- 2 days ago
After listening to QB Michael Penix Jr, Andy and Randy aren't convinced Tua has run away with the starting QB job.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00All right, so Michael Penix was on with Dukes of Bell yesterday.
00:02They started off by saying, you look 100% out there, so what's the actual holdup, Mike?
00:09Yeah, man, I feel really good, you know, but at the same time, it's things that, you know, the doctor
00:14know more than me.
00:15You know, so it's like sometimes you got to, you know, step back and be like, okay, I don't know
00:19as much as the doctor,
00:20so I'm going to trust that, and I'm going to just go out there and do whatever I can to
00:23make sure I get to the point where he says that I am 100%.
00:26What more do you need to get before they'll let you do what you need to do?
00:29Yeah, I mean, the biggest thing right now is, like, I just got to make sure I'm not in contact,
00:33so I don't even want to be in a spot where you're risking, you know, somebody falling into you,
00:37so that's why I'm kind of staying away from the 11-on-11 stuff.
00:40If I knew 100% sure that I wouldn't get touched, nobody would, you know, accidentally fall.
00:45You know, it happens. You know, it's football. You know, you're going to fall. It's not always going to be
00:48perfect,
00:48so I just want to get to that point where, okay, if that scenario did happen, I know that I'm
00:54in a good spot, and I know that I'm okay.
00:55I'm curious to know how difficult this rehab has been compared to your previous rehabs.
01:02First knee, all right, bro, I'll get back. Second one, okay, I know what this is about.
01:06Now this time around, how difficult has this one been compared to the others?
01:10I wouldn't say it's as difficult. I think my second time was the most difficult.
01:14I feel like the first time was tough because I've never been injured before, so, like, mentally it was kind
01:18of tough,
01:18but the second time I was, like, I was kind of down on myself, but, you know, getting through the
01:22second time,
01:23I feel like it gave me confidence in knowing that, you know, I can get through anything,
01:26so whenever this time did come around, I'm like, okay, I've been here before.
01:29You know, it's just another bump in the road, but, you know, I know that I can come out on
01:33top,
01:34and so that's, for me, I'm just, like, just trusting in the process, trusting in my faith each and every
01:38day
01:39and just going out there and being the best person I can be for this team, so.
01:42It's Michael Penix Jr. with us on Dukes and Bell.
01:44I don't know how much you've heard, but the audience, man, every time we mention you and the competition,
01:49it's like, Penix is my quarterback. Do you feel the love? So many people pulling for you.
01:52Yeah, it's awesome, man. It's a beautiful city. It's an awesome city to be able to play in.
01:58The fans have been amazing, you know, but, you know, for them, I just say I'm working on getting back
02:03on the field first,
02:04and once I'm out there on the field, you know, the plays will come, so I'm excited for this season.
02:09I'm excited for this team, and I look forward to, you know, winning football games.
02:13Can you talk about Alex Van Pelt and what he's meant as far as the development and things he's asking
02:16you to do?
02:17Yeah, he's been awesome. Obviously, he's been, he's played in the league for a long time.
02:21He's been, he's been coaching in the league for a long time, been around a lot of great quarterbacks,
02:25so it's awesome to be able to have him, him in our room, you know, coaching us up, you know,
02:28and just giving us that confidence that we need to go out there to play at a high level.
02:32Everybody saw the pass to Zachariah Branch. I know one of those guys you've got to be itching to maybe
02:36get the football to.
02:37How do you like what he's doing out there?
02:38Oh, man, it's awesome, man. It's exciting to see how explosive he is, you know,
02:43the things that he can do with the ball in his hand, you know, the things that he can do
02:46with his route running.
02:46It's awesome to see, and I can't wait to see it this year.
02:49Michael, what about when you talk about the playbook, obviously, has it changed a lot?
02:53Is it very similar to what we were doing over the last couple of seasons? How do you feel?
02:57Yeah, it changed a decent amount. You know, it's some carryover, but it is a lot of change as well.
03:03But at the same time, you know, that comes with it. That comes with this sport.
03:06You know, you've seen a lot of coaching changes throughout the whole league this past year.
03:11So, you know, it's a lot of people going through it, you know.
03:14But it's all about the work that you put in, the amount of studying that you put in so that
03:18whenever, you know,
03:19your time do come out on the field, you have a good understanding, a good grasp of the offense.
03:23You feel it's better suited to what you do?
03:25Um, man, I feel like it's definitely been amazing.
03:29You know, I feel like I really love this offense.
03:31You know, just the versatility, you know, the way that we're getting the ball in all our playmakers' hands.
03:36You know, it's definitely awesome, and I can't wait to see what it's going to look like, you know, come
03:40live, live game action.
03:41We'd be remiss if we didn't ask you about Jalen Walker yesterday.
03:44Kind of took the, you know, the air out of the sails at practice.
03:47And obviously a guy that was expecting to do big things in year two.
03:52You've been through it.
03:53Um, talk about what that injury means for the team, but more importantly, the person Jalen Walker is.
03:57Yeah, man, it hurts.
03:58It hurts for this team.
03:59You know, we hurt for him, but at the same time, you know, um, we're all going to be there
04:04for him.
04:04We're all going to rally around him and, you know, be there for him while he's going through this rehab
04:08process.
04:08And, you know, him as a person, you know, just the person that he is, a positive energy that he
04:12brings, the toughness that he has.
04:14You know, I know this is going to be nothing for him.
04:16You know, he's going to get through this, and he's going to come back even stronger.
04:19And, you know, we're just all praying for him.
04:21We're all rallying around him and just giving him that love that he needs in this time.
04:26And, um, but he'll be okay.
04:27Man, we can't wait to see you out there.
04:29I mean, it's one of those conversations we've had all offseason.
04:32And you and Tua, what is Tua saying to you?
04:34What's the relationship like with Tua in this?
04:35It's not a true competition yet, but how's the relationship with Tua?
04:39Yeah, man, it's been great.
04:40Tua's been great since he got here.
04:41You know, we got a great relationship.
04:43A lot of jokes being said throughout the quarterback room.
04:46I feel like...
04:46They're moving together, right?
04:47Yeah.
04:48Yeah.
04:48So I feel like everybody is getting comfortable around each other in the room.
04:51So it's been awesome to be able to have, you know, a quarterback room that, you know, looks to see
04:57each other's success.
04:58You know, it's not about themselves.
05:01It's not about just me.
05:02You know, it's about this team.
05:03You know, whenever you have that, that's when it's going to be good.
05:05You got seven back, man.
05:07How's that feel?
05:08It feels awesome, man.
05:09Yeah, it feels awesome.
05:11I saw you guys working a little extra, doing some extra stuff.
05:14Is that just timing kind of deal, handoffs and getting in a rhythm?
05:18Yeah, I mean, that's just getting the reps.
05:20You know, obviously, he didn't practice the first couple practices.
05:22So just him getting the reps and me as well, the reps that I miss, you know, in the team
05:26periods.
05:26You know, it's just us getting those extra reps so that we can stay sharp as far as mentally and,
05:32you know, physically.
05:34So whenever we do, whenever I do get back in, whenever he's back into the rotation the same way that
05:39he normally is in practice, you know, we're on the right pace.
05:42Michael Penix, Jr. with us.
05:43He looked great at practice, as we said, but there's still some time to go.
05:46The mental reps, the film study, is that all part of it, too?
05:49Yeah, that's all.
05:50That's the main thing right now, you know, especially not being able to be out there in 11-on-11,
05:54the team stuff.
05:54You know, it's all about the mental reps.
05:56It's all about, you know, just thinking about what you're going to do if you were in that situation.
06:01So that's what I've been doing a lot of.
06:03That's Michael Penix from yesterday with Dukes and Bell.
06:06Again, obviously, as has been covered, I think, pretty well and extensively.
06:12Not fully cleared yet for practice, but still out there able to do quite a bit of stuff.
06:16Tua was out there yesterday in the most physical practice that they've had, certainly, in this training camp,
06:21and looked like he was kind of fully able to do the most he's been able to do.
06:26Kind of looked the most like himself yesterday, which I know we'd, you know, it's all, it's all, you talk
06:32about what you could talk about in the moment because it's the only thing that's happened.
06:36And Joe Patrick had an interesting point early in the week about, like, this in terms of what they've both
06:40been able to do, both limited in different ways.
06:42Penix has looked better until yesterday.
06:44Right.
06:44And then Tua was able to go out there and actually fully participate in everything and looks like the back
06:51maybe isn't as a problem anymore.
06:54And, you know, obviously has a leg up because he's not limited like Penix is, but also looked like the,
07:02you know, the first quarterback yesterday, too.
07:05Yeah, I think, you know, the one thing that we were talking about yesterday towards the end of the show,
07:10like, they're viewing it between those two guys as a competition.
07:14And maybe because we're still on the assumption because it was said from the coach's mouth, the competition starts and
07:21they're both able to do the same thing.
07:22But maybe it's – when that was said, I wondered if they knew how long Michael was going to be
07:28out.
07:28Yeah, it's a good question.
07:29You know, and then if that's the case, it's like, okay, we got to readjust what we're doing as far
07:33as what our eyes are seeing in this competition because of what Mike can't do and what he can't do
07:38until, you know, however long.
07:40It should be about three weeks now.
07:42And so – and Tua said it kind of sort of like this is a competition right now.
07:48And he has a leg up, obviously, because he gets to go out there and do the most important thing.
07:52That's 11-on-11.
07:53All that stuff is important to get me wrong.
07:55But those looks when it's full goal and all the teams and guys are coming at it, he's not getting
07:59hit or anything like that.
08:00Had some nice throws yesterday.
08:01Had the one interception.
08:03But, yeah, I mean, right now he is in a place where he has a leg up, in my opinion,
08:09to be the week one starter.
08:10Yeah, I agree with that.
08:11And we've felt like that ever since the first day Penix said, I'm not cleared for four weeks.
08:16Like, that's leg up, right?
08:17Yesterday was the first day I really felt like you saw him have a leg up.
08:21That's what I mean.
08:23Everything before that was like, Penix looks better.
08:25Did you see that because Michael couldn't do it?
08:27No, because Tua could.
08:29Yeah, because it was because Tua could.
08:30Yeah, but no, I'm asking you, if Michael was in those 11-on-11, what did he do?
08:34Oh, then if Michael was in 11-on-11, I would say right now Michael has had a better camp.
08:38Okay.
08:39But that's, again, that's just who hadn't done anything really at first, right?
08:41Right, right, right.
08:42Michael's been able to do everything that he's allowed to do other than 11-on-11 and the full team
08:49stuff.
08:49Everything that he's been allowed to do, he's looked pretty good in, by and large.
08:54I mean, there was the one 7-on-7 session where we saw him miss quite a few throws.
08:59But, you know, all the deep throw looks good, and, you know, a lot of the little various stuff that
09:06they're doing out there, he's looked pretty good doing.
09:08But, yeah, I mean, Tua's able to do all of it and looked good doing it yesterday.
09:12So, as it stands now, that's a leg up.
09:15I also wonder, too, like, if, you know, if they're really going to play starters a little bit in games
09:19one and three, Penix isn't going to be cleared for one.
09:23No.
09:23Tua is a starter.
09:25Right.
09:26Maybe he'll play in game one of the preseason.
09:28Who, Tua?
09:29If they're going to play starters.
09:30Oh, they're playing starters.
09:32Yeah.
09:32Stefanski said they wanted to.
09:34Yeah.
09:34He's got to go in.
09:35So, that's how you win it.
09:37Like, if Tua goes in there and they have a drive and it looks good, then, you know what I
09:40mean?
09:40Right.
09:40Then, that's the, you know, along with the joint practices that they'll have with the Colts, obviously, those are going
09:48to be, you know, those are going to be a big part of it, too.
09:51But, you know, if it's about analyzing what they can do, which is what we think it is,
09:58and Tua can play in a preseason game and Penix can't, that seems like a pretty good way to win
10:03the job.
10:03Yeah, especially if he looks good.
10:05Right.
10:05Yeah, that's true.
10:06I mean, I guess if he plays like crap.
10:07You're like, damn.
10:08And maybe, yeah, you know, maybe Penix benefits from not playing.
10:13I don't know.
10:14Yeah, don't look bad.
10:15Please.
10:15Please don't.
10:15Yeah, that's the whole thing about it, too, is like competition, you know, is, first of all, you don't want
10:21a quarterback competition.
10:22I think we all understand that.
10:24You want to know who your quarterback is and feel good about it.
10:26You don't want a quarterback competition.
10:27But if you're going to have one, you know, at least have them push each other.
10:31Yeah.
10:31Neither one of them has really been able to do anything yet, so it's really hard to say.
10:34Yeah, but that's why I said, that's why I was, when they were talking about the competition part, you always
10:38compete, don't get me wrong.
10:39But the way it was said was like, okay, yeah, Michael's only doing this, but I'm still competing with him
10:44in something.
10:45So that's what it seems like to me.
10:47Like, it's still a competition in their eyes, meaning, because of the way they're viewing it, are they viewing it,
10:53I'm talking about the coaches viewing it, the way we're, okay, we're looking at what Michael is doing.
10:57He's doing it great.
10:58We know all those different things, but, I mean, we can't just automatically give to it this job because Michael's
11:04looking good at what he's doing.
11:05It would be wild to be able to win a competition without being able to fully engage in the competition.
11:11That means the other guy who can't is not doing anything.
11:15Yes, exactly what I mean.
11:17Which, again, I think put them both in as many situations as they possibly can be in before the season
11:24starts.
11:25Like, you know, let him play a couple drives in the preseason game.
11:30Let all the starters go out there.
11:31Michael's coming for the third one, right?
11:32Well.
11:32He'll be cleared by then, I think.
11:34Knock on wood.
11:35Knock on wood.
11:36But he hasn't cleared for anything yet, so I don't know.
11:38Who knows?
11:39The winners are Tommy in Bethlehem, Tim in Smyrna, and Sarah in Lawrenceville.
11:46Congratulations, guys.
11:47Hey, dude, I told you to call in, man.
11:49Damn.
Comments