Grant and Danny
Hour 2 with Lynnell Willingham
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Whether you love true crime or comedy, celebrity interviews or news, you call the shots on what's in your podcast queue, and guess what? Now you can call them on your auto insurance too, with the name of your price tool from Progressive. It works just the way it sounds. You tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance, and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote today at Progressive.com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, price and coverage match limited by state law. The seasons may be changing, but the deals at the sharpest rides are unbeatable as ever. Hey, what's going on? It's your girl, Tasha McKeea, and I need you to join the sharpest rides for their fall into savings events, where they're offering incredible prices on their massive inventory. 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So when you get a hunch in the middle of the game, you can check out the latest stats, view live play-by-play, and so much more on the same page where you place your bets. You'll get started with $200 in bonus bets guaranteed when you place your first $5 bet. That's Fandal.com/sportsfan. Never waste a hunch and make every moment more with Fandal, an official sports book partner of the NFL. It must be $21 plus in present in Colorado. First online real money weights are only $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued is now a thrallable bonus bet set expired seven days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fandal.com. Gambling problem, call 1-800-522-4700. First hour in the books, here on this Labor Day edition of Grant and Danny, Leno Wilgham, sitting in for G&D as we take you up to six o'clock. Pete Methurst, going to take you into the evening here on Labor Day. Programming note coming up about 15 minutes or so, 20 minutes or so according to Metal Chris. Ben Sandi got a joint program. Senior writer for the Athletic will get his thoughts on Washington in their week one matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Want to take your calls 1-800-636-1067, his number, your keys to victory for the Washington commanders. If you don't want to call me, you can tweet at me as well. It's N E L L underscore BTP. I got Mike Nolan tweets at me and says the key to this game and every game of this season is third down defense, especially third along. They've been terrible in the past. You have to make those stops. But with this secondary, we'll see. Yeah. I agree. I agree 100% not giving up third and long. They're going to be huge. Was an area Washington struggled at the past couple of years defensively with all of the talent that they invested on that side of the football prior to this year. It makes Jack Dario look like the worst defensive court in America. Seriously, their inability, their inability to wreak havoc on a consistent basis defensively is embarrassing. And it showed the lack of coaching that was being done. That is my saving grace for the commanders defense as a whole, by the way. They gave up the second most passing touchdowns in NFL history last year. They were dead last and points per game allowed. They were amongst the worst and yards allowed. You can only go up from there, but I genuinely think they have made the necessary upgrades from a personnel standpoint and on the coaching staff to make a sizable jump defensively. I gave you my two keys. I gave you the third one coming up here momentarily. First key I gave you to a victory for Washington was having balance offensively. You got to have balance because if you try to drop Jayden Daniels back 30 plus times, Vida Vaya, Elijah Cansey, Yai Yai D'Abi, they're going to eat this offensive line for lunch. Can't be the game playing cliff. Got to have balance. A lot of Austin Echler, a lot of Brian Robinson. Hell, even use Jayden Daniels in the running game he forgot to. By any means though, you must run the ball. It's non-negotiable to try to win this thing. Second key I gave you, Dan Quinn, Joe Whitt, known for forced turnovers. That's what that Dallas defense was amongst the best in the NFL at doing. That's got to be got to be got to be got to be something that happens this week because I don't think we're good enough defensively to just go line up and play 60 plus snaps against them without turning them over and win. I just don't think that. My third and final key, my third and final key should honestly be very, very easy in terms of its importance level. Got to protect the football. Got to, got to, got to. Sam Howell last year, who was your starter? Second in the NFL and interceptions a season ago. If Washington is going to win against Tampa, they've got a forced turnover. Dave, they can't create or excuse me, they got a forced turnover. They can't have any turnovers and they've got to run the football. Those are the three most important things to me. Give me your three keys, 1-800-636-1067 is the number. I also want to get to three key players that must step up. If Washington is going to win, we do this each and every year. Normally, before burgundy and gold game day, life starts will give you my key commanders is what I like to call it. You know, my thing is this, in terms of the three guys, when you win four games and you're going into week one on the road to hostile environment, I guess a playoff team from last year, I can have all 53 guys on the roster be key commanders this week. They've all got to step up. Everyone's got to do their part in bringing a victory back to our nation's capital. But there are three guys in particular that have to play well or else Washington won't win. And I'm going to give you a two for one special here. Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St. Jude, these starting outside corners, the incumbent starters at the position, the two stooges that were on the defense that gave up the second most passing touchdowns in NFL history, you must bring your hard hat. You must bring it. Come Sunday, four, 25 PM Eastern time, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jaylen McMillan, Trey Palmer, they don't care about your acute slogans. Anybody, anytime, anywhere, they don't care anything about that. They're trying to punch you in the mouth. I need Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St. Jude to step the hell up. Got to, got to. Not negotiable. This might be the word of the week for me. There are things that are non-negotiable for this group. They gots to go off. I gave you a two for one special. There's, we give you key commanders and keys to victory. If you got either of them, hit me up, 1-800-636-1067 is the number. First key commander we're giving to you is a two for one special, the outside corners. And there was a video posted yesterday on the commander's social of Emmanuel Forbes catching an interception in practice. And the receiver he was covering was the Ami Brown. So I assume he picked off Jayden Daniels, which gets a round of applause from me. Emmanuel Forbes, you have been the poster child for scrutiny this offseason. You got to step up. This team can't win if you don't play well. Same goes for Benjamin St. Jude. And I'll tell you what, the two things that bothered me the most were the thing that bothered me the most about those two guys during the preseason. The two things that bothered, or the thing that bothered me the most about Forbes and St. Jude's during the preseason, he gave up touchdown passes to back up wide receivers and they did it the exact same way. Not being physical using your hands at the line of scrimmage and then not getting your damn head around. That can't happen this week, not against physical Mike Evans, not against physical Chris Godwin. You will get used and abused if you do not come up to the line of scrimmage with bad intentions. It's the best way I can put it. Two for one special for my first key commander, Emmanuel Forbes, Benjamin St. Jude's. My second key commander is a guy that I think is going to be the defensive MVP this year for the commanders. Yeah, I said it. Defensive MVP for the Washington commanders. All I've heard is that's me impersonating Darryl Tack, the defensive line coach for the commanders. Come on DP. Love hearing them in camp. I know I probably sound terrible coming over the airwaves like that. Sounds like a dead cat or something. I'm the alley just screaming. But that's the energy that they brought to the D line room. I think Deron Payne is going to be the big beneficiary of this new defensive line group. Coaches, new edge rushers, a lot more stunts, games, twist expected to be ran. I expect Deron Payne going up against Cody Barton. He's a rookie, wet behind the ears, breath smelling like similar. John Allen and Deron Payne must dominate their match up this week. They have to. They got to non-negotiable. I said John Allen and Deron Payne, they both got to get after it. You're going up against rookie Graham Barton in second year starter Cody Mach. They've got to get after it. They have to. Does that be real here? Washington defensively does not have the horses. In my opinion, at least to cover the perimeter guys that Tampa is going to throw at you. We don't have it. They need help. They need help bad. Because if you can't get after the pastor, you got to have Benjamin St. juiced and Emmanuel Forbes in coverage longer than you want, and that's not going to work. 1-800-636-1067 is a number. You can give me a key to the game, or you can give me a key commander. Either or is on the docket for you right now. 1-800-636-1067 is a number. Tom in DC. What's up? How you doing, my brother? Good. How you doing? I'm good, man. Hey, I just want to pick the keys of the game. I really don't have a problem with Deron and John, because based on the fact of the Dallas, I mean, our new defensive line coach and the coaches that we got have more experience in energy. Energy energy energy energy. Jack and Ron's still over there like like statues downtown at the time. They didn't know what the hell it was doing. Another thing I want to say to them, I'm going to let you go. I just hope that the defensive back coach hop on the fact of teaching you one day when they are closer to receiving, they never look back to the ball. Hey, Tom, they got to try the football, bro. I hear you, brother. I thank you, brother. I appreciate you. These guys, no more swearing on the night. Come on. Y'all went till I get on. You see what I'm saying? You see how hard it is being the youngest in Chuck? We had no swear words. I haven't heard someone swear on these airwaves in over a year. Oh, we had one the other day on Graham Danny. Oh, so maybe it's this time slot when I was in with with right now, we had it from a recording. Graham had some recording from Pat McAfee show and they were just dropping F bombs left and right. They had multiple of them. We just had a cutlet clip. We were like, no, like, oh, wow. Yeah. That's not on the callers. That's not on the callers. No, no. That's all you guys. No, it was great. Grant was the one who pulled up the clip and we just played it and we should never play a Pat McAfee clip. Just unedited, I think, is our new rule. That's yeah, they just swear a lot on that show. That's the end of their show, the swear show. Yeah, yeah. The swear show with Pat McAfee. They were talking to Cliff Kingsbury's while we had it. It was an old clip of him talking about when John Dotson had been drafted and he and Kingsbury had said he thought John Dotson was wrapped in too high at that time. Yeah, Ricky move because using a Pat McAfee clip from not 2024 when the show became. Yes, we're on TV all the time. I don't even watch it on the ESPN. They drop swear words all time on ESPN. Yes. Yes. Yeah. The first time I heard it, I was like, wait, they're just swearing. I was like, yeah, that's what they do. Well, Pat McAfee is an American treasure. So I guess more power to him. 1-800-636-1067 his number key commanders and guys, excuse me, key commanders, guys who must step up against Tampa in order for this team to win. And then two, if you got a key to Victor, give it to me as well. Kevin is an Arlington. What's up, brother? Hey, boys. Happy Labor Day, Lynelle. Listen, I don't know how to follow a free Russian F bomb that got through, but I'll be my dad. But seriously, though, so, you know, I think to the whole season, aside from keeping Jane Daniels healthy, there's three almost unknowns, right? There's past protection, there's past rush, there's past coverage. I think Sunday, it's all about O line and more so on the past protection and given the talent of that flood of Tampa and the Toy Bowls is coaching on that on the side of the ball. But just to wonder to say something about what you were talking about earlier, I count on St. Jude's Air Forbes. That's a losing bet to me. And I'm just not certain, Lynelle, that we're not going to see Mike Davis and San Russell starting on the boundary and Juan Martin at Nickel. I'm not sure we're going to not see that. That's what I would see. I would not. I mean, to me, St. Jude's and Forbes are no better than the fourth and fifth, and Forbes is a big map given the talent we have in safety. But so I don't know. But to me, just my point, because you've already made that great point about being worried about St. Jude's and Forbes and I am as well, if they're playing. But I just think it's all going to come down to what kind of offensive line do we have to protect Daniel to give him time to keep him upright? Because if we, if we're at least, you know, solid there. And look, I think Wiley is a tomato can. And I, you know, I think Andrew. You're not wrong. He's a tomato can. You know, I like the Addis. Although he's not great. He's solid. But obviously, the other thing caused me, who we know is very solid, best right guard, we've had some fan and sheriff in his prime. We're hopeful about Pullman. We knew Luke Big Luke is good as a thing. But really to me, the big question mark for Sunday, even bigger than the past covers, I think we have other DBs to to protect us from having things used and Forbes out there. It's really what is the past protection that all looks like? I agree 100%. And the thing I would say too, that would aid the past pro if you've been listening all shall long Kevin is they got to run the football. There has to be some sort of balance offensively. And this is my thing. And when I say run the football, when I say run the football, I don't mean running in the first half. And then when you get down by 10, you stop, it has to be a non negotiable type thing. I don't care if it's two and a half yards per carry for the first half in the second half, you got to keep on running it for the sake of keeping those past rushers honest. But one other thing that I think will help them out is they're going to unleash. For the first time, Jayden Daniels as a runner, that stops their edge rushers from screaming up field because you've got to play the read option. So we'll see how it goes, Kevin. I appreciate you as always, buddy. Hope to hear from you a bit of the week. 1 800 636 1 0 6 7 is the number on the MGM National Harbor Luster Launch. You can tweet at me as well. It's at N E L L underscore BTP. We'll take your calls as the show rolls on here. If you got keys to victory or key commanders for this game coming up Sunday against Tampa, we are already at the season. I may yell a lot between now and Sunday. I'm winning this bet though. Look what time it is. Wow. Let's go break, bud. You heard what the big guy said. Ben standing next. Doors take us to summers away or winter adventures and afternoon getaways. Your dedicated fidelity advisor can help you open those doors by working with you on a comprehensive plan to help you reach your wealth's full potential because doors were meant to be opened. Visit fidelity dot com slash wealth investment minimum supply fidelity brokerage services LLC member NYSE SIPC. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Whether you love true crime or comedy, celebrity interviews or news, you call the shots on what's in your podcast queue. And guess what? Now you can call them on your auto insurance too, with the name of your price tool from Progressive. It works just the way it sounds. You tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote today at progressive dot com to join the over 28 million drivers who trust Progressive. Progressive casualty insurance company and affiliates price and coverage match limited by state law. The seasons may be changing, but the deals of the sharpest rides are unbeatable as ever. Hey, what's going on? It's your girl Tasha McKeea and I need you to join the sharpest rides for their fall into savings events where they're offering incredible prices on their massive inventory. That's right, everything is on sale now. Shop from sleek sedans to rugged SUVs and sporty convertibles. The sharpest rides has the perfect ride to match your fall adventures. Plus with their exclusive financing options, getting behind the wheel of your dream car has never been easier. Log on and shop online at the sharpest rides dot com right from the palm of your hands or check other massive inventory in person at the sharpest rides located 2250 South Sea Home Street in Inglewood. Either way, you will fall into savings. Don't miss out. Head on over to the sharpest rides dot com today and explore the deals that make every season better. And tell them that your girl Tasha McKeea sent you the sharpest rides affordable, sexy, sharp. Hey NFL fans, you can start the season with a big return on Fandal, America's number one sports book. So when you get a hunch in the middle of the game, you can check out the latest stats, view live play by play, and so much more on the same page where you place your bets. You'll get started with $200 in bonus bets guaranteed when you place your first $5 bet. That's fandal.com/sportsfan. Never waste a hunch and make every moment more with Fandal, an official sports book partner of the NFL. Must be 21 plus and president Colorado, first online real money weights are only $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued is now a throwable bonus bets that expire seven days after receipt restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fandal.com gambling problem call 1-800-522-4700. Dear autumn leaves, you won't be covering roads alone this season. Toyota's lineup of cool, colorful vehicles is ready to ride by your side. Take on fall in a trail tackling Tacoma, or go for the powerful tundra. Head to toyota.com for more info or visit your local Toyota dealership today. Toyota, let's go places. Still rocking and rolling here on this Labor Day edition of Grant and Danny. It's the youngest in charge movement. Let me know. We'll have sitting in for G and D about an hour and a half left to go with myself. We'll hand things over to Pete Medhurst, coming up at six o'clock p.m. Eastern time. Make sure you stick around five o'clock about Bobby Carpenter, former Cowboys linebacker for Ohio State Buckeye. Gonna join the program and talk about the first weekend of the college football season, as well as talk about his beloved Dallas Cowboys, who currently ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, have an executive going senile while on the job. Introducing Jerry Jones, ladies and gentlemen, that's coming up five o'clock when Bobby Carpenter joins the program. We'll continue to take their calls as well. It is a game week here on one oh six, seven, the fan of the team nine 80 as I mentioned myself and Denton Dave will get you warmed up with the burgundy and gold pregame show coming up on Sunday. And then our third straight year of burgundy and gold game day live, the in game live reaction show as Washington takes on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game days live here on one oh six, seven, the fan and the team nine 80 right now, I want to go out to the bet QL guess hotline. We find our pal Ben standing commanders insider for the athletic. Make sure you give them a follow on the OX app. The Ben standing Ben, what's going on, man? How are you? Hey, Ellen, now what's going on, man? Week one is here. How about that? I'm about to say over under Ben, and you full transparency here for the audience is Labor Day. You were one of the hardest working guys. I know it's almost five o'clock. How many naps have you got in today, my friend? None yet. I've had an overdose of caffeine. So I don't know if the the nap is happening today, but then that never never turned on a nap when possible. I was about to say never ever. That's a good rule of thumb. If you're a hard worker out there, you mentioned it though, brother week one. Washington Tampa for 25 p.m. Eastern time. Chris, you're hilarious. For 25 p.m. Eastern time coming up on Sunday as we get geared up for game week. Is there one thing in particular you're looking forward to or are most interested to see come Wednesday when the fellows take the practice field? I'm really looking at the injury situation. What say you? Yeah, I mean, you know, now that we're here and it's not so much about the hypothetical and who's making the team. You know, I think obviously a big one is Brandon Coleman. How much is he able to do? They he was at practice and on the field with the teammates the last two days last week, but he had been getting missed all of preseason hadn't been out there really since almost the beginning of camp. And you know, he wasn't felt like gaining momentum towards being the starting left tackle, but he's a rookie and now having missed most of the summer. You know, is the team going to feel comfortable sending him back out there? I think that's going to be a huge question. Otherwise you're looking at Cornelius Lucas likely a left tackle with Andrew Wiley at right tackle, but if Coleman's able to play, I don't know, does Lucas move the right tackle or does he just go back to the swing tackle role you had before? You know, that's a question. So I think that's a big one for sure. And then, you know, obviously, you know, I guess it's, you know, Jane Daniels and really any of the rookies, but him in particular, their demeanor, like this will be the first time all year we will get in the locker room to with the players and like the so while we have seen them and talked to them before, the locker room aspect is different because they had they are letting their guard down a bit. They are, you know, it isn't, you know, they're they're football thinking, but they're hanging with their guys, you know, talking a little stuff, that's not to do with football, whatever. So what is his demeanor like he's been pretty cool and calm throughout? I'm not expecting a change. But how does that look now that it is game week, right? I mean, there is no denying what what is happening. So I think I think that's probably the other aspect I'm going to try to keep an eye on. Yeah, I agree with you 100% man. I think the health of the offensive lines massive. And then, you know, don't don't let anyone try to underscore the importance of locker room availability. You know it from all your years of being on the beat, you know, there are some conversations, Ben, you know, that make the record. There are some conversations that are off the record. I think both invaluable to the folks that are trying to do their job and talk about this team accurately. Uh, this Tampa Bay front Ben scares the hell out of me in terms of a stiff first test for a remade commander's offensive line doesn't get much tougher than what Todd Bowles and company bring to the table. When you look at the interior of Washington's offensive line with Beottish, Allegretti and Cosmetsif. Allegretti is the starter at left guard come game day. I'm sure that'll be the case, but you never know. Could you have asked for a more stiff first test than Vida Veya, who is arguably, you know, a top five interior defensive lineman in the national football league? Yeah, no, it's going to be pretty interesting. And you know, even look ahead to week to the second game against the Giants with, you know, Dexter Lawrence, and they've got a couple of obviously special edge rushers as well. So yeah, no, that's, it's interesting, right? The offensive line and the cornerbacks feel like the two sort of biggest questions in the first two games. You know, now you mentioned Vida Veya. They also Tampa Bay, of course, as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, uh, the Giants, you know, lesser worry, but like they've got Malik neighbors. That could be interesting. But yeah, no, look, it's a good, it's a good test. And look, I think for all the lamenting we've done about the tackles, the the interior play, I think, is going to be huge in that that should be the strength of this group. And if Allegretti, Biotis, Cosmi, hold up their end, now this allows Cliff Kingsbury to choose where to send blocking help now. John Bates can focus on one of the tackles where like last year, the leagues were coming from all over the place. And it was probably a lot harder to decide where to send that extra help. So, uh, yeah, I mean, obviously there's concerns that tackle relative to the inside, but the inside needs to be stout and avoid the, the, the concern that we've seen in the last couple of years. Ben, we have not gotten to see this commander's defense at full strength once, uh, during the preseason in terms of all 11 projected starters being out there together. Now that we're going to see that for the first time come Sunday, what are you most curious to see with that group, uh, in terms of any potential question marks? I lost it was like a witch group, did you say? The starting, the starting defense, Ben hasn't played together once all year. What are you most curious to see come Sunday with that group? And you can't choose the easy answer of the two outside corners. Yeah, for sure. We'll look again. I think, you know, look, I'm somebody who's been sort of being very reserved when it comes to setting high expectations. But if you're going to believe that this seems going to make a run towards a winning record over the playoffs, then the defense is not going to be miles better than it was last year. And the way for that to occur is for John Allen and Deron Payne to look like the guys who were selected to pro balls previously. And, you know, for the first time in their careers, Ryan, I think certainly in the last few years, they're going to have legitimate top linebackers behind them, notably Bobby Wagner, Manning, the middle, whatever Wagner has maybe lost in some speed now, but it says him, he still has a very, very high football IQ. So that group is going to be at the strength. Those two tackles and Wagner up the middle, I think is where this group is. Any factor in, you know, Frankie Louvoo coming off the edge or lining up, you know, all over the place. And then, you know, Deron Armstrong, it's probably been a bit underrated as an acquisition, you know, the front seven is where they can be strong. And that's going to be huge. Because as you mentioned, the question to cornerback, you know, if the goal is to put pressure on the quarterback to make the ball get out quicker, and that helped, therefore, help the corners, well, then the front's got to do their job. Because if they don't, yeah, I think we all have a lot of concerns about whether Benjamin Saint Jude is the manual for was Mike Davis are going to be good enough on the perimeter to slow people down. So yeah, I think, you know, all this is, you know, look, obviously, this all goes hand in hand. But the defensive front is where, you know, the strength is, and I think they've got to, you know, come out, you know, pretty good, considering, like you said, they just haven't played together in any, in any game so far. So Ben, would you go as far as to say this? And this is getting, they're probably the most important position group on the team, I would say, right? This defensive front, because like, I think you put it beautifully. I am someone that is bullish and optimistic about what they can be because I'm not, you know, punch struck like some of the old defense and can't believe this thing is going to get turned around. But if they're going to get to eight, nine wins, as you mentioned, they've got to be lights out defensively. There's a lot of unknown on this defensive line. Ben, we know what John Allen and Iran pain are. Not really sure the availability of Johnny Newton going into the first week of the season. And then your top three, four edge rushers weren't here a season ago. When you put it in that perspective, how important is it that they get off to a good start against Ben, one of the better offensive lines in football in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yeah, look, I think, you know, the edge pass rushing, the outside pass rushing, it's on the list of worries, concerns on questions. It's not been as big of a focus because we already know that they should get good pressure in up the middle. And, you know, Frankie Louvoo looks to be a pretty interesting piece there, for sure. But, you know, the other defensive end spot opposite Armstrong is sort of the hodgepodge of Cleveland Farrell, Dante Fowler, I thought it would be KJ Henry, but it's not. So, you know, Jamie Davis is there. So what are they going to get from that group? That's a big question. And, you know, again, this is where, you know, if Allen and Payne are doing their thing, then they'll command more double team, leaving one-on-ones to the outside. And then therefore, that should help just about anybody. But, you know, there are still questions about the edge pass rush. There's no argument about that until we see it. And you have, therefore, yeah, I mean, you got to get, you know, look at, some of these things are pretty simple. If you don't get a pass rush, you're pretty much screwed. So, no matter what, no matter what you have going on, even if you've got Deon Sanders back there. So, you've got to do that. And obviously, that's going to be a huge test for these guys. And, you know, again, it's also factoring in, you know, this is the first time Joe Witt Jr. is a defensive coordinator. Yes, he's called played. He's discussed in the past. But, you know, Dan Quinn was the guy doing that primarily for Dallas. So, this is a new test for Joe Witt. I'm not as concerned about it. I'd say maybe I was last year with Eric, the enemy on the other side, coming in sort of the first-time coordinator, because Witt and Quinn have worked together for so long. But, yeah, all that is going to be a big factor here toward their success. Something we're going to discuss, the tail end of this program, and then me and Chris Russell discuss it Wednesday over on the team 980. In terms of each of these coordinators, Cliff Kingsbury, Joe Witt Jr., when you put those two guys under the microscope, obviously both of them are massively important to the success of the commanders this year. But, Ben, to get a little spicy here, which one of those two guys do you think is under the most pressure as we get geared up for the opening week of the season? It's got to be Kingsbury, right? I mean, he's got the quarterback. So, and also, yeah, I think also, like, I think generally speaking, people have been pretty bullish on what Washington's done, not to promote my own story, but I did this NFLA conservative that came out last week. Shameless plug, man. We love it. Yes. We've been, look, you deserve the plug. We've used it on every damn show on this network the past couple of days. So, kudos to you, my friend. Well, I appreciate that. But, like, one of the questions with which team has the best off season, right? And Washington was the winner there, and this is not like the Bruce Allen winning, you know, this is like a damn set of Bruce Allen winning the off season. This is, hey, they changed over everything and they've a lot of different infrastructure and pieces. But one of the questions that people have had is the hiring of Cliff Kingsbury. Obviously, he's had success in college and the pros, but the Arizona job, you know, that ended fairly abruptly, in part because the offense continued to fade year over year. Like, it would start strong each season and then kind of drop out. Tyler Murray, you know, his young quarterback that he was developing there certainly had a lot of success, but we also know he's been met with some negative comments about his play. And so, all of that factors in the Kingsbury. So, look, James Daniels, as needless to say, massively important to the, to the future of this franchise and Kingsbury is the primary people person coaching him. So, you know, I think it's got to be a lot there. It's not so much to me, like, are they going to score 30 points a game? But his Daniels hitting his marks, he's done that all summer, as far as we know, and he can continue to do that. And that's huge. And that's obviously a big reflection, therefore, on Kingsbury and his staff. Yeah, the other, I agree with you, by the way, too, Ben. The other part of it is this, I think, for Cliff, you've got the job of trying to develop Jaden Daniels and make sure he's continuously getting better on a weekend, week out basis. Also, you got to strike that balance of not putting him in harm's way. I expect him to be, you know, heavily used as a runner relative to how we saw him in the preseason, because these games matter. Balance, though, Ben, to me, is the most important thing for this group offensively. And going into this game in particular against a pass rush that, if they get a lead, can pin their ears back and have guys that are capable of beating our guys up front, you got to establish the run. And it's a non-negotiable for me, Ben, even if it's 2.3 yards a pop in the first half, they cannot get away from it. Or else, it's going to end up being a long day. Yeah, no, I agree. You know, I mean, look, following the John Dodson trade, you know, not that that was not that the receiver room was looking particularly strong after Harry McCorn. Anyway, it's becoming even more obvious that the running backs, Brian Robinson and Austin Echler, are really going to be the other two main playmakers for Washington. And they're going to need those guys, both as, you know, receivers and runners, to help everything out. But yes, the worst thing to do is put extra pressure on Jaden the angle that's going to go beyond just, you know, being a starting quarterback and doing it as a rookie. And the way to do that is to constantly get him in, you know, third and long situations, which means the run game isn't going or, you know, you're abandoning the run and what have you. I think Robinson's poised for a big year, frankly. So I'm not, I think logical they should do that. And if you go back and look at Kingsbury's running back to Arizona, guys like James Connor and Kenyon Drake, like those guys scored a ton of touchdowns. And that's not necessarily always the same as maintaining the run. But, you know, I think Kingsbury is like a past happy guys, probably a bit overstated. But we've seen it even some of the more, you know, heralded, offensive coordinators can forget sometimes what about balance. So obviously huge, especially, you know, with this quarterback, Ben, I'll let you go on this, my friend, before we put you on the hot seat and ask you to pick a winner already, Ben, it's that time of year, my friend, where we're getting put on the hot seat. So Terry McClellan, Ben led Washington with 132 targets of the season to go. The next four leading target getters from last year, no longer on the roster, Curtis Samuel, John Dodson, Logan, Antonio Gibson, who replaces Curtis Samuel as the second leading target gutter this year? Yeah, that's a great question. I kind of don't think it's going to be any of the other receivers. I mean, maybe somebody will develop into more, but they all seem, if I say they seem one dimensional, I don't mean that like an appear negative, but they each have a specific skill, but not one that to guess they're going to be a high-volume guy. And Zach Earth, look, I mean, he hasn't, you know, he just hasn't stayed on the field of time the last couple of years, though he's looking and can't. So I probably would go with Echler slash Robinson in some, in some order. You know, I don't know how much they're going to use two running backs, but I can see both of those guys getting over 40 catches, and therefore, you know, the targets could be, you know, should be above that. So that would probably be my best guess. But we'll see, you know, obviously it would be great if one of these receivers, you know, sort of steps up and becomes a clear opposite number for McCorn and or for her to stay healthy all year. But other, but I think the best bet is probably saying the running backs are probably two and three in some order. Quickly here. This will be your last one, Ben. Is Noah Brown active this week, you think? Great question. I mean, I would, I would venture. Yes. I just don't know how involved he would, he would be just because he's only just arriving, but you know, they want his size and blocking and, you know, I'm sure they can implement a few plays to take advantage of that right off the bat. Ben Stan, ladies and gentlemen, Ben, I appreciate you. As always, my friend, we will, we will pepper you with more questions as we get close to the Sunday, my man. Yeah, man. I appreciate it. Thanks. It's Ben Stan. Take one of the absolute best talking, all things burgundy and gold. Make sure you check out his work online at the athletic.com, one of the absolute best talking, all things burgundy and gold as well as looking at the NFL, big picture, Bobby Carpenter, former NFL linebacker, former Ohio state backer going to join us coming up here at the top of the five o'clock hour. We'll take a quick time out when we come back more. Grant and Danny. You're on the fan. 1-800-636-1067 is the number on the MGM National Harbor Lister Lines. You can tweet at me as well. It's at N-E-L-L_P-T-P. Big shout out to our guy, Ben Stan Digg, who joined us in the last segment. If you missed any of that conversation, make sure you download the always free Odyssey, the Odyssey Rewind feature and go back to about 430 for my convo with Ben Stan Digg talking all things burgundy and gold as we get geared up for game week. It is game week here in our nation's capital. We've told you a couple of different times throughout the program. I'll tell you here again real quick. No other place to be in the DMV on game days other than 1-0-6-7 the fan of the team 980 myself in dent day. Follow Earl for see each and every week. He'll bring you countdown to kickoff. We'll bring you the burgundy and gold pregame show as well as burgundy and gold game day live in this year. New little wrinkle to burgundy and gold game days on the fan and team 980. You can check us out on YouTube. Love it. Beautiful faces. Beautiful. Well, you and didn't are adorable together. That made you sound really old. But I don't know how pretty my face is going to be if Washington's getting their face kicked in week one against Tampa. I don't know how happy your boy will be. I mean, well, I've already said it. I've never known you to be one that just below their top when a bad game happens. You know, no, not in my not in my MO and all. That's something you would do must be confusing me with Schmanel. Or Zion. See, that's why people should tune in, man. So they can see. Yeah, you smashing everything in your vicinity. I don't give away too much of a preview, Chris. But, uh, sounds like it's on brand. It does. Final hour of power coming up. Pete Methurst getting ready for you coming up at six o'clock. I wonder what Pete Scott to say about the gnats just getting boat race yesterday, air after air after air. It was ugly. We will get back into the burgundy and going at about five 30 or so coming up next about Bobby Carpenter, former Dallas Cowboys linebacker, former Ohio State Buckeye going to join us next here on the fam. This episode is brought to you by progressive insurance. Whether you love true crime or comedy, celebrity interviews or news, you call the shots on what's in your podcast queue. And guess what? Now you can call them on your auto insurance too, with the name of your price tool from progressive. It works just the way it sounds. 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