Packers' Backup QB Dilemma, NFC North Debate, and Preseason game vs Joint Practice Debate – Wisconsin Sports on the Go with Trag feat Kyle Edwards and Aaron Riley

Ever wondered about the real impact of NFL preseason games? Join us on Wisconsin Sports on the Go with Trag, where we unravel the mysteries of preseason football alongside Aaron from Brutally Honest Sports and Kyle Edwards from Chompin on the Bit podcast. We start by dissecting the Green Bay Packers’ lackluster performance against the Denver Broncos, raising questions about their backup quarterback dilemma, defensive issues, and special teams troubles. Aaron and Kyle provide unique insights on how preseason games can make or break a team, especially those like the Packers, who are still in the process of establishing their footing.

What could be more beneficial: joint practices or traditional preseason games? Our second chapter dives deep into this debate, with Aaron and Kyle evaluating the controlled environment of joint practices versus the invaluable game-speed experience of preseason matchups. We discuss the Packers’ quest for a reliable backup quarterback, spotlighting Ryan Tannehill as a potential key player. The conversation offers a balanced perspective on minimizing injury risks while ensuring players are ready for the real challenges of the season.

Shifting gears to the Chicago Bears, we provide a critical analysis of Caleb Williams and the immense expectations surrounding him. Comparing him to past players like Johnny Manziel and Baker Mayfield, our discussion highlights questions about his mental toughness and the crucial role of a supportive coaching environment. We also delve into the Bears’ recent roster changes, including the addition of Keenan Allen, and their prospects in the NFC North. Rounding out the episode, we touch on the thrilling MLB playoff races, particularly the unexpected performances from the Kansas City Royals and the intense competition in the National League. This episode is packed with engaging sports analysis and thought-provoking discussions that you won’t want to miss!

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:09

Thank you. How are we doing everybody, and welcome in to Wisconsin Sports on the go with Trage. I'm your host, trage. It is Tuesday, august 20th, a fantastic Tuesday here in the great state of Wisconsin, or wherever you are tuning in today, I hope it's a fantastic day. There too. The sun is shining. You can't beat it. I got two great, great people with me today on the show. I got Aaron from Brutally Honest Sports. He's back today, aaron. How we doing it's Tuesday, it's a great Tuesday. We're kicking right. It's a great Tuesday. We're kicking right. It's a great day.

Speaker 2: 1:04

Getting right through the month of August. It's flying by, but it's good. Football right around the corner, baseball going on Good time of the year. It is a good time of the year. It's a little cooler here, which I'm okay with it. I'm okay with it. I'm cool with it.

Speaker 1: 1:21

You can't beat it. You can't beat this time of year we're getting right back to. I mean, sports are going to be taking off like no other. Pretty soon we're not going to have enough time to talk about it all. It's going to be craziness. But also on the show here I got Kyle Edwards from Chomping on the Bit podcast. He's back today. Kyle, how we doing?

Speaker 3: 1:39

I'm good. Look, like Aaron said, it's getting cooler. We're getting closer to fall, which means NFL season, college football season, Then basketball is right around the corner as well.

Speaker 1: 1:52

I love the fall so I'm here for it. You got to love it. You got to love it. The fall you get a little fall baseball. You get football starting up. College football is back. The NBA is right around the corner. College basketball is right around the corner. It's like it's that time of year the only thing that beats it is March, march and April. March, madness, you get baseball starting. That's the only time of year that could possibly top it there. So I got the guys with me today. There's lots we want to get into, but I want to talk a lot of NFL. I want to talk MLB today, right away. I want to look at the NFL and this is the biggest question I wanted to discuss today.

Speaker 1: 2:28

I watched the Packers play the Broncos and I mean the Packers look like complete garbage, like, to take it from Matt LaFleur's exact words, were we need to reevaluate a lot of things right now? And you know the second teamers were playing, but it was, I mean, like I only watched probably three quarters of it. I couldn't even watch fourth quarter. It was that bad. Like two, they scored two points in the entire game. They had a safety. That was it On Zach Wilson. Outside of that, it was atrocious Like they're. They couldn't tackle. It was. I mean, you know, to me, and this is where I want to open it, I want to open it with the meaning of preseason games. That's where I want to open it with the meaning of preseason games To me. When I watched that game last night, I mean you still are battling for something and we were watching Sean Clifford Aaron's alma mater there with Penn State with Sean Clifford. I watched him completely stink. I watched Michael Pratt completely stink. I don't know who's my number two quarterback behind Jordan Love. I'm actually scared because if Jordan Love gets hurt, I don't know where the Packers go at this point.

Speaker 1: 3:31

You know, when you look at the defense for Green Bay, they looked atrocious. Now, bo Nix played a really good game, but they looked atrocious against the Broncos. They couldn't tackle, it was just terrible pass cover. Everything was terrible. The offense, nothing was decided all the way around. They kicked one. They had one kick in the entire game. Greg Joseph came in kicked and missed it 47 yards, missed it wide right.

Speaker 1: 3:55

There's a kicking competition going on in Green Bay right now and we didn't learn nothing from the second preseason game for that kicking competition either. We don't know what the kicker room is going to look like. You know, it's like they always say. You know, a kicker is like a lawyer you don't need them until you do right. You don't want a good one until you need it. And then, well, now we see it. Now we see it right now the Packers are in desperate need. So I want to start there with the meaning of preseason games. I mean wants to start? I mean whoever wants to start with that one. But to you guys, I mean the, what is the meaning to preseason to you?

Speaker 3: 4:34

guys. Is it a big deal, is it not a big deal? Where do you guys lean on that on that fence there, I feel like it kind of depends on where your team is like. If you were a playoff team the season before, I feel like preseason isn't that big of a deal. It's more about building out your depth. Maybe you have a aging veteran in a certain position that you're hoping, maybe a young player maybe comes along and takes their spot. Possibly. I mean, yeah, backup quarterback. I feel like that's important for preseason, to make sure you have the right guy behind your starter or your star.

Speaker 3: 5:05

In the case of Jordan Love, because if he does go down and what the aspirations of the Packers have of being a playoff team that goes deep into the playoffs you can't necessarily use the excuse that Jordan Love goes down for a couple of games as the reason why you missed the playoffs. You need to have somebody who's ready to jump in for a couple of games and keeps him competitive. I mean, look, colt McCoy just retired. Maybe you can call him. He's been a backup forever.

Speaker 3: 5:30

I'm sure that wouldn't make you feel better as a Packers fan, but he's out there. So, yeah, I don't really pay attention much to the score and all that of the game. I look more like you said, like if you have a kicking competition going on, then that's what you focus on. You know who does the coach put out there for certain, like 45-yarders or 35-yarders? Do they make it? Do they look good making it? Are they barely squeaking them in? So now you're having a heart attack every time the guy's out there lining up for a kick. Like it's just little things like that that I think are more important.

Speaker 2: 6:05

Uh, for pre-season play I agree, uh, with okay. So I'm just kind of speaking out of a eagles fans lens. We, to my knowledge I mean I, I can't speak for every team, but damn near every team plays like their start, like their starting quarterback and their their number one offense, at least for a drive or two, right like we. I I've just heard on the eagles podcast, like you know, jordan love just got paid, but he's getting a he. He had a drive right like in this game. Jordan Love played the first drive. Is that he?

Speaker 1: 6:46

didn't play against the Broncos. No little do the Bears fans know, because there was a lot of memes going around where Jordan Love had thrown three interceptions. That's that. That was the backups. I Bears fans are just so far out there at this point that they thought Jordan Love actually played. He did not play. None of the starters actually played against the Broncos. They did play against the Browns the week before they did play.

Speaker 2: 7:08

So, like I said, speaking out of my own like vantage point, I hate that the Eagles decide not to do this. I thought, with Kellen Moore and a new offense, like you know, they brought in a whole new offensive system much more complex. I mean everybody says that Jalenalen hurts hasn't thrown a pick all camp long. I don't care about. I mean, yeah, I want them to do well, right, but I want to see them go up again. Like the ravens had their number two defense but they had half their starters in when they played the ravens the other week and then coming off, I mean kyle, you saw, I mean there were starters here and there on the on the patriot and the Patriots had their number two defense in most of that game. And I mean the Eagles' makeshift offensive line that they put together was absolutely trash. I mean the Patriots sacked Pickett like three or four times. They sacked shoot. They sacked the third string. I can't remember his name. Off the top of my head he looked actually better than Pickett. But regardless of that, I think, just like you talk about spring training and baseball, I think people do underestimate preseason a little bit. If you're like a Jordan Love right, I'm not saying he doesn't know what he's doing, but he's so young. Every rep to me is meaningful. Mahomes sure, he's proven. The guy could come in week four and probably win out and go to the Super Bowl. Guys that are just the elite of the elite. It doesn't really matter about preseason. The Jordan Loves, the Jalen Hurts, the Lamar Jackson. I still think these guys need continuity between the offense and just it's. It's game, game speed. You can't simulate game. Like I don't care what they do against their own squad. Like they know each other so well, you're going to line up again. Like the Eagles will line up against the Packers in Brazil and they'll see looks they haven't seen by their own defense, probably all year. Like there'll be stuff that they'll see that they haven't seen yet, no matter what they prepared for right, like you'll see a different look. You'll see, oh, this is the sky's blitz. Whatever it is that they can simulate, the Packers will throw something else at them.

Speaker 2: 9:22

So getting those reps in a preseason game, even if it's a drive or two, like I just I hate the fact that. Oh well, you can risk injury Once again. Now you know we talked about it on the baseball podcast. Any snap Jalen Hurts can get hurt. Any snap Aaron Rodgers like we saw Aaron Rodgers get hurt on the first drive of the regular. Like you're taking a risk, no matter what, so let them play. But back to your question. Yeah, I mean, any rep to me is better than not having that rep, like when we go in to play. You guys, I feel like you have the advantage just on the fact that you have game speed reps and we're not going to play. From every indication they're saying the Eagles number one, like AJ Brown, all them guys won't play any of the preseason and it's frustrating to me, but it is what it is.

Speaker 1: 10:09

Yeah, no, I can. I definitely see it from both sides of the spectrum where coaches try to play it. But I definitely think you've got to have at least a drive. A drive, you know, get everything flowing. Because, like Matt LaFleur said about his Packers team, he said we tried it a couple of years ago where we didn't have our starting quarterback would get go out there. We didn't have the starters go out there and they went into week one and they were rusty and you know they're professionals. It wears off fast, you hope.

Speaker 1: 10:31

But you want to go in, ready to go, like the Packers, the Eagles. They want to make a statement week one in Brazil. They want to make a statement and say like, hey, we're going to be on top of the NFC North because, I mean, the Eagles are back. I believe the Eagles are actually going to be one of the top teams in the NFC this year. I mean, most people do and I want to see a week one matchup where you could be talking about that same matchup down the road there in the playoffs, like that could be a preview what we see week one. I don't want to see any rusty business or anybody saying, end of the day, like well, the Eagles were kind of rusty going into week one, but you know that that it doesn't. You know that doesn't lead me to good football. Then I want to see a preview of what we could see down the road. I want to see a good matchup. I want to see both teams coming in and firing in all cylinders. That's not saying the Eagles can't, but you know a lot of teams and I want to get your perspective on this. The Packers, they at your perspective on this.

Speaker 1: 11:22

The Packers, they said when they were going to face the Broncos they had the joint practices before that. Are the joint practices the same as playing at game speed? Is it the same sense of urgency, everything like that? To me I think it's a glorified live scrimmage, joint practices. It's not to the sense of actually playing in that preseason game, because I mean, you hear a lot of people talk about it but when you get into a preseason game those guys are playing balls to the walls because most of those guys are still trying to earn a paycheck. They're trying to earn a spot, yet they're still giving it their all. Most of the guys that you're going to face on a second team, or some of the first team guys, even who are on the edge of losing their spot, they're still playing hard. I mean it's still hard-nosed football.

Speaker 1: 12:06

When it comes to the preseason at I mean, here and there right, you get your starters in there it gets a little different, right, we watch patch Mahomes throw one behind his back. I don't know if it was. You know they said it wasn't scripted. Some people have said it's scripted. They've seen him do it before. Nothing really surprises me with him anymore. He just kind of throws them all around, like that's just how it works. But I want to hear from you guys you know joint practices to preseason game. Are they the same to you? Are they is one? I mean, is a joint practice a little bit lesser of a I mean a game situation than what you would see? They're still throwing different stints at you and everything like that. But preseason, the pressure on the quarterback is actually real, like it's real pressure. That guy can get hit. Like the preseason they don't hold back, whereas joint practices we're kind of avoiding hitting guys. We're not going as fast in there. It's different when you get into a real game.

Speaker 3: 13:01

I do think joint practices have a purpose and I kind of think that's why the NFL is kicking around the idea of 18-game season taking away another preseason game, because I think the league realizes that a lot of these coaches like joint practices because a joint practice is more controlled. Practice is more controlled like you can sit there and go, you know, coordinate with the coach and say, look, the first 10 plays we're doing red zone because we want to work on our red zone offense. I'm sure you want to work on your red zone defense. Like you could prep red zone for a whole preseason. We get to the game, never get into the red zone.

Speaker 3: 13:40

So then you just kind of wasted your week of practice on that one aspect where at least with a joint practice you can script out how you play it out. You know you get refs there so you do get like a simulated game, just in a controlled environment. So that if you have a kicking battle going on, you know you could set aside 10 minutes to just do special teams on. You know you could set aside 10 minutes to just do special teams. You know kickoffs, kick returns, field goal block, all that kind of stuff and see which kicker can do better in certain situations. So I do think joint practices to at least to the coaches are more beneficial because they can control that environment more than a preseason game, in the fact you know you never know how the game's going to go, if it'll even allow you to see certain guys in certain uh aspects that you wanted to. So I do think the joint practices, for preparation wise, might be a little better than preseason games.

Speaker 2: 14:45

I kind of I have like one foot in, one foot out on that, only because I, like you know, in a joint practice you're not going to have Mason Crosby come across the line and just close line. You know, saquon Barkley, like you know, I mean if that happens, there's probably gonna be an all out brawl in the fricking and we'll be reading about it, right Like that. I mean, if that happens, there's probably going to be an all out brawl in the freaking and we'll be reading about it, right Like that. I mean nothing simulates like game speed and just aggression.

Speaker 1: 15:11

But I think uncontrollables to like the uncontrollables of a game.

Speaker 2: 15:15

This guy missed the block and now Jalen Hurts is smashed into the ground Like it's just like. To me that's the most valuable like thing. It's just like to me that's the most valuable thing. But I definitely see where Kyle's coming from. As long as you don't. I mean, maybe Belichick would be like no, we're not. I could see him being like an opposing. Like some rookie coach comes to New England for a joint practice and he's like can we do this? He's like shut up, young whippersnapper. I'm Bill Belichick and we're going do what I want to do, but like I I definitely could see, uh, like you're still there oh, geez, here we go with the technical difficulty with my stuff.

Speaker 2: 15:55

But uh, no, uh, I I could see why. Uh, definitely the the benefit to a joint like there's a lot of things you can gain from that and like I doubt these teams will, like you'll ever kind of learn little things, but you might, you might learn. Oh, remember when we had that joint practice, they like to do the like, but they're gonna change things a lot. So you don't, you know, the nfl is such a it's a copycat league, but at the same time it's a guest like a guessing, like you want. Same time it's a guess, like a guessing, like you want to keep the other team on their, on their heels. So it's, it's interesting though I like the idea and I got to tune into hard knocks more to see how they kind of go. I've seen some mic'd up stuff a little bit here and there of the joint practice, but I kind of want to like dive into it a little bit more.

Speaker 1: 16:40

Yeah, you know hearing both sides. I do see the benefit of the joint practice. You know the controlled environment, being able to run through your stuff. Like you said, kyle. I mean the Packers have a terrible kicking situation right now. They got to figure that out. Figuring that out in a joint practice is huge. I just like both aspects of okay, now we're in an uncontrolled environment.

Speaker 1: 17:02

I want to see the first team offense when we don't have control of the situation. We don't have control of this. I want to see how they react. I want to see these young guys how they react. So I think it's, like Aaron said, one foot in, one foot out. There's benefits to both sides of it.

Speaker 1: 17:20

The controlled part helps with the injury part. It keeps your quarterback protected. But, like Aaron always tells us, you can get hurt walking out of your car. I mean there's so many different things that can happen. Look at Alex Smith. I mean that was just everything in his knee explodes at one time. Sometimes it's a freak accident that you can't. There's nothing you can do about it. There's nothing you can do about it and that's the sucky part. That's the sucky part at the end of the day. But I mean, okay, we're talking backup quarterbacks.

Speaker 1: 17:47

I'm going to give you a list of free agent quarterbacks that the Packers could possibly look at to be a backup if they decide that we need somebody else in the room, if any of these guys catch your eye. If any of these guys catch your eye, let me know. So my number one guy has got to be Ryan Tannehill. It's got to be Ryan Tannehill. Yes, he's 36 years old, but can you really think of a better backup out there in the free agent market right now than that? I don't know. So you got Ryan Tannehill. Brian Hoyer's out there I don't know if I'm swinging at that one. Trevor Simeon AJ McCarron he's had some good luck with the XFL and whatever it's called now the UFL or whatever you call it. Aj McCarron's looked pretty solid in there. So I don't know, aj McCarron might be a solid one.

Speaker 1: 18:28

Kellen Mond I'm not really the Vikings. That was a disaster. We kicked the crap out of him, so I don't want anything to do with that one there. And who was the last one there? Blaine Gabbert, who was with the Jaguars there for a little while last year with the Chiefs, started his first game in 2018. Not a whole lot to talk about with Blaine Gabbert there. But any of those guys catch your eye. I'm kind of looking at Ryan Tannehill and AJ McCarron. Those would be two guys where I'd be okay bringing them in and making a little bit of a quarterback controversy there in Green Bay.

Speaker 3: 19:02

Yeah, I mean those are probably the only two names off that list that would make any sense, especially with jordan love being a young quarterback. You you kind of want a veteran behind him. I mean you did say brian hoyer, that'd be another guy, because brian hoyer is known for, you know, being a mentor to a young quarterback. He's more of like a qb coach with them, so I wouldn't be mad at that. But yeah, mccarron and Tannehill would definitely be the leaders out of that list Because if you had to turn to them for a game or two, they've seen everything, they've been through anything you could throw at them, so they would be the quickest to get up to speed and have them go out there and run your offense.

Speaker 3: 19:45

Probably not, obviously not the same as Jordan Love, because Jordan Love can do things that those two can't. But you're not scaling your playbook to the bare bones for a guy like Kellen Mond or something. Because of his limitations as a quarterback in general, he can't do a lot of things you want to do, like for McCarron and Tannehill, it might just be the scrambling aspect they don't do much of. You know Tannehill can run a little, but yeah, you know that they'll go out there they'll do their best to protect the ball. So, yeah, I'll take a veteran quarterback that's had some success, even if it's not in the NFL like A agent mccarron, but we've seen him xfl and ufl. He's like a legend in those leagues. Like he, he obviously can play. So you, you'd be better off with one of those two yeah, I mean as much as I.

Speaker 2: 20:40

I mean I pull for sean clifford, obviously being the penn state uh, quarterback, for like, the guy was there for 20 years, felt like. But yeah, that I mean I pull for Sean Clifford, obviously being the Penn State quarterback. The guy was there for 20 years, it felt like. But he had that COVID year, an extra year of eligibility. He played, I think six years in total During that COVID era. It was weird Guys were just getting extra years of eligibility. I swear to God there was guys getting two, three years of more eligibility out of that somehow some way. But yeah, I don't know if he can do it at the like.

Speaker 2: 21:07

I, when they drafted him, I was happy that he got drafted, but I was like you know how much does this guy really? And that the fact that he hasn't really played, you know, I mean love's been in there, you know, primarily the entire time since he's been drafted. So that goes against him too. I mean you got to look at Tannehill as much as I thought Tannehill was such a disappointment at times, like he's a he's a story, like he's been around the league, like Kyle said, he's played the position. He's been a starting quarterback in this league. That's about, um, kind of where I started, like he's like to me, he's like a poor man's Phillip Rivers and like that's almost might be an insult to Philip Rivers, but it's like he can play the position. He, like Kyle, said you can, you can have an actual playbook with him. It's not like you're taking some guy that has no idea what's going on. I, I looked up Blaine Gabbert, cause I remember how hyped he was coming out of college, like everybody's like, oh man, this guy just has, you know, once again another just hyped up first round pick. But yeah, he's done absolutely I mean absolutely nothing uh, in his career. Basically like 12 touchdowns, 11 picks. So I mean, and that's, he hasn't really played a substantial amount of time in the league, even though he's been in the bounced around the league. So it's a shame that joe flacco ended up signing with the colts, because I think that would be kind of a cool.

Speaker 2: 22:26

You know, pick up Joe Flacco, the guy with the Browns last year. You know we saw what he can do. Like I'd almost rather go to Flacco than Tannehill, you know, gun to my head type of decision. But yeah, I mean, yeah, aj McKinley, you guys pretty much pick the best options. Now it's slim pickings, I think. I think Tannehill even has probably a good amount of space between him and McCarron, but it's, yeah, I mean you never know, one of these guys might get released.

Speaker 2: 22:57

Like you just don't like there's third stringers out there. I mean you never know what you could run yourself into. But I think you never know what you could run yourself into. But I think you know, if you don't feel good about both of those guys, maybe you dump off the third string, if you consider you know Clifford a little bit better and just roll the dice and bring somebody else in. Like yeah, it's, I'm used to the Eagles, really, you know, focusing on that backup, like went out and got Kenny Pickett who was a quote-unquote starter. Yes, but I mean there are serious question marks about him too.

Speaker 1: 23:29

So yeah, no. And you know, the biggest thing with Green Bay was, too, is everybody played like crap. So it's hard to completely gauge the backup quarterback position right now because the offensive line did not help at all, like the second string offensive line there is. It opened up a lot of holes for Green Bay that they're looking at themselves saying was it a lack of effort, was it? I don't know what that was, but it was bad. It was bad football for preseason football. That was bad football all the way around.

Speaker 1: 24:00

So I want to look at a team that everybody is telling me is going to be this next hot thing in the NFC North. I'm going to look at the NFC North, but I'm going to say the Chicago Bears right now. Caleb Williams has looked solid in the preseason. He's looked solid, he's made some good throws. He's made some throws. Everything's been, I mean, a-okay with the Chicago Bears so far. I want to know where you guys sit with the Caleb Williams situation, because I've heard a lot of people saying that this guy is the next Patrick Mahomes. Already they're putting this guy on a pedestal that I don't even know if he's going to reach that pedestal.

Speaker 1: 24:38

My biggest thing with Cale Williams I you know what honestly I don't. I'm not a big fan of Cale Williams. You guys know that. I told you guys, I've told everybody. I'm not that huge, I'm not that big of a fan of Cale Williams. If he does do well, if he succeeds, if he is this great NFL quarterback, okay that's great, that's great. Everybody saw it before I did. I just see a guy who has a lot of talent, but sometimes I feel like the talents can get kind of blocked off by what's going on mentally, what's going on in the head of this guy. Johnny Manziel was a prime example of that. For me, johnny Manziel is a prime example of that. For me, johnny Manziel is a big example. I thought Baker Mayfield, when he first started his career, was a big example of that. Two guys who are highly talked about, highly high up there in the draft, but ended up being not so great. Baker has turned it around. I'll give props to Baker. He has definitely turned it around with the Buccaneers, but we saw it happen, johnny football.

Speaker 1: 25:35

I look at Caleb Williams. I'm not saying that's the way his career is going to trend. As a Packer fan it's. What my hope is is that his career slowly goes down the crapper and they end up sucking again. That's okay with me. I just look at this Bears team and I say, okay, you added Keenan Allen. Now Keenan Allen's a good wide receiver. I don't think he's this phenomenal wide receiver anymore. I thought he was good when he first came to the Bears there from the Chargers when he was originally with the Chardinals. I was like this is a good football player. I've never thought of him as top 10, but now we're talking about this Bears receiver core as being top 10.

Speaker 1: 26:11

Roma Dunze, I got to see it. I think a lot of the things with me with the Bears right now is everybody's putting you up on this pedestal where they're like oh yeah, the Packers aren't going to be second in the division, the Lions aren't going to be able to run it, the Bears are going to be right there. I think the Bears are going to be a tough team, but I think they're going to have growing pains. I think this is a young team that still has some developing to do. I don't think they have the right head coach in the system. I don't think Ibra Floos is a good head coach.

Speaker 1: 26:39

I think that definitely could hilt her and kind of kick back what Caleb Williams could actually be, because, truthfully, I watch Justin Fields. I don't think Justin Fields is that bad. I really don't. I think there is some potential with Justin Fields. He just needs the right coach right. Just like Brock Purdy needs Kyle Shanahan, tua needs McDaniels, I mean Jordan Love needs Matt LaFleur, I think that Justin Fields needs a good head coach and I think he could be good. So for me it's a wait and see.

Speaker 1: 27:10

With the Bears, I don't know. I want to hear where you guys are at kind of with the Bears right now in this NFC North, where you see them kind of sitting right now, because I'm still they're in my third spot, they're in my third spot. I think the NFC North is running through the Lions and the Packers. I think it's going to be a gunslinging fight between those two for the top two spots and I think the Bears are going to finish in third. Where do you guys see in this Bears team right now? Where are they going to sit and kind of what you're seeing with the Bears right now?

Speaker 3: 27:39

I mean, I think that's a good assessment of where the Bears are. Look, I think a lot of the hype around Caleb Williams is that, just looking at the Bears where they've been, especially at the quarterback position, their best talent was probably Jay Cutler, and those Jay Cutler years were just maddening because he had all the talent, it seemed like in his right arm with all the throws he could make, but it just seemed like he was lacking the fire of like a Tom Brady or a like just pick any quarterback that you feel like is an ultra competitor. Jay Cutler always came across as the exact opposite, like he'd be the guy that would throw four picks. He'd sit on the sideline and he would look like it's just another day in the week and, oh, we lost. Nah, there's another game next week. I'll be starting, I'll see you then and and it's just like sometimes you just want to see from him one of those outbursts where he's like frustrated at himself. You know, throw a microsoft surface tablet I don't even know if they use those when he was playing, that's like recent but like, take one of those tablets, like you know, like brady and all the quarterbacks will do. They'll look at the picture and be like, oh yeah, I missed that wide receiver and they throw it like 20 yards down the sideline. It's like that's the kind of stuff you want to see Cutler do and he just never did it.

Speaker 3: 29:05

So the fact that Caleb Williams was the number one pick Heisman trophy winner, like bears fans feel like, oh, we actually have a talented guy at the quarterback position. If you look at him during the preseason, he's made some throws. I think his completion percentage is like around 50%, which is not a good number, like you're supposed to be around 65% in today's game. So if accuracy is going to be a problem for him, then, yeah, you're going to have to temper your expectations for this Bears team. So, look, I'm a big Keenan Allen fan, but I'm also not blind to the fact that he's an older wide receiver. But I feel like they've made some upgrades to their line.

Speaker 3: 29:55

And Roma Dunze from what I saw in Washington, he seems like a talent. Like you said, you do have to see it at the NFL level. I'm also a Justin Fields fan, but there are some things about his game that are frustrating as well. He tends to hold the ball way too much because he's trying to find that big play downfield. If Caleb Williams is smart, takes his checkdowns, eases his way into games and then takes his shot later on, I think the Bears could be fine.

Speaker 3: 30:29

I agree with you, I think they're going to be third place in the division, but I also do think there's an outside shot. The NFC North gets three teams into the playoffs, so the Bears could very well be like a final wildcard team if everything goes. I guess to plan Like, caleb Williams looks like a legit quarterback. Same way they could miss the playoffs because he struggles with accuracy or decision making. But I I guess I can see where you're coming from, where you don't want to jump necessarily on the hype train because you just haven't seen it in a regular season game yet.

Speaker 2: 31:08

I think that's fair yeah, I think between the fact that like this is to me, this is like another jet situation, like show me how many quarterbacks they've drafted and show me how many of them have panned out, like, until I see this, like, see this through, even if he has a good year this year, right, like they go to, let's say, they go nine and seven, or what, or, or what is it. They go nine and eight, now with the extra game, a couple of years ago.

Speaker 2: 31:36

But like I don't know, like I just can't get on this, like, oh my God he's going to be, like obviously we talk about how people want to make headlines all the time and get more clicks and get more of you.

Speaker 2: 31:49

Like the whole, like the fact they're comparing him to Mahomes Please pump the, not pump the brakes. Stand on the brakes. That's insane to say that, in my opinion, already we're in the preseason and he's like 50%. If you want to break down everything, he's 50% completion percentage. Don't even insult Mahomes like that. But the fact that, like Kyle says all the time, the Chicago fans need something to hang their hat on, they haven't. Fields didn't turn. That I mean, like Kyle says all the time, you know the Chicago fans need something to hang their hat on, they haven't. I mean Fields didn't turn out, but I mean Fields at Ohio. I mean I watched him play at Ohio State all the time and not that college is like what they do in college translates. But you know you kind of watch for the eye test and like Fields in college was a monster. Like I was like oh my God this guy is, you know. But then I always said you know he's an Ohio state quarterback. How many of those guys pan out Like and, and one of them's bound to like I can't. You can't just hold onto those things forever. But I just do. I trust the bears organization to like make this all work. No, I don't. And and and then you say you know Ibra floos, like what has he done? And then like trajan and I talked about a couple weeks ago that he's like rated as some like high level head coach by all these. Like it's just the hype train is going through the bears right now because it's the flashy new toy. But is he gonna be like a mid-level quarterback? Maybe? Is he like he has the potential, yes, to be a good quarterback.

Speaker 2: 33:13

But do I trust everything to come together with this Bears team right now? No, I don't. I mean, if McCarthy didn't go out for the year, I could make an argument that this is a fourth place team. Like I just don't. I don't trust this Bears team to really do all that much. Like if they win seven games, I wouldn't be shocked, I wouldn't be. If they compete for the division, I will be like I mean, you can shoot me, that's all. Like I don't have any faith that they'll be up there with the Packers and I still think the Lions take a step back from like I. I think this is the Packers division to lose.

Speaker 2: 33:48

I've said that from like the beginning. But I mean I can, I can appreciate the Bears fans for having this much hype and and the glass half full mindset. I mean I I can appreciate the Bears fans for having this much hype and the glass half full mindset. I mean I guess you kind of have to at this point, but it's definitely a show me type of thing and, like I said, even if he has a good year this year, who knows how his career is going to play out? He's done, I'm not going to say nothing. He won a Heisman Trophy, but it takes a lot to be the guy at the pro level and we've seen how many first round picks, how many first overall picks not pan out. So until he does it, I'm just kind of like it's a question mark to me.

Speaker 1: 34:28

Yeah, I mean the biggest thing is you can have all the tools in the world, but can you put it all together? Can you put it mentally together? And I think that was a big thing I took from what you guys were saying there. You know, you talk about them, you listen to all the analysis on them and it's staying on schedule, doing everything on schedule and, like Kyle was saying, hitting the short routes when they're there. I think the biggest thing, like you said there, kyle, like you guys were hinting at, is making the easy plays. Don't try to do too much. You know Patrick Holmes, sometimes that guy's just crazy with it.

Speaker 1: 34:58

But there's a guy that you know I believe Dan Orlowski was the guy who was talking about it. Josh Allen is almost a you know kind of comparison to what we're seeing with Caleb Williams. What we could see is, yes, they both have the ability to run. Now, josh Allen's a freak of nature with his size and his ability to run football, but Caleb Williams likes to run too. But what we see with Josh Allen is a lot of ill-advised throws, trying to fit it in windows that aren't there or they're past. That's where Caleb Williams has to avoid that portion if the Bears want to have a good season here. So let's do a prediction real fast. We think the Bears are going to finish third, which puts the Vikings in fourth. Where are you guys sitting?

Speaker 3: 35:40

Packers Lions. Who wins the division? I believe I would have the Lions win the division. I have the Packers as, like the first wildcard team, I think they'll be the best team. That's not a division winner.

Speaker 2: 35:59

So, yeah, I would go, lions and Packers. Yeah, like I just said, I think the Lions, not to say they can't go back-to-back, but it's like do I trust them too? I mean we saw that Green Bay 49ers game. I was fully plugged in because I'm the biggest 49ers haterater there is and I was like all go, pack, go that day and it was like I mean you take away a couple possessions and like this, the first half and second half were two different games, unfortunately for the Packers there.

Speaker 2: 36:28

But I mean you can make an argument like the Packers could have went to Super Bowl last year and I mean so is the Lions right the line? The Lions were, you know, in the NFC championship, but I just I think Jordan Love is ascending. I think we may have seen the best season that Jared Goff can have. I mean like not to say he can't do it again, but I just don't know and I I'll take the kind of the ascending team over like the. We don't know if they can go back-to-back. So I mean I still think the Lions have a good chance of making the playoffs. I just don't know if they. I don't think they win the division.

Speaker 1: 37:04

That's the big thing is Jordan Love. If Jordan Love gives you what he did second half of last season, you're talking MVP candidate. You're talking like mopping the floor with the NFC North, like it could be a a wild ride for Packer fans. Plus, they got Josh Jacobs now too. So if Josh Jacobs can work with this offensive line can be as good as what I believe he should have been with Oakland and now Las Vegas Raiders, but they had a terrible team like that was terribly ran. Everything was a mess. Josh Jacobs is still a good back. If he can give you that.

Speaker 1: 37:37

With Green Bay, plus the weapons they have in the wide receiver room two tight, young, tight ends with a ton of upside and a defense that's now got McKinney on it, I mean you're talking one of the. He could be the best safety in football when it's all said and done this year I mean last year you're talking about a guy who was in the top 10 of safeties. He could definitely be a top safety in the NFL coming after this year. Jair gives you what he's got to give you in that cornerback position and I mean a lot of these rookies. There's a lot of rookies, but if they pan out and Halfley I mean Kyle's a big on Halfley, he's a Boston College guy, halfley left.

Speaker 3: 38:19

I mean, look, halfley was like when you watch BC football under him. They had really good defenses. So I don't doubt that that's something that will translate over to the NFL. You know, his offenses were, I think, kind of surprisingly pretty good. Like Zay Flowers came out of that offense and he put up pretty good numbers with BC offense that he put up pretty good numbers with BC. But yeah, his defenses were big on pressure because BC is kind of known for their linebacker play and D-line play with a corner or two that are pretty good and they held some of the big names in the ACC to some pretty low scoring games ACC to some pretty low scoring games. So he's a guy that I have full faith in his ability to come up with an NFL style defense and for that defense to execute on a weekly basis. So I think they'll be in good hands with him.

Speaker 1: 39:19

I like the aggressive play. I really do. I like the aggressive play that he brings to defense, letting these young guys on this defense fly around. I thought Joe Barry held them back. I thought he played too safe. You know I'm talking. They had a game against the Lions, third and two or third and I think it was like third and three and it was for the season, like that was that year with Aaron Rodgers, and it was for the season. They, and it was for the season. They still had a shot at the playoffs. They played relaxed, they played off the ball defense and the receiver. All they had to do was run a little slant route and he was wide open and it was first down. There's your ball game, like it was just the stupid things along the way.

Speaker 1: 39:54

And the big thing I love with Halfley is his willingness to listen to his defense. You know Jair's talked about it and McKinney's talked about it they walk in there and they're like hey, we think you should do it this way, and he'll just be like yep, yep, I agree, we can try it that way, we can do this and see how it works. I mean, I love that. I love having that player-coach kind of relationship there where those guys can walk in because these are professional athletes too. I mean I don't want to get to the extent like LeBron James with the Lakers, like that's just stupid. I mean LeBron is the coach of that team. He might as well just take the uniform off, be the coach, like I think that's ridiculous. But I love when players can say like, hey, like we see it this way, we should try it this way.

Speaker 1: 40:35

It took, I mean, last season Matt LaFleur didn't do a bad job calling the defense because we saw what the Packers did down the stretch. But you got to have a good defensive coordinator in the room and I agree I am really excited to see what Halfley's defense looks like here against some. I mean, once we get into the regular season we can see a little bit more of what it's going to be when they play everybody's ones and they get to see you know, jalen Hurts down there in Brazil, nobody quite green because otherwise the cartels might get upset. I don't know, it's ridiculous.

Speaker 1: 41:13

It's ridiculous what's going on down there right now. But let's switch gears. We got a little bit of time left for the day here. Let's switch gears. I want to look over at the MLB real quick here and just kind of look at some of the standings right now, see if it's kind of sitting where we thought it would, see if it's kind of sitting where we thought it would. So we look in the American League we have I'm just going to go through the overall rankings right now.

Speaker 1: 41:40

Yankees are up top overall they got the one seed right now Followed by rankings. Right now Yankees are up top overall. They got the one seed right now, followed by the Guardians. There they're a half game back. The Orioles are a half game back, twins two and a half back, kansas City Royals three games back, astros four and a half. And then we got the Red Sox seven and a half games back right now. Seattle Mariners have fallen out of the playoff picture as of right now as they have kind of fallen apart in that AL West right now.

Speaker 1: 42:03

So in that American League, I would say the surprising part for me is the amount of American League Central teams that are in that top. I believe it's top five yeah, top five at this point in overall record. I mean, this was a division where it was almost laughable. You watched them every year and it was like, okay, the Guardians are going to get in, but they're going to be the laughing stock and whoever plays them is going to mop them across the floor, like that's just how it was. Now we're seeing three teams right now who all have realistic shots to give any one of these top teams a run for their money when it comes into the playoffs there. So any surprises to you guys looking at that american league east right now.

Speaker 3: 42:43

Looking at that American League East right now, I think the Central was a situation where we expect the Twins and the Guardians to be there only because they seem like they're always fighting with each other. Look, I think it's refreshing to see the Royals be up there again. You know it's been a while since they made it up there, got to a World Series, won a World Series and then they kind of went back to being the Royals. You know they have Bobby Wood Jr who was exciting to watch. You know I paid close attention when the Red Sox played against them and he basically hit everything. So this would be great exposure for him if he were to make it to a postseason and have fans who don't watch Royals baseball to actually see one of the good young players in the league play on a big stage, which is something that baseball isn't great at marketing-wise. But at least he's playing in the games. You have to watch him.

Speaker 3: 43:35

So, yeah, I think that would be the big surprise that the Royals are having a really good season so far. I mean I did pick the Orioles to win the East. I mean they're right there with the Yankees. That seems like a race that's going to go down to the end of September, which I think is great for baseball as well. I'm all about, you know, tight playoff races down to the final week. It makes the game much more exciting. So, yeah, nothing too surprising necessarily with the American League picture right now. The Red Sox hanging around is kind of surprising. They were expecting to win like 70-something games this year. They already have 65.

Speaker 2: 44:18

Solid. Yeah, I mean I don't know the way this AL East has turned out like. When the Yankees went through that really horrible stretch, I thought that's when Baltimore has to put the foot on the gas and start winning some more series. You know, sweeping more series Like they've. Sometimes I look at their and I've been paying more attention like I just get a lot more Phillies coverage where I live.

Speaker 2: 44:43

But you know, trying to keep up with the Orioles and the AL East as much as I can, it's just like their record to me doesn't feel like they don't feel as good as their record right now because they've been so up and down Like they and so have the Yankees, though, like you know, as good as, like you look at the yankees run differential. It's a lot better than the orioles. But I mean every time craig I I've flipped the orioles on and craig kimball I'm like here we go, there's another loss, like it's just the and. But I mean you look at clay holmes for the yankees everybody's like, oh my god, you know all-star best closer in the al. He's blown 10 saves so he has like a 70 percent uh close right now, which that's not great, that's not even good. So both those teams have glaring.

Speaker 2: 45:31

I mean the Orioles have lost so much pitching throughout this year to injury. I mean, when Braddish went down, I mean thank God they went and got Burns, because if they didn't have him, I mean they went and got Zach Eflin at the deadline and he's been pretty much dynamite for them so far. I mean, but I don't know he's good, but how much do I expect out of Zach Eflin, I don't know. But yeah, I mean the AL East to me is really weird. Like the records look deceivingly good, but both those teams I don't even Baltimore anymore I just don't know if they can put it all together.

Speaker 2: 46:07

Starting pitching, you know, bullpen lineup, all of it I probably trust the lineup more than and then followed by the starting pitching, and then the bullpen is just terrifying. And then the Yankees I don't know Probably the starting pitching lineup, and then their bullpen's gotten shaky too. So I mean, yeah, you mentioned the AL Central. I mean I think the Guardians have a good chance, like I could see them in the ALCS I really, really could this year. The Twins, I mean if the Twins play the Yankees, you might as well chalk that to a sweep, because the Yankees are like 901 against the Twins in the last 901 games.

Speaker 2: 46:46

I mean, if you look at the record between the Yankees and Twins, like people have talked about that, it's like absurd, like, and I expect the Orioles to beat the Twins, like I mean, if they don't beat them, that's pretty sad in my opinion, because they just they don't have that much. I mean, they're a decent team and then the Royals are a surprisingly good team. I still think they'll, they'll phase out, like I'd be shocked if they, you know, go all the way like the alcs. I mean, yes, they could easily be a playoff team. I just, do they have enough? I don't, I really don't think. But yeah, I mean that al central is definitely more interesting than it's been in past years and I'm glad the royals are at least playing good, because usually it's a two, it's usually the guardians and twins and then literally nobody else but um, and then you got. You got the white socks who, if they would win out, they would still miss the playoffs. So that's isn't that bad, you're, you're not are they eliminated?

Speaker 1: 47:40

yet nobody's talking elimination numbers yet.

Speaker 2: 47:43

If Did, they get eliminated. If you pull it up, at least on ESPN, there's an E next to their Well, at least they got that to look forward to.

Speaker 1: 47:53

At least they got that to look forward to. On the backside, you know what the Kansas City Royals give me the vibe of the Arizona Diamondbacks from last year. They got that one electric player like Corbin Carroll was last year. They got that in electric player like Corbin Carroll was last year. They got that in Bobby Witt. They don't have this pitching staff that's like daunting, but they got solid Seth Lugo's solid in there. They got some solid arms. They got a solid bullpen. They have young guys across it. Just they have that old guy on their team. You look at Selvy Perez. Last year they had Evan Longoria with. You know, with Arizona it's just it gives me those vibes so they can be a dangerous team. I could see them as that dangerous team who gets into the playoffs and could put a run on somebody I don't know who. Hopefully the Yankees right. Hopefully they knock the Yankees out, but I could see them as that dangerous team who puts a run on there.

Speaker 1: 48:41

So, national League the surprising part to me about both leagues is how close it is at the top right now. It is very close for a one seed versus a four seed right now, realistically, on both sides at this very point. Looking at the National League right now Phillies are up top by a half a game over the Dodgers. Then we see the Brewers a game back of the Phillies right now. Padres three and a half back. Diamondbacks are sitting four back, braves are sitting seven back right now. And then we got the Mets sitting eight and a half games back of first place right now. For me the Mets started out like complete hot garbage. So I would say the Mets have got to be one of the surprises. I mean it was guys finally started to hit right. Francisco Andor was bad to start the year. He finally started to put something together, so his guys actually starting to hit was a big thing for the Mets. Padres did not expect that that NL West is heating up fast.

Speaker 1: 49:38

I mean we talked about the AL Central having three teams in the playoff race. We have three NL West teams. I mean if you count the Giants, they're sitting three games back, three and a half back, two and a half back of the Mets right now for a playoff spot. So you're talking four NLS teams who still have a shot into the playoffs right now. That's crazy. That's crazy, if you ask me, the Brewers hanging out that close to the Phillies and Dodgers that's something too.

Speaker 1: 50:06

I thought you know the way it was trending. First half the Phillies and Dodgers they just seemed like they were just building this lead. They were kind of pulling away, gonna just run it run. The Phillies looked like they were gonna run away with everything and then the Dodgers looked like they were just gonna be chasing them the entire time. Now, now it's kind of settled back and now we see three teams with all with realistic shots for a 1-2 and a 3-seed. When it comes down to playoff situation, I think it's going to be a crazy finish. I really do. I'm pegging it as a crazy finish between those three teams. I don't know. I would have to look. The Brewers have to face—do they face the Phillies one more time? I think they do. I feel like they do. I think they do too.

Speaker 2: 50:49

I really do think It'll be in Milwaukee this time.

Speaker 1: 50:53

I do think they have one more series there with the Phillies down the stretch.

Speaker 3: 50:57

Yeah, the 16th through the 18th of September they play the Phillies.

Speaker 1: 51:02

There you go. So I mean that Phillies-Brewers series could mean a heck of a lot when it comes to the playoff race. That really could Do the Dodgers and Phillies face off one more time.

Speaker 2: 51:13

I don't think so. They played them at least twice. Let me see.

Speaker 1: 51:18

Okay, yep, yep. By the looks of it, they've played them.

Speaker 3: 51:20

Yeah, they just finished with the Dodgers.

Speaker 1: 51:22

Yeah, yep, so they should be done there. So the Phillies Brewers could mean a heck of a lot when it comes down to this playoff race here. I mean that is a big circle-the-date calendar spot right there for everybody. But looking at this NL guys, I mean it's a crazy race. I think it's going to be a crazy finish on both sides. It. It is really, I mean, baffling how close these records are this season. I mean it's a pretty level playing field across the board right now with teams. So looking at the NL, though, I mean where are you guys looking in this one? Any craziness that's going on right now, maybe where do you see it finishing at this point? What are you guys thinking right now, nl-wise?

Speaker 3: 52:00

Yeah, I mean, I think it's going to something that that does come down to the wire, because I mean, look you, you were just talking about the brewer's schedule and surrounding well, I guess sandwiched around that philly series they have two series against the diamondbacks. So in a three series stretch they go diamondbacks, phillies, diamondbacks. Those are nine games there that could decide a lot in terms of who finishes as division winners and wildcard teams. So I I think that stretch of like a week and a half or so is going to be interesting to watch, like how it shakes out. After that. I mean, look, you got to give some break.

Speaker 3: 52:39

The the braves, like some storyline, because they just keep dropping from the lineup and they are literally like on that cliffhanger and it seems like the rope they're holding on to is slipping from their fingers but they are fighting as hard as they can to just hang around.

Speaker 3: 52:59

Because you did mention the Diamondbacks, you could also look at the Rangers last year, two wildcard teams that made it to the World Series, and I think for teams like the Braves or even the Diamondbacks, you could also look at the Rangers last year, two wildcard teams that made it to the World Series, and I think for teams like the Braves or even the Diamondbacks, who were in the same position this year, I think those teams are fine being a wildcard team, especially for the Braves if they could get some of the guys back.

Speaker 3: 53:17

If you're playing better towards the end of September going into the playoffs, you can ride that momentum into a World Series berth and I feel like that's why last year I think may probably have changed a lot of teams' perspective, like at the trade deadline.

Speaker 3: 53:32

If you're a wildcard team, maybe you don't push it to try to become a division winner because as long as the bodies you have are healthy going into the playoffs, anything can happen. So I feel like that's going to be the intriguing part of the National League playoffs Because some of the teams ahead of them the Dodgers, the Padres, even the Phillies have had some shortcomings in years where they were looked at as one of the favorites. So it may not be a guarantee of being a number one seed in the National League and that actually working in your favor, because the Diamondbacks will be battle-tested, the Braves are battle-tested, the Padres you don't know, but the Padres have talent Like this is the Padres team for the past couple years that people have believed in and they've fallen short, and it seems like this year they're actually putting it together.

Speaker 2: 54:28

So I think it would be fun to watch down the stretch here. Yeah, I will say this whole like because I know the Phillies' mindset is like we're kind of just preparing for the post, like I think they don't fear the Braves and like that's fine, I get that Like they should be able to just win that division outright, but this whole like let's coast into the playoffs. Like I hate that they should be able to just win that division outright, but this whole like let's coast into the playoffs. I hate that mindset. I think that's a dangerous mindset to have. I mean I think they took the Diamondbacks lightly after going up what they were up three games to one in the NLCS last year. I just like, look at the Brewers, they're right there. That's a hungry team. The Dodgers I mean that obviously they want to prove that they can win a world series, not in the covid year, like every team that's on that cusp right there. The like I still fear that. The padres yes, they're playing good. I just don't have that same like. I'd rather face the padres than the Brewers right now, just for the simple fact that I don't. I think the Brewers have more like fire and more they're just like Trajan says all the time they're a scrappy team, like they'll fight Machado, will fight you, but he's just a dirty player Like the Brewers. I think go about it, probably the right way.

Speaker 2: 55:40

I just the Phillies team to me is like yeah, if you have, if they continue with this stupid mindset of like we're gonna cruise the playoffs, we're gonna have home field advantage and we're gonna yeah, they might win the first series, but after that it's anybody's ball game. And even that first series we've seen crazier things happen. So this NL I mean Trajan, you said it perfectly like this even the AL, the NL, like everything has gotten so tight. Um, there's no like in years past. I mean, trajan, you said it perfectly Like this even the AL, the NL, like everything has gotten so tight. There's no like in years past. I mean we've seen the Dodgers be like way above everybody else in the NL West. Or the Braves and the I mean the Phillies have been the wild card team in the NL because the Braves just wipe them clean out of that division.

Speaker 2: 56:20

Doesn't mean much. You get to the postseason, you know whoever can win then, but this like one seed, two seed, like everything. If it stays like this down the stretch it's gonna be. I think that's good for baseball. I mean, maybe that's what they need is just every everybody tuned in the brewers fans are tuned in the diamondbacks fans like every fan base is kind of like on edge. What's gonna happen? So we'll see. I think maybe some of these teams separate, uh, but up to this point that hasn't happened. So we'll see yeah.

Speaker 1: 56:51

No, it's gonna be a crazy finish. I can't wait for it. We're getting I mean it is august, it is getting closer to september, I mean we're almost to I mean the fall classic. It is a crazy time of year there. But hey, we got to wrap it up here. We got to wrap it up. I'm going to wrap it up with the poll question that I had for the day out there on the Facebook page and everywhere, and that was. I said I got three options for you. We're doing a start bench cut. We're doing a start bench cut.

Speaker 1: 57:18

In this one I had Bill Hall, jj Hardy and Willie Adamas, so three shortstops for the Brewers. Bill Hall only played there for a year, but in that one year he was dynamite for the Brewers. So I had lots of answers. I'm going to go through them real quick here. Chad R Draper he said he'd start Adamas. He was the best Brewer shortstop since Robin Yount. He'd bench Bill Hall and then he would cut Hardy.

Speaker 1: 57:43

The Wisconsinite podcast said start Adamas, bench Hardy, cut Hall. Robert Schmidt he said Adamas, he's going to start him there, benching Hardy and cutting Hall there. Caroline Hogan said Adamas is going to start bench Hall and cut Hardy. Darren Patterson. He wrote a lot there. Adamas starts, power hitter, he's going to bench Hardy there, nice player. And then Hall, he's going to cut there.

Speaker 1: 58:08

Kim Brody said start Adamas, bench Hardy and cut Hall. Adamas was an easy start for Bailey Strasser there, bench Hardy and easily cut Hall. I don't think it was that easy, bailey. But come on there. Verlin Meade said Willie, team leader, love JJj butt, dot, dot dot. I don't know what the butt means.

Speaker 1: 58:26

Henry mattasuk I'm not good at names start adamas, bench hardy and cut hall there. And then just a couple more. We had amanda rough. She said start hall, bench willie and cut jj hardy. There. I'm gonna agree with the start will Adamas. I think Willie Adamas is all around. I'd give him the nod there. I don't think it's as easy with Hardy and Hall there, though I think I'm going to say if I'm going Bill Hall in that you know he had the highest slugging for a shortstop outside of Robin Yount with the Brewers I think I'm going to have to go Bill Hall on my bench and then I'm going to cut JJ Hardy. I'm going to be honest with you. You guys know I mean JJ Hardy ended up with the Royals for or not the Royals Orioles there for a little bit. You guys know a little bit about JJ Hardy and Bill Hall there. Who are you starting?

Speaker 3: 59:26

Who are you? Adamas, bill Hall and JJ Hardy. I mean, I do think the Adamas start is probably the easiest part of it. It's always tough when you ask something like that and the current player is involved in it because he's so fresh in your mind and he's such a good player. But I would still start Adamas. I'm kind of with you. I think Bill Hall was a legit bat when he was in there. I was, I think I was one of those who always thought like I remember JJ Harden with the Orioles and he had like a couple of good years, but I also feel like there were some years where he kind of underperformed. I mean, maybe I'm thinking of a different player, but I just I feel like I remember the Bill Hall year in Milwaukee and it seemed like he came with some big hits. I probably would bench Hall and cut Hardy. So I think I would agree with you and you know a few of the people who responded to you as well.

Speaker 2: 1:00:21

I guess I'll be the outlier. I'll still start Adamas. I don't remember bill hall like you guys do I. I pulled up the stat line, though I got side by side, so he's never. Bill hall was never an all-star, uh, and he'd never want to go a glove or a silver slugger, so just keep that in mind just look at his 2006 stats, though that that was his shortstop year.

Speaker 1: 1:00:45

He moved off a shortstop after that 2006.

Speaker 2: 1:00:48

So we're talking 270 batting average, 35 bombs. That's respect. Got to tip the cap. 30-plus home runs. I'm tipping the cap. That's general rule of thumb there. But 85 RBIs yeah, I mean that's that's general rule of thumb there. But 85 rbis yeah, I mean that's solid. Uh, I guess the best. If I'm looking at best year for jj hardy, 2011 with baltimore uh, yeah, that's the most home 30 home runs, 80 rbis, 269.

Speaker 1: 1:01:18

so I mean very, I mean you're splitting hairs that's not bad for hardy, though, because he wasn't much of uh he, because he didn't possess the home run power. I thought Bill Hall was more of a bopper.

Speaker 2: 1:01:29

Right and, to be honest, when I was growing up my batting stance was kind of JJ Hardy's batting. So there's some ties there, some literally childhood memories. So that shouldn't play into it, but it does. It's a little bias. There's a little bias there. Bill hall, like I said, no all-star like jj hardy, two-time all-star, three-time gold glove and a silver slugger. So I gotta lean just with the I mean very similar, like by the end of their careers. I mean hardy's a 256, .256, hitter. Hall's a .248. Hall down on home runs compared to Hardy .125 to Hall JJ Hardy .188, so almost 200. I'll take JJ Hardy there just based on the cumulative Like in one season. Yeah, I'd probably take like best season compared to best season. Hall, you got that. I alwaysulus like. I always thought jj already was not the fastest guy. He's kind of like I shouldn't say he's like jeter, that's probably insane but like uh, not the fastest or athletic guy, but he like for the balls he could get to. I hardly ever saw a guy make an error. So there's your three-time gold gloves yep, yep, no.

Speaker 1: 1:02:43

I I mean yeah, like k was saying, like you were saying there the Adamas one was a little bit easier. And then you got to Bill Hall and JJ Hardy and it was like oof, like this is close, Like you could go either way and you're still fine, you're still fine. So I mean, that's about all I got. Anything you guys got to wrap it up here for the day.

Speaker 3: 1:03:07

Let them know where to find you. Let them know where to find you out there. Yeah, I mean, find me on integrity sports network. You can find me on my channel chomping at the bit. Um, yeah, I mean, that's basically anywhere you, I guess, listen or watch your stuff. Um, I'm probably on that platform.

Speaker 2: 1:03:27

Yeah, same here on Spotify at Brutally Honest Sports. I'm usually using Twitter at Brutally Honest no T on the end of that, but, as always, fun time on the Wisconsin sports on the go side of things.

Speaker 1: 1:03:41

It gets a little crazy here in the state of Wisconsin, especially after 11. It gets a little crazy around here. No beers, though. No beers, it's a work things. It gets a little crazy here in the state of Wisconsin, especially after 11. It gets a little crazy around here. No beers, though. No beers, it's a work day. It's a work day, not work night. I mean, got to get to bed, got to get to bed there. So with that, that's about all we got for today.

Speaker 1: 1:03:58

It was a great show, like I always tell you guys. Like Facebook wherever you can. I mean social media, wherever you find it on social media, search Wisconsin Sports on the go, you'll find me there. You'll find me there Always throwing random stuff out there. You got it. You got it sometimes, but with that, this has been Wisconsin Sports on the go with Trage. Thank you guys for listening. I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your Tuesday, but until I talk to you guys again tomorrow, deuces, darkness falls and we all pray, hoping for the light of day. Down to the river, I have held the devil's hand, felt the weight of my own sin.