Lots Of Optimism For the Edmonton Elks After Week 1 Of Preseason! - Elks 101

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:02]Welcome to Elks 101. Another episode of Elk Central breaking this one down.

[00:00:08]Break in. Touchdown Edmonton. Furo Dunar back on top. Go the Elks.

[00:00:15]>> Welcome back. Here we are. Elks 101, baby. Coming off a big dub this weekend.

[00:00:22]>> Little bit unique of show. A little change up. No Declan.

[00:00:27]>> No. We got just asked to in the big seats today. How you doing, Rick?

[00:00:30]>> I'm good, buddy. Yourself?

[00:00:31]>> I'm good, man. I'm good. How was the weekend for you?

[00:00:34]>> Uh, the weekend was good. You know what?

[00:00:35]It's been uh it's been pretty busy out in this city. I feel like everyone's a little more awake these nights now, so it's a little bit nicer. Makes uh my life a lot easier, that's for sure.

[00:00:43]>> Yeah, no doubt. Uh with these nice nights, uh probably a little bit busier, a little >> way busier lingering a little bit more now.

[00:00:51]>> Yeah. Yeah. So, normally last couple years at this time, we've been doing playoffs, hockey playoffs, right? So that's just kind of like automatic easy home runs.

[00:00:58]>> Exactly.

[00:00:58]>> Uh so this year we're out a little bit earlier than normal.

[00:01:02]>> Might have made us a little bit worried in terms of what we're going to be doing for the next month and a half because obviously the last couple months has been super easy, but no, it's been pretty good. It's uh yeah, Saturday's pretty busy. That storm kind of drew people in.

[00:01:15]>> Yeah, no doubt.

[00:01:16]>> Uh it's nice to have the patio, but yeah, with the it was it's going off right now, so we're happy.

[00:01:20]>> And that's good. Good lineups and stuff.

[00:01:21]>> Oh, buddy. It's awesome.

[00:01:22]>> Yeah. Yeah. people rowdy. The bouncers have to get active or not?

[00:01:26]>> No, no. Things are a little bit better now. Everyone's a little more calm. You get the one little weird one every now and then, so the guys got to step up and kind of drop the voice a little bit a couple octaves or whatever, but yeah, for the most part. Yeah, for the most part, everyone's okay.

[00:01:39]>> That's good, man. That's good. Yeah. And Deck, uh, full disclosure, he's gone, he went to Italy, so >> that's what we're told.

[00:01:46]>> Couple of weeks away in Italy, so that'll be pretty sweet. That's a bucket list trip for me.

[00:01:50]>> Yeah. You know what? But I'd love I'm not a big if I went to Europe, it wouldn't be to go see the sites. It wouldn't be to see all the all the old stuff there. I would go to Europe just to eat.

[00:02:01]>> True. You know, >> I want to go eat, you know, eat absolutely everything. And over there, food's a lot cleaner. Over here in the US, >> even the carbs and the pizza.

[00:02:10]>> Exactly.

[00:02:12]But you have the what is it? The people like eat wheat and gluten intolerant.

[00:02:17]>> They go over that. They're fine.

[00:02:18]>> They're good.

[00:02:18]>> Yeah. Yeah. It's even with the milk and stuff, the dairy products. Same thing.

[00:02:21]>> You look at the people just the body the body masses in North America. Clearly, you know, it's more obese compared to the world. Uh but yet they're eating over there way more carb rich diets, but they're smaller people, >> but their food just cleaner and it's not meant to last forever. Like you can go grab a a loaf of bread right now. You can leave it on your counter for two and a half weeks, open that thing up and it looks exactly the way it did when you bought it. You can't do that with their food because their food goes bad because food is supposed to go bad. Yeah.

[00:02:49]>> So, yeah, we make things very convenient for ourselves. Like I know there's a there's a type of tomato out Italy that it only grows in like six weeks. It's only available like six weeks a year.

[00:02:59]>> Really? Like you wait. When it comes time, you eat that tomato for like six weeks and put on everything, do whatever you want. Here, we just find a way to grow it all the time. So, you lose the quality of it. You lose like the >> the desire, the want for it because it makes you wait for it. Yeah.

[00:03:15]>> Here, we are just convenient. We're gluttonous. We're just Convenience is right. That microwave mentality where we want the fastest thing ASAP.

[00:03:24]>> Yeah.

[00:03:25]>> Right. And it's usually terrible for you.

[00:03:27]>> It's not good for you at all.

[00:03:30]>> Yeah. Send me over there and I will just eat. That's all I >> Where do you want to see the most in the world? Where's like the biggest buck?

[00:03:37]>> So, my biggest things are always going to hot places. I want water. I want clear water. I want sand. I want heat.

[00:03:44]>> At that point, I'm open. So, >> especially as we get older, huh? Yeah.

[00:03:48]Yeah, man. Yeah. A lot less than you should. You should go backpacking, man.

[00:03:51]I don't really want to walk anywhere.

[00:03:53]But find me a nice little lounger chair or something like that.

[00:03:55]>> Exactly. And we're in the cold all the time. Like I don't want to go to the mountains. I get it. Cool. But if I go to the mountains, man, hot tub, hot springs.

[00:04:04]>> I don't want to put on all the layers and go skiing. That was I kind of grew up playing hot. I didn't get to do a lot of that. Yeah.

[00:04:09]>> Um >> No, man. I want I want I want hot beach.

[00:04:13]I'm with you on that >> and all inclusive that no spending. mom with you. Yeah, I I'll before Airbnb.

[00:04:20]>> Oh, he's every time >> now. Um Yeah. Yeah. You got me thinking about the heat. I'm trying to >> We're getting close. We are outside.

[00:04:30]Like today is whatever. It's 15 degrees as my watch right now. And it's 10 o'clock.

[00:04:36]>> It's supposed to be what 27.

[00:04:37]>> Yeah, that's what I'm finally man.

[00:04:39]Finally.

[00:04:40]>> It's Wednesday. And then you know what comes with the heat? Thunderstorm. So, it's gonna >> if we can get a super hot day >> and a storm at night. Yeah.

[00:04:49]>> Ask.

[00:04:50]>> It's like we're gonna It's gonna be hot weather, then big rain probably Wednesday through Monday and then everything's going to pop.

[00:04:56]>> Good. I mean, we need the welcome summer.

[00:04:58]>> We need the rain. So, I'll suck it up.

[00:05:00]>> You've been able to swing them at all?

[00:05:01]>> I've been to the range a couple times.

[00:05:03]Yeah. Yeah. We're gonna hit the range again today. I've got a tournament next Friday.

[00:05:07]>> I don't know. Just one of the ones we work and there's a bunch of us doing the exact same thing. We have a couple ones and the progy pros I'll play in theirs 19th or 21st something like that. I remember that m before and I was like man that's >> it's not like a final time like we might be >> so things work out for that tour but that that's always a fun for us >> brother. How about Vegas?

[00:05:29]>> Wow. Oh man. Did you see that coming?

[00:05:33]>> No screen happened right now. No. And I've watched very very little. I'll be completely honest. I'm not really I'm not really into it. I kind of take the same mentality as the players. I'll check on the score app every now and again. I did last night. I was three nothing. That's interesting. But back 32. Crazy. [ __ ] 43. Whatever the hell, >> whatever. I'll move on. I'm watching the men's world championship right now.

[00:05:54]>> Anything besides hockey.

[00:05:55]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Even basketball's been really exciting. This Vegas saga. What's wild with the Bruce Cassidney and not letting him be able to speak to other organizations and just, you know, the bad karma that they're putting out upon themselves, but yet they're continuing to have success kind of defying three against Colorado.

[00:06:15]>> And then it's funny though, everybody will say, "Hey, listen, Colorado's dirt, Mar's dirt, Mckennon's dirt, >> everybody know, >> but then you turn around like, well, where's that >> same type of reasoning for the oil?" You know, Conor the broken whatever he had.

[00:06:28]And then, you know, you go through a bunch of those guys. Listen, at the end of the day, the NHL playoffs are a war.

[00:06:34]>> And to get through it, it honestly can sometimes just be the the luckiest team.

[00:06:38]And by that, I mean the healthiest.

[00:06:40]>> No doubt.

[00:06:41]>> And then you just make your chance. It's the truth. Well, let's not bury the lead, man. Elks open up their preeason in Victoria, BC.

[00:06:49]>> What a success it was. Uh not just because of the outcome. You love seeing the outcome. It was a dub 3416, but how they got there >> was the thing that I really want to bust down. 16 points allowed. Uh, so their defense really playing secure. BC didn't really >> dress much of a roster. What I want to talk about, Rick, is the offense.

[00:07:12]>> Perfect.

[00:07:13]>> And how the offense produced from the top down. It wasn't just the big dogs, big names, indivi one individual. Uh the entire offense, the depth guys, they all produced and with coach Maximick the offensive coordinator, it begins with him. Actually had him on sport 1440 this morning and interviewed him and yeah, it's so impressed. Rick Cody Fardo, he went 206.

[00:07:36]>> Yeah.

[00:07:36]>> You know, nothing to write home.

[00:07:38]>> Is that something to worry about?

[00:07:40]>> No, absolutely. Absolutely. You put nothing into that, right?

[00:07:44]>> At least speaking for myself.

[00:07:46]>> Yeah. I mean, you come from the game, right? So, you have that experience there. if it was a bad game or if it was something like that that you should be worried about. I'm sure you've been in times where after that game the room's a little tense. But seeing him go, what was it? Like he didn't complete a pass, I don't think. Right.

[00:08:01]>> Yeah. Two of six for 26 yards. All right.

[00:08:04]>> So nothing. It was it was the worst quarterback performance on the day.

[00:08:07]Yeah. And it comes from your starter. So something that you might want to scratch your head at, but again >> that's nothing to me. It's a total burger. Um, you probably only played, full disclosure, both you and I didn't even see the game.

[00:08:22]>> No, I've watched pretty much all the all the highlights I find online, but putting it on CFL Plus find and I heard the stream wasn't very good.

[00:08:30]>> Oh, really? Yeah. I didn't even try to.

[00:08:32]I had my dad was in town, so I was with family and he was with the grandkids. We were busy. So, didn't even get a chance.

[00:08:39]So, we're talking solely off of the stats that we saw and what coach Maxim spoke to us this morning. So, you know, based off his opinion, too. So, Cody Fardo, two of six, 26 yards. That's a nothing murder. Probably got a series or two at best.

[00:08:54]>> Yeah, >> you'd like to see more out of your starter, but it is what it is. They barely play. Now, the depth guys, that's what I really want to spend time chewing up and busting down because Taylor Powell, backup quarterback, came in with, you know, fairly high expectations. You would say, "Hey, I would." But then I sit here when I first when you bring up his name, I think about things that the guy normally assist Declan was saying. He was not huge on him coming over here, right?

[00:09:22]Kind of thought that maybe he was and maybe getting overly pumped up.

[00:09:26]>> Yeah. Yeah. So, I was gonna ask you about that too because >> because though pundits across the league, pundits across the league have kind of dubbed for a couple years now Powell to be the next guy.

[00:09:37]>> And I get Dex's opinion that, you know, Powell's numbers haven't been that strong over his career. They've been fairly mediocre. I think his best season passed for 14 touchdowns, but had seven to 10 picks somewhere in there. Nothing to write home about.

[00:09:53]>> So, I I do understand why you there's some cause for concern in terms of, you know, proclaiming him to be the next guy for the CFL, but then >> also Deck had eyes on him in camp and said, you know, his camp was average. It wasn't amazing. There was some periods where he couldn't even hit a barn with his football. So, >> yeah, I understand. But then you see the numbers, man. 13 of 14, 160, one touchdown, one pick. you like to scratch that number, but 13 to 14 that is extremely impressive efficiency, Rick.

[00:10:29]>> Yes. Well, you know what? I would you not say that this means more than what they've seen in camp previous so far?

[00:10:36]>> 100%. Right. Because I mean, >> exactly right. And I don't want to get over I won't get ahead of ourselves here, but 13 of 14.

[00:10:45]>> That's big. Sick, bro. Yeah, that's extremely efficient. And that's with I think it was three fifths of backups for your offensive line and I think the two big guards were there.

[00:10:56]>> So that's why it's so impressive and that we're going to spend essentially the whole podcast talking about the offense and you know giving them their flowers because to do that with those depth guys.

[00:11:07]>> Yeah, >> that's a testament to the people that they have here.

[00:11:12]13 of 14 Rick.

[00:11:14]>> There's no that's that is something that's 14 passes. I mean, the one of the pick, don't know how that one went, but the 160 you're averaging 11.4 yards.

[00:11:25]That's a first down on every pass. Yeah, you're perfect. Except for the one or one interception.

[00:11:31]>> So, what's even cooler about that? You mentioned you're doing that with depth line usually probably depth receivers at that point. Okay. So, Taylor had a really good outing. Go down the list.

[00:11:43]Zack Sroski, three of three for 83 yards and a touchdown. So, it's not just Taylor Powell who went off. Okay, now the third QB who's in went off. Three of three for 83. And Zachoski's a good athlete. I'm excited to see him. So, to have him show up now. Okay, we got some ballers. Okay, let's go down the list one more time. Cole Stein, five of seven for 74 yards and a touchdown, which is great out there. So that's four quarterbacks we see in the field by far the worst.

[00:12:17]>> These guys, these depth guys, not only is it a testament to showing that they can ball, >> but they're accepting and taking the coaching.

[00:12:27]Max Stimik is clearly in his bag right now with play calling. And yes, let's we know it's not against BC's aces. Yeah, >> DC didn't really dress much of a roster, but for Edmonton's depth guys to come out and have this type of offensive output, it has to leave you very, very encouraging, exciting. Would you disagree?

[00:12:50]>> No, 100%. Man, like I said, is offense is going to be probably the make or break of this team this year in terms of taking that next elite step, right? I think everything is if they're just average, I think this team is bottom level playoff level. But if they are good good now, you're talking first and second in the division, right? So I think that's that's a massive step. What you saw yet, what you saw the other day based on just the stat chart sheet right here has a lot to be excited about. I understand it was the backups and whatnot, but it's the backups because of the backups. You have to win every time you're out there depending regardless of who you're playing against, right? So, as long as you win, that's all that matters. We'll see what happens going forward on whatever four days from now against Calgary, >> but I think for game one of the preseason out of your quarterback, this is what you want to see.

[00:13:44]>> Absolutely.

[00:13:46]And again, I just want to spend some time talking about Matt Simic because, you know, we just recently on the pod were very vocally questioning, wondering, is this going to be a dink and dunk offense? What type of production are we going to get?

[00:14:03]>> No, this offense has the capability to open it up and to see everybody >> with numbers the way they put up the numbers. Oh man, it's so impressive. And I'm so impressed just from a defensive player watching this because in preseason >> you don't expect any type of offensive output really if a guy pops for, you know, goes 10 of 15. Oh man, that's a good game to see not only one guy but two guys but three guys do this and have that type of effic efficiency all pass for really good passing yardage and then each of them have a touchdown. Rick.

[00:14:37]>> Yeah, >> that's really impressive stuff, man. All our averages are above 10 yards at the first down. That's not a dink and dunk offense. And the thing that really catches my eye is that Snider was here last year, right?

[00:14:49]>> Zroski is not.

[00:14:51]>> He came late, I think. I forget exactly.

[00:14:53]>> Not enough time to get a good feeling.

[00:14:56]We're coming into this. We're coming into this year going the OC has been with the quarterback for a year and a half. Now they're going to start to gel, right? But you're looking at two quarterbacks who were not here last year who are walking in and are successful with his book the way it is, how quick they're how quickly they're learning it.

[00:15:13]That is a big step for him as well then.

[00:15:16]And being the competitor that he is, I'm going to speak for Cody Fagardo. You know, seeing that you only went to six and 26 yards and seeing all these backups come out and sling the bell the way he did, you know, he's gonna want to have to up his game. So, it's that upwards pressure, right? That's perfect.

[00:15:33]>> That's a healthy organization.

[00:15:35]>> Yeah, I can see his uh competitive juices flowing.

[00:15:38]>> Oh yeah, he's gonna want to be like I know it's game before the game, but >> I saw what the guys behind me who want my job are doing.

[00:15:47]>> I need to really step up here because let's face it, I'm pretty cemented in the spot.

[00:15:53]>> But it's not for that long.

[00:15:55]>> But it's not that long.

[00:15:56]>> We talk about this all the time in pro ball. Nobody's safe. And usually a quarterback would be.

[00:16:02]>> Yeah.

[00:16:02]>> This is not a situation where you're going to be overly having him no matter what keep playing.

[00:16:09]>> Especially the coaching staff saw what Taylor Powell did. The coaching staff knows this guy can sling it within this offensive scheme.

[00:16:18]>> And we saw Trey was >> the guy last year and after four or five weeks he was not. And that was coming off a game where he was perfect the game before.

[00:16:28]>> Yeah. That's crazy. So nobody's safe in pro football. If you're not producing, >> you're man walking on eggshells.

[00:16:35]>> Hey, that's good. That's how it keeps everybody sharp and keep everybody at the top of the game.

[00:16:38]>> It is, man. That's that upwards pressure. So this offensive output is so good to see. But it doesn't start without solid offensive line play up front. And I firmly believe with the additions on the offensive line is a big reason coach Maxim's able to call the plays he's calling to is set up the offensive scheme that he set up because the O line not only is creating the space in the run game be able to turn into play action and whatnot, but then giving the quarterback time to go out and sling it the way they did.

[00:17:11]>> Yeah. And these, like I said, some of these guys are new quarterbacks and they're you've got you got your backup receivers out there, so therefore they're they're they don't have that jelling yet, right? So to give them time to find it in live games is massive going forward, I think.

[00:17:24]>> Yeah, it's truth. And they you don't get to see the stats and it's unless you're really watching it >> for linemen.

[00:17:30]>> Yeah.

[00:17:31]>> Yeah. I was just scrolling up here and thinking the same thing.

[00:17:33]>> Yeah. There's nothing really to look at for them. And unless you're really watching it, which it was, it's challenging to do with the preseason on, unless you're streaming it, it's it's hard to really get that true feel. But again, having spoke to Maxim today, we're very fortunate that we did get to talk to him so quickly after the game.

[00:17:52]Uh he said that he was thoroughly satisfied with his starters play. I mean, of course, the entire O line, the backups played well, too, but the starters what I wanted to focus on.

[00:18:01]Yeah.

[00:18:02]>> Yeah. He he named Carter O'Donnell. He's a a joy to have. Culturewood Many has advertised. Perfect. So these boys, they're doing their job up front and that's going to make life for Cody a lot easier. It's going to make life for everybody on the field easier. Right.

[00:18:16]Well said. It just allows the offense less pressure, more time to do their thing, which allows the defense to rest more, which allows to keep their energy level up. So when they are out there, they got to go, you know, pin their ears and go balls to the wall and and attack the other team's defense or offense, right? So, team rushing stats, the team rushed for 110 rushing yards. That's a 4.6 average on the amount of carries they had. Uh, passing stats, they passed for 343.

[00:18:44]So, they had over 450 total yards of team offense. And again, that's not just one guy who's chunking up a bunch of yardage. No, that is consistent throughout the entire roster. every little bit or sorry, every guy was um contributing their little portion to that output. So, it's so encouraging to see how they have that and that's the word of the day is encourage because we I was slightly, you know, I was holding my breath with this hot trick. It's one of those things where like you want to stay positive, but in the back of your mind, please don't [ __ ] this up. Please don't lay an egg. Here's like we need to get off on the right, but I don't want to see a freak thing go against us.

[00:19:28]Maybe a drop ball or a tip ball. Yeah, it's a pick slicks the other way. Just bad luck. Let's just get through this clean.

[00:19:36]>> They got through it clean >> and they got through it well.

[00:19:40]>> In the offense the past few years has kind of been the heel of this team. It's been kind the one area where you never really felt too sure >> or confident. you're questionable about your quarterback and you're probably more than questionable about your offensive line. And at that point, it really doesn't matter who your receivers or running backs are. If you're big dogs in front aren't that aren't up to par and it makes everything hard for your QB and if your QB isn't up to par and those guys up aren't to par, your offense is behind the eight ball early and it's really tough to battle through that. Yeah, I think they're going to be tone setters.

[00:20:21]They're going to be tone setters this year out front. Those hoggies, boy. Uh, so 110 rushing yards. Those how that bust down individually. None of our, by the way, none of the two big guys were there.

[00:20:33]>> We can rank. They didn't get any touches. Didn't even dress. Rashawn Baker, eight carries, 47. That's a 5.9 average. Isaiah Knight, Canadian, seven carries, 32 yards, 4.6 six average. Uh and then Shandere Pal, he had three for 13, 4.3 average. So the two focus the backs were Lean Baker, Isaiah Knight. Uh with the 5.9 average, 4.6 average.

[00:21:01]That's pretty darn impressive. If you're picking up half of a first down every time you're tilting the rock, especially when you scroll up and go back and look at your average of passing for your quarterbacks all being north of 10, like I and again, we don't want to get too excited. It's game one of the preeason. You're playing against the exhibition team on the other side.

[00:21:23]However, you still have to get the job done by your own. And they did in the CFL. You've heard me rant about this for months now, Rick. No, about a year since we've been at it. You want to first down, live in, you know, get four, five yards, living second and four and six, and get a first down. And those stats that we just talked about, averaging five a carry, averaging 10 passing, those are first downs right there. And that right is how you move the ball. Now finishing too, like the fact that the quarterbacks finished. Each quarterback had a tug, they're finishing. They're not just moving it, they're finishing.

[00:22:02]>> Yeah. And Cole Snder ran one as well.

[00:22:06]Look, it's it's big, man. And again, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but based on our eightyear history or something like that, >> this is this is cause for excitement.

[00:22:18]This is the the ticket sales for game one, if they were questionable at all, should be going north.

[00:22:26]Defensively, uh, a lot of the output, uh, was from guys who were more, you would say, backups in depth roles, which is to be expected. I would say that the defense that ended this year, ended last season was very strong and very confident with the players that they had coming into this season, which is why we saw how they locked everybody up essentially with contract extensions.

[00:22:54]Yeah, I think the majority of starting spots were already in dark pencil, you know, maybe not quite pen, but you're leaning, but >> yeah, you're leaning into it a little bit more. And that's kind of why you saw these guys playing the way they did.

[00:23:09]You're pretty confident with the majority of your starters. So, let's figure out what we have with with the rest of them. Um, you're going to need some quick replacements on the field in terms of just getting guys off, getting the guys for a break. So, these some of these guys are have to play big big plays, right? They're not only going to be special team guys, you've got the top three uh tackles here. We're all DMbacks.

[00:23:32]>> Yeah, exactly. That's my thought too.

[00:23:34]>> Right.

[00:23:35]>> Uh just looking at the numbers, not really any names that, you know, we have a lot of recognition with. Just sorry to the fellas.

[00:23:43]>> Jaylen Garn there with two tackles, but >> everybody above him. Not really.

[00:23:47]>> No. No. Newcomers you would say. Yeah, >> he's a linebacker who's been on the team for a couple of years. But no, it's to hold BC, like I say, to 16 points. And BC, I don't think had a pretty strong roster. That's not an excuse at all by any means, but I think the defense again is very similar to what we saw with the offense. Uh the coaching matters and the continuity truly does matter. It's not just fluff when we talk about it or when we hear about it in answers from players or coaches. It does matter. And when you're able to hit the ground running and have the guys confident in the scheme that you're trying to prepare them with, the guys are going to be able to fly around and play faster. The score indicates that.

[00:24:36]>> Yeah. No, 100%. They they gave the offense that confidence to go out there and play their style of football, knowing full well that things didn't go well in two downs that you were confident the defense was going to be able to stand up and stop the opposition and it looks very much like they did.

[00:24:52]>> Yeah, the there was one sack in the game that was Justin Pace, a linebacker. He had three tackles in a sack. Um but yeah, in terms of the numbers, kind of just so so numbers, you know, leading tackler was Geron Joseph, five tackles.

[00:25:08]Um yeah, not a ton to really bust down with defense because I think as a whole, they didn't address a lot of the names that we're going to see this upcoming week.

[00:25:18]>> Yeah. No, 100%. These guys, like I said, were going to be replacement players, uh, special teams guys, but when you're doing that, you need to go out there and when you're given your opportunity, you need to make the most of it and make sure you stand out on tape for Monday morning. And I think that, you know, I I think that by the looks of it, most of these guys did, and I think most of these guys got pretty proud of themselves knowing that they get were given at least one opportunity, and they went out there and did their jobs.

[00:25:46]>> Yeah. Exactly. Yeah, it's uh man, I uh I really I said this on the radio earlier.

[00:25:54]I feel it. If you think about just around the league, just step back and think for a moment of the rosters and the teams that they're going to be playing against across the league.

[00:26:06]There is a lot of room for optimism, >> I should say reason for optimism. Uh this train is going to get moving, Rick, and you better get on board. I'm not saying they're going to be a a Winnipeg where they're going to all of a sudden go to five straight Great Cups, but this team is going to become one of the more dominant franchises for the next few years to come. I truly believe Rick, I agree with you and I think you always said that your guys' team, the last team to win the breakout for the organization back in 2015, they were very close, right? And I think you you guys see that in these guys. They are I think they're a close-knit group, especially a lot of these guys coming back on defense.

[00:26:44]They're all hungry. They all want to be better than they were the first third of last year. They all feel like there's something to prove.

[00:26:52]>> And when you get that, that gives you that extra dynamic that some teams just don't have.

[00:26:57]>> It really is. This is extra hunger that some teams aren't lucky enough to have.

[00:27:03]And I think that's going to propel us forward. And and knowing this was our g first game of the preseason, which doesn't really mean a lot. They came out and did their thing. I feel a lot more confident about game one against Ottawa now knowing this is what they did in the first game of the preseason when that one doesn't really mean much.

[00:27:19]>> Exactly. Came out with that chip on their shoulder knowing that there was a job the task at hand and that task was more than just about winning. Why they had to win was to get people on board.

[00:27:31]>> It's more about between the ears for them and our fan base.

[00:27:34]>> Our fan base more importantly for them than them honestly. I believe it's to secure more of that trust. They're slowly buying that trust in a performance like that preseason or not.

[00:27:47]You are buying and especially when you see the offensive numbers, you are really buying that trust back from the people 100%. We watch this a little bit more in depth than the average fan does.

[00:27:58]I think so. You can go out there and watch a 1711 loss and we can come out of it going, you know what, based on the last five, six years, there actually is improvement here. Look at these things.

[00:28:07]But the overall fan is like it's a loss, man. We've had a bunch of them before.

[00:28:12]Don't want any more of them. Don't want one of those, you know, is good for morale type of losses.

[00:28:18]>> Exactly.

[00:28:19]>> Let's get rid of that. I think that's kind of like the I'll bring it up. Did not one president say winning isn't everything or something along those lines. Am I paraphrasing that correctly?

[00:28:30]>> As I quote, "Pro football is more than just about winning."

[00:28:36]>> Well, I'll tell you this right now. Go tell the people that are paying for the tickets. Go tell the people that paying for the gear, paying for the food, that keeping the doors open, that pay your [ __ ] salary.

[00:28:46]>> They don't agree with you.

[00:28:47]>> Only about winning.

[00:28:48]>> Yes.

[00:28:49]>> All it's about 100%.

[00:28:50]>> Everything else comes after you win. And when you look into who's in charge of this and you start at the top and you work your way down and you go, you're a winner. You're a winner. You're a winner. You're a winner. And if you're not the same around them, they'll toss you up, man. And that's what we need.

[00:29:05]It's the truth, man. So, I'm out at fan day on uh in Spruce Grove last Monday, a week ago, >> and it was towards the end of practice where they opened up the field, let some kids on the field and whatnot. It was really nice. And I just moied over to Ed Hervy, and I rub shoulders with Ed quite often at different events. We have a really good relationship.

[00:29:26]>> You can still talk to him as a regular human being, not as much as the alumni.

[00:29:30]Like, there's different versions you can voice.

[00:29:33]>> Yeah. No camera type. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:29:36]We'd be like a boy's conversation.

[00:29:38]Nothing official, nothing business, interview. He was not with him, but he was the whole time. Yeah. He gave me a couple of good contracts and gave me an opportunity. He was the GM when I won.

[00:29:50]And that's got to be a like the fact that you're still able to do that to him when he cut you the day before your >> Yeah, when he cut me. So, I was gonna say that.

[00:29:57]>> That's that's the respect, man.

[00:29:58]>> Yeah. That's incredible.

[00:29:59]>> That's the respect. Like, normally you would think screw this [ __ ] I don't know, man. Like that's business. I look I have underperformed that season. I get it. Like that's the biz. I totally get it. I totally when you're in it even you get it. You hate it, but you get it.

[00:30:15]>> And it's no hard feelings. We all love it. And the way he went about it, too.

[00:30:19]Some guys will cut you or they'll just ghost you. Whereas some guys will do business properly. They'll call you.

[00:30:25]They'll tell you why it's happening.

[00:30:27]>> Like a man. Like a man. And that's how easy. That's the way it's supposed to be.

[00:30:31]>> That's right, man. That's right. And that's why here I am. and I respect the crap out of him.

[00:30:35]>> So, I moinged on over to him at fan day and I just said, "Yeah, man. Ed, like we've interviewed 10, 15 players this off season. We always have continuously heard the chatter from Killum and from other people, Chris Morris within the organization about like how we're getting good people and getting the right people in place." And how many times have I said it to the guys we've interviewed, Rick, man, you got a good head on your shoulder, hey?

[00:31:00]>> Yeah. Yeah. You can just feel like they're getting good dudes, not arrogant pricks. No. Because sometimes the arrogant pricks are the best athletes.

[00:31:08]>> They can be.

[00:31:09]>> You know what I'm saying? Like >> usually they're not usually, but >> they're arrogant for a reason.

[00:31:14]>> Exactly. And they're the one of one type caliber athletes.

[00:31:18]>> Yes.

[00:31:19]>> But you are seeing how it's unfolding just the way they treated people at fan day, the players like they were so open with the kids. Uh they were so positive with the kids. the energy that they had, the energy that they had for each other.

[00:31:33]You can tell these guys really do love each other. Like I mean that you can tell really like each other. Even when we won in 15, we had a good locker room, but there was still like some guys, and I'm not going to name names, there was some individuals that were like, >> "All right, bro." You know what I mean?

[00:31:50]>> I don't think that's the case with this team at all. I truly don't. And I'll get off the soap box soon, but I said that to Ed. like man like you can really feel like all this talk that you said it's not fluff this is real what you're doing here what you're building and he he's always dead serious head you know he's always straight shooting he's like man I wouldn't I back up what I say >> essentially it's the cole's notes of it I wouldn't be doing and saying all this stuff and not following it up with the actions and the actions are absolutely following what the path that Chris and Ed have laid paid down.

[00:32:27]>> Yeah.

[00:32:27]>> And the success now we're seeing it.

[00:32:30]Follow it, man. And an outcome like this, 34 to 16, >> forget that it's preseason. That's exactly how it should be done, Rick.

[00:32:38]>> Yep. I agree.

[00:32:39]>> And offensively, let's talk about the meat and potatoes of the game. Again, that's a perfect football game if you think about how a football game should go. Special teams, yeah, they contributed. We'll talk about that in a minute. But offense, you were essentially, you're never perfect, but 450 yards, 34 points. What more do you want?

[00:32:57]>> You have a touchdown every quarter.

[00:32:58]>> What more do you want? Defense held them under 20. What more do you want? That is the perfect production on offense and the perfect production on defense. It really is.

[00:33:08]>> It looks like to me, unless that was a a two-pointer in the fourth quarter, if there was two field goals, which I think it was, they only had up one touchdown.

[00:33:16]So, it's one touchdown and three field goals that you given up. and you scored a touchdown at every quarter.

[00:33:21]>> Yeah, that's as good as it could be.

[00:33:22]Your defense did its job. Offense did its job. Special teams did its job. If you can get that more often than not this season, but it's going to be nice, Rick. I agree with that. I got a question for you, though. I starting to see some names on our receivers that are popping up that may not have been big names uh a week ago.

[00:33:42]>> We can't bury that lead either. Carter Kettle Boy. I was gonna go Kettle. And then another guy I want to talk to talk about because he is coming from where did he play last year? Is this the Jacksonville?

[00:33:59]Uh yeah. Josh Steest.

[00:34:03]>> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Five for 36.

[00:34:05]>> Yeah. And I believe doesn't say here, but anyways. Yeah, he's coming in here. really wasn't going to be a large name to start camp but seems to be making a bit of a name for himself at least on the stat sheet here. How many receivers like we have a whole ton in the in the how many receivers do you keep on your starting roster and then how many are on practice roster like how many are you keeping in total?

[00:34:35]>> In total oh man game day roster seven eight max. So you got about eight receivers special teams and then you'll keep another two around. One might be on practice roster. Might be able to hide one one in the injured list.

[00:34:50]>> Yeah.

[00:34:50]>> You know, so at best I'd say 11ish maybe at best.

[00:34:56]>> That's still a big and that's Yeah, that'd be a lot >> that that get I I like hearing that because that means a guy like Cphus will most likely be starting the the season on the team.

[00:35:08]And when these guys come out of the NFL, I really get curious as to what they can do because I'm fairly certain he had an injury that took some neck surgery and that he was had some issues with and uh and I yeah because the other guy played for the the Packers. So yeah, I'm pretty sure he played for the Jags. And I'm just really curious to see what a guy like that who has who's not overly negative about getting kicked out of the NFL, who's coming down here, coming up here, sorry, with a drive and a positive attitude and wants to be out there. And I get to meet some of these guys a little bit more, a little bit differently than the average person just because I had the regular job. And this is one of the guys that really stood out to me after whatever the couple weeks ago. good way.

[00:35:59]>> 100% 100% 100%. So, I'm really looking forward like I tend to cheer for some of these guys that are questionable because I do get to meet him in the in the weird sense. So, this is one guy I'll be I'll be watching very closely going forward.

[00:36:11]>> Yeah, the receivers too. Nobody popped off per se that went for like 100 plus yards, but there was just a lot of consistent production led by the local product Carter Kettle, baby.

[00:36:25]>> And he had a 58 yard.

[00:36:27]>> 58 yarder. And that's popping off. Yeah.

[00:36:29]Touchdown in his first pro game. 58 yard reception. Bomb. He did a lot of the leg work himself, too. He caught that pass and he had to finish it off. Uh, two receptions, 65 yards, one touchdown.

[00:36:41]Austin Mack, as advertised, >> three receptions, 59 yards, one touchdown. Calhoun, two receptions, 48 yards with a big one. He had a 41 yard touchdown. So there's massive production again for many different guys. And then we could go down the list. There's, you know, a couple of guys with 30s, couple of guys with the 20s. So a lot of people were out there eating uh Dex Dex Joe Roelly one for 14.

[00:37:13]>> Those are first downs.

[00:37:15]>> Last I checked, it's 10 yards per first.

[00:37:17]So if you're if you're going, you know, and that's kind of what we talked about Robelly's game. Uh, I totally see his stat line in week in week out being five to six receptions for 70 yards, 75 yards, and those are first downs every time. I'd like to see how some of these one for ones played out for 13 yards.

[00:37:37]Was that a two yard slant and you get 11 more? Or are you running out to 11 or 12 and turning around? Yeah, because if you're going for the 11 to 12 or something like that, you're spinning around and you're get you're getting tackled at the at the spot of the catch, then you're stretching out the offense.

[00:37:53]If you're just doing these dinks and dunks and there's some yak there, then you know what? Maybe this is a bit of a dink and dunk offense, which can and can't work depending on how it goes. I'm really curious to see what that looks like going forward because everybody's long outside of Rashawn Baker is a first down. Yeah, I like that you said that too and went that direction with the offense because that's true and there's so much validity to it. How did these completions unfold?

[00:38:24]>> Yeah.

[00:38:24]>> Uh completely because again we didn't have eyes on it but >> in my estimation I'm going to say it's more the latter 70 yard catches two three yard tackle.

[00:38:38]>> Yeah, it's more a good thing of opening up.

[00:38:41]>> I think that's great. less being conducted.

[00:38:43]>> Yeah. And I think it gives your OC confidence moving forward to >> maybe not close the book a bit, but keep it open. You're maybe not pushing anything yet, but you're not closing things off quite yet either.

[00:38:52]>> Yeah. It's And like I say, I'm so excited for this offense because in preseason offense is always so choppy.

[00:39:00]We talk about it. Game one in preseason especially, it's still so early in uh training camp, the process, still learning. And to see them come out and look like they're in beyond mid-season form.

[00:39:13]>> Yeah.

[00:39:13]>> Oh, shoot boy.

[00:39:15]>> So, there is one thing on defense that we didn't bring up here.

[00:39:19]>> That Barlo may have a bit of an Achilles injury.

[00:39:22]>> Oh, really?

[00:39:23]>> Yeah.

[00:39:23]>> I didn't see that.

[00:39:24]>> Yeah. So, I think I got that off third down or CS3.

[00:39:29]>> Yeah, something like that. Um, appeared to be appeared to be an Achilles injury, I think, is what they called it.

[00:39:35]>> You don't ever really strain your Achilles. You don't sprain your Achilles either pops or or nothing, right?

[00:39:42]>> Ruptured Achilles usually. I'm not going to go.

[00:39:46]>> Yeah. So, >> the quote here by Third Down Nation was Brandon Barlo going down with what appeared to be an Achilles injury. Uh, and then expect 24year-old Elijah Alustin to back up and thought that Alustin uh was actually really impressive so far.

[00:40:04]>> Okay. Okay. So that'll be something for us to watch on defense going forward because I think there'll be this next game will be a little more important and maybe a little more more to watch. But I have a question for you here. Game one is over, right? Preseason, game one is how does camp change going forward? How does camp change after preseason game one as compared to before?

[00:40:25]>> Well, you get more settled into who is in the starters. You're practicing more as a unit now. The starters are going to be like the A group is going to be repping out a lot more together in practice.

[00:40:39]>> Is the contact a little bit less now because you get to hit the other guys like hey [ __ ] we have a game again in a couple days.

[00:40:46]>> Yes Rick would agree but then you're still in the battle.

[00:40:50]>> No 100%. But it's a little bit less than say in the first couple weeks because in the first couple weeks you're trying to get your body right. You're trying to like grab eyeballs.

[00:40:57]>> Yeah. If you're if you're on the starting lineup >> you've grabbed eyeballs. Let me check myself. Actually, Rick, you're right.

[00:41:04]I'm thinking because training camp is so short now. It feels like camp just started like 10 days >> for us. But I bet you it doesn't feel like that for them.

[00:41:11]>> No, not for them. But it it is short.

[00:41:13]And usually what I'm used to is two to three weeks potentially even before you even play a preseason game. Yeah.

[00:41:22]>> So, you're practicing a whole whackload, getting those battles out of the way.

[00:41:26]Once you get into the preseason games, it does change because now they have just played on Saturday today.

[00:41:32]Yesterday, Sunday would have been an easier day. Today probably is still a fairly >> light. They need to get into the rhythm of the season.

[00:41:38]>> And now they're going to get back into game prep for this upcoming weekend.

[00:41:41]Yeah. They're not going to get into ah three straight days of two days. No, that's not how it's going to go anymore.

[00:41:47]They're going to start they'll have a couple of hard practices early this week, maybe today, tomorrow.

[00:41:51]>> Yeah.

[00:41:52]>> But then it'll be game um game prep. So, which is a lighter type of a load.

[00:41:57]>> And then what can we expect us to be different in game two that you didn't see in game one? I'm I'm assuming some of the stranger names there are going to be less focus.

[00:42:07]>> Yeah, there'll be more familiar faces getting more reps. Honestly, uh that's about it for in terms of all you can expect. I >> does the playbook call does the call changing at all?

[00:42:17]>> I don't think so. I really don't because you look at this 34 to6 that's a darn near a perfect game. Like at least the box score indicates that the offense over 30 points that's great. the defense 16 points. That's great. So, if you can get something that resembles what they did, uh let's spend some time on the kicking, too. My internet just went out on my laptop, so I'm pulling it up on my phone. That happened. Yeah, because I think Dean was talking about there were some relatively large long picks here.

[00:42:49]>> Uh so, we have Jesus Gomez went two for two with a long 30.

[00:42:54]>> Okay.

[00:42:55]>> Uh of four extra points. So, that's obviously pretty good. Um, and then you break into Jake Julian here. Three picks, 56 uh average uh with his long being 68.

[00:43:07]>> Nice.

[00:43:08]68 >> again. But when it comes to Jake, his super skill is placing that ball into a place the other team does not really want it. Placing the ball into a place that maximizes the uh kick coverage, the just the kick coverage.

[00:43:25]Again, >> systematic football.

[00:43:26]>> Yeah. you know.

[00:43:27]>> So, yeah, it doesn't have to be massive bombs, but it has to place that ball in a spot where it's most opportunistic for the uh the coverage.

[00:43:36]>> Yeah. Yeah, it's exactly it. Kicking game against solid. No blunders, >> right? So, you come out of this honestly, Rick, and this isn't I'm not just a a bandwagoner. I'm not just a proud alum, which of course I am that, but with me saying this, >> you can't play much of a better preseason game than that, especially a first preseason game.

[00:44:00]>> Yeah, >> outside of Cody, you really can't do much better overall as a football club.

[00:44:05]>> So, before I ask more a little bit about Cody there, so there were two punt returns. Uh, Powell, Shanderek Powell had one return for 21 yards, which I think what what is what is the average you want on a punt return? 10 yards. 10 yards.

[00:44:19]>> Yeah, you're trying to get a first down on >> Okay, perfect. Because TJ Luther had the other punt return and it was one for 19 yards. So that to me, you're if you're pulling off double the expectations off punts, that's a massive thing. That's great for your offense. And then we break it down to kick returns. Calhoun.

[00:44:37]Okay. Well, what's the different a kick return? You're going to want more yardage. What's my goal on kick return?

[00:44:42]Uh you're probably I don't really know number per se uh for kick return because the coaches I would always spend time with focus so much on that first down on punt return. Kick returns I'm not totally sure. Probably you're probably trying to get at least 15 20.

[00:44:58]>> So yeah Jaylen Balloon one return for 36 yards. Leonard Johnson one for 20.

[00:45:07]And then Shawn Derek had one for 18 yards. When we look at that again, that's, you know, Shandereka, one one of both, but otherwise, you're looking at four different players. Three different Yeah. four different players, all with very acceptable returns on both versions. And special teams kickoffs, I think, has been something we've been lacking over quite some time.

[00:45:30]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:45:32]>> So, again, that's something to look forward to going forward. that the defense was very strong, the offense was extremely strong, and to me that looks like our special teams was also right there with it.

[00:45:47]I'm just looking at this article that the Monday morning quarterback CFL.ca came out with here freshly this morning, >> the one ranking the defensive back.

[00:45:59]>> Yes. No love to any double A. See, that's why I only I stopped at three. I didn't see I thought I was doing the top three. But yeah, the fact that Ford wasn't in there. Do you think that has to do with lack of stats? Like I understand no one's going to throw at him because he is so good. Therefore, your stats are kind of aren't there. Is that kind of what we're looking at here?

[00:46:20]>> It's that has to be it, >> right? That has to be it because Yeah, >> because otherwise I think Ford is right up there in especially the pre-season look that he'd be auto top three. I don't know if it goes to five, but >> I see him seeing the top three. There's no double E players >> at all. Wow.

[00:46:41]>> So, you think this week Maxim's really going to focus in on QB1?

[00:46:47]>> He needs to, right? He needs to. QB1 like the last game was his last pass like free pass kind of.

[00:46:55]>> Look, nobody's safe. Uh it's still Cody's team.

[00:46:59]>> Yep.

[00:47:00]>> But with Powell knocking and Powell has been highly touted by the pundits to be that next dude across the league for years now.

[00:47:12]>> And when with a performance like that, a perfect performance outside of the one incompletion that was an interception.

[00:47:19]Yeah. The starter has to be put on notice. He is put on notice, two of six.

[00:47:24]And Cody played solid last year, but it's not like he was, you know, a hero or anything. Everybody is expendable.

[00:47:33]And I'm not sitting here saying Cody.

[00:47:35]That's not it at all. But Cody didn't go out and throw for, you know, 4,000, 25 touchdowns, two picks. Like, that's not the case.

[00:47:43]>> What should we be looking at in terms of Cody coming into game two of the preseason? It'll he needs to a be efficient, b not be a check down guy like he's been known to be.

[00:47:53]>> How much time is he going to get to play? You get him a quarter, you give him a half.

[00:47:57]>> It'll be beyond a quarter, I would imagine, >> because I mean most of us are going to break it down to NFL preseason, right?

[00:48:02]And go, we kind of understand that a little bit more of a four games. Now it's two, so it's going to be different.

[00:48:07]Um, but this is the last game before the regular season gets going.

[00:48:11]>> Usually NFL is no starters play that now because they do their big one in the third.

[00:48:16]This however is because he didn't get he got six reps only hit two. Yeah.

[00:48:22]>> You got to be playing for the first half. No, >> for sure. I would imagine. So, and then if it's good comfortable, >> you go bow and if it's bad, >> you keep rolling.

[00:48:31]>> Yeah. What if it I don't think you keep rolling. You're gonna get out of there regardless because you want to get the other guys looks. But that's my question is what if it looks bad again? Then the heat is up because then you don't know what to do what to do come game one in Ottawa. when the heat is up. And that's a real question. If he goes out and has a performance that's average or even, you know, say he goes eight of 13 for 80 yards, you know, but then Powell comes out and goes 17 to 20, >> right? Like, and just kind of lights it up again.

[00:49:02]>> So, this is something we're talking Rick.

[00:49:04]>> Yeah. This is something that they're probably not talking about in the room in front of everybody, but this is definitely something that's being mentioned about in the coaches only.

[00:49:11]>> Management's talking about it.

[00:49:13]management is talking about this and don't even sleep on his grouse either who is the biggest out of the entire quarterback room.

[00:49:20]>> So if you're Maximick though, you are really leaning into Cody this week because that is the best way for you to be good at your job is for QB to stand up and do his thing. So you were going to bed every night praying that he finds his form this week.

[00:49:37]>> Yeah. And when you say leaning into him, it's not the leaning in where it's like he's digging and riding hard. No, no, no, no, no. You're just >> coddling in a sense like massaging him.

[00:49:47]>> Yeah. Cuz you want you want the good the bad and I want this guy to clean up what's between his ears because >> at his age knowing the young kids are behind him.

[00:49:58]>> It is 100% normal to sit there and go, >> "Oh yeah, >> I'm sure it's normal." And it's been open that he's put this word out there, the our word. He's floated retire, right? doesn't know if this will be his last year contemplating retirement.

[00:50:15]>> Oh, and then Rick. Yes, man.

[00:50:18]>> This is a really big week of practice for him more than anybody else with his helmet on.

[00:50:24]>> It's the truth. And he proved it >> more than anyone last year that hey, that contract to the QB1, it don't matter. It can be replaced. Cody came in and replaced Trey who was playing for just a few Cody's now making a few bucks more than what Trey got benched for.

[00:50:42]>> What do you think Cody can do this week to help him find his game to find that game that we need him to have? Like I don't want him I don't need him to be week 17 good, but I need him to be week one good. Good. I think what'll help is have ranked back.

[00:50:57]>> Yeah.

[00:50:58]>> His ranked in play, right? So, get your horse, you know, get all the true aces in their spots. So, just having everybody, I think that will help.

[00:51:07]>> Uh, but I'm curious to see how it's going to play out. He bringing the big fellas out for a nice burger lunch where he's like, "Hey guys, >> without telling anybody, I need you five [ __ ] guys in front of me. Here's lunch on me. Whatever we got to do, >> I need you guys in front of me. I will find my game. But I need you five dudes in front of me to set up a wall and give me some extra time.

[00:51:29]>> He really does because the reality is his job depends on it.

[00:51:33]>> Yeah, >> his job depends on it. And that's not to be bleak, but that's pro football.

[00:51:38]>> And you've got when you and again, Declan called this the perhaps best offensive line in the league.

[00:51:44]>> I would agree. If he's getting sacked after giving been given more than enough time to throw the ball, when those big dudes turn around, >> you're feeling bad, right?

[00:51:54]>> Yeah. A and that's another good thing that you brought up, the sacks and pressures again. What happens if maybe Cody takes the sacks when these other guys aren't getting sacked?

[00:52:06]>> Yeah. like is there a conversation to then be had and they're all significantly younger and Cody's gonna hate this tape, but this is the conversations that are had behind closed doors. We have a younger guy. Is Cody does he have the mobility in him? Arm strength is always, you know, and I are quite open about that. So, >> there's a lot of questions here. This this upcoming game is quite significant for Cody.

[00:52:32]>> What day is it on? Friday.

[00:52:34]>> Uh oh, it's late.

[00:52:36]I think it's the last game of the CFL SK, Rick. Bear with me, buddy.

[00:52:40]>> Because yeah, it is um this is this is the last freebie. This is the last u last >> Saturday 29th Calgary in Edmonton. So, it is this Friday. Wow. It's a short week too for the boys. So, it's going to be going back to our conversation about Saturday, right? Game Saturday.

[00:52:58]>> Saturday to Friday a little bit.

[00:53:00]>> They stayed there. They would have traveled after Saturday. Sunday would have been a wash yesterday. So, and then they play Friday, so they're already in game prep. It's going to be an easy week physically. Mentally, they'll probably do a lot of insert, and so, but physically, those boys, man, there's no two days anymore. Are the coaches kind of looking at these guys going, I need regular season game one mentality for this game.

[00:53:23]>> Yeah, for sure.

[00:53:24]>> You know, we can't ignore what our past is for last.

[00:53:28]>> Approach every game the same.

[00:53:29]>> Yeah. You don't want to have, oh, we played well, we can let off the g the foot off the gas this week. No, man.

[00:53:35]They're gonna bring that exact same mentality that they went in last week to BC. They have to approach every game preseason began.

[00:53:42]>> Any healthy starters you think that won't be starting?

[00:53:45]>> No, I think everybody will be up.

[00:53:46]Everybody will play this week.

[00:53:47]>> Yeah.

[00:53:48]>> Yeah. Maybe not a ton, but everybody will play.

[00:53:50]>> Yeah. At least like the first quarter is going to be the exact lineup outside of your health or whatever that you want in week one.

[00:53:58]>> We're looking at week one. Yeah. at least for the first quarter.

[00:54:01]>> I'm excited, man. Like I think we had a this week could not have gone any better. I think, >> you know, you out game.

[00:54:10]>> Yeah, exactly. You outscored them.

[00:54:11]>> You doubled them up and BC is probably a team that most people are looking at >> putting them on that first first or second, right?

[00:54:20]>> No. and they didn't roar didn't play.

[00:54:22]They didn't play other guys, but when you look at the numbers, uh we didn't see uh the defense, so there might be missed tackles there and stuff, but when you look at the overall box score and then individual stats, it's as good as a football game that you could ever put together minus the incompletion or the interception and excuse me, minus Cody Fardo's numbers. Other than that, it's perfectly wellrounded. Yeah, it really is. And like I said, man, it gives me full excitement going into the next game. I think it probably gives everybody uh in that locker room, yourself included, and the average fan >> is going to be excited about what they saw. Now, the game on Friday, it's not atom, is it?

[00:55:04]>> No. That's at Clark, the not whole game.

[00:55:08]>> There's no difference, you don't think, in playing different field, is there?

[00:55:11]>> No, there won't be much of a difference outside of sight lines. It's going to feel way more intimate. I think it's max capacity right in the 6,500 range. Um, so it's got to be full. No, >> it'll be packed out the wazoo. It's going to be such a cool environment for the fans that get to go and see. Really cool. You'll never get to see a pro game that up close and personal. And going to that game and feeling what that feels like will probably give you a bit of a >> want to go into the next going to game one, game three, whatever the hell or game two I suppose as a home game. Um, yeah, just going forward, you're gonna be coming out of this one where the the stands are awesome. You could feel the energy, which you really want to do, and that's really gonna push you to want to go to that two 2 PM game in week three.

[00:55:57]Yeah. Yeah. It's going to be such a cool atmosphere. So, and it's the home game, first home game, you know, in front of your home crowd, so to speak. So, they're going to come out so fired up, man. Because they're doing it the right way again, Rick. I'm telling you, Killllum is not going to let foot off the gas. Kllum is going to have them prepared. Ed is going to make sure Kllum has them prepared. Why are they going to do all this? Because they're going to fall under Chris Morris's guidance. So aligned doing it the right way, man.

[00:56:26]Yeah.

[00:56:26]>> I'm jump on board, Rick. This train's moving, bro. I'm telling you, it's moving. It is moving here for the future, not just now.

[00:56:34]>> No, no. I'm excited. I mean, you look at our roster and outside of Cody, everyone's relatively young.

[00:56:39]>> Yeah.

[00:56:40]>> Right. This isn't one and done. This isn't your last last hope.

[00:56:43]>> A lot of guys >> and knowing that Powell could push him.

[00:56:48]>> It's great for this year. It's great for going forward.

[00:56:52]>> I think the boys are going to be jacked up for this one at home against Calgary.

[00:56:56]The fans are going to be old. Some of these guys are Yeah, you're be like this close. This close together.

[00:57:04]>> You're at home. You're at home. You're ready to roll. Finally, you got to hit the other guy. This is a team you don't like. This is a team you're gonna kill yourself.

[00:57:12]>> Kill him. Always gonna have him ready for a little extra speech dude for Calgary.

[00:57:16]>> Yeah, I'm excited, man.

[00:57:18]>> So, that man, a lot of good conversation this hour flew by. This was a fun one.

[00:57:23]We don't need deck. I'm just kidding.

[00:57:25]Edit that out. We love you. We love you.

[00:57:28]You got uh a rant for us here, Ricky.

[00:57:31]>> Uh yeah. You know what?

[00:57:34]This one This one's gonna This one's gonna uh this one's going to ruffle some feathers, I think. What? I love it. Love it. I have an issue. So, I'm a big sports fan in every league. I have my team, my team, my team. And I'm 100% with And I have an issue with bandwagon riders >> jumpers. Okay. And I And I get it. Your team is out. When your team is out, you're out. This there's no participation ribbings here. You don't get to go put on a different jersey. You get like jump on >> bag. Okay. first and foremost as a fan.

[00:58:09]You don't want other people hopping on, >> right? We've been here from day one and we don't need you. This is us. Don't get in here just for the good times. You had to been here for the bad. Don't be here for the good. Same thing going forward.

[00:58:19]And I hold myself to this whole damn thing. I don't want to jump on someone else when things are good because I wasn't there for the bad. You got to have one. And when it comes to two guys, two teams going against each other. I don't want that team to win. I want the team that I don't want to win. I want I'm cheering for that team to lose and I specify it every time. I don't Nope. You want this team to win? No, I don't. I want that team to lose. If that means they win, fine.

[00:58:45]>> Yeah, >> but I'm not cheering for them to win.

[00:58:46]I'm cheering for this team to lose.

[00:58:48]>> I'm with you.

[00:58:49]>> And yeah, you see that.

[00:58:50]>> So, what are we talking about in particular?

[00:58:52]>> I was gonna see that with some World Cup.

[00:58:56]>> So, you're not uh clearly you don't get behind the notion of so the Oilers are out now Canada. Let's get behind Montreal. No. And it's funny because people like to bring that up. So then I go directly to Champions League and soccer, right? You've got all these English teams there and I'll just use England for for an example. Liverpool's in Champions League. Now they're out.

[00:59:18]Are their fans going, I want Man United.

[00:59:20]I want Arsenal. I want City to win to keep it here in England. And no. So this keep the cup here in Canada is not a thing. I don't know where it's made up from. The majority of the players on every team are Canadian.

[00:59:33]That should just ease that up. I understand it's annoying that a Canadian team hasn't won, but if you're a Canadian fan, a fan of a Canadian team, >> you shouldn't want any of those other Canadian teams to win.

[00:59:44]>> No, I'm with you. That's your number one. Maybe not your rival, but you're like, "No, I don't. I want to win first." So, let us break the record that stop that.

[00:59:54]>> Yeah. Snap the streak and then we'll move on. And maybe then I wouldn't be so bummed out if another Canadian team wins, but I'm telling you this right now and I absolutely hate Carolina. I'm not cheering for the Canes.

[01:00:07]>> Yeah, >> but I want the Habs out.

[01:00:10]>> Yeah. Yeah, I get it. And then it also you can like you said gives you ground stand. Get out of here you and I don't want to cheer for I'm not taking any excitement out of a team that I wasn't there the whole go. Yeah.

[01:00:23]>> That's just not me. That's not the way it should go. I don't tell me how to fan, but this is how you fan properly.

[01:00:29]You cheer for your team and then you cheer against and you cheer against your rivals.

[01:00:32]>> Take it.

[01:00:33]>> And your losses. Let them sit and it makes the wins even better.

[01:00:37]>> Exactly. The good and the bad. You take it.

[01:00:39]>> Yeah, >> I'm with you on that. I'm with you.

[01:00:40]>> So, yeah, I know a lot of people aren't agree with it.

[01:00:42]>> That's a good one.

[01:00:43]>> But we're gonna roll with that one because Yeah, I feel it so much right now.

[01:00:47]>> Yeah, like I get it. I feel good for Montreal, but I I'm not over here cheering. Yeah.

[01:00:54]Feel good for them.

[01:00:55]>> I feel good for them.

[01:00:56]>> Yeah. Yeah. But the important part of that sentences was for them.

[01:01:01]>> Yeah.

[01:01:01]>> I'm not taking any joy. I'm not there.

[01:01:04]>> I could care less.

[01:01:05]>> If you want Carolina to lose, cheer for Carolina to lose. You're not necessarily cheering for my trouble.

[01:01:09]>> I'm not investing any time watching. Put it that way.

[01:01:12]>> Exactly. Exactly. We'll uh we'll keep blind ranking for when there's two of you again.

[01:01:17]>> Yeah. Yeah. Fair enough.

[01:01:18]>> But I think at this point, my man, >> this is good content today, bro.

[01:01:21]>> Yeah. did a pretty good show without it.

[01:01:24]>> So, yeah, we'll call this the show now.

[01:01:26]We'll invite everybody back for Friday morning. I don't know exactly what we'll get into there, but I'm sure there'll be some talk about the upcoming game. I'm assuming there's going to be some cuts coming up this week. I want to say um any chance you want to go Saturday?

[01:01:42]The game? No. Do >> Oh, Saturday morning.

[01:01:44]>> Yeah.

[01:01:45]>> Then we could do a recap of the game.

[01:01:47]>> Yeah, I could probably get it done.

[01:01:48]Yeah, we'll do like 11:30 whenever you're good. flexible Saturday.

[01:01:51]>> Yeah, I got a show to do in the morning.

[01:01:52]Yeah, I'll look into that.

[01:01:53]>> Then we could have do the recap. That gives us so much to talk about.

[01:01:57]>> It makes the show much easier. Make next Monday a little bit tougher, but that's fine.

[01:02:00]>> It's totally up to you.

[01:02:01]>> Yeah. No, I'm good with Saturday.

[01:02:02]>> I don't care if you want to sit on Friday. You're right. Because then I forgot about Monday. So either way, either way, we'll figure it out.

[01:02:07]>> You let me know.

[01:02:08]>> All right, buddy.

[01:02:08]>> We don't need to have this part of it.

[01:02:10]>> No, that's we'll we'll let everybody know. But until then, we'll see everybody Friday back on Monday >> and then we'll be getting the season.

[01:02:20]So, this Friday's a show. Next Friday won't be a show. It'll most likely be the Saturday, which is the day after game one. Yeah. The six or something like that. Show time, man. Here we are.

[01:02:29]Hold on. Let's go delete.