Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bring on Nick Cosmidor with the athletic Nick. It's always
great to catch up with you. Dave Logan, Ryan Verards
to Shelby Harris, how are you, man?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm great. How are you guys doing?
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Great?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Man?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
So let's let's start with the Nuggets. I mean, what
a win last night. I mean, certainly a little improbable,
if you will. Is there some sustainable things that they
did though, that you feel they can recreate in the
rest of the series.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I think the most sustainable thing about this team is
just in a it's maybe hard to quantify and in
a really succinct way, but it's just this kind of
grit and championship mentality that that they have that you
can you can really kind of tangibly see in moments
like last night. You know you're watching it, and you
(00:44):
you just keep saying, man, like they it gets to
eleven or thirteen point deficit in the fourth quarter, and
and it's just so easy to kind of say, you know,
it's it's not it's not our night, it's it's too
too hot, tough of a hill to climb from that point,
and and they just never never give into that. They
never let go of the rope, and I just think
(01:06):
that is going to be part that gives them the
best chance in this series, right because Oklahoma City is fast,
they have depths, Sga is a phenomenal player, they're well coached.
But but I just think that that that is something
that has been a little bit discounted. When you have
a team that just really has that championship kind of
mindset and knowing what it takes, I think that's going
(01:27):
to be huge for them in this series.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Yeah, Nick, you've you've covered the Nuggets and the Broncos,
but I want to ask you about the about the
article in particular the third round draft choice out of Illinois,
Pat Bryant. For those that haven't had a chance to
read it, it's in the Athletic and certainly a good
good read.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
But but what what couple of things did.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
You find out about him that maybe that not not
too many people knew prior to that article.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting. He was coached at Illinois
last year by Justin Stepp, who was Courtland Sutton's wide
receivers coach at SMU for three years. They have a
really tight relationship, so much so that Justin named his
son Courtland when he was born seven years ago. That
that's how close that they were. So for him, you know,
he said that he sees a lot of similarities in
(02:15):
the intangibles between Pat and Courtland, just kind of guys
who by their very nature, you know, really have kind
of a humble way that they approached that position and
yet carry themselves with a lot of confidence. And you know,
a lot of the things with Pat Brian he gets
looked at. Was the speed right the forty four point
six to one after combine. That was part of the
(02:35):
reason why he had, you know, a fourth fifth round projection,
whatever it might have been. But as Justin said, every
time we had like a have to have it moment,
a clutch moment, like he's playing faster than everybody at
those times. And you see it in this game winning
touchdown against Rutgers where it's fourth and thirteen. He gets
over the middle, catches the ball in the middle of the
field with five defenders in the frame, and kind of
(02:58):
outruns everybody into the end zone. Those were the kind
of plays that he consistently made during a really special
year at Illinois a year ago. And and so I
think a lot of that the intangibles is what the
Broncos were able to kind of pull out from their
their kind of process into Pat Bryant figuring out what
he would be, and then just some of the specific
traits going to be more physical on the edge, I
(03:18):
think in this whether it's operating as a big slot
receiver or out in the perimeter, you know, kind of
a better blocker than they've than they've had that they've
needed to kind of add to that room. So those
are kind of just some of the things that they
saw in him that that gave them, you know, kind
of the confidence that is a third round pick, top
seventy five guy that he could make a pretty big
impact for this team, not only now, but but certainly
(03:40):
in the future.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Hey, Nick Shelby Harris here, just you know, I was reading,
actually I saw your articles the other day about Denver
Broncos on drafted rookies and who has the best shot
at the twenty twenty five roster. I guess my question is,
I'm not necessarily who has the best shot at the roster,
who has the best shot of actually getting some playing time?
Of all the guys that have come in, who have
that's the best shout of actually going out there on
(04:01):
Sundays and making the impact.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
That's a great question, is you know, like Shelby, So
it's always like this this roster mes right, you've been
in that position, You're you're coming in, You're you're counting
the numbers. And I think a guy like Xavior Trust
out of Georgia just based on where the Broncos are
built right now, interior offensive line, in my view is
an area where they could they could have upgrades. They
can they certainly is an area where they have opportunity
(04:26):
for somebody like him or Clay Webb, a former five
star recruit who had originally committed to Alabama, you know,
then ended up at Jacksonville State just because of Denver's
needs in the interior, right like Luke Luke Wattenberg had
a solid season at center, but but I think they
want to continue to push him and then they've been
really lucky with injuries. Ben Powers and Quinn Minors have
(04:47):
both been really healthy. But I think they want to
continue to really evaluate the depth that they have on
the interior of the offensive line. And that's why I
look at a couple of those guys you know that
they'd signed, you know, could have been drafted players right,
had those kind of grades that really probably have a
chance going in to to potentially make this team. And
in the event of any kind of injury, then could
(05:09):
could see could see the field this year.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
The Cosmoh, go ahead, So just we're real put.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
The one off what you just said, though obviously you're
saying they want to, you know, show up the inside
on line. So then who would be the man out?
Because obviously they have two paid guys right there and
Quid and Ben Powers, and they have Ottenburg at center
and you just mentioned two guys, and and from what
I've read, uh, you know zaber Trust has never played
center before. So who do you who would be the
(05:36):
man out?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Well, I don't I don't see. I don't see either
of them is like competing to get one of those
starting spots necessarily because look, I think Alex Warsyth continues
to sort of be your your backup center, right, you know,
he played that position a little bit last year. I
think he's still in that backup role. But if you're
looking at them, you know, beyond that, like a guy
like Nick Garddula, who they drafted, you know, in the
(06:00):
seventh round I just think Shelby they want to continue
to evaluate the depth that they have behind those starters
on the offensive line, just continuing to build that pipeline.
I think they like what they have in the starting
five and really throughout the board, right, left, tackle, the right,
all across the board. They have a chance to bring
back the exact same offensive line that they had a
(06:21):
year ago, and I think they want to do that.
I just think that, you know, you look at the
depth behind them and it's it's not even that these
guys will go win that spot. I just think that's
kind of the area where you say, all right, there's
other young players in the interior of the offensive line
from a reserve standpoint, that those guys can be challenged
as they continue to try to upgrade the overall roster.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Nick Cosmier from the Athletic at Nick cosmid on Twitter,
last couple before you man, always appreciate the time.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
I'll stay with the Broncos for a second.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
How do you feel like they did this offseason and
surrounding bo Nix with more talent?
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, I think obviously when you looked at it when
they went into free agency, the clear need and Sean
Payton said this over and over again, like helping bo
is helping helping the entire team, right, helping a defense
get off on third down more frequently. And you know,
guys like Drake Greenlaw and tell No Whofonga are proven
players at an elite championship type level. They've had those
(07:16):
kind of credentials, and those were areas where you clearly said, look,
Cody Barton Justin Surnad did a really nice job. They
filled in for Alex Singleton's injury last year. But I
think adding a guy like green Law was a significant
upgrade to that defense. Of course, he's got to stay healthy.
We've got to see him on the field. And then
Hufonga the same way. PJ. Lock, I think was did
a serviceable job. But they again, when you're trying to
(07:38):
chase teams like the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs,
you have to keep adding, you know, to every area
of your team upgrade where you have the chance, and
so I think that was huge. And then obviously you
have an Ingram being the kind of security blanket on
third down, especially if they can stay a little bit
more ahead of schedule in terms of the run game.
This year, which that's going to remain to be seen.
(08:00):
How much does R. J. Harvey help that? Then I
think they're going to be in more manageable third down
situations where Evan Ingram will really have a chance to
create those mismatches and give bo Nicks another outlet on
third down. So I think on paper, they certainly have
you know, kind of fixed a couple of questionable areas
that will that will in turn help bo Nicks. But
(08:20):
he's got to take a big step too. I think
that's going to be really the ceiling of this team
hinges on how much of a step forward can he take.
I do think what they've done to help him will
certainly ease that, you know, kind of trying to combat
that sophomore slump as teams gain more film on him,
have more counters for him. But I think they've done
so far, you know, about what you could have expected
(08:43):
them to try to go out and do in terms
of helping him.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Just very quickly, Nick, what do you think do you
think the Nuggets can survive this series?
Speaker 5 (08:50):
What's the ceiling of this team right now?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
I just think they're playing. They have a feel to
me of one of those teams that just is kind
of playing with this this belief, this edge that they
just really are going to be a very tough out
every night. Like it's just one of those teams that
you look at and you say, you know, how are
you going to be able to beat them? Four times?
And Nakole Jokics, man, he had forty something points and
(09:14):
twenty two rebounds last night and didn't like, didn't even
look like he necessarily had his A plus game. This
is some shots he normally makes, this a couple of
free throws, but just still plays at such a high
level even when it's not like necessarily his A plus game.
And I think as they continue to build around that,
that they've just got this belief that I I'm it's
(09:35):
hard to bet against them at this point. I really
think they have a chance in this series.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
All I appreciate you, Nick, thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Man, all right, well thanks lot.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Thanks Ni Cosmidor from The Athletic
Bring on Nick Cosmidor with the athletic Nick. It's always
great to catch up with you. Dave Logan, Ryan Verards
to Shelby Harris, how are you, man?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm great. How are you guys doing?
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Great?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Man?
Speaker 1 (00:09):
So let's let's start with the Nuggets. I mean, what
a win last night. I mean, certainly a little improbable,
if you will. Is there some sustainable things that they
did though, that you feel they can recreate in the
rest of the series.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I think the most sustainable thing about this team is
just in a it's maybe hard to quantify and in
a really succinct way, but it's just this kind of
grit and championship mentality that that they have that you
can you can really kind of tangibly see in moments
like last night. You know you're watching it, and you
(00:44):
you just keep saying, man, like they it gets to
eleven or thirteen point deficit in the fourth quarter, and
and it's just so easy to kind of say, you know,
it's it's not it's not our night, it's it's too
too hot, tough of a hill to climb from that point,
and and they just never never give into that. They
never let go of the rope, and I just think
(01:06):
that is going to be part that gives them the
best chance in this series, right because Oklahoma City is fast,
they have depths, Sga is a phenomenal player, they're well coached.
But but I just think that that that is something
that has been a little bit discounted. When you have
a team that just really has that championship kind of
mindset and knowing what it takes, I think that's going
(01:27):
to be huge for them in this series.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Yeah, Nick, you've you've covered the Nuggets and the Broncos,
but I want to ask you about the about the
article in particular the third round draft choice out of Illinois,
Pat Bryant. For those that haven't had a chance to
read it, it's in the Athletic and certainly a good
good read.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
But but what what couple of things did.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
You find out about him that maybe that not not
too many people knew prior to that article.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah, you know, it's interesting. He was coached at Illinois
last year by Justin Stepp, who was Courtland Sutton's wide
receivers coach at SMU for three years. They have a
really tight relationship, so much so that Justin named his
son Courtland when he was born seven years ago. That
that's how close that they were. So for him, you know,
he said that he sees a lot of similarities in
(02:15):
the intangibles between Pat and Courtland, just kind of guys
who by their very nature, you know, really have kind
of a humble way that they approached that position and
yet carry themselves with a lot of confidence. And you know,
a lot of the things with Pat Brian he gets
looked at. Was the speed right the forty four point
six to one after combine. That was part of the
(02:35):
reason why he had, you know, a fourth fifth round projection,
whatever it might have been. But as Justin said, every
time we had like a have to have it moment,
a clutch moment, like he's playing faster than everybody at
those times. And you see it in this game winning
touchdown against Rutgers where it's fourth and thirteen. He gets
over the middle, catches the ball in the middle of the
field with five defenders in the frame, and kind of
(02:58):
outruns everybody into the end zone. Those were the kind
of plays that he consistently made during a really special
year at Illinois a year ago. And and so I
think a lot of that the intangibles is what the
Broncos were able to kind of pull out from their
their kind of process into Pat Bryant figuring out what
he would be, and then just some of the specific
traits going to be more physical on the edge, I
(03:18):
think in this whether it's operating as a big slot
receiver or out in the perimeter, you know, kind of
a better blocker than they've than they've had that they've
needed to kind of add to that room. So those
are kind of just some of the things that they
saw in him that that gave them, you know, kind
of the confidence that is a third round pick, top
seventy five guy that he could make a pretty big
impact for this team, not only now, but but certainly
(03:40):
in the future.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Hey, Nick Shelby Harris here, just you know, I was reading,
actually I saw your articles the other day about Denver
Broncos on drafted rookies and who has the best shot
at the twenty twenty five roster. I guess my question is,
I'm not necessarily who has the best shot at the roster,
who has the best shot of actually getting some playing time?
Of all the guys that have come in, who have
that's the best shout of actually going out there on
(04:01):
Sundays and making the impact.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
That's a great question, is you know, like Shelby, So
it's always like this this roster mes right, you've been
in that position, You're you're coming in, You're you're counting
the numbers. And I think a guy like Xavior Trust
out of Georgia just based on where the Broncos are
built right now, interior offensive line, in my view is
an area where they could they could have upgrades. They
can they certainly is an area where they have opportunity
(04:26):
for somebody like him or Clay Webb, a former five
star recruit who had originally committed to Alabama, you know,
then ended up at Jacksonville State just because of Denver's
needs in the interior, right like Luke Luke Wattenberg had
a solid season at center, but but I think they
want to continue to push him and then they've been
really lucky with injuries. Ben Powers and Quinn Minors have
(04:47):
both been really healthy. But I think they want to
continue to really evaluate the depth that they have on
the interior of the offensive line. And that's why I
look at a couple of those guys you know that
they'd signed, you know, could have been drafted players right,
had those kind of grades that really probably have a
chance going in to to potentially make this team. And
in the event of any kind of injury, then could
(05:09):
could see could see the field this year.
Speaker 5 (05:11):
The Cosmoh, go ahead, So just we're real put.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
The one off what you just said, though obviously you're
saying they want to, you know, show up the inside
on line. So then who would be the man out?
Because obviously they have two paid guys right there and
Quid and Ben Powers, and they have Ottenburg at center
and you just mentioned two guys, and and from what
I've read, uh, you know zaber Trust has never played
center before. So who do you who would be the
(05:36):
man out?
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Well, I don't I don't see. I don't see either
of them is like competing to get one of those
starting spots necessarily because look, I think Alex Warsyth continues
to sort of be your your backup center, right, you know,
he played that position a little bit last year. I
think he's still in that backup role. But if you're
looking at them, you know, beyond that, like a guy
like Nick Garddula, who they drafted, you know, in the
(06:00):
seventh round I just think Shelby they want to continue
to evaluate the depth that they have behind those starters
on the offensive line, just continuing to build that pipeline.
I think they like what they have in the starting
five and really throughout the board, right, left, tackle, the right,
all across the board. They have a chance to bring
back the exact same offensive line that they had a
(06:21):
year ago, and I think they want to do that.
I just think that, you know, you look at the
depth behind them and it's it's not even that these
guys will go win that spot. I just think that's
kind of the area where you say, all right, there's
other young players in the interior of the offensive line
from a reserve standpoint, that those guys can be challenged
as they continue to try to upgrade the overall roster.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Nick Cosmier from the Athletic at Nick cosmid on Twitter,
last couple before you man, always appreciate the time.
Speaker 5 (06:46):
I'll stay with the Broncos for a second.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
How do you feel like they did this offseason and
surrounding bo Nix with more talent?
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, I think obviously when you looked at it when
they went into free agency, the clear need and Sean
Payton said this over and over again, like helping bo
is helping helping the entire team, right, helping a defense
get off on third down more frequently. And you know,
guys like Drake Greenlaw and tell No Whofonga are proven
players at an elite championship type level. They've had those
(07:16):
kind of credentials, and those were areas where you clearly said, look,
Cody Barton Justin Surnad did a really nice job. They
filled in for Alex Singleton's injury last year. But I
think adding a guy like green Law was a significant
upgrade to that defense. Of course, he's got to stay healthy.
We've got to see him on the field. And then
Hufonga the same way. PJ. Lock, I think was did
a serviceable job. But they again, when you're trying to
(07:38):
chase teams like the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs,
you have to keep adding, you know, to every area
of your team upgrade where you have the chance, and
so I think that was huge. And then obviously you
have an Ingram being the kind of security blanket on
third down, especially if they can stay a little bit
more ahead of schedule in terms of the run game.
This year, which that's going to remain to be seen.
(08:00):
How much does R. J. Harvey help that? Then I
think they're going to be in more manageable third down
situations where Evan Ingram will really have a chance to
create those mismatches and give bo Nicks another outlet on
third down. So I think on paper, they certainly have
you know, kind of fixed a couple of questionable areas
that will that will in turn help bo Nicks. But
(08:20):
he's got to take a big step too. I think
that's going to be really the ceiling of this team
hinges on how much of a step forward can he take.
I do think what they've done to help him will
certainly ease that, you know, kind of trying to combat
that sophomore slump as teams gain more film on him,
have more counters for him. But I think they've done
so far, you know, about what you could have expected
(08:43):
them to try to go out and do in terms
of helping him.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Just very quickly, Nick, what do you think do you
think the Nuggets can survive this series?
Speaker 5 (08:50):
What's the ceiling of this team right now?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
I just think they're playing. They have a feel to
me of one of those teams that just is kind
of playing with this this belief, this edge that they
just really are going to be a very tough out
every night. Like it's just one of those teams that
you look at and you say, you know, how are
you going to be able to beat them? Four times?
And Nakole Jokics, man, he had forty something points and
(09:14):
twenty two rebounds last night and didn't like, didn't even
look like he necessarily had his A plus game. This
is some shots he normally makes, this a couple of
free throws, but just still plays at such a high
level even when it's not like necessarily his A plus game.
And I think as they continue to build around that,
that they've just got this belief that I I'm it's
(09:35):
hard to bet against them at this point. I really
think they have a chance in this series.
Speaker 5 (09:39):
All I appreciate you, Nick, thanks so much.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
Man, all right, well thanks lot.
Speaker 5 (09:42):
Thanks Ni Cosmidor from The Athletic
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