Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
It's now officially open. This is draft season. John Schmel,
Tony Pauline with you. Was all brought to you by Moody's,
a proud sponsor of the New York Football Giants. A. Okay,
college football Week number three as we head into now
conference schedules coming in force here, Tony, how was your week?
(00:24):
How was your weekend?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well, the weekend Saturday, it was just basically sitting here
from twelve noon until about twelve at night watching a
lot of football. You're right, I mean there were some
good games. There were some good conference games. A couple
of games that came down to the wire that Notre Dame,
Texas A and M in the game. I was actually
in bed before it ended. It took forever, but it
was an exciting game.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Game.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
You know, LSU keeps on rolling, Vanderbilt keeps on surprising,
and well we will eventually run into the meat potatoes
of the Big Ten schedule over the next couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yeah, we had our first big coaching change in college football,
UCLA moving on from to Sean Foster.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And Virginia Tech moving on from their coach who I mean,
Old Dominion went into Virginia Tech and just destroyed him. Yeah,
have you basically knew at halftime of that game the
Virginia Tech coach cry would not make it till Monday, and.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Then I would keep an eye on Florida as well, Tony.
With DJ Lagway throwing a bunch of interceptions in that game,
they kept it close with LSU. But Florida takes on
Miami this week. He's one of the better teams in
the country. We'll see how that goes and we will
go from there. But that's another job that I think
is worth keeping an eye on here.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I think a lot of people were surprised that Florida
kept Napier at the end of last season, but remember,
you know, last season they started off slow. Miami went
in there the first weekend. That was basically when cam
Ward said, hey, look I'm here, made his announcement that
what a much improved quarterback he was went on to
become the first pick of the draft, and then Florida improved,
(01:57):
which kind of saved Napier's job. But you're right, what
you forget about is the fact that Florida, before losing
to LSU, lost to South Florida the prior week and
South Florida got pounded by Miami of Florida this past weekend.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah, absolutely things to keep an eye on as we
move forward here. And then we have to discuss the
big upset of the weekend. Tony Clemson, who is now
one and two. They were your choice to potentially be
national championship in the offseason. I understand they have so
many players that are going to get drafted in the
first round on defense, but just a really really tough
(02:34):
loss to Georgia Tech. A missed field goal late in
that game, the Georgia Tech makes one late and they
fall to Tech, who's now three and Oh give Georgia
Tech some credit, but really really tough loss for Clemson
there in the conference.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
And the thing about Tech is they're not as talented
as Clemson on paper, but they overachieve and Clemson is
doing the exact opposite. They're underachieving. If you watched our
show week one, we talked about the Clemson LSU game
and I mentioned how Kid Klubnick, who showed great improvement
in his game between twenty twenty three twenty twenty four,
looked like like he leveled off. Well, he's starting to
(03:09):
look like he regretsed. I mean, he was a fifteen
of twenty six or two and seven yards passing one TD,
one interception, could not move the offense down the field
that first half. His left tackle wasn't playing. Antonio Williams
is still on the sideline with the hamstring injury. They
didn't do anything to four to five that running game.
(03:29):
But again, you know, people, a lot of people called
Kid Klubnick was going to be a first round pick.
Kate Klubnick is playing like a Day three pick. He
doesn't have the great physical skills to overcome, you know, mistakes.
He can't throw his way out of trouble as a
lot of other quarterbacks can. And then again that defensive line,
Peter Woods. You mentioned that so many defenders who could
(03:51):
go first round Peter Woods. First of all, the entire
Clemson defensive line had one sack against the Georgia Tech
offensive line.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
That's not that great.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
God a good little quarterback there who can run the
balling and he throws the ball and he's smart and tough.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
One sack.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Peter Woods, who a lot of people thought would be
a first round pick, had two tackles on the game.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
TJ.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Parker had some pressures, but he finished with three tackles
for the game. So Clemson's big dogs are not showing up.
They've had some injuries at some key positions, but they're
big players. They're big dogs. Everyone that all the players
that people thought could potentially be first round picks, they've
been flat this year. They struggled, you know, for the
(04:31):
first time of the game against Troy the week before
as well.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Yeah, and you know, Davil Sweeney's gonna have to get
that figured out. I mean, two losses, you can say
their playoff hopes are completely shot and over, but they're
teetering and they better get this stuff figured out. Always
gonna lose more games in the ACC and then their
playoff hopes will be could put all right.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Unless somehow they pull an Arizona State and they're able
to run the table and win the conference, which is
what they did last year when they beat SMU. I mean,
from a college football point of view, we'll see how
if is SMU for real again? Is Florida State for real?
I mean, the opportunity with the college football playoffs is
there simply because they win the conference, they're gonna get
(05:16):
an automatic bid to the College Football playoffs.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
All right, Tony, let's them go over to the SEC.
A couple of matchups in that Arkansas Mississippi game this
past week intrigued you.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
It was a terrific game, a back and forth game Arkansas.
I shouldn't say a back and forth game. Arkansas was
consistently playing from behind, but they were consistently catching up.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Taylor Green.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
If you've watched our show last week, Taylor and Green,
the quarterback from Arkansas, is a guy who I talked about.
I said, keep an eye on him. Scouts love him.
He's got great physical skills, six to five, two hundred
and twenty pounds. He's an incredible athlete with a big time.
On twenty two of thirty five passing three hundred and
five yards with one TV one hundred and fifteen yards rushing,
(05:56):
he was responsible for four hundred and twenty yards and
he may a lot of good plays. I mean, he's
a he unlike Haye Club, that can throw his way
out out of trouble. Because of that strong arm. He
makes a lot of big league passes. He's patient, and
he's poised. He's got some cam Ward in this game,
except he's probably better running the ball.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Than cam Ward.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
The only thing that concerns me about Taylor Green is
sometimes they're trying and force the ball into double coverage
sometimes as reads are a little bit a little bit questionable.
That's going to be ironed out with tailing Green of Arkansas.
If you watch that game, Arkansas was driving for the
game time touchdown. They were moving into a Mississippi's zone.
(06:37):
Green completed it past the receiver who then fumbled the ball.
Mississippi recovered, game over. But it was an exciting game.
Taylor Green, I think is really starting to meet the expectations,
if not exceed the expectations that scouts have of them.
Let's see what happens with the moving forward.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Hey Tony, you didn't have this on your review, but
I watched the game. I stayed up and was on
until one o'clock in the morning. It was a late game,
but Clemson, which lost their second game Notre Dame also
losing their second game of the year late, had an
opportunity to close it out late. They their defense cannot
get the stop they needed a couple of penalties late
(07:13):
in that game. But a big win for Texas A
and M and a very disappointing loss for Notre Dame.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Yeah, I think Jeremiah Love played well in spots. We
talked about him again last week. You know, he's kind
of like hit or missed. He was hit at times.
Last last week we saw that their other running back
who came out I know who was also really good.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I thought their.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Receiver Malachai Fields, Yeah, the big receiver, the transfer from Virginia,
had a couple of really nice receptions.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Listen.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
I mean last year a lot of it revolved around
their quarterback, the Duke transfer, who you know went on
to be drafted.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Well, I think it was a fifth round selection in
the draft.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
They're just I don't think getting the consistent play out
of quarter or the plane making ability at the quarterback
spot yet that they had a year ago.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah. And you know what, I will say this though,
Notre Dame's freshman quarterback CJ. Carr, there were some moments
in that game that you didn't like. He throws the
ball pretty well, Tony. He throws with anticipation. I saw
him get to the second or third read on a
couple of plays. He's young and he's not there yet.
I think there's some developmental ability there where he can
end up being a very good passer of the football.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Absolutely, But again you're talking about him being a freshman
compared to last year when they had the fifty year
senior there of course, but who basically carried them through
the college football playoffs. But I think that's why they're
losing now. I think, unlike Clemson, Notre Dame with two
losses going to be very tough for them to make
the college football playoffs. Something has really got to happen.
But then again, listen, a year ago, everyone you know,
(08:42):
basically not took Notre Dame off the board because they
lost that home game to Northern Illinois if you remember,
and then they came back around the table and was
eventually able to get to the College Football Championship game.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Yeah, in car six three two ten. So he certainly
got the frame. We'll see how he develops as the
quarterback of Notre Dame moving forward here, All right, Tony,
So last week you did your top tens or you know,
top players at each one of the offensive position groups.
This week we'll do defense since there's not a whole
lot going on in college football, and then we'll kind
of reset as we move forward. He we'll get some
guests on and kind of start put the class together
(09:16):
a little more as we get some more tape and
film on these guys as this season goes along, want
to start our defensive tackles.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Let's do it not too much there.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Well, you know, it's funny some of these guys, Tony.
This is one of those years where you have you know,
for example, your number one defensive tackle is Anthony Smith,
ot of Minnesota. I went back, I watched some of
him this morning. He takes almost half his snaps on
the edge as as a five tech or seven tech.
So I think you are gonna have some guys this year,
especially since some of these edge players a little bit bigger,
(09:49):
where teams are gonna have to figure out where to
put them because they don't they aren't like really locked
into one spot.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
That's the theme.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's the theme at defensive tackle, defensive end, and edge rusher,
which we'll talk about. But you're right about Smith. They
line him up on the edge, they line him up
in the three man front. He's athletic, he's explosive, he's
just not there yet. And I mean he is my
top rated defensive tackle. Goes about six foot five two
and seventy five pounds, but he's got that growth potential,
and I think what will happen is eventually he'll be
(10:19):
closer to a three hundred pound guy once he gets
into the NFL, and he'll be pushed inside. But he's
got a lot of skill. He's got a lot of upside.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
You know, he plays in spurts, but when he's on
his game, he is very tough to stop.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
All right. And then you have Peter Woods that of Clemson,
number two, someone we've talked about a bunch here. And
then Zane Durant, one of your favorites out of Penn
stated number three to what undersized. I watched a lot
of Zaine Durant this morning, Tony Boy. Don't ask him
to take on double teams in the run game. That
is not going to go well. But he is a
good athlete.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
First step, three technique type of one gap defensive tackle,
that's what he is. He's gonna have to plan in
a four man line. He's gonna have to have a
big guy, a big body guy next to him occupying box.
But if he gets the first off a blocker, game over.
Because he's explosive, he's got great closing speed. He can
change direction, make plays in any direction. Peter Woods can
(11:09):
do that to a lesser extent. Peter Woods of Clemson
is a little bit bigger. He's more of a gap occupier.
He shows good power in his game. It's just that
Peter Woods really hasn't lived up to expectations this year,
which is a concern.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
And then the next three guys, I think Tony are
pretty safe picks. I think you know they're going to
be good players. Is because of their size and their strength.
You got Caleb Banks out of Florida, Christan Miller out
of Georgia, and Dom Orange, who they call the Big
Citrus by the way, which is a fantastic nickname. Those
are your next three guys, and those are more of
your traditional big you know, they're athletes, but they're you know,
(11:45):
guys that are going to stop the run well and
really hold up at the point of attack.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
Zero technique knows tackle types, guys who occupy blockers. Caleb
Banks can make plays six and twenty eight pounds. He
is very quick. Aren is more of a guy who
doesn't have that great first step off the snap, but
you can double team him and he'll hold his ground,
which allows other players to make to make players on
(12:09):
the ball. Christian Miller just an underclassman still growing into
the position.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
I don't think he's.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
As polished as Banks or dom Orange, but he's got
He probably has more upside.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Anyone else in this group. Tony that has the excited
I mean again.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Bryce and Esen of Tennessee six one and a half
three hundred and six pounds.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
More of your.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
One gap three technique type of tackle you go later
on down. Darryl Jackson of Florida State. We saw a
good Florida State tackle going what the fourth round last year.
Darryl Jackson's a similar type of player, more of a
gap occupier. If he goes to a postseason event like
the Shrine Ball, like the Senior Ball and turns into
a playmaker, his draft stock will sore.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
That was Farmer right last year out of Florida.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Daryl fl Daniel Farmer.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Yeah, first name I remember my most farmer out of
Florida State. Not a farmer, but his name was Farmer.
All right, Let's go to the defensive Josh Staff deformer,
thank you. Let's go to the defensive end edge spot
here Tony and you've kind of your edge and outside
linebackers split up a little bit seas with the guys
probably on the bigger side than guys that are mostly
pass rushers are not going to drop a lot. In
your opinion. You have Keldrick Falk as number one. Not surprising.
(13:18):
He's gonna be a guy that I think we're gonna
talk about as a potential top overall pick in this
upcoming draft. And then you have some really good players.
This is probably one of the deepest spots in the draft, Tony,
There's gonna be some really good pass rushers coming out.
Why don't you break down your listen, I'll key on
a couple of the guys once you get thrown.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yeah, a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
It's just that Keldrick Falk of Auburn is head and
shoulders above any of them.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
He comes out of a three.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Point stance, he stands over tackle, he forces the action
up the field. He can change direction, get out in
space and make plays. I've seen on film where he
drops off the line of scrimmage on zone blitzes and
he makes plays in space and courage. I mean, the
guy's got incredible upside. He's a terrific athlete, and he's
good football player. So you put that all together and
it's a priority position, the fact that he can rush
(14:05):
the passer, and you're looking at as you said, I
know he's going to the first big of the draft,
being that quarterbacks are over over drafted. But I think
he will be in the conversation, you know, like we heard,
like we saw last year with Carter who the Giants took,
He's going to be in the conversation. He will be
a top three pick. There's no doubt about it. LT Overton.
You talked before about those guys who are kind of
(14:26):
where they fit the next level. Six two and a
half seventy two pounds is the defensive end. Is he
on the inside of a four man line. He's quick,
he's explosive, he plays with great head level. He gets
a lot of pressure up the field. If you watch
that Wisconsin game this year, this week, last weekend, I mean,
Alabama blow him out, but Overton made a lot of
nice plays. Don't know that he's got the great upside.
(14:48):
We'll see how he fits at the next level, but
he is a good athlete. Danny Dennis Sutton, in my opinion,
is one of the most underrated pass rushers in the nation.
Scouts have him as a late third round pick. I
have him as an early second round pick. Six five
and a half two hundred seventy pounds four point seventy one.
Overshadowed by his teammate last year, but he's still a
real good player. You know when he was the man
(15:10):
during the college football playoffs because your Giants guy had
the shoulder injury, he was getting a lot of pressure
off the field. He can bend the edge, He's fast,
He's very explosive. Rubyn Bain Miami Florida. Miami Flower has
got a couple guys on the defensive line. Bain is
a lot like Falk, comes out of a three point stance,
stands over tackle, good pass rusher in both situations, gets
(15:33):
up the field, of course, forces forces the action, causes
a lot of pressure, but can also get out into space.
He's not just one dimensional. Matteo ugi Leile, the younger
brother of dj ugilele the former quarterback. Again a guy
that you could use in a variety of roles as
a three four outside linebacker, as a four to three
defensive end. Real good pass rusher. Later on, Antonio Antosaka,
(15:58):
who's having a bad year out of North Northwestern's. You
got to watch Zion Young out of Missouri. Josh Josephs
out of Tennessee. We spoke about him in Week one
six two and a half pounds, four point sixty six.
You know, listed as a defensive end, but he can
also stand up over tackle as a three to four
outside linebacker, a guy again you know, wipe the Kendrick
(16:19):
Keldrick Fawks like Dennis Danny Sutton, like Yugulele not only
just gets up the field, but gets out into space
to make plays in backside pursuit, which is also important.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
And Antony and a lot of these guys, especially the
ones on top of the list you just went through,
they're bigger. They're two sixty, they're two seventy, they're two
seventy five. You know, it's not James Pierce last year
Jalen Walker, where they're two thirty five, and you know,
I guess Pierce a little bit bigger than that, but
Jalen Walker was like two thirty five. And you're trying
to figure out how to use these guys. These are big,
physical guys that can be four to three hand in
(16:51):
the dirt defensive lineman at least the guys at the
top of the list we talked about, which we have
not got a ton of coming out of school over
the past few years, and.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
They do it on side of it.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
I mean, if you watch the Ruben Baines, if you
watch Keldrick Falk at Auburn, you know they will come
out of a three point stance and just devastate whoever
is lining up on the opposite side of the line
trying to block them.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Antoni. I'll get to the linebackers and the edge players
in a second. But we did not talk about the
Tennessee Georgia game, and you mentioned the Tennessee defensive player,
so I just want to make clear that those two
teams do actually have defensive players on the field. You
mentioned a Georgia defensive player as well. You might not
have been able to tell based on what the score
was that Tennessee Georgia game on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
But especially the most couple of months of that game.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Crazy game, Tony Man, what do you think.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
You know?
Speaker 2 (17:38):
I think that that the Tennessee field goal kicker is
going to be killing himself when they had for a
long time from this that the field goal, and Georgia
came back. I mean the Georgia quarterbacks, she had a
lot of resiliency. I think Georgia they've got some decent receivers.
I mean, it was a fun game. Was a back
and forth game. You thought, I thought Tennessee was gonna
run away with it. Then Georgia came back, and then
(17:59):
Georgia finally wins the game. I mean, it was a
nutsoll game.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Yeah, Kirby smart as a defensive guy, Tony must be just,
you know, apoplectic with how many points this team gave up.
But yeah, absolutely, I just want to make sure we
talked about that game, because that was an absolutely crazy
one on Saturday afternoon. All right, let's jump to the
linebackers here, Tony. But first, just a reminder. Draft season
is presented by Moody's, a proud partner of the New
(18:24):
York Giants. Decode Risk, Unlock Opportunity. Learn more in Moody's
dot com. All right, let's go over to the edge
and linebackers spot here, Tony, you have these guys kind
of mixed them together. Let's star at the edge players first.
Since we did just the pass rushers. Like how you
color coded them on this chart. Very impressive. I like
that the number one guy in your let'st hear is TJ.
Parker out of Clemson six two two fifty eight. You
(18:48):
mentioned them a little bit when we talked about the
game again, really good player. Him and Falk are gonna
be the guys that I think we're talking about there
at the top of the draft A little bit.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Has not played well this year. I mean, like I
said he was. He got some pressures late in the
game against Georgia Tech, but was not credited with the
sack or TfL really was non existent in the LSU game.
But you gotta have to go back at this stage
and watch the twenty twenty four film. Like another guy
that comes out of three point stands occasionally stands, over stands,
over tackle, can make plays up the field, can make
(19:19):
place laterally in pursuit. A real good athlete, very explosive,
worshes the action. But if he doesn't start to produce
in twenty twenty five and he enters the twenty twenty
six draft, he may be in for a root a wakening.
He's not gonna go as early as many of us thought.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
He potentially could go interesting, all right. Then he got
Gabe Jakas out of Illinois, who I had a lot
of fun watching him. Good player. And then a couple
other guys as well. I'm gonna mention David Baily out
of Texas Tech. That guy's got juice.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Man.
Speaker 1 (19:50):
He's smaller, just two five, but man, he can he's
got burst. They can get him. Feel very very impressive.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Stanford transfer if you watch the Stanford film last year,
I mean very explosive, a six and forty six pounds.
But he's tough to block. He's never off his feet,
mix plays in all directions. I've seen times where he's
playing off the line of scrimmage. A guy that you're
gonna just find a way, a place on the field
to put him. I'm sure he'll come out of a
(20:15):
three point stance on occasion. A lot of people in
the league like him. Came into the season with the
high grade we'll see this year. It goes from Stanford
to Texas Tech. You know in the Big twelve where
they like to throw the ball and put up a
lot of points. So he's gonna be relied upon a
lot to make plays in the backfield.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
And disrupt the action.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
All right, how about Jackas? And then you got Quah
Rusaw out of Alabama. I've not heard that name before,
so fill me in.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Yeah, Russo is an underclassman. I believe he's a third
year sophomore. He showed flashes. I like his game, I
like his upside, and the history is there at Alabama,
or at least it was with Nick Saban that they
developed these guys into top NFL prospects. That's what Rusaw
is more his upside potential of what I project over
(20:59):
the next couple of years than what I'm getting right now,
as opposed to Jackas, who really is a relentless force
for Illinois. I mean he's a tough guy to stop.
Hey had some good battles against Parker in that first
game against Stuke. He forces the action, not just as
a pass rusher. He'll he'll separate the ball from opponents
(21:21):
in space six eighty pounds. He's one of those guys
that you mentioned. Where is he going to play on Sunday?
Is he going to be a defensive tackle? Is he
an end in a three man front? How many times
does he line up end in a format front? But
the fact is this. He's a good player that forces
the action. He's got a good motor. A defensive coordinator
(21:43):
will find someplace or some way to use him on
the field.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
All right, Tony, let's do the off ball linebackers. Now.
Anthony Hill out of Texas, someone that we've talked about
a bunch here and very popular on the internet draft scene.
Talk about him. And then Harold Perkins back on this list,
someone that we've talked about a lot the last couple
of years. You know, you got hurt last year, ended
up going back to school. Now probably gonna come out
this year of everything goes well. And some other familiar
(22:07):
names here as well.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Linebacker, you know, it's off ball linebacker has kind of
been depreciated devalued in the draft. This is a real
good group. I mean, we're probably gonna have a couple
of first rounders and you gotta have a lot of
guys who are going to go Day two. Anthony Hill
from Texas. If you watch Texas, you can't miss numbers
zero because he's all over the place, making fields, making
plays up the field as a pass rusher, in pursuit,
(22:30):
dropping off the line. He's relentless, he's tough. He's not
the biggest guy in the world, but he's constantly around
the action, around the ball, forcing the action. Deontay Watson
another guy, more of your traditional Crimson tide off the
ball linebacker. They're using them the blitz on occasion, but
he's great pursuit. He's real good in zone coverage, shows
the ability to flip his hips and get downfield. A
(22:52):
real good three down defender. You can use them on
third and two to stop the run. You can use
them on third and six if you need to cover
the tight end. Harold Perkins, I have him what number
four on my list. I have him as a second
round pick. All signs are right now that Harold Perkins
is back to where he was as a freshman, yeah
before his injury, and he is just lightning on fire.
(23:14):
So I think when all said and done, Harold Perkins
is going to be a first round pick. Now that said,
what is Harol Perkins. He's six ft two, twenty pounds.
You know, he's a smaller, one gap type of linebacker.
I love his game. I just don't think he's going
to be able to do the same things on Sunday
that he's that He's able to do on Saturday because
he's so overwhelming force against college blockers and college athletes.
(23:38):
It's gonna be a little bit of a different sort
of situation in the NFL. But he's still really good
and he's incredibly expensed, incredibly explosive.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
CJ.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
Allen out of Georgia the next top off the ball,
explosive Georgia linebacker. He's the Day two pick. Jay Shwan
Barrow of Michigan, a guy who I don't think it's enough.
Notice the Maryland transfer. They use him up with the
line as a pass rusher. He's effective. They use him
backed off the line in space, he's also effective. They
use them in coverage, they use him in pursuit. He's
(24:07):
gotten better and better and better. A guy I know
that you like and I absolutely love. Weighed with Daz
so Clemson. It's kind of taking a back seat to
the freshman there, but with Daz's instinctive, he's tough. He
constantly is taking correct angles, constantly making the good plays
on the football. Really again, a three down off ball linebacker.
(24:29):
Third and two, he's terrific against the run. Third and four.
You can use him as in coverage. Scouts are not
as high and with dies they have a day three
grade on him.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
I have a third round grade on him.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Six three and thirty pounds, runs in the four sixes,
plays faster than that. A couple other guys I'm just
gonna get give one more name to keep an eye on.
Kaid A Louvi from California, six thirty five pounds. You
want to talk about a guy that plays like his
hair is on fire. His guy is great in pursuit.
This guy's constantly selling out number ten on California. At
(25:03):
least it was number ten last year. They always changing
their numbers. Now, this guy constantly selling out to make
plays absolute ball of fire in the football field.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
But again you're off the ball.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Traditional weak side linebacker, which you know does not get
drafted as early as they did fifteen twenty twenty five
years ago.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
And Tony, I feel like we have not mentioned an
Ohio State defender yet, and we just talked about front
seven players. So I feel obligated to mention Sonny Styles
because he is on your list. Otherwise, our resident Ohio
State alumni, Dan Salomon that rights for us upstairs might
break through the wall like the Kool aid Man and
and come after me. But he's a really good athlete,
and he's also a very good inside linebacker.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Former safety that they moved to linebacker last year. He
should he plays in spurts. He's got to be a
little bit more consistent. I don't know whether it's instincts,
whether it's still he's getting he's getting used to the position,
but he's got upside. He's starting to really play much
better and better. Listen for your guy, Gan upstairs. I'm
also gonna mention Kenyada Jackson, who I skipped at with
(26:07):
the pass rushers sophomore last year's really being really being
counted on this year, considering that entire Ohio Stated defensive
line graduated to the NFL last year. Conjetta Jackson, who's
a real good pass rusher, not the biggest guy in
the world, but it's got some good upside, real good
athlete as well.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Yeah, he is the number five on the defensive endless
just not someone Tony went into detail about it. It's
important to note, well, there is a guy in the
defensive backfield, Tony that is from Ohio State that's on
the top of the list. Here you combine safeties and
corners here, probably because the corner class is not one
of the better ones I've seen in recent memory, Tony.
You might have some underclassmen that make it better if
they end up declaring. But Caleb down sits the top
(26:47):
of your defensive back list, which should surprise nobody. That
guy is a flat out playmaker.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
You know, we talked about the defensive ends, the edges.
It's Keldrick Falk and everybody else. Although that position is
a bit deeper. That's the way it is defensive back.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
I mean, Caleb.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Downs right now is the highest rated player in the draft.
He's the best player in the draft if the draft
were held today. But he plays safety. Are you going
to where are you going to draft the safety? But
I think he's a little bit more than a safety.
Think about Brian Branch, but he's bigger, he's faster, he's
more explosive. He forces the action a little bit more so.
(27:22):
He's a Brian Branch type that I think you can
use as a traditional free safety. You can use him
as a nickelback over the slot receiver. He was not
going to be a liability. He's tough, he's a playmaker.
I mean, you know, Ohio State fans can say he
basically won them that national championship a year ago. If
you remember that second down play, he busts through the
(27:43):
offensive line, the Texas offense line into the backfield, makes
the tackle for loss. Two plays later, Jack Sorry comes
around the edge the scoop and score strip, scoop and
score play that was set up by Cale Downs. He's
a complete safety. I absolutely love him. I think it's
gonna be my highest rated player the way. Look Kyle
(28:03):
Hamilton was a bit overrated a couple of years ago.
I think Caleb Downs is a little bit underrated. It's
just a matter of where you're gonna draft a guy
like that. I think he can fit anything, like I said,
free safety, nickel back, whatever you want to use him as.
He's got that kind of upside. It's gonna be interesting
to see as we go through the pre draft process.
You know, what kind of testing does he do? And
(28:24):
I know I'm getting ahead of myself because we're seeing
now more and more guys who don't do anything. You know,
does Caleb Downs, you know, run before the draft? And
how fast is he if he doesn't run? How big
a red flag is that are team's going to basically
knock him down for that. He's a great football player
and he's been in that. He's been there for a
couple of years at Ohio State. Alabama transfer is actually
(28:45):
very good at Alabama before he transferred to Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Yeah, and look, he was not on Bruce Alman's freak
last I did ask Bruce about that when we had
him on a couple of weeks ago. For the folks
that haven't seen that show, they should go back and
find it, and he said, look, he just didn't meet
some of the freakish thresholds. I guess for lack of
remember expression to get on that list, But that does
not mean he is not a phenomenal football player, Tony,
Why don't you go through the rest of your safeties
that you like before you jump over the corner.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
TJ.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
Metcalf from Michigan and Arkansas transfer showed me a lot
in Arkansas last year. I haven't really watched him that
much at Michigan. A big, rangey, free safety type that
goes sideline to sideline. Keon sob of Alabama, your prototypical
Alabama safety. He's not super big, he's not super fast,
but he's incredibly smart. He's got it going on between
(29:30):
the ears, terrific instincts, diagnose his plays before they happen,
really good in coverage in a smaller area. Tough, explosive
run defender. There's a place for him at the next level.
Amri Ferrell of Indiana more of a downhill, explosive type
of guy. Very underrated. Rod Moore of Michigan real good
safety that struggled with injuries. I think he was injured
(29:53):
early last season. He's not seen the field this year.
When you look at the film, he's a top forty
five type of prospect, but the injuries are pushing him down.
Will have to wait and see when Rod Moore returns
to the field this year. He may have played last
week against Thing they played Central Michigan. I may be
mistaken against on that I know he didn't play Week one,
(30:13):
and how he plays when he returns.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
All right, let's hit the cornerbacks here, Tony and two
guys that I've watched it I think are really good players.
Avion Terrell out of Clemson, who's the younger brother of
the Terrell that's in with the Falcons right now. Aj
Terrell correct, And then you have Mansor Delane, the transferre
to LSU from Virginia Tech, who is or has just
been phenomenal this year.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Yep, yeah, yeah. Terrell's a terrific cover guy. But he's
not big. He's not tall.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
I mean you could see he's out matched by size
by receivers he goes up against. But that doesn't stop him.
And what he's good at is he makes plays with
his back to the ball. He gets his head back around,
tracks the pass in the air, makes plays on the football.
He's very explosive, also very physical, fires up the field
and voluntarily defends the run. The Lane's a guy that
(31:01):
I like since he was a sophomore for Virginia techas
wall skills are outstanding standing. He's got decent length, He's
consistently productive, doesn't have mental breakdowns on the field, doesn't
have a lot of bad plays. I was told two
years ago that the knock on him is his speed.
He's a four or five to five cornerback, which would
push him down. I don't see it on film me
(31:22):
neither on film. That is fast enough to play on Sunday,
And since moving from Virginia Tech to LSU, he's just
up this game. As you said, you know, you've watched
him in the past couple of weeks. He's been terrific
in big spots because LSU really right out of the
gate against Clemson and then last week against Florida. They've
had a very tough schedule, so you know, he's playing
against good competition and he's answered the bell and to he.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Plays the ball so well, like he gets around receivers
without committing past interference penalties. He can play press, he
can play off. He's just he's a physical player, two
hundred and ninety two pounds. He's just checked every box
for me watching him in these first couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
And the thing is is you go back and you
watch the Virginia Tech film. He was that type of
player of Virginia Tech. The only thing is they really
didn't throw in his direction too much because he was
so good. Malik Muhammad. We saw John da Barron last year.
He selected in the first round. Malik Muhammad the same
sort of player, can play in the slot, can play
on the outside, feisty, physical, works hard to get involved
(32:23):
in the action, but also possesses real good ball skills.
Jaiir Hill of Michigan needs to polish his game, but
has excellent size. Hits that six foot even length that
the teams want, shows ability. Just needs to elevate his game.
Judge Collier of South Carolina. South Carolina's got a couple
(32:43):
of different defensive backs to keep an eye on. Collier
is a guy that has shown a lot of potential.
He shows a lot of flash plays. Hopefully he puts
his game together this year. Christian Gray note your dame
at the top of his game. Christian Gray looks like
a dominant top fifteen cornerback, but there are a lot
of lapses, including that big pass he led up to
(33:06):
Jeremiah Smith last year and the College Football Final. You know,
if he can iron out and stop the lapses, he's
gonna move up draft wards. But if he continues to
have those lapses, that's something that's very dangerous, especially at
the cornerback position where you you know, a lapse can
lead to a you know, a thirty forty yard player
(33:26):
a touchdown for the opposition.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
No question about it. Tony Moodies is a proud part
of the New York Giants, uniting the brightest minds to
turn today's risk into tomorrow's opportunities. Learn more on Moodies
dot com and Toni. As we headed now to our
Week four preview here, we're starting to get into the
deeper part of the conference schedule and one game in
the Big Ten. Really, you know, jumped out in me.
Two teams that have a history of being really good
(33:49):
football teams. You haven't seen both be really good in
the same year in a while. That's Indiana and Illinois.
Two really good coaches with Signetti and Blima, with these
two teams and these two college programs, and a lot
of fun players to watch in that game.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
You know.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
Go back to last week's show, I talked about Fernando
mendoz At, the quarterback from Indiana who comes by way
of cal He's got great physical skills. He's well liked
in the scouting community. He's got a strong arm with
the ability to make all the throws or throw himself
out of trouble. He's athletic, he can elude the rusher,
he can pick up yordage with his legs. And the
(34:24):
hopes were that moving to Kurt Signetti or moving to
Indiana where he'll be coached by Kurt Signetti, one of
the best coaches in all of football, college or pro
he would be able to take be able to take
the next step in his game, which he wasn't able
to do to do with Cow because I was told
the constant turnover and coaching and offensive coordinators. So far,
(34:44):
it's worked in the first three games, fifty five of
seventy six pass passing for nine tds and no interceptions. Now,
Old Dominion, who just beat up on Virginia Tech, was
the toughest competition that Indiana's faced. Now they go up
against an Illinois team that's got some real good defensive players.
We talked about. Gabe jackis the defensive end. He's going
(35:08):
to be bearing down on Mendoza throughout the game. They've
got some terrific defensive backs. Xavier Scott the safety, it's
going to be a Day three pick. Underclassman Caleb Patterson
developing cornerback. He's a Day three pick. Miles Scott the
other safety who is a tackling machine for Illinois. These
guys are smart, tough, athletic defensive backs as well as
(35:29):
jackis the terrific pass rusher.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
This is a.
Speaker 2 (35:32):
Huge test for Mendoza to see if he's actually taken
the next step in the game and see Netty is
able to work his magic on Mendoza as he did
with Curtis walk last year. The only difference is Mendoza
has the potential to be a top forty five pick because,
unlike Curtis Wark, if he turns out to be a
good quarterback and everything clicks mentally, Mendoza's got all the
(35:55):
physical skills to start on Sunday. So this is atil
stepping stone game from Mendoza, And this is a game
with you're chart to see has he leveled off or
is his game really taking off?
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Yeah, Tony, two of the better coaches in the Big
Ten here with Brett Belimo who does a really nice job,
and you mentioned Signetti, So should be a really good
game there. We mentioned Miami and Florida. They're playing this week.
That's a fun rivalry game. South Carolina Missouri. Missouri is undefeated,
they're ranked twenty third of the nation. And I think
whether or not Lenora Sellers plays in this game, and
(36:28):
what his injury status is, which upon this record we
don't know, is probably the top story in that game.
Speaker 3 (36:33):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
I mean, if you watch the game against Vanderbilt, which
was on the SEC Network, it was a big conference game.
I was in and out of it because LSU Florida
was on. At the same time, the USC game, which
was delayed by three hours because of rain, was still on.
Notre Dame was on, so I was in and out
a lot of those games and sellers. I guess left
(36:55):
the game after targeting hit. The player was ejected from
the game because of targeting and never came back. I
think when he left he was like six of seven
for seventy yards. But we'll see, hopefully he can play.
I don't have an update on the injury. I really
didn't follow it. We'll see what happens.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
We have two other games between two top twenty teams,
Texas Tech Utah is one, and Utah is always one
of these programs, they're just good every year. People they're
sot underrated their will coach. And then Auburn Oklahoma. Auburn
is twenty two, Oklahoma is eleven. Anything from either of
those two matchups that have you excited or jumps out
to you.
Speaker 2 (37:32):
We spoke last week. Xavier Chaplain is my number one
rated offensive tackle. I happen to think he's going to
be a top ten pick. Virginia Tech transfer. This is
kind of a theme here, right when we talk about
whensor Delaine, guy who bends his niece. He's a terrific
pass protector, outstanding zone blocker on the second level who
maybe needs to get a little bit stronger as far
(37:54):
as a run blocker. Oklahoma's got some decent pass rushers.
We're talking about day three pass rush, fifth to six
round pass rushers. Our Mason Thomas is one of them.
Kendall Daniels is another one, Marvin Jones junior. They've got
some good guys on the inside. Grace Houlton a defensive
tackle who they'll occasionally kick out to the end. So
this is a big game for both teams. Obviously, Oklahoma
(38:17):
coming off of that win a week ago. I want
to keep the momentum going. Auburn wants to keep the
momentum going. But from an NFL prospect, watch keep an
eye on the left tackle Chaplain from Auburn, who's going
to be an early pick against a tough, feisty Oklahoma
pass rushers who evan link of Michigan. If you watched
(38:40):
the show last week, I spoke about him and how
good of a job that he did. Chaplain's a better player.
Chaplain of Auburn is a better left tackle. So Oklahoma
pass rushers really have a challenge this weekend.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
A Hi, Tony, anything else on the weekend that as
he excited that you want to hit on before you
say goodbye.
Speaker 3 (38:57):
Not that I've seen.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
I went through the games, you know, getting a little
bit better. But I think once we get to the
end of September beginning of October, the schedule is really
gonna blow up.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Yeah, we are not there yet. Finally, Tony, just give
me a little thumbnail summary of this defensive class in
terms of what fans should expect as we head towards
the twenty twenty six NFL Draft.
Speaker 3 (39:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:19):
You know, teams usually like a lot of defensive tackles
in the draft, and if you go through the history,
I mean you've had I think one year we had eleven, twelve,
thirteen defensive tackles taken in the first round. That's how
much they like them. Gonna be very disappointing at the
defensive tackle position. I think from a media standpoint, it's
(39:39):
not gonna be overly sexy because of the fact that
lack of defensive tackles no great cornerbacks at the top
and a lot of off ball linebackers. There are a
ton of really good off ball linebackers project I project
a lot of off ball linebackers in this draft, which
is good. But it doesn't you know, it doesn't. ESPN's
not talking about it ten minutes.
Speaker 3 (40:01):
I like it.
Speaker 2 (40:02):
I like the edge rushers, I like the linebackers, safeties
at the top, I mean the rest of the defensive backfield.
I think Leaves is gonna leave a lot of people
wanting more.
Speaker 1 (40:13):
Yeah, I think the edge classes really and then that
defensive end classes where people will get most of they're
excited this year. Tony, anything coming up on sports Key?
Do you want people to keep their eyes on.
Speaker 2 (40:24):
Just the risers and slaughters and any breaking news that
may affect the NFL Draft. Some of the guys we
talked about today were risers because they played so well
last week, and any news that will affect the draft
as we moved through the season.
Speaker 1 (40:39):
Tony Pauling from Sports Key to I'm John Schmelt. That's
this week's episode of Draft Season, presented by Moody's a
proud ponsor of the New York Giants. For Tony, I'm Schmelk.
We'll see you next week. Everybody enjoy your weekend.