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00:00Yeah, all right big story this week's the Darius Smith. Yeah, and I know you talked to Dan Campbell
00:05We played it yesterday. Thank you for that. Sure. Yeah, we're here for you. Uh-huh
00:09What impact does he make and does it start this Sunday? I think absolutely I think I think he's gonna play
00:15I mean, I know he's not coming in till Friday. I listen. I think you just send him out there
00:19He's got enough of the playbook set the edge get after the quarterback, whatever it calls for
00:23Probably a little more of a spot player maybe this weekend that he will be going down the line
00:27But you had to do something we've watched them the last couple of weeks in particular
00:31Mason Rudolph playing against him and then against Jordan Love who wasn't a hundred percent
00:35They're just not impacting the passer and they're getting by
00:39but I think that gets more difficult as time goes on and you move into the more difficult part of the season in the playoffs in
00:45January and hopefully
00:47February I just think you have to get after the passer and impact them and here's the thing that
00:52Secondary is so good. We're so many guys that can make plays on the ball that if you can
00:58Get that quarterback to throw it a little bit before he wants to throw it a little bit off balance
01:02You're gonna get some of the takeaways that they're getting now and and those things are what change games. It's amazing
01:08We've seen the defense be as good as they have in life without Aiden Hutchinson
01:12But it's because the secondary can step up and that's the big difference from you know
01:16Maybe a year ago to this to this season a year ago
01:19They made some changes to the to the team went out got some guys, but guys got hurt right away
01:22Yeah
01:23this year they made changes through trades through through free agency through the draft and
01:27Knock on wood these guys have stayed relatively healthy in the back
01:30I think it's that Gator no doubt about it that it is much improved from where it's been
01:34But I will say the other thing is I think this team's offense
01:38Puts pressure on the other offense to score and I was talking to Doug about it during break
01:43It's almost what we used to see with the Lions
01:45Where Stafford might have an empty possession that defense couldn't stop anybody so if you didn't score you were down two scores
01:51That's what it is with this Lions team if you don't keep up
01:54They're going to run past you and sometimes that can force an offense to maybe make a mistake throw it into an area
02:01They shouldn't throw it so I do think it's that improved secondary
02:05But I also think that offense puts a lot of pressure on the other team you know
02:10Mike Tariqa was on our morning show, and he said the thing about what what golf is doing right now
02:15This isn't like a heater. This is how it's designed how it's supposed to work. Yeah, and they're just going out and doing
02:23What the owner's manual reads that this offense is supposed to operate like I don't know if I've ever seen anything like that like he
02:30Thinks this is sustainable this
02:3288% completion percentage and more touchdowns than incompletion kind of quarterback play
02:38Yeah, it's like Jaris talked about it, and he said you know what it's just I think he has learned to take
02:44Your point whatever the the defense gives him and if it's a check down to Gibbs or to Demo or to LaPorta
02:52Whatever it is or to Brock right fine
02:54He doesn't have to force the ball in anywhere because he's got so many playmakers that ultimately they're gonna break something loose
03:01and they're gonna sustain a drive, but
03:04He has been terrific and just just leading this offense and doing exactly what you said
03:10What Ben Johnson wants him to do and taking what the defense gives him look?
03:14I feel like Tom Brady made a living doing that Tom Brady never forced the ball anywhere Tom Brady was more than happy to throw
03:20A little crossing route or just dump the ball off and meticulously move the ball down the field and he did okay
03:25And so I think there's there's some living in that
03:28Elements aren't gonna play a role in the rest of the season except for Chicago and maybe San Francisco
03:33I guess depending what the weather is gonna be like those the only two outdoor games
03:36They have they get Jameson Williams back on Sunday as well
03:39I mean you talk about the greatest show on turf from years ago with the Rams
03:43This Lions offense they I feel like they haven't even really started to explore
03:48How great they could be Jared Goss been it efficient as you can be is of efficiency
03:53But it's not like he's throwing for 350 yards a game and five touchdowns a game
03:57Those games can still happen. You know they haven't used LaPorta much st. Brown is he's great
04:03He's 30 for 30 in his last 30 targets, but again. It's another guy who had all these hundred-yard reception games last year
04:09I feel like they haven't even scratched the surface. Yeah, I think they can't get better. I agree with you
04:13I really do and getting Jamo back is obviously a part of that
04:16There's more there with LaPorta. I mean, it's it's not that he's playing poorly or that Jared's not going to him. It's just
04:22You can't argue with the efficiency of an offense or that somebody isn't getting targets or that somebody isn't getting involved enough when they're putting
04:29Up the numbers that they're putting up
04:31But I do think there's more for Sam as they move forward and maybe that that becomes a more focal part of the offense
04:37but it's
04:38It's just highly efficient right now
04:41And I wouldn't put any limits on it because it doesn't feel like they're stressed in the least
04:45That offensive line going into that game in Green Bay
04:48you just felt good about their chances because those guys can go out there and
04:51Control the game in that environment and then with Gibson and Montgomery any play is like
04:59Liable to end up being a big play. They can turn four into 25 really quickly
05:04It's crazy because when they're playing this well, I suddenly have this fear of how long the season is
05:10It's like the season I'm like in the season's too long. Yeah, I want to get to the postseason
05:15But it you know, it is what it is
05:16I'm not trying to wish it away, but God it feels like the playoffs are forever from now and so much can change
05:23But it's just maintaining this thing keeping it on the tracks and I really think the leadership
05:28Helps do that. Well, I think if you look at Dan Campbell
05:32His strength is his ability every week to get this team ready to play and I think the best example of that
05:39And I we may have even talked about this before but it hasn't changed and I keep talking about it
05:44They have not lost two games in a row since since October of 2022. It's insane
05:49There were two teams in the NFL that didn't lose two games in a row last year Lions and Ravens and the Ravens have since
05:55lost two in a row this streak of going on without losing two games in a row is I think a
06:03Real credit to Dan Campbell that a when they're down. He doesn't let him stay down for long and week after week after week
06:09He has them prepared to go out and play a game and and win a game and play the right way
06:15And I just if that consistency goes to exactly what you said
06:19It's the preparation and just really how good he is at that you've been doing this for the Lions for a long time now
06:25have you ever seen a
06:28Road presence like what the Lions are getting with the fans. I mean it continues to get better and better. Yeah, not even close
06:33I mean, you know
06:34we used to maybe like Chicago would bring fans in here or Green Bay would bring fans in here and always kind of nod at
06:40you a little bit but
06:41listen, I mean
06:43That gave my memories of Lambeau Field. I have a lot of memories of the Lions being down
06:4938 to 10 and looking up and not one Packer fan is left and I'm like you you people you're winning by 28
06:56Go home, you know, I got a postgame show to do but it but it's it's one of those things where
07:02They were all gone at the end of this game because it was nasty out
07:06They weren't coming back and they knew it and you look down and even during the game
07:10We looked and we said guys look how much blues down and there was a lot
07:14but when they left you could really see how much it was and I mean, it's
07:18These fans are amazing and it for me
07:21it started really where I noticed it was in that Kansas City game last year when we walked out on that field and
07:27Noticed that the whole bottom ring was Honolulu blue
07:31That was just an amazing moment and it's really been consistent since then that these fans
07:37Travel and I said it to Doug before the best part of the success is
07:40Seeing these fans be able to enjoy it and get something for all they've invested in this team speaking of which
07:46We did get some calls for people didn't think they did enough at the trade deadline. What do you say to those people?
07:51I think they tried I really do
07:53I
07:54Just based on what I've heard
07:56I think they tried to make something else happen to maybe get another player even on the defensive line and it just wasn't there
08:01it's got to be the right deal Dan Campbell said it takes two teams to make a trade and
08:05It's hard to get those those edge guys and it's hard to get those
08:10You know players that other teams are willing to trade does the contract impact you they got a lot of guys coming up
08:16They have to pay they got to be careful about what they had what they take on
08:20So look they went out and got probably
08:23the best edge that was available and
08:27That's you know. I'm not gonna question Brad Holmes on that now some of these other guys Josh Paschal needs to step up
08:34He's gonna be back this week. Thankfully. He's okay
08:36I still think there's something in the tank there those two guys in the middle be can can continue to be impactful in reader and
08:42Aleem, so you know what let's throw him out there, and let's see if he can help complete this picture last thing for me
08:48What's the collision course at the end of the season in the NFC?
08:53You know what it's I think it's murky right now. I really do I think they've defined themselves
08:59But I don't know that we see how good San Francisco is gonna be yet
09:04Dallas is kind of faded away now when with Dak being hurt. They're done, so I I think I
09:10Want to see where Atlanta goes I mean obviously that that's a team that I think has played well at times
09:16You're former stomping grounds
09:19Their buyers at the deadline I never would have thought we'd have seen the commanders do that
09:23I think certainly they're they're a team that has to be reckoned with right now with a seven and two yeah
09:27So I think you have to look at them and that quarterbacks not playing like a rookie
09:31So I really feel like the NFC and this goes back to what Doug said we had a long way to go
09:38and I think this picture will come much more clearly into view as
09:42To which teams are the teams that are the teams to beat as we go on?
09:46I don't think the Rams are done by any means you're gonna have to I think deal with them
09:50So I I still think Gator. There's a lot left in the NFC to be decided
09:56Damn Miller great to see you good to see you guys, man
09:59Nice to see out here with these youngsters in to come take our jobs one day
10:02Yeah, you know this, but it's really cool to see how interested. They are in the business
10:07We're gonna start drafting
10:10Hey, thanks good stuff guys appreciate it good luck the rest away with your brains there there it is
10:16Dan Miller play-by-play voice of the Lions take it