Week 2 of the preseason is officially in the books and Michael Lombardi along with Femi Abebefe discuss the biggest NFL storylines, including some noteworthy quarterback performances.
Lombardi had high praise for Bo Nix in his most recent performance against the Green Bay Packers. Although it was a short sample size, Nix went 8 for 9 for 90 yards and had a passer rating of 140.7. He attributes Nix’s success to his intelligence and poise and the foresight of head coach Sean Payton.
“It comes down to the guy coaching and developing him,” Lombardi said.
According to Lombardi, Payton identified Nix in the draft process as a quarterback who can do things that he needed him to do. This further debunked some criticisms when the Broncos selected Nix with the 12th pick. Lombardi also championed Payton’s experience building a franchise and culture as a critical component to Bo Nix’s early preseason success.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Raiders have announced that Gardner Minshew will be their starting quarterback. Lombardi expressed his concerns about the Raiders’ offensive line, particularly on the inside, and whether they can consistently protect Minshew, given his struggles throwing from a messy pocket. Lombardi believes the Raiders have no quarterback and have not had a formidable plan for their quarterback since they moved on from Derek Carr.
However, the Raiders are not the only ones with offensive line issues. Lombardi also mentions the Pittsburgh Steelers and the lack of pocket protection their offensive line gave Russell Wilson in their last game against the Buffalo Bills. Although there seems to be a quarterback battle in Pittsburgh, no one has emerged as a clear-cut favorite to start. Lombardi recommended the Steelers front office reach out to veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill, as he has had a history with current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith from his days with the Tennessee Titans.
Aat this point in the preseason, Lombardi suggests that all NFL teams and their coaching staffs have to figure out, “How do we have to play to win?” some teams, like the San Francisco 49ers, have already answered that question. However, there are teams with personnel question marks. The Falcons have decided to sit their eighth overall pick, Michael Penix Jr., which Lombardi believes will not help Penix and his development. The Atlanta Falcons should have other areas of need instead of drafting another quarterback. The Houston Texans, on the other hand, have allowed their rookies to play and gain substantial experience.
Listen to the full episode below for the complete discussion and more from The GM Shuffle!
Show Breakdown
NFL Preseason Week 2 Recap + Biggest Takeaways Before the Final NFL Preseason Week
On The GM Shuffle, hosts Michael Lombardi and Femi Abebefe recap Week 2 of the NFL Preseason plus Michael talks about his takeaways from the weekend slate. Also, Michael gives his top tight ends in Red Chip + Blue Chip.
VIDEO
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