Podcast written and created by Cameron Erickson and Cory Sparks
Transcript typed by Cory Sparks
CORY: Hello and welcome back to another podcast of what we like to call 1200 CC’s of Sports.
CAMERON: Any breaking sports news we will be covering throughout our podcasts as we give our take on everything.
CORY: So we’re going to run right into the MLB here. The Wildcard matchups kicked off this past week, and after two wild single game elimination matchups, the MLB Postseason is down to just eight teams. First, we have the Cubs and the Rockies. The Cubs offense was held to one run through thirteen innings and they lost 2-1. Reasons for the elimination?
For one, I’m gonna say fatigue. The Cubs played forty games in their last forty one days before the playoffs, burning out their bullpen, burning out everybody playing on the field in general. Second reason I’m gonna say Kris Bryant’s injury, he only played half the season. He was the 2016 MVP and I don’t think you can really deny it that if you’re missing your MVP, you’re missing a lot of assets offensively and defensively.
CAMERON: The Yankees and the A’s played yesterday. The Yankees took this game 7-2. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton both homered and the Yankees offense that broke the single season home run record showed the league, once again, how dangerous they are.
CORY: Yeah, I think it was really, really just a testament to how powerful the Yankees can be. The A’s were a good team, they won uh-they won over 90 games throughout the regular season and then just really quick because we are down to eight teams, the four matchups that you’re going to be seeing in the next week or so it’s gonna be the Cleveland Indians who made the World Series two years ago against the Astros who are the World Series champions from the past year. And then it’s going to be the all-beloved rivalry of the Yankees vs. the Red Sox.
On the NL side, you’re gonna have the up and coming Atlanta Braves against the Los Angeles Dodgers and then it’s gonna be the Rockies against the hot Brewers coming up. So now we’re gonna segway over into the NFL.
CAMERON: Alright, let’s talk about Mitchell Trubisky. Threw 354 yards and six touchdowns against the Buccaneers becoming the first Bears quarterback to throw for five or more touchdowns in a game since Johnny Lujack in 1949. That was insane.
CORY: I know, what’d you see out of Trubisky that lead to this? What was different?
CAMERON: I see someone who is finally taking the initiative of being a leader on the team. I think that he is, he’s leading that offense and that he is kind of, he’s becoming the starting quarterback they need. He’s on his way there, I don’t think he’s there, I think he threw you know a six touchdown game.
I don’t think he’s going to come off week, week six when they come back from their bye week, I don’t think they’re gonna come in, and he’s gonna do that again. I think he’s still in the making of being a good leader but I think this showed that he is capable of leading this offense and he’s capable of scoring with this offense. I think it’s an offense that can make things happen.
CORY: Yeah I definitely think… because the big controversy with the Bears despite being 3-1 which is a great record, they were 2-1 going into this week, they have the first ranked defense in the league there was no question about that. It was the productivity on the offense, it seemed like these guys would march into the red zone over and over relentlessly and they’d end up kicking field goals, and field goals don’t win football games.
So, to see Trubisky step up and throw six touchdowns against a respectable Bucs defense, I think it really showed… it’s a testament to how good of a player he can be and his potential.
CAMERON: And he was throwing downfield for most of those touchdowns. He was taking risks, he just saw guys wide open and was just chucking it deep he wasn’t playing it safe and you know, dinking’ and dunking passes. That was what was really impressive is he was launching those balls downfield.
CORY: Oh absolutely and if you compare this to the John Fox offense of last year they were throwing screens on 3rd and 17, and this is a much more aggressive Bears team and I think they showed they can scare just about anybody. So also in that game, Fitzmagic I think has officially come to an end.
The Bears held him to just 126 yards and a pick in about two and a half quarters. They pull Jameis Winston in and he doesn’t do much better, he throws…he throws one touchdown, he also throws two picks, but he has been named the week five starter already. Do you think this is fair or no?
CAMERON: I.. I don’t know. I think Fitzpatrick had a really, really solid three weeks and he has a bad game and then they bench him. I don’t think that’s fair, I think Fitzpatrick was, was doing really well he had 400 passing yards in each game, still had a ridiculous amount of touchdowns, I don’t think just because he struggled this week that they should just bench him because he, they were going against one of the top defenses in the NFL.
CORY: If not the (top defense) exactly yeah.
CAMERON: Yeah, he’s going up against Khalil Mack, Hakeem Nicks, like all these guys that are getting up in his face, he’s gonna have a bad day. I don’t think they should’ve just put in Jameis Winston. Maybe coach was just thinking, you know, maybe Jameis can get something going in the second half, but I think by then it was even too far gone. But naming him week five starter, I don’t think I don’t agree with that.
CORY: I wouldn’t either I mean, like you said the electricity on the Bears’ defense. They’re the number one ranked defense in fantasy right now. If you start Jameis Winston that game, does he have much of a better day? ‘Cause I don’t think he does I think that entire secondary would’ve bullied him, the defensive line is going to destroy their o-line regardless. Jameis isn’t a real fast guy either. I don’t know, I don’t agree with that too much either but we’ll see what happens, we’ll see how he does in his debut for the 2018 season.
CORY: So now, we’re going to talk about the two remaining undefeated teams. We got the Rams and the Chiefs, they’ve been absolutely ridiculous. Jared Goff lights up the Vikings defense with five passing touchdowns last week, and Mahomes showed that he can hang with some of the best when he beat the Broncos defense. What do you think of those two guys so far?
CAMERON: They’re just absolutely insane. I mean, Jared Goff just lighting up the Vikings defense. They have a really great secondary, and just that he was throwing left and right to (Cooper) Kupp and (Brandin) Cooks and (Robert) Woods, where each of them had like a hundred yards and a few touchdowns. That’s insane, and that’s just talent on them. And then Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, that’s just a dangerous duo right there. I think they’re just lighting them up. Mahomes is still leading the league in passing touchdowns.
I don’t know it’s going to be really interesting to see if both of these teams will remain undefeated. My prediction is that the Chiefs are gonna fall off though, I think that they’re gonna maybe go 7-0, but I think they’re going to hit a week where they’re just going to go on a losing streak just like they did a few years back. I don’t think that the Chiefs..
CORY: Will like hold out, yeah absolutely I see what you mean. I mean Mahomes has definitely shown he can be a leader it’s just gonna be a matter of that whole team staying productive. They’ve always been a good regular season team, playoffs are where you’re going to have to prove yourself. Especially with Andy Reid as the coach, the Chiefs have made a habit of having a very good regular season but not producing (in the playoffs).
But, we’ll see what happens. And then branching off the Chiefs, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Ramsey are gonna face off this week up at the line. Jaylen Ramsey is one of the most renowned, just, trash talkers flat out he just runs his mouth. Tyreek Hill pulled a little ‘Jaylen Ramsey’ this week and he said “eh, he’s okay”. How do you think this is gonna turn out? Do you think this is gonna affect the game at all, getting in each other’s heads?
CAMERON: It’s gonna be interesting, it’s gonna be very competitive, and it’s gonna be just very interesting. Um, I think Tyreek Hill, he’s hot right now, and I think that he’s gonna have a day. He’s gonna get probably a hundred receiving yards and a touchdown. That’s my guess.
CORY: Yeah I wouldn’t doubt it with that speed at all. So now we’re going to do something a little new because we do do these podcasts every Thursday. There is a game tonight, it’s gonna be the Colts against the Patriots and we’re each gonna give our take on how we think the game is gonna go so, Cameron..
CAMERON: I’m going with a Colts upset against the Patriots, 20-17. I don’t think the Patriots are, you know, really doing well right now. I mean, they’re still, they have a 2-2 record I believe. I don’t think that they just have what they had last year and the years before. I think, just something’s different. But, (Julian) Edelman is coming back this week. That’s gonna be a huge factor. But, I do think Josh Gordon is gonna get his first touchdown tonight as a Patriot.
CORY: I wouldn’t doubt it I mean the guy (Josh Gordon) is very productive. It’s only a matter of time until he goes off, I think it’s just the team chemistry’s got to connect a little bit. I do have the Patriots winning tonight, I’m gonna have them 32-23. I think Tom Brady really lit a spark in that Patriots offense against the undefeated Dolphins last week which you don’t hear much about.
They also have (Rob) Gronkowski active tonight, and when you have the best tight end in the entire league in my opinion, you can’t go wrong. Andrew Luck, I think he’s getting better. I think he’s still got some rust to shake off and I think against this Patriots entire team that Tom Brady has ignited seemingly, I think he’s gonna have a tough time. It’s gonna be a close game for sure though.
CAMERON: Yeah. Okay so, segwaying into our “use him or lose him”. For my use him, Adrian Peterson. AP is just dominating the backfield taking most of the carries, 56 compared to Chris Thompson’s 15. He has racked up 236 rushing yards, three touchdowns , and is averaging four point two yards a carry. He is the main back, and I believe he will continue to produce. The Redskins are playing the Saints this Monday, and the Saints have given up the sixth fewest fantasy points to running backs though, but I would still start AP. He’s gonna have a big day, and is 2012 AP back? I think so.
CORY: I’d say so too. The amount of execution he has been throwing forth this first four weeks with the exception of one tough week two, he has really been showing us what he’s about. Alright, so I got Adam Thielen. Talk about a consistent producer, this guy has yet to have a game where he has caught for under 102 yards, he has got a couple of touchdowns on the season, he has 40 receptions in his first four games.
Thielen will be going up against the Eagles secondary this week who have given up the sixth most amount of points to wideouts this season, and that’s a huge red light to me. And then on top of that, Kirk Cousins is his quarterback, a guy who constantly spreads the ball around that offense, and so far I think Thielen is that number one target. Start my man Adam Thielen this week against the struggling Eagles secondary.
CAMERON: Alright. For my Lose him, it’s gonna be Jesse James, the Pittsburgh Steelers tight end. I thought this guy was gonna be a huge threat in the Steelers offense, but from what it seems like, he was a one hit wonder. He had a spectacular week two with 138 yards and a touchdown. But following that, in three weeks, he has only came up with 90 yards and zero touchdowns. He’s competing with Vance McDonald for that number one tight end spot, and I think it’s too competitive when you have a veteran like Vance sharing snaps with you. So, I’m dropping him in fantasy this week with no doubts.
CORY: I definitely think that’s a good point to bring up. I mean, Vance has definitely shown that he does belong in this league and I think when you’re just competing in any job in general they’re gonna split reps and see who’s the better guy. It’s not gonna be a good fantasy week (for Jesse James). Alright, I have Jay Ajayi. He hasn’t been that powerful producer we saw on the Eagles’ historic playoff run last year. There’s a couple of reasons I say that. He has been battling a back injury, so that’s gonna bring up some cautious play from him.
The Eagles are also playing against the Vikings defense (this week) who gave up five touchdown passes to Jared Goff last week, and I’m gonna expect them to test that secondary. I don’t think they’re going to run the ball, I think they’re going to throw it right at them. Also, Corey Clement might be coming back this week, and he has been having comparable stats to Ajayi and he hasn’t had as serious of an injury. I think he can definitely… he’s (Corey Clement) a faster guy. Ajayi is more of a goal line guy. I think Clement will definitely produce more and if Ajayi is going to get anything, he might get a quick punch in touchdown. But, not a productive week for him in general I think.
CAMERON: Yeah, I agree. Now, bold predictions. My bold prediction? Matt Breida is going to rush for 150 yards and two touchdowns. First of all, he has been averaging seven point eight yards a carry, and has 313 rushing yards with one touchdown. And then, he’s playing the Arizona Cardinals defense.
They’ve allowed a total of 353 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. They’ve played against Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, and Todd Gurley, all spectacular backs. Breida is on the rise and he ranks third in the NFL for rushing yards right behind Zeke (Ezekiel Elliott) and Todd Gurley. Breida is gonna go off this week. I mean, Arizona’s defense, they’ve just fallen off and Breida is gonna go off.
CORY: I would agree with that.
CAMERON: That’s all I have to say.
CORY: And also I mean, Garoppolo is gone what are they gonna do? They’re gonna rely on running the ball and if it’s not broke don’t fix it. The guy is averaging almost eight yards a carry.
CAMERON: He’s something special for this Niners offense. Honestly, he could be our next star back.
CORY: Absolutely. Now for my bold prediction, Antonio Brown. He hasn’t been doing much, I think he’s got a little bit under 200 yards so far in the first couple games this season. I think he is going to go off. 160 yards and possibly two touchdowns for this guy. Why? The Falcons defense allows the fifth most yards to wide receivers this year, and Big Ben definitely isn’t afraid to feed AB when he is producing. I think he’s gonna go off on that secondary. He’s gonna run a lot of fly routes, a lot of slants, he’s gonna dust right passed them and he’s gonna go off. He’s bound to go off and I think today is the day he does.
CAMERON: I agree. He hasn’t had his guy I think yet. He hasn’t had that day where its been like “Wow that was AB’s week.”, but I think this is his week. I agree i think he’s gonna do something great this week against the Falcons.