Wayne and Matt dive into a 2025 NFL Draft preview with special guest Eric Edholm from NFL Network. Plus, a look back at Rory McIlroy’s memorable Masters win!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
For him to be at the top of the list
production wise, even after missing a chunk of his junior years,
is really darn impressive. Didn't even do a lot his
freshman year, so you know, he had two kind of
monster seasons from a production standpoint. Again, it may not
be one had that one superpower, may not be truly
special in any one way. But I think as far
(00:22):
as weaknesses goes, he may have the fewest questions among
the top four or five receivers. So if you told
me he was gonna end up being a late first
round pick and would not shock me at all. Maybe
twenties to forties overall, I think is where he's gonna go,
and slot could be possible outside part time, very very
quarterback friendly receiver, I would say.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
This is the Leravie Lapeye Podcast, a production of iHeartRadio
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Speaker 3 (01:08):
Hi, everybody, I'm Wayne Laravy and I'm Matt Lapey. On
this episode of the Lara Vila Pay Podcast. The NFL
Draft is upon us a little over a week and
we take this podcast just a well little more than
a week from the start of the NFL Draft, a
week from Thursday night in Green Bay. Our guest is
Eric at Home of NFL Network. Also a historic day
(01:29):
at the Masters on Sunday, Rory McElroy finally completed the
career Grand Slam, something there was more than a decade
in the making. Stay tuned, We've got good stuff coming
up on the Lara Vila Pay Podcast. Ready to give
fees the stiff arm. UW Credit Union can help because
(01:50):
since nineteen thirty one they've been committed to eliminating fees
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NCUA terms and conditions apply. You were listening to the
Larvie and the Pay podcast and we welcome into the podcast,
Eric at Home, Draft Analyst of the NFL Network. Eric's
(02:10):
been covering the NFL for more than a couple of decades,
first a Pro Football Weekly, where I became acquainted with him,
and then Sporting News and Yahoo Sports. Born and raised,
I didn't realize you were from Boston, Massachusetts. Eric here,
you don't have that deep New England accent anymore. You
did it to me, I'll break it out if.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
I have to.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
You know, I know it's not my natural voice, as
you'll come to figure out. Yeah, my folks are Midwest people.
I've settled here, so maybe that's where it comes from.
Uh for sure, gotcha.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
You know I've mentioned we cooked up Pro Football Weekly.
Mad You'll recall we used to do a program called
hob Archistra and I. We would anchor this thing each
week during the football season, sure called Pro Football Weekly
on the air, and it was syndicated all across the country.
And Eric was a major contributor, being on the Pro
Football Weekly staff at a segment we called the Way
(03:04):
We Hear It, And you know, you did a lot
of that, and what was interesting, Eric one time we
were at one point, this had to be back maybe
the late eighties, and the Packers radio network was being
run by WTMJ at the time, and they used Pro
Football Weekly on the air as part of the Packers
pregame show. Hostle This went on for like a season,
(03:26):
maybe two seasons, and then somebody, this is long before
social media and everything, somebody let the bosses at WTMJ
know that Hob and I are broadcasting the Bears and
we're on a Packers pre kape. What's going on.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Yeah, I'm sure I didn't go over too well.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
That didn't go over very well.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Oh my, hey, tell us about what you're doing now
and how you got to Pro NFL Network.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, yeah, No, A couple of years ago I got
offered the job to sort of be there one of
their draft analysts, and I've kind of split my time
up Wayne during the season. Yes, I do pay attention
to the college prospects and college football in general, but
I also do the power rankings for NFL dot Com,
and so it's kind.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Of a fifty to fifty split.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I guess I spend about half the year doing kind
of NFL stuff, if you will, and then the other half,
maybe you know, December through May, focused on drafts. So
it's good it kind of splits my year and half.
I have something to kind of look forward to at
the end of the season, and I enjoy kind of
dividing my time like that, and it's it's been a
fun few years.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
I'm just scrolling through your your latest mock draft from
I don't know if that was from a week.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
We could go a couple of weeks maybe, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Yeah, really general question though, how would you describe the
talent this year coming into the draft? There's always an
Avian flowed on matter. Yeah, or where would you place
this year's class?
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah, it's a really interesting class. I mean, I every
year has its own fingerprint, its own DNA, right, And
I think we, you know, try our best to kind
of look at it on a micro level, but you
have to look at it on a macro two and
kind of draw back a little bit. And I think
the biggest takeaway, big picture, there's some really strong positions.
I would say defensive line and I would include edge
(05:21):
rusher's A and interior guys in that discussion. Is really
strong running backs. This could be a terrific year for
the backfield, and we've seen obviously a little bit of
a resurgence in the run.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Game in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Tight end is an unusually strong group. I think there's
going to be four or five of these guys who
end up being, you know, in the discussion for the
top ten tight ends, if you will, at the league
at some point. It's just kind of a slower developing position.
But outside of those positions, and it's not to besmirch
the entire class or anything, there's just a lack of
blue chip talent, I think, And it's it's a little
(05:54):
wild to be saying that the year where we have
a true two way player in Travis Hunter, one of
them were on you usual draft prospects in recent memory.
Abdul Carter could end up being a you know, a
Micah Parsons level type of rusher. You know, we could
have a quarterback go number one in cam Ward. But
even with those things, I would say that this year's
(06:15):
top twelve fifteen picks or so maybe don't stack up
dollar for dollar the way they would against a typical year. Now,
there may be more depth in certain spots, and I
think Day two will be pretty productive, especially those positions
I mentioned, But big picture, it's not one of those
classes that's just teaming with blue chip type talent.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
I would say at the top.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
You know, when quarterbacks always are the lead story in
an NFL draft. You mentioned cam Ward is going to
be probably the number one pick from all educations. Tennessee
will take him number one. But the most polarizing figure
in this draft is Shadura Sanders, the quarterback out of
Colorado Dion Sun. Some people have him going number two
(07:03):
right away to what Cleveland, and others have him dropping
all the way maybe to Pittsburgh at twenty one or
so in the draft. Where do you see this prospect?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I would love to find out what people's neutral takes
would be on Sanders if his last name was Jones
or Thompson or or Williams or whatever. I mean, the
point being, obviously, I think there is a little bit
of bias, and in some cases a negative bias, because
he is Deon Sanderson. I don't look at it necessarily
that way. First of all, I mean, you know, you
(07:33):
have a championship DNA in your blood. That's probably a positive.
The funny thing is, though Sanders to me, doesn't have
Dad's DNA. When it comes to a rare generational athletic talent,
I think he's from a physical tool standpoint, pretty average.
I mean that's really you know, you look at his
(07:54):
arm strength, it's fine, it's doable. You look at his athleticism,
I would say it's okay. He can buy time. I
mean he can convert first downs and kind of an
opportunistic runner, but you know, he's not blessed with these
amazing gifts in a lot of ways. And yet when
you really watch his tape, accuracy, toughness, I think, smarts.
(08:14):
You know, he's kind of felt out the game a
little bit and and learned what he can and can't do.
I think he's a really good rhythm passer for the
most part. But how far will that take him? I mean,
that's really the big question is is there a high
ceiling on him? I don't think so. I wouldn't say,
you know, taking too many sacks, kind of recognizing blitzes
(08:37):
and things like that have been a little bit thorny
for him. I wish he threw with a little more anticipation,
even though he is a pretty accurate thrower for the
most part. But yeah, I mean I would say he
grades out like a second round pick if we're being
honest with ourselves. Now, that doesn't mean he can't be successful.
It just he lacks those kind of Caleb Williams, Drake May,
Jaden Daniels type of tools that typically go in that
(09:00):
top five range.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
I mean, I you know, I think there are about
four or five teams that make a lot of sense
for Shaud Ear and for me, going in the top
five just doesn't feel all that likely. Keep an eye
on the Sands style. I mean, now all of a sudden,
this Derek Carr stuff, maybe he's in play at number nine.
So you never know. With quarterbacks, they are always bumped
up the charts pretty high because of the positional value.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
It seems like Eric, depending on the platform or the
week that we're looking at it, Shador Sanders, Jackson Dark
there are some who seem to think that he could
be the number two quarterback. Yeah, where do you see
his ceiling? Is it a higher one than shaudor Sanders?
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I would say so.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Now that doesn't mean that that his floor isn't necessarily
lower or there isn't you know, plenty of work to
be done. I mean, obviously, I would say the last
three years is starting at USC kind of helped, you know,
reinvigorate the five star prospect that was, you know, once
considered one of the two were three best quarterbacks in
his high school class, you know, won the job at
(10:05):
USC transfer. But I would say it really wasn't until
probably his second year with Lane Kiffin at Old missed
that things really started to develop with him. But you know,
he's a smart kid. He won the academic heisman he
got I think he was getting three eights in the
in the classroom. He's a good athlete. He's a little
bit better built, thicker build than guy like Sanders, a
(10:27):
little taller, a little more built to withstand some some
damage over the long term. Athletically, maybe just a little
bit better, I would say, throws with nice touch and
can maybe have a little bit more juice in his arm.
But you know, there's there's still a lot of suspicion
with him in some circles where how much did Lane
(10:48):
Kiffin's brilliant offense kind of make this a one read
quarterback in a lot of ways, and how many of
those verse reads were open? There was a lot of it.
So when you're really drilling down the number of plays
that you can truly evaluate and say, okay, here's where
I see special, you know, even on seventy yard touchdown
passes may not be that often. So there's a little
(11:10):
bit of projection with him. I think he's had a
little bit of an injury history more in the past, but.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
It wouldn't totally stun.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Me if you if you saw a team pull the
trigger on Dark before Sanders, I could also see him
being the third quarterback. I think all three guys will
probably end up going somewhere in the top forty, So
you know, if not round one, then the first handful
of picks of round two. And I would even say
keep an eye on Jalen Milroe. You know, he's sort
of the wild card. He's been reportedly invited to Green
(11:39):
Bay for the draft, and that kind of tells you
that the NFL maybe a little higher on him than
some people like me are.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah, Melroe ran a great forty at his pro day.
I believe just at four or four or just under
for a forty yard dash quarterback. That's that as eye opening.
And oh yeah, something that got have noticed these quarterbacks.
To kind of wrap up this part of it, any
of these guys go in the top six if they
(12:07):
were in last year's draft in the time, that's a
great question.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, if you were to stack them up against you know, Williams, Daniels,
May and then kind of the second trio of Pennix,
McCarthy and Nix, I think we'd be debating them more
on the second trio, you know, in that group than
we would the first not to say that Cam Word
doesn't have an intriguing skill set. He's probably you know,
(12:33):
more athletically and more our talent wise blessed than the
other guys are. There's still some stuff that has to
be cleaned up in his game. But other than Ward,
I can't see anybody even really being in the discussion.
I would put them again more in that if they
were in last year's class. Let's say, if everybody was
(12:54):
loved together, they'd be more in that quarterback five six
seven debate than they would be try to push into
that top three.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
We went off of that position. A couple of minutes ago.
You mentioned Travis Hunter, who it sounds like he is
oud of it about being introduced as a two way player,
a dB and a wide receiver made for both of
you guys. How realistic is that? Could he do that
in the NFL? Or he's going to have to be
ninety eight percent one side of the ball and the other.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Yeah, boy, it's such a great debate.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
I mean, Dion has done a few interviews now where
he's saying, you know, like college is all about tempo
and all this stuff. The NFL, there's more breaks and things,
and there's more time between plays for rest, and you know,
like in theory, it should be easier in the NFL.
I don't know that I necessarily agree with that. I
understand is thinking. I understand the rationale, but you're also
(13:44):
going up against superior athletes and it just doesn't know,
feel like it's reasonable to ask a player to play
one hundred plus snaps per game. I mean, really, you know,
a short game, we're playing sixty snaps on each side
of the ball, plus another, you know something on special teams.
So boy, playing two thirds of an NFL game, you know,
(14:06):
or three quarters of an NFL game without break feels
like a lot to me. And what's fascinating to me
too is also the debate amongst evaluators over which position
should sort of be his primary one. Every team's going
to have a different plan. We'll play them at receiver,
then we'll use them at corner, and you know, if
third downs, red zone, blah blah blah, fourth quarter or whatever.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
The opposite is also true. Some teams say it's.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Harder to find that number one corner. Let's make him
that and then let's give him a package of plays
on offense, you know, fifteen eighteen, twenty plays, whatever it
may be. So everybody has a different view of it.
I will say that what I took away from the
pro day with Hunter running routes, catching passes but not
doing the dB drills, it was clear that, you know,
to me, it felt like he was saying, I'd love
(14:53):
to do both, but if I can only do one,
I want to make sure I catch passes. So take
that for what it's worth. That's my impression of it,
and I'll be curious to see what what the NFL thinks.
He's probably going to be the second pick to the
to the Browns, and I think their biggest need is
on offense. But you know, well, we'll see where he
ends up. It's gonna be a fascinating debate. He's also
(15:13):
one hundred and eighty five pounds. I mean that that
that matters.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
You know. That's kind of light on Wisconsin off fees,
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by ncu A. Speaking of over to our receivers, I've
noticed in the mock draft It's going to catch the
attention of every Packer fan, yeah, or Eddie Packer observer,
(15:40):
because you you project them as potentially breaking a trend
and drafting one in the first round, the kid out
of Texas, Matthew gold and tell us about him because
he runs really well, right, a sub four three forty.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
I realize what projecting a receiver in round one to
the Packers does for people around there. It either irritates
the really excites them, right because of the long drought.
But this is such an interesting year receiver. I don't
think it has the depth. We've been so blessed with
receiver greatness the last I would say ten years or
so in the draft, and maybe eight of those ten
(16:14):
years we had banner classes at the position, either in
terms of depth or high end talent or a mixture
of both. This year I'm not quite there. I mean,
we have a couple of first round prospects and then
a couple of borderline guys. I would say Ted McMillan
from Arizona. I know that, you know, Brian Gudokun was
out there for his workout. Other people were as well,
and then Matthew Golden from Texas and you know, Golden's
(16:37):
required a little bit of a you know, I think
people have come around on him in the sense that
he didn't start the years the longhorns number one receiver.
He didn't really you know, he was a deep threat
at Houston before he got there, but still didn't really
kind of solidify himself as a go to target. And
I would say until the second half of last season. Now,
(16:58):
that doesn't mean he can't be great. You run a
four two nine and you catch the ball with as
much consistency as he does, and I think you're starting
in a really good place. So not the biggest guy,
he would also probably buck some trends from a size standpoint.
I know Jayden Reid obviously wasn't exactly that either. But
you know, the closest thing if you're worried about Christian
(17:18):
Watson's health long term or his development, whatever you want
to say that this is probably the closest thing in
this draft to that. I understand. The lack of length
is going to have people say, well, he's not the
same player. He's not, but he can stretch the field.
He really doesn't play small. I think that's one of
the best things about him. And the other cool thing
(17:40):
is that I fail able to feel like he's a
hidden gem because Texas didn't really exploit that speed as
much as they probably could have quarterback issues, you know,
offensive design whatever, you know. When they did throw it
to him deep, he usually caught it and made a
big play, but they didn't do it very often. I
think an NFL team will, we'll try to use that
more often than Texas did.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Eric, Just to get back to what you were saying,
you know, on Travis Hutter. The thing about I would
worry about in playing two ways in the NFL is
the preparation during this Oh yeah, I mean you don't
have enough hours to prepare as a wide receiver and
as a cornerback. But you know, can you do a
little bit of both. Yeah, you could probably settle on
one position and then be a guy they bring in
(18:23):
on occasion on offense. The other factor the teams that
I'm hearing is that, well, if you're going to pick
him that high in the draft, you want him to
affect the game the ball in his hands, Where is
that going to happen more. It's going to happen more
on offense where you can actually throw him the ball
rather than relying on him to make an interception or
something like that. On defense. The other thing on these receivers,
(18:47):
Matthew Golden, Yes, the rare speed four two nine in
the forties. What he ran, he's a little bit undersize.
The Packers like their receivers a little taller. Golden's around
what five ten five eleven, right around five to eleven.
But Ted McMillan, Ted de Roa McMillan, the kid out
of Arizona, Goudokuns was the only general manager at his
(19:09):
private workout. This is a guy six y four in
an eighth. Not the speed that the Christian Watson brings
or that Matt Golden brings, but again, very productive and
tall receiver, and he has enough speed, I mean four
four eight that's not bad. But he's six' four two.
Nineteen that's AN Nfc north outdoors.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Receiver, yeah absolutely that from a body type, standpoint he
absolutely fits more of what The packers have sought under
this regime and even under prior ones for that. Matter but,
YEAH i mean we're talking about a guy who you,
know looks like a volleyball player out, there and so
the comparisons To Drake, London who's who's carved out a
nice little careers for at few years In, ATLANTA i
(19:53):
think are pretty. APT i think that's a pretty good
comp for him in terms of what you're. Expecting fifty
to fifty balls go up and get. It really has nice,
extension great body, control good along the. Sidelines you, know
you can go back and watch some pretty good tape
against him the prior season Against Travis hunter and got
(20:14):
the best of them a couple of. TIMES i was impressive.
STUFF i, mean he's at that. Size you don't need to.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Be a low four fours or high four three.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Guy if you, are if You're Calvin, johnson god bless,
you you're a. Unicorn but for his, SIZE i, Mean
Mike evans has made a career out of running four
fives and four six's and then pretty well for. Himself
so he absolutely fits what they're looking. For does he
get there to The packers? Pick that's the. Question when
does the first receiver go off the. Board some people
(20:43):
think it may not be until you know the twentieth
or so. Pick some people Think dallas at twelve could
be a team to. Watch so you, know we'll see
what THE nfl actually thinks of these wide receivers and
especially the top two guys in terms of where they
first go off the.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Board, MAN i wanted to ask you because you've seen.
Him mecca AT buka is a guy, That, YEAH i
don't know how you feel about, This, eric but he
kind of gets lost in the pantheon of all the
great Receivers Ohio state has had in the last four
or five. Years but he has the best. NUMBERS i,
MEAN i think he's the all time leading receiver In.
(21:19):
Columbus some people say he's a slot. GUY i don't.
Know what did you see when you saw him this past? Fall?
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Man you know what this? Was the wis contented Play
Ohio state this. Year they played him in twenty three
and he missed a good chunk at twenty three he
was banged. Up but for the college, level they've had
an embarrassment of riches at wide, receiver but A mecca Of.
BUGA i mean at the college, LEVEL i thought it
was just. Terrific what do you have eighty eighty one
catches last year better than a thousand. Yards it seems
(21:47):
like he can Do And i'll Get eric's thoughts on,
this and seems like he can do a little bit
of just about everything absolutely Be does he have all the?
MEASURABLES i guess that's for those guys to figure. Out
but you like. Him it sounds Like.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
Eric, YEAH i.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
DO i, think just a real rock solid wide. RECEIVER i,
MEAN i think he's destined to be somebody's terrific number.
TWO i don't know that he'll ever be a true
alpha in an. OFFENSE i, MEAN i don't know that
he has that you, know that rare burst or juice or.
ANYTHING i, mean his size is very, good very acceptable
BY nfl, standards but not somebody who is blowing by
(22:18):
people or making these sort of outrageous. Catches BUT i you,
know he's great in the red. Zone he's been very
effective in that part of the. Field seems extremely smart
and savvy in terms of his route running and setting defenders,
up and you can, see you, know it's fun to
watch a game. Against you, know by the fourth, quarter
it feels like he's got everybody figured out and he's
(22:40):
he's sort of got the game mapped. Out whether he
gets the ball or, not that depends on the. Quarterback
but you, know to think about all the great Receivers
O lave And Marvin harrison, junior and the list goes.
ON i, mean for him to be at the top
of the list production, wise even after missing a chunk
of his junior years is really darn. Impressive didn't even
do a lot his freshman, year so you, know he
(23:02):
had two kind of monster seasons from a production. Standpoint,
again it may not be one had that one, superpower
may not be truly special in any one, way BUT
i think as far as weaknesses, goes he may have
the fewest questions among the top four or five. Receivers
so if you told me he was gonna end up
being a late first round, pick it would not shock
(23:24):
me at. All maybe twenties to forties, OVERALL i think
is where he's going to, go and slot could be
possible outside part, time very very quarterback friendly.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
RECEIVER i would.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
Say it seems like too from the Way i've heard
it over the course of, time is that their position coach,
There Brian, hargline has really really carved out a heck
of a. REPUTATION i, mean they have this there's a
lot of skill that goes into that building down, there
but they develop them really well at least that's WHAT i. Hear,
eric do you hear About, yeah same.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Thing Absolutely hardline's got a terrific.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Reputation one of the few position COACHES i follow On,
TWITTER i racks or whatever call it these. Days but,
YEAH i mean he's you, know he was a guy
who made it on precision and hard, work AND i
mean he wasn't blessed when he was a player with
all that, Skill SO i mean he really kind of
mastered all the fine points of playing wide receiver inside,
out did whatever had or do to get on the.
Field AND i think he's imbuing that honest players now
(24:19):
and it's great to. SEE i think he'll probably be
a head coach on the college level at some.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Point we're running out of time With eric at. HOME
Nfl Network draft analyst tight ends a couple Of it's
supposed to be a great year for tight. Ends Tyler
warren could go in the first. Round Colston Loveland warren will.
Go Colston, loveland the tight end out Of, michigan probably
goes in the first. Round Mason, taylor son Of Jason,
taylor The hall Of fame defensive end of The, dolphins
(24:44):
is another prospect that could go as high as round,
two maybe brown. Three good year for tight, ends isn't.
IT i.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Agree you, know you had some breakout guys Like Elijah
royal From miami had a terrific season with Cam Ward,
taylor as you, mentioned you KNOW nfl blood, Lines hall
Of fame, bloodlines you know is. Stepdad Zach thomas also
got some pretty good people in his. Circle but you
know we're talking about a kid who's not even twenty
one years. Old that's the beautiful. Thing another the age
(25:14):
factor also. Helps Harold fanning From Bowling green.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Is a guy who could go in the middle.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Rounds he's another sub twenty one year, old and the
analytics people love the age AND i think they love
the athleticism of this. Group warren is more of your
grong style physical tight, end but he can also. Run
that's you, know as good a template as we've seen
in a. While, LOVELAND i, think is a, smoother, quicker
(25:39):
better receiver. Overall maybe not in the blocking, department but
once he's got the shoulder rehab, done which should be
sometime around training, camp you know you're gonna see somebody
who all you got to do is Watch michigan. Quarterbacks last,
year and for him to catch as many passes as
he did and twice as many as anybody else on
the field or on the, TEAM i should say it
(26:00):
shows that even when he's the focus of, attention he can.
SEPARATE i Love Taylor Terrence ferguson From. OREGON i think
is a really undersold athlete to really undersold play a
very steady production in the last several. Years Rode gatson remember.
Him his dad was a receiver for The. DOLPHINS i
JUST i like there's enough blockers later in the. Draft
(26:21):
there's some good depth that at this position THAT i
don't think we've.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Seen we could end up.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Having you, know seventeen or twenty, drafted which is a
pretty good, crop and there's a wide variety of different play.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Styles, Well i've had a question you mentioned it looks
like the running back is starting to return to at
least probably it'll never be what it once was in
terms of, PROMINENCE i, guess but it looks like it's
trending that. Way you really Like Ashton. Genty it may
he may not be waiting very long to hear his name, called.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
It doesn't seem like.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
IT i you, know the first spot THAT i think
he could go off the board. REALISTICALLY i mean maybe
there's a trade up or. Something you don't see trade
ups for running backs in the top five or six,
picks But vegas at number six feels like the first
spot where he really could go off the board And
pete carroll run game makes. Sense some people Think genty
(27:15):
is like this Generation's Ladenian. Tomlinson Now i'm not quite.
There and IF i were grading him And Bjon, robinson
who came out and went number eight a couple of years,
AGO i honestly THINK i probably would have had a
slightly higher grade On. ROBINSON i just think he has
just a little bit more, size a little bit MORE
(27:37):
i shouldn't say receiving, ability because last year they didn't
throw him the ball as. Much genty was really good
catching the football in twenty twenty. Three it's just that
he had, a you, know a generational year of running
the football last. Season so terrific, contact, balanced great yards after,
contact kind of a little bowling ball out, there with outstanding,
(27:58):
vision lateral, quickness create activity as a, runner everything you.
Want because he have that pull away. Gear probably, not
but when does that really come into play for running?
BACKS i don't think very, often so you, know he
took on a lot as a pass blocker. Too that's
the one thing THAT i you, know he's still got
to clean some of it, up but they asked him
to do. It they kept him on the, field you,
(28:19):
know seventy snaps a, game and he did a pretty
target job of. It so somewhere in that that six
to twelve, RANGE i think is where he ends up
going off the.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Board offensive, line we've generally seen better prospects on the
interior than the outside of the offensive. Line the tackles
maybe not a strong class this. Year we haven't even talked, Defense,
eric AND i know you've got a head, out but really,
quick give us some nuggets on defense that you've seen of.
GUYS i mean to have Duel carter and some of
(28:49):
these other guys who be able to make an impression
and maybe go high in the first round of this.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Draft, YEAH i Mean, carter you, know at one point
he thought could be the number one. Pick you, know
maybe he ends up going third, now but still potentially
destructive defensive, talent some fascinating pass rush talents Like Jalen
walker From georgia's more of a linebacker build similar to
guys Like James pierce and a few. Others but you,
(29:14):
know you have some three four end types in this.
Class you have some true down hand in the dirt
four to three ends like The Ohio state. Guys you
have some in betweeners and that's. Okay you, know tweeners
aren't a bad. Dan it's not a, SLUR i, promise
but a lot of, versatility AND i think we're gonna
end up getting somewhere around twenty edge type players in
(29:38):
the first one hundred hundred and ten.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
Selections that's a.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
LOT i, mean that really is defensive line interior. Guys
maybe not quite as, stout but really it is a
very solid group. THERE i think linebacker and safety are
probably your weakest positions in this draft, defensively but. Corner
there are some really interesting talents. Safety we could see
a couple go off in the first round and maybe
(30:01):
a couple more early In day. Two so respectable at the,
top but just maybe lacking a little bit in depth.
OVERALL i would still say that even with the running
back talent and the wide receiver excuse, me the tight end,
talent my favorite position in this draft is probably And i'm, cheating,
maybe but lumping the edge rushers and d lineman together
(30:22):
because a lot of those guys can do multiple things
and kind of move up and down the line different.
Techniques that's probably my favorite position in this. Draft from
From Abdul carter all the way down To Sybyon, jones
my number one hundred player overall in my top one hundred,
list and even beyond, THAT i think there's.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Talent eric can't thank you, enough appreciate.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
It thanks for all, right enjoyed the. Draft Hope Green
bay is a great. House and hope you guys hope
it's a wide. RECEIVER i don't. KNOW i Hope Green
bay fans are.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Happy, Well, WAITE i did something On sunday THAT i rarely.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
DO i.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
Know you are a golf. Officionado you're you, know a
single digit. Handicap once you get back into the. Rhythm you,
know for, me a good day is when it's under one.
Hundred BUT i watched the final round of The, masters
AND i have to admit the theater was just. Outstanding you,
Know i'm bouncing back and forth watching The brewers. Dive
it backs a little, bit but it just the scenery
(31:20):
Of augusta and the sheer, drama and what was what
caught me was the. DIFFERENCE i thought it was going
to Be rory And bryson and it, wasn't As De
shamba faded and McElroy had the roller coaster final. Round
but that's about as good as it, gets no matter
if you're a And i'm a very casual fan of.
(31:40):
Golf but that's about as good as it, gets no
matter of the, sport isn't.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
It it is no question about, it just the you,
know the stakes that. Were you, know Here's rory. McElroy
he's won three the three other majors over a decade,
ago hasn't won a major in almost what ten eleven
years and this is his eleventh try At augusta to
get that final major in to become one of only
(32:06):
six players who have won in their careers each of
the major golf, tournaments The, MASTER'S Us, open The, open
or The British open as we In america call. It
they call it The open In, europe and then THE,
pga the least of the. Four but, anyway he had
won the three and The, masters he just couldn't quite
(32:27):
get over the. Hump and it was tremendous. Theater so
you Had rory McElroy and golf is. Suffering, Matt you're
not the only one not watching golf on a regular.
Basis you check into a golf, tournament, folks even if
you're a, golfer and on any given week you might
be able to get one or two names off the
leader board that you actually are familiar, with maybe one
(32:49):
or two the guys who drive the. NEEDLE i, Mean
Tiger woods is, gone, okay you, Know rory McElroy is
one of those. Guys Steven Yottie scheffler can win one
hundred tournaments and he's, never for whatever, reason going to
move the. Dial But rory. Can bryson De shambo is
(33:09):
one of those guys who. Can't and here they are
a top the leaderboard going Into sunday At. Augusta and
it was great, theater and and the other thing about
it WAS cbs was doing the. Tournament AND i THINK
cbs is probably the most solid golf coverage and has
been for many decades in. Television And jim nance is
(33:30):
and you AND I i think both admire him in
terms of our. BUSINESS i, think more than anything, else
the thing That nance does is and we've seen a
departure from this on television in recent. Years people want
it seems like producers want guys screaming on television the
(33:50):
way you would have to scream to describe something on,
radio and it just doesn't. Work nance is the epitome
of frame the, picture frame the picture we see, it
give us something around that picture to put a frame
on what we just. Saw and that's what he does
better than. Anyone golf is far and away his best
sport in my. Opinion he's a good play by play
(34:13):
announcer and other, sports basketball and, football but he's a
great eighteenth tower announcer the way he puts things into.
Perspective and how about the end of that tournament When
rory McElroy finally Won. MADDEN i think in some one
of our colleagues at the flagship station for The packers
ninety seven to three of the, Game Steve zabin apparently
(34:35):
timed the layout That nance had at the end of
that tournament When rory finally sunk the pot of the
seventy third hole and he made his exclamation and then
there was like seven minutes of just you saw, pictures
you heard the. Crowd you Saw rory on his. Knees
it was, Riveting it really.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
Was, yeah EVEN i posted a lot of times the
best announcing can be when we say, Nothing and obviously
that applies for television radio you lay out a little,
bit but it's a different. Platform for, television those saying
nothing can be the best. Thing AND i, thought AND
i agree with. YOU i Think Jim nantz was born
to cal. Golf he played it collegiately At, houston and
(35:17):
he just he's born to do. That and he can
tell the story of the, players and not that others,
can't because they can't if it's Like jerico ON nbc
and all those years prior TO, espn so on and so,
forth but their their camera. WORK i just thought the
production of it was so. Good you Never I've i've
(35:39):
never been To, augusta but those who, have they talk
about the, terrain and you, know television can only do
it so much. Justice BUT i think as the technology
continues to get better and, Better i'm sitting on my
couch and then you get a feel for how how
difficult the course, is how challenging that the course, is and, uh,
yeah the fact that That i've always thought in No
(35:59):
matter or the sport on television sometimes most of the,
time less is. MORE i always think Of Vin scully
In Great World series, moments you, Know Kirk, gibson the
walk off against The Oakland a's where he said nothing
after called up the whole run it's gone and just
they Track gibson circle on the. Bases AND i, thought
(36:21):
yesterday Or sunday With roy, McElroy it Didn't you didn't
even need to give the, caption you just lay out
for as long as they had timed. IT i just
thought it Was it was brilliant by saying, nothing.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Yeah, yeah no question about, it and you, know, yeah
the journey And rory's a likable. Guy i've never met.
HIM i don't know what he's like in real. LIFE
i assume he's what he appears to. Be he seems
like a really genuine. Person you could tell by the
way he handles interviews and things like. That he seemed
(36:58):
to be really, genuine you, know so people were really
pulling for. Him but then There's bryson To. Shambo and
if you're you, know of the younger, generation you're probably
Into bryce of The. SHAMBO i, mean here's this guy
who five years ago pumped himself up like a like
a nose tackle one technique or. Whatever somebody was asking
me about two technique earlier. Today what the hell is
(37:19):
a two? Technique i've heard of one technique as your nose,
tackle three techniques outside of the right shoulder of the,
guards and then you go from there two. Techniques who
the hell isn't you? Know come? On but, anyway he's
a one technique and he's hitting the ball over these,
lakes Not Bond's, lakes to the other side of the
fairway and cutting. Off but you, know so he was
this bigger than life character and then he went to
(37:40):
live golf and he slimmed down and he's you, know
these one, major's he's won two of. Them and so
he is a guy who can kind of move the.
Needle and, again AS i, mentioned nothing Against Scotty, scheffler
but for whatever, reason he's a, great great player in
the number one of the. World but he does not
move the needle the way these other guys, do the
Way Tiger woods did back in the go back of
(38:02):
the day To Jack. Nicholason but that masters was. Riveting
and the, thing you, know here's an interesting. Thing if
you're a golfer And i'm a bad, golfer you said Single,
NO i will never be a single digit player. Again
but the thing what can we take, Away, well the
internet is going to be showing you all these swing
(38:23):
doctors are gonna be. On, Well rory does, this and
you can do this again an extra fifty yards Of,
no you. Can't, okay first, off no you. Can't you
cannot duplicate his. Swing he's five to. Eight he was
made to hit the golf ball three hundred and seventy. Yards.
Okay god made him that. Way god didn't make you
or me that. Way, okay, Fine but what you can
take is something that happens to all of, us no
(38:46):
matter our skill, level on the golf, course and that is.
Poise and that is, toughness mental, toughness not physical. TOUGHNESS
i watched that whole, Tournament. Matt what amazed me about
that tournament was This rory comes in AND i, Thought
who's gonna win The?
Speaker 4 (39:00):
Masters?
Speaker 3 (39:01):
What because he's in? Form golf is a game of.
Form are you in? Form are you playing well going?
In and that doesn't mean you're gonna play, well but
it gives you a much better. Chance he had won,
twice he'd won the players his last time, OUT i
believe it. Was so now he goes To, augusta and
you know he's playing, well and he comes out On.
Thursday he's four under parr going to what FOURTEEN i
(39:23):
want to, say or sixty and he doubles two of
the last like four, holes and all of a, sudden
he's even par going in around, two and you're, figuring, oh,
man if that were, me or that were anyone, else
or ninety nine percent of the golfers pro or, otherwise
they'd be trashed. Mentally and he's been working with the golf,
Doctor Bob, rotella and he's written many books about Golf
(39:49):
Is not A game Of perfect being one of them
that was A New York times. Bestseller it'll probably be
again this. Week but he's been working with that. Guy
and so the next day he comes, out you sixty,
six and the following day he takes the lead the.
Tournament and now you're going into the final. Round he's
got a two shot, lead and you you, fit, well
this guy's it's gonna be a cake. Walk and he
comes OUT i think he doubled the first, hole he
(40:10):
loses the lead to one, Hole bryson To shamba takes,
it takes the lead with a birdie on hold number,
two and all of a sudden you look At rory
and you, say this is. Melting this guy's got to be.
Melting and then three holes later he's back in the.
Lead then he's got a four shot. Lead then he
loses all of, that and then Justin rose down the
stretch Past amen, corner he's got the lead and you're,
(40:30):
saying what In god's name is going? On and where Is?
Rory and here he gets back in, there he gets
the thing. Tied he's got a putt to win on
the seventy second. Hole this is all set. UP i,
mean if this Is, hollywood that putt is in the
heart of the cup and he misses the. Putt he
hit it too, soft it pulled a little bit to the.
(40:50):
Left now you got a, playoff you. Know i'm Sure
bryson De shamba say this is. GREAT i got a
shot to win The. Masters And, rory if You're, rory
you'll probably, say you MEAN i blew it and one
of oh my, god you, know and here he goes
out and what does he. Do he hits a three
hundred and seventy five yard drive on, eighteen he hits
(41:12):
whatever it, was nine, iron eight iron to within four
feet and makes the. PUTT i, mean just unbelievable mental
toughness that you don't see even on that. Level that is,
rare even on that level of.
Speaker 5 (41:27):
Golf NO i. HEARD i Heard Scott Van pelt on
another program describing that. Too if you look at that
that his Uh rory's card On, sunday if you just
looked at the, card it probably wouldn't, think, oh this
guy just won The, masters because he had some of
the best shots and some of the worst, shots maybe
of his, career all in one, route maybe the back
(41:48):
nine of the final. Round but that's that's what added
to the. Drama AND i think Two, wayne you talk
about guys who moved the. NEEDLE i think you know
casual viewers or those of maybe who are past casual
and are more in tune to to. Golf you have
you choose your good, guy and you choose your bad.
Guy you, Know bryce and the shamba is probably will
(42:09):
polarizing you some and there are others who love. THEM
i love watching him because he's going to explode on
the golf, ball, Right he's, Going he's going to hit
it nine. Miles but there's you, know you got some personalities.
There and you can say the same thing about. Tennis
you could say the same thing about teams in you,
know THE, nfl THE. Nba there are teams that you
just you want to see him. Loose AND i, think you,
know if golf hads this, again you know somebody that
(42:32):
you can knock. Off you, know some king of the
hill you can knock off the hill that goes a long.
Way no one questions the. Talent there's unbelievable, talent but those,
guys you, Know i've talked with more people the last few.
Days you have some who were rooting like crazy For
rory and others who just wanted to see a dumpster.
Fire and for a while it looked like they were
going to get. It but to your, Point i'm the
(42:54):
kind of guy who would yank a two foot putt
when there's five dollars in the, backs you. Know trying
to put myself in there with the you, know millions
watching and the, GALLERY i just can't.
Speaker 3 (43:05):
Relate, yeah and you, Know, matt it's amazing because at
every country. Club at every club there is somebody who
can go out and shoot sixty eight and just you,
know absolutely look. Flawless but the difference between them and
the guys who make THE pga tour are can you
(43:27):
go out and shoot sixty eight On? Thursday and what
do you come back with the next? Day are you
shooting seventy, eight are you shooting seventy, five or are
you shooting sixty? Six and that's what those guys. Do
and you know they have their ups and downs. Too
their swings are just our swings are like way out.
Here it's both five hundred feet. Difference there's a maybe
(43:49):
within twelve, inches but they have their ups and downs
and how they handle it is is. Huge the, PERSONALITIES i.
Think you, know we are looking for sports as. Entertainment
golf is no. Different we Had tiger And phil remember
about twenty years, ago.
Speaker 4 (44:04):
And that was great.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
Theater they tee it up at every major and you were,
Watching you were watching and hoping they both contend and
they'd both be going at, it and you, thought, well
they don't like each. Other and some people Like phil
and some people Like tiger and et, cetera et, cetera and,
so but you were there to. Watch we don't have
those rivalries right, now and maybe this was one of.
(44:25):
Them maybe this is what we're going to see going.
Forward but you, KNOW i just think. It it was great.
Theater it had everything you. Wanted i'm sure the rating
is going to be really, good But i'll be honest with,
you golf is hurting the ratings week to. Week you
tune on The volerro text is open and you'll get
(44:46):
a leader board and, say.
Speaker 4 (44:47):
Who are these?
Speaker 3 (44:48):
Guys do their parents even know who they? Are they
probably don't know where they, are you, know because that's
pro golf. Today and why is? That, well because you
have hundreds of guys any given a week can win
a pro golf. Tournament why because the talent is that
good and that. Deep but that doesn't make for riveting.
(45:09):
Viewership that doesn't that doesn't move the. Needle and so's
it was. INTERESTING i think a rare moment for. GOLF
A cbs handled it really, well AND i can only
imagine in the. Truck i'll bet you, THIS i would
if we Had jim nance. On you, KNOW i know
that if the Late Frank cherkinnian was running that. Show the,
(45:30):
producer the great golf. Producer he would have been the
first thing he would have yelled At Jim nantz was shut,
up just be. Quiet you. KNOW i bet you no
one had to do that Yesterday sunday At. AUGUSTA i
bet You jim nance handled that whole thing. Himself he
understands the moment and what's going on and the whole,
thing and just as does a brilliant, job as good
(45:51):
as it. Gets you're exactly right About Mike. Tarikole and
by the, way he was doing radio On The Master's
sunday and did a tremendous. Job his call was obviously
had to be a little more. Wordy you're talking about radio.
Here it's a different, medium as you. Said but those
are two of the best of the business at, golf
they really. Are and you, Know tarico's as good as
it gets at the eighteenth hole with anybody. Else Dan
(46:12):
hicks is another one AT Nbc. SPORTS i don't GET
nbc because all, right they haven't Replaced Johnny. Miller Johnny
miller was worth listening to why because he would say
something that was like he would say what you were, Thinking,
yeah there's not much of this PUTT i always say
that when somebody asked me a putt out of the
degree we're. Playing my buddy asked, me what do you
(46:35):
think of this? Putt, said, yeah Like johnny would, say
not much of this. Putt but Then johnny's not making the,
putt is? He But johnny was always you, know he'd
always rip, somebody so you're always looking for. That and
so they get rid of him and they point to
bring In. Paul he's. Here it does a nice, job
but apparently he's got some, issues and they get rid
of him and they hire a GUY i don't even know.
(46:55):
Who They kissner or something like. That he sounds exactly Like,
zinger exactly LIKE. Keivi And i'm sitting in, WELL nbc
has just lost and they are BUT cbs does a
great job with. Golf it always has and they are
the foremost network now and in that. Business but just
great stuff for. Golf, yeah it, was, no it.
Speaker 5 (47:17):
Was i'll it be interesting to watch now moving forward
to the other, majors you.
Speaker 4 (47:21):
Know will this have?
Speaker 5 (47:22):
Legs will people tune? In you, know they want to
see these guys have at it again On? Sunday but
that that's what this past weekend was it was Terrific.
Sunday that was as much AS i would have preferred
to be outside doing, Stuff i've got to watch, this
And i'm GLAD i did because it. Was it was
terrific theater and it was very very well ON.
Speaker 3 (47:43):
Cbs, yeah it really. Was you, know the last point on,
this the two personalities couldn't be. Different after the, TOURNAMENT i,
guess you. Know first, Off bryce and he leaves the
eighteenth green On. Saturday he's just sunk a big. Putt
he's now right, there he's like two shot off the,
lead and he's going. Up there's this kind of column
(48:03):
that they go to to the clubhouse to turn in
their scorecard and sign it off and, everything and just
people all. Around And i've been To, augustin so it's
a corridor of. People Here's bryce and the shamba and
he's waving high fives and and EVERY i mean touching
ba people and handing the ball to a kid and
all this Other you just love. It you're soaking. It
and he's riding high and and he's the man of
(48:26):
the people and all this other. Stuff and then there's
an interview With rory McElroy And amanda down The onus asked,
him you, know how will you approach tomorrow and, said,
Well i'm going to get into my own cocoon and everything.
Else and and a couple of minutes, later she's Interviewing
bryce To shamba And bryce's she, asked do you take
energy from the? Crowd? Oh absolutely. This they couldn't be
(48:47):
two more different. Personalities so after the round On, sunday
after the tournament's over and And bryson kind of imploded
and no question about, it had a tough, round but you,
know somebody asked, him, well how Was, RORY i, mean
how was it playing with?
Speaker 5 (49:02):
It?
Speaker 3 (49:02):
Oh he didn't say anything to, Me and it's kind of, like,
well you should have said. Something but it's kind of
like that made sense to me Because rory, Said i'm
just gonna get into my own little cocoon and stay.
There i'm going to block out all this other noise
that's going on around me and try to stay in the.
Moment and that's what he was doing out, there And
(49:24):
bryson's a totally different, personality didn't quite buy off on.
Speaker 5 (49:27):
That and that's why it, Works LIKE i personally couldn't
care less if those two talk to each. Other but
if it helps build, drama if it brings, us if
it puts us in front of the television set the next,
time you know their their neck and, Neck, yeah let's tune.
In look at the fact that their personalities are different
makes it appealing in personality and play, style all of.
(49:49):
That so, yeah if hopefully as we move forward this
spring and, summer they'll they'll be matched up, again AND
i hope so we'll take it down to the wire
BECAUSE i THINK i think people will tune.
Speaker 4 (50:01):
In.
Speaker 3 (50:01):
Now that'll do. It, yeah no question about. It that
takes care of this week for us on the podcast
special thanks To eric At home OF Nfl. Network our
engineer producer Is dave. McCann executive Producer Jeff. Tyler For,
matt this Is. Wayne thank you very much for listening
to the Lerovil pay.
Speaker 2 (50:18):
Podcast The Laravie La pay podcast is a production Of
iHeartRadio podcasts with HOSTS Wayn laravy And Matt, lapey with
production engineering By dave. McCann The Lerovie La pay podcast
is presented BY Uw Credit. Union here for every you listen.
To other episodes available on The iHeartRadio, App apple, podcasts
(50:40):
or wherever you listen to your favorite, podcasts
For him to be at the top of the list
production wise, even after missing a chunk of his junior years,
is really darn impressive. Didn't even do a lot his
freshman year, so you know, he had two kind of
monster seasons from a production standpoint. Again, it may not
be one had that one superpower, may not be truly
special in any one way. But I think as far
(00:22):
as weaknesses goes, he may have the fewest questions among
the top four or five receivers. So if you told
me he was gonna end up being a late first
round pick and would not shock me at all. Maybe
twenties to forties overall, I think is where he's gonna go,
and slot could be possible outside part time, very very
quarterback friendly receiver, I would say.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
This is the Leravie Lapeye Podcast, a production of iHeartRadio
Podcasts with host Swayn Lerevie, the voice of the Green
Bay Packers, and Matt Lapey, the voice of Wisconsin Badgers
football and men's basketball. The Laravila Pay podcast is presented
by youw Credit Union. Here for every U.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Hi, everybody, I'm Wayne Laravy and I'm Matt Lapey. On
this episode of the Lara Vila Pay Podcast. The NFL
Draft is upon us a little over a week and
we take this podcast just a well little more than
a week from the start of the NFL Draft, a
week from Thursday night in Green Bay. Our guest is
Eric at Home of NFL Network. Also a historic day
(01:29):
at the Masters on Sunday, Rory McElroy finally completed the
career Grand Slam, something there was more than a decade
in the making. Stay tuned, We've got good stuff coming
up on the Lara Vila Pay Podcast. Ready to give
fees the stiff arm. UW Credit Union can help because
(01:50):
since nineteen thirty one they've been committed to eliminating fees
for members joined today at UWCU dot org, ensured by
NCUA terms and conditions apply. You were listening to the
Larvie and the Pay podcast and we welcome into the podcast,
Eric at Home, Draft Analyst of the NFL Network. Eric's
(02:10):
been covering the NFL for more than a couple of decades,
first a Pro Football Weekly, where I became acquainted with him,
and then Sporting News and Yahoo Sports. Born and raised,
I didn't realize you were from Boston, Massachusetts. Eric here,
you don't have that deep New England accent anymore. You
did it to me, I'll break it out if.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
I have to.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
You know, I know it's not my natural voice, as
you'll come to figure out. Yeah, my folks are Midwest people.
I've settled here, so maybe that's where it comes from.
Uh for sure, gotcha.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
You know I've mentioned we cooked up Pro Football Weekly.
Mad You'll recall we used to do a program called
hob Archistra and I. We would anchor this thing each
week during the football season, sure called Pro Football Weekly
on the air, and it was syndicated all across the country.
And Eric was a major contributor, being on the Pro
Football Weekly staff at a segment we called the Way
(03:04):
We Hear It, And you know, you did a lot
of that, and what was interesting, Eric one time we
were at one point, this had to be back maybe
the late eighties, and the Packers radio network was being
run by WTMJ at the time, and they used Pro
Football Weekly on the air as part of the Packers
pregame show. Hostle This went on for like a season,
(03:26):
maybe two seasons, and then somebody, this is long before
social media and everything, somebody let the bosses at WTMJ
know that Hob and I are broadcasting the Bears and
we're on a Packers pre kape. What's going on.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Yeah, I'm sure I didn't go over too well.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
That didn't go over very well.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Oh my, hey, tell us about what you're doing now
and how you got to Pro NFL Network.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, yeah, No, A couple of years ago I got
offered the job to sort of be there one of
their draft analysts, and I've kind of split my time
up Wayne during the season. Yes, I do pay attention
to the college prospects and college football in general, but
I also do the power rankings for NFL dot Com,
and so it's kind.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Of a fifty to fifty split.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
I guess I spend about half the year doing kind
of NFL stuff, if you will, and then the other half,
maybe you know, December through May, focused on drafts. So
it's good it kind of splits my year and half.
I have something to kind of look forward to at
the end of the season, and I enjoy kind of
dividing my time like that, and it's it's been a
fun few years.
Speaker 5 (04:39):
I'm just scrolling through your your latest mock draft from
I don't know if that was from a week.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
We could go a couple of weeks maybe, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Yeah, really general question though, how would you describe the
talent this year coming into the draft? There's always an
Avian flowed on matter. Yeah, or where would you place
this year's class?
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah, it's a really interesting class. I mean, I every
year has its own fingerprint, its own DNA, right, And
I think we, you know, try our best to kind
of look at it on a micro level, but you
have to look at it on a macro two and
kind of draw back a little bit. And I think
the biggest takeaway, big picture, there's some really strong positions.
I would say defensive line and I would include edge
(05:21):
rusher's A and interior guys in that discussion. Is really
strong running backs. This could be a terrific year for
the backfield, and we've seen obviously a little bit of
a resurgence in the run.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
Game in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Tight end is an unusually strong group. I think there's
going to be four or five of these guys who
end up being, you know, in the discussion for the
top ten tight ends, if you will, at the league
at some point. It's just kind of a slower developing position.
But outside of those positions, and it's not to besmirch
the entire class or anything, there's just a lack of
blue chip talent, I think, And it's it's a little
(05:54):
wild to be saying that the year where we have
a true two way player in Travis Hunter, one of
them were on you usual draft prospects in recent memory.
Abdul Carter could end up being a you know, a
Micah Parsons level type of rusher. You know, we could
have a quarterback go number one in cam Ward. But
even with those things, I would say that this year's
(06:15):
top twelve fifteen picks or so maybe don't stack up
dollar for dollar the way they would against a typical year. Now,
there may be more depth in certain spots, and I
think Day two will be pretty productive, especially those positions
I mentioned, But big picture, it's not one of those
classes that's just teaming with blue chip type talent.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
I would say at the top.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
You know, when quarterbacks always are the lead story in
an NFL draft. You mentioned cam Ward is going to
be probably the number one pick from all educations. Tennessee
will take him number one. But the most polarizing figure
in this draft is Shadura Sanders, the quarterback out of
Colorado Dion Sun. Some people have him going number two
(07:03):
right away to what Cleveland, and others have him dropping
all the way maybe to Pittsburgh at twenty one or
so in the draft. Where do you see this prospect?
Speaker 1 (07:12):
I would love to find out what people's neutral takes
would be on Sanders if his last name was Jones
or Thompson or or Williams or whatever. I mean, the
point being, obviously, I think there is a little bit
of bias, and in some cases a negative bias, because
he is Deon Sanderson. I don't look at it necessarily
that way. First of all, I mean, you know, you
(07:33):
have a championship DNA in your blood. That's probably a positive.
The funny thing is, though Sanders to me, doesn't have
Dad's DNA. When it comes to a rare generational athletic talent,
I think he's from a physical tool standpoint, pretty average.
I mean that's really you know, you look at his
(07:54):
arm strength, it's fine, it's doable. You look at his athleticism,
I would say it's okay. He can buy time. I
mean he can convert first downs and kind of an
opportunistic runner, but you know, he's not blessed with these
amazing gifts in a lot of ways. And yet when
you really watch his tape, accuracy, toughness, I think, smarts.
(08:14):
You know, he's kind of felt out the game a
little bit and and learned what he can and can't do.
I think he's a really good rhythm passer for the
most part. But how far will that take him? I mean,
that's really the big question is is there a high
ceiling on him? I don't think so. I wouldn't say,
you know, taking too many sacks, kind of recognizing blitzes
(08:37):
and things like that have been a little bit thorny
for him. I wish he threw with a little more anticipation,
even though he is a pretty accurate thrower for the
most part. But yeah, I mean I would say he
grades out like a second round pick if we're being
honest with ourselves. Now, that doesn't mean he can't be successful.
It just he lacks those kind of Caleb Williams, Drake May,
Jaden Daniels type of tools that typically go in that
(09:00):
top five range.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
I mean, I you know, I think there are about
four or five teams that make a lot of sense
for Shaud Ear and for me, going in the top
five just doesn't feel all that likely. Keep an eye
on the Sands style. I mean, now all of a sudden,
this Derek Carr stuff, maybe he's in play at number nine.
So you never know. With quarterbacks, they are always bumped
up the charts pretty high because of the positional value.
Speaker 5 (09:25):
It seems like Eric, depending on the platform or the
week that we're looking at it, Shador Sanders, Jackson Dark
there are some who seem to think that he could
be the number two quarterback. Yeah, where do you see
his ceiling? Is it a higher one than shaudor Sanders?
Speaker 4 (09:42):
I would say so.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Now that doesn't mean that that his floor isn't necessarily
lower or there isn't you know, plenty of work to
be done. I mean, obviously, I would say the last
three years is starting at USC kind of helped, you know,
reinvigorate the five star prospect that was, you know, once
considered one of the two were three best quarterbacks in
his high school class, you know, won the job at
(10:05):
USC transfer. But I would say it really wasn't until
probably his second year with Lane Kiffin at Old missed
that things really started to develop with him. But you know,
he's a smart kid. He won the academic heisman he
got I think he was getting three eights in the
in the classroom. He's a good athlete. He's a little
bit better built, thicker build than guy like Sanders, a
(10:27):
little taller, a little more built to withstand some some
damage over the long term. Athletically, maybe just a little
bit better, I would say, throws with nice touch and
can maybe have a little bit more juice in his arm.
But you know, there's there's still a lot of suspicion
with him in some circles where how much did Lane
(10:48):
Kiffin's brilliant offense kind of make this a one read
quarterback in a lot of ways, and how many of
those verse reads were open? There was a lot of it.
So when you're really drilling down the number of plays
that you can truly evaluate and say, okay, here's where
I see special, you know, even on seventy yard touchdown
passes may not be that often. So there's a little
(11:10):
bit of projection with him. I think he's had a
little bit of an injury history more in the past, but.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
It wouldn't totally stun.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
Me if you if you saw a team pull the
trigger on Dark before Sanders, I could also see him
being the third quarterback. I think all three guys will
probably end up going somewhere in the top forty, So
you know, if not round one, then the first handful
of picks of round two. And I would even say
keep an eye on Jalen Milroe. You know, he's sort
of the wild card. He's been reportedly invited to Green
(11:39):
Bay for the draft, and that kind of tells you
that the NFL maybe a little higher on him than
some people like me are.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Yeah, Melroe ran a great forty at his pro day.
I believe just at four or four or just under
for a forty yard dash quarterback. That's that as eye opening.
And oh yeah, something that got have noticed these quarterbacks.
To kind of wrap up this part of it, any
of these guys go in the top six if they
(12:07):
were in last year's draft in the time, that's a
great question.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, if you were to stack them up against you know, Williams, Daniels,
May and then kind of the second trio of Pennix,
McCarthy and Nix, I think we'd be debating them more
on the second trio, you know, in that group than
we would the first not to say that Cam Word
doesn't have an intriguing skill set. He's probably you know,
(12:33):
more athletically and more our talent wise blessed than the
other guys are. There's still some stuff that has to
be cleaned up in his game. But other than Ward,
I can't see anybody even really being in the discussion.
I would put them again more in that if they
were in last year's class. Let's say, if everybody was
(12:54):
loved together, they'd be more in that quarterback five six
seven debate than they would be try to push into
that top three.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
We went off of that position. A couple of minutes ago.
You mentioned Travis Hunter, who it sounds like he is
oud of it about being introduced as a two way player,
a dB and a wide receiver made for both of
you guys. How realistic is that? Could he do that
in the NFL? Or he's going to have to be
ninety eight percent one side of the ball and the other.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Yeah, boy, it's such a great debate.
Speaker 1 (13:23):
I mean, Dion has done a few interviews now where
he's saying, you know, like college is all about tempo
and all this stuff. The NFL, there's more breaks and things,
and there's more time between plays for rest, and you know,
like in theory, it should be easier in the NFL.
I don't know that I necessarily agree with that. I
understand is thinking. I understand the rationale, but you're also
(13:44):
going up against superior athletes and it just doesn't know,
feel like it's reasonable to ask a player to play
one hundred plus snaps per game. I mean, really, you know,
a short game, we're playing sixty snaps on each side
of the ball, plus another, you know something on special teams.
So boy, playing two thirds of an NFL game, you know,
(14:06):
or three quarters of an NFL game without break feels
like a lot to me. And what's fascinating to me
too is also the debate amongst evaluators over which position
should sort of be his primary one. Every team's going
to have a different plan. We'll play them at receiver,
then we'll use them at corner, and you know, if
third downs, red zone, blah blah blah, fourth quarter or whatever.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
The opposite is also true. Some teams say it's.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Harder to find that number one corner. Let's make him
that and then let's give him a package of plays
on offense, you know, fifteen eighteen, twenty plays, whatever it
may be. So everybody has a different view of it.
I will say that what I took away from the
pro day with Hunter running routes, catching passes but not
doing the dB drills, it was clear that, you know,
to me, it felt like he was saying, I'd love
(14:53):
to do both, but if I can only do one,
I want to make sure I catch passes. So take
that for what it's worth. That's my impression of it,
and I'll be curious to see what what the NFL thinks.
He's probably going to be the second pick to the
to the Browns, and I think their biggest need is
on offense. But you know, well, we'll see where he
ends up. It's gonna be a fascinating debate. He's also
(15:13):
one hundred and eighty five pounds. I mean that that
that matters.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
You know. That's kind of light on Wisconsin off fees,
get feed, free, checking options and more at uw Credit Union,
Join at UWCU dot org. Terms and conditions apply ensured
by ncu A. Speaking of over to our receivers, I've
noticed in the mock draft It's going to catch the
attention of every Packer fan, yeah, or Eddie Packer observer,
(15:40):
because you you project them as potentially breaking a trend
and drafting one in the first round, the kid out
of Texas, Matthew gold and tell us about him because
he runs really well, right, a sub four three forty.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
I realize what projecting a receiver in round one to
the Packers does for people around there. It either irritates
the really excites them, right because of the long drought.
But this is such an interesting year receiver. I don't
think it has the depth. We've been so blessed with
receiver greatness the last I would say ten years or
so in the draft, and maybe eight of those ten
(16:14):
years we had banner classes at the position, either in
terms of depth or high end talent or a mixture
of both. This year I'm not quite there. I mean,
we have a couple of first round prospects and then
a couple of borderline guys. I would say Ted McMillan
from Arizona. I know that, you know, Brian Gudokun was
out there for his workout. Other people were as well,
and then Matthew Golden from Texas and you know, Golden's
(16:37):
required a little bit of a you know, I think
people have come around on him in the sense that
he didn't start the years the longhorns number one receiver.
He didn't really you know, he was a deep threat
at Houston before he got there, but still didn't really
kind of solidify himself as a go to target. And
I would say until the second half of last season. Now,
(16:58):
that doesn't mean he can't be great. You run a
four two nine and you catch the ball with as
much consistency as he does, and I think you're starting
in a really good place. So not the biggest guy,
he would also probably buck some trends from a size standpoint.
I know Jayden Reid obviously wasn't exactly that either. But
you know, the closest thing if you're worried about Christian
(17:18):
Watson's health long term or his development, whatever you want
to say that this is probably the closest thing in
this draft to that. I understand. The lack of length
is going to have people say, well, he's not the
same player. He's not, but he can stretch the field.
He really doesn't play small. I think that's one of
the best things about him. And the other cool thing
(17:40):
is that I fail able to feel like he's a
hidden gem because Texas didn't really exploit that speed as
much as they probably could have quarterback issues, you know,
offensive design whatever, you know. When they did throw it
to him deep, he usually caught it and made a
big play, but they didn't do it very often. I
think an NFL team will, we'll try to use that
more often than Texas did.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Eric, Just to get back to what you were saying,
you know, on Travis Hutter. The thing about I would
worry about in playing two ways in the NFL is
the preparation during this Oh yeah, I mean you don't
have enough hours to prepare as a wide receiver and
as a cornerback. But you know, can you do a
little bit of both. Yeah, you could probably settle on
one position and then be a guy they bring in
(18:23):
on occasion on offense. The other factor the teams that
I'm hearing is that, well, if you're going to pick
him that high in the draft, you want him to
affect the game the ball in his hands, Where is
that going to happen more. It's going to happen more
on offense where you can actually throw him the ball
rather than relying on him to make an interception or
something like that. On defense. The other thing on these receivers,
(18:47):
Matthew Golden, Yes, the rare speed four two nine in
the forties. What he ran, he's a little bit undersize.
The Packers like their receivers a little taller. Golden's around
what five ten five eleven, right around five to eleven.
But Ted McMillan, Ted de Roa McMillan, the kid out
of Arizona, Goudokuns was the only general manager at his
(19:09):
private workout. This is a guy six y four in
an eighth. Not the speed that the Christian Watson brings
or that Matt Golden brings, but again, very productive and
tall receiver, and he has enough speed, I mean four
four eight that's not bad. But he's six' four two.
Nineteen that's AN Nfc north outdoors.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
Receiver, yeah absolutely that from a body type, standpoint he
absolutely fits more of what The packers have sought under
this regime and even under prior ones for that. Matter but,
YEAH i mean we're talking about a guy who you,
know looks like a volleyball player out, there and so
the comparisons To Drake, London who's who's carved out a
nice little careers for at few years In, ATLANTA i
(19:53):
think are pretty. APT i think that's a pretty good
comp for him in terms of what you're. Expecting fifty
to fifty balls go up and get. It really has nice,
extension great body, control good along the. Sidelines you, know
you can go back and watch some pretty good tape
against him the prior season Against Travis hunter and got
(20:14):
the best of them a couple of. TIMES i was impressive.
STUFF i, mean he's at that. Size you don't need to.
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Be a low four fours or high four three.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Guy if you, are if You're Calvin, johnson god bless,
you you're a. Unicorn but for his, SIZE i, Mean
Mike evans has made a career out of running four
fives and four six's and then pretty well for. Himself
so he absolutely fits what they're looking. For does he
get there to The packers? Pick that's the. Question when
does the first receiver go off the. Board some people
(20:43):
think it may not be until you know the twentieth
or so. Pick some people Think dallas at twelve could
be a team to. Watch so you, know we'll see
what THE nfl actually thinks of these wide receivers and
especially the top two guys in terms of where they
first go off the.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Board, MAN i wanted to ask you because you've seen.
Him mecca AT buka is a guy, That, YEAH i
don't know how you feel about, This, eric but he
kind of gets lost in the pantheon of all the
great Receivers Ohio state has had in the last four
or five. Years but he has the best. NUMBERS i,
MEAN i think he's the all time leading receiver In.
(21:19):
Columbus some people say he's a slot. GUY i don't.
Know what did you see when you saw him this past? Fall?
Speaker 5 (21:26):
Man you know what this? Was the wis contented Play
Ohio state this. Year they played him in twenty three
and he missed a good chunk at twenty three he
was banged. Up but for the college, level they've had
an embarrassment of riches at wide, receiver but A mecca Of.
BUGA i mean at the college, LEVEL i thought it
was just. Terrific what do you have eighty eighty one
catches last year better than a thousand. Yards it seems
(21:47):
like he can Do And i'll Get eric's thoughts on,
this and seems like he can do a little bit
of just about everything absolutely Be does he have all the?
MEASURABLES i guess that's for those guys to figure. Out
but you like. Him it sounds Like.
Speaker 4 (21:57):
Eric, YEAH i.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
DO i, think just a real rock solid wide. RECEIVER i,
MEAN i think he's destined to be somebody's terrific number.
TWO i don't know that he'll ever be a true
alpha in an. OFFENSE i, MEAN i don't know that
he has that you, know that rare burst or juice or.
ANYTHING i, mean his size is very, good very acceptable
BY nfl, standards but not somebody who is blowing by
(22:18):
people or making these sort of outrageous. Catches BUT i you,
know he's great in the red. Zone he's been very
effective in that part of the. Field seems extremely smart
and savvy in terms of his route running and setting defenders,
up and you can, see you, know it's fun to
watch a game. Against you, know by the fourth, quarter
it feels like he's got everybody figured out and he's
(22:40):
he's sort of got the game mapped. Out whether he
gets the ball or, not that depends on the. Quarterback
but you, know to think about all the great Receivers
O lave And Marvin harrison, junior and the list goes.
ON i, mean for him to be at the top
of the list production, wise even after missing a chunk
of his junior years is really darn. Impressive didn't even
do a lot his freshman, year so you, know he
(23:02):
had two kind of monster seasons from a production. Standpoint,
again it may not be one had that one, superpower
may not be truly special in any one, way BUT
i think as far as weaknesses, goes he may have
the fewest questions among the top four or five. Receivers
so if you told me he was gonna end up
being a late first round, pick it would not shock
(23:24):
me at. All maybe twenties to forties, OVERALL i think
is where he's going to, go and slot could be
possible outside part, time very very quarterback friendly.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
RECEIVER i would.
Speaker 5 (23:35):
Say it seems like too from the Way i've heard
it over the course of, time is that their position coach,
There Brian, hargline has really really carved out a heck
of a. REPUTATION i, mean they have this there's a
lot of skill that goes into that building down, there
but they develop them really well at least that's WHAT i. Hear,
eric do you hear About, yeah same.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
Thing Absolutely hardline's got a terrific.
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Reputation one of the few position COACHES i follow On,
TWITTER i racks or whatever call it these. Days but,
YEAH i mean he's you, know he was a guy
who made it on precision and hard, work AND i
mean he wasn't blessed when he was a player with
all that, Skill SO i mean he really kind of
mastered all the fine points of playing wide receiver inside,
out did whatever had or do to get on the.
Field AND i think he's imbuing that honest players now
(24:19):
and it's great to. SEE i think he'll probably be
a head coach on the college level at some.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Point we're running out of time With eric at. HOME
Nfl Network draft analyst tight ends a couple Of it's
supposed to be a great year for tight. Ends Tyler
warren could go in the first. Round Colston Loveland warren will.
Go Colston, loveland the tight end out Of, michigan probably
goes in the first. Round Mason, taylor son Of Jason,
taylor The hall Of fame defensive end of The, dolphins
(24:44):
is another prospect that could go as high as round,
two maybe brown. Three good year for tight, ends isn't.
IT i.
Speaker 1 (24:51):
Agree you, know you had some breakout guys Like Elijah
royal From miami had a terrific season with Cam Ward,
taylor as you, mentioned you KNOW nfl blood, Lines hall
Of fame, bloodlines you know is. Stepdad Zach thomas also
got some pretty good people in his. Circle but you
know we're talking about a kid who's not even twenty
one years. Old that's the beautiful. Thing another the age
(25:14):
factor also. Helps Harold fanning From Bowling green.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Is a guy who could go in the middle.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Rounds he's another sub twenty one year, old and the
analytics people love the age AND i think they love
the athleticism of this. Group warren is more of your
grong style physical tight, end but he can also. Run
that's you, know as good a template as we've seen
in a. While, LOVELAND i, think is a, smoother, quicker
(25:39):
better receiver. Overall maybe not in the blocking, department but
once he's got the shoulder rehab, done which should be
sometime around training, camp you know you're gonna see somebody
who all you got to do is Watch michigan. Quarterbacks last,
year and for him to catch as many passes as
he did and twice as many as anybody else on
the field or on the, TEAM i should say it
(26:00):
shows that even when he's the focus of, attention he can.
SEPARATE i Love Taylor Terrence ferguson From. OREGON i think
is a really undersold athlete to really undersold play a
very steady production in the last several. Years Rode gatson remember.
Him his dad was a receiver for The. DOLPHINS i
JUST i like there's enough blockers later in the. Draft
(26:21):
there's some good depth that at this position THAT i
don't think we've.
Speaker 4 (26:24):
Seen we could end up.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Having you, know seventeen or twenty, drafted which is a
pretty good, crop and there's a wide variety of different play.
Speaker 5 (26:34):
Styles, Well i've had a question you mentioned it looks
like the running back is starting to return to at
least probably it'll never be what it once was in
terms of, PROMINENCE i, guess but it looks like it's
trending that. Way you really Like Ashton. Genty it may
he may not be waiting very long to hear his name, called.
Speaker 4 (26:52):
It doesn't seem like.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
IT i you, know the first spot THAT i think
he could go off the board. REALISTICALLY i mean maybe
there's a trade up or. Something you don't see trade
ups for running backs in the top five or six,
picks But vegas at number six feels like the first
spot where he really could go off the board And
pete carroll run game makes. Sense some people Think genty
(27:15):
is like this Generation's Ladenian. Tomlinson Now i'm not quite.
There and IF i were grading him And Bjon, robinson
who came out and went number eight a couple of years,
AGO i honestly THINK i probably would have had a
slightly higher grade On. ROBINSON i just think he has
just a little bit more, size a little bit MORE
(27:37):
i shouldn't say receiving, ability because last year they didn't
throw him the ball as. Much genty was really good
catching the football in twenty twenty. Three it's just that
he had, a you, know a generational year of running
the football last. Season so terrific, contact, balanced great yards after,
contact kind of a little bowling ball out, there with outstanding,
(27:58):
vision lateral, quickness create activity as a, runner everything you.
Want because he have that pull away. Gear probably, not
but when does that really come into play for running?
BACKS i don't think very, often so you, know he
took on a lot as a pass blocker. Too that's
the one thing THAT i you, know he's still got
to clean some of it, up but they asked him
to do. It they kept him on the, field you,
(28:19):
know seventy snaps a, game and he did a pretty
target job of. It so somewhere in that that six
to twelve, RANGE i think is where he ends up
going off the.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Board offensive, line we've generally seen better prospects on the
interior than the outside of the offensive. Line the tackles
maybe not a strong class this. Year we haven't even talked, Defense,
eric AND i know you've got a head, out but really,
quick give us some nuggets on defense that you've seen of.
GUYS i mean to have Duel carter and some of
(28:49):
these other guys who be able to make an impression
and maybe go high in the first round of this.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Draft, YEAH i Mean, carter you, know at one point
he thought could be the number one. Pick you, know
maybe he ends up going third, now but still potentially
destructive defensive, talent some fascinating pass rush talents Like Jalen
walker From georgia's more of a linebacker build similar to
guys Like James pierce and a few. Others but you,
(29:14):
know you have some three four end types in this.
Class you have some true down hand in the dirt
four to three ends like The Ohio state. Guys you
have some in betweeners and that's. Okay you, know tweeners
aren't a bad. Dan it's not a, SLUR i, promise
but a lot of, versatility AND i think we're gonna
end up getting somewhere around twenty edge type players in
(29:38):
the first one hundred hundred and ten.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
Selections that's a.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
LOT i, mean that really is defensive line interior. Guys
maybe not quite as, stout but really it is a
very solid group. THERE i think linebacker and safety are
probably your weakest positions in this draft, defensively but. Corner
there are some really interesting talents. Safety we could see
a couple go off in the first round and maybe
(30:01):
a couple more early In day. Two so respectable at the,
top but just maybe lacking a little bit in depth.
OVERALL i would still say that even with the running
back talent and the wide receiver excuse, me the tight end,
talent my favorite position in this draft is probably And i'm, cheating,
maybe but lumping the edge rushers and d lineman together
(30:22):
because a lot of those guys can do multiple things
and kind of move up and down the line different.
Techniques that's probably my favorite position in this. Draft from
From Abdul carter all the way down To Sybyon, jones
my number one hundred player overall in my top one hundred,
list and even beyond, THAT i think there's.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
Talent eric can't thank you, enough appreciate.
Speaker 1 (30:42):
It thanks for all, right enjoyed the. Draft Hope Green
bay is a great. House and hope you guys hope
it's a wide. RECEIVER i don't. KNOW i Hope Green
bay fans are.
Speaker 5 (30:49):
Happy, Well, WAITE i did something On sunday THAT i rarely.
Speaker 4 (30:56):
DO i.
Speaker 5 (30:57):
Know you are a golf. Officionado you're you, know a
single digit. Handicap once you get back into the. Rhythm you,
know for, me a good day is when it's under one.
Hundred BUT i watched the final round of The, masters
AND i have to admit the theater was just. Outstanding you,
Know i'm bouncing back and forth watching The brewers. Dive
it backs a little, bit but it just the scenery
(31:20):
Of augusta and the sheer, drama and what was what
caught me was the. DIFFERENCE i thought it was going
to Be rory And bryson and it, wasn't As De
shamba faded and McElroy had the roller coaster final. Round
but that's about as good as it, gets no matter
if you're a And i'm a very casual fan of.
(31:40):
Golf but that's about as good as it, gets no
matter of the, sport isn't.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
It it is no question about, it just the you,
know the stakes that. Were you, know Here's rory. McElroy
he's won three the three other majors over a decade,
ago hasn't won a major in almost what ten eleven
years and this is his eleventh try At augusta to
get that final major in to become one of only
(32:06):
six players who have won in their careers each of
the major golf, tournaments The, MASTER'S Us, open The, open
or The British open as we In america call. It
they call it The open In, europe and then THE,
pga the least of the. Four but, anyway he had
won the three and The, masters he just couldn't quite
(32:27):
get over the. Hump and it was tremendous. Theater so
you Had rory McElroy and golf is. Suffering, Matt you're
not the only one not watching golf on a regular.
Basis you check into a golf, tournament, folks even if
you're a, golfer and on any given week you might
be able to get one or two names off the
leader board that you actually are familiar, with maybe one
(32:49):
or two the guys who drive the. NEEDLE i, Mean
Tiger woods is, gone, okay you, Know rory McElroy is
one of those. Guys Steven Yottie scheffler can win one
hundred tournaments and he's, never for whatever, reason going to
move the. Dial But rory. Can bryson De shambo is
(33:09):
one of those guys who. Can't and here they are
a top the leaderboard going Into sunday At. Augusta and
it was great, theater and and the other thing about
it WAS cbs was doing the. Tournament AND i THINK
cbs is probably the most solid golf coverage and has
been for many decades in. Television And jim nance is
(33:30):
and you AND I i think both admire him in
terms of our. BUSINESS i, think more than anything, else
the thing That nance does is and we've seen a
departure from this on television in recent. Years people want
it seems like producers want guys screaming on television the
(33:50):
way you would have to scream to describe something on,
radio and it just doesn't. Work nance is the epitome
of frame the, picture frame the picture we see, it
give us something around that picture to put a frame
on what we just. Saw and that's what he does
better than. Anyone golf is far and away his best
sport in my. Opinion he's a good play by play
(34:13):
announcer and other, sports basketball and, football but he's a
great eighteenth tower announcer the way he puts things into.
Perspective and how about the end of that tournament When
rory McElroy finally Won. MADDEN i think in some one
of our colleagues at the flagship station for The packers
ninety seven to three of the, Game Steve zabin apparently
(34:35):
timed the layout That nance had at the end of
that tournament When rory finally sunk the pot of the
seventy third hole and he made his exclamation and then
there was like seven minutes of just you saw, pictures
you heard the. Crowd you Saw rory on his. Knees
it was, Riveting it really.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
Was, yeah EVEN i posted a lot of times the
best announcing can be when we say, Nothing and obviously
that applies for television radio you lay out a little,
bit but it's a different. Platform for, television those saying
nothing can be the best. Thing AND i, thought AND
i agree with. YOU i Think Jim nantz was born
to cal. Golf he played it collegiately At, houston and
(35:17):
he just he's born to do. That and he can
tell the story of the, players and not that others,
can't because they can't if it's Like jerico ON nbc
and all those years prior TO, espn so on and so,
forth but their their camera. WORK i just thought the
production of it was so. Good you Never I've i've
(35:39):
never been To, augusta but those who, have they talk
about the, terrain and you, know television can only do
it so much. Justice BUT i think as the technology
continues to get better and, Better i'm sitting on my
couch and then you get a feel for how how
difficult the course, is how challenging that the course, is and, uh,
yeah the fact that That i've always thought in No
(35:59):
matter or the sport on television sometimes most of the,
time less is. MORE i always think Of Vin scully
In Great World series, moments you, Know Kirk, gibson the
walk off against The Oakland a's where he said nothing
after called up the whole run it's gone and just
they Track gibson circle on the. Bases AND i, thought
(36:21):
yesterday Or sunday With roy, McElroy it Didn't you didn't
even need to give the, caption you just lay out
for as long as they had timed. IT i just
thought it Was it was brilliant by saying, nothing.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Yeah, yeah no question about, it and you, know, yeah
the journey And rory's a likable. Guy i've never met.
HIM i don't know what he's like in real. LIFE
i assume he's what he appears to. Be he seems
like a really genuine. Person you could tell by the
way he handles interviews and things like. That he seemed
(36:58):
to be really, genuine you, know so people were really
pulling for. Him but then There's bryson To. Shambo and
if you're you, know of the younger, generation you're probably
Into bryce of The. SHAMBO i, mean here's this guy
who five years ago pumped himself up like a like
a nose tackle one technique or. Whatever somebody was asking
me about two technique earlier. Today what the hell is
(37:19):
a two? Technique i've heard of one technique as your nose,
tackle three techniques outside of the right shoulder of the,
guards and then you go from there two. Techniques who
the hell isn't you? Know come? On but, anyway he's
a one technique and he's hitting the ball over these,
lakes Not Bond's, lakes to the other side of the
fairway and cutting. Off but you, know so he was
this bigger than life character and then he went to
(37:40):
live golf and he slimmed down and he's you, know
these one, major's he's won two of. Them and so
he is a guy who can kind of move the.
Needle and, again AS i, mentioned nothing Against Scotty, scheffler
but for whatever, reason he's a, great great player in
the number one of the. World but he does not
move the needle the way these other guys, do the
Way Tiger woods did back in the go back of
(38:02):
the day To Jack. Nicholason but that masters was. Riveting
and the, thing you, know here's an interesting. Thing if
you're a golfer And i'm a bad, golfer you said Single,
NO i will never be a single digit player. Again
but the thing what can we take, Away, well the
internet is going to be showing you all these swing
(38:23):
doctors are gonna be. On, Well rory does, this and
you can do this again an extra fifty yards Of,
no you. Can't, okay first, off no you. Can't you
cannot duplicate his. Swing he's five to. Eight he was
made to hit the golf ball three hundred and seventy. Yards.
Okay god made him that. Way god didn't make you
or me that. Way, okay, Fine but what you can
take is something that happens to all of, us no
(38:46):
matter our skill, level on the golf, course and that is.
Poise and that is, toughness mental, toughness not physical. TOUGHNESS
i watched that whole, Tournament. Matt what amazed me about
that tournament was This rory comes in AND i, Thought
who's gonna win The?
Speaker 4 (39:00):
Masters?
Speaker 3 (39:01):
What because he's in? Form golf is a game of.
Form are you in? Form are you playing well going?
In and that doesn't mean you're gonna play, well but
it gives you a much better. Chance he had won,
twice he'd won the players his last time, OUT i
believe it. Was so now he goes To, augusta and
you know he's playing, well and he comes out On.
Thursday he's four under parr going to what FOURTEEN i
(39:23):
want to, say or sixty and he doubles two of
the last like four, holes and all of a, sudden
he's even par going in around, two and you're, figuring, oh,
man if that were, me or that were anyone, else
or ninety nine percent of the golfers pro or, otherwise
they'd be trashed. Mentally and he's been working with the golf,
Doctor Bob, rotella and he's written many books about Golf
(39:49):
Is not A game Of perfect being one of them
that was A New York times. Bestseller it'll probably be
again this. Week but he's been working with that. Guy
and so the next day he comes, out you sixty,
six and the following day he takes the lead the.
Tournament and now you're going into the final. Round he's
got a two shot, lead and you you, fit, well
this guy's it's gonna be a cake. Walk and he
comes OUT i think he doubled the first, hole he
(40:10):
loses the lead to one, Hole bryson To shamba takes,
it takes the lead with a birdie on hold number,
two and all of a sudden you look At rory
and you, say this is. Melting this guy's got to be.
Melting and then three holes later he's back in the.
Lead then he's got a four shot. Lead then he
loses all of, that and then Justin rose down the
stretch Past amen, corner he's got the lead and you're,
(40:30):
saying what In god's name is going? On and where Is?
Rory and here he gets back in, there he gets
the thing. Tied he's got a putt to win on
the seventy second. Hole this is all set. UP i,
mean if this Is, hollywood that putt is in the
heart of the cup and he misses the. Putt he
hit it too, soft it pulled a little bit to the.
(40:50):
Left now you got a, playoff you. Know i'm Sure
bryson De shamba say this is. GREAT i got a
shot to win The. Masters And, rory if You're, rory
you'll probably, say you MEAN i blew it and one
of oh my, god you, know and here he goes
out and what does he. Do he hits a three
hundred and seventy five yard drive on, eighteen he hits
(41:12):
whatever it, was nine, iron eight iron to within four
feet and makes the. PUTT i, mean just unbelievable mental
toughness that you don't see even on that. Level that is,
rare even on that level of.
Speaker 5 (41:27):
Golf NO i. HEARD i Heard Scott Van pelt on
another program describing that. Too if you look at that
that his Uh rory's card On, sunday if you just
looked at the, card it probably wouldn't, think, oh this
guy just won The, masters because he had some of
the best shots and some of the worst, shots maybe
of his, career all in one, route maybe the back
(41:48):
nine of the final. Round but that's that's what added
to the. Drama AND i think Two, wayne you talk
about guys who moved the. NEEDLE i think you know
casual viewers or those of maybe who are past casual
and are more in tune to to. Golf you have
you choose your good, guy and you choose your bad.
Guy you, Know bryce and the shamba is probably will
(42:09):
polarizing you some and there are others who love. THEM
i love watching him because he's going to explode on
the golf, ball, Right he's, Going he's going to hit
it nine. Miles but there's you, know you got some personalities.
There and you can say the same thing about. Tennis
you could say the same thing about teams in you,
know THE, nfl THE. Nba there are teams that you
just you want to see him. Loose AND i, think you,
know if golf hads this, again you know somebody that
(42:32):
you can knock. Off you, know some king of the
hill you can knock off the hill that goes a long.
Way no one questions the. Talent there's unbelievable, talent but those,
guys you, Know i've talked with more people the last few.
Days you have some who were rooting like crazy For
rory and others who just wanted to see a dumpster.
Fire and for a while it looked like they were
going to get. It but to your, Point i'm the
(42:54):
kind of guy who would yank a two foot putt
when there's five dollars in the, backs you. Know trying
to put myself in there with the you, know millions
watching and the, GALLERY i just can't.
Speaker 3 (43:05):
Relate, yeah and you, Know, matt it's amazing because at
every country. Club at every club there is somebody who
can go out and shoot sixty eight and just you,
know absolutely look. Flawless but the difference between them and
the guys who make THE pga tour are can you
(43:27):
go out and shoot sixty eight On? Thursday and what
do you come back with the next? Day are you
shooting seventy, eight are you shooting seventy, five or are
you shooting sixty? Six and that's what those guys. Do
and you know they have their ups and downs. Too
their swings are just our swings are like way out.
Here it's both five hundred feet. Difference there's a maybe
(43:49):
within twelve, inches but they have their ups and downs
and how they handle it is is. Huge the, PERSONALITIES i.
Think you, know we are looking for sports as. Entertainment
golf is no. Different we Had tiger And phil remember
about twenty years, ago.
Speaker 4 (44:04):
And that was great.
Speaker 3 (44:05):
Theater they tee it up at every major and you were,
Watching you were watching and hoping they both contend and
they'd both be going at, it and you, thought, well
they don't like each. Other and some people Like phil
and some people Like tiger and et, cetera et, cetera and,
so but you were there to. Watch we don't have
those rivalries right, now and maybe this was one of.
(44:25):
Them maybe this is what we're going to see going.
Forward but you, KNOW i just think. It it was great.
Theater it had everything you. Wanted i'm sure the rating
is going to be really, good But i'll be honest with,
you golf is hurting the ratings week to. Week you
tune on The volerro text is open and you'll get
(44:46):
a leader board and, say.
Speaker 4 (44:47):
Who are these?
Speaker 3 (44:48):
Guys do their parents even know who they? Are they
probably don't know where they, are you, know because that's
pro golf. Today and why is? That, well because you
have hundreds of guys any given a week can win
a pro golf. Tournament why because the talent is that
good and that. Deep but that doesn't make for riveting.
(45:09):
Viewership that doesn't that doesn't move the. Needle and so's
it was. INTERESTING i think a rare moment for. GOLF
A cbs handled it really, well AND i can only
imagine in the. Truck i'll bet you, THIS i would
if we Had jim nance. On you, KNOW i know
that if the Late Frank cherkinnian was running that. Show the,
(45:30):
producer the great golf. Producer he would have been the
first thing he would have yelled At Jim nantz was shut,
up just be. Quiet you. KNOW i bet you no
one had to do that Yesterday sunday At. AUGUSTA i
bet You jim nance handled that whole thing. Himself he
understands the moment and what's going on and the whole,
thing and just as does a brilliant, job as good
(45:51):
as it. Gets you're exactly right About Mike. Tarikole and
by the, way he was doing radio On The Master's
sunday and did a tremendous. Job his call was obviously
had to be a little more. Wordy you're talking about radio.
Here it's a different, medium as you. Said but those
are two of the best of the business at, golf
they really. Are and you, Know tarico's as good as
it gets at the eighteenth hole with anybody. Else Dan
(46:12):
hicks is another one AT Nbc. SPORTS i don't GET
nbc because all, right they haven't Replaced Johnny. Miller Johnny
miller was worth listening to why because he would say
something that was like he would say what you were, Thinking,
yeah there's not much of this PUTT i always say
that when somebody asked me a putt out of the
degree we're. Playing my buddy asked, me what do you
(46:35):
think of this? Putt, said, yeah Like johnny would, say
not much of this. Putt but Then johnny's not making the,
putt is? He But johnny was always you, know he'd
always rip, somebody so you're always looking for. That and
so they get rid of him and they point to
bring In. Paul he's. Here it does a nice, job
but apparently he's got some, issues and they get rid
of him and they hire a GUY i don't even know.
(46:55):
Who They kissner or something like. That he sounds exactly Like,
zinger exactly LIKE. Keivi And i'm sitting in, WELL nbc
has just lost and they are BUT cbs does a
great job with. Golf it always has and they are
the foremost network now and in that. Business but just
great stuff for. Golf, yeah it, was, no it.
Speaker 5 (47:17):
Was i'll it be interesting to watch now moving forward
to the other, majors you.
Speaker 4 (47:21):
Know will this have?
Speaker 5 (47:22):
Legs will people tune? In you, know they want to
see these guys have at it again On? Sunday but
that that's what this past weekend was it was Terrific.
Sunday that was as much AS i would have preferred
to be outside doing, Stuff i've got to watch, this
And i'm GLAD i did because it. Was it was
terrific theater and it was very very well ON.
Speaker 3 (47:43):
Cbs, yeah it really. Was you, know the last point on,
this the two personalities couldn't be. Different after the, TOURNAMENT i,
guess you. Know first, Off bryce and he leaves the
eighteenth green On. Saturday he's just sunk a big. Putt
he's now right, there he's like two shot off the,
lead and he's going. Up there's this kind of column
(48:03):
that they go to to the clubhouse to turn in
their scorecard and sign it off and, everything and just
people all. Around And i've been To, augustin so it's
a corridor of. People Here's bryce and the shamba and
he's waving high fives and and EVERY i mean touching
ba people and handing the ball to a kid and
all this Other you just love. It you're soaking. It
and he's riding high and and he's the man of
(48:26):
the people and all this other. Stuff and then there's
an interview With rory McElroy And amanda down The onus asked,
him you, know how will you approach tomorrow and, said,
Well i'm going to get into my own cocoon and everything.
Else and and a couple of minutes, later she's Interviewing
bryce To shamba And bryce's she, asked do you take
energy from the? Crowd? Oh absolutely. This they couldn't be
(48:47):
two more different. Personalities so after the round On, sunday
after the tournament's over and And bryson kind of imploded
and no question about, it had a tough, round but you,
know somebody asked, him, well how Was, RORY i, mean
how was it playing with?
Speaker 5 (49:02):
It?
Speaker 3 (49:02):
Oh he didn't say anything to, Me and it's kind of, like,
well you should have said. Something but it's kind of
like that made sense to me Because rory, Said i'm
just gonna get into my own little cocoon and stay.
There i'm going to block out all this other noise
that's going on around me and try to stay in the.
Moment and that's what he was doing out, there And
(49:24):
bryson's a totally different, personality didn't quite buy off on.
Speaker 5 (49:27):
That and that's why it, Works LIKE i personally couldn't
care less if those two talk to each. Other but
if it helps build, drama if it brings, us if
it puts us in front of the television set the next,
time you know their their neck and, Neck, yeah let's tune.
In look at the fact that their personalities are different
makes it appealing in personality and play, style all of.
(49:49):
That so, yeah if hopefully as we move forward this
spring and, summer they'll they'll be matched up, again AND
i hope so we'll take it down to the wire
BECAUSE i THINK i think people will tune.
Speaker 4 (50:01):
In.
Speaker 3 (50:01):
Now that'll do. It, yeah no question about. It that
takes care of this week for us on the podcast
special thanks To eric At home OF Nfl. Network our
engineer producer Is dave. McCann executive Producer Jeff. Tyler For,
matt this Is. Wayne thank you very much for listening
to the Lerovil pay.
Speaker 2 (50:18):
Podcast The Laravie La pay podcast is a production Of
iHeartRadio podcasts with HOSTS Wayn laravy And Matt, lapey with
production engineering By dave. McCann The Lerovie La pay podcast
is presented BY Uw Credit. Union here for every you listen.
To other episodes available on The iHeartRadio, App apple, podcasts
(50:40):
or wherever you listen to your favorite, podcasts
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