Scott Zolak Calls In From Kansas City
BOSTON (CBS) - Spending time in Kansas City for the Patriots-Chiefs Monday Night Football game, 98.5 The Sports Hub's Scott Zolak calls in while Andy Gresh is back in the studio with Mike Flynn discussing tonight's matchup.
Not a bad way to start his morning, Zo ran into Gene Simmons of KISS and had a brief conversation with him in the hotel lobby before fans started causing a frenzy.
In discussing tonight's game, Gresh & Zo both agree that it will not be an easy one. Because of the homefield advantage at Arrowhead Stadium, not only would it be ideal for the Patriots to grab some type of lead early in the game, the Pats will also have to keep Alex Smith contained and try their hardest to block out all the noise.
The Patriots needs to be on their A-game tonight, especially with Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles expected to play.
Run stuffer Sealver Siliga was placed on short-term IR over the weekend, and Flynn was curious to hear Zolak's opinion of the Patriots' ability to stop the run with him out of the lineup.
Zo believes the linebackers must now pick up the slack in that department.
"With [Jerod] Mayo and [Dont'a] Hightower, I'll have Hightower kicking in the inside a little bit more, and be sneaky in some of those run blitz looks. They will have to take some chances hitting gaps. I think you keep Mayo, Hightower in the middle, let them hit that A gap, that B gap and C Gap," explained Zo. "Getting them up there and that's how you kind of counteract it. In the middle, yeah they are kind of banged up."
Chiefs coach Andy Reid is famous for throwing the ball far more often than running the ball, and Gresh wonders if Reid can be patient enough to run the ball consistently.
Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis are a solid one-two punch in the backfield, but Zo is also concerned with Alex Smith and his legs.
"Don't forget Smith is a guy who can make plays with his legs. I am more worried with third-and-three, third-and-seven, of him getting outside the pocket and stepping up and he ends up running for 15 yards. He's a really good game manager," said Zo on Smith.
Gresh brought up a question asked last week, "Are Chiefs fans looking at this as some type of validation win?"
Sure does seem it.
Zo explained how there is Kansas City red all over the place, the tailgating has already started and everything is barbeque, so everyone out there is clearly pumped for the game tonight as they try to break the Guinness World Record for loudest stadium.
Listen below!
Zolak Calls In From KC
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