We’ve just released Episode 153 of the Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast.
Our synopsis is below:
#BoltUp! We are joined today by special guest Sam Monson from Check The Mic!
Sam breaks down why he was the lone NFL MVP voter for Justin Herbert in 2025, his outlook on the Chargers’ 2026 season, and overarching NFL trends to watch. Plus, we put Sam to the test with our famous TDU Aussie Quiz.
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Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks so much for listening 🙂
Long time team fan, podcaster (with Thunder Down Under Chargers Podcast), husband to a beautiful wife, friend to all fellow Chargers fanatics, and father-to-be!
Listened to the pod on yet another hot AF Sunday afternoon round of golf. Great interview. I enjoyed both this interview and the prior solo pod. Amazing to me how dudes from Australia can know more about football than I do. I attended my first Charger game when I was 7 months old & consider myself a reasonably well informed fan. The knowledge you guys have built is impressive. In addition to being entertained, I learn something on every pod.
One of the drawbacks of today’s online world is the ability of people with terrible, violent tendencies to group together and feed off each other’s evil. The freaks that think violence (or threatening violence) is a solution to someone having an opinion different than theirs would never receive the traction 10 years ago it receives now. Sucks that Kris had to deal with that nonsense (and good for him for not bowing to the lynch mob).
Regarding games or even a team in Australia; There are several super-sonic passenger jet projects in-flight. The closest to entering commercial service is the Boom supersonic jet, which could significantly reduce the flight time to Australia. The current Boom jet would have to make a stop as it doesn’t have the range (yet). But even with the stop, the journey should be reduced from 14-16 hours to 8-10 hours. If Boom could make a long-range version, that would lower the time to 7-8 hours. That’s still a long time in the air, but much more manageable. Other jets in the pipeline could reduce the time even further.
Thoughts on cuts:
I think keeping Davis & Thompson is a mistake. Let’s see if either of them can stay healthy
Spomer is the backup center? OK….
Good to see Jefferson not have to endure the BS roster maneuvering
No punter? I guess just about anyone on the roster can shank a 20 yard punt…
Cutting Kinnard & Coleson sends a great message. You need to earn your roster spot (unless you have a Strange last name…).
Great turning 2 UDFAs into 2 draft picks. The “Hortiz is on the hot seat” nonsense needs to stop. I have not seen this level or roster management since 2004.
Looking forward to the season. As with any team, the Chargers need a few things to break their way, but the organization has the roster and the coaches to win a championship.
I agree with the Hortiz hot seat crap. I don’t love his FA approach or frankly his approach to building the OL, but everything else has been solid and he’s great in the margins. The one caveat is that we are entering year three. Barring some catastrophic injury bug to key players, the Chargers cannot take a step back or sideways this season. Another WC exit, or God forbid a non playoff season, will start the flames on the hot seat. Especially if the OL is once again the weak link.
I agree with what you’ve said re: Hortiz. I too am not a fan of his free agency approach, especially this year with an obvious need and $$ to spend. I don’t think we did enough to address the IOL. Hope to be proven wrong but I’m currently thinking we may get to see another chapter of “and this is why we’re the tenants in SoFi” largely because of the IOL. Please make me eat crow!!
Good pod, enjoyed the guest and discussions. What losers to harass him that way, especially over something so trivial in the big scheme. Sports are a place (at least for me) to escape such nonsense.
I don’t disagree with the approach to IOL – easily the weakest position group on the team.
I understand the point with FAs, but I get Hortiz’s point. Spending wildly on high-cost FAs is not the path to long-term success in the NFL. That said, to win a championship, Joe needs to use every tool in his toolbox, including paying market for a star player at a position of need. In a year where you have cap space, a top-5 QB and a top-5 play-caller, you need to do everything possible to make sure the IOL is a strength. Signing a 1st round bust and a life-long backup to start at the guard spots is underwhelming. They should have done more.
Exactly. And we didn’t even need a star, just a solid vet that will at least be an average player. From what we have had the last few years, “average” is a huge upgrade. For all we know there were offers that weren’t taken, but I have a hard time believing that nobody but the bottom of the barrel that we signed was interested. But alas, if the season is on the brink after another rash of injuries and subpar play, you can look at our 40M in cap space and feel all warm and fuzzy.
The solo pod was a challenging one to produce Kev, so I’m glad you enjoyed that one too!
I think I remember telling you (over numerous beers in Australia) that we were never going to break into a US market without having above average NFL knowledge. So gaining that has been a huge focus area from Day 1. I told the guys I wasn’t prepared to start doing a podcast until we had a knowledge base that shocked most US listeners. That was the goal, at least for me! We still have lots to learn about the Xs&Os but I’m pleased to hear that the investment time is paying off.
Even with a boom supersonic jet, Kyle Shanahan would still find reasons to complain 😉 With all his trashing of the event, he’s basically forcing me to support the Rams next Thursday!
On the cuts, I’ll save my responses because we’re recording a show with our reactions this evening. I’ll include some of your comments for discussion.
Wow. Congrats on getting the interview with Sam. This is a huge step for the pod and I am so happy for you guys. I really appreciated the way you guys toggled between some hard nosed football questions and some levity to change it up. It is probably refreshing for Sam as well not to do the same old serious football centric interview he’s probably asked to do 1000 times. Boy, he smashed the Aussie quiz also. Being that you guys are familiar with the food service industry, is there actually a recipe for Emu or Koala that you have seen? I’ve seen Emu used as an exotic meat on cooking shows, but never a Koala. Also congrats to Jack on his new baby girl. I sent him a message on X, but I’m not sure he saw it, so maybe he will see it here. What a fantastic few weeks for the show all around. Enjoy the game next week and have a round on me. I’m sure it will be quite a spectacle. As always looking forward to the next show. Cheers Mates!!
Thank you for the donation and kind words, Erick! I’ve just forwarded this on to Jack too.
We’re learning that football + humour is a good mix with guests. There’s a risk that it won’t land, but so far, so good, and the rapport building seems to elicit some interesting tidbits. We’ve got other possible guests in the pipeline. See how we go!
On to the culinary component – most of the time, if you see Australian wildlife on a menu at a restaurant or a local town cafe, it’s a function of necessity (in remote, indigenous communities) or a gimmick to impress tourists (crocodile burger, etc).
Kangaroo is an exception. Not everybody loves the taste (game meat) but it’s available in supermarkets here, very high in protein and low in fat, so fillets are popular with some health conscious people. But again, I don’t really know anybody who eats kangaroo meat consistently – none of my friends or relatives. I might have it once a year.
I think i’ve eaten an Emu burger one time. See above. Gimmicky and not so tasty.
I’ve never heard of anybody eating a Koala! That’s a bridge too far for me, I think!
I really liked this episode. I mean you can tell Sam is a real stats guy. He routinely finds what I call levers in the math. QB (blame/praise) and garbage time/critical time ect… He really appeared to speak candidly about his time with PFF. I would have liked the +/- scale though. It would give milestone stats like +5/+70 would be great for a game/season or something. it builds in production with grade. anyway Andy and Al you guys crushed it. And you managed to get Sam to open up and answer lots of cool questions. Thanks
Sad that Sam had that level of vitriol and harassment shown his way but kudos to him for sticking to what he believes when it came to the MVP and what his definition of that subjective measurement is. I’ve always felt that it shouldn’t just be a “best player on best team” award as last year from Justin was playing at a level that few others (to none) could have matched in those circumstances. Drake Maye had a quality year but it also wasn’t a season on the whole where you couldn’t have plucked any of the Top 10 QBs around the league into and had the same results.
Being precise, it took all of 7 plays for McDaniel to achieve that stat with Herbert. Similar to the old “Randy Ratio” I think Mike may have a “Go-deep ratio” with his play-calling to give Justin those looks.
Thanks Duck! Glad you enjoyed it and having your approval is great; we know you set a high bar before you’re impressed by football analysis!
Sam’s own explanation for his vote:
I was the Justin Herbert vote. The guy had the worst offensive line in the NFL all season and despite that he was working miracles in almost every single game. Stafford’s OL became 2/5ths as bad as Herbert’s for 5 minutes and he became a turnover howitzer. He embodied ‘value’.”
“If you look mathematically, it didn’t make that much of a difference, particularly because I had Stafford No. 2 on my ballot anyway… So even if you delete the Justin Herbert pick, it doesn’t change anything.”
Whether or not people agree Herbert was MVP last season (and, honestly, I wouldn’t have given it to him), Sam makes an arguable case and explains his reasons. Doxxing him over a football take s outrageous and I’m happy it now seems to have blown over. It usually does on X after a few days!
On the “Go-deep ratio”, I completely agree and can’t wait to see it. A lot of fans hark back to the Steichen/Herbert/T-Billy/Guyton days. What Mike McDaniel can (hopefully) achieve with his creativity and this weaponry, should make yearning for that group a thing we never hear again.
Last edited 1 month ago by TDU_Alister
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Listened to the pod on yet another hot AF Sunday afternoon round of golf. Great interview. I enjoyed both this interview and the prior solo pod. Amazing to me how dudes from Australia can know more about football than I do. I attended my first Charger game when I was 7 months old & consider myself a reasonably well informed fan. The knowledge you guys have built is impressive. In addition to being entertained, I learn something on every pod.
One of the drawbacks of today’s online world is the ability of people with terrible, violent tendencies to group together and feed off each other’s evil. The freaks that think violence (or threatening violence) is a solution to someone having an opinion different than theirs would never receive the traction 10 years ago it receives now. Sucks that Kris had to deal with that nonsense (and good for him for not bowing to the lynch mob).
Regarding games or even a team in Australia; There are several super-sonic passenger jet projects in-flight. The closest to entering commercial service is the Boom supersonic jet, which could significantly reduce the flight time to Australia. The current Boom jet would have to make a stop as it doesn’t have the range (yet). But even with the stop, the journey should be reduced from 14-16 hours to 8-10 hours. If Boom could make a long-range version, that would lower the time to 7-8 hours. That’s still a long time in the air, but much more manageable. Other jets in the pipeline could reduce the time even further.
Thoughts on cuts:
Looking forward to the season. As with any team, the Chargers need a few things to break their way, but the organization has the roster and the coaches to win a championship.
Kev,
I agree with the Hortiz hot seat crap. I don’t love his FA approach or frankly his approach to building the OL, but everything else has been solid and he’s great in the margins. The one caveat is that we are entering year three. Barring some catastrophic injury bug to key players, the Chargers cannot take a step back or sideways this season. Another WC exit, or God forbid a non playoff season, will start the flames on the hot seat. Especially if the OL is once again the weak link.
I agree with what you’ve said re: Hortiz. I too am not a fan of his free agency approach, especially this year with an obvious need and $$ to spend. I don’t think we did enough to address the IOL. Hope to be proven wrong but I’m currently thinking we may get to see another chapter of “and this is why we’re the tenants in SoFi” largely because of the IOL. Please make me eat crow!!
Good pod, enjoyed the guest and discussions. What losers to harass him that way, especially over something so trivial in the big scheme. Sports are a place (at least for me) to escape such nonsense.
Soon we’ll have real football to discuss!! ⚡️⚡️⚡️
I don’t disagree with the approach to IOL – easily the weakest position group on the team.
I understand the point with FAs, but I get Hortiz’s point. Spending wildly on high-cost FAs is not the path to long-term success in the NFL. That said, to win a championship, Joe needs to use every tool in his toolbox, including paying market for a star player at a position of need. In a year where you have cap space, a top-5 QB and a top-5 play-caller, you need to do everything possible to make sure the IOL is a strength. Signing a 1st round bust and a life-long backup to start at the guard spots is underwhelming. They should have done more.
Exactly. And we didn’t even need a star, just a solid vet that will at least be an average player. From what we have had the last few years, “average” is a huge upgrade. For all we know there were offers that weren’t taken, but I have a hard time believing that nobody but the bottom of the barrel that we signed was interested. But alas, if the season is on the brink after another rash of injuries and subpar play, you can look at our 40M in cap space and feel all warm and fuzzy.
The solo pod was a challenging one to produce Kev, so I’m glad you enjoyed that one too!
I think I remember telling you (over numerous beers in Australia) that we were never going to break into a US market without having above average NFL knowledge. So gaining that has been a huge focus area from Day 1. I told the guys I wasn’t prepared to start doing a podcast until we had a knowledge base that shocked most US listeners. That was the goal, at least for me! We still have lots to learn about the Xs&Os but I’m pleased to hear that the investment time is paying off.
Even with a boom supersonic jet, Kyle Shanahan would still find reasons to complain 😉 With all his trashing of the event, he’s basically forcing me to support the Rams next Thursday!
On the cuts, I’ll save my responses because we’re recording a show with our reactions this evening. I’ll include some of your comments for discussion.
Thanks brother!
Wow. Congrats on getting the interview with Sam. This is a huge step for the pod and I am so happy for you guys. I really appreciated the way you guys toggled between some hard nosed football questions and some levity to change it up. It is probably refreshing for Sam as well not to do the same old serious football centric interview he’s probably asked to do 1000 times. Boy, he smashed the Aussie quiz also. Being that you guys are familiar with the food service industry, is there actually a recipe for Emu or Koala that you have seen? I’ve seen Emu used as an exotic meat on cooking shows, but never a Koala. Also congrats to Jack on his new baby girl. I sent him a message on X, but I’m not sure he saw it, so maybe he will see it here. What a fantastic few weeks for the show all around. Enjoy the game next week and have a round on me. I’m sure it will be quite a spectacle. As always looking forward to the next show. Cheers Mates!!
Thank you for the donation and kind words, Erick! I’ve just forwarded this on to Jack too.
We’re learning that football + humour is a good mix with guests. There’s a risk that it won’t land, but so far, so good, and the rapport building seems to elicit some interesting tidbits. We’ve got other possible guests in the pipeline. See how we go!
On to the culinary component – most of the time, if you see Australian wildlife on a menu at a restaurant or a local town cafe, it’s a function of necessity (in remote, indigenous communities) or a gimmick to impress tourists (crocodile burger, etc).
Kangaroo is an exception. Not everybody loves the taste (game meat) but it’s available in supermarkets here, very high in protein and low in fat, so fillets are popular with some health conscious people. But again, I don’t really know anybody who eats kangaroo meat consistently – none of my friends or relatives. I might have it once a year.
I think i’ve eaten an Emu burger one time. See above. Gimmicky and not so tasty.
I’ve never heard of anybody eating a Koala! That’s a bridge too far for me, I think!
I really liked this episode. I mean you can tell Sam is a real stats guy. He routinely finds what I call levers in the math. QB (blame/praise) and garbage time/critical time ect… He really appeared to speak candidly about his time with PFF. I would have liked the +/- scale though. It would give milestone stats like +5/+70 would be great for a game/season or something. it builds in production with grade. anyway Andy and Al you guys crushed it. And you managed to get Sam to open up and answer lots of cool questions. Thanks
Thanks Ennea. We really liked it too! And thank you for the feedback; I’ve passed it on to Andy
Great stuff guys.
Sad that Sam had that level of vitriol and harassment shown his way but kudos to him for sticking to what he believes when it came to the MVP and what his definition of that subjective measurement is. I’ve always felt that it shouldn’t just be a “best player on best team” award as last year from Justin was playing at a level that few others (to none) could have matched in those circumstances. Drake Maye had a quality year but it also wasn’t a season on the whole where you couldn’t have plucked any of the Top 10 QBs around the league into and had the same results.
Being precise, it took all of 7 plays for McDaniel to achieve that stat with Herbert. Similar to the old “Randy Ratio” I think Mike may have a “Go-deep ratio” with his play-calling to give Justin those looks.
Thanks Duck! Glad you enjoyed it and having your approval is great; we know you set a high bar before you’re impressed by football analysis!
Sam’s own explanation for his vote:
Whether or not people agree Herbert was MVP last season (and, honestly, I wouldn’t have given it to him), Sam makes an arguable case and explains his reasons. Doxxing him over a football take s outrageous and I’m happy it now seems to have blown over. It usually does on X after a few days!
On the “Go-deep ratio”, I completely agree and can’t wait to see it. A lot of fans hark back to the Steichen/Herbert/T-Billy/Guyton days. What Mike McDaniel can (hopefully) achieve with his creativity and this weaponry, should make yearning for that group a thing we never hear again.