Falcons concerned about wins and not loss of sack production

0:00It's four o'clock on the number one sports talk show for your drive. I mean, how it is rocking and rolling. What's that? This is Duke's in Bell brought to you by Finley Roof. They've got you covered. Atlanta's most trusted and recommended Roof on sports radio 92 90 games. Our general manager said a lot of things today, including keeping four quarterbacks because they were impressed with Jack Strand's ability to run and run with the ones. The quote was it showed that he was it wasn't too big for him. And I think that's really speaks volumes for Jack Strand Frost. Cooper Rush comes in late again having to learn their offense. This is the advantage that two and Michael pinnings had over both of these guys. Cause you know, strand was an undrafted free agent. But both of these guys are running with the ones basically the first two weeks. Like the eight first eight days of camp guys. And it's something that kind of gets overlooked nationally when we talk about this alleged competition between two and Michael pinnings, but they were getting a lot of the run because one, they needed to catch up.

1:00But two, you kind of got a chance to see Jack Strand and Mike. I thought a question was asked today about strand. If that doesn't happen, does he make this team? And the general manager, Ian Cuttingham said, I know it's a hypothetical, but it's a really good question. Look, the guy got a chance to go with the ones for those who haven't followed Jack Strand. By now most people know he had a chance to leave Minnesota more. He stayed loyal to be true to your school. He stayed loyal to his program probably could have gone to a bigger school. Cause a lot of folks were aware of the big arm and the big numbers he put up. So he steps in, like you and I saw it the first couple of days. Maybe missing throwing behind some receivers of speed, but he, but he adjusted and he caught up and that didn't happen again. You know, and I thought, you know, everyone fell in love with him and that drive against Indianapolis, where it's right down the field making decisive quick decisions. You know, picks him up, puts him down. So you're right, though, two of Miss the first four or five days of practice. And even then, after that, he was still jacked up with that sore back. Yeah. So and then for one day was really a result Jack Strand and Cooper Us arrived, you know, via Uber. So either way, he's made it work.

2:01You know, you get what they were talking about. Luck, you know, making it work, man, opportunity, you know, plus, you know, being prepared. And he's making it work. I want to see this guy, hopefully develop as a quarterback for this team. I really like his game. I think there's a tremendous upside for Jack Strand. And the only way we're going to know is when he finally gets out through on the field. Is he ready to play against the Steelers? I don't think the answer is yes to that. You know, what I be, no, if if Pentax was definitely out for this game and, and Tua gets banged up, what I like to see Jack Strand gets a reps over Cooper Rush. Yes, but they won't do that. That's you said that the Peking Order will be Cooper Rush then Strand. Yeah. That's what I believe. And then, you know, when asked about, when he was asked about the loss of the sack production, because Mike and I have covered this guys, two guys that we were counting on. Once heard, the other guys not available for eight games. Matter of fact, the Falcons have a plan in place for James Fears Jr. And they're going to abide by that and we'll see you nine in eight weeks. So what does this going to look like? And he said, look, our focus is the win games. It's kind of what we were talking about yesterday. The 57 sack sounds really cool. It sounds fun. It's nice. It's something you can pound your chest about, but it didn't achieve anything.

3:05We, it didn't help us win the division. It didn't help us get to the playoffs. It certainly didn't help us win a playoff game. So, you know, Mike jokes about the sacks being overrated from our, our buddy, you know, Mike Smith. But that's what it felt like. It was like, okay, hear your sacks Atlanta. And then we still got nothing for it. Just that. I mean, if this equated to, wow, the, you know, the, here's a fact I didn't realize the Atlanta Falcons have the second most sacks is they lead the division. No, no, we didn't win the division. We already touched on this. There was so many screw ups on this team from management down, not having the kicker in place cost us three games or at least the opportunity to win two of the three games. You know, you, you go back and you look at the, at the little things, you know, the coaching decisions. Clock management, you know, they just, I mean, time after time we chewed ourselves in the foot. You know, and you and I would, we, we trek up to flowery branch. We hear a hearing Morris, you know, to say the same old, same old every week. And I think in the room, they didn't tune it out. They certainly didn't correct it. Yeah. We'll hear more from Ian on the way here on sports radio, 92 90 game.

4:06First time you spoken by the way, and that's why it's such a big deal. Cause we want to hear from the general manager and what the process is and what they're thinking about. That is on the way. And by the way, that's what we're talking about. Of our, our noggans. Yeah. You, I want to have pastors. We billiards about past rest for decades in this franchise. But here you have it. The second most sacks in the league and you also gave up 200 yards of game and rushing. You know what I mean? That, that had to improve. Well, I think that the, the general manager's comment is perspective. I want to win. What does that entail? If that means I don't get any sacks in a game, but we win. Are you taking it or you're not taking it? That's what he's telling you. Like, that's all nice. But in a day, this is still about winning games. Right now though, we got to talk some dog. Duke said bell on the sidelines with the dogs. All right. Before you get to this tea on Lane Kiffin, Georgia receives no votes and ESPN's round table prediction on who's going to win the national championship. Notedame got five Ohio State got three organ got two Texas got two. This is Georgia bias. What are you talking about? Like not one guy or person at the table.

5:09That that's obviously Georgia bias. Antibias. But yes, it's correct because you're, you're not willing to say, Hey, Kirby is in the best job over the last decade of anybody. And yeah, I'm not going to count him out. You know what? They got an experienced quarterback. The best offensive line. I'm telling you, their running game is going to be better. Their defense is experienced. And you're sitting there going, well, no, no, no, no, no, stay organ. These are the teams that should be mentioned, but so should Georgia. So who are the people responsible for this anti Georgia bias? Who are these people in this round table? Who? I want to know who I have no idea. So you've got Bill Connolly, Heather Denich, Mark Schlaibar, Schlaibar respect. Yeah. Dave Wilson, uh, Paulo, uh, you got you getty Jake Trotter. Adam Rittenberg, Max Olsen, Eli Letterman, never heard any of these people call. David Hale, never heard of. Yeah. So you know what? Okay. I saw him. I'm just being a some day day.

6:11Some nobody you would think, you know, with a, with a, with a team which has some upper class men, uh, with a team that is got a coach who's one back to back. And you know what he's capable of. But the quarterback is experienced that, that would, that would entail. Certainly entitled to release one first place vote from these knuckleheads. Yeah. I mean, I just, I feel like that's a little bit, you know, we used to talk about people sick of the SEC. Oh, they said talking about Georgia. I don't know. SEC fatigue, Georgia fatigue. I don't know. I mean, like not getting out of the sugar bowl two years ago doesn't help your argument. I agree. I look as not like they've won four in a row. They've been in the mix and they've been very good. But like, I just felt like that was disrespectful. Mike, get into this, uh, this book, man. What's going on? All right, man. Uh, there's a new book from John Talletty. Just came out today. It's a, a little on Amazon River Bookshar Salt. And, uh, it is called, um, Lane being Lane, the story of Lane Kiffin College football's agent of chaos. And the excerpt that Vanity Fair picked up is behind the Vanity Fair pay wall, but I, I have it. So I can read it for you. Uh, it's, uh, keeping him away from the sorority girls inside Lane Kiffin's trash talking

7:13Joey freshwater era with Nick Sabin at LaBama. Basically, it goes into details that, and this is from coaches. They're talking to people on the staff. People in Tuscaloosa on the ground that Lane was running around like a maniac. His wife and family were out in California. They didn't come to Tuscaloosa and that he was hitting on chicks and, and tried to score and was basically making a mess out of himself in a very small town where everybody knew what was going on. The biggest surprise is that as it didn't go national and eventually Lane started using the name and it was asked. I think it was Clay Travis asked him an interview and denied it. Using the name Joey freshwater. What do you mean, people? He was like, aren't you a coach on the Alabama set? No, no, my name's Joey freshwater. So, uh, apparently there was, uh, one of the bars in Tuscaloosa, the owner would have to call the staff. I go, uh, Lane's golf cart is out here. We got to come and get coach Kiffin's golf cart and there's more and more stuff. Then it gets into him and Sabin where he was popping off in that. I've told you forgot about the Pete Thammell article when he was getting ready to take the FAU job. Basically saying that Sabin is, is, you know, is a pain in the arse and how tough it was.

8:16You know, three years in Tuscaloosa's like dog years. Yeah. And so Sabin was just ready to fire and then you throw in the national semifinal game against Michigan state where they should have boat raced them. I was at that game at the Georgia home and Lane Kiffin apparently going off script calling plays. They didn't practice. Sabin players, uh, even some of the veterans upset with it. So it was all a perfect recipe for him getting got and then Sarkeeson coming in. But the salacious stuff about him, basically, uh, just being depressed and drinking like a fiend, not being with his family. That is why filing for divorce. So again, that's not present. That's happened in the past and they're recounting these events. Okay. In the book. Um, but it gives you some insight into where Lane was and what was going on and how that all played out. And the irony for me is Mike, you know who Lane called when when the LSU thing got got going. Nick Sabin. You know, told him to take the job. Nick Sabin. Right. So their relationship has been repaired, but, but this is why Sabin so good. It's almost like being your dad.

9:17I'm going to do what's necessary for you. You're not going to like it. But at the end, you're going to respect it. And that's kind of what happened with Lane. Lane needed that stuff to happen. He leaves and then he knows career advances. And now they're in a much better place. But man, it feels like like men, the, the wildness of his behavior feels like this should have happened in a long time. But you know, long time again, it just go. I get it. You're away from your family with two ways of handling it. You hunkered down and your job becomes your life where you go screw around. And he chose the latter. Uh, the quote, which is getting all the traction on social media is quote, you've got to keep laying away from the girls that are in college. Sabin said, according to one former coach, just keep them away from the sorority girls. Make sure they've graduated college or are working a job. Uh, and then look, Sabin just was furious because Nick kept pop. I mean, Lane kept popping off about Nick. So yeah, it was toxic at the end. And apparently, even though it didn't make the national media, you and I were talking about this off the air. The coaching fraternity, college and pro, very tight. Everybody knows everybody else's business.

10:18If you're a oneizer, if you got a problem drinking, that's out there. So he was, it was all these big openings are out there like Texas. He was close to getting the Houston job. Good friend of yours. Uh, to him for teetum. Uh, basically he, he shut the door on that deal. And so Jimmy Sexton, who represents, uh, both Sabin and Lane basically starts steering him towards the FAU job. And, uh, and Jimmy Sexton apparently, he's tried the same thing, try to be a mentor to him and try to keep him on the straight and narrow path. But it's all in the John Tulty book that comes out now, uh, called Lane Being Lane. You know who got him that deal that LSU? Jimmy Sexton. What Jimmy Sexton is the coach. He is crowns the king. But the point is like fast forward and he's still got a huge check from LSU. Look, I don't know if this changes, uh, my view. Here's the thing about, about Lane and it's very, there's a bunch of college coaches. And I think guys in the coaching business that are this way. He's a hell of an offensive mind and a really good coach. But these demons, Mike, sometimes they catch up to you and the stuff that you do, you know, it may cost you a job or two or it may cost you your career.

11:20Lane's been lucky. And I think you've said this, you know, our conversations and I think we have different opinions about Lane. As I think he can be entertaining. I think he's smarter than he leads on to be. I think he really knows what's going on. He is a really good coach. But in the same sentence, you go, you do some dumb things that have led you down this path and it just, it makes you wonder. He's self destructive. And there's a lot of great talented people that have this dream of stuff. You and I were in the radio business with guys. I know a ton of them, you know, they do this. And Lane is the same thing. He's talking to Pete Tamley because I probably shouldn't say this. Then don't say it. And then you're basically crapping on Nick Saban and Nick Saban fires you. And they made a, they had a press release that said, I mean, who gets fired the Monday before the national champion? No game. Lane Kiffin. My, my thing with Lane is, and this, this is where you and I, we split off on our lane Kiffin Texas. When the old Miss situation with LSU went down, I say shame on Lane Kiffin because this was your brand. You had a rep. All you could get was FAU and old Miss put you back in the big time and you repay their loyalty by stabbing him in the back on the cusp of the biggest games of their lives.

12:21So that's why that's why I don't like Lane Kiffin. And I think he's a brilliant coach, but I also think he's a fraud. Nothing in life is fair. And when you get opportunities and you make the most of it, are you supposed to stay there forever? No, but I, but are you supposed to advance? No, but I mean, there's a right and wrong in this world. He's clearly my nine times out of 10 on the wrong side. That was wrong him advancing his life and his coaching career. But that's where we, that's where we differ. Well, I don't feel that somebody's making again, was it, was it was they paying a penance to go to all this? Wow. And he even gave a chance to match and give a comparable offer to stay LSU came with $10 million more. We, we are basically not sure. That's a lot of money. His brand was crap. They put him in back in the SEC. Any basic that says screw you. That's a lot of money. Everybody has choices to advance their life if they want to. There nobody should take a job and then be promised. But that's the problem of what happens here. But that's the thing I have to stay here. I'm playing. I'm just doing what I have to do. No, do the right thing once in your friggin life.