1st & Goal: Lorenzo Neal, Former Chargers Fullback

Chris, pro-sandwich artist, amateur spokesperson, rolling! New Subway delivery. Order only on the Subway app and get special deals. Like $0 delivery fee. Chris, are you ordering on the Subway app right now? Uh, maybe? Ooh, could I get in on that?

Eat fresh, refresh. From the top, please. Freshly prepared for your order, limited time and participating shops, terms, taxes and other fees still apply. Cups! The NFL season is inching closer and closer. Who are the contenders and who are the pretenders? We have four downs to figure out your team's future. It's time now for First and Goal on the Zach Gelb Show. Five teams remaining as we preview all 32 teams. As we get you set for the NFL season as the Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio and you can think O'Reilly Auto Parts for all your car care needs.

Get guaranteed low prices and excellent customer service from the professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts. It's now time to preview the Chargers and we do so with the former member of the Chargers. A great NFL fullback and that's Lorenzo Neal. Lorenzo, how you been my friend? Do we have Lorenzo? Hey what's up guys, how we doing?

Doing great Lorenzo, great to have you. I got to start you off when we talk about the Chargers. It all starts with Brandon Staley and people are wondering what he's going to do in year number two. Where's your confidence level with the aggressive style that Brandon Staley does present calling the plays? You know what guys, I had a chance last week to sit with Brandon Staley and sit with him and talk to him about just who he is as a person, as a man, young coach in the National Football League, one of the youngest coaches.

Okay so who are you? What makes you different in your second year? Why do the Spaniards go out and hedge the team, turnover? You know you have your child, your daughter, your son and you don't necessarily give them Mercedes right away.

You start off with a Yugo or an Acura or something a little less expensive because you think they're gonna go do some bumps right? But when you look at Staley and look at who he is and what coach's tree he came from, McPhay and think about the Rams and why did Chargers make that move? I think they made a great move. I understand a lot of people last year that had a lot of concerns about going on a fourth down in one and forcing two and he gambled and it was Riverboat Ron. You're like okay what is he doing?

How could this guy go? I'm telling you Staley did those things in my opinion because he knew his defense and he knew his special things. He knew they weren't good enough but he knew his offense was good enough.

I think that's why a lot of criticism and I think that's why a lot of people are there. What is he doing all these situations that he did it he should have punted he did it at that. I talked to the guy. I like him a lot. He's a football coach. He's a football guy. I like what he's doing with this Charger organization and I'm telling you guys it's two teams in my opinion there's two teams in the AFC. Mark this down.

You heard it here first. There's two teams in AFC that I love and I like them. I love them a lot and it's the Chargers and the Buffalo Bills. Those are the two teams in Lorenzo knows opinion that's going to be in the Super Bowl this year. I think you could add some other teams but I do like the Chargers pick a lot.

Obviously Buffalo it speaks for itself of what they've been able to do. I just want to get back to Staley if you were a player on that team and he's aggressive so that means he believes in the offense when he's going for all of it and I lived it in Philadelphia when Doug Peterson was there. The first year people thought he was a bozo.

The next year he wins a Super Bowl. Would you be all in on this philosophy or would you say coach let's be a little bit more intelligent? Well it's not about intelligence guys. You got to know x's and o's and so when you look at a football team you think about what do they do. You were numbered last one last team in the league in defense and as far as run stop you had Nicky Bolt, Joey Bosa. You got the older brother of Nicky Bosa Sam Friend and you said okay look my pass rusher is not on the field. My defense is hurt so I'm beat up team so am I going to put my defense out there on the field when I know that my defense has been a fib? Let's be honest guys the defense wasn't that good last year so when people say oh what's this coach doing? Oh this coach don't know what he's doing.

The only reason he did that because he didn't trust the defense and think about when he did trust the defense or he said let's punt it think about the teams that scored. Look at the Raiders. Look at the teams that they played and they lost to special teams off defense. Offense counts to third guys. Defense counts as a third and so do special teams and if you look at the special teams you look at the defense I'm just going to tell you guys to be candid with you. They weren't that good last year.

They weren't that good. Let's get to the next down. Lorenzo Neal here with us. I do agree with you. I didn't really kill him for the time out right now.

You guys got me fired up. I do agree with you because I didn't kill him for the time out. The reason they made that time out in the Raiders game was they wanted to adjust their defense and you're right the run defense was horrible and they still allowed all those yards. They made some moves in this off season. I know J.C. Jackson's hurt but they bring him in. Khalil Mack as well. You have Derwin James now signed up long term.

Joey Bosa's there. What do you think this defense can be this year Lorenzo Neal? Without a doubt. Barning the enemy discharges defense is a top 10 top 12 defense bar none.

Barring the enemies. If the guys are healthy and guys are staying healthy I'm telling you I believe this team is a top 10 top 12 at the worst because the guys that you have. Let me tell you, when you talk to them you talk to the guy and understand what he wants. He wants good guys. Go look at this team and see they got good guys. The Chargers have good guys at the organization.

I know Dean. I know the Spaniels very well played there in the Chargers organization. This team gets good guys. They got a bunch of good guys that understand what it's like to compete. They understand what it's like to win and I'm telling you right now I believe that this charger team of course you look at you look at the round and I like the Raiders too. You know if you're looking at Raiders I like Buffalo. Love them a lot but I don't I'm not so alone Kansas City and everyone's talking about all my homes and my homes is a great quarterback. He lost Tyreek.

You can double Kelsey now. Who's going to stretch the field? I don't think the Kansas City Chiefs is going to be what everyone believes they're going to be. To me I look at the Raiders they're a good team but the Chargers in my opinion are in injuries with the defense that they put in established. The offense that they have and the special teams that are going to get together.

I think this charger team is going to be a team to reckon with. I think they're going to win the AFC West this year the Chargers but how do you order it one through four? You put the Chargers in that one spot then who's two three and four in the AFC West?

Yeah with me I got the Chargers number one I got the Raiders number two and guess what three and four I can't tell you. That's how I think I think host is going to be between Kansas City and Denver Broncos. Kansas City is going to take a huge step back guys. I'm telling you right now they will. People might think oh no Kansas City Mahomes let me tell you something you got a quarterback then you got a franchise.

I get that. I understand the quarterback makes your team go but I'm gonna tell you right now he lost a guy who really really is a chain mover and a game changer and Tyreek when you don't have a guy the cheetah anymore on your team it's going to be difficult to stretch the field and do the things because we know that Calvis Calvis Kelsey when you think about him he's a chain mover but if he again changes can he take the ball a five yard hitch and take it 90? He has at times but is that likely that he's going to do that when you look at this when you look at what he lost and Tyreek who can stretch the field but you got to take safety over the top so you can't necessarily double certain guys. I think you lost a huge weapon for Mahomes and Mahomes have to do a lot of things with his legs to get out of trouble because if he doesn't I'm telling you right now it's going to be a long season for the Kansas City Chiefs.

I hear the sirens in the background is that the alert? Is that an alert for the hot take of you maybe saying Lorenzo Neal that the Chiefs could miss the playoffs this year? Listen guys if you love me now you're going to love me later because let me tell you right now the Kansas City Chiefs could miss the playoffs let me tell you heard here first guys call me in a couple weeks let me know what you're thinking after I tell you this let me tell you Mahomes is going to have to play his best football of his career if he plays average if he plays like he did last year which is good here they're not getting in you look at the Raiders the Raiders went out and they went out and got it they went out and took one of the best receivers in the league if you look at the Raiders they played against they played against they almost beat the Cincinnati Bengals you think about the Raiders who they have and what they have what the coaching staff one of the biggest thing the Raiders did guys and what made them horrible is because they always self-inflicted wounds offsides holding penalties all those things but now they have an organization I think is going to cut down on that the Raiders will take second in this conference I'll bet it go to Vegas put it on the line I'm telling you right now Kansas City guys they're in trouble. Wow how about that Lorenzo Neal here with us let's get to the next down. So I love Justin Herbert what do you want to see him do this year how does he take that next step this season because he's been remarkable the first two years? Yeah he really has you look at Justin Herbert this young man he's he's a quarterback that you you love a lot of organizations would love to build around him a lot of organization missed on this guy he has it I would like him to just calm down I'd like them not to try to get it on every down I'd like them to take what the defense gives him and be a little bit more patient I like Justin Herbert to say you know what we can punt on fourth down and because our defense are going to stop people and we're going to have an opportunity to get the ball back I'd like them to take just take a page back and understand that that's daily would tell him hey look we don't need you to throw the home run on every down we need you to make plays on with your feet every down we're okay we're a good enough team this year that we can punt the ball and we're gonna get the ball back that's what I'd like to see from Justin Herbert I'd like him to take a step back and just be consistent and don't try to win on every single down. Let's get to the final down you would love to play and be a teammate with Austin Eckler right it would be so fun to see you two in the backfield.

Without a doubt baby oh my god I would tell Austin Hager I saw S. Austin Eckler the other day when I came down there to Chargers camp you know I told that young man I said I wish I could play with you son I wish I could roll back and roll back the clock and he said what would you tell what would you what would make it different me and Arthur Hightower so I would tell you one thing son I would say get on my hip and don't dip I said but when I dip you do when I move you move just like that when I move you move just like that I like the young man he has it he's not the biggest he's not the strongest he's not the fastest but you don't never see that guy take big shots he understands the importance of getting down he understands how to shift his body not take big hits watch the guy run liking loving do another game if he wants to be great. Anything concern you about this team? Yeah special teams guys I'm telling you I'm sorry about Sam's offense counts as a third defense counts as a third and special teams count as a third I'm gonna tell you right now guys watching the Dallas Cowboys and the Chargers play special teams it was horrible I think this charger team has to get better on special teams you went on you brought a new coach in you look at the teams that this team you look at the teams that they lost to you look at the teams that they lost to this year last season look how many things look how many times special teams cause them ball games special teams is going to have to be better and they're going to have to make sure they're good against the run because you can't have Cleo Mack every down first second third down you have to win on first and second down so they got to get better on defense and they got to get better on special teams. Last thing I'll ask you Lorenzo Neal there would be a fan out there that would maybe say this and just walk up to you and go Lorenzo I hear what you're saying about the Chargers they had a chance to go to the Super Bowl in your opinion you think they're going to win the AFC West but there's always that saying the same old Chargers why is this team different why won't this be the same old Chargers what do you say to that fan? Yeah I think that that's fair by the fan to say that I think that's fair by the fans you look at last year you know broke your heart didn't let you in I think the difference is I think Staley understood that he got these he has these players believing in themselves and they ask them believe them that the team is bigger than them I think you went out and got the right veterans and right type of eyes you had a you turned the keys over to you know Herbert who's a young guy and he had to lead this team now you went on got Cleo Mack you went on got a cornerback you went on got you different guys that you went out and brought in veteran guys that this young man doesn't have to necessarily carry the load so I think this team is going to be a lot more seasoned there's going to be a lot more veteran presence and they're going to understand that and they understand winning is an attitude just like losing is an attitude and we don't have to win on every single down we just have to be consistent on every single down. Lorenzo Neal always appreciate the time and the energy and the perspective thanks so much. I'm fired up boys you got me ready to come at it for the game.