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!
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 8 hours ago by TDU_Alister
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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.