- 4 hours ago
Nicki Jhabvala joins the show to preview the biggest headlines heading into training camp including the Brandon Aiyuk situation, new offense and defense, and possible roster additions.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00I'm excited to jump on the Rude Guest Hotline.
00:02Talk to our friend, Miss Nikki Javala from The Athletic.
00:04Hello, Nick.
00:05How you doing?
00:07I'm doing.
00:07How are you guys?
00:08I met Nikki's son last night.
00:10He's cool, right?
00:10Cool as hell.
00:11Yeah, man.
00:12How was happy hour?
00:14I'm sure you were thrilled to be there.
00:16Yeah, it was great.
00:17I mean, I always love that.
00:19It's nice that the team does that, I think.
00:23You know, so it was nice.
00:24You know, I always like free food, too.
00:26So that'll never be an issue with me.
00:28Very good.
00:28Very good.
00:28But, you know, they made me go to the studio and work all night
00:32to talk about Ben Steele being parting ways.
00:38You've done some digging on the tight end coach situation.
00:42Obviously, the legalities involved here are serious.
00:46He needs to handle the judicial process.
00:48From a straight-up football perspective,
00:52I don't think this is the biggest deal.
00:54It's not ideal, certainly.
00:56But, like, whatever your expectations are for Washington this season,
01:00I don't think the removal of Ben Steele even two days before camp,
01:04it changes your expectations.
01:06I'm curious where you land on that.
01:08No, I have the same feeling on that.
01:12Yeah, it's not ideal.
01:14I would say more from a distraction issue.
01:19Like, that's not how you want to open camp
01:21and how you want the focus on your team to be.
01:24But in terms of, like, coaching and the day-to-day
01:28and how they handle that room,
01:29I don't know that it will be a huge issue.
01:33Ben Steele was pretty new.
01:35I mean, they had hired him this season
01:38to take over for David Rye, who had been promoted.
01:42And they've had Wes Welker on staff.
01:45We don't know yet officially if he'll be the next guy.
01:49But I would imagine he would have some hand
01:51in how they handle the tight ends
01:53since he led them during minicamp.
01:56So it shouldn't be too big of a deal.
02:00But, yeah, not a great way to start.
02:03I do think you're better off dealing with it yesterday
02:06than letting it linger.
02:08And we're asking them every day,
02:10hey, where's Steele, where's Steele?
02:12And you know what I mean?
02:12Like, I think if you're going to release him,
02:16you probably could have done it two weeks ago
02:18in the super dead period.
02:20But I do think get it done before camp is the right move.
02:24As we get closer and closer to camp here,
02:28I mean, we'll talk to DQ and AP tonight.
02:30They're going to start playing football tomorrow.
02:33What are some of your biggest questions?
02:37Yeah, I'm going to see how the offense looks, of course.
02:40You know, I think we all have sort of an idea
02:43of things we will see just based on Ball's background,
02:46knowing who he's been with as a player and a coach,
02:49and some of the pieces that he's emphasized
02:51throughout minicamp and OTAs.
02:53But I just want to see how it all comes together.
02:56You know, the other questions,
02:58do they add to the receiving core?
02:59Or do they add to the cornerback's room?
03:01I still think, even with the addition of Russell Douglas,
03:04that that room is still kind of wide open.
03:08And I could see them adding help if somebody comes available
03:11or, you know, depending how the waiver wire shakes out after cuts.
03:16But on the receiving side,
03:18there's a lot of talent still out there,
03:20a lot of veteran talent still out there.
03:21You know, might they go get Diggs?
03:24Is Zeebo even a consideration?
03:27But there's still room for a number of changes,
03:29and we've seen this team make some, you know,
03:32fairly significant moves late in camp or even right after camp.
03:37And beyond that, of course, is the defense.
03:40You know, that's the side of the ball that's sort of been lagging
03:42over the past couple years.
03:44You know, how different will it look?
03:47How much improvement can they make in their first season with Durante?
03:51So they've got a lot of work to do this training camp.
03:56For sure.
03:57Is there anything that concerns you?
03:59You know, I know we're looking for new stuff.
04:01We see new stuff coming,
04:02but anything that concerns you about this team?
04:07I don't know if concerns are the right word.
04:09I guess it's more waiting to see.
04:12But, you know, do they have enough talent on offense?
04:16Do they have enough help for Jaden at the skill positions?
04:20Because I think the running back room is wide open.
04:23There are obvious questions that receiver, you know,
04:26that quote-unquote number two who's going to kind of carry the workload
04:31alongside Terry and then tight ends.
04:33I thought Chig was really impressive in the OTAs and minicamp.
04:38But, you know, do they have the depth there that they want?
04:42So that's one of them.
04:47I'd say the other one is, you know, the secondary.
04:50And, again, it's more questions than concerns at this point.
04:55But do they have enough there?
04:57I mean, I like the guys they brought in, Nick Cross at safety.
05:01I like Meek Robertson.
05:03But do they have the talent to make a significant improvement?
05:07And they do need to make a significant improvement over the last couple years
05:10to keep, you know, these big plays from happening.
05:12Because that's how they've sort of spiraled.
05:15Totally.
05:15Talking with our friend Nikki Javala here on the Rude Guest Hotline.
05:19Getting ready for training camp.
05:21And all of our training camp coverage on the fan is brought to you by
05:24Paul Henry's Window Installation.
05:26Paul.
05:26PaulHenrysWindows.com.
05:27Your clear home improvement choice.
05:31I don't even know what to call it anymore.
05:32For a period of time, it was an elephant in the room.
05:35Now it's like this obscure social media contortion.
05:41Brandon Ayuk.
05:43And you actually, between you and the Niners athletic reporter, talk to him.
05:49Or at least exchange texts.
05:51Can you get us up to speed on that exchange or conversation, if we can call it that?
05:58I wouldn't go so far as to call it a conversation.
06:00It was more of an exchange.
06:02Yeah, I mean, I reached out to him as part of our reporting.
06:06You know, to, you know, A, try to talk to him amid all this.
06:11You know, at the very least, give him a chance to comment or weigh in if you wanted to.
06:16And I, you know, I was fairly surprised that he did respond.
06:21I'm sure a number of people have hit him up, you know, amid all this.
06:27But he did.
06:29And honestly, like, his response read much like his Instagram posts have come across in recent months.
06:37Go Commanders, raise hail, you know, I'm the missing piece.
06:42But, you know, it was interesting.
06:45I mean, it fell in line with what he's in his messaging, I would say, over the last few months.
06:52But, yeah, I mean, to your earlier point, it seemed like a decent possibility, maybe back in February, you know,
07:02kind of looking at the team's roster, kind of looking at his situation, knowing that John Lynch said he, you
07:08know, wouldn't be a part of the 49ers going forward without knowing exactly what that would mean in terms of
07:14their timetable.
07:15So it seemed like at least a decent possibility.
07:19But now I just don't, me personally, I just don't know how they could really make that work after all
07:25of this.
07:26I think that would be, I would never rule it out entirely.
07:28But I, I think it would be a hard sell at this point, especially when there is other talent available
07:36on the market.
07:38So I, I, I think the, the odds of it happening kind of lower every time he posts something on
07:46social media.
07:47I agree.
07:48And the thing about it, though, he has to file for the reinstatement, right?
07:53Correct.
07:54Yes.
07:54And he said he's not doing that.
07:57So does he really want to play football or not?
08:01Yes, that's a very fair assessment of the situation.
08:05And I think that's sort of the question that, you know, it'd be fair to the team to ask too,
08:09you know, like, do you really want to play amid all this?
08:13Because there are some steps that have to be taken in order for that to happen.
08:19So, yeah, there's, it's a, it's an odd situation to say the least.
08:23It really is, man.
08:25And I just, I think it's gone far enough.
08:28Do you think Adam Peters and Dan Quinn are going to talk to us tonight?
08:32Do you think either of them, and it'll have to be presented in some sort of hypothetical manner.
08:39But do you expect either of them to present something that moves towards closing the door on this or don't
08:46ask us about it again?
08:49Yeah, that's a good question.
08:50Because we've got to ask them about it.
08:52Yeah, we have to ask about it.
08:54But I could easily see them dodging it for one thing.
08:58He's under contract with the 49ers.
09:00You know, we're focused on our players.
09:03I really hope Dan and Adam are not listening to this and they choose instead to give us a good
09:07answer.
09:09But that I would not be surprised if that's an avenue they take.
09:14Or if they instead shift focus, like Dan has done multiple times and saying we really like the guys that
09:20we have.
09:21And then, you know, maybe individually call out some guys like Van Jefferson or others he's mentioned unsolicited in the
09:28past.
09:29So, I could see that.
09:31I could also see Adam saying, you know, we're always looking to add new talent.
09:35He's said that before.
09:38And to be fair, he has added talent late in camp.
09:42I mean, Noah Brown, others.
09:45When did they sign Vaughn?
09:47They signed Vaughn like two days before camp, didn't they?
09:50Two days before camp, yeah.
09:51So, yeah, I mean, a lot is going to change to this roster.
09:56It happens to every team every year around this time.
10:00But there are ways for them to dodge it.
10:03I hope they don't.
10:04I hope they do put the kibosh on it.
10:05But I just.
10:08How much can they really say?
10:09They don't have, like, great reason to, you know?
10:11Because I've never.
10:12They can't publicly say they were interested.
10:14So, why would you publicly say you're not interested?
10:17You know what I mean?
10:17Like, again, I really hope they're not listening to this and getting ideas.
10:20I don't want to tip my hand, but my thought.
10:24And B is very good at.
10:26B and I play this game a lot.
10:28Like, I ask him a question I want to ask the coach.
10:30And, Nicky, you're an expert at this as well.
10:34Question for both of you.
10:35So, it's AP and DQ sitting there.
10:36Question for both of you.
10:37This is not about any specific player or any specific situation.
10:41But have you ever encountered a player actively advocating to join your roster via social media?
10:49And how does that impact your viewpoint of the player?
10:53Isn't that at least answerable?
10:57It's answerable, but I don't know that it fully encompasses the situation, too.
11:00Because he's going well beyond just asking to join the team.
11:04Like, this is.
11:05Sure.
11:06Asking to join your team while also trashing his current employers.
11:09And refusing to, like, take the steps to get reinstated.
11:14And, yeah.
11:15Well, yeah.
11:16While also under contract and getting, you know, as one of the top compensated players at his position.
11:24We've never had.
11:26They're extenuating circumstances.
11:28Never had a player like that try anything.
11:31But, you know, if we had to deal with it, we won't talk to the person until they're released from
11:37the team that they're dealing with.
11:38Right.
11:39Yeah.
11:40That's the answer.
11:41Right.
11:42Non-IUK division.
11:44Is there one thing you're going to be focused on the most?
11:48Like, I still think, I think this defense is going to be better.
11:52Now, is it marginally better?
11:54Is it significantly better?
11:55I don't know that answer, right?
11:57I think, unfortunately, like most of the NFL, like, if Josh Allen gets hurt, what the hell are we talking
12:03about in Buffalo?
12:04I think the rise and fall of the organization this year is going to be Jaden Daniels.
12:09Is there something else out there that you think is not being looked at enough?
12:15I don't think anything rises to the level of Jaden.
12:18I think that's absolutely right.
12:19This team will go where Jaden goes.
12:22And you hope he can stay healthy and stay on the field because I think that's ultimately what's going to
12:28decide their fate this season.
12:32And beyond that, I think the defensive line will be hugely important.
12:38And I don't, I've transparency, like, I don't have a great read on that group because I felt like I
12:45had a good read at the start of camp last year,
12:48seeing, like, you know, they're bigger up front.
12:50They're folks more on the run.
12:51This could be better.
12:53And as soon as they, you know, face the Patriots in that joint practice, like, you're like, oh, boy, like,
12:58this is not great.
13:00And we may see a glimpse of that again, or they, you know, may show the complete opposite.
13:07But it's just so hard to tell.
13:08And I think they really need that group to be really strong.
13:12They need a pass rush.
13:13They haven't had a solid one for quite some time.
13:16They've had guys step up and have, like, careers between, you know, Dorrance was the latest.
13:22But they need that group to cohesively be strong.
13:27So I, those two groups, I guess you could say, Jaden and the D-line are hugely important.
13:34Their D-line is very important.
13:36For sure.
13:36For sure.
13:37I, do you think Styles can hit the ground running?
13:41Because he's looked great, but there's no pads or anything.
13:44Yeah.
13:46I do.
13:47I do.
13:47I guess it depends on what role they see him in.
13:50And, like, I know there's this whole debate about who's going to line up next to Styles
13:54and what be Frankie.
13:56But that, to me, doesn't matter in the NFL anymore.
13:58Who starts doesn't matter.
14:00Because everybody uses sub packages.
14:01The first 15 plays are scripted.
14:03Like, it's just, they're both going to play.
14:06Who will get the ball to snap?
14:08We'll see.
14:08But, to Styles, yes, I do think he can hit the ground running.
14:15I'm curious to see how they plan to use him.
14:17I know they want to move him around, but will it be primarily the mic?
14:20Will he be more outside?
14:22Like, but I do think he has, you know, the IQ, clearly the size and athleticism.
14:28Like, I think he, I think he could be, you know, a quick impact player for sure.
14:32Yeah.
14:33It's going to be fun.
14:35Can't wait.
14:36Yeah.
14:36How do you feel knowing you've enjoyed hanging out with your son for most of the offseason
14:42and now there's this mix of, like, fun, excitement, a little bit of anxiety,
14:48and knowing the work that's coming over the next five, six months.
14:51How do you feel?
14:53Yeah, I think it's that mix.
14:55It's, like, heartbroken to not have the time with, as much time as I've had with him
15:01because I love being around him.
15:03Thanks, little guy, of course.
15:04But also, like, looking forward to having more of that structure because I need it.
15:09I need structure.
15:09It's important.
15:11I need it.
15:12I need deadlines.
15:15But, no, I'm excited.
15:16I'm excited.
15:17I'm ready to get going.
15:18Yeah.
15:18We'll be reading.
15:19We'll be listening.
15:20It's like the first day of school.
15:21Yeah, totally.
15:22It's at Nikki Javala.
15:24Read her work in The Athletic.
15:25We're about to talk about Vida Veya.
15:29If you're just looking at a Flores-style defense, a player like Veya would help a lot.
15:35Yeah.
15:35Do you think there's any possibility there?
15:39That would be really interesting.
15:41That would be really interesting.
15:43I'd be curious what it would mean for Duran, you know?
15:48Yeah.
15:50But that could be interesting.
15:52I haven't looked at his contract.
15:55I know he's been angling for one, but I haven't looked at the numbers yet.
15:58I think he'd make it like $17.5 million a year.
16:03I'm surprised.
16:04Yeah, that's not bad.
16:05But he's going to want a new deal.
16:06Yeah, he's like the 15th or 19th highest paid or something like that, they were saying.
16:12Yeah.
16:12Yeah.
16:12Yeah.