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John Keim joins the show to discuss the latest news around the Washington Commanders after a static trade deadline.
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00:00Con, let's start with a big-picture conversation.
00:02Obviously, the defense had some real stinkers earlier in the year,
00:05but they also had a lot of guys injured.
00:07I think when they had Cross and Luvu out,
00:10those couple games really impacted them.
00:13What group are you more confident in going to New York tomorrow night,
00:16the commander's offense or the commander's defense?
00:19Defense, because I think they're getting better.
00:24Losing pain in Kinlaw was a big deal,
00:26and it really showed up in the second half of the Rams game
00:29where the Rams just kind of leaned on their run game,
00:31which they do anyways.
00:32They would have done that, whether those guys are here or not,
00:35but it just robs you of depth.
00:37But I like, it seems like, since the first half of that Niners game,
00:42that they have played better in the secondary.
00:44And it's getting these guys back, Trey Amos back as well.
00:48Nick Cross is a big deal, like you said.
00:50But I also think it's in Durante Jones' system,
00:54it is more complicated than most.
00:58And what they ask you to do.
01:00And you see the results of it when you're in it for a few years in Minnesota,
01:04but even the Vikings the first couple years,
01:06at best, were middle of the pack.
01:08And I think the first year Flores was there, they were low,
01:10and then they were kind of middle of the pack,
01:12and then they kept climbing up.
01:13The more they added talent, the more they got used to the system.
01:16And I think they're starting to get used to it now,
01:18and I think that makes a difference as well.
01:20Like, you don't see some of the issues,
01:22like in the Cowboys game, for example,
01:24where guys were just like, you'd have two guys in the same coverage area
01:27because they just read it.
01:29They read, two guys read it differently,
01:32read the route combination differently,
01:34so you end up in the same spot.
01:36And somehow, CeeDee Lamb is wide open over the middle
01:39because they read the route combos wrong.
01:42And so I think you're starting to get away from that a little bit.
01:45But they've toned down, I think,
01:49a little bit of what they're asking them to do
01:51or how much they're asking them to do, which helps.
01:53So that's why I'm a little bit more confident
01:56in what those guys can do right now.
01:58Because the offense, man, what can they hang their hat on an offense?
02:01You know, if Jaden has a really, really good game throwing the ball,
02:05they'll win.
02:06If not, they can't lean on the run game.
02:08They haven't been able to lean on the run game, I should say.
02:10And tomorrow, it's going to be rainy and possibly windy up there.
02:15So that's why I say I think you have more confidence in the defense.
02:19John, there was a talk by Owe about the communication.
02:23Does it seem like that stuff has gotten cleared up?
02:26I think it's improving.
02:28And I think because you see, like,
02:30there are definitely times you see more of a pronounced effort
02:33to what they're seeing, like relaying signals across, et cetera.
02:37And it's not like you didn't see that before.
02:40But I think, you know,
02:41there seems like it's a more pronounced effort for sure.
02:44And also, I think with, you know, some of that is, what is it?
02:48This was always my thing, B. Mitch,
02:50is that you have a new system in which you have a new coordinator
02:55who is now inheriting a coaching staff that is not versed in this system.
03:00Yes.
03:01And so I think, like, that to me can lead,
03:03that's not an indictment on anybody in particular.
03:07It's just that it leads to more growing pains than you would like.
03:11And I think that's where it is.
03:12Like, you know, you know how it is, too.
03:13Like, if you have a coordinator who has the answers,
03:17and he's been with guys for a couple years,
03:19and they know what this guy expects and wants,
03:21and the rules of the defense, right?
03:24Like, when you see this, this is how you react, et cetera.
03:27And I think that's one thing that's been missing here for sure on that side.
03:31So, you know, I think that's why I say I think the D,
03:35I always expected the second half of the year for the defense to be a pretty good one.
03:40So we'll see.
03:41But, like, that's, I think all that adds up to you have more reason to believe
03:45that that side of the ball can be solid down the stretch.
03:50Certainly.
03:52The Giants, the last time these two teams matched up,
03:56it ended up in a freaking tie.
03:57Anything happen weird?
03:59And, obviously, I think we get correctly caught up in the end of that game.
04:04But the fourth quarter and overtime, the Giants decided,
04:08we're just going to bring the house and see if these guys can handle it.
04:10Yeah.
04:10And Washington, by and large, couldn't.
04:12And I think a big part of that is their inability to run the football.
04:17But considering how Miles Garrett dominated last week,
04:22how confident are you?
04:23Like, let's forget confidence for a minute.
04:25Do you think they can come up with a game plan for what I would expect
04:29is the Giants to continue to bring the heat?
04:32Oh, yeah.
04:33And especially, like, Arvell Reese is playing really well, too.
04:35So, I would, listen, man, I would challenge it and see, like,
04:39the one issue in that game was late, against the cover zero especially,
04:44they didn't have the answers to that one.
04:46And I think it was like, I think it was actually finally in the overtime,
04:49they threw a pass to McLaurin against that, and they got big yards out there
04:53for the first time they really had an answer to it.
04:55So, if I'm the Giants, I'm going to test that.
04:57Do you have answers to this?
04:58You know, and you can run it, you know,
05:00maybe you run it in a slightly different way,
05:02but, you know, do you have the answers?
05:05And just to see.
05:06Because if you don't, then you're going to do it more.
05:08And I think the other thing is, too, I mean, to me,
05:10a lot of it is not even just cover zero,
05:13it's the five-man rushes where, you know,
05:15you create overloads with an Arvell Reese and a one-on-one.
05:19That's the one that would concern me, too.
05:21Because now, you know, you don't have, like, you're dropping guys off,
05:25and that's where, to me, it gets dangerous,
05:28is when you can hammer it home with that.
05:30So, like, with Garrett, like, they were, the Rams did a great job.
05:33Like, there were a couple times where Garrett rushed up the middle,
05:36and they'd pick him up twice, a couple times.
05:38Like, Cosney would help, whatever.
05:40And then they create a situation where, like, they had guys occupied,
05:43and now Garrett's one-on-one up the middle.
05:45So if I'm the Giants with Arvell Reese, like, let's test that, too.
05:50I do want to ask you a little bit.
05:52We're talking with our friend John Keim here on the Rude Guest Hotline.
05:55You can give John a follow at John underscore Keim, K-E-I-M.
05:59Check out the John Keim report.
06:02You and I were talking yesterday afternoon before the deadline was over,
06:05and you and I didn't expect anything to happen.
06:08Brian and I have landed in a place where we're not really surprised
06:10by the lack of movement.
06:14What AP was on with the junks this morning said, you know,
06:17we were active on the phones.
06:19There was just nothing that really worked for us.
06:21Right.
06:21We all talk about the trade deadline and the moves that get made,
06:24but if you just look at it, like, when they say there's a 30% chance of rain,
06:28it's 70% of not raining.
06:31I bet the amount of moves that got made around the league,
06:34it's like 15% of the league was active and 85% wasn't.
06:39What can we make a determination on from the lack of movement at the deadline?
06:45By this team?
06:47Yeah.
06:47Yeah, yeah.
06:48Well, first of all, I think they didn't have the assets the Eagles did, period.
06:54I know people keep bringing them up, and part of it was, like, you know,
06:58you were down to Tanner McKee.
07:00Your season's over.
07:01Once you say Tanner McKee's starting, your season is over, right?
07:05And when you're not winning, whatever, and then so you start selling off assets,
07:08and they had assets they could sell to recoup some high value.
07:12These guys, and to me, this is part of the problem,
07:15that they don't have those kind of assets they could sell and then just to build, right?
07:19And the other difference is, like, you wouldn't want to sell off high assets anyways
07:24if you have Jaden next year.
07:26You know what I mean?
07:27But also, if you have those high assets who are producing,
07:30you're probably not two, five, and one either.
07:32So, you know, to me, that's the big issue is that you don't have, like, you know,
07:38Ben Sinnott and Sam was still in January.
07:40Those guys haven't produced.
07:42Like, that's, to me, such a huge issue right now because you need them.
07:46And, you know, one's not playing, and, you know, others aren't, you know,
07:51haven't made an impact.
07:52So, but anyways, as far as the judge myself, like, so what it tells me is, one,
07:56I mean, obviously, whatever we or fans think about how,
08:00what they might do down the stretch, if they win Thursday,
08:03they're two games back with eight to play.
08:05And so you're not, are you going to punt on that to get maybe some day three low picks?
08:13That's, you know, that's where we're at.
08:15And I think, whether it's right or wrong, like, that's, you know,
08:18and they also, they may want to keep Caleb on chase on and or Dorrance Armstrong,
08:24you know, and Frankie Lou Lou.
08:25And, you know, I know, like, Mikey Farrell still,
08:29they weren't going to just give him away just to do it.
08:33You know, I think it's kind of like what, not the same thing,
08:36because, like, Brian Thomas and Jacksonville,
08:38Jacks weren't going to just give him away,
08:40even though he hasn't produced for two years.
08:42And I know that was a guy that they were interested in for sure.
08:46But, you know, because he fit what they would have wanted,
08:49and a guy who's under control now, but also for the next couple of years,
08:53you could have him under control.
08:55And yet, that was, like, to me, like, and that was the one that I think,
08:59because their big quest in the offseason, among a lot of other things,
09:04is going to be, like, you need to get another receiver in here.
09:06And how are you going to do that?
09:08Free agency doesn't usually get it.
09:09The draft can be hit or miss.
09:11And so the trade is a big way to do it.
09:13And they're trying to do that now.
09:15And that's what fell through.
09:16That was the one I was really looking to,
09:18more so than them selling assets, was would they be able to get him?
09:22John, you and Jay, y'all over there all the time,
09:24y'all talk to a lot of these players, coaches, whatever.
09:27What can be done to improve the offensive line
09:31and the way that they play going forward?
09:37So, you know, if I had that answer,
09:39I'd be on the practice field right now coaching the fellas.
09:43So, you know, here's part of what I'll say.
09:50Like, Rashad White and Austin Echo, I think, are good backs in the pass game.
09:56But they need a guy that can get you more just in the run game.
10:01And so, you know, I think that's where can Krosky-Mera come back and do that?
10:05The groin injury for him really hurt him this year.
10:08You know, so I think that's part of it.
10:12You know, I think sometimes, like, the blocking isn't always the best overall.
10:16It's not just the front five.
10:18It's overall.
10:19I think that is an issue.
10:21I mean, shoot, on that third down and one to Austin Eckler,
10:24you have, you know, Antonio Williams having to block Byron Young.
10:28Really not block, but just more like getting away, right?
10:32Yeah.
10:32And I like Antonio Williams, but that wasn't executed.
10:38And whether or not he should be the one doing that, on that play, he is tasked to do that.
10:43And if you get that, that's a five-yard game.
10:46But it's not.
10:47And so there we are.
10:48And so I think, like, in the future, it'll help to get Tunstall back.
10:52Do you move Coleman inside?
10:54And then, you know, go out and get, like, get, you know, find a center.
10:58You know, and I think you go from there.
11:00But I think that can be a big help, too.
11:04But I don't know.
11:05Then you can, like, smarter people than I can start digging into the scheme
11:08and how that impacts it as well because we all thought it would be a much better run team this
11:14year.
11:14Or thought that's what they said they wanted to be, I should say.
11:18So whether or not we thought they would be, my fear was do you have the backs to pull that
11:23off?
11:25And especially with the cross-key merit out, like, he is the guy that would have given you a little
11:29juice in there for sure.
11:31And so, you know, and plus, then the other thing is they took away the QB runs.
11:35And, like, that was a big thing under Cliff.
11:37Like, under Cliff, the QB runs boosted them to a top-10 run team.
11:43Without the QB runs, they were middle of the pack.
11:46But that was a part of the offense.
11:48And so you don't have that.
11:50And so I think that element, whether it's good or bad, like, that element is not there.
11:54And Jaden is best on the scrambles anyway.
11:57Yeah, I think with Jaden, with the elbow, with all of it, it wasn't worth the design QB runs.
12:02I think if you had the full complement of backs you expected going into the season,
12:06I think the bill injury really hurts them.
12:08It's a big deal.
12:09Yeah.
12:11I circle back to it, too.
12:13Like, the Tunsil injury just continues to have massive ramifications.
12:16Yes.
12:19Looking ahead here, they play tomorrow night.
12:22Obviously, we'll be there.
12:23Then you've got a mini-bye coming off the Thursday night game where players get some actual time off.
12:29And they don't play.
12:31Reporters, too.
12:31That's true.
12:32And they don't play until the following Monday.
12:35Right?
12:35Like, it's not even they got a Sunday game.
12:37You're talking a big chunk of time off.
12:40Right.
12:40How much pressure is Dan Quinn under to get a win?
12:46I mean, I think at this point, I think there's – nobody has said this, right?
12:53Like, you know that this group is pretty buttoned up about – they're not going to say, like,
12:57you know, he's got a winner out.
12:59So, I'm not saying that anybody's saying that.
13:01I think we all know how to add and subtract.
13:05If you're 2-6-1 at this point in year three, it's a bad look.
13:10And so, you know, you know what I mean?
13:11And so – and especially because, like, the way you've lost some of these games, it's not – you can't
13:16sit there and say, like,
13:17oh, if we just had all these, you know, healthy guys, like, everybody's got stuff.
13:20Right?
13:21And so, you know, you've got to win some of these games.
13:23And if you're 2-6-1, like, I think there's a lot of pressure.
13:26Because even – I'll say this too, JP.
13:28Even if, like, let's say that happens and let's say they maintain status quo with the staff because they don't
13:34really want to make a move during the season for whatever reason.
13:37Do you really think, like, you recover from this?
13:41I don't think you do.
13:43I think that's the hard part.
13:45Like, so you can win a few more games on the stretch, but these are the games you have to
13:49win.
13:50And so if you don't – like, even if you finish the season, you could come back to this game
13:55and say, well, that's when it ended.
13:56You know, just like there are some years where, you know, like, that Seattle lost a couple years ago with
14:00under Rivera.
14:01Like, you know the season's over at that point.
14:03Right?
14:04Like, I think these guys would know, like, all right, it's probably a wrap.
14:07Now, whether or not they make a change, I don't – you know, that's not – I haven't heard that.
14:12But we don't – you know, I think you can all – again, we know how to add and subtract.
14:17And it doesn't look good.
14:18Results business, man.
14:19And I think you're totally right that – we talked about this, frankly, after the last Giants game when the
14:28fan base was frothing at the mouth.
14:31Correctly.
14:32Correctly.
14:33And that was a – that was a fireable game.
14:36The result of that game was if Josh Harris decided the next morning we're making a change, I would have
14:42understood it.
14:43I know a guy who would have done that.
14:45Sure.
14:46But I'm not sure that it helps your team to fire a dude in week six.
14:53Right.
14:54You know, now it's week 10.
14:56Again, I don't know that firing a dude going into week 11 does a lot more than satiate the fan
15:04base.
15:04Or at least ownership wants to set a level that's unacceptable.
15:11But I do think it's got to be on the table, especially if it looks bad.
15:15Well, especially if it looks bad.
15:16Like, that's why, like, you know, that Niners game, the first – like, the Giants game, like, you knew –
15:20like, okay.
15:21Like, like –
15:22Halftime of that Niners game, it looked bleak.
15:24Yeah.
15:25And I'd say, like, because even going into that game, like, you talk to people, like, hey, they knew, like,
15:29hey, the season really starts after the bye.
15:31Because they knew how bad that first-half schedule was.
15:34And in other words, like, they felt like there was – there were – was a more winnable stretch down
15:38the stretch for sure.
15:40And so, like, you're not going to punt after that.
15:42But it looked really bad early.
15:44Just – I mean, just – if you – that was one thing.
15:46Like, if it had a close loss, okay.
15:48But a blowout, like an embarrassing one on national TV after the Giants game.
15:52And I think then the first quarter of the Eagles game, you're like, oh, my God.
15:55Yeah.
15:55This is bad.
15:56And so, you know, I – but I don't – I don't think Josh Harris will make moves during the
16:03season just to appease outsiders.
16:06I think that's not how he's operated.
16:09And so, I know a lot of fans do not – you know, they clearly didn't like Dan Snyder.
16:14That's how he operated.
16:15So, I wouldn't necessarily want to copy what he does.
16:19But, you know, I just – I think Dennis, like, to me, we're a move in a general sense.
16:26We're a move would make sense as if, you know what, this coach has just simply lost the locker room.
16:31And they're not playing for him.
16:32And, you know, we – you know, you know it's over and let's just pull the plug now and put
16:38– you know, and let everybody kind of go on with their lives, right, and move forward.
16:42So, if you sense that it's like this is, you know, a massive issue in the locker room, like guys
16:47just don't want to play for somebody, that's different to me.
16:50And, you know, to date, we have not sensed that with the players, with Dan Quinn at all.
16:56So, good for – you know, again, people may not want to hear that, but it's true.
16:59And we've been in the locker rooms when they haven't wanted to play for coaches.
17:03And you knew it was long over before the plug was pulled.
17:08So, but that's where, to me, where you get into it.
17:11And then it's like, okay, then what's – who's taking over?
17:14Who's doing what?
17:15And how is this going to look?
17:17And how does this impact X, Y, and Z?
17:19And I think there's a lot to consider.
17:20But, you know, I don't know.
17:23I just – like I said, whether or not it happens now, if you lose Thursday, I just think there's
17:28–
17:28Feels like it's happening.
17:29Yeah.
17:30I mean, unless you have this –
17:31For no conclusion.
17:32Yeah.
17:33It's just – then it becomes – it's just, you know, again, two, six months.
17:38This is masochistic, perhaps.
17:42What do you think would be worse for Dan Quinn?
17:44A blowout loss to the Giants or another late-game mess-up loss to the Giants?
17:50Oof.
17:52I think –
17:53The mess-up thing would be the worst, you think?
17:55Yeah.
17:56You can't have no more of those.
17:58I'd say see all of the above.
18:00But, yeah, you can't have – because, like, you can't have another game where you're driving late
18:04and then there's a, you know, there's a, like, why did you guys do this?
18:08Like, even last week, if you throw that second one in the end zone, like, you know,
18:13like the first pass, you still don't understand why he threw it over the middle like that
18:18because it's – I kept looking at it.
18:20It's like, well, if he catches it, the game's over unless he somehow breaks a tackle to score, right?
18:25And – but if you throw it in the end zone in the second down, like, it doesn't work.
18:28Like, well, that was the play.
18:29Like, the play never made sense there.
18:34And then, of course, the Giants game where, you know, I know Quinn gets blamed for that,
18:39but, like, that was Blau and Jaden pretty much.
18:42Like, you've got to get that play in.
18:44You can't – you know, you've got to make it clear.
18:46And then you've got to execute that and get out of bounds.
18:49I know, you know, he got his foot stepped on it, which didn't help.
18:51But still, like, that's – you know, so I think there's enough of those where it's like, all right,
18:56then you're starting to look at, like, is this the kind of way you want your team to be coached?
19:02Yeah.
19:03So I just think – I think that would be – I don't think a blowout would help either
19:07because it's like, you know, you think you can beat this team and you get blown out.
19:11Like, why?
19:12And so I don't think either one – I think either one would be good on the resume.
19:16Yeah, agreed.
19:17All right, John, thank you for the time, brother.
19:19See you tomorrow.
19:20Awesome, guys.
19:21Thanks.
19:21All right, man.
19:21That'd be cool.
19:22That's our buddy, John Kime.
19:23Give him a follow at John underscore Kime, K-E-I-M.
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