for the Ravens, the Browns, and the Eagles. He is an LA Chargers radio game analyst. He is host of the relaunched Move the Six podcast, a co-production of ESPN and Omaha Productions. He is Daniel Jeremiah DJ, my brother.
How are you doing, dude? I'm doing great. It's great to see you, Jim. It's fun to be to the time of the year where we actually have football to talk about that we've actually witnessed with our own eyes instead of a blind taste test. I'm glad that season's over.
Man, you nailed it. That is an absolute truth. It is so good we have some actual ball. Before we talk actual ball, though, DJ, a ton has changed since you and I last spoke in April during the draft with ESPN taking control of the NFL network. How has the transition gone for you?
And then, secondarily, what can you tell us about the new iteration of Move the Sticks?
Well, I appreciate you asking me, Jim. It's been great. You know, it's still working at NFL Network and doing television there, and a lot of the same folks we have still there, but with some ESPN muscle behind it in terms of giving us more opportunities, more shows, more cameras, more everything.
So, a lot more resources there.
So, it's been fun to go into work the last couple of days doing the pregame show for Wednesday's game and Thursday's game. And I'll be up there Sunday again.
So, the TV side's been a blast. And then, this has been a whole new adventure with the podcast. It's the same name, it's the Move the Sticks name, but now underneath ESPN and partnering with Omaha.
So, starting over, it's a solo mission for me.
So, I had great 10-plus years with Bucky. Bucky's staying with the NFL Media Group, and I'm under this new umbrella.
So, you know, launching this Move the Sticks project by myself, starting with a YouTube page as well, Jim, which I mean, I feel like I've gone back like 15 years where you're like celebrating, dude, we got 50 more subscribers. We're over 4,000 now.
So, it's like it's It's a whole new frontier. It's been exciting. Preach. I'm right there with you, brother. We know it.
We are fighting that same game. You're right. All of a sudden, you are looking at that sub count. Hey, really quickly, DJ, about the show itself, it's no longer primarily or exclusively about the draft. You're talking ball all year long now, right?
Yeah, it's year-round. It'll be twice a week there in the fall. It'll kick up to three times a week once we get towards draft season. But I mean, the first two episodes, Jim, I had three GMs on.
So, you know, Howie Roseman with the Eagles came on, had both LA GMs, Joe Ortiz, and Les Sneed come on. You know, I'll have a lot of the top college coaches that'll join me. And, you know, my passion, man, it's about building rosters, building teams, and you can keep track of that as you go through the games themselves. But I love talking to the guys who have to put this puzzle together. Daniel Jeremiah joining us.
I was going to ask you about Howie Roseman. I'm glad you brought him up.
So, as mentioned, you're a scout in Philadelphia. DJ, if I were to describe you as a savant, and I would, how would you describe Howie yourself, and then what was he like to work for back then? He was great, man. And, you know, what you would expect, you know, from the outside when you get in there, I think those things are true in terms of he's incredibly smart. He's forward-thinking.
He anticipates where the game is going, and he's usually the first to arrive there. But also, someone who would know about your wife and your kids, was a family-oriented guy, and someone who I developed a friendship with when I worked there that's carried over. You know, gosh, it's been, you know, that was 2012 when I marched into his office after the draft, and he was like, Man, we had a great draft, and we're excited about the future of the team. And I was like, Hey, man, I got a couple media opportunities that could get me off the road and home with the kids. Could I have a few days to think about this?
So he tried to talk me out of it for about a week, and then eventually he understood the decision that I made at that point in time.
So he's been a great friend over all these years. But, Jim, you know, he's always learning. He spent a lot of time, and I don't know if people know this, he spent a ton of time with the Spurs organization, you know, many years. Years ago, when the Spurs were rolling and really adopted a lot of their practices. And it's not a secret why Philly's been so consistent during his run.
You know, a really interesting anecdote. I did not know that actually, but I'm not surprised by that because the Spurs have long been one of the best organizations in all of sports. Daniel Jeremiah joining us. DJ, what about last night? Like, it proved once again, it doesn't really seem to matter, right?
Where the Niners play the Rams, SoCal, NoCal, Australia. Kyle Shanahan just seemed to find a way to get over on Sean McVay. He's got his number. I think, to me, anyway, maybe you could help me with this. To me, it's like Kyle himself said it's confusing because it's confusing, but that's why I have you, DJ.
How do you explain Kyle's dominance over Sean McVay ahead, Ed?
Well, they've been physically, you know, more impressive team when you've watched them in those matchups. They've beat him up a little bit, and then you add into that the wrinkles that Kyle puts into a game plan with different motions, different screens. I thought it was fascinating just how they dealt with Miles Garrett.
Now, look, I'll take what you hear out of that game that he's not healthy. You know, hopefully, he'll get back to being himself. He was not happy with his performance. But when you watched it through that lens, Jim, as I did this morning, you see, okay, Miles is out there early. We're going to screen him with tight ends and backs, and we're going to make him have to chase and run.
And then after that, we're going to wait. He wants to take a little blow. He's not going to play every snap. When he gets off the sideline, we're going to go deep play action, take a shot, including a 39-yard touchdown strike from Purdy. And then when he comes back in the game, now we've kind of tired him out a little bit.
He's anticipating some doubles that have come his way early. And then after we've got him nice and tired out, we're going to let Trent Williams just block his tail for the next, you know, in the next 14, 15 reps.
So it was masterful. How they did that. And then you look at how he was using use check and motions to get proper angles in the run game. I mean, Kyle Shanahan, he's a wizard, man. He's an absolute wizard.
And then on the other side of it, you look at a Rams team, and I won't, you know, I'm not smart enough to know the impact of travel. I just know when you watch the tape, Stafford, you know, it's the first time in a while you look at him. I'm like, gosh, he looked old. He looked slow. He looked stiff.
And I know how I feel after a four-hour flight. I don't know how he felt after a 15-hour flight. I don't know, DJ. I was going to ask you about that because there was so much made of the fact that the travel, how the two teams approached it. I don't know, dude.
You seem pretty fresh to me. And were you not in the broadcast booth right alongside Noah Eagle last night? How is it that you made it back and that you sound so good and look so good right now? Oh, that is incredible.
So I did the pregame show last night. I'm driving, I'm driving home, and I'm actually listening to the radio call because I'm in the car. I want to be, you know, I'm trying to get an accident and watch the game on Netflix.
So. I'm listening to the Rams call with J.B. Long and my buddy Maurice Jones Drew, and my phone starts blowing up. Like, people literally asking me, Are you calling this game? And then I'm so confused.
I'm like, What are they talking about? And then more start rolling in and rolling in, and like, dude, Luke Keekly and you sound exactly like online and on social media. Everybody keeps talking about the fact they think you're calling this game for Netflix.
So I was like, dude, look, we can, I guess I found my voice twin. I know it was what George Costanza had like a hand model or a hand double or whatever, but I wish that there was more of me that was like Luke Keekly other than our voice. I can tell you that much. That is so funny. What a great story.
Daniel Jeremiah joining us. DJ, you're going to be at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. You're going to call the Chargers and the cards. How do you expect outboats offense to look and operate under Mike McDaniel and with him calling things and dialing it all up? I can't wait to see how they utilize different shifts and motions.
He always has a couple wrinkles. That dash motion with Tyreek Hill, I remember when they busted that out for the first time on Miami, where it looked like he was playing in the CFL, where everybody's kind of scratching their heads, going, one of two things: A, is that legal? And B, why has nobody else done this yet? And Mike McDaniel seems to be at the forefront of a lot of these advances.
So I'm curious to see what that looks like from a creativity standpoint. And, Jim, I talked to Coach Harbaugh this morning, and we were talking about areas and he loves Herbert, as you know, and rightfully so. But yeah, just a little bit. But I was asking, like, where are some areas that you've seen him even get better? You know, as talented as he is, as gifted as he is, and the things he's accomplished, where has he gotten better?
And he talked about anticipation. And that was what I saw when I was around the team, you know, in the preseason: you know, Justin getting to his backstep and getting the ball out of his hands, which is not only going to create some run-after-catch possibilities there with Lad McConkey and Quentin Jones. Johnston and company, but it's going to preserve Herbert and keep him healthy and take some hits off of him.
So that's where my eyes are going to go on Sunday.
Sorry about that, DJ. Dan, Jeremiah, joining me for a couple more moments. I was going to say, I've got to get your thoughts on Texans v. Bills. What a great matchup that is.
You've got Houston's violent attacking defense versus Josh Allen's offense, and Joe Brady's head coaching debut. What interests you the most, DJ, about that matchup? Yeah, I mean, it's going to be fun to watch because Josh Allen got beat up pretty good by that front last time they saw this defense. And I would imagine now when you go out and make the moves that they did and you get a DJ Moore and you pair him up with Khalil Shakir, you got guys who can uncover quickly, which is going to be key because he's going to have to get the ball out of his hands. I don't care who you are and who you think you have blocking that group up front, but I'm not trying to sit back and hang in the pocket with those two werewolves coming off the edge.
So I would imagine that's going to be a big part of their game plan, moving Josh a little bit and then just getting the ball out to those guys in a hurry and see if they can make some things happen after the catch. But I'm equally as excited to see, you know, does this Buffalo Bills defense get better? Jim Leonard coming in there, what does that look like? It's a totally different look that they're going to have defensively. And I've gone on record as saying I'm a believer in this Texans team.
And CJ Stroud, I think, has a bounce back year, and we see a better version of him than we saw in the postseason last year.
So these teams have legit. Legit claims to be Super Bowl contenders, Jim. I think it's the game of the week. Can't wait for it. One last thought.
What are you expecting? And I know you're a big KOC guy. I am too, Kevin O'Connell. What are you expecting from him and the way he uses Kyler Murray in a big divisional matchup to open up the year against the Packers? My gut, and this is not from talking to Kevin or anybody there, but my gut says he's just going to let it rip.
Like, there's going to be no tiptoe into this whole thing. Like, you're going to see them, you know, taking some shots. You can get deep off-play action for two reasons. Number one, Kyler's got a cannon, and number two, give him a little more space to be able to see to attack with Justin Jefferson down the field and all their other assortment of weapons that they possess. But, you know, I think you'll see Kyler on the move.
I think it's a new toy for Kevin to play with. He hasn't had a guy like this that can move around like he can.
So, I mean, I think you just unload it. I don't think it's a real conservative, cautious approach. I think they come out slinging it. All right, you want to make sure if you're listening or watching right now that you find the relaunched iteration of Move the Sticks, the new podcast. It's DJ going solo, but it's great as always.
Look for him on Sunday at the Chargers Radio Game Analyst as well and on NFL Network along with ESPN. One and the same. DJ, great to see you, man. Really appreciate you. Thank you so much, and you're the best.
Thanks, Jim. I appreciate you. I thought about just changing courses, doing a Padres podcast, but I stuck with football. You can still. It's not one or the other.
You still can. And then when you do, we'll have you back for that, too. All right, Dan Jeremiah joining us. He's the best.
So great. All right. Huge Padre fan. Enormous Padre fan. All right, telephone result for you.
We're getting ready for our third and final hour, 1-800-636-8686. I may work in a take on the Clippers, believe it or not. How about the DOJ? The Department of Justice is now crawling around in the early stages of an investigation of the Clippers regarding their circumvention of the cap. Allegedly.
Oh, now the feds are involved. Nothing to see here, though. They didn't do anything wrong. Nothing to see here, just the feds and the windbreakers are showing up. Oh, alright.
And again, shot. Let me ask you the question one more time, chat. You really think that I've got a burner account. And I'm kicking it with you while I'm interviewing Daniel Jeremiah. How can I do two things at once?
Or you really think that when I'm going long form with a rant, That I'm actually in the chat thumbing something out while I'm going long form rant. Why? Why would I want to do that? How could I do that? Even if I wanted to do that and I don't.
How could I do that? Why would I want to do that? And, Michigan Man, I got bad news for you. This is a really disturbing story. And guess what it involves?
You, Michigan man. Stay tuned.
