FOUR Teams Can Win College Football Playoffs (Hour 2)

Alrighty, hour number two of our radio program. It is the Zach Gilb show on the Infinity Sports Network. You know, I've been very open about this before with how much sports we have to watch in this job. My TV habits are very bizarre when they have to deal with non-sports things. Like I'm a huge reality TV fam.

So like Jersey Shore, Real Housewives of New Jersey, I enjoy. Also like any intense documentary about a murder that was pretty high profiled, I am curious about. Like, or anything involving someone that is like a criminal. Like for example, I know they keep on releasing things about Aaron Hernandez. I've already seen it, right?

And they've already done so many about them. So when they have like the sixth or seventh Aaron Hernandez movie, a documentary come on out, I'm like, there's nothing new to add so I don't end up watching it. But I told you guys a few weeks ago that I remember as a kid, the murder of Scott, the murder of Lacey Peterson by Scott Peterson. So I have an, a Peacock account through my brother-in-law, right? You know, it's like one of those shared accounts.

And I was ordering from Costco the other day and they offered an Instacart Plus account for half off that comes with a Peacock subscription. So I forgot that I watched the two episodes of the Scott Peterson documentary, you know, with him, his first interview that he gave since, you know, in 20 years since he murdered his wife and has been in jail, you know, his wife and his wife was pregnant too. And I always remember that case when I was young.

I have such a high profile case, even though it was on the West Coast, but it was a national news story. So for some reason, and I don't know why it was stupid when I did this two weeks ago, I watched it at night before I was going to bed. Which I don't know why, whenever you're watching like a murder doc or a doc about a murderer, I don't think it's smart to do so like while you're in bed, like you have your head on the pillow. I feel like you're just asking to have some sort of nightmare or some spooky situation happen. So yesterday when I'm making my Costco order and I see the Instacart plus thing and I, you know, you get the peacock for free with it for half off, I'm like, oh, I forgot to watch the final episode of this doc.

So I ended up watching the final episode of the doc. This was in the morning when I was doing the order and I walk away from it. They do provide some evidence that makes you say for like a second. Hmm. Maybe he didn't do it. Like the blood that was in the van from the robbery across the street. But I can't walk away from that documentary because there's a lot of holes, even in their evidence saying, yeah, this guy definitely didn't do it. Like if you put a, maybe I shouldn't say this, use this analogy for this case, but if you put a gun to my head and you asked me, did Scott Peterson murder his wife? And then also, right, she was carrying his child.

I would say, yes, he did so. And the thing that's still annoyed me was in the first episode, they are, they open it up with the family member and they're like trying to make the case that he didn't do it. And I'm like, at first, hmm, maybe this is someone from her family, but then it's someone from his family.

It's like his brother's wife. So I'm like, of course she's going to say he didn't do it. So there are some questions that you have about it and fair questions. And just cause you had a, another relationship doesn't mean that you murder your wife, but there's a lot there where I don't think that they falsely, you know, convicted Scott Peterson of murder. So that was that.

I then also, this is going to be the weirdest transition ever in terms of random content that I'm talking about. Obviously I was all over the election last night. I'm not a political guy. I'd like, if I was forming a political party, it would be the common sense party. I personally don't believe in picking, being a Democrat or Republican. I listen and I formulate my opinions on what both sides do present.

And it's tough to pick a side, obviously with what both sides have presented. But I enjoyed the election coverage last night, regardless if you agree with the result or not, but that guy, Steve Kornacki, he is a machine. You know, still, I, I always thought Scott Hansen was the machine with red zone. Kornacki is so much more impressive and I love Scott Hansen.

But when you zoom in on the state and then you go into the counties and you have like 10 facts about how this could change the election. And I'm like, dude, like take a breath, slow down. It's okay.

And I really, I thought of the one gift last night when I was watching him of Jordan during the flu game, when like Scottie Pippen is just like cooling him off on the sideline. That's what his producers must be doing when he is obviously going to commercial breaks. Were you into the, the election last night? So not that we need to get this whole political breakdown and get your takes on it, but were you flipping around from channel to channel? I was, multiple channels and I stayed up till three. Yeah, I didn't go to bed. So I had a break in between.

Like at 8.20, I went over that steak dinner that I was invited to. And at that point, Trump had a pretty big lead, but it wasn't like a lock yet. And yesterday when I woke up and I was watching some coverage, it's like the most time that I'll spend watching coverage. And I saw that one place was predicting like Kamala on a map to win by 3%. I'm like, that's why I think Trump is going to win.

Cause even though more people are outspoken now, but they're supportive Trump, which wasn't the case, you know, the first time he ran or the second time, I think still there's a good amount of people that vote Trump in silence. And that's why I thought if they were only projecting him to win by 3%, I was like, Oh, he's, he's going to win. And then when I went to dinner, I don't know if this was an actual fact, but I just saw it online.

One of those like football aggregators were like, he's a minus 400 favorite right now to win. And when I saw that, I'm like, okay, I could go to dinner and just monitor this. So like dinner was from eight. I got in at like 8.20, 8.25. And then you know, it started at 8.30.

I was probably out there by like 11.30. And then by the time I got back, it was, it was not definitely known if he was going to win yet, but it was pretty obvious that he was, but I stayed up. You know, I, I went into my bed at like two and I, she wasn't going to speak Kamala. That was announced.

And I saw her campaign said, she'll speak at some point today, but he was going to speak. And I tried to stay up to hear him speak, but I fell asleep and I fell asleep with my phone next to my nightstand through that Peacock account. So I flipped to the NBC coverage cause that's just what was there. And I woke up at like five 30 in the morning with the, with the NBC broadcast still blasting. And I was like, what the heck is going on? I'm like, oh, I fell asleep.

And then I looked and saw what happened, obviously. So a lot of takes from the election, but I am like politic out now where I need something stupid to kind of watch tonight. That has nothing to do with it.

That has nothing to do with sports and nothing to do with politics. And you know what I was going to watch them BFFs that's the Josh Richards, Brianna chicken fry and Dave Portnoy podcasts. So I don't know how much you have followed this. Do you know Zach Brian, the country singer and Brianna chicken fry were dating? Yes.

They had a really nasty breakup where it appears that like he cheated on her allegedly and did some not so nice stuff. So I'm on the treadmill. I'm on the elliptical today. I don't call the treadmill.

I'm on the elliptical today. And when I'm working out Portnoy and Richards release a diss track going after Zach Brian, calling him the smallest man and saying, you know, if you sleep with him, basically you'll get an STD or you'll get cheated on. So I'm watching that and I'm like, oh, it is Wednesday. And I am like, I watched the podcast, but I don't watch every episode, but I knew that the episodes come out on Wednesday.

So I was all excited today, Stu. And even in their Twitter bio, it says new episodes, they drop every Wednesday at 8 PM Eastern. And I'm like, this is going to be a must watch episode because it's her first. She's on the podcast, but it's like her first long form interview about it. She released like one, two and a half, three minute video about it.

Here's the one problem, though. Under the video, I guess because how emotional is talk about it, new episode of BFF will be dropping Thursday at 8 PM Eastern time this week. So I don't even have that to watch tonight. Like I don't want to go home and flip on Fox News or CNN or MSNBC or NBC or ABC tonight.

Like I've already got all my political coverage. Basketball's not in full swing. I don't get a Ranger game on tonight and I don't really want to watch sports tonight. And we had the college football playoff committee come out last night. There's no football game, NFL game on tonight. So it's like I'm trying to get my mind off something just after all the intense coverage the last few days.

And I got nothing tonight. So a lot of people are dropping the ball about giving the the correct distraction, I would say. So that's probably like the most we will mention politics on this show today. Like I actually I'm proud of myself. I texted the most Democratic friend I know and the most Republican friend I know. And I am like just extremely neutral. But I just made notes like during this, like I just like during this, like takes and notes on why he won and she lost. And then who's going to end up running in twenty twenty eight?

And the most and the friend who's that I know is the biggest Democrat that I know and the friend that I know is the biggest Republican, they're both like, this is a spot on analysis. So, you know, maybe sports, I'm out of it. You know, maybe I'll end up doing some big political show one day, which let me tell you.

Could you imagine hosting to one of these political shows like we at least have the facade of sports, right? Like it's fun. We live and die by it. But like at the end of the day, even though sports are sports, culture could get like really nasty, like you say something critical about a college football team or a big NFL team, like you will get nasty things like I've I've received death threats, which is crazy. Like people telling me, like, you know, if you show up at this time, like I'll kill you or like, I hope you die, like things like that, which is part of the job.

I never thought I was actually in danger of ever getting killed. But it's like you give a take like that and it's like, you know what you're going to get from it. But in the political world, it's to so much of a more crazier and serious nature that even though everyone has their price and I don't think I would be good as being a political host because I don't take a side one way or another. Like, I'm not a Democrat, I'm not a Republican.

You know, I'm just down the middle. And, you know, I listen and whoever sells me the best, that's the candidate that I enjoy slightly more than the other. But like since I'm fair, I don't think that would make me a good political host.

And then also, it's like I know everything from afar. Like you could listen to one show and they will break down one policy one way and then the next show on a different network will break it down completely the other way. I think in the political world, I know in the political world, it gets a whole lot nastier than in the sports world. So I will, Stuart, you will get this, guarantee for me. I will not be leaving this show to go do a political show. You know, I will stick to my sport, Stuart Kovacs, that's all I'll end up doing. Yeah, you're more likely to be on the College Football Committee than working for one of these news outlets.

Yeah, no, 100 percent. So how many teams, we get the rankings that come out last night, how many teams can go win the college football playoff? Oregon, Georgia, Miami, BYU have buys. As predicted, Ohio State will host Boise State, Texas will host Alabama, Penn State right now would host Notre Dame and Indiana will go to Tennessee.

Good old Rocky Top. I would say before we had Aaron Murray on, I said I thought only three teams could win it all. Oregon, Georgia and Ohio State. If I had to pick a fourth team, I understand why some could say Miami just because of Cam Ward. I think Cam Ward could take you to the playoff and win a playoff game.

I don't think you're winning three playoff games with Cam Ward. Eventually, the deficiencies of those teams will be on full display. I think the other team would have to come, no disrespect to the ACC, the Big 12 from the Big 10 or the SEC. So I already have Oregon, Ohio State and I already have Georgia off the board.

So it's like you look at the rankings at the other potential schools that you could pick. Tennessee has a good defense but their offense has been inconsistent. Penn State can't win a big game. I know Indiana has been blood everywhere and they play but let's see what they do up against Ohio State. BYU has been a real fun story. Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois. Alabama has two losses. They've been too inconsistent. I love Boise State.

I think they can win a playoff game but I don't think they can win two. So it's like I'm going to circle back in on Texas and maybe you just say the Georgia game the first half was a fluke and then they got back in it for a little bit in the second half. So if you maybe give you a fourth team that could win the college football playoff, I would say that it's Texas.

But then also do this. Like Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia, Miami, Texas, Penn State, Tennessee, Indiana, BYU, Notre Dame, Alabama, Boise State got into the top 12 on the first ranking. Outside of the top 12, here are the teams that I still think are alive. I think SMU was alive because they can win the ACC. A&M, they got to beat Texas but if they beat Texas at the end of the year and don't suffer another loss, I think a two loss A&M team would get in. Iowa State and Pittsburgh could still win their conferences even though it got a little bit trickier especially for Pitt after this week.

You know and same could be said for Kansas State and hey Colorado does have a path but I don't believe Colorado is going to win their conference. If I had to pick a team though, outside of the top 12 to make a run, I would say the most likely is SMU just because right their competition's right in front of the Miami and it's probably going to be Miami SMU and the ACC championship game. But if I took SMU out of the picture, I would say it's probably either Ole Miss or LSU because they have so much talent both those teams but they've had letdowns and there's no more wiggle room because both those teams have two losses and both those teams have extremely tough games this weekend. LSU against Alabama and then Ole Miss you know up against Georgia. But if one of those teams win, for Ole Miss after that it's Florida and Mississippi State and then you're a two loss team in the SEC. So you win this week, Ole Miss got a chance and Georgia's offense with Beck you can't really trust and then if you look at LSU, if you win this week up against Bama, you play Florida a solid Vanderbilt team and then a stinky Oklahoma team.

So it's like if I had to say not SMU out of the teams that weren't in the top 12 in the initial ranking and one one or two teams could get in, I would then most likely put a little coin on whoever wins this weekend you know with with Ole Miss and their matchup and LSU and their matchup as well. All right we'll take a time out it is the Zach Gelb show on the Infinity Sports Network. Braden Fisk has done a tremendous job with the Rams in his rookie season. He joined us in studio right before the draft.

He's going to join us via Zoom next. All righty rocking and rolling this is Zach Gelb show on the Infinity Sports Network. The Rams started off the season one and four but now they've won three in a row after a big overtime victory this past Sunday up against the Seattle Seahawks.

So they're four and four on the season. They'll be in prime time on Monday night up against the Miami Dolphins and a man that had a big game on Sunday is a friend of the show. He joined us in studio before he was finding out what NFL team is going to get drafted by out of Florida State and that's Braden Fisk who by the way had not only won but two sacks in the contest up against the Seahawks and he's kind enough to join us right now. Braden appreciate the time. How you been my man? I'm doing a lot better now.

I appreciate you having me back on the show and we had a good a good conversation back there. I believe it was March and yeah like you said I had no idea where I was going. I'm sitting in Los Angeles California playing for the Rams so it's a pretty pretty good event so far. Yeah and it was so cool because when you got drafted you knew that you were going to be teammates with someone that you know very well from your time at Florida State at with Jared verse. Just kind of take me back to that moment when hey it's like okay I'm going to the Rams and I know I'm going to start my NFL career with one of my football brothers in Jared verse. Right yeah I mean so much has happened you know all at one time on draft day and you know I get that call and I see the Los Angeles number and I had taken a 30 visit to the Chargers earlier so I'm thinking oh I'm going to the Chargers and he says oh this is less than even with the Rams and then everything just starts slowly clicking. Going to LA oh Jared just went to LA like yeah I mean everything just started kind of you know happening real quick but I think you know once the realization set in like yeah I'm playing verse again it was I mean it was just cool because you know I think going into a new situation I mean a whole new locker room you know having some familiarity with somebody is just helpful and me walking the building you know you have somebody to go to you know if things get tough or whatever but you know I think it's it's also been you know good from a competition standpoint of even to this point in the season of like hey we're constantly like hey I'm not gonna make it easy on you you know for this race for you know whatever we're trying to get to but you know just every day in the building we're constantly you know going at each other for certain things but no it's been awesome so far and I'm just grateful to have him you know out there on the field with me and like I said the competition aspect of it's kind of been the biggest part of just you know I see him doing something makes me work a little bit harder and vice versa and I think that's probably the most beneficial part of our careers even dating back to Florida State of you know that's kind of how I think we both got into this position in the first place is just competing back at Florida State you know kind of recognizing what we have but also you know I'm not gonna let him out work for me too you know so you're not ready to just say hey Jared if the rookie of the year is given out it's definitely going to be you you're still trying to make a case to maybe take some votes away from him is what you're saying I mean that's still down the road we got lots of conflicts but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't in the back of my head sometimes when I see him get a sack or two you know well I did pick him before the years start to win the defensive rookie of the year so I hope Braydon Fisk isn't mad at me for that but either way both of you have really made a quick transition to the NFL what is it about your time together what you see from one another why you both could get to the NFL and not only be asked to play but you know really contribute to get in this Rams team to where they need to be yeah you know I think early on even OTAs and training camp you kind of get that that glimpse okay this is what it could look like I mean you're going against NFL players so you finally get that first initial of like okay this is where I stand you know physically mentally you know my football knowledge and I think you know both of us there's been some rough patches it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows on this side I mean there there was some learning curves and especially early on this season I think you know teams were able to attack some of the weaknesses that you know we both had and I think that was just like a learning curve for us okay like this is where we got to get better at this is where teams are attacking us and like there's a lot of self-realization a lot of you know just kind of figuring out this is where we have to get better if we want to succeed and I think after that bye week is kind of where at least for me personally started to turn around of you know just getting more comfortable out there getting a better feel for the you know just the flow of the game because you know week to week things change as far as like game planning scheme so you know just settling in to you know figuring out you know what offenses are really trying to do to us on the field and you know it's uh we're on a good wave right now and I feel good about you know preparation and you know kind of what we both put into it as far as you know just you know what we see out there especially third down you know that's kind of like the money-making down and you know let's get after the quarterback we got a good package out there I mean not just me and Jared I mean Kobe Turner's out there with us Byron Young you know Michael Hoy and we got other guys that rotate in they've been awesome so you know it's a group effort but there was definitely a learning curve you know it wasn't great just from the start so we definitely had to you know you know hit some rough passes you know get to where we are now damn for so many years right Aaron Donald was the standard in this league and the standard in that organization and not one person's going to be able to replace Aaron Donald you need all 11 guys to do that is that kind of a challenge that was presented your way that like you're like okay we feel the pressure we know we all got to do our 1 11th in order to try to replace that production in that presence of one Aaron Donald yeah you know I think it's obvious that right 99 is not in the building and you know we everyone knows everyone understands that but at the same time you know we're coming into league we're also trying to make our mark as well you know you never want to discredit what you know possibly the greatest ever in my in my eyes I think he's probably the greatest ever play the game is done but at the same time you know I want to be able to step in I know Jared wants to be able to step in you know Kobe and B Y are still trying to make their mark in the NFL as well so I think when you got four guys that are hungry and then you add everybody else in you know guys that are hungry and trying to make their mark I mean I think our rush and you know just our you know run defenses everything has just gotten better and you know you can never forget what you know Aaron Donald did but you know we also we want to step in there and be able to say hey like we can still be a really great defense you know a really great pass for us you know the dip doesn't have to be what everyone thinks it's going to be and you guys put on a heck of a performance right even when Gina was driving the ball at times you guys were able to pick him off a few times late and then in overtime you know if they get the ball and go right down the field the game's over if they score a touchdown that fourth and one stop it was massive just how about what that does for a defense's confidence yeah man 100 even the down before I mean it's third and one we get them to fourth and one and then you know it's a matter of are they going to bring the field goal team out they're going to bring the offense out and sure enough that offense trots out they're trying to get to the big personnel and you know you kind of look around and you know you know from the outside looking at you know we're a young defense but I think we're all out on the field yeah come on like bring that offense out here you know give us another chance and I think that's kind of been the big the big emphasis on our defense is make them snap it again you know make them snap that ball one more time and anything can happen and sure enough you know you know they tried us out there and the defense stepped up we got the offensive ball back and you know give mass after the ball with uh you know with an opportunity score you know I like our chances there so I think that's just our big thing of our defense you know we're a young defense we get along well you know we're energized you know we all you know we're just out there flying around I think that's the most fun part about it so yeah fourth and one we got it done that was I mean that was huge especially going forward for confidence with this defense I mean you feel you feel kind of unstoppable at times but you know it's it's been a learning curve so I'm just glad to see where we've made it to this point were you surprised that they elected to go for it there and that they just didn't kick the field goal Seattle uh I wasn't really mad at surprise it was just see I think it was just you know what they're gonna do like whichever they do you know we'll adapt we'll overcome it and I think uh I don't think anyone wants to put Mass Stafford back out on the field you know with an opportunity to win the game so I think you know they probably made the right decision to try to you know put the game in their hands and win the game but like I said you know good teams you know fight invert or uh attack adversity and I think uh you know like you said they drove down the field and they put us in a pretty scary situation of where we had to get a stop and you know we we overcame it so I'm just really proud of our guys for you know being on the field for that last week was the week of just ridiculous catches when you see the game winning touchdown how did you kind of process that one Braden Fisk oh man we're just all going I need this mayhem on the field people running around you know yelling at fans because Seattle's a tough place to play their fans are pretty ruthless out there and you know we're just you know jawing at the fans everybody everyone's running around it's just chaos but uh I the whole time yeah I we knew when that offense ran out on that field and uh you know they they made that catch to get a first down you know getting closer to 50 yeah we got it like it's our game now you can just feel the momentum you can feel the crowd get quiet that's one of the yeah we got this in the bag it felt good and yeah you know the catch was added to the whole chaos of the entire game I mean so much happened you know we think we got a steal they block a punt it's just like it was insane just how everything unfolded it was very finished and that was a real tough win for you guys and I think it shows what this team is capable of and I know you guys have had to go through a lot of injuries this year but even with Puka coming back he gets ejected which which I didn't love the call but it doesn't seem like anything really breaks this team because there could have been moments this year Braden where this team you know could have already been broken and you know have such a an even bigger hole to kind of dig themselves out of yeah most definitely and I think you know with the mix of you know young talent and also the veterans that we have in the locker room that have done this before I think uh you know the biggest driving force the team is you know fighting for adversity I mean like you said earlier in the show we start out one and four you know we we hit the bye week and say all right you know where do we stand and you know we had to make a decision when we came back with who we were going to be going forward and you know I think just between the you know the vet leadership that we have on our team you know with the Matthew Staffords uh even like Hilary Turner he's a great leader on our team you know Rod Heavis and guys that have been in this league have done this before I mean just being around those guys and seeing you know hey when we get back from this bye we're going to turn this to we're going to take this to a whole nother level and uh you know we're on a three game it was one game at a time we're on the you know the third of you know the games of uh you know we've been back off the buy and we're three and oh off the buy so you know it's just kind of building off that you know how do we stack that how do we continue to grow and you know I think each week is you know it's a new week to attack you know another team and that's one thing I've learned you know being in this league so far is when every week counts every play counts like you know they got really good players on their side of the ball too they get paid money too so I mean every week's a toss-up but you know whoever you know comes out they're ready to fight and this has that mentality I think you know we got a good chance yeah and a few weeks ago right there was a lot of speculation about Cooper Cup getting traded you know even there was one wild report out there about Matthew Stafford getting traded like everyone gave up on you guys you know in the locker room I know you guys try to ignore the noise but you guys are human you hear it like you know Cooper had to respond about I talked to Puka Naku about it on the show did people doubting you guys kind of maybe pull a little something extra out of this team to get you guys back to four and four yeah I mean I think a little bit of that you know always plays a part of me like you said you always try to you know in your meetings your teammates and say hey you know you got to block out the outside noise you can't you can't listen to what's out there because it's always people are always going to be feeding you know the fire feeling the fire all the rams are done you know they're going to completely evacuate trade but you know I think internally we were saying hey like you know we're still a really good football team like we know what good football is and you know we got the right guys to do it and I think from our young player standpoint we we're all starting to you know you know get a little grasp of the NFL and starting to try to make our mark and just growing and learning getting better so you add that to what we already have yeah I mean I think we saw it as an opportunity to really attack this thing and you know coming off the bike getting fresh getting healthy like you said well yeah like just start with one let's win this game we'll move on we'll just keep growing from there so I'm excited going forward I mean I got a lot of faith in this team a lot of faith in the guys I go to work with so I'm excited and I've been around the league long enough I know how this works one week right and the team's going to be trading everybody in Cooper Cup and Matthew Stafford and then a few weeks later just wait at one point there will be whispers you know will they be able to get Aaron Donald back or will Aaron Donald come out of retirement has there been any chatter there in the locker room about that possibility uh definitely not internally like we don't really talk about in the building but you know outside the building that's all I see and you know we have a great game you know this past week in Seattle a great pass for us and the story is all you know they don't need ad you know you know one week if we don't have a good pass resolve they're missing the greatest ball time it goes back and forth and you hear both sides of it but uh no I haven't talked about it much you know we we like the young core that we're working with like I said earlier we're trying to make our mark as well so you know we're uh however it shakes out you know we're gonna just keep going to work yeah he's not a spotlight guy Donald that's why a lot of people like love him like he's unbelievable but like he didn't want to be like in the spotlight ever there was one video I saw of him you know on on the couch sleeping that I guess his wife or girlfriend took of him to make it known like hey he's definitely not coming back um have you been able to like just because of the nature of the rams and and you being on that defensive line is there any relationship that you have with him just wondering um yeah I mean I got to meet him in uh when we had the was the the practice uh what was the call in august when we practiced against the cowboys he came out to one of our joint practices yeah and uh yeah I got to meet him there I mean super good dude I mean uh he didn't show any signs of one of these but I got there seemed like he was enjoying his time off but uh you know I can't speak for the guy but yeah I mean super good dude he's giving me a little pointers got to have you know some casual conversation with him and uh yeah I mean awesome guy I mean I'm just I had a whole lot of respect for him you know looking from afar and even when I was in you know high school and middle school just like yeah like there's somebody you look up to just you know the way you play the game so yeah man that was kind of a that was cool moment to be able to meet him so now you guys braid and fist will turn the page you know you're four and four you get above 500 you got miami coming up on monday big prime time game you know I know they're they don't have a good record but man they have some serious pieces with tua and jaylen waddle and uh tyreek hill you know got raheem mostard and devon a-chan as well we'll see you know who's going to play with some of the health concerns uh but what do you kind of focus in on I know you can't tell me the game plan but man there's a lot of talented pieces on that dolphins offense uh yeah I mean that's like you say you talk about all the weapons that they got over there I mean that's uh that's a big focus I mean you can't just focus hone in on one guy like you can't some other places but I mean they got guys all over the field so it's a joint effort I mean we gotta get we gotta get hats to the ball I think that's like the one focus that you know we're trying to improve on every week is when you got those fast guys that can make guys miss in the open field I mean we got to get you know the big guys running out of the stack we got to get you know everybody to the ball has to the ball more uh assisted tackles and solo tackles kind of the goal and you know yeah I mean that's a really good team they got over there I know two is back out there so we're just excited to get after it I mean I think we're starting to catch them you know some good fire in our defense and you know we're getting into a good groove so we got to keep that going you know we decided to get after it again monday night it's gonna be awesome I know you had two sacks uh last sunday do you think that was your best game as a pro so far through this uh you know first eight game stretch of your professional career was there another game that you maybe thought you were better in uh I think that was probably the best you know on the stat sheet I think I've just gotten more and more consistent you know as the weeks have gone on um I think really since maybe the Chicago green bay you know games when you know things really started to click and I'm just getting more comfortable out there but uh yeah I mean I think on paper probably looks the best but yeah I'm just I'm proud of what you know I've been able to accomplish so far but you know I'm nowhere near where I want to be so I'm just uh you know it's a good little start but you know I wanna I wanna really really start to you know hone this thing in and really you know attack the run game better and get better in the past game and really start putting this all together last thing I'll ask you Braden Fisk on the way out Rams four and four they got the Dolphins coming up on monday you know Stafford for so many years just didn't get his credit then eventually right gets traded from the Lions goes to the Rams they win a Super Bowl you've only been his teammate for a few months now but man he's really starting to get his due nationally just what impresses you so much uh so so much being in that locker room with Stafford I mean it's the real deal you know I think it's cool to hear from other guys that have been the NFL been around other organizations other quarterbacks and they come here and say oh yeah like this guy's legit like you just don't see it in the throws he makes in practice you know just the person that he is off the field I mean super good dude it's kind of hard to believe that you know he was in college in 2007 a in that range but uh it's really cool being around him and you know just the way he's able to you know you know take control of the locker room take control of the team and like I said in those big moments like when he has that ball you know there's really no worries you're on the sideline like yeah yeah Matthew's got it we're good we're gonna be all right so uh you know I'm just blessed to be in a position that I'm into you know being a locker room with somebody like that I mean in my eyes he's a legend you know to him you know he's still playing football and I grew up watching Matthew Stafford and you know it's kind of cool you know being in that locker room and just to see it firsthand and you know someone throws in practice you're like oh my how is this possible I mean even like in the Seahawks game some of those late you know some of those throws late in the game like that's top star that's like the best of the best right there so I mean it just doesn't get old and it's cool to see that you know it's still you know he's still doing it at his age and that we're just making it happen getting wins with it well good health the rest of the way keep on kicking ass we're really happy for your early success and thanks so much for doing this once again appreciate you Zach thanks for having me on you got it there he is Brayden Fisk dude's gonna have a long career in the NFL him and Jared verse doing what they did at Florida State now in the National Football League and doing a heck of a job trying to replace the presence that was Aaron Donald with the LA Rams and they were my Super Bowl pick before the year started I had Rams and Ravens and the Rams don't let them get hot they're getting hot right now at four and four and they could definitely go on out there with how crowded the NFC West is and win that division so really appreciate Brayden Fisk for joining us we'll do our NFL MVP draft next update time first here is Zach that is me and yes it is the Zach Gelb show on the infinity sports network we will do a little MVP draft right now Stupak music got any bars Stu just wondering um I'll let you go first Stu I'll be nice today I'm in a good mood I'll let you go first what do you got all right I will go with the guy who I think at this point would win it if the season ended today obviously there's a lot of time left but I think Josh Allen is kind of on a uh collision course to win this award and he would be my number one pick here so can I just make an honest admission there why I wanted to go second I thought you were going to take Lamar Jackson and you're going to get Josh and whoever next you think because I don't know why I feel like I'm in a minority now when I say that Josh Allen is the MVP of the league I feel like after this week most people are saying it's Lamar Jackson now I look at the odds depending on what book you know I see one book has them both that plus 300 then one is Lamar plus 280 and Josh at plus 300 it's just like for some reason I feel like I see so many more takes about Lamar winning the MVP and I've been on Josh Allen winning the MVP since the summer so you take Josh Allen I will take Lamar Jackson and then here's where it gets tricky you know what can we rewind I'll go first Stu go second I almost want to do that uh the second pick I will make you know what I could take Derek Henry and it's like oh I get either Lamar or Derek Henry but I'm actually gonna do something here where I'm gonna bank on a team that's given me no reason to believe in them this year but if they win on Thursday they got everything right on the table and if this team wins the division I know they got the Steelers still in front of them and the Ravens but if the Bengals win the division I know Hendrickson's having a good season and I know they have a talented roster but Joe Burrow has been really damn good the defense has just let him down I'll go Joe Burrow as my third pick as the third overall pick of this I like it he was definitely on my short list here that his stats are so good and obviously he can have a great end to the season uh just real quickly Josh Allen Stu took first then I took Lamar and Joe Burrow so now you have two picks what do you have right I will go with Patrick Mahomes now I know his stats aren't great yet uh there's still a lot of time to play and if the Chiefs go 17-0 or 16-1 I don't know even if his stats aren't like you know the the top three and touchdown passes I just think a 17-0 Chiefs team there's a chance that he could win and I think there's still a lot of time for him to put up some pretty good numbers at least what's more what's more likely if the Chiefs go undefeated Mahomes wins the MVP or Andy Reid wins coach of the year I think Mahomes MVP because I think they'll give coach of the year to somebody who they didn't expect to be that good that makes the playoffs with like 10 or 11 wins I think it's really tough to give Mahomes the MVP I do I would think then he would get coach of the year now he has 11 touchdowns 9 interceptions if he only does like one more pick the rest of the year and then throws for 25-30 touchdowns like I guess it's possible but he just says he keeps on winning but it's not like he's like great in any of these games so you take Mahomes okay next pick I will go Jared Goff in that same kind of you know the fact that they're killing me still they could win you know 15 games 14-15 games he has pretty good stats there they might be the clear best team in the NFC he would be someone new winning the award so I like his chances as well okay my next pick I don't think they would give it to him but if this team wins the division not only he's going to win offensive rookie of the year but he should get some MVP votes Jayden Daniels will be my next pick so so far off the board we are six picks in Stu takes Josh Allen I take Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow the student takes Mahomes and Goff I then take Jayden Daniels so for my fourth pick this is where we got a little interest in here I will go with Derrick Henry I will take Derrick Henry even though they'll probably split votes and cancel each other out what Henry has done has really brought back a belief that the Ravens can get to a Super Bowl this year so I will take the first non-quarterback I go King Henry Stu all right coming up next now I think this is where there's a bit of a drop off very tricky uh this is definitely tricky you know what let me let me go with someone who could win the division in the NFC West and if they win the division again the numbers aren't amazing but I think this team would be kind of surprising a lot of people didn't have this team in the playoffs and that is the Cardinal so I would go with Kyler Murray as my next pick Kyler Murray I guess you know he's also in the running for comeback player of the year too yeah okay so you get one more pick right yes that is correct um not here I will go with this is Slim Pickens it's hard I think there is one there's two more names out there I think one could win it I don't think he will though the other one I think is no shot to win it but I think there's a great case to be made so between both non-quarterbacks by the way both not oh interesting on quarterbacks because I'm kind of thinking all quarterbacks here only because that's where the award goes it is your vote not mine I'm not going to hey that's been a lot in the news these days people will tell you what to do with your votes too ultimately you get to make the decision on who you want to vote for it is your pick all right let's just say that the Bucks make the playoffs Mayfield already leads the league in uh in yards he has over 20 he has over 20 touchdowns let's just say he keeps balling out like this gets like close to 40 touchdowns how about Baker Mayfield okay here are the two names I'm thinking of Saquon has a shot because you think of that Eagles offense I think of Saquon first now I think they'd probably make it more likely offensive player of the year than MVP the other non-quarterback I'm thinking about TJ Watt like if the Steelers win that division the first player I think of is TJ Watt I will go though with Saquon and I'm looking at the odds Saquon is at plus 7 500 and you take a glance at Jalen Hurts he's at plus 1200 so clearly they favor Jalen Hurts over him but I would think Saquon is more valuable right now so that's what we end up going with Stu's picks Josh Allen Patrick Mahomes Jared Goff Kyler Murray Baker Mayfield and your boy goes with Lamar Jackson Joe Burrow Jayden Daniels Derek Henry and Saquon Barkley you know comeback player of the year is going to be fascinating because like is Darnold now out of it because he just came back from being bad right with the criteria change but like how does that guy not win comeback player of the year and then you get some of those other guys in the conversation like it's not going to be Rogers unless they go on some crazy tear um and then as we we talked about right Kyler's got to be in the conversation as well all righty Zach Gelb show infinity sports network we address hot take kicky next