Previewing Week 4's matchup Niners vs Broncos | 49ers Forecast Show with Larry Krueger

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1:01Bang, baby. Here's your host, Larry Krueger. Bang, baby. T-rock in the house. Well, he's not in the house today, but he will be in the house tomorrow. And it's going to be a score, cheer folks. Welcome 49er forecast on a Saturday before we hand it over for the Niners and the Broncos on week four guy, Habermann's in for for Greg Papa Tim Ryan on the call 49er football returning to the leader. That's right, these sports leader. And we should tell you that 49er forecasts as you just heard there sponsored by our friends at Provident Credit Union. Provident Credit Union provides smart banking options like super reward checking, visit, visit ProvidentCU.org. And thanks to Provident Credit Union for being a proud sponsor of 49er forecast. All right, let's just jump jump right into the match

2:02step. We got a great couple hours for you. Two hours. We got a two hour extravaganza today. So what are we going to do in our two hours? How are we mapping it out? First of all, we got the best producer going at the leader. The great raft on the controls on this Saturday. I said, hey, I won't go forward on a Saturday unless I get Marty's best guy. And he said, well, you know, we're negotiating. We'll have to figure it out. Rap is driving a very hard bargain. But raft has been secured. So we have raft run the controls. And if you want to call up at eight away can be our at any point in the next couple hours, it is he who will answer your phone calls and screen you screen you intensely. It's an and very intense screening process that we have to get on the air here at these ports later. So raft is our producer. We've got a couple Denver people stopping by Troy Rink Denver Post, really good writer. Very knowledgeable. He's going to stop by. And then Nick Cosmider, who I think we might even been on with Merfress segment earlier this week, he covers the Broncos for the athletic two of the most knowledgeable Bronco guys out there.

3:07And we'll get some information from behind enemy lines. And then we're also going to let you hear what I think was the best segment of the week, at least that I was part of this week. And that was George Kittle. I sat in for Marcus Pouchet, who was a little ill earlier in the week and had a very enjoyable morning with Merf on the KMBR morning show. It just happened. It happened to be the day that George Kemp stopped by. So I looked out and wasn't even going to get a chance to do it because I wasn't going to work out time wise. I had a conflict, but then George moved up. We did it early. So we're going to let you hear some of that dialogue as well. You know, the great George Kittle, who I think is involved in the most crucial matchup of the weekend. And that's where we're going to start the 49er forecast. To me, the real question here with the Niners and the Broncos is X 49er. Good friend. Talonoa, HaFonga. Nothing but ultimate respect for this man.

4:08He's an all pro. He's a great player. He really is a great player. I've always said to, you know, Talonoa, HaFonga is the kind of guy you'd want your daughter to marry. I mean, he's seriously the best guy there is. And he just solid as the day is long. You know, I mean, just the guy is just, I mean, at one time I asked him for an interview and he's like, Hey, you know, I got to hit the showers and I'm like, no, but sweat, you know, I'm here every day. We'll do it another time. No, I never am like, Oh, what do you mean? You don't want to do the interview. So I'm interviewing somebody else, you know, I'm talking to one of the offensive linemen. It's like 20 minutes, half hour later. And I get this tap on the shoulder. Hey, I just wanted to let you know, anytime you're ready, I can do it now. So, you know, so that is just not the way it usually goes. You know, the players are not usually like that accommodating that they're going to tap you on the shoulder and be like, Hey, now's a good time to talk. So he's just golden man. He's a golden dude and he's tough. He's smart. He's a great football player and he is really, really incredible going forward going forward. He's a menace on the line

5:16of scrimmage, reading the mesh point on the hand-dose between the quarterback and the running back, reading the coverage. He is in his playbook and he knows what the quarterback wants to do. To me, this is the big match up to watch. You have to make this man play coverage. When he's when he's leaning forward or moving forward, he is a nightmare. We're talking about interceptions, turnovers, force fumbles, P.B.U.'s deflections. I mean, he's just an absolute defensive monster going forward. You make him play coverage and you can torch him. You can almost force him off the field. And the 49ers have to do that. They have to get George Kittle on him and force Haffonga to play coverage down the field. You make him play coverage down the field. You're going to make big plays and you're going to show his weakness in his game. That's the weakness in his game. He doesn't run a good 40 time, which is why the 9ers got him in the fifth round because he's not the fastest guy.

6:18But guess what? He might be the smartest guy. So don't let him do all that stuff up in the line of scrimmage. Force him to play pass coverage. And then when you do go at him and force him off the field. I mean, I'd like to see Shanahan make him the conflict defender. I think Shanahan's going to pick on those linebackers, those Singleton, Strannad or whatever the other guy's name is. I think those guys get picked on quite a bit in this game. A couple stats to keep in mind of here. One, the 49ers roll in on an all time scald. And when I say that the highest percentage of offensive drives with a touchdown scored, the 49ers lead the NFL 48.1% of their offensive drives have finished with a touchdown scored. Buffalo is second. They're at 40.6. I mean, the 9ers are so far. The 9ers Nick Wagner had it in his one of his notes this week. That 48.1% is the highest in the

7:21NFL in 45 years. I mean, the 9ers are rolling offensively. Okay, they are rolling. Shanahan is one of the best coaches in football. You guys all know that he's deep in his bag right now. Deep in his bag. Brock Purti is playing at a crazy high level. He's playing at a higher level than than the great Josh Allen across the board. Look at their stats side by side. Purti is outdoing Josh Allen. It's three weeks, but it's been three amazing weeks. Three stats, though, that I think really reflect this matchup and that we should all be aware of. 45% of Denver's offensive drives have ended this year in a punt. They're not, they do not come in on an offensive scald. Bonyx is a young quarterback who completes 44% of his passes against the blitz. So, you know, blitz him, blitz him. He doesn't put together four good quarters. He's not a consistent player.

8:25He's not Brock Purti. You know, Brock Purti will, you know, Tim Ryan said it best with John London, the power hour. He said, Brock's reading it and ripping it. And you know what? Tim's totally right on. He's reading it better than he's ever read it before and he's ripping it in a way that he's never ripped it before. You say, well, what's that term ripping it? I've just means he's getting, he's, he's throwing with conviction and putting extra Velo on the ball. You know, Raheem calls him a layer king and it's all everybody's laughing about it, but Mick Gumbarty isn't laughing about it. Mick Gumbarty's pissed about it. Brock Purti will, we'll say all the right things at the podium. He doesn't like that. That's, that's a pejorative. That's Alex Smith and the game manager. Oh, he's the layer king. He doesn't want to be the layer king. He wants to be the laser king. And so he's putting more juice on the ball and you can tell. So Purti's ripping it. He reads it like very few. His processing is electric fast.

9:28I mean, this guy is just, he's going from one to two to three to four faster than almost anybody. In this game, I don't know if he'll have that time. He may have to go just, you know, half the old reads and get that ball out. Denver's got a pass rush, a big time rush. They got eight sacks. They had 63 last year to put that in perspective. The nine are said 20. So they're going to put heat on, on Purti. He's going to have to get the ball out. Is he going to have Mike Evans? It's game time decision. We don't know. That's, and that's a question mark. I think he's going to go. Trent Williams is going to go. But I do think Mike Evans is going to try to give it a go with the broken ribs. How I mean, think about that for a second. You're going to subject yourself to hits from Brandon Jones and Talinoa Fonga and DJ Jones and all these kids. And you've got broken ribs. I mean, Mike Evans is a tough guy, but I think he's going to gut it out. I expect him to, to get out there and try to do what he can do. Trent Williams practiced this week. He's going to go, and he's got Nick Benito on the other side. And Benito's a monster. Zach Allen on the defensive line

10:31led the NFL in quarterback hits last year. Sir Tans a number one corner. The safety tan was big time. Brandon Jones at 13 tackles last week. Fonga had two picks. So it's a huge challenge against this Denver defense regardless of what the numbers may say. But the Niners are in a scald offensively. They're really, really looking good. And I just think when you look at the number, 45% of Denver's offensive drives ended a punt. And the Niners are scoring touchdowns. This game could be a one-sided game. 49ers are also getting it done on first down. If that continues, running the ball, that continues, they're going to win this game. Niners are averaging 5.1 yards per carry on first down coming in. That is, you know, how do you, how do you win on third down? You get into third and manageable. You know, third down is not an island unto itself. It's a lot impacted on what you get done on first and second down. The 49ers lead the NFL in third down conversion rate. Why? Because they're staying out of third and long. They're not third and 13,

11:33third and 18, third and 15. It's a it's a series of third and two, third and three, third and five. Brock-Perties converting. Guess what the Niner percentage is? They're converting at 63% on third down. 43% would be a great number. 63% is comical. That's how good they've been. And it's a lot about Brendel and Poonie and Colby and Trent and McIvitz and that Niner offensive line that is really doing the job up front. So those are the numbers that really, really stand out. Green law, by the way, with the quad injury is likely to go. Key on white with the hamstring. Also likely to go. Jayden Duggers got a shoulder. He was limited at practice. I think he's going to wind up going. We should see our first 49er appearance of Brandon Cooks. He was promoted to the 53 man roster. George Kiddell City looks really, really fast. Which, you know, everything's, oh, Brandon Cooks is

12:36old. He's 32. It's basically the same age as, you know, DeMarcus Robinson. You know, he's not super old. He's just, he's in the back nine of his career, but it's not like he's on the 18th and walking in. He's got some game left. And I think he showed it on the practice field this week. We're going to find out. I want to see more of Jordan Watkins in this game. The match up to me that the Niners have to exploit is Watkins or Cooks on Riley Moss. You know, this this Bronco teams got Sir Tan at the corner and Sir Tan on Evans is probably the way it's going to go. So they got a pick on Riley Moss, who's probably the most picked on corner in the NFL because he plays opposite Sir Tan, who's a former defensive player of the year award winner. Should be a really incredible match up. Roger Craig will be getting his hall fame ring at halftime. So if you can stomach the heat, stick around for Roger at halftime, really looking forward to that. We love Roger. Some keys to victory. Denver is 30th in the NFL and yards per carry allowed

13:4230th and rushing yards per game allowed. Even though I said those numbers are kind of fraudulent, you got to you got to try it, right? You got to have success running at them. You got to see that they can you got to force them to stop the run. I think you got a blitz bow bow nicks a lot. 44% completion percentage against the blitz. 44.6 quarterback rating against the blitz. He is a typical young quarterback fast feet, quick strong arm, doesn't read the coverage, doesn't play consistent football. You got to win the second half on a really hot day against Denver, who has scored 50 of their 60 points in the second half. Denver's first half point differential's minus 30. It's last in the NFL. Get off to a hot start and expect they're going to come roaring back in the second half because that's what they do. They win a lot of close games and they dominate the second half. So you better be in shape, you better have your wind, you better be hydrated and you better be ready to play four quarters against the Broncos. But maybe the number one key is you and I mentioned this to Shanahan yesterday and he agreed. I said Kyle, how important is it to keep

14:47nicks hemmed in that pocket and defend that QB keeper game? He's like huge, it's absolutely huge. Last week, Breset made some big plays in the QB keeper game and the Niners looked a little indecisive on how they wanted to defend it. And I did mention it to Raheem Morris on Thursday and Raheem seemed to think that they were going to be more buttoned down against the quarterback keeper game. You're going to see it in this game. You got to keep nicks in the pocket. He's especially in those RPOs. If you make bow nicks play from the pocket, you're going to beat him every single time. If he is allowed to escape and run and extend plays and use his legs and all it's going to be a long day. It's going to be a long day. Gotta keep him hemmed in the pocket. Absolutely huge. Marquis Segal and Jaylen Waddle, they're big off season acquisition was Waddle. He's only gotten off in one of the three games. You can't let him have a monster day. Jaylen Waddle is a key element to this thing. He's a big play guy and he's a guy that you really just don't want to you don't want to have to deal with. He's got such, he's got home run ability.

15:50And then Denver Blitz is 45% of the time. They use a Fonga up on the line of scrimmage a lot. To me, the safety interaction is going to be huge. Jones at 13 tackles, a Fonga had two picks last week. But Denver also gives up 11 five per completion. That's 27th in the NFL. So they give a big plays in the past games. You got to make them play coverage and you got to torch their safeties down the field. But you got to have time. Brock's got to have time to let his receivers get open down the field. He may have to get rid of it quickly. That may be a situation where he's going to have to get the ball out of his hands. And the other thing, and I mentioned this to Colton McIvitz, we were talking yesterday at his locker after practice. When I watched Denver's film and I watched all the news early in the year, right? So I got time to watch all their games. I watched all three of their films. I counted 28 zero blitzes. 28 times they've got no safeties. And it's just man to man and they're just sending one more than you can block

16:53enforcing the ball out of the quarterbacks hands. How does pretty deal with the, you know, the zero coverage? How does, how does, you know, do they have playmakers? Can they get it blocked up? Can the ball come out on time? You know, Brock processes and makes decisions as quick as any quarterback in the game right now. He's going to have to make big, you know, decisions in key moments as he's in the midst of his drop because they're going to send zero blitzes out of them all day. They play some dime. I think they're really good in the dime. They've got you die bearing the former Texas Longhorn. He's, you know, a starting caliber corner. He's their dimeback. And then Jake one, Macmillan is one of the best slot blitzers in the entire league, kind of like an uptune style. And he, I definitely think that Vance Joseph, who's a phenomenal defensive coordinator, is going to use him to attack pretty. Why? Because party's too fast. Party's too quick for D-Limony. He's way too quick for the tackle. He's usually quicker than the ends. But if you put a Macmillan who's a, you know, a blitzing slot corner, you know, he can't get away from Macmillan. So you're going to see

17:56Macmillan attacking party on some key passing downs and trying to force him to throw it before he wants to. So just a few of the keys key matchups to the game. All right, let's take a time out. We're going to, we're going to let you hear our conversation with George Kittle next. And then we're going to welcome in a couple of of Denver's best Nick Cosmider is fantastic Troy Rink is fantastic. We'll talk more about the Broncos as we get you ready for the matchup. It's going to be a hot one hot day. And you got to, you know, the same way the Niners have to have a game plan. Man, if you're going tomorrow and you're sitting in the sun and you're over 70 75, take take precautions. Don't wear black, lots of fluids, bring a hat, think of shade, stay in the shade as much as possible. You don't want to, you know, 100 degrees potentially tomorrow could be the hottest day ever at Levi's. They're saying it might be the number, the hottest of the second hottest in the history of the stadium. So take precautions, faithful, heck, if you're in that danger category, maybe sit this one out, you know,

19:00nobody's going to, nobody's going to call you out. So you got to have a game plan for the heat and the Niners have got to have a game plan for the Broncos and we have more to discuss on that front next and George Kiddell stop by with Murphy and the KMBR Morning Show earlier in the week. We're going to hear some of that dialogue next as we continue with 49er forecast brand new open, by the way, I love the open raft outstanding brand new open for the show. We really might be, I was, yeah, I was raps idea. Good sound bites there. Really high level production. But up next Kiddell with Murphy and I on these sports leaders. That's why Brock is Brock K and B are the sports leader. Faithfully 49ers forecast with Larry Krueger now continues on your proud home of 49ers football K and B are the sports leader. Well, only once a year do we get to get George Kiddell as our player of the week. You can pretty much lock up that he's going to be player of the week at some point and it comes early this year after two touchdowns on Sunday. He's back. What a story

20:05after the January injury. It's only September. He's back on the field score and touchdowns. Let's get into it. George Kiddell on the Uma Guest line is our player of the week sponsored by Big Lothi. Grab a mug and tea proudly. He's also sponsored by Benjamin Moore Payne's experience. The Benjamin Moore retail difference that are independently owned authorized retailers today or at Benjamin Moore dot com. So with Marcus out today, we got Larry Krueger in. So George, you got your boy Murf. You got Larry. Good morning, George. How are you? Well, it's how we do. And also a hell of an adry man. I did. I've been doing it for a while. Let me tell you that. Okay. So like your professional or something kind of like you coming off the snap. It's like I've done this before. I know this route. So a one for twice. So, hey, man, let's go right. Let's start with the fun stuff, dude. Who touchdowns on Sunday when you put your head on that pillow Sunday night. How great the journey to come back from the injury and to be in the end zone twice in front of the home crowd. How great was that feeling and how are you feeling? RFC one. It's

21:07old amazing. Anytime that you get a dub and Levi say to him, it always shows great specifically into division rival. But yeah, I mean, it's been a long journey and to be back on the field with the boys playing in front of that awesome crowd and scoring touchdowns. I mean, the lot hard is definitely full. It's feeling, I mean, feeling awesome, definitely feeling three-cented season. I get some bumps and bruises, but it's all good. And it just makes you feel alive again. I'll tell you that much. Well, you were alive and well, man. 49ers are three and oh, getting ready for the Denver Broncos on Sunday. George, when I looked at week one in Australia, you looked good. But I already feel like what you look like in week three is different than week one. Are my eyes deceiving me or do you feel better in week three than you did in week one? Oh, absolutely, way better. I mean, I'm pretty sure I had about three practices under my belt going into Australia. And there's always rust. You got to play football to get good at football. And so just each week I've gotten more and more confident. Really, the number one thing is I've just been

22:09violently out of shape. And so feeling way better, got my legs underneath me. Can actually like stay attached in the run game, not falling off a block. Can run more than two plays in a row without being winded. So I just think each week, we can week out the more practice that get the more games I play. It's going to just slowly click along and just get better and better. It's amazing that you made this comeback as fast as you did, George. You know, they were saying nine to 12 months was the estimate. You came back, you know, prior to eight months. And you seemed really intent on coming back for week one. When did you kind of feel like week one was a possibility for the first time? Was there a time that it hit you where I, hey, you know what, I think I can make it back for week one. Yeah, actually, that hit in about, I think it was just after July 4th, I went in around Rouse with Purdy and I was just going to do some jog for stuff. And it just felt really good as my first attempt at running Rouse and I ran about 20 routes all, you know,

23:10probably like 80% and told great about it. And I was like, oh, wow, like I'm like, I'm not very yet, but I'm pretty close. And then we really just, you know, once I hit that, those markers, we kind of up my the rehab just a little bit extra, more running, more cutting, more field stuff. And then by the time I got a training camp, I truly believe that I had a chance to play week one. I mean, I think I could have maybe came back a couple days in earlier in a training camp, but, you know, we just want to be dumb about it. But that means we hit all the plans that we wanted to and even accelerated a little bit. So it was that July 4th to run in our out session definitely helped. And did Kyle, I mean, did Kyle and John, what role did they play in all this? I mean, I know it's the medical guys, their trainers and all those guys you got you back, but how much communication was there? And did they ever say like, hey, man, you don't have to be back for week one, bro, to 17 game season. We're hoping to play in the playoffs. What was the communication with Kyle and John and what did they want you to do? They both just said, look, you're in charge of this. You tell us when you think you're ready, you tell us like the rest that you need to practice.

24:13Like tell us what you need to ramp up. Like just like you said, long season, but you know what you're dealing with. You've been doing the rehab. Just tell us what you need and know what to go out that plan. We trust you to make the right decisions. So I think, you know, I'll show it was definitely a tough one. You know, I was, you know, I was 100% healthy to be out there, but you know, out of shape and stuff like that. So that was good for me. Just, you know, it's hard to come back for football in the middle of season. So getting that week one, I think definitely set me up for a lot of success against Miami and then in Arizona. So, but I think I think we handled it pretty well. George Kiddles of Voicey here. He's our front air player of the week, two touchdowns on Sunday, nine years of three and oh, George, you are relentlessly positive. You are the people's tight end. You are popular for a reason, but you're also human. And when the injury happened in January and maybe even into February, how honest can you be with us and the listeners and the fans out there about just yeah, it was tough like were there tough mental times for you? You know, that's a,

25:16it's a good question. Like I never really had any dark days. I mean, besides like that, those first couple of days before the surgery, you know, pretty down and out. But then I went down to LA. I met with Neil Eltross and just from where like where my MRI was, like what showed like where the tear was. He was very optimistic about it and he was pretty sure he forwarded me off the river. They look, man, if you do everything and extra like you have a real chance to play week one, you might not miss any time. And I really think that like just that conversation allowed me to not have those dark days. And yeah, there are still is annoying days when I'm going from, you know, out of my bed in the middle of the night onto a scooter to go to go to the chatty, go to the bathroom at 3 AM. That's not very fun. Pretty annoying. But like besides that, like I had great rehab people around me with a great plan around me. Claire, my wife was over the top supportive and anything that I needed. Honestly, the best thing that about tearing your killies is one, you can kind of do the rehab

26:17anywhere because like you're doing calf raises and marble pickups. And also my wife wanted to move a bunch of stuff and I was unable to help her move anything. And so that was one of the benefits. Can't do it. That was one of the benefits. And you should have seen she looked at it. She was like, I was like, of all the unlucky things that could happen to you, this could be the luckiest thing that could have happened. You know, you know, that was that was an enjoyable thing. So, but besides that, I mean, you just got to attack everything with positivity, man. Like every single day, just one step in the right direction. That's all you need. And so I just took a bunch of steps and now we're out here running. Man, you guys have Evans. You got Debo back. You got yourself, CMC, Brock's playing like an MVP. I mean, things are good. Things are good. Hey, what did you think of the third play of the game, Hook and Ladder? That was fun to watch. Oh, so fun. I could be, I think we had this installed for two years now. So, like, it's always been

27:18up. It hasn't been in every single game plan, but like we installed it a couple of years ago. I want to say, I think I think the bills ran it and a third down like years ago. And, you know, we're we're using it and it's been up a couple of times. We practice it a ton. Like, you know, you do the end of game plays and that's definitely one of the we practice. And so to finally, well, I heard the play called the one I was like, oh, this is going to be sick to watch. And there's just something special. I've seen Debo just run 20 miles, 20 miles an hour down the side. That isn't it? He's I mean, Debo, let's just stay on that for just a second. I mean, you know, obviously contracts are a thing and departures are a thing. And then he comes back and you it, I believe it was you and radio row at Moscone Center who said, oh, yeah, we're playing in some reunions. We're like, wait, what? And sure enough, I mean, this Debo thing. So what is he bringing back to you guys? Not just running 80 yards as Debo, but also the getting the band back together.

28:19How's that how's that playing out? Look, we drafted Debo in 2019. We want a ton of game. A ton of games with Debo. He's an awesome superstar plays. You know, he has the or around him. He gets Trent Williams height. But like at the end of the day, you know, he's one of my favorite teammates I've ever played with. And you become better friends with people. You like have a brotherhood. You find a love for guys that you go through stuff with. And we've gone through a lot of stuff together. You know, and so to bring him back into the fold and he just knows exactly where to pick up completely selfless. Like does not care. He just wants to win football games and you'll play good football. And it's just he has bring this energy to the team that you can't really replicate it. And that just like also like I can't be Trent Williams biggest height man. And so if you're going to try it, you're doing something well too. Good stuff. The offense is cooking, George. I mean, you guys put up 36 points in 19 minutes. Kyle's deep in his bag. But we got to talk about Brock for a second because Brock is just we should talk about Brock. He's he's damn good.

29:23He's damn good. He's been damn good since the beginning. But this year he's really ripping it. He looked all he's looked awesome and camp. Did you notice any difference this summer from Brock? Where has he improved from a year ago? I'll tell you, I think one thing just this off season knows and about Brock. I mean, he worked out. He's got the mindset for everything. I think he took his like how much he threw in the off season. I think it seems like he changed up he threw a ton the whole off season. You know, I wasn't doing a lot of catch and form, but he had other guys out there that I work out with, run their out form. Did it throw on a ton of deep balls like just really forcing the ball down field. I think you just kind of feel like you see that aggression and that his will and it's just to throw the ball down there like I mean, I think he used to be called the yak merchant, which I'm pretty sure he's like was laughing in a federal last few years in yak. So I think he's he's proven that he pushes the ball down the field and he makes plays. He extends plays with his legs. I mean, just I think he just has this huge level of confidence and

30:25it's it's just really fun to see out there. Man, I get so fun to play with him. Such an athlete. I mean, I know what you guys are going to do when you look at film and that one where he scrambled to the right and leapt up. I think he was to Luke Farrell. They didn't wind up giving him the catch. Might have made the catch, but I mean, I think it was I think of a catch. We should put that in Luke stat giving a catch. By the way, speaking of stats, how about Debo zero receptions 80 yards? That's the best stat of the year right there. And so, but I might be. That's the cool. But that's that playground. Pretty and listen, we all loved Jimmy. You used to wear a t-shirt with Jimmy's face on it. You used to go to Panda Express with Jimmy Jimmy took you guys to a bowl. Listen, so Jimmy's family forever, right? But this guy is more of a playground athlete and that's kind of easy for all of us to see. And it must be kind of wild for you. Like, I can't give up on my route because Brock彙ty might still be scrambling back there. You know, I saw a really funny tweet about him yesterday. It said Brock彙ty had have been like the best recess quarterback of all time. That's good. That's true. Like he has

31:26this like you could tell he has just like just like this love and this joy the game like he's playing it like football. It's a kids game and that we're playing to be a paid a lot of money to play it. But like he still has this like youthful joy for it. And like going out and do those plays, it's it's just so fun to watch. Like if you watch it too, like just sometimes you have the three set job, a three set drop and I'll just like do a little jump pass to get over the line of scrimmage. And I like I giggle to myself every time I see that on tape. And so like it's just it's it's so special to see that. And when you have a guy that can just extend the play, not take a sack, can just spin out of everything, run away from everything. It's it just allows your off and stand the film. I mean, there are five or six plays in that game where Brock had to be spun out of something and either threw it away or was able to dump it down to somebody else and like that just extends driving like that's why we're allowed to stand the film score touchdowns. You know, Evans has been so so good. And that catch that he made in the end zone this week, George. I mean, he you know, just camouflaged it, didn't put his hands up, let the ball just drop right into his hands and it was a perfect dime by party. What does it what does it mean to you guys adding a true

32:32Hall of Fame number one receiver? What does he add it? Shoot man. I mean, one it's Mike Evans, which is so sick because he's probably one of the most underrated like all-time greats. I mean, you go that many seasons over a thousand yards. It's pretty special. And so when you add someone like that who all he wants to do is win football games and like he attacks everything every single day with the right mindset, the way things get spoddy. I mean, he goes out there. I was so like he he picked up our playbook so fast like no ma's always no what he's supposed to be doing. And like you don't really have to coach him like yeah, there might be like a route concept like Shanahan might make a new plan. He goes hey Mike, I need to do this and then this. But then there's no coachy points on top of it like he just understands how to get open. Like I'm pretty sure the play scored on he just had a go on it and he runs around in the way to make the corner think he's running the slant and he's wide open the back of the end zone. It's just like he has all these little movements with his body. He just knows how to get opening against anybody. And then you just bring in like that veteran presence of like excellence. And

33:37that's what he expects every single day. So when you bring in someone like that a Hall of Fame player who's playing like a Hall of Famer, it just makes everyone around you so much better. And it's also funny because you can't double thing everybody else because you can't really leave Mike Evans one on one. It's just awesome to touch down. We and we're glad to hear that the rib injury was not overly serious. I mean, I'm sure it hurts like crazy, but he is a day to day. I will say that. We'll say that again. Sorry. Good shot. Oh yeah. Uh, uh, fracturing ribs suck. But, uh, you know what? Hey, it's Mike, Mike's a stud. You know, we'll do whatever what's best for the hand in what's best for the team. We're not worried about it. Hey, before let you go just on Kyle Trent had a quote after the game saying man, his play calls are like Spanish to me. Like he doesn't understand. So you're the guy who has to know him all because you're running the routes that this guy just continues to be on top of his game. George and all the years you spent with him. Is he getting better? Is he just getting more complex? What's your what's your relationship with Kyle and his playbook right now?

34:38Kyle's playbook is just ever revolving and I think it's like one thing, like think back to like 2019, right? It was our third year and we had basically like a lot of the same coaching staff, right? Like you had McDaniels and the Flurr and I think like once you give him a couple years of like with his staff and they all figure out and they can like, you know, flow with each other, I think that's when you see like our best offenses and then, you know, uh, you know, our in 2023 our offense was super efficient. That was a couple years with, um, you know, Flurry and our other OCs like Kubiak and then now you have Kubiak and, you know, Joe graves his first year but like you just give him a little bit of time to like find the rhythm with these his coaches and I think they all just work off of each other so well because Kyle just, he demands excellence, I wouldn't say perfection but like he demands that of everybody in the building. It doesn't matter if you're the assistant, wife, superist coach, like he demands excellence out of you every single day and like I just people want to perform and people want to put together a good game plan because we have such a fun offense. You know, there's so many guys you can get the ball. I mean, last week you saw

35:41Kyle Uchek running the sail route, you know, for like 25 yards down to get us in the red zone and you scored the next play like how many teams are having their full back line up and do that and so like he just gets so creative because he has so many pieces of the puzzle that he can just put anywhere that he wants and uh, when you give Kyle the freedom and you have a quarterback that he has confidence in he's just, I mean, I think Kyle's just sitting over this line of space. Probably a ton of stress every single week because I just know who he is but you know, he's having a good time making these game plans. It is unbelievable, man. You guys are, I mean, 36 point you got to roll at a bed and score 36 so and that's because Eddie missed two PATs. What have been 38? All right, George, we will let you go. I do, I mean, you know, it's kind of like you do a morning show, you kind of have to ask the one question about Madison Square Garden in the summer. My question is when you went to Travis Kelsey's wedding, the best appetizer, like a little crab cake or like what like your Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey, what do you, how can you meet the past appetizer standard? You got to go top shelf. What was the best past appetizer there?

36:48You know what? I would say the thing that I really enjoyed is they have like multiple tables of food and it was like you had like an Italian thing, you had like a Chinese food thing, you had to say like every option was available and then they had an entire table just of like 20 cakes, all of like different like it was just everything was top notch and I had such a great time and it's just live music great, good food's great, I had a wonderful time the entire time. Well, I mean, listen, it's off season so you can have you know, a couple of pieces of those cakes, right? Just one or two. You got 20 choices, you might as well try a couple. Yeah, so anyway, that's great. I'm going Chinese. I'm going Italian. I'm going cakes. It's good stuff, man. All right. Well, listen, you're a great friend to him obviously and to your to your new friend to Taylor. So, okay, you're done. You're done with Player of the Week and go work out, rest up, rehab, you survived, Murf and Krueg and have a great time against the Broncos Sunday and keep making people happy. George, thanks for hopping on. Thanks for having me, boys. I'll talk to you next time.

37:51All right. That was George Kittle with Murf and I on the Kambia Armorning Show. It was fun sitting in for Marcus earlier this week. Up next, we'll talk a little bit with Nick Cosmider, who covers the Broncos for the athletic as we continue with 49er forecast on these sports leader. K&B RB sports leader. All right. Joining us this segment to help us break down a little bit of the Niners and the Broncos and weak fours Nick Cosmider, who covers the Denver Broncos for the athletic. And he's with us on the Uma Guest line to to chop it up and talk all things Broncos. Nick, how are you? I'm doing great. How are you doing? I'm doing fantastic. Thanks for coming on and you know, how would you how would you describe the early season for Denver? They come into this game two and one and fresh off of a four point win at home last week against the Rams, the Rams fans, of course, feel like they got they got robbed and all this but Denver's two and one, two and oh at home and they'll come out here for for week four, how the Broncos looked? Well, I think where how I would

38:56describe kind of that record right of being two and one, I think there is some relief in that because the Broncos know they haven't played sort of as well as they they need to be playing to you know, really be that contender that they want to be this year, right? That they believe that they can be a team that competes to it to reach the Super Bowl in the AFC. They have to be better, particularly offensively and it's really centered around these these very slow starts that they've had. They've scored 10 points all season long in first halves including a shut out in the first half against the Rams on Sunday night. So I think the fact that they've been able to win, you know, win two close games, I think they attribute a lot of that to just sort of the the battles that they've been through in these kind of games the last couple of years while also knowing that they have got to get some kinks figured out that have kept them from you know, being that complete four quarter team. Davis Webb was was given the chore of being the the play caller even though Sean Peyton is a

39:56phenomenal play caller. Why did Sean ever describe why he he made that decision and what are the early returns? Well, I think it was twofold. I think one is that they really believe in, you know, Webb as a coach and just sort of his his knack for offensive football. He's worked with Bonix. Ever since Nick Scott here is a first-round pick in 2024. He was his quarterbacks coach the first two years and so their relationship, their ability to kind of speak the same language was part of it. But I also think that there was there was a time looking back last year when the Broncos were getting into the playoffs where Sean Peyton was sort of evaluating his own, you know, sort of his own ability at this station his career. Not necessarily to call plays and design plays. He's still master at that. But you know, spoke of kind of his own. I think the quote was sometimes when you get older, they say you can't drive at night in the rain. He's like, I've got to make sure that doesn't happen when they were heading into the playoffs. And it was sort of like a reference to

40:56like maybe not getting not getting it all out not as quickly as he wants to or once did. But so I think there was a combination of things ultimately with Web, we knew going into the season that this stretch that they started with is six game stretch where they play the chiefs, the Jaguars, the Rams, the 49ers, the Chargers, and the Seahawks was going to be a significant test. There were going to inevitably be stumbles along the way as he kind of got into that role and got it figured out that has been the case. But the Broncos are supportive of him that they talk about it being kind of this widespread thing. And when it has gone well, like in the second half, when guys are running open in huge moments against the Rams, you see the potential with what Web is doing, what they're designing in terms of, you know, mesh and rub routes and getting guys open. So it's in there. Now it's just a matter of like getting it in rhythm throughout the game. They have a three headed backfield. And now Jonah Coleman's on the IR, but Jake K. Dobbins and then Arche Harvie, I thought was a really good player in college. And now you've got

41:59Jonah Coleman as well. And Coleman got his opportunity and then he quickly gets hurt and put on IR. Who do you think gets the lion's share of the carries in this game against the 49ers? Yeah, it's been it's been an interesting thing because every member of this backfield, those three that you mentioned, the top three running backs, they've all been on the injury report at some point or another already this season. They've all already spent time in the medical tent during during games. So they've been a little bit banged up in that backfield. Right now, Dobbins, Dobbins is the team's lead ball carrier. He was that for them on Sunday. And I didn't have a single rush of more than six yards and has only two explosive runs through the first three games. Doesn't quite look like that same guy, at least to this point in the season that he did while rushing for seven hundred and seventy two yards last year in just 10 games before he suffered a Liz Frank foot injury that kept him out for the rest of the year. So I think they're a little bit nicked up in the backfield, but you know, they've got a week to prepare. And I think so long as, he's healthy going into it, Dobbins will be that guy. But that's a huge emphasis. I wrote about

43:03this today at the athletic. The Broncos early down run efficiency in first halves is tied for the worst in the league in terms of success rate. They've got to find a way to get that established early in this game on Sunday because coming back in the third and fourth quarter like they have, it's a lot easier to do at home when you have the crowd behind you. But I don't think they can get into that kind of game in Santa Clara on Sunday if they drop into an early hole. What do you attribute those struggles to? Is it the old line? The backs Davis Webb, you know, hex is it the receivers? I mean, the receivers have a big hand in the run game. Yeah. How do you, how do you, what's been the bugaboo with the run game? Yeah, that's, I think that's probably a frustrating part for them is that it's just been, it's just been one little thing here or there. Like it's been a combination. There's been, there's been too many penalties early in drives that kind of put them in bad down in distance positions. Let's, let's look at the first play of the game against the Rams as a perfect example. You know, they get the ball, you know, to start the game after, after forcing the, the Rams to punt and they want to just get, you know, like a three four yard gain in order to kind of get

44:06themselves in a second and in medium situation where they can access the whole playbook. Instead, you know, Jalen Watson, the corner for the Rams, he ducks under a, a block attempt from Cortland Sutton and just drops JK Dobbins in the backfield for a two yard loss. Now, all the seniors staring at second and 12 and you just don't have kind of the person that you don't have the, the, the rhythm that you want to have in order to get things going. So I think that's a microcosm of what has been some of the problem when they get it going in the second half. It's not as if they all of a sudden are like rip and off explosive runs, but you know, second half it was five yards, five yards, six yards on first down. That's really all they need to do to get into positions where the, you know, the talent that they have from a pass catching perspective can really start to stress defenses. You know, the, the game log for Jalen Waddle is very uneven. They've played three games. It couldn't get them really rolling in the Kansas City game. Didn't do tons in the, in the Ram game, but man, he sure had a big day against Jacksonville, well over 100 yards, nine, nine

45:10receptions on 10 targets. Had what's been the issue with him early on? I mean, he's got a ton of speed, but one good game out of three is probably not going to satisfy the fans. Yeah, well, I would put, I would put the chiefs into this bucket of just like there was not a single bit of the operation for the Broncos. And that week one game that went well, offensive defensively, special teams. I don't think that that was necessarily indicative of what they're going to do with him. But the game, the game against the Rams, they really did try to get him the ball. I think he kind of fell into some of the, some of the early struggles that they had, you know, whether it be, you know, recognizing some of the defensive pressures from the Rams, but they're just weren't necessarily a lot of clean looks. But even though the statistics weren't quite, certainly weren't what they were against the Jaguars when the Broncos played the Rams, I still thought, it still felt like Jalen Waddle was an important part of that game. He had a big 14 yard run on a jet sweep that kind of got them going on one of their touchdown drives. And then their first two point conversion play, he won, ran one of the best routes you'll ever see, Bonyx, through one of the best passes that I've

46:14seen him throw in his career. And they connected for a two point conversion that they really had to have in order to start getting back into that game. So he continues to be a player that they're still learning all the best places to put him in. I think that's some of it. Bonyx, this off season, he was rehabbing from an ankle injury. So when Jalen Waddle arrived in the spring, they didn't necessarily have that early time to kind of build their connection. Then Jalen Waddle missed a couple weeks of training camp with a soft tissue injury. So I think big picture wise, they're still somewhat getting on the same page, those two are, but we've already seen the flashes of what he can do. And it can be pretty dynamic when they get him going. Nick Cosmider with us up from the athletic is we chop it up looking ahead to Niners and Broncos. The Broncos are considered to have one of the better offensive lines. I watched some of the game last week. I felt like Quinn Miners really had a did a job on Aaron Donald. I thought Miners looked really good. You of course, you also have the ex-Niner Mike McGlinchee at right tackle and he got paid a good chunk of change to go out

47:14there. How would you describe their offensive line? Do you believe it's one of the best offensive lines in the league and how they played early on? I think they've been pretty solid. There's been uneven portions. I think some of these early game struggles seems like it takes them a little bit to get going. In training camp, Quinn Miners said one of the things about our offense is we're sort of like this train. You start a train up. It takes a while for it to build up speed and all that kind of stuff. But once we get going, it's hard to slow down. So I think they fall into that bucket. But if you go back and you watch the second half of that game against the Rams, Bonaix had plenty of time to navigate the pocket. I think they get later into these game situations. For whatever reason, he finds a calmness that I just don't always see from him early in games. On the final game winning drive, you found Pat Bryant for a 39 yard game. He turns around the next play. He finds Troy Franklin for a 20 yard game where he's just sitting back there and

48:14waiting for these concepts to inevitably come open. I think this is a good line. Again, when they get going in the run game, it just opens up a lot of things for him. But yeah, Quinn Miners, he individually has been, he's been incredible already this season. I mean, he's, we saw the kind of quasi viral clip of him body slamming Aaron Donald. He had done the same thing a week earlier against the Jaguars. He's an all pro for a reason. And if they get the run game going a lot of times, they're trying to do it behind him. How does Denver utilize their tight ends? They've got some good ones here. Evan Ingram was a really good receiver at Jacksonville. And then Troutman was, I think he was with Peyton in New Orleans. And now he's, he's in Denver. He was a big, powerful blocker. I think a Dayton. How do you, how do they utilize their tight ends? Did they go 12 personnel and go two tight ends? Or how do they utilize their tight ends? Well, yeah, and then they have, they have Nate Atkins who missed some time last year with injuries. Actually, they're leading touchdown receiver this year with two. You know, has that touched

49:15down and back to back weeks, including the one that helped them tie the game against the Rams? They have used 12 and 13 personnel already a fair bit more often than they did last year. They're not, they're not a huge heavy personnel team. You know, but just sort of looking back in the second half on Sunday, 10 of their 17 run plays came out of either 12, 13 or jumbo personnel. So they, they have been leaning a little bit more into using using that. And Evan Ingram has played more, he only played 42% of Denver's offensive snaps last year. That was by far the lowest rate of his career. He's bumped up and playing closer to 60% now in part because he really did a lot of work this off season, improving himself in some of the blocking schemes that that the Broncos need him to, to at least be serviceable in. And so I think you've seen improvement from him. They are, did not have a big receiving night against the Rams, but he's been a guy that's been kind of a focal point of of the game plans of getting him involved quite a bit. So it's a group that is, is not star studded

50:17by any means. I mean, as much as Ingram has a passes or a series 32 years old, he's not quite that same dynamic target. So it's a group that they use a little bit in a lot of different ways, but not necessarily the, you know, the big splash receiving group that some teams around the league have. How do defenses go about attacking this offense? What are they, what are they trying to take away? Have there been any common denominators that you've noticed in the first three games? Well, I think early pressure has been something that they, that they've really tried to bring. I think teams know that they can kind of get Bonyx off his mark. They can hurry him a little bit. So I think the blitz rates and first halves, you know, kind of looking back at that. That's been something that I think has been something of a common thread. You know, Steve Spagnolo and week one Senate, Senate Nickel Blitz on the very first play. You know, kind of trip them up a little bit and brought Bonyx down for a sack. He's, he's just facing pressure a little bit more often with, with extra rushers this year. So that's one thing that you're noticing. And again, like they have not been able to sort of get that second safety down in the box consistently enough based on the way that they're

51:21running the football. So teams have been trying as best they can to kind of sit in a two high shell because they know with with Jalen Waddle darting all over the formation. Like you want to have that resource back there. So, you know, continuing to try to run effectively enough to get teams out of some of that that two high stuff is is one of the one of the quests for the Broncos right now. Nick, let's talk let's flip the card and talk a little bit about the the Broncos on defense. There's some good, I mean, this is really good defense. I mean, it's a three four defense. Nick Benito's a star. There's no question about that. Nine or fans know all about DJ Jones. Very strong. Very quick. Zach Allen was a great pick up by them. I mean, he just has been fantastic there. Who's the guy outside of outside of Benito? Who we know probably gets doubled quite a bit. Is there another guy that gets you know, draw some combo blocks? Well, yeah, I think the guy that they've that that's had their their most impressive pass rush of the season was Talino who found a against the against their Rams on Sunday night coming

52:25off of an unblocked a non block pressure looked at Vance Joseph drew up and you know, huff set after the game like it was exactly as he described it in practice. It was almost like kind of creepy how how much it played out that way they they use their defensive backs as much as any other team in the league in terms of some of the extra pressure looks that they're going to send. But but yeah, I think Zach Allen is sort of the engine that makes the entire thing go he in the center of their defense. You know, he I covered Nicole Yokech with the nuggets here earlier in my career and one thing that I always like marveled about him was here's a guy that was early in his career already becoming an all star. He always seemed to think wow, this is this is a pretty good player and then came back every single year and managed to be better. I'm already seeing that was Zach Allen this year coming off the best year of his career last year. He just he just causes so much interior problems for offensive lines and and the Broncos capitalized on that a lot. One thing they do miss right now is Jonathan Cooper. He's on the commissioners exempt list after a pair

53:26of offseason arrests while the league is is undergoing an investigation into that. He he was sort of that big bigger edge rusher who kind of helped them set the edge in the run game. They're a little light with without him. So they've had to do some different things to try to account for that. They have a couple really good young past ruskers and Jonah Ellis and Q Robinson who is a second year player out of Alabama. He's probably taking the biggest leap of anybody on that defense. But I would say it's still really centers around Zach Allen and and if he's creating the kind of like interior pressure consistently and getting quick wins. It really opens up things for the rest of Denver's defense. Yeah, Jonah Ellis was a good college player, but you mentioned Q Robinson. What an athlete he is. I think I caught Denver in the preseason and he just jumps off the page as far as athleticism is guys a tremendous all around athlete. How much does is it a rotation? Does Q Robinson get a lot of snaps? I mean, I know Ellis and Benito are their starters.

54:27Yeah, yeah, right now Benito and Ellis are but he but Q Robinson is playing quite a lot. I actually needed that I was kind of working through something to try to check what his what his snap rate was, but he's playing a lot and he actually had the the pressure in the game against the Rams on Sunday night. He brought the pressure, the kind of forced Stafford to get rid of his ball to the hot route quicker than he wanted to and that's what allowed Huff to jump in and get the pick six. So yeah, he's he's been he's been a problem for for for defenses. You mentioned it. He's he's really long and athletic. You know, it just kind of has a you know, he's sort of these ranging arms. It seemed to always be in a quarterback's face. So he's just going to continue to get better. I mean, he's a guy that played at Alabama behind Will Anderson and Dallas Turner. So he never really necessarily got that that kind of run and then last year as a rookie, he was an active a lot behind, you know, Cooper, Benito, Ellis and Don Drake Tillman, their other edger usher. Now with with Cooper not in the lineup, he's he's playing quite a lot. He's been a big part of what they're

55:28trying to do with the past rush. Do they play a lot of man? I mean, you've got Sir Tan, who might be the best corner going. I really like to die barren, you know, in college and he was a first round draft choice. How do the play is it predominantly man? Do they play a lot of zone? What what's the coverage breakdown for them? Yeah, they play a lot of match zone, you know, with with Pat Sir Tan, you know, what they have the kind of ability to do often is is kind of really cordon off one one side of the field. So that that allows them to play with some different matchups throughout. They don't play it again. Part of this is is the interesting thing with the trend of the league overall, where you're seeing teams play a lot more 12 and 13 personnel like teams like the 49ers and the Rams have kind of been doing for for quite a while. So you're not necessarily seeing as much of the six defensive back stuff, you know, from the Broncos, although on Sunday, barren, who you mentioned was a 2025 first round pick played 20 plus snaps because, you know, the Rams were the throw I think

56:29through the ball 55 times. So, you know, they're they're they're going to mix it up. And again, one thing about Vance Joseph that that has made them so successful. I mean, you look at the last two years in 2024 and 2025, 131 sacks, you know, I think there's 30 more than any other team in the league. And he really does that by by mixing up his pressures. There's there's quite literally everybody on that field can be can be a pass rush threat at any time. And that's really, I think kind of the secret sauce for them. Brandon Jones, you're made a lot of tackles last week, huh? He's he was incredibly active. Yeah. And he's been a he was a guy that was hurt midway through last year. They really missed him quite a lot in the back end of the season when he's just a really solid guy, not like a super physically imposing presence. But he and who Fonga have just just been such a such a strong duo together. They they really read one another very well. And yeah, they're they're they're safety's right now. They're back end is playing at a very high level. What who's the target? Who's the guy that that teams attack? Is it is it Riley Moss with

57:30Surtan on the other side or or is it McMillan the the Nickelback? I mean, when who you know, you know, we know they try to steer clear of Surtan. He's one of the best cover guys in all a football. But who who teams typically try to attack when they're playing Denver? Yeah, well, I say this knowing that Riley Moss got burned by the double move that that ended in a 48 yard touchdown pass for Matthew Stafford late in the fourth quarter. But that is not indicative of like the success he's had. You know, this season and even last year Riley Moss has been a really solid outside corner. He'll he'll he'll pick up penalties from from time to time. That can be a little bit of a bug a boot for him. But but really a great athlete gets his hand on the ball quite a lot. He's he had a huge interception against the Jaguars that really flipped that game for the Broncos. So he's not he's not an easy target to pick on on the outside. One thing that the the teams are really trying to do is put the Broncos linebackers in conflict. They have a couple of older linebackers

58:32now at Singleton and Justin Sternade. While they are very well-adept, well-adept in Vance Joseph defense and they have the continuity that helps them, you know, get everybody in the right place. There can be times if you're able to stretch them as as covering linebackers that teams have found some success in those ways. What did you guys think of Dre Greenlaw in his one year there? Obviously he was there, but now he's back with the 49ers. He's playing really well here. I know there were injuries involved, but what did you think of Greenlaw last year? How did he fit in the defense? Yeah, I felt for Dre, you know, all year because we we didn't really get to know him. There was a couple times when he first got here that we got to interact with him a little bit and obviously, you know, I had heard a lot of good things about the people in San Francisco about, you know, just what kind of, you know, guy, he was not only in the media, but just around the building and I thought that was certainly true in the in the limited interaction, but he just unfortunately had the had the injuries. I don't necessarily think it was a fit with between, he kind of mentioned this at the end of last season about, you know, kind of how Sean Peyton expects

59:35teams to practice the veteran involvement in practice versus what he was used to in San Francisco and just never could really get consistently healthy. And then he, you know, he comes back after a long absence to begin the year, plays a good game to help them come back against the New York Giants and then gets, you know, gets a one game suspension for, you know, kind of going after the referee, after the game. So just it just was one of those years for for Dre Greenlaw where, you know, things just didn't come together, but you saw the flashes. That was a game they had against the Texans where he individually, I think, made three consecutive goal line stops, or three out of four, whatever it was, just kind of completely ruined a goal line drive for the Texans in a game that the Broncos ended up coming back to win. So, you know, you saw what, why they pursued him and all that kind of thing, but, you know, ultimately they decided the Broncos did to go with their other two veterans in Alex Singleton and Justin Sternab and, yeah, it would be interesting to see how Greenlaw fairs on Sunday. You know, one of the one of the only regrets

1:00:35the nine, and I don't know if they call it a regret because they had other guys there, but I view it as a regret that they let Talino, Huffanga get out of their building. He was such a special guy, such a special player. He had two picks against the Rams. I mean, he really looked good. How is, what role do you just Denver use Huffanga? Because it seems like he's really good at the line of scrimmage, creating mismatches, you know, blowing up the quarterback, packing the running back. To me, he seems like he's not quite as good down the field in coverage. How's he played in Denver? Well, this, this, I mean, I thought he was actually pretty solid in that regard last year. This year, he's been excellent. If you kind of look at the advanced coverage numbers, teams have not really been able to pick on him much at all. He's shown a lot of great instincts. He had the two interceptions, as you mentioned against the Rams. He had two other plays that easily could have been interceptions. One that hit him right in the chest that he really lamented after the game. Another

1:01:36one where he broke perfectly on a tight end flat route that Stafford throw to start the third quarter that he nearly jumped and picked. So he's just really been very sharp in terms of where he's at. I think his second year having the knowledge of his second season, in Vance Joseph defense, he just seems super comfortable with where he's playing and they do. They move him around just about just about everywhere. I mentioned the work that he's doing as a pass rusher, but Zach Allen was talking the other game. They just sort of marvel that they were able to get him because he has just been an absolute home run for the Broncos. Not just with what he's doing on the field, but he is a fantastic fit for the winning culture that they've been trying to build. So he's been thriving in Denver these last two seasons. Run the ball, stop the run. It's like the oldest ingredient in the world to recipe to win. And yet, Denver did beat the Rams last week, but if you look at the rushing numbers, they weren't great. Denver did not run the ball that well. They allowed the Rams to run for

1:02:41five yards of carry. When you see those numbers, is this a team that can run the ball and stop the run? And it was last week, was an aberration? Or do you view that? Do you, Denver, is challenged in those areas? You know, I do think they've been challenged in those areas and they've been able to overcome it the last two weeks. They stopped the run well against the Jaguars. They were not really able, Jacksonville was not really able to get that going. That's part of why they were able to come back from a 10 point deficit in the second half, but they got bold over by Kenneth Walker in week one. And then they weren't really able to tamp down the explosive plays by Kyron Williams. I was actually quite surprised that the Rams did not lean on the run game more in the second half, especially when you consider they only, you know, they were only targeting two wide receivers in that game in Devonte Adams and Mungfield. So, you know, they were playing a lot of 13 personnel, they're, but their tight ends were also banged up. So I thought they went away from the run way too early to the Rams, but it has been a struggle. And I mentioned kind of some of their,

1:03:42their own like Denver's offense is struggle to run the ball. So they've won in spite of those things. I think overall, I kind of trust more their ability to stop the run. I think that that's something that they're, that they're built to be able to do, even though they had problems with Kenneth Walker. I think he's going to give a lot of teams problems this year just because of the physicality he runs with. But that's going to be a huge part of this game on Sundays is, you know, like these teams have so much connective tissue as you know, you know, there's, there's, there's just, there's the, the shant of hand of it all and kind of those trees that have, that have intermixed, you have personnel, you know, Mike McGlinchey, Mike McGlinchey, DJ Jones, who Fong as you mentioned, you know, kind of all part of that 49ers pass. So there's a, there's a really like a strong familiarity between these two organizations. And so I don't think there's going to be a ton of surprises about like what it's going to try to take for either team to try to win this game Sunday. A couple of assums before we let you go. Give us your kind of, you know, maybe in a more of a national perspective on Brock Pertie. I mean, here, you know,

1:04:42he can do no wrong. I mean, he's, he's an MVP candidate. He's taken his game to the next level. But you don't see him as much, but maybe you see him more clearly than we do. What, what do you think of Pertie from afar? I just think he's, and I don't, I don't say this like a deriv- or as a derision at all, I think he's an excellent point guard. Like, and he's just somebody that always has the ball in the right spots, just has a deep understanding of like, if I do, if I do my job with what everybody else is trying to do, we're gonna, we're gonna be explosive offensively. And he just, to me, from the outside, just like buys into that in such a deep way, that there's just ultimate faith in what they, what they do. I mean, he's his ability to scramble. I think people don't appreciate enough the way that he moves around. He saw, I was watching some of the highlights against, against the dolphins with what he was doing. I think there's, there's a lot of respect. And there's some similarities in that, in that to, to Bo Nix. But I, I just think his, his ability to command what they are doing and do it with such a confidence,

1:05:48is what really impresses me about Brock Pretty. What would you say Denver's got enough to slow starts? Is there, you know, they're struggling a little bit in the first half of some of these games. Is there any common thread to their first half struggles at all? Well, I, it's, it's a lot of it's the run issues that we, that we talked about. They've been pretty heavily penalized in first halves. And then the other thing with, with Bo Nix is, you know, it's, it's something that can be hard to like quantify statistically. But in the first half of games, there's times where he just seems a little bit over, overamped. Like if you, if you watch how he, sort of handles the rush in terms of kind of having a calm heartbeat, he really like, in the second half against the Rams being a perfect example, just really was like unbothered as he went through his progressions as he kind of stayed poised early in games at times. I feel like he can get, until he, I feel like, and he needs to see his line, how they're going to handle the rush, like where he's going to be able to kind of pick his spots. And once he gets comfortable with that,

1:06:51he, he settles down in a big way and just plays. They've got to get him some way to, to kind of have more of that feeling early in games. And I don't know if that's a little bit more up tempo so that they can kind of dictate the pace a little bit on their own. But they also have this really good defense that they don't want to put in a bind like they did against the Rams where they have to constantly be on the field. So I think there's just some of those, some of those things that have to come together in order for them to be as explosive early in games as they've been in the second hat. Are the fans there disappointed with Courtland Sutton? I kind of thought Sutton was due for a big bust out year. We haven't really seen it. He's second in targets to Waddle. But are you disappointed with what, are the Broncos disappointed with what they've gotten at a Courtland Sutton? You know, I don't think so. I think when they signed Jalen Waddle, I think there was a lot of fans and people around who thought that he probably, that Waddle was going to become the top target in this offense. And I think that'll probably bear out as the year goes on just because they can

1:07:52use him in more ways than Sutton who's kind of that, you know, prototypical big X wide receiver on the outside. I think as the season goes on, you know, Sutton has sometimes been a slow starter himself. I think as the season goes on and teams are having to account for just more of these things that they've seen on film from Jalen Waddle and the ways that he gets moved around, I think it's going to create more one on one matchups for Courtland Sutton. And that's really where he kind of, you know, makes his money as the guy outside that can go up and get the ball. And so if they feel, they'll feel really comfortable if they can get him in some more of those matchups. But yeah, the numbers offensively in the passing game for the Broncos outside of Waddle's big splash against the Jaguars, there's not really anybody that's been, you know, really hitting the ground running yet. So I would say it's still kind of a work in progress. But they know who Sutton is, even if his numbers go down, he's a guy that, you know, is counted upon to be that big X outside ride receiver that can go win them some one on one. Nick, last one for you, appreciate your time. If the Broncos

1:08:56are coming to Levi's on Sunday and leaving with a victory, what needs to happen? Give me a key or two to the game on Sunday from your perspective on what Denver needs to accomplish to get the W. Well, you know, it's kind of like cliche to win the turnover battle, but that's something that they, that they have to do, you know, that they did that against the Jaguars, they did it against the Rams. And so that was what was able, was that was what helped them overcome the fact that they started off so poorly. So that that's going to be a paramount. They have to keep Bonyx clean yet he was sacked four times against the Chiefs. And when he starts to get hit consistently, that really throws off their offense. So I think being able to kind of keep him up right, again, most of the time he is a quarterback that is hard to sack. And so this is, that's not, I don't think a super unreasonable thing to think that the Broncos are going to be able to do, but that's a, that's going to be a huge part of it. And then defensively like limit the explosives as much as they can. Like that, that's the thing when you're, when you're playing the 49ers,

1:09:58you get it from a calf or you get it from a kittle, you get it from, you know, Debo Samuel on a hook and ladder, like they just, they have to limit those explosive plays so that they're not, you know, having to defend the red zone every single drive. Those are some of the big things I look at. Everybody out of order the athletic. I'm a, I'm a subscriber, a monthly subscriber because of guys like Nick, Nick Cosmider with us on the Uma guest line as we talk a little bit about the Niners and the Broncos. Nick, for people who, if they don't have the athletic, where's a great place that they can follow you on social media? Yeah, at Nick Cosmider and, you know, I include a lot of the work that we do there with, with unlocked articles. So even though even if you don't have a subscription subscription, follow me there and, you know, you'll still have an opportunity to read a lot of what we do. Nick, seriously, you do, you guys do a great job. I've read your stuff on the Broncos. It's really top notch. Thanks for jumping on K and B.R. and giving us kind of a little breakdown of the game. Really appreciate it. Look forward to it. Nick Cosmider from the athletic to, basically you're, you're much more knowledgeable now on the Denver Broncos because of Nick Cosmider.

1:11:03We got more straight ahead on the sports leader. Brian Murphy here. Listen, taking stock here. Summers in the rear view. Kids are back in class. It's football season. So the scoreboard changes every weekend in football, but your savings game can be rock solid. Yeah, I'm talking about Provident Credit Union's pick a term certificates where you can earn up to 3.75% annual percentage yield and choose the term that's right for you three months, six months, or one year. So that's no penalties, no fumbles, none of that football stuff. Just guaranteed returns that work is hard as your favorite team. Whether you're saving for a beach getaway or a mountain escape or just a little extra cushion, Providence Term Share certificates put you in control. Learn more at Provident CU dot org or stop by a local community branch rate is effective September 16th, 2026 minimum bounce of $10,000 early withdrawal penalties may apply federally insured by the NCUA Provident Credit Union. Discover the best in retail and business banking right here in your community

1:12:05limited time offer. Start saving today. Hey, everybody, Brian Murphy here. My alarm goes off before dawn and the whole Bay Area is still asleep, but not me thanks to my big low T with one cup, I'm ready to go live. Big low T grab a mug and T proudly. All right, welcome back to Niners nightly, joining us on the U McGess line to talk a little bit about the Niners and the Broncos is Troy Rink Denver Post and he's with us to talk a little bit about the week four matchup Sunday at Levi's. The Broncos roll in two and one. They lost to Kansas City, but they've won the last couple. Niners of course roll in three and oh, and Troy is with us on the U McGess line. Hey, Troy, how are you? Doing fantastic, Larry. Thanks for having me on. Well, thanks for coming on. We appreciate you and what's up in like so far for the Broncos, you know, I saw the week one against Kansas City. That kind of felt like almost like a setup, you know, like and then Reed came out and just ran the ball

1:13:08with with Kenneth Walker. What a great addition he is and and yet the Broncos bounce back with wins in week two and week three and nice win last week. Our buddy, our good buddy, Talino, Afanga, sealing the victory. What what are the first three games look like to you? Yeah, I mean, right now the Chiefs game looks like an anomaly like you'd say the new Broncos look a lot like the old Broncos of last year. They've now won 12 one score games in a row in the regular season, Larry. That's what made them so dangerous a year ago is that, you know, Bo-Nix in this offense can look dreadful for a half for three quarters and then play as good as anyone in the fourth quarter and then their defense finds a way to make a stand. So the last two games against Jacksonville and the Rams very similar to many games last year, including Atteville, which was kind of the turning point of their season a year ago against the defending champs. They got smoked in the opener. You know, we say I guess with the Rams now that they can't beat the Niners,

1:14:09Australia and the Broncos, but you know, the Rams feel like they got host on that last call that they probably should have won. I disagree because I've seen that called on Riley Moss of the Broncos probably six times in the last two plus in the last two seasons, but the Broncos they they're rosters better than people think. I know people think they're lucky because they win so many ones who are games, but I will say having covered all those games, you have to be good enough to stay in those to keep them close. It's not, you know, at times it's much more paint by numbers than it is, you know, the Vatican doesn't look like anything you want to hang in the Louvre, but they find ways to win. And that's kind of where they are right now. It's a veteran team 90 over 90% of the players are back from a year ago. So it's basically the same team and they're winning now the same way, but even they know they can't keep doing this with these slow starts. And I would guarantee you that if they start slowly and are down 16 nothing to the Niners at half time, they will not win that game on

1:15:09the road. They know this. They've got to get better offensively in the first half. Yeah, 11 and 2, I think their record was last year in one score games. The Niners themselves were really good in one score games last year. I think the Niners might have been six and one in one score games. And if you know, it's a key stat, you know, if you win the close games a lot of times in this league, you're going to be standing at the end. What has been Denver's issue with their offense starting games? Because they've started slowly. I think they've got 10 total points in the first half through three games. Is there any common denominator to their offensive struggles at all? Yeah, it's they don't run the ball well early in the game. They don't have balance. And for Bonyx to kind of reach his potential, they need to be a little more unpredictable. And Davis Web is a new offensive coordinator. And he's inherited that from Sean Payton. But you know, those first half look a lot like Sean Payton. They want to be cute in the passing game. They want to be innovative in the passing game. And they don't have patience in the run game. They get very, very reluctant to stay

1:16:14with it. If it's like, okay, two yards on first down, two yards on second down. Oh, okay, all right. We're done running. It's just like, I know, but you're not good enough. You don't have Michael Thomas. You don't have Reggie Bush. You don't have Alvin Kamara. You don't have, you know, Jimmy Graham, like they need balance. And so the common denominator when they struggle in the first halves is they play behind the sticks and they don't have balance. And because they're a good offensive team, like you look at there, especially with the addition of Jalen Waddle, but they're not a great offensive team from a skilled position. JK Dobbins is good, but he's availability has been a question through his career. And Cortland Sutton's a nice receiver. He's kind of a right at the borderline of a number one. And Waddle is probably a one, but they don't have a Justin Jefferson or Jamar Chase or even Mike Evans in his prime. So the common denominator Larry is they don't run the ball well in the first half. When they beat the Rams this past Sunday night, the second driver, the third quarter, they ran the ball three straight times. And that got the offense on track and they scored

1:17:15a touchdown and then the two point conversion. But that's really for me is they get they lose patience with the run game. They go immediately to three wide and they become vulnerable to these 90 second drives of, you know, three and out, three and out, three and out. So that that's what I see. And I know they do want more balance. I know the offensive lineman would love to run the ball more. You know, it's great to have multiple backs, but you got to have a pecking order. And to me, it seems like their their backs are all in the same level. I mean, Dobbins was it's had a nice career, but he's had a lot of injuries. RJ Harvey was a great college player. I thought he looked terrific last year. Then they drafted Jonah Coleman. I know he's on IR right now, but there are some Bronco fans out here that tell me that Jonah Coleman's their best back. Who do you think their best back is if everybody's healthy and who do you expect to be the primary ball carrier Sunday? It'll be Dobbins. Dobbins just hasn't looked right these last two games. He hurt. He got what he called

1:18:16spasms in his hamstring against the jaguars, but for my understanding, he got hit in the hip and then it caused like a spasm in his leg. And he just hasn't looked right. Now, he's not hurt. He's playing, but he doesn't have the burst he had last year. He almost had a he was on pace for a thousand yards. They haven't had a thousand yard back Larry since 2019 with Philip Lindsay. So this isn't not this is not just the Sean Peyton issue. This is a Bronco's issue. They just don't run the ball as much as other teams, but Dobbins was on pace for a thousand yards last year. He was fifth in the league in rushing when he got hurt in the 10th game of the season against the Raiders. And he killed it in second half. I haven't seen that version. So you ask when healthy it's Dobbins, especially with Coleman now. I think eventually Coleman could take over as the number one back. At some point, whether this year or certainly early next year, but it's Dobbins. Harfey's issue is he's a North South runner and he's really, really has a tendency to when things don't look right. He's the bump out. Excuse me. He's a East West runner. He has trouble putting his foot in the ground

1:19:20and going forward. He's really good in the passing game. He's great in short yardage, but the pecking orders Dobbins. It's just hasn't really played out that way because they haven't run the ball a lot, but this would be a great week for Dobbins to get, you know, 17 carriers for 80 yards. He had 17 this past week, but it was really force fed at the end. Can he get 18 for 80? That's the kind of day they need from him to win on the road. When Mike McGlinchee was a 9er man, people love to complain about Mike McGlinchee. Now he's in Denver. He's been there for a few years playing that right tackle spot. They paid him. They got miners next to him. He was a hell of a guard. I saw miners kind of work in Aaron Donald. Pretty bad. Last week Aaron Donald didn't look so special against Quinn miners. How good is this Bronco line? Because I've had people tell me this is one of the great lines in football, but if you're struggling to run the football, you know, that obviously kind of calls that into question. How good is the is the Bronco O line? It's a good line, but I'm with you.

1:20:21It can't be great when you don't run the football and control the line as scrimmage consistently. I covered the Broncos when they won the Super Bowl on 97 and 98. That was a great line. Now you could chop block then. It was different, but no one ran the wide zone better. Now Kyle Shanhen does a version of it, but with his dad Mike, they ran it better than anyone and with the chop block on the backside, it was almost unstoppable. So how good is this line? It is good, but it can't be the best. Some people say it's the best. I'm like, it can't be the best when you can't. You have to be able to run the ball when you have to and when you want to to be the best line. They're not there yet. Part of that issue is if you watch them on film and you have, you know, a scouting background, Larry, it's hard to see what is their identity in the run game. Like we know with Kyle what it's going to look like. We just know with the Broncos, it's like, there's games, especially last year, they're 15 run plays in the first half with like 10 different schemes. Is it combo block? Is it power? Is it wide zone? It's like the waffle house menu. Can we just go to the in and out burger menu?

1:21:24Can we just choose a couple? Like it's at what point? And I think they do want to do more wide zone. It's just I don't know if the personnel fits that. Like some of these guys aren't really suited for wide zone. Even McLenchee's more of a power guy like Boz's wide zone. Miners can run anything, but some of the bent powers in McLenchee, Wattenberg are more power blockers than their wide zone. So it feels like at times they get caught in between, but they don't give up sacks. That's a quarterback dependence stat. We all know that, but they don't give up sacks. They typically don't get beat a lot. So they they are a good offensive line. And McLenchee's played his best football here. I would argue he had his best year last year in his career. He's really taken off under Zach Strieve, really come to know who he is as a player, calmed himself down, doesn't put so much pressure on himself. So he's gotten better. Boz has gotten better. You know, miners is the two time all pro. So they're good up front. But again, until they run the ball more, I can't say best offensive line. I certainly think they're a good

1:22:26offensive line. And part of it is continuity. Their ability to stay available and stay healthy. When McLenchee was here, he was a better run blocker than a pass blocker. He probably still is. When the Broncos need a yard. I mean, I'm not asking you to give away the game plan. But when they need a yard, who do they believe in on that offensive line? Did they run behind miners and McLenchee on the right side? I mean, everybody tries to mix it up so that they don't become predictable. But if they got to have a yard or if they got to have two yards, who would they run behind? I mean, it would more than likely be behind miners and McLenchee. I mean, powers is a good run blocker and Boz is too. But if you said, you know, you got one play to get one yard, like it's going to probably go over miners and McLenchee. Miners is an absolute wrecking ball. He writes a diary of havoc every game. He is so strong and he used to be just a brute, you know, this division three player who trained in the Canadian woods like Paul Bunyan was so raw, no technique. And then now, you know, you're seven. He's got really good technique and you combined

1:23:31that with his power. He's a force, man. He is an absolute force up front. So if you had to say, get me one yard. And again, I laugh when you say that. It's like if they had fourth to one to get one yard, they would go shotgun three wide. But if they did go under center, I would guess they would run under miners. Yeah, miners is an animal man. And not only that he's an animal that likes to show midrift. I mean, you know, I mean, he's always he's always showing us his gut. Um, Waddles a great pickup. I thought that was a terrific addition because the draft is a crap shoot. And Waddles assure thing. But here we are three games in. He's had one good game and two kind of games. Why are they having a hard time getting Waddle off? Yeah. Well, the first game was just a bad play calling night for Davis Web, the entire offense. They were out of sync. So if we assume that's anomaly, second game, very intentional. How they use Waddle. Third game. Again, not as intentional as they need to be with Waddle. It's like sometimes they I feel like the overthink

1:24:35it a little bit. We can't go to them because they know we're going to who cares. He's your best player. Right. You're your most talented player on offense. Don't overthink it. Right. And he said he had if he's had probably three drops in a couple of those games that hasn't helped. I mean, I want to be fair here. But the issue is they need to find a way to get him involved early that doesn't involve hard throws. So for me, it should be in breakers slants just like both through in college and organ. That's instead it's over the middle of these really contested these tough throws and bonics. He's like a pitcher in the first couple of innings who just doesn't have command. And then so you throw over throw him. You're under the knell of a sudden like, okay, we got to go away from that. And it's like, no, it's just make an easy one. Just a little tunnel screen, just a little in breaker. I would think as this moves forward, especially in the first half, they're going to be more intentional on how they use Waddle. They have to be to your point. You gave up all this collateral form, which I agreed with. They weren't going to get a receiver at 30 that was going to come in and

1:25:40make an impact in what year one. But you got to be more intentional with it. And now not only intentional, but very specific and how you get him going. Because they need to get him in rhythm earlier. Because I see him pressing when the game doesn't come to him. And then he has a drop because he hasn't seen the ball for 18 minutes. Bonics, tell us a little bit about about bonics. We saw him at organ, heck, I saw him at Auburn. His dad played at Auburn. I think for Pat die way, way back. Bonics, you catch him on the right day. He could look like the best quarterback at football. And if you catch him on the wrong day, you'd be like, is he their guy? But he's got mobility and he's kind of a tough kid. I liked what I saw from him at organ. Give us a scouting report on Bonics. Yeah, he's smart kid. He played more college football than anyone when he was drafted. And that allowed him to microwave his development. And what is a very difficult scheme to run with Sean Payton. Sean Payton's put a lot on his plate. He's led the league in pass attempts since he's

1:26:41been in the league, meaning Bonics. Now, some of these are behind the line of scrimmage. And short, but they trust Nick's they put a lot on him. And when the pressure is on, he is calmer than a lagoon. I mean, this kid, he has a slow heartbeat. When things get crazy, the bigger the moment the calmer he gets and the better he plays, the issue Nick says run into his early in games. If you watch him, mechanically, he gets a little out of sync. He starts bouncing. And when he bounces, like the pitcher, his shoulder flies in the ball sales. Like what he just steps in and lets it eat, he's fine. But you know, there's just times early in games. He's just excitable. And you don't want to take the wag out of the puppy's tail. But it's like they got to get him more consistent early in games. And they've worked with it. He's really, really struggles with throws over the middle of the field early in games. He like to tend to sell a little bit on him. So again, how do you get him going? Maybe the short, the end breakers quick, quick out patterns. They don't really use their tight end a lot, which I think hurts, Bo, that that's an easy way of a stick routes to get him going. But I'm

1:27:46telling you right now, he's a franchise quarterback. It doesn't always look the way you want it to. But the reality is he wins games. He's won 25 games now or what 26 games now in the regular season in three years. He's been the starter. He's missed one game due to injury. Obviously the worst one, the AFC championship game with the ankle. So he's he's he's mobile. He's healthy. He's smart. He commands the huddle and he has that clutch gene. They just need him to be more consistent earlier in games. He's not a quarterback. I want to be fair. He's not a quarterback. That's just Josh Allen, Lamar, when he's right. That's going to patch home. He's going to go out win a game by himself. That's not both. But if you keep him in a game late, no one's been better in the fourth quarter of the last year and a half than Bo Nix. So with the fans, they've warmed to him partly because we've seen this before with John L. Way. Now L. Way was way more talented physically, but with L. Way with a year of T-bow. It's a little Jake Plummer. Like he picked the average. What about eight men? I'm like,

1:28:46his office was so good. He never had to really come back in the fourth quarters. They didn't trail. But he is a franchise quarterback. He is. It's maddening in the first half. There's times where you're just like, what is he doing? And then it locks in. And it's usually with balance in the run game. It's usually with a couple of quick completions. And he gets into rhythm. And he has amnesia. He for a quarterback because you watch what Drake Mays going through right now. He looks like a guy who's got the yips. And you even even CJ Stroud, I watched last year, Bo Nix has an ability to just keep playing and keep believing and keep trusting it's going to happen. And there's a strike in that. Now you hate that it has to get to that point where you're on the edge of the cliff all the time. But he doesn't mind the view from there. And his teammates believe in him. But again, they know with this year's schedule, they can't keep playing like this or it's going to bite him. Is there any common denominators to how teams are trying to defend Nix and Denver's offense?

1:29:51You saw him all of last year, three games to start this year. Is there anything that stands out that opposing teams on a regular basis try to take away from Denver? Yeah, I mean, they just they try to get Bo. They give stuff to him in the middle of the field early to see if he'll take it. I mean, they just because he doesn't get sacked. He gets rid of the ball. If you look at his sack numbers, he's the lowest number of sacks for the quarterback the last year plus. He doesn't get sacked. So how do they just like to get him a little off his spot, a little uncomfortable because then mechanically he gets out of whack. And honestly, what's crazy about this, if you play him in man, he's really good. It's like he sees it. He knows it and he trusts himself. If you look at his worst passes and where he struggles, even early in games, Larry, it's a good zone defense. It's like he thinks too much and he sees it. And as soon as it's like that second pit or pad on the football, his mechanics get a little off. And all these things can improve. It's early in the season. I do think he's still dealing with coming back from the injury. I'd

1:30:55love to see him run more because Bo. Nix is one of his superpowers is his mobility. He never gets hit hard when he leaves the pocket. And he hasn't run really at all. He said like two runs in three weeks. I think if they want to get this offense where it needs to be a top 10 type offense, Bo. Nix has got to run, you know, five for 40 yards every week. And right now, probably because of the ankle, maybe it's just his own mind. He's not there yet. But we haven't seen that yet. And that's the part that can eat the great equalizer for Nix. If he's struggling the pass is take off. And he hasn't really done that yet. A couple more minutes with Troy Rink. As we talk a little bit about the Niners and the Broncos, you know, I was out at in Santa Clara for the joint practices last year, I believe, when you guys rolled in. And I was so impressed with John Franklin Myers. And now he goes jumps to Tennessee in the offseason. How is this defense different this year without him? And, and you know, because he was a, he was, I mean, you got DJ Jones up front. But then you have

1:31:59this guy and Benito off the edge. And it was like, it was almost too much to handle. How are they looking this year without without him? Yeah, they've missed him to be fair. I mean, Zach Allen is, I say, he's like JJ Wat Light, his energy, his effort, he's relentless. And he has been absolutely a force these first three games, even in the chiefs game, he played well. One of the few people on the team that did, but they miss Franklin Myers, past rush. And you were right when you identified it is that he's just on selfish. He'll take a double team. He'll do something to set up Zach Allen. They just haven't developed that chemistry yet between Malcolm Roach and Ennio Waza Rique and Zach Allen. And then they lose with Jonathan Cooper's on the commissioners list. So he's not playing the other, the end opposite of Nick Benito and Cooper, you know, he's not, he's not great at rushing the passer. He's solid, but he set the edge better than anyone on their team. So that's been an issue at times is their rush defense doesn't look the same. So when you take

1:33:00out Cooper and John Franklin Myers, they aren't as stout of front. And their linebackers get picked on at times in the passing game. I would expect Kyle Shanahan to, I would be surprised if there's fewer than 15 attempts in the passing game to the running backs and the tight ends in this game because the Broncos, they struggle in that area with their inside backers and the coverage of those. But the line is good, but it doesn't look like it did last year. And I think last year they kind of got intoxicated by the sack record. They've led the league in sacks the last two years. I think this year they're starting to transition starting with this Rams game is it's not about sacks. It's about pressure pressure and turnovers and the biggest play of that game against the Rams was Q Robinson getting pressure on Matthew Stafford that led to Talonoa, Afunga's pick six. That's where I think they need to transition to don't get so caught up in the sacks focus on the pressure to get takeaways because last year it was insane. They had 14 takeaways and 60 plus sacks.

1:34:02It's like a mechanic who doesn't drive a car. It made no sense. Like how do you have that many sacks and so few takeaways. So I think you're going to see them going forward really stressing takeaways the rest of the season. Yeah, I mean, when the nighter fan hears you guys talk about 60 sacks, right? That's a three year run here. The nighter's a 20 sacks last year. You mentioned Q Robinson. I really liked him in the draft. What an athlete. I don't I mean, I watch BAM. I don't remember this guy being this good. He looks like such a perfect fit in this Denver scheme. How are they utilizing him? Is he a is he a rusher solely? Do they drop him into coverage? He's mainly he's right now. It's more rushing. They want him to be an edge guy because of the guy's left behind Cooper. You know, Jonah Ellis is not really big enough to set the edge. He's a nice past rusher, but he's more of a situational past rusher for me. They have Deandre Tillman, a UFL guy who's been good, but he's like a utility player in a perfect world. Larry Q Robinson would start and set the edge. He

1:35:02would replace Jonathan Cooper. He's not there on the edge part yet. He gets aggressive. He falls for stuff. You know, he gets he's not he doesn't have a lot of moves yet. He's getting there, but at BAM, he's just a talent. He just he's hurt a lot. So he didn't play it. Why he fell on the draft, but I would think after this season that they move on from Cooper would be my guess. And that you see Q Robinson in that role, improving as an edge rusher and they need that. But I'll tell you this part of the reason their defense is so good is because of DJ Joe, the guy's from San Francisco, DJ Jones, unbelievable run stuffer, all time good guy. Tellanoha Fungo was like he was born here. He's just fit into the Colorado fabric. So well, and I like to cover a Dre Green law last year. And I think they needed Green law. The problem was Green law was never healthy. And he didn't want to practice the way Sean Peyton wanted him to practice. So it's like when he had a chance to go back to Kyle and vet days and because Sean Peyton doesn't run a lot of vet days. He does a few,

1:36:03but for the most part, he counts miss days and games. And he and Green law never really got on the same page last year over Green law's health. But I they need a player like Green law. It's just Green law and Sean Peyton's practice kids will never seem to sync up. Well, I mean, I'll tell you, George Peyton must know personnel because those are three of the better 49ers. He picked him off. I mean, as far as players and guys, right? I mean, DJ Jones, DJ Jones, amazing guy from with Greenville, South Carolina and has his own barbecue sauce and images. And he's strong. As strong as any defense alignment in the league and he's really quick. I mean, I I really believe that the nighters would have beaten the chiefs in Miami and the Super Bowl of DJ had been healthy that year. And he wasn't and instead Kansas City had success running it. So he's amazing. You know, to Ha Fonga, I mean, he's the kind of guy you'd want marrying your daughter. I mean, he's just he is just an awesome dude. I mean, he's like he's like one of those guys. He's almost

1:37:05like a mythical type person. And then and then Green law. I mean, Green law is, you know, if you like violent football, man, you're going to love Dre Green luck as he is, he personifies violent football. Shanahan does one thing every week. He he finds that conflict defender and he tortures him. A couple of weeks ago, it was Jordan Brooks, the former Seahawks now in Miami. Brooks can't cover. Shanahan knows it. And he just gets him isolated and coverage and he burns him. Is there of the Broncos inside backers? Is there somebody that you could see being that conflict defender that Shanahan's going to try to target and pick on this week? Yeah, it'll probably be Alex Singleton. He's a good player, but Alex in space at times has issues. So I would expect you to be Singleton. And I would expect them to run plays that some in some cases are designed to draw interference calls on quarterback Raleigh Moss. But those two get picked on the most. Moss gets targeted more than anyone in football because he plays opposite or Pat Sir Tan. And at inside

1:38:05backers, turn odds of better and coverage, I believe the eyeball test a little better than Singleton. But they will try to isolate running backs on Alex Singleton. I would guarantee it. And the tight ends will be part of that too. But just knowing how Kyle works his offense, they're going to run, you know, swing passes, dump passes and force Singleton to cackel in space. And that's been a little bit of an issue for this team this year. Vance Joseph, how much what's his blitz record here? Is he going to come after Brock Burty and bring the house or is he going to lean on his front four and play coverage? I think he's going to be more aggressive this week. They play back a lot against the Rams. I was a little surprised with Puka out. You thought they might be a little more aggressive. They got more aggressive as the game went on. And certainly the Q Robinson play was pressure. They had numbers on that play. I would expect they're going to try to get after Purdy. Get him off his spot. I know Brock's played amazing. But in general, you know, you'd like to have him move around and make those plays against you. And then if he does, you tip your cap. But

1:39:08Brock Burty sitting in the pocket, staying on his spot is not a place the Broncos want to be. So I would expect them to be aggressive. What makes Vance unique? And it's not Brian Flores. I mean, he is just absolutely, you know, 90% blitz rate, blitz rate at times. But Vance just brings pressure from weird spots. It's like it's never there. It's there. All of a sudden, you got two corners coming. You've got a safety blitz. Like they just, that's the what makes him so unique is he just has a knack like a play collar on the offensive side of they're not doing anything. All of a sudden, here comes Afunga on a blitz the other night. Like he's got a real knack for calling safety and linebacker blitzes. That's where they need to make their hey for me. A big play like that could swing the game if it ends up being a strip set. Troy, I rink with us from the Denver Post as we look ahead to Niners and Broncos in week four. Two last ones before we let you go. I watch a lot of college football and I, there was this linebacker at Buffalo Red Murdoch and all the guy did was every time I watch Buffalo,

1:40:08the guy made tackle after tackle after tackle. And then I didn't see any of the Broncos preseason, but I did check those box scores. And there he is. Seven tackles, eight tackles. I mean, and he's on the practice squad. Does this guy just not have NFL speed? Is that the deal? I mean, what how does I mean, he made tons of plays in college. He made tons of plays this summer. And yet he didn't make the final roster. Nobody plucked him off the practice squad and made him put him on their active roster. What have you seen from Red Murdoch? Is he, has he been impressive? He just, he looks in an NFL uniform and tick undersized. And he was thinking a lot in the games and it made it slowed him down. So I think his measurables in terms of his speed, he's fine. But he did look as little slow at times because it, it seemed like his feet were having trouble catching up with his mind. And I do think he's got a future in the NFL. I don't know about as a starter because he just, he looks at, typically if guys undersize that position, he runs like a deer because they cover,

1:41:11you know, they have a niche role. But he, you know, he's a seventh rounder. They cut their, their, Jolie, their fifth round tied in. So I key. And they didn't really want him on the practice while they said they did. I don't think they did. But he ended up in Miami. They are in a position where I think Murdoch next year is going to have an opportunity because singleton's probably in his last year here, just the way if you look at the structure of his contract. And so I would think that there's going to be an opportunity for someone like Murdoch next year. I don't see it this year without injury. So he, he looked, he showed flashes Larry. He did. But he just, he looked at, for me, a little undersized and thinking's not a problem. But you know, in the NFL level and the, the old, you think you stink because the game's so damn fast. And it looked like that slowed him down just to tick. Last one, you know, Peyton's always, you know, he'll say, he'll speak his mind. I mean, he won't, he doesn't hold back. He's not afraid of, you know, upsetting people or ruffling feathers. Has he said anything this week? Good, bad or otherwise about Kaushanahan or his program or

1:42:16Brock Birdie. I'd be very interested to see what Peyton feels about both those guys. Yeah, well, he's close to Mike Shanahan and they hosted Mike Shanahan in practice during the training camp and they both went to southern Illinois. They're along with Roma, you know, this legendary triumphant of pro people between Shanahan and the Sleuky crowd. Yeah, the Sleuky Z. Yeah, Peyton Shanahan and Roma, that's a lot of star power for a school that's not exactly known for football. But he loves Mike Shanahan. He talks in just reverence of going back and watching old plays of Mike Shanahan that he just like, oh, that's how you could do that. I mean, and I know he respects Kyle. We haven't talked him about it yet this week because Monday, he did his presser. He doesn't talk in persons on Monday. It's an old school conference call. And a lot of it was revisiting the Rams game, the bad call, you know, this kind of stuff. So Wednesday's really where he starts to look for it. But in my, my understanding, I know he's close to Mike. It's nothing but respect for

1:43:19the Shanahan tree, you know, and Kyle and how he runs things. They know they have their hands full. Now they might catch a break if Trent Williams doesn't play or Mike Evans doesn't play, they might catch a break. But trust me, they know they have to play better on the road than they did to get home against the Rams to beat this nineers team. Because you just the crowd played a huge role in the second half of that game with pressure and staff are not being able to hear and they won't have that advantage. So I don't think as much as I enjoy Sean popping off and taking shots at people, I would be surprised if we heard one of those this week, given his respect for the Shanahan family. Troy, you got a quick thought on Purdy on the way out the door. I like Purdy. There's a little bit of the Brock or the Bowen X comparison. I'd boast more athletic. Purdy is certainly more accurate. I'm happy to see a guy that's an old school processor in a league because I grew up, I coach kids for 15, 16 years Larry in basketball and baseball and showcase kids drive me a little crazy. There's still a spot in the game for the kid who knows the game process as well. Understand.

1:44:23So I respect the hell out of Brock Purdy. But I also think, you know, if you make him uncomfortable and have to just use just athleticism, that's where he can be vulnerable. But I respect Purdy. And up here, people watch the pay attention to the Niners because of Christian McAfry. He's the greatest high school player in the history of the state of Colorado. And you know this. And again, I like Purdy. I do his stats when Christian plays and doesn't play. That's a different animal. And so I'm glad CMACS playing because I want to see him play. I covered him in high school. I've never seen a kid like him. He has feet that are literally magical when he played nice school. I covered his dad and on those championship teams. So everyone here that's a Bronco fan keeps a little bit of an eye on the Niners for Christian McAfry alone. Yep. Sounds good. I can't wait for Sunday. It's going to be a great one. Troy, thanks for jumping on KBR and giving us a breakdown. We appreciate you. You got to learn. Thanks so much. Troy Rank, Denver Post. We got more straight ahead on these sports leaders. Brian Murphy here. Listen, taking stock here.

1:45:28Summers in the rear view. Kids are back in class. It's football season. And so the scoreboard changes every weekend in football, but your savings game can be rock solid. Yeah, I'm talking about Provident Credit Unions. Pick a term certificates where you can earn up to 3.75% annual percentage yield and choose the term that's right for you three months, six months, or one year. So that's no penalties, no fumbles, none of that football stuff. Just guaranteed returns that work is hard as your favorite team, whether you're saving for a beach getaway or a mountain escape or just a little extra cushion, Provident's term share certificates put you in control. Learn more at ProvidentCU.org or stop by a local community branch rate is effective September 16th, 2026 minimum bounce of $10,000 early withdrawal penalties may apply federally insured by the NCUA Provident Credit Union. Discover the best in retail and business banking right here in your community limited time offer start saving today. Hey everybody, Brian Murphy here. My alarm goes

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1:47:35real help, real hope. Sponsored by Hageem Ministries. All right, that's going to do it for us. Thanks to RAF for producing. Westwood 1 is going to entertain you coming up next on these sports later. A couple of last thoughts on, you know, can Denver make a pretty struggle on this game? And that's really one of the big questions. And there are reasons to believe that Denver might have some success, you know, against pretty why. Okay, well, the Niners Wide Receiver Corps is banged up. Mike Evans, you know, returned to practice, you know, but returned and really didn't practice this week. I mean, he was out there, but he really didn't practice. So his status, he's less than 100%, he's got some painful ribs, you know, so the receiver room is not ideal. And then you're going to, for the first time ever, the four-neilers, or first time this year, they're going to face a real pass rush. You know, Perty, if you look at the teams, the three

1:48:35teams, the Niners have faced, they were all bottom seven in the league in SACs. And, and this Denver team's got a big time rush. Nick Bedinos, amazing outside. Zach Allen is amazing inside. And as I said, they used Jake Juan McMillan as a blitzer. So this could be a huge challenge. The biggest challenge yet for the Niners are offensive line. And then you've got the insider knowledge of a Fonga, who just knows Perty and they know each other. But I mean, who's got the advantage? Fonga studies film, he knows Perty's tendencies, he freelances, does he jump a passively, does he not do a box anticipating he will do and winds up with ball in his hands. I think that's a factor. Then you got Trent Williams at less than 100%. Coming off a week where he had a stinger, he's going to have to block Benito. It's not that is not an easy day at the office. And then you got Sir Tann out there. There's a true number one corner. He's the 24 defensive player of the year. And so he is an X factor. The last time the Niners went up against the Broncos, he went up against Brandon Ayuk as the extra seaver. And he held Ayuk to three catches for 39 yards. So there are many, many

1:49:39reasons there. And just a few I named there as to why Perty may struggle in this matchup. But you know what? The 49ers have so many weapons right now. They run the ball so well. And I just think that if you look at the nine or offense and what it looks like right now and what Denver's offenses look like right now. I just think the Niners outscore them. I think it could be kind of a low scoring game. I think Denver could slow down the nine or offense. I think the Niners, I think Denver's offense is in kind of a bad way. They're not running it well. Their offensive passing games a little disjointed. I think Raheem will have success throughout the game. Bothering Bonaix and keeping him hemmed in. I think the Niners will do a much better job defending the QB keeper game and they'll keep him in the pocket. So I like a low scoring game. I'm going to say the 49ers get the win. But I'm going to say it's a low scoring game and the Broncos probably get the cover. I haven't checked the spread. But I'll say it's I'll say 49ers 21 Broncos 13. I think it's going to be a low

1:50:40scoring game. 21 13 49ers get the win to run their record to four and oh. All right. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday. We'll see you tomorrow on these sports leaders. Brian Murphy here. Listen, taking stock here. Summers in the rear view. Kids are back in class. It's football season. So the scoreboard changes every weekend in football. But your savings game can be rock solid. Yeah, I'm talking about Provident Credit Unions. Pick a term certificates where you can earn up to 3.75% annual percentage yield and choose the term that's right for you three months, six months, or one year. So that's no penalties, no fumbles, none of that football stuff. Just guaranteed returns that work is hard as your favorite team. Whether you're saving for a beach getaway or a mountain escape or just a little extra cushion, Provident's term share certificates put

1:51:44you in control. Learn more at ProvidentCU.org or stop by a local community branch rate is effective September 16th, 2026 minimum bounce of $10,000 early withdrawal penalties may apply federally insured by the NCUA Provident Credit Union. Discover the best in retail and business banking right here in your community limited time offer starts saving today.