Latest / Jeff Legwold ESPN Broncos Reports / Jeff Legwold joins Kreckman and Lindahl 12-5-25

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Jeff Legwold joins Kreckman and Lindahl 12-5-25 · Jeff Legwold ESPN Broncos Reports

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  Speaker 1: Scott Friday and a bud Light Football Friday. We are
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  Speaker 1: live with you here today at the Old Man Bar
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  Speaker 1: in Broomfield, Craig Ben and Lyndahl. Let's jump out to
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  Speaker 1: the Ramos Law hotline right now here on a Friday
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  Speaker 1: afternoon as we get you set for the Broncos and
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  Speaker 1: the Raiders in Vegas Sunday afternoon. Jeff Legwald of ESBN
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  Speaker 1: joins the program. Leggy, let's start with your latest for
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  Speaker 1: ESPN dot com. I gotta be honest with you, man,
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  Speaker 1: even I was surprised, uh perhaps not anecdotally so, but
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  Speaker 1: certainly numerically so at the low snap count that Evan
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  Speaker 1: Ingram has played so far this season. You know, you
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  Speaker 1: chart every game very very carefully. How would you describe
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  Speaker 1: the way that Sean Payton and Joe Lombardi have employed
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  Speaker 1: the services of Evan Ingram so far this year?
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  Speaker 2: Unexpected would be the word I use. I mean, I
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  Speaker 2: that's not the tenor they gave when they signed him
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  Speaker 2: and offer out camp and followed the rest of it.
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  Speaker 2: And you know, there wasn't you know, I couldn't tweak
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  Speaker 2: it into the story as I had hoped. But I
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  Speaker 2: think some of it honestly beyond the playtime is also
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  Speaker 2: when you look at bo Nix's advanced metrics, and you know,
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  Speaker 2: I know, you always got to be careful with some
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  Speaker 2: of these just because of game situations and coverages and
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  Speaker 2: and if the guy's under duress or whatever. But he
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  Speaker 2: is one of the lowest in the league in completions
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  Speaker 2: over the middle of the field. And two receivers who
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  Speaker 2: originate in the slot, and that's where Evan Ingram spends
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  Speaker 2: a lot of his time. And I think the snap
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  Speaker 2: count and those two things are factoring into maybe Ingram
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  Speaker 2: not having the kind of impact in the offense for
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  Speaker 2: a lot of the season that even the Broncos expected.
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  Speaker 1: Now I know it was on ninety seven year old
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  Speaker 1: Bobby Wagner, but they hit a couple of those jerk
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  Speaker 1: routes over the middle to Evan Ingram last week. Do
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  Speaker 1: you see that as perhaps any indicator that Nicks will
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  Speaker 1: use him more over the middle of the field or
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  Speaker 1: was it simply a matchup lip.
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  Speaker 2: Probably a little both. I think they've been very intent
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  Speaker 2: on trying to give him something in the middle of
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  Speaker 2: the field. Now that's been you know, I remember talking
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  Speaker 2: with you guys way back in camp. When I spoke
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  Speaker 2: to defensive coaches in the offseason, they all said that
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  Speaker 2: they thought people would try to take away the middle
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  Speaker 2: of the field from Bow and I think they've successfully
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  Speaker 2: done that a lot of the time, and that's why
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  Speaker 2: you're seeing sort of the low uh numbers in terms
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  Speaker 2: of production, you know, between the numbers. But I think
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  Speaker 2: Ingram if they're gonna fix that coming down the stretch
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  Speaker 2: and for any playoff games, uh, he's gonna have to
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  Speaker 2: be a big part of that because I think he's
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  Speaker 2: gotta be one of those guys that benefits from all
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  Speaker 2: of the attention that Courtland Sutton is still getting from
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  Speaker 2: opposing secondary.
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  Speaker 3: Hey, I'm curious, Jeff, how serious is the injury to
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  Speaker 3: DJ Jones. Do you have any feel for that yet?
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  Speaker 3: We know he's not playing Sunday. Is it gonna be
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  Speaker 3: a long term thing? And what can you tell us
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  Speaker 3: about Zach Allen? Looks like he's gonna go, But is
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  Speaker 3: that one to watch?
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  Speaker 2: You know, I don't think it's one to watch. In
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  Speaker 2: the brief, you know, clinches on Friday, we get but
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  Speaker 2: uh he uh. I checked and they listed him as well,
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  Speaker 2: but he was a he took part in every everything
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  Speaker 2: they did today and in terms of team drills. So
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  Speaker 2: I think it was a big deal that they did
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  Speaker 2: not give him the injury designation of any kind, you know,
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  Speaker 2: questionable or or any of that. So I think their
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  Speaker 2: expectation is he takes this full snap count. But you know, again,
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  Speaker 2: you know, he's had some moments this year when after
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  Speaker 2: a play he's been on the ground a little bit
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  Speaker 2: because he takes a lot of punishment in there. But
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  Speaker 2: so I guess I keep an eye on it a
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  Speaker 2: little bit. But I think if things go how they
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  Speaker 2: hoped he should, he shouldn't be limited in any fashion.
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  Speaker 4: What about DJ. Is that a long term thing with Jones?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I don't know if that's we can
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  Speaker 2: I can definitively tell you how many weeks, but uh,
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  Speaker 2: you know, it is his right ankle. He didn't practice
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  Speaker 2: at all this week, and and he wasn't even to
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  Speaker 2: the point where, uh he was working with the trainers
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  Speaker 2: at all, you know, on his own or with the
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  Speaker 2: other guys who are rehabbing injuries right now. He wasn't
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  Speaker 2: with that group at all this week. So he's not
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  Speaker 2: even to the point where he's he's you know, getting
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  Speaker 2: the conditioning back to come back to practice, So I
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  Speaker 2: think it might be multiple weeks for sure.
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  Speaker 1: Jeff, we talked over the summer about again, let's let's
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  Speaker 1: harken back to conversations we had going into the season.
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  Speaker 1: This one actually did happen, that being this Denver defensive
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  Speaker 1: line being as dominant a unit as there is in
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  Speaker 1: the entire NFL. So even without DJ Jones in this game,
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  Speaker 1: you know, one of the things that we kind of
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  Speaker 1: joked about is like, I guess they're sort of a
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  Speaker 1: competition for the sixth defensive linemen and who was going
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  Speaker 1: to be able to lock down that job here with
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  Speaker 1: the Broncos. How good have the depth guys even been
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  Speaker 1: with this group that is, again, it's as stacked as
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  Speaker 1: any position group in the entire NFL.
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, poor Jordan Jackson and Sadianne Jones can't
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  Speaker 2: even get on the field, and they've you know, you
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  Speaker 2: watch them in practice, and they be playing for an
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  Speaker 2: awful lot of teams right now, and I think they've
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  Speaker 2: both been fortunate and immensely productive in that group. And
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  Speaker 2: they've even tried to pay attention. You know, Zach Allen
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  Speaker 2: snap counts, for example, are even a little lower than
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  Speaker 2: last year because they feel so good about their depth.
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  Speaker 2: You know, Benito and Cooper outside linebackers, I know, but
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  Speaker 2: you know they're like, it's sixty percent of the snaps
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  Speaker 2: and you know, that's how good they feel about the
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  Speaker 2: depth they have across the front. And I think, honestly,
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  Speaker 2: it should pay dividends if they're fortunate enough to play
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  Speaker 2: multiple playoff games. But Franklin Myers has had a really
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  Speaker 2: good year, Roach has had a really good year. DJ
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  Speaker 2: Jones has had a really good year. They've all played
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  Speaker 2: if they're at or near their peak level. You know,
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  Speaker 2: I wasn't sure Zach Allen could play any better than
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  Speaker 2: he did than last year, but he has. I mean, look,
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  Speaker 2: think about it. We're in Week fourteen and it's Zach
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  Speaker 2: Allen who has the most quarterback hits in the NFL,
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  Speaker 2: more than Miles Garrett. Now that this will probably be
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  Speaker 2: the last week that this is true because he's only
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  Speaker 2: one ahead of Garrett right now, but for most of
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  Speaker 2: the season, I find it incredible that that Zach Allen
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  Speaker 2: has led the NFL in quarterback hits. That's that's how
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  Speaker 2: productive they've been.
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  Speaker 1: Hey, Legy along those lines, this is that time of
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  Speaker 1: year where you know, voting for postseason honors, those conversations
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  Speaker 1: start to heat up. Right now, what's your best guess?
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  Speaker 1: If I set the over under a three and a half,
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  Speaker 1: how many first or second team All Pros will the
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  Speaker 1: Denver defense have?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, I would hope that, you know, people people vote
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  Speaker 2: that way. I think it would be you know, first
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  Speaker 2: team would be I think at least two for sure three.
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  Speaker 2: I can't believe you would punish sir Can in any
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  Speaker 2: way for missing three games because he's an All Pro,
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  Speaker 2: you know, whenever. And I think Zach Allens played it
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  Speaker 2: first team All Pro level. I think Bonitos played it
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  Speaker 2: first team All Pro level. I could if I still
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  Speaker 2: had a ballot, I could make an argument for Cooper
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  Speaker 2: as a second team All Pro. I think it'll be
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  Speaker 2: very easy to do that as well.
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  Speaker 5: Whufonga is does have to get the kind of reputation,
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  Speaker 5: and I.
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  Speaker 2: Think he's played that well active, you know, always around
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  Speaker 2: the ball, and you know, it's just a matter of
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  Speaker 2: you know, are you paying attention to what's going on
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  Speaker 2: with with one of the best defenses in the league.
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  Speaker 2: But yeah, I think that that's a good number for
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  Speaker 2: first or second team just right off the top.
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  Speaker 3: Do you have the Broncos added Elijah Moore this week
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  Speaker 3: and young receivers, so why not I heard you talking
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  Speaker 3: in the morning, guys, and you would say the second
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  Speaker 3: round pick that's gonna get on GM's radars.
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  Speaker 4: What are they looking for with another receiver?
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  Speaker 3: It feels like they've taken a look at quite a
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  Speaker 3: few second receivers. I still would love to see a
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  Speaker 3: bigger role for Marvin Mims, but not sure I'm ever
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  Speaker 3: gonna get it.
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  Speaker 4: What do you think they're looking for that they don't
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  Speaker 4: quite think they have.
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  Speaker 2: That's a great question. I think they have it in
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  Speaker 2: mems is my personal opinion. Uh. I think they just,
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  Speaker 2: you know, would like that that flex player that can
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  Speaker 2: that can find catches out of multiple spots, and that's
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  Speaker 2: in this offense with Sean Payton. Some of the issues
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  Speaker 2: with guys is they want you to know all the positions.
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  Speaker 2: You don't get this to say I'm the I'm the
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  Speaker 2: X or you know, I only play to the open side.
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  Speaker 2: I only line up in the slot like a lot
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  Speaker 2: of people do with the receiver. This is not one
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  Speaker 2: of those teams, so it can be very difficult to
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  Speaker 2: get the precise route tree to such a point where
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  Speaker 2: they are willing to play you in all those situations.
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  Speaker 2: And you know, I think Pat Bryant has really shown
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  Speaker 2: to be a quality, quality route runner, especially in the
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  Speaker 2: last few weeks here, so I think he could have
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  Speaker 2: a few more catches. I think Franklin still battles the
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  Speaker 2: physicality part of it. You know, when when he's facing
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  Speaker 2: zone coverages and can find some open space, he's had
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  Speaker 2: much better, much better luck than when he's got to
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  Speaker 2: to battle man coverage a lot more, especially outside of
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  Speaker 2: the red zone. He's effective in the red zone against man,
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  Speaker 2: but I think the rest of the time he's still developing,
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  Speaker 2: so they don't really have that that number two who's
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  Speaker 2: a well rounded enough receiver to get all those snaps.
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  Speaker 2: I think it should be BIMs. I still I don't
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  Speaker 2: know if they're worried about losing him in the return
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  Speaker 2: game or because he's had a couple of moments this
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  Speaker 2: year where he's had some hamstring or growing issues. I
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  Speaker 2: don't know if they're nervous about that. You know, they
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  Speaker 2: say no, but their their actions sort of speak otherwise.
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  Speaker 2: And I think more just fits into he's too good
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  Speaker 2: a player to pass up on. I mean, honestly, the
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  Speaker 2: guy had sixty one catches last year. I asked a
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  Speaker 2: couple other gms, what you know, how can a guy
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  Speaker 2: with sixty one catches, you know, be on somebody's practice squad?
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  Speaker 2: And they didn't really have a good answer for me.
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  Speaker 2: So I think that one was was worth them taking
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  Speaker 2: a look at for sure.
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  Speaker 1: Guys on butt like football Fridays. We talked to Jeff
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  Speaker 1: legwald Re live at the Old Man Bar in Broomfield.
• 12:00
  Speaker 1: Here today we're giving away but light VIP tailgate passes
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  Speaker 1: and a pair of tickets to the Broncos Jaguars games
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  Speaker 1: to come see us here and Broomfield.
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  Speaker 5: Will be here.
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  Speaker 1: How about another half hour here this afternoon before we
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  Speaker 1: get out of here for the Nuggets and the Atlanta Hawks. Jeff, okay,
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  Speaker 1: I want to run this by you. These are my uh,
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  Speaker 1: these are my demands of the Broncos this week, or
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  Speaker 1: I suppose strong requests. Demands is maybe a little a
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  Speaker 1: little too much.
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  Speaker 4: I think one you're gonna raise an eyebrown.
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  Speaker 1: So here we go, Leggy. I want I want to
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  Speaker 1: shut out. I think this is the game to do it.
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  Speaker 1: I want a def I want a defensive touchdown, which
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  Speaker 1: they have not scored in a game so far this season,
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  Speaker 1: only ten takeaways on the year.
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  Speaker 5: I I want ten sacks.
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  Speaker 1: They sacked Gino six times last time around, and they're
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  Speaker 1: without three starters on their offensive line. I want four
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  Speaker 1: yards per carry out of this run game. And I
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  Speaker 1: want uh Bo Nicks to play well enough, not like
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  Speaker 1: he did last time again the Raiders. What what say
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  Speaker 1: you of my special requests of the Broncos this week?
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  Speaker 2: Well, I'll say if you get them all, they'll obliterate them.
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  Speaker 2: That will be uh, that will be an epic afternoon
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  Speaker 2: in Vegas.
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  Speaker 1: Uh.
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  Speaker 4: Yeah, everyone's getting fired. I can tell you that now.
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  Speaker 2: You know. I will say, I think this is a
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  Speaker 2: game where they get back on pace for the sack record.
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  Speaker 2: You know, they're on pace to tie it right now. Still. Uh,
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  Speaker 2: but I don't know that Pete Carroll is going to
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  Speaker 2: let them throw enough too, you know, after making the
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  Speaker 2: change an offensive coordinator to to put in and Harm's
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  Speaker 2: way that often.
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  Speaker 5: But it don't know.
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  Speaker 1: Man Jen averaged two yards of carry last week against
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  Speaker 1: the Chargers. Leg E, They're gonna be in third and
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  Speaker 1: long a lot in this game.
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  Speaker 2: That's what I mean. And if the Broncos could ever
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  Speaker 2: get a league on somebody, they could like key off
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  Speaker 2: right at some point, But they don't ever get that luxury,
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  Speaker 2: it seems like. But yeah, I think definitely it could be.
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  Speaker 2: If the Raiders aren't just playing at optimum level for
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  Speaker 2: everybody they have on the field, it could look like,
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  Speaker 2: you know, the Jets in London if they're not careful,
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  Speaker 2: because I do think you know, that side of the
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  Speaker 2: ball is ready to roll for the Broncos and for me,
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  Speaker 2: my list would be an awful lot on offense. It
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  Speaker 2: is time for that group to at least look a
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  Speaker 2: little more consistent for the playoffs. They don't have to
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  Speaker 2: be explosive all the time, but man, it is time
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  Speaker 2: not to be near the bottom of the league in
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  Speaker 2: three and outs and they are thirty first, you know again,
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  Speaker 2: and it's time for that to be over. If you're
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  Speaker 2: really going to be serious about January and get into February,
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  Speaker 2: it's time for that.
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  Speaker 1: Yeah, And I mean Patrick Graham had a great game
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  Speaker 1: plan for them last time around. By the way, Jeff,
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  Speaker 1: when you talk to your I guess you're your your
• 15:10
  Speaker 1: former pal over at the Denver Post. Now you're colleague
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  Speaker 1: there at ESPN Ryan McFadden covering the Raiders. Uh, what
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  Speaker 1: is the word on? Max Crosby did not practice but
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  Speaker 1: listed as questionable. What's going on with him?
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  Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, a little bit of a knee issue.
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  Speaker 2: And uh, you know, Pete Carroll did say today publicly
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  Speaker 2: he find it he would find it hard to believe
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  Speaker 2: Crosby doesn't play, that he thinks he'll play. You don't
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  Speaker 2: know much of that as gamesmanship. You know, if he plays,
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  Speaker 2: what it could influence is Crosby is one of the
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  Speaker 2: rare defensive linemen who play one hundred percent of the
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  Speaker 2: snaps in a lot of games, and that that could
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: be impactful because you're you're gonna have a set of plays,
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  Speaker 2: and even Sean Payton admitted it today, You're gonna have
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  Speaker 2: a set of plays you would on if he's not
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  Speaker 2: in the game, and you know that that would impact
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  Speaker 2: how the Broncos look at things. And and today after
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  Speaker 2: practice Sean Payton called their game plan last time against
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  Speaker 2: the Raiders awful. That was the word he used, And
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  Speaker 2: I think that's correct.
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  Speaker 5: No need to disagree with him on that one.
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  Speaker 1: He's Jeff Legwald, everybody ESPN dot com By the way, Leggy,
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: you would love this old Man bar. This place is
• 16:28
  Speaker 1: straight out of Cicero or calium Ed City. You'd have
• 16:31
  Speaker 1: a good time at this place.
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  Speaker 2: Man, well, let's uh, let's make a let's let's put
• 16:37
  Speaker 2: that on the calendar, because it's hard for me to
• 16:39
  Speaker 2: believe I should not be in a bar called old Man.
• 16:44
  Speaker 4: Dude, they got a stool. You could sit at the
• 16:46
  Speaker 4: corner stool.
• 16:47
  Speaker 3: Oh man, when everybody walks in and goes, where's the
• 16:50
  Speaker 3: old man, will point right?
• 16:53
  Speaker 2: I could tell him you remember when stories Yeah, guy.
• 16:58
  Speaker 3: Yep, tell him about your mom flipping the keys to
• 17:01
  Speaker 3: your brother after down shifting to whatever the camaro that he.
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  Speaker 5: Got lankey man, We appreciate it. Buddy, you have a
• 17:10
  Speaker 5: great trip to Vegas.
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  Speaker 2: Thank you, Thanks Malos. Happy Friday.