October 9, 2025 • 26 mins
On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with his Best Bets for the Thursday Night Football showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. Later, former University of Michigan quarterback and FOX College Football analyst Devin Gardner swings by to discuss his expectations for the big showdown between the Wolverines and USC, whether it’s fair to say that Ohio State is clearly the best team in college football right now, how quarterback Dante Moore has helped elevate the Oregon Ducks to the top of the Big Ten, and why Arch Manning has struggled so mightily in his first year as the starter at Texas.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up straight Fire, Faym. It's me Jason McIntyre.
Straight Fire for Thursday, October the ninth. Oh, we've got
a great podcast today. Oh my goodness. You're gonna love
our guest first timer on the pod, former college football
quarterback at Michigan, Devin Gardner. Yes, he holds the record
(00:32):
for the most yards from scrimmage in a single game.
Gardner had a really nice career at Michigan, and he
didn't love Sharon Moore's comments about the Michigan USC game.
We'll get into that breakdown. It's a good college football Saturday.
He's I didn't know this. He's good friends with Dante
Moore at the Oregon quarterback. He's known him since he
(00:52):
was nine. Jets fans, you gotta want to listen to
any and all Dante Moore chatter for the next I
don't know, two months, in case Dante more ends up
coming out and is the number one pick. Good stuff,
you guys will really enjoy at the chat. I think
we're probably gonna end up having Devin Gardner come back
because he's so good. But before we get to that, Yes,
the Yankees lost. It's a bummer for everyone. Sorry Toronto.
(01:17):
Sorry is just not It's just Toronto versus Detroit or
Seattle just doesn't have the juice that having the Yankees
in the ALCS would. I mean, it's the reality. We
can are you guys can argue to you in the place. Hey, Toronto,
great story, great hitting, Okay, wonderful, But the casual fan
is not as likely to turn into let me check
(01:39):
out the blue Jays tonight in the ALCS as opposed
to those damn Yankees, because you love him or hate him, right,
you're not indifferent on the Yanks. You don't have a
feeling about the Blue Jays. I'm sure they're good. They
were good last night, and Yankees did not come through.
They're out. Let me quickly, just briefly, do a Thursday
night football best bet, because I cannot do any worse
(02:00):
than last week, probably my worst college football Thursday in
several years that rams loss. As heavy favorites against the
beat up forty nine ers, I think the only way
to play Eagles at Giants low total of forty and
a big spread of seven usually means take the dog.
(02:20):
Possessions will be at a premium. This could easily be
twenty to thirteen with two minutes left and Jackson Dart's
trying to come in the back, or seventeen thirty something thereabouts,
And that's why you take the dog in these matchups.
For me, it's Eagles are pass. I'm not doing it
in the contest. I don't have any actual shedder on
(02:41):
this game yet, but for me, I expect a Eagles
bounce back off a rotten fourth quarter against the Broncos.
And listen, Denver, Broncos have an elite defense. The New
York Giants do not. I don't want to. I'm gonna
stop talking about their front seven in the pass for
US guys. They had zero sacks of Spencer Ratler last week,
(03:01):
and you think all of a sudden, on a short week,
they're gonna just turn up and go go crazy and
get after Jayalen Hurts. I mean, maybe they have an
inspired start and that carries over, but I think if
you're looking for a spot for Saquon Barkley to go nuts,
this would be it divisional matchup, revenge game. He ate
up the Giants last year, and Barkley, by the way,
(03:22):
it doesn't have a carry longer than sixteen yards this season.
Like he's having a rough start landon Dickerson's out, which
is not great. I expect aj Brown to get whatever
he wants. My guess is the Eagles open up the
offense and I'll go thirty three thirteen Eagles role Eagles cover.
(03:43):
I just for me. You know, the Jayleen Carter thing
is concerning. He has a heel issue. Listen is questionable
as we record this here very very early on Thursday morning.
Even with him out, Nakobe Dean's expected to return for
the first time this season, good talented linebacker. I am
of the belief that the Eagles get it done fairly
(04:04):
easily tonight. I think Jackson darts in way over his
head and without further ado, let's get to our guest,
former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live. You know a guy, Jason likes to think
he knows everything when it comes to sports.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I know what sports fans wants, but for.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Everything he doesn't.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
He knows A guy who does.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Let's just say I know a guy who knows the
guy who knows another guy.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
All right, let's welcome into straight Fire. A college football
legend in ann Arbor. Everybody knows him. Devin Gardner, former quarterback,
now calling college football games this weekend. He's got a
decent one this weekend. Oh what is a pretty good
college football slate? And how you doing?
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Man?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
I'm doing well. I'm just happy I'm finally invited.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
I've been waiting on them here and now we're on Straight Fire,
and it's gonna be straight fired for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, based on what you were saying
before the pot, I can't I cannot wait. It's actually
a really it's weird college football, Devin. It's like there's
a good week and then kind of a sleepy week,
and then a good week, you know, and this feels
like a good one, especially in a conference you know, well,
the Big Ten.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Of course, it's very exciting too, just because you know,
Fox has leaned all into the Big Teen and it
just continues to have all these great games, these teams,
and you know, it's kind of weird that the SEC somehow,
once everybody.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Can pay players. Yeah, this is just not what it
used to be. I don't I just don't know how
that's happening.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
However, however, I would imagine that for the thirst straight
year to be a Big Ten national champion.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Oh wow, Spicy, Okay, do you and I assume are
you with everybody else Ohio State's the best team you've
seen so far? Most complete team? Or are you leaning Oregon?
Speaker 4 (05:59):
I'm so tired of this because I have to tell
the truth in Ohio State is way too good, and
I think the Big Ten is really screwed up, right,
and it may be too late, but maybe maybe Illinois
can do something about this. Right, So, their offense, in
their young quarterback, they had to grow. They weren't what
they needed to be the day one, like Ohio State
usually is, right, and it just they've just been escaping
(06:22):
and they've been able to grow organically, right. There's been
no real pressure for them to live outside themselves and
have to really make plays and maybe win some downs
and win some drives and quarters, and they've just been
able to kind of float on by in obscurity while
the defense just dominates everyone. And so you hope if
you're a fan of everybody else, in the Big Ten.
(06:44):
You want Illinois to give him a chance to see
if they can make sure this quarterback has to make plays.
Julian saying is a really talented guy, but he's still
very young, and none of that has been able to
be exposed.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, so the young aspect is interesting because in theory,
and again, you've played way more football than I have.
I didn't play high school or anything. Actually watching football
and analyzing it. To me, it's like, Okay, we don't
trust Julian to beat us deep. Let's play crustman. Let's
get everything at the line of scrimmage. You make them
beat us deep. The problem is they got Jerebiah Smith
out there, who's pretty decent, and he's the ultimate weapon.
(07:19):
You can't really stack the box, and no cornerback can
hang with him on an island. I don't does Illinois
have any chance here? The line is fourteen and a half.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Well, so I'm just telling you the only chance they're
going to have is their quarterback. Luke Olmeyer is a
grown up, right, He's an older quarterback. We've seen the
trend in college football. When you have an older quarterback,
you got a real chance. And if he can find
a way to create plays offensively against that nasty defense man.
Those two linebackers sunny styles and r Veil Reese and
then Caleb.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Downs behind them. I mean, it's just not fair. It's
just not fair.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
However, this is the type of quarterback that can help
write the ability to move on the run and make
plays down the field. And if they can find a
way to sustain drives and put points on the board,
it will force the Ohio State office to prove, hey,
have you grown to where you need to be to
be the national champion here early in the season or
in the middle of the season. So if there is
a team that can do it, I think it is Illinois.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
USC one in there and everybody was like, oh USC is,
what's five, six, seven point favorites? And Illinois just went
up and down the field on them. Now, you know,
USC doesn't play defense like Ohio State, but I think
we would both agree Ohio State is for now the
clear best team in the country. But it's all a
lot of football left to be played. Let me ask
you about this Michigan USC game out here. Sharon Moore,
the coach of Michigan, saying, oh, yeah, here it's a
(08:32):
sellout because Michigan fans are going to fill up the stadium.
And I don't think the USC fans or coach Lincoln Riley,
he seemed a little peeved about it. Sometimes you don't
want to poke a bear. I don't. This isn't a
great Michigan team. But interestingly, Devin, everybody's picking Michigan here,
I think, Iileen Trojans, where are you on this one?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Well?
Speaker 3 (08:52):
I don't like it. I don't like the giving Baltimore material.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
That's like, that's like day one, Like, don't just get
don't give him extra stuff, right, you're flying for country,
You've got a freshman quarterback. You're gonna be a little
sleepy right times on tam all these different things. Maybe
don't give him a little extra ammo. All right, Oh forget.
They're upset as well, right, they think that they're a
lot better than people are saying they are.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
I don't think that's smart at all. However, this is
gonna be a huge test for Michigan. This is gonna
be the best offensive test since Ou. And we saw
what happened in the Ou game when the offense and
defense just could not get on one accord and they
had a quarterback that's dynamic, and Jade Mayava is a
guy who is dynamic.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Man.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Just watching him play, it's been really fun because it's
kind of like he has some of what Caleb Williams
had as far as the off schedule plays, the arm angles,
the ability to just create and be a point guard
and be amazing. But he also plays on schedule right,
and that really lends into what Lincoln Riley wants. He's
kind of griped over the years of like, man, I
love the playmaking, I love that high control of you
all that, but I would love for you to run
(09:53):
what I'm calling right and playing on schedule when he
does that, and they've got some dominant weapons. So for
the for the Michigan Rings, they haven't really been tested
because that front seven gets home so fast.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So those young corners have been able to kind of
grow up. Well, you have the opportunity to see have.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
They grown up and have you taken the necessary steps.
For Bryce Underwood, because he struggled reading defenses early and
he continues to do that. They're trying to work around
it and find ways for him to be successful.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
And they've done a nice job.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
However, this is a different animal, right when you're facing
another offense that's explosive, kind of like oh us is.
You've got to make plays. You can't just rely on
your defense in twenty twenty five to always stop them
every single time.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Everybody seems to love Underwood, and that's fine. I get it.
You know, big time prospect. He's had a good freshman year.
But my office been so I did not realize he.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Was just good to me.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
He wears the same number as Sam Donald and kind
of moves and throws like him. I just can't disassociate Donald. Obviously,
Donald was great at USC, but this kid six four,
two thirty. I think he's a pro man.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
And I love watching his other stuff, it's off the
field stuff, because you can see clearly what type of
guy he is. He's a worker, right, He's a guy
that loves his teammates. His teammates love him. And when
you have a guy at the at the Helm who
was very well liked and loved even with talent, right,
he's already got talent, And then you got a play
call like Lincoln Riley, you don't want to rile that
group up, right, And they're a little upset because they
(11:15):
feel like they let one get away against Illinois. And
I'm just telling you, this is going to be a really,
really good game, and you're gonna get a lot of
questions answered on both sides, for USC and for Michigan,
because contrary to popular belief, I don't believe Michigan is
gonna be able to go in there and just bully
them and run the ball down their throats. I think
they're going to stand strong in their own house, and
it's going to be on Bryce Underwood and and that
(11:36):
offensive weapons that he may or may not have to
make some place.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Yeah. Again, it's a monster weekend in the Big Ten.
And and this Indiana Oregon matchups kind of getting lost
in the shuffle.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
It's sneaky, good man.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I don't I don't know what to make of Indiana
to me. Yeah, okay, they smashed Illinois by a billion,
all right, wonderful.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
Help you out there. Illinois was basically their entire back in.
So that's something nobody's talking about. Where you're missing your
entire back in. It's gotta be I mean, you're playing
with all backups. It's gonna be tough to stop teams
and not taking anything away from Indiana.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I think they are serious. I think they're for real.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
However, like we talked about with Michigan and USC, we're
gonna they're gonna answer some of those questions coming up here.
But I think that the quarterback matchup is good. Dante
Moore just telling you, I've watched him since he was
like nine years old, and his ability as a passer,
as a as a as a ball player. Right, he's
not a runner, but somehow when he needs to run,
(12:34):
he's a runner.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Right. It's been really impressive to watch his growth.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
And he is a special case in this age of
college football where he's very self aware and he's been
like that since he was young. Right, very self aware.
You go to UCLA doesn't work out? Well, what if
most quarterbacks were five stars making a lot of me?
What do they do? They go somewhere to play? Right, Well,
when you're self aware, you say, maybe I'm not good enough.
Maybe some of it was me, even though I didn't
(12:57):
have the talent around me. It's some of it wasn't
me as well, and I need to grow. So he
decides to go to Oregon and essentially knowing that he's
going to be the backup. How many five star, million
dollar quarterbacks are gonna do that? It just doesn't exist.
And you know that, I know that everybody knows that.
But to have the self awareness to go there, sit,
watch learn, really develop, and then you get the opportunity
(13:19):
to slide right in with a lot of talent around you.
One of the greatest moves in college football. Right, Yeah,
And I'm.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Really looking forward to see if that trend follows.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Right, Maybe guys that go to the wrong place, don't,
don't just go somewhere just so you can start. I
have some self awareness and understand that maybe it is you.
Maybe you do need to look in the mirror and
you need to improve. And he's done that and it's
been really cool to watch.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
So let me ask you. You said you've been seeing more
since he was nine, How did how did that happen?
And what did you see?
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Well, we'll vote from Detroit and he he worked out
the same gym that I worked out at and got
a chance to work with him some. So it's been
really cool to see the maturation, right because you know,
everybody's looking at him now and they're seen this amazing
talented quarterback who can run and make plays, who's so unphased. Right,
It's so funny. I was watching that Penn State game,
(14:08):
and I remember during the training I would have them
watched some of my old games, right, just to see coverage, right,
because this is the love you want to play at
you're ten, nine, eleven years old. It's never too early, right,
you get it in your in your osmosis.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Right.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
And so we've watched that Penn State game where in
twenty thirteen we win four overtimes over and over and
over again, right, and it's it's like my best worst
game of my life, where in the first half I
turn them all over two or three times, and somehow
in the second half I come back and rush for
one hundred and twenty five yards the most ever, and
throw for two hundred something yards, you know what I mean.
So it's kind of like teaching now, learning coverage and
(14:43):
learning the atmosphere you might have to plan, but learning
that there will be ups and downs and you have
to be able to respond from that.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
So showing him that all.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Those years and then to see him go out there
and look completely unfazed by the most electrifying experience in
all college football. In my opinion, that wide out is crazy. Yeah,
Michigan couldn't snap the ball one year on the first
player of the game. Yeah, right, Like that is insane.
And it looked like he was just in Detroit playing
(15:11):
at Northwestern High School with the Detroit Spartons. It was
really impressive to watch. And that's not an anomaly. That's
just who he is.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
All right. So now I got to ask. I'm a
Jets fan in the NFL. I was born in New York.
Don't laugh.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
That's unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Tell me about it. Horrible ownership. That being said, Devin,
if they get the number one pick as of now,
and there's a lot, I mean, we gotta go through
the whole process so much Moore's if he comes out,
I think he's definitely got to be in the mix.
I like Simpson at Alabama a lot, but more that
Penn State game impressed me. That being said, Penn State
did lose to UCLA. So how to how good a
(15:43):
pen takes? Right? Knowing what you know about more? By
the way, do you text him and stuff? Are you
guys that close?
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Of course?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Oh? Wow? Okay, do you get the impression he's the
kind of guy that would come out if they win
the national championship, or he wins the Heisman, or they
lose in the national championship. Do you he is only
twenty he'll be twenty one in May, So he's on
the young side.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Like I told you, he's a very self aware kid, right,
And so it'll be all about if he feels and
if his team feels that he's ready, because if he's not,
he's not gonna come out, whether he wins the Hids
or not.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Right.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
And so that's that's why the decision from UCLA to
Oregon is so important to remember because just because you
win the Heisan, that doesn't mean that you're good enough
and ready to be at that level, if that makes sense, right.
So I think it'll be a deep dive on whether
he because he's making good money, right, he's living the dream.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I mean, you don't have to tell me, but ballpark
is he making two million or five seven?
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
I still have the financials.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
I have no idea, but you know, at his level,
we know at Oregon they're sparing no expense. You would
think it would be three to four men, you know
what I mean, Like you can estimate on what he's
making and so you know, there is no real rush,
right that nil has really changed the game.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
There's no real rush.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
So the self aware kid is going to stay in
college and Oregon's gonna always have weapons. They're gonna have
a good football team. It's not like he's gonna come
back and there's gonna be oh, where is everybody. I
don't have anybody. He's gonna have a really good team.
They may go back to back if they were to
win the national championship. And so it would literally be
solely based on his development and how far along he
is and his maturity. And I think that if he's ready,
(17:13):
he will definitely certainly go oh.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Wow, okayo. I was getting a little negative there.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
You know.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Listen, there was a Peyton Manning allegedly way back was like,
I don't want to come out, I don't want to play
with the Jets, allegedly stayed in school, did not win
the Natty. We end up a keisha On Johnson and
he didn't win us anything. Anyways.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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listen live.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
Tell me about Mendoza. I gotta be honest, I haven't
seen that much of him. The little I've seen, like,
he looks fine again.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Mine, that's a really good word. That's a really good word. Fine.
I don't and in some households that's a bad word.
We don't want to be fine.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
However, I have been impressed with Mendoza in his ability
to adjust to something totally different than since I had
him early in the season against Kennisall State, right, and
so watching the film leading up to that game is
just like he has no idea what he's doing. His
feet are wrong, he has no idea where to go
(18:13):
with the football. It was it was so alarming. And
then I go into the meetings and I talked to
Signetti and he's sitting there, laid back, you know, his
sole deal, and he's letting me know, like the same
thing we had with the guy last year. It's the
same thing they have the guys at all my other schools.
It's the same thing every single year. They can't figure
it out early, and then we figured out, and then
(18:35):
each kid has won the Player of the Year, and
it's just like Wow, you go back and look, he's
exactly right.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
It's always starts this way.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
And so I was like, Okay, I'll give you the
benefit of the doubt and I'll let him show me.
And he showed me he was It's kennisall state, however,
he was exceptional. And then he goes out and does
against Illinois, like I said, the caveat there, missing all
their defensive backs, but you still got to go out
there and throw the football to your guys, and he's
been able to do that. Like I said earlier, though,
(19:03):
this is gonna be a true test because he hasn't
seen a defense like he's gonna see. He hadn't seen
an offense on the other side that he has to see.
I don't think people appreciate enough how much the other
offense really affects how you play offense right, just because
that other offense isn't If that other offense isn't talented,
you can do things that you usually wouldn't do right.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
You can take chances.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
But when you have an explosive offense on the other
side and a quarterback, specifically in Dante Moore, you cannot
make a bunch of mistakes. But you also have to
risk some things to make some big plays, and so
that puts a different set of pressures on you, and
I really wonder how Mendoza will respond.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yeah, we'll see. I need to see more if that's okay.
I know he was good at CAL. I got a
buddy who graduated from Cal was hyping him last year.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Well I didn't. I didn't love him. I thought I
thought find a Cale, I thought you. I didn't think numbers.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
I mean, everybody could put up numbers except for Arch Manning.
We'll get to Arch in the moment. I'm not bashing
him real quick an So basically I'm between as a
Jets fan. I love I love what I tad from Dante.
But I'm just telling you that Tys Simpson at Alabama
now he's the opposite and in the spectrum. He was
a big time recruit, but just stayed at Alabama. This
is I believe his fourth year. He's twenty two, gonna
(20:11):
be twenty three soon. Yeah, And that's also rare.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Right.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You don't see a lot of guys who are like, hey,
I'm just gonna be okay, be in the back up,
the backup. And then all of a sudden, he looked
so good against Georgia on the road. I was impressed.
I don't know how much you've seen of him, but
they do have a tall order at Missouri this weekend.
Where are you on Simpson?
Speaker 4 (20:30):
He was an illegal eleven guy and he was impressive
then and he remains impressive. It's really cool to see
a guy who you know, You go in, you compete hard,
you don't win the job, right, and you compete hard again,
you don't win the job, you know what I mean?
Like that's a demoralizing experience for a guy who's a
highly recruited guy who everybody wanted. You chose this school,
and you don't know. You're not there, you don't know
(20:52):
what happened and why he didn't win the job. However,
it sounds like to me he has a resolve. And
that's what I experienced when I was coaching at the
eleven and it's deal now, Like it's really cool to
see a kid stick it out because I always think,
even though I was I was before the transfer porter era,
I always thought I would be that guy that stuck
it out because I'm just too stubborn.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
No, I am good enough.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
I'm gonna play right, and that's why I ended up
playing receiver because I was like, hey, I can't watch
it anymore.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
I need I need to catch pastest. Then if that's
what it takes for me to get on the field.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
And so he's that kind of kid, that throwback guy
that's gonna fight through adversity, that Tom Brady style. I'm
fourth on the depth chart, but however, this is gonna
make me a better man and a better football player.
And he's putting it all on display.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Man.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I've been really impressed, and I don't think you can
go wrong with him or Dante Moore if they work.
Were both to come out me personally, I would take
Dante more just because I know what that brain is thinking.
I know what he's doing, and I understand that I
can trust him. Now Tysithon looks like he can be trusted. However,
I don't know him enough personally, just the week at
the end of eleven. I don't think it's enough to
see how a kid's brain completely works.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Yeah, so when it comes to the NFL, you know
you fall into that category. You're like six three and
a half, a big guy, big strapping dude, closer to
six simpce. It's closer to like a six two. I'm
sure at the combine him as you're like six one
and a half. There is such a stigma against quarterbabacks
who don't aren't in that you know, Mendoza, Tom Brady, Big,
(22:19):
justin Herbert. Everybody wants that guy, not everybody can have them.
Where do you fall because because More, I don't know,
he's listed at six to four. Usually they inflate that
stuff by half an injur of an inch. I don't know.
He's more. More is not as tall as you, but
he's he's kind of strapping.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
Yeah, he's like six two and a half, maybe pushing
six three, but lower body, big, strong lower body. And
I think it's overblown, like this is being tall. I
think it's it's well overblown because I remember the one
thing about being tall that helps is the receivers can
see the ball.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Come out right.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
And I learned that from playing quarter playing wide receiver
a little bit at Michigan where Dinard was a little
bit shorter and the offensive lineen are so tall, and
he would throw the football and it's just like it's
always surprised when it's from a smaller guy. However, as
far as playing the quarterback position. It's all about finding windows, right,
It's all about finding where your spaces are inside the pocket.
(23:12):
I'm six ft four six for three and a half
whatever you want to call me. Well, our lineman are
six six six seven six'. Five, LIKE i can't see
over these, guys, Right i'm trying to look between, them
just like the smaller.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Guy AND i think it can be. Overblown, now if
a guy grows.
Speaker 4 (23:27):
Up and he's small and he's played well his entire,
career you have to trust that he's figured out how
AM i going to navigate at this? Size and sometimes
the taller guys, suck, Right so it's just Like i'm
time this guy because he's.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Tall, YEAH i Got.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Cosweiler there's a million of. Them, Yeah oh he's.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Tall let's give him a chance when it's some smaller
guy that's really making plays and can't help you in
the run game as.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Well, LASTLY i, LISTEN i kind of rote him off
after the ohiostate. Game obviously we could bring it back next. Year,
right he can't go into THE. Nfl but the arch manning,
STUFF i almost don't think he's really worthy of. Discussion,
uh there is. Chatter if you, KNOW i got buddies
on The texas message boards where, like, yeah let let
let's just sit him. Down he's not seeing the. Field
well what are you seeing on Arch? Banning you, know
(24:10):
somebody came on here and said he had a five
star last, name but he was a three star. Recruit,
well so that's kind of. Accurate, YEAH i.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Will, say but this is the. Thing it's it's completely, unfair,
RIGHT i, DON'T i.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Don't i'm not gonna.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
SAY i don't THINK i know for a fact he
didn't ask to be putting that upper eche, line, Right
he's just out there having. Fun and and it's IT'S
i don't know how self aware he, is but his
family's for sure, selfware, Right so they knew exactly what
they were. Doing they were putting him in a position
to not have to play right, away right because they
knew his, talent his skill. Level they were putting him
in a position to be with A starkesian eight offensive
(24:43):
genius that developed.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Well and SO i just feel like he's a. Kid
he WATCHES, tv he Has. INTERNET i think he started
to look at it a little bit too, right and see,
like Oh i'm really, like you, know as much as
he's famous and he has that last you, KNOW i
feel like he was able to be sheltered away a little.
Bit and then when it's like clearly his, job he's
(25:06):
the guy everybody's talking about, HIM i don't think HE
i don't think he could hide from it any. Longer
and he started to feel himself as, Well like some
of his interviews is.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
Like that's a little, different, right you're poking the, bear
like we talked, about like what are you doing? THERE
i don't.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Know and then you get that stinker At Ohio. STATE
i mean from the very first. THROW i don't think
he'll remember. This the first throw The Ohio state, game
he had a. Touchdown he skipped it off the ground
with no, pressure And i'm just, LIKE, whoa that's, alarming,
Right and then obviously the game continued and it wasn't very.
Good BUT i don't think he asks for. It he
obviously has the last name that's going to allow him
(25:44):
grace and he's going to be able to. Improve he's,
big he's, strong he can do all these different. Things
and SO i think that you have to trust. This
sarky's is gonna figure it out by next, year if
not the end of this. Year but to this point the,
season he just hasn't played very. Well he doesn't see
the field Will BUT i don't think the answer is
sitting him, down because now you sit him, down how
do you get better than if you believe this is your?
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Guy now if you don't believe it.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Is your, guy that's a whole different conversation. Entirely, HOWEVER
i think That sarkisian believes is his.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Guy he probably gets in his head if you do
that and it could go.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
You lose him. Completely, yeah it's.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Over, yeah all. Right Devin, Gardner michigan. Legend he's on
the call FOR Tcuk state On. Saturday, devin great. Stuff
thanks again for bringing the fire to straight.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Fire appreciate.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
You
This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
What is up straight Fire, Faym. It's me Jason McIntyre.
Straight Fire for Thursday, October the ninth. Oh, we've got
a great podcast today. Oh my goodness. You're gonna love
our guest first timer on the pod, former college football
quarterback at Michigan, Devin Gardner. Yes, he holds the record
(00:32):
for the most yards from scrimmage in a single game.
Gardner had a really nice career at Michigan, and he
didn't love Sharon Moore's comments about the Michigan USC game.
We'll get into that breakdown. It's a good college football Saturday.
He's I didn't know this. He's good friends with Dante
Moore at the Oregon quarterback. He's known him since he
(00:52):
was nine. Jets fans, you gotta want to listen to
any and all Dante Moore chatter for the next I
don't know, two months, in case Dante more ends up
coming out and is the number one pick. Good stuff,
you guys will really enjoy at the chat. I think
we're probably gonna end up having Devin Gardner come back
because he's so good. But before we get to that, Yes,
the Yankees lost. It's a bummer for everyone. Sorry Toronto.
(01:17):
Sorry is just not It's just Toronto versus Detroit or
Seattle just doesn't have the juice that having the Yankees
in the ALCS would. I mean, it's the reality. We
can are you guys can argue to you in the place. Hey, Toronto,
great story, great hitting, Okay, wonderful, But the casual fan
is not as likely to turn into let me check
(01:39):
out the blue Jays tonight in the ALCS as opposed
to those damn Yankees, because you love him or hate him, right,
you're not indifferent on the Yanks. You don't have a
feeling about the Blue Jays. I'm sure they're good. They
were good last night, and Yankees did not come through.
They're out. Let me quickly, just briefly, do a Thursday
night football best bet, because I cannot do any worse
(02:00):
than last week, probably my worst college football Thursday in
several years that rams loss. As heavy favorites against the
beat up forty nine ers, I think the only way
to play Eagles at Giants low total of forty and
a big spread of seven usually means take the dog.
(02:20):
Possessions will be at a premium. This could easily be
twenty to thirteen with two minutes left and Jackson Dart's
trying to come in the back, or seventeen thirty something thereabouts,
And that's why you take the dog in these matchups.
For me, it's Eagles are pass. I'm not doing it
in the contest. I don't have any actual shedder on
(02:41):
this game yet, but for me, I expect a Eagles
bounce back off a rotten fourth quarter against the Broncos.
And listen, Denver, Broncos have an elite defense. The New
York Giants do not. I don't want to. I'm gonna
stop talking about their front seven in the pass for
US guys. They had zero sacks of Spencer Ratler last week,
(03:01):
and you think all of a sudden, on a short week,
they're gonna just turn up and go go crazy and
get after Jayalen Hurts. I mean, maybe they have an
inspired start and that carries over, but I think if
you're looking for a spot for Saquon Barkley to go nuts,
this would be it divisional matchup, revenge game. He ate
up the Giants last year, and Barkley, by the way,
(03:22):
it doesn't have a carry longer than sixteen yards this season.
Like he's having a rough start landon Dickerson's out, which
is not great. I expect aj Brown to get whatever
he wants. My guess is the Eagles open up the
offense and I'll go thirty three thirteen Eagles role Eagles cover.
(03:43):
I just for me. You know, the Jayleen Carter thing
is concerning. He has a heel issue. Listen is questionable
as we record this here very very early on Thursday morning.
Even with him out, Nakobe Dean's expected to return for
the first time this season, good talented linebacker. I am
of the belief that the Eagles get it done fairly
(04:04):
easily tonight. I think Jackson darts in way over his
head and without further ado, let's get to our guest,
former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live. You know a guy, Jason likes to think
he knows everything when it comes to sports.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I know what sports fans wants, but for.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Everything he doesn't.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
He knows A guy who does.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Let's just say I know a guy who knows the
guy who knows another guy.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
All right, let's welcome into straight Fire. A college football
legend in ann Arbor. Everybody knows him. Devin Gardner, former quarterback,
now calling college football games this weekend. He's got a
decent one this weekend. Oh what is a pretty good
college football slate? And how you doing?
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Man?
Speaker 3 (05:01):
I'm doing well. I'm just happy I'm finally invited.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
I've been waiting on them here and now we're on Straight Fire,
and it's gonna be straight fired for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, based on what you were saying
before the pot, I can't I cannot wait. It's actually
a really it's weird college football, Devin. It's like there's
a good week and then kind of a sleepy week,
and then a good week, you know, and this feels
like a good one, especially in a conference you know, well,
the Big Ten.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Of course, it's very exciting too, just because you know,
Fox has leaned all into the Big Teen and it
just continues to have all these great games, these teams,
and you know, it's kind of weird that the SEC somehow,
once everybody.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Can pay players. Yeah, this is just not what it
used to be. I don't I just don't know how
that's happening.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
However, however, I would imagine that for the thirst straight
year to be a Big Ten national champion.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Oh wow, Spicy, Okay, do you and I assume are
you with everybody else Ohio State's the best team you've
seen so far? Most complete team? Or are you leaning Oregon?
Speaker 4 (05:59):
I'm so tired of this because I have to tell
the truth in Ohio State is way too good, and
I think the Big Ten is really screwed up, right,
and it may be too late, but maybe maybe Illinois
can do something about this. Right, So, their offense, in
their young quarterback, they had to grow. They weren't what
they needed to be the day one, like Ohio State
usually is, right, and it just they've just been escaping
(06:22):
and they've been able to grow organically, right. There's been
no real pressure for them to live outside themselves and
have to really make plays and maybe win some downs
and win some drives and quarters, and they've just been
able to kind of float on by in obscurity while
the defense just dominates everyone. And so you hope if
you're a fan of everybody else, in the Big Ten.
(06:44):
You want Illinois to give him a chance to see
if they can make sure this quarterback has to make plays.
Julian saying is a really talented guy, but he's still
very young, and none of that has been able to
be exposed.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, so the young aspect is interesting because in theory,
and again, you've played way more football than I have.
I didn't play high school or anything. Actually watching football
and analyzing it. To me, it's like, Okay, we don't
trust Julian to beat us deep. Let's play crustman. Let's
get everything at the line of scrimmage. You make them
beat us deep. The problem is they got Jerebiah Smith
out there, who's pretty decent, and he's the ultimate weapon.
(07:19):
You can't really stack the box, and no cornerback can
hang with him on an island. I don't does Illinois
have any chance here? The line is fourteen and a half.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Well, so I'm just telling you the only chance they're
going to have is their quarterback. Luke Olmeyer is a
grown up, right, He's an older quarterback. We've seen the
trend in college football. When you have an older quarterback,
you got a real chance. And if he can find
a way to create plays offensively against that nasty defense man.
Those two linebackers sunny styles and r Veil Reese and
then Caleb.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Downs behind them. I mean, it's just not fair. It's
just not fair.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
However, this is the type of quarterback that can help
write the ability to move on the run and make
plays down the field. And if they can find a
way to sustain drives and put points on the board,
it will force the Ohio State office to prove, hey,
have you grown to where you need to be to
be the national champion here early in the season or
in the middle of the season. So if there is
a team that can do it, I think it is Illinois.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
USC one in there and everybody was like, oh USC is,
what's five, six, seven point favorites? And Illinois just went
up and down the field on them. Now, you know,
USC doesn't play defense like Ohio State, but I think
we would both agree Ohio State is for now the
clear best team in the country. But it's all a
lot of football left to be played. Let me ask
you about this Michigan USC game out here. Sharon Moore,
the coach of Michigan, saying, oh, yeah, here it's a
(08:32):
sellout because Michigan fans are going to fill up the stadium.
And I don't think the USC fans or coach Lincoln Riley,
he seemed a little peeved about it. Sometimes you don't
want to poke a bear. I don't. This isn't a
great Michigan team. But interestingly, Devin, everybody's picking Michigan here,
I think, Iileen Trojans, where are you on this one?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Well?
Speaker 3 (08:52):
I don't like it. I don't like the giving Baltimore material.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
That's like, that's like day one, Like, don't just get
don't give him extra stuff, right, you're flying for country,
You've got a freshman quarterback. You're gonna be a little
sleepy right times on tam all these different things. Maybe
don't give him a little extra ammo. All right, Oh forget.
They're upset as well, right, they think that they're a
lot better than people are saying they are.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
I don't.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
I don't think that's smart at all. However, this is
gonna be a huge test for Michigan. This is gonna
be the best offensive test since Ou. And we saw
what happened in the Ou game when the offense and
defense just could not get on one accord and they
had a quarterback that's dynamic, and Jade Mayava is a
guy who is dynamic.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Man.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Just watching him play, it's been really fun because it's
kind of like he has some of what Caleb Williams
had as far as the off schedule plays, the arm angles,
the ability to just create and be a point guard
and be amazing. But he also plays on schedule right,
and that really lends into what Lincoln Riley wants. He's
kind of griped over the years of like, man, I
love the playmaking, I love that high control of you
all that, but I would love for you to run
(09:53):
what I'm calling right and playing on schedule when he
does that, and they've got some dominant weapons. So for
the for the Michigan Rings, they haven't really been tested
because that front seven gets home so fast.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So those young corners have been able to kind of
grow up. Well, you have the opportunity to see have.
Speaker 4 (10:08):
They grown up and have you taken the necessary steps.
For Bryce Underwood, because he struggled reading defenses early and
he continues to do that. They're trying to work around
it and find ways for him to be successful.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
And they've done a nice job.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
However, this is a different animal, right when you're facing
another offense that's explosive, kind of like oh us is.
You've got to make plays. You can't just rely on
your defense in twenty twenty five to always stop them
every single time.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Everybody seems to love Underwood, and that's fine. I get it.
You know, big time prospect. He's had a good freshman year.
But my office been so I did not realize he.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
Was just good to me.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
He wears the same number as Sam Donald and kind
of moves and throws like him. I just can't disassociate Donald. Obviously,
Donald was great at USC, but this kid six four,
two thirty. I think he's a pro man.
Speaker 4 (10:54):
And I love watching his other stuff, it's off the
field stuff, because you can see clearly what type of
guy he is. He's a worker, right, He's a guy
that loves his teammates. His teammates love him. And when
you have a guy at the at the Helm who
was very well liked and loved even with talent, right,
he's already got talent, And then you got a play
call like Lincoln Riley, you don't want to rile that
group up, right, And they're a little upset because they
(11:15):
feel like they let one get away against Illinois. And
I'm just telling you, this is going to be a really,
really good game, and you're gonna get a lot of
questions answered on both sides, for USC and for Michigan,
because contrary to popular belief, I don't believe Michigan is
gonna be able to go in there and just bully
them and run the ball down their throats. I think
they're going to stand strong in their own house, and
it's going to be on Bryce Underwood and and that
(11:36):
offensive weapons that he may or may not have to
make some place.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Yeah. Again, it's a monster weekend in the Big Ten.
And and this Indiana Oregon matchups kind of getting lost
in the shuffle.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
It's sneaky, good man.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
I don't I don't know what to make of Indiana
to me. Yeah, okay, they smashed Illinois by a billion,
all right, wonderful.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
Help you out there. Illinois was basically their entire back in.
So that's something nobody's talking about. Where you're missing your
entire back in. It's gotta be I mean, you're playing
with all backups. It's gonna be tough to stop teams
and not taking anything away from Indiana.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
I think they are serious. I think they're for real.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
However, like we talked about with Michigan and USC, we're
gonna they're gonna answer some of those questions coming up here.
But I think that the quarterback matchup is good. Dante
Moore just telling you, I've watched him since he was
like nine years old, and his ability as a passer,
as a as a as a ball player. Right, he's
not a runner, but somehow when he needs to run,
(12:34):
he's a runner.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Right. It's been really impressive to watch his growth.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
And he is a special case in this age of
college football where he's very self aware and he's been
like that since he was young. Right, very self aware.
You go to UCLA doesn't work out? Well, what if
most quarterbacks were five stars making a lot of me?
What do they do? They go somewhere to play? Right, Well,
when you're self aware, you say, maybe I'm not good enough.
Maybe some of it was me, even though I didn't
(12:57):
have the talent around me. It's some of it wasn't
me as well, and I need to grow. So he
decides to go to Oregon and essentially knowing that he's
going to be the backup. How many five star, million
dollar quarterbacks are gonna do that? It just doesn't exist.
And you know that, I know that everybody knows that.
But to have the self awareness to go there, sit,
watch learn, really develop, and then you get the opportunity
(13:19):
to slide right in with a lot of talent around you.
One of the greatest moves in college football. Right, Yeah,
And I'm.
Speaker 3 (13:24):
Really looking forward to see if that trend follows.
Speaker 4 (13:27):
Right, Maybe guys that go to the wrong place, don't,
don't just go somewhere just so you can start. I
have some self awareness and understand that maybe it is you.
Maybe you do need to look in the mirror and
you need to improve. And he's done that and it's
been really cool to watch.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
So let me ask you. You said you've been seeing more
since he was nine, How did how did that happen?
And what did you see?
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Well, we'll vote from Detroit and he he worked out
the same gym that I worked out at and got
a chance to work with him some. So it's been
really cool to see the maturation, right because you know,
everybody's looking at him now and they're seen this amazing
talented quarterback who can run and make plays, who's so unphased. Right,
It's so funny. I was watching that Penn State game,
(14:08):
and I remember during the training I would have them
watched some of my old games, right, just to see coverage, right,
because this is the love you want to play at
you're ten, nine, eleven years old. It's never too early, right,
you get it in your in your osmosis.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Right.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
And so we've watched that Penn State game where in
twenty thirteen we win four overtimes over and over and
over again, right, and it's it's like my best worst
game of my life, where in the first half I
turn them all over two or three times, and somehow
in the second half I come back and rush for
one hundred and twenty five yards the most ever, and
throw for two hundred something yards, you know what I mean.
So it's kind of like teaching now, learning coverage and
(14:43):
learning the atmosphere you might have to plan, but learning
that there will be ups and downs and you have
to be able to respond from that.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
So showing him that all.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
Those years and then to see him go out there
and look completely unfazed by the most electrifying experience in
all college football. In my opinion, that wide out is crazy. Yeah,
Michigan couldn't snap the ball one year on the first
player of the game. Yeah, right, Like that is insane.
And it looked like he was just in Detroit playing
(15:11):
at Northwestern High School with the Detroit Spartons. It was
really impressive to watch. And that's not an anomaly. That's
just who he is.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
All right. So now I got to ask. I'm a
Jets fan in the NFL. I was born in New York.
Don't laugh.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
That's unfortunate.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Tell me about it. Horrible ownership. That being said, Devin,
if they get the number one pick as of now,
and there's a lot, I mean, we gotta go through
the whole process so much Moore's if he comes out,
I think he's definitely got to be in the mix.
I like Simpson at Alabama a lot, but more that
Penn State game impressed me. That being said, Penn State
did lose to UCLA. So how to how good a
(15:43):
pen takes? Right? Knowing what you know about more? By
the way, do you text him and stuff? Are you
guys that close?
Speaker 3 (15:49):
Of course?
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Oh? Wow? Okay, do you get the impression he's the
kind of guy that would come out if they win
the national championship, or he wins the Heisman, or they
lose in the national championship. Do you he is only
twenty he'll be twenty one in May, So he's on
the young side.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Like I told you, he's a very self aware kid, right,
And so it'll be all about if he feels and
if his team feels that he's ready, because if he's not,
he's not gonna come out, whether he wins the Hids
or not.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
Right.
Speaker 4 (16:13):
And so that's that's why the decision from UCLA to
Oregon is so important to remember because just because you
win the Heisan, that doesn't mean that you're good enough
and ready to be at that level, if that makes sense, right.
So I think it'll be a deep dive on whether
he because he's making good money, right, he's living the dream.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
I mean, you don't have to tell me, but ballpark
is he making two million or five seven?
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
I still have the financials.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
I have no idea, but you know, at his level,
we know at Oregon they're sparing no expense. You would
think it would be three to four men, you know
what I mean, Like you can estimate on what he's
making and so you know, there is no real rush,
right that nil has really changed the game.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
There's no real rush.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
So the self aware kid is going to stay in
college and Oregon's gonna always have weapons. They're gonna have
a good football team. It's not like he's gonna come
back and there's gonna be oh, where is everybody. I
don't have anybody. He's gonna have a really good team.
They may go back to back if they were to
win the national championship. And so it would literally be
solely based on his development and how far along he
is and his maturity. And I think that if he's ready,
(17:13):
he will definitely certainly go oh.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Wow, okayo. I was getting a little negative there.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
You know.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
Listen, there was a Peyton Manning allegedly way back was like,
I don't want to come out, I don't want to play
with the Jets, allegedly stayed in school, did not win
the Natty. We end up a keisha On Johnson and
he didn't win us anything. Anyways.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
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Speaker 2 (17:40):
Tell me about Mendoza. I gotta be honest, I haven't
seen that much of him. The little I've seen, like,
he looks fine again.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Mine, that's a really good word. That's a really good word. Fine.
I don't and in some households that's a bad word.
We don't want to be fine.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
However, I have been impressed with Mendoza in his ability
to adjust to something totally different than since I had
him early in the season against Kennisall State, right, and
so watching the film leading up to that game is
just like he has no idea what he's doing. His
feet are wrong, he has no idea where to go
(18:13):
with the football. It was it was so alarming. And
then I go into the meetings and I talked to
Signetti and he's sitting there, laid back, you know, his
sole deal, and he's letting me know, like the same
thing we had with the guy last year. It's the
same thing they have the guys at all my other schools.
It's the same thing every single year. They can't figure
it out early, and then we figured out, and then
(18:35):
each kid has won the Player of the Year, and
it's just like Wow, you go back and look, he's
exactly right.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
It's always starts this way.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
And so I was like, Okay, I'll give you the
benefit of the doubt and I'll let him show me.
And he showed me he was It's kennisall state, however,
he was exceptional. And then he goes out and does
against Illinois, like I said, the caveat there, missing all
their defensive backs, but you still got to go out
there and throw the football to your guys, and he's
been able to do that. Like I said earlier, though,
(19:03):
this is gonna be a true test because he hasn't
seen a defense like he's gonna see. He hadn't seen
an offense on the other side that he has to see.
I don't think people appreciate enough how much the other
offense really affects how you play offense right, just because
that other offense isn't If that other offense isn't talented,
you can do things that you usually wouldn't do right.
Speaker 3 (19:23):
You can take chances.
Speaker 4 (19:24):
But when you have an explosive offense on the other
side and a quarterback, specifically in Dante Moore, you cannot
make a bunch of mistakes. But you also have to
risk some things to make some big plays, and so
that puts a different set of pressures on you, and
I really wonder how Mendoza will respond.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Yeah, we'll see. I need to see more if that's okay.
I know he was good at CAL. I got a
buddy who graduated from Cal was hyping him last year.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Well I didn't. I didn't love him. I thought I
thought find a Cale, I thought you. I didn't think numbers.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
I mean, everybody could put up numbers except for Arch Manning.
We'll get to Arch in the moment. I'm not bashing
him real quick an So basically I'm between as a
Jets fan. I love I love what I tad from Dante.
But I'm just telling you that Tys Simpson at Alabama
now he's the opposite and in the spectrum. He was
a big time recruit, but just stayed at Alabama. This
is I believe his fourth year. He's twenty two, gonna
(20:11):
be twenty three soon. Yeah, And that's also rare.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Right.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You don't see a lot of guys who are like, hey,
I'm just gonna be okay, be in the back up,
the backup. And then all of a sudden, he looked
so good against Georgia on the road. I was impressed.
I don't know how much you've seen of him, but
they do have a tall order at Missouri this weekend.
Where are you on Simpson?
Speaker 4 (20:30):
He was an illegal eleven guy and he was impressive
then and he remains impressive. It's really cool to see
a guy who you know, You go in, you compete hard,
you don't win the job, right, and you compete hard again,
you don't win the job, you know what I mean?
Like that's a demoralizing experience for a guy who's a
highly recruited guy who everybody wanted. You chose this school,
and you don't know. You're not there, you don't know
(20:52):
what happened and why he didn't win the job. However,
it sounds like to me he has a resolve. And
that's what I experienced when I was coaching at the
eleven and it's deal now, Like it's really cool to
see a kid stick it out because I always think,
even though I was I was before the transfer porter era,
I always thought I would be that guy that stuck
it out because I'm just too stubborn.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
No, I am good enough.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
I'm gonna play right, and that's why I ended up
playing receiver because I was like, hey, I can't watch
it anymore.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
I need I need to catch pastest. Then if that's
what it takes for me to get on the field.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
And so he's that kind of kid, that throwback guy
that's gonna fight through adversity, that Tom Brady style. I'm
fourth on the depth chart, but however, this is gonna
make me a better man and a better football player.
And he's putting it all on display.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Man.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I've been really impressed, and I don't think you can
go wrong with him or Dante Moore if they work.
Were both to come out me personally, I would take
Dante more just because I know what that brain is thinking.
I know what he's doing, and I understand that I
can trust him. Now Tysithon looks like he can be trusted. However,
I don't know him enough personally, just the week at
the end of eleven. I don't think it's enough to
see how a kid's brain completely works.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Yeah, so when it comes to the NFL, you know
you fall into that category. You're like six three and
a half, a big guy, big strapping dude, closer to
six simpce. It's closer to like a six two. I'm
sure at the combine him as you're like six one
and a half. There is such a stigma against quarterbabacks
who don't aren't in that you know, Mendoza, Tom Brady, Big,
(22:19):
justin Herbert. Everybody wants that guy, not everybody can have them.
Where do you fall because because More, I don't know,
he's listed at six to four. Usually they inflate that
stuff by half an injur of an inch. I don't know.
He's more. More is not as tall as you, but
he's he's kind of strapping.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
Yeah, he's like six two and a half, maybe pushing
six three, but lower body, big, strong lower body. And
I think it's overblown, like this is being tall. I
think it's it's well overblown because I remember the one
thing about being tall that helps is the receivers can
see the ball.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Come out right.
Speaker 4 (22:52):
And I learned that from playing quarter playing wide receiver
a little bit at Michigan where Dinard was a little
bit shorter and the offensive lineen are so tall, and
he would throw the football and it's just like it's
always surprised when it's from a smaller guy. However, as
far as playing the quarterback position. It's all about finding windows, right,
It's all about finding where your spaces are inside the pocket.
(23:12):
I'm six ft four six for three and a half
whatever you want to call me. Well, our lineman are
six six six seven six'. Five, LIKE i can't see
over these, guys, Right i'm trying to look between, them
just like the smaller.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
Guy AND i think it can be. Overblown, now if
a guy grows.
Speaker 4 (23:27):
Up and he's small and he's played well his entire,
career you have to trust that he's figured out how
AM i going to navigate at this? Size and sometimes
the taller guys, suck, Right so it's just Like i'm
time this guy because he's.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Tall, YEAH i Got.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Cosweiler there's a million of. Them, Yeah oh he's.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Tall let's give him a chance when it's some smaller
guy that's really making plays and can't help you in
the run game as.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Well, LASTLY i, LISTEN i kind of rote him off
after the ohiostate. Game obviously we could bring it back next. Year,
right he can't go into THE. Nfl but the arch manning,
STUFF i almost don't think he's really worthy of. Discussion,
uh there is. Chatter if you, KNOW i got buddies
on The texas message boards where, like, yeah let let
let's just sit him. Down he's not seeing the. Field
well what are you seeing on Arch? Banning you, know
(24:10):
somebody came on here and said he had a five
star last, name but he was a three star. Recruit,
well so that's kind of. Accurate, YEAH i.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Will, say but this is the. Thing it's it's completely, unfair,
RIGHT i, DON'T i.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Don't i'm not gonna.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
SAY i don't THINK i know for a fact he
didn't ask to be putting that upper eche, line, Right
he's just out there having. Fun and and it's IT'S
i don't know how self aware he, is but his
family's for sure, selfware, Right so they knew exactly what
they were. Doing they were putting him in a position
to not have to play right, away right because they
knew his, talent his skill. Level they were putting him
in a position to be with A starkesian eight offensive
(24:43):
genius that developed.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Well and SO i just feel like he's a. Kid
he WATCHES, tv he Has. INTERNET i think he started
to look at it a little bit too, right and see,
like Oh i'm really, like you, know as much as
he's famous and he has that last you, KNOW i
feel like he was able to be sheltered away a little.
Bit and then when it's like clearly his, job he's
(25:06):
the guy everybody's talking about, HIM i don't think HE
i don't think he could hide from it any. Longer
and he started to feel himself as, Well like some
of his interviews is.
Speaker 3 (25:16):
Like that's a little, different, right you're poking the, bear
like we talked, about like what are you doing? THERE
i don't.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
Know and then you get that stinker At Ohio. STATE
i mean from the very first. THROW i don't think
he'll remember. This the first throw The Ohio state, game
he had a. Touchdown he skipped it off the ground
with no, pressure And i'm just, LIKE, whoa that's, alarming,
Right and then obviously the game continued and it wasn't very.
Good BUT i don't think he asks for. It he
obviously has the last name that's going to allow him
(25:44):
grace and he's going to be able to. Improve he's,
big he's, strong he can do all these different. Things
and SO i think that you have to trust. This
sarky's is gonna figure it out by next, year if
not the end of this. Year but to this point the,
season he just hasn't played very. Well he doesn't see
the field Will BUT i don't think the answer is
sitting him, down because now you sit him, down how
do you get better than if you believe this is your?
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Guy now if you don't believe it.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
Is your, guy that's a whole different conversation. Entirely, HOWEVER
i think That sarkisian believes is his.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Guy he probably gets in his head if you do
that and it could go.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
You lose him. Completely, yeah it's.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Over, yeah all. Right Devin, Gardner michigan. Legend he's on
the call FOR Tcuk state On. Saturday, devin great. Stuff
thanks again for bringing the fire to straight.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Fire appreciate.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
You
Host
Jason McIntyre
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