Just a quick PSA for my Panther brothers and sisters.

Xavier League Get did not ride a horse to the game on Saturday.

We needed that information two days ago.

More later on the show.

So little late with that PSA.

Anyway, it's two hours before a playoff game at pant N's pr is trying to let all the Meetia members know that's not Excel on a horse.

David Newton kiss start some fires, can't he?

Man, you're talking about a firestarter baby with that sweet But anyway, Macie's back draft Mac and pone with you.

Jim Zochi is in the house for the final view from the booth of the twenty twenty five seasons.

OK, how you doing, man?

What's going on?

I'll know about you, guys.

I'm just like tired.

It was just that game was like mentally physically exhausting, obviously for the player, much more so than us.

But it's hard to being a fan too watching a game like that with the intensity and it goes.

Down to the final minute.

I was watching the other three games and they were like the Patriots game wasn't angry, but the other two were kind of interesting.

I was kind of eh, I was still kind of like just flat watching the other three games yesterday because of what the Panthers game was.

That game and we all saw the stat afterwards.

Four lead changes in the fourth quarter ties a record for a playoff game.

I mean, that game had everything but the win at the end, but most of all, just feel really good about how they played.

You guys were there.

The atmosphere of what that stadium was like at the end, It's been years to have that intensity.

It felt like homecoming.

I think there were like thirty Panther legends there all together, in addition the obvious ones with the key pounding drums, So it was kind of a way, kind of a cool celebration of thirty one years of Panthers football.

Would have been perfect ending obviously to get the win, but even so, we got to feel really good about where this team advanced, which is that big picture we've been talking about where they're going.

Disappointed but prideful is how I described myself.

I think Max said the same thing, is that sort of a your you know, sometimes playoff all says you're angry, you're mad, and trust me, some people are.

But I felt like an immense sense of pride for the effort that those guys pulled in all season long.

We know that this is not the end of something.

This is just the foundational elements to what we hope they become.

Feels like that, and I feel like they got most of the big components kind of figured out to varying degrees.

And you know.

When we were down fourteen nothing, I think it if it had stayed that path and we'd lost like twenty eight to seven or something, we probably would have a little slightly different feeling.

It would almost have like, what was that?

Were we the bobcatch of the Hornets?

To one year we made the playoffs with Kembo?

We lost like we were like in the playoffs back five seconds and then we're out.

There's a guy from the purple shirt.

Guy from Greensboro got to That was six.

Games or that was a seven game series, right, that was a seven game loss.

We lown out the last game of that series right after Pearple Shirts.

I did when we were out of it.

Following that, we never got back and all that week we got swept twice too.

Don't get me wrong, but like that was the time.

But to your point, just feels more sustainable which has been the over overarching goal of everything is to become relevant and then to stay relevant, and then to be in the playoff mix and be in the playoffs and hopefully take it to that next level.

We've gone from two wins to five wins to eight wins into the playoffs.

So next year you kind of hope to take that next step too, And I think we just have a lot of the good building blocks in place to keep that moving forward.

And from all accounts, you know, just you know, in terms of like almost that college building a program in an era of where college and pro players are constantly moving, it feels like we have a good core of like this has an experience that will carry over into next year.

It won't be a bunch of guys playing for other teams.

Feels like someone's just getting started here.

And again, you never know for sure.

And I do think there's some teams around this division.

The Saints with shuck, you know, and the Falcons are interesting.

The Falcons ever get a quarterback.

I do not want Harball.

I do not want I don't want John Harball going to Atlanta.

That could change things, but it does.

I have that feeling.

It's the most excited.

I bet about an offseason a long time because now it feels like now it really feels like we can take it to another level with the right off season season too.

Normally we're talking all season, it's September and October.

This is different.

Now we're almost to the combine here, not too far.

I was like, didn't even talk draft really yet.

It was right after thought like we got the nineteenth pick because we just hadn't had any discussions heading into it.

We're kind of joking about that in the press box before the game, like we're usually deep into, like you know, draft talk this time of year and feeling out which player are going to stay and go.

And to me, it's like there are some needs obviously every team has those, but they don't seem to be as plentyful as they've been in past years, especially with the defense taking a big leap.

I thought to this past year from being you know, in many ways the worst, to personnel wise at least being very competitive in that category.

What did you think of the defensive performance?

And I thought they did some amazing things, but also that final drive.

I didn't love the approach to the final drive.

I thought there was too much time left to have that approach of just give them chunks of eight and nine yards over and over again.

But I also think it's a little ridiculous for people to be saying a varo should be.

Fired after that, So like where where do you?

And a lot of people are saying that, a lot of people are saying.

Some people say, some people say, I will say this.

I think I haven't heard them address it exactly.

But to me, it's like, one, you know, they need to score a touchdown, so the picket fence is the end zone.

It's not like they could get a field goal rate to beat you.

But the other thing was, you know, how big of a factor was the fact jac Horn wasn't out there and he didn't want to play Caleb Evans out there on an island and then get beat for against the number one offense in the NFL.

So I felt maybe it was kind of like this umbrella of protection, and so they were giving up part of it, giving up some of the underneath stuff, knowing they were going to give that, And they never did go after Evans because they were obviously doing over the middle, taking advantage of the zone, taking stuff underneath.

So I guess it's kind of pick your poison.

And you got to say, Matt's taphurt was the All Pro selection at quarterback, and that's the number one offense that you don't want to just get, you know, sizzled for a fifty yard touchdown or something down there.

As it turns out, they end up.

I thought that was a unbelievable throw and unbelievable catch at the end.

There was nothing wrong with the defense on that last play where Parkerson got the touchdown.

That was a perfectly placed football for that touchdown.

And that's why when you face a guy like Matt Stafford, it's different than you know, facing you know, so many other teams in the league that don't have a quarterback of that caliber.

When we start to look at the roster going forward in the running back room with Rico being a free agent, how much of an X factor for all this is Jonathan Brook's going to be because now we're finally going to get he's been kind of the great unknown.

Feels like we're ready to get some answers on who he is this upcoming season.

Yeah, this is going to be it.

Obviously after sitting out this entire season see what is.

I assume his health would be good at this point.

You just don't know how explosive he'll be, so hopefully it is.

And then obviously Etn is the other one there, so I think it'll be interesting to see what he can do.

I'll say this.

I mean again, he had the problem with the punch during the game, but he's got, you know, shiftiness and explosiveness.

Jonathan Stewart always has good things to say about what he thinks about ETN, so I think him taking a step up next year would be another opportunity for him.

I'm sure they'll probably add to the running back room beyond those two guys were talking about, but be excited to see what those two could do.

As far as being that guy, the way Rico was talking, he wants to be the bulk of the carries guy somewhere, and with Cuba here that's not going to happen.

So he kind of at.

Least foreshadowed his thoughts as far as what next year looks like.

Sounded like it.

Jim Zogi with us it's the Monday Morning View from the Booth as we talk about a playoff thriller.

I like the way Nick Scott phrased it.

We were on the wrong side of a classic game, you know.

And Nick Scott's been on the right side.

He's won a Super Bowl with the Rams, so he understands the playoff life.

What do you think about the way Bryce played, the way Cocher play, Teamac played like that.

That was a real exciting aspect of that game on Saturdays, seeing those young guys in the passing game.

Yeah, it wasn't all these you know, checkdowns and short passes.

I mean you were taking us some big chunks down there, and that's when they're playing at their best, is when they are aggressive and take those And much needed from Jalen Cocher.

Not don't need one hundred and thirty four yards every game from you, but him and Tendero and McMillan.

Put those two together.

I mean, those are two guys that can be around for a long time and give some good weapons in that area.

And again still probably not probably, but do need to add to that the receiver room as far as what you have as a collection out there.

But what a great starting point to have your true number one receiver you got in the draft this year in Tea Mac and I think we all kind of felt like we've been talking through the weeks said that Coker has kind of become that guy getting more reps than Lee get and so I think we're kind of seeing that emergence that he's earned that and he missed a big chunk of the regular season, but now that we got to see him towards the end of the second season and being healthy what he can do, it's like that that is much needed.

That's that tea against the Chase.

That you need that that guy because they're going to try to take away tea mac from you.

So I think Coker is going to get better and better his as his young career goes into a spurred You.

What a sign too, And I think it's a good one that we are now at seven thirty five after a playoff game.

The voice of the team is in here, one of the voices a long time.

Uh, we're not even talking Bryce that much today because maggot Bryce had a bad performance.

Brice would be on the top of the marquee of what do you think of Bryce?

Does he deserve a Bryce would be the headliner.

But Bryce plays relatively well enough now to where Bryce Mack is even coming up.

It's all on Avero now this morning in dob Bryce Young.

So that's a good sign for how well Bryce played the.

Other year for Bryce Span for VERA doesn't carry's preparing for two head coach interviews, one in Atlanta one for in Vegas.

Do you think do you think Zoke he could get one of those gigs?

Like, how likely do you think that is?

I think you know, he's been in the past years, he's been mentioned as a candidate for these jobs, so I think again, they had a great improvement this year.

They're really competitive on that side, so it wouldn't be like you brought in like here's the coach of the number one defense in the league.

But you can look at the body of work he's done in this league and being with the Rams for five years and other places where he's done like Denver, I think he's he's earned that right.

So he's in the conversation and it's just a matter of who they a land on.

Of course, you got Matt Ryan making decisions down to Atlanta, so who knows what will happen down.

There with Atlanta.

Definitely Tillis yeah about GM though, right, they're still going to hire a GM.

Yes, yeah, this is different or is it just Matt Ryan going to do it all?

GM is not going to be a promotion for him, right, He's a VP here right right, So like the GM reports to Matt Ryan there.

Yeah, you're right.

I think I think the allure for him there was I oversee everything.

I oversee the GM, you know, whereas now I think he's kind of level with Dan, right, they just specialize in different things.

I feel like it's very similar thing with that.

But back to Bryce.

You know, people, you guys are on other shows all the time, two people say what is Bryce?

The answer?

See the guy?

Is he?

You know?

Can he be?

You know?

The guy?

He doesn't have to be the guy.

He's got to be a guy that does his role.

I always say it's a kin to basketball, where he just has to be John Stockton.

He hasn't to be John Stockton and Karl Malone.

He just needs to do his part in this offense.

I think he was always drafted under the premise of being that distributing point guard out there and having the accuracy, having the vision processing things quickly that he and I thought they did a good job by and large of keeping him in a role where he's comfortable and then running.

We saw that touchdown run, so there's that extra elem man.

I mean, that's one thing about you know, Matt Stafford.

He's a great player, but you know, having a young quarterback that also can get out and make plays with his feet like that was great.

I love the way he set up land Man.

And by the way, Billy Bob Florton should not be able to tackle Bryce shown so that's fitting, all right.

That is Tommy Norris should not be able to get I've never seen it.

The only thing I've ever seen is a clip with Jerry Jones was on.

That's the only thing I've ever seen.

It's a hell of a show right now.

It's so good.

But anyway, I love the way he set him up on that run because he's running to the right and I'm like, Bryce, the whole center of the field is open.

But clearly what he was doing was getting Landman to make one more step and then I'm gonna cut it and he did and man, the bank went crazy.

How much fun was that?

I mean, god, it felt like I mean, he didn't feel like twenty fifteen because we weren't demolishing the opponent or you know, we didn't have a big lead, but god, it was so much fun on set.

And it was a Panthers game.

I mean there was some rams there, but I mean it was a Panther They booed at all the right times, loudly and a lot of times at a.

Fifty to fifty mix er.

It feels like a road game.

And obviously the with Cam and the fourth quarter guy's coming out for the keey pounding thing.

But even beyond that, just the fact that just like it was a thunderous, loud crowd and we've not had that, and there's a playoff energy to how football is played, the intensity of the football, and I thought that carried over to the fan base as well.

There was an intensity to the loudness and the demeanor of the crowd during that game that's been missing to your points since you know, eight or ten years ago.

What did you think of the of Cam coming at It's kind of cool.

Then when Jake did Jake leave the booth, I guess I guess he had to leave the booth to go do that.

Right starting the fourth courter out that star pops in I think for a little bit, Oh okay, and then he was down there with Smitty and Moose.

All of j J.

Janson's former teammates were out there, included Carry.

Collins, except he didn't play with Bart Starr in Green Bag Butt Star.

You know, it was the only one only former.

Teammate that is now show number four hundred in a row with.

By the way, I didn't know till a sound bite from yesterday, I didn't know that JJ lives in Wesley Walls's old house.

I had never heard that.

Story about that.

Now I ask him, Oh, I had no idea.

He does not invite.

It's over to the crib.

Very the camp.

Wesley Walls never invited.

It's over no owner.

Maybe the next owner I get invited anywhere.

Back to the camp man, I thought it was amazing.

The crowd loved it.

It was hard to see from where we were in the press box because they put it in that court.

I wish they could have done that on midfield, but then I realized guys are lined up.

They wanted to do it right before the camp, right before kicking.

But I wish they could have found a way to do that.

Even if they had do it a little earlier, do it like middle of the field type thing.

But then again, fans in the stadium could probably see the big screen in the press box.

We can't see the big screens.

Those dang ribbon boards, those ribbon boards that used to be back before, those double ribbon boards.

When up you could see from the booth.

We could always see replays.

I haven't seen a replay on the jumbo Tron whatever you call it, exactly and.

Whatever year that went up fifteen years ago or exactly.

But he is a showman, like he went out there and was like he was like, I did it right, I'm back home again, did it?

Feeling the love and he knows he has that ability to get them hyped here in this town.

Like he was, he was having fun with it.

I almost wish we'd done it in hindsight, maybe just a few minutes before kickoff, because I felt it wasn't like it was.

It was no different than the other ones as far as the timing in the past, but it felt a little rush just because of the build up of it being Cam, Like, did I didn't Eve get seen and you've probably did they do like a little hype video of anything with Cam.

I would have done I see.

That's the thing.

I can't see that sort.

I just thought I felt that he did.

The laser lights where he was coming through.

The tunnel lights showed him coming through.

That's maybe they're and I.

Have no idea.

At some point he's like a cam hype video to build up because everyone knew at that point he's coming out to come do it.

So if you could have done sooner got him maybe on the center of the field, you could have done more lead up.

Do a hype, do a hype video game.

He did a great he did a great job.

He won him right before, like you know what I mean.

They want to and the Rams players are like I saw players turn around like watching like so anyway we need to camp.

Out there like staring down the other team where they would like run out on the field and can would just stand there and watch the other team run under the field.

That was pretty good out there.

That was bad as he used to do that.

Man, I guess this is uh we say goodbye.

I guess huh, so goodbye to see you later.

All right, we.

Always have draft talking where we're gonna be.

We have to do draft talk.

We're gonna miss you.

Come find Bernie, and he'll track me down in a hole here and whenever there's a free agent signing or a draft.

Oh yeah, you ain't getting away from us.

That all right?

Camp questions.

Enjoyed it, and at least we're heading it off season in a better mood that we were the man.

All right, I'm gonna send you here, take my computer.

Respond to some of these textus that want to fire a varrow for me.

Please, I'm I'm wearing now.

I'm wearing down.

It's not to engage with the negative.

So I'm running down a list of people.

Waiter, I text yeah, like you got an actual lesson on Richie.

Richie is very upset they lost Richie.

Isn't Richie the guy that was acting like we had no chance last week?

Yes?

Yes, So then why would you then be upside Well, because that's who you are.

Ain't God that wants Horn gone.

He's blaming a horn for what happened.

This is Teaboat not responding to any of the message funding verbally, not texting him back.

By the way, as good.

As therapeutic, as good as those wide receivers are.

P f F had horn giving up two completions and four attempts and Mike Jack one of seven.

So all the stun.

Other inns the middle of the field against our linebackers, against safeties in the zone.

That's the weakness of the past decause these two corners are bad.

Talking about off seasonal quick coverage linebacker like linebacker kind of the missing sonny stop could get Roy.

Styles out of Ohio State former safety get some sidelines.

Like that anyway, All right, Zoie, thanks.

When don ride my horse

Out of here, the panderes are gonna call me and tell me that's not Joky Sord