Draft Season | Shrine Bowl Preview

John Schmeelk and Tony Pauline talk to the Shrine Bowl Director of Football Operations and Player Personnel, Eric Galko, about this year’s game. 00:00 - Start 00:09 - Shrine Bowl Coaching Staffs 07:03 - Shrine Bowl Offensive Players 23:57 - Shrine Bowl Defensive Players 40:04 - Draft Class Overview

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
No officially open. This is draft season. All the games
are in the bucks. We're in the NFL playoffs and
everyone's getting ready for the NFL Draft and some of
the postseason events that are upcoming, and the first one
is the Shrine Bowl. And joining us right now is
our good friend of the program. Eric Galco does a

(00:26):
great job running the show down there. He is the
director of football Operations and player Personnel at the Shrine Bowl. Eric,
how are you, man, Tony Pauline, John Chamal, Good to
see you. Good to see you, guys. I appreciate it.
I'm I'm excited. It's my second year run of the
Shrine Bowl and this will be at least twice as
good as last year, because I don't have to expect
this time round two, but we're five would be on
there in Vegas again this year for the Shrine Bowl.

(00:47):
If it's twice as good as last year, I'll be
off the charge. I was there all three days last
year for practice and Eric and his team did an
absolutely phenomenal job. I mean, it was you went there,
you didn't know what to expect. That came back I
I were on Twitter. I mean, these guys did a
great job. So even if you equal last year, it's
gonna be fantastic. We'll check the mail toy. I appreciate

(01:07):
that endorsement, thank you very much. So. And the Shrine
Bowl just a couple of weeks away here, it's coming
up that week in between the championship games and the
Super Bowl, of course, so make sure you guys go
check that out. By the way, Draft season is brought
to you by Tommy He'll figure, a PVH brand and
an official partner of the New York Football Giants. Alright,
let's get it right to it. I want to start
before we talk about the players. Very exciting. You have

(01:29):
some NFL coaching staffs coming down this year to coach
up these guys at the Shrine Game. Tell us about it. Yeah,
we've got our two NFL staffs this year, which are
the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots. So guys may
have heard of Arthur Smith, Bill Belichick, Macro of the Patriots,
Terry Fountao that Falcons will be down to the Shrine
Bowl all week long out in Las Vegas, and we're
very thankful to have them. It's been as more with

(01:50):
these staffs already we've had them for at this point
about a week and a lot of logistic stuff, as
you'd imagine, but also a lot of these coaches and
executives want to say, I watch guys their coach. Has
been the most fun part for me. It's to say, hey,
we really want to coach these thirty guys, and the
Patriots might say want to coach those guys too, So
it's been a fun kind of back and forth trades happening,
et cetera. Two So it's been it's been fun to

(02:12):
have these coaches. They are involved too. I think our
players are gonna benefit so so much from having guys
like Ballot Check and Arthur Smith rouming the sidelines that
practice in the game. Tony, I wanna jump in real
quick on to follow up real fast because you mentioned
that how do you decide what players go on what roster?
How does that process work? Um, it's I kind of
play the arbiter where I want to make sure both
teams are happy. But as you guys can imagine, we'll
talk about some of those guys today. I'd imagine to

(02:33):
both teams want to coach some players, right these I
joke with both gms and you guys got a good
eye for talent with the guys you want to coach.
So um, both these teams want to coach a lot
of our players, thankfully, knock on wood, Um. Pretty much
every one of our players was at some point discussed
and fought over right by both teams. And obviously some
teams have their favorites. So for me, it's middleman. I
don't over promise and under deliver, but do my best
to make sure these teams have the guys they want

(02:54):
to coach and guys that fit what they're doing. In practice,
we'll still have a little bit of a scheme breakdown
between the team the Falcons, and the Falcons will have
a certain scheme on offense and defense and kind of
players that lend themselves there too. When Patriots, same thing
last year. If you guys remember we split our rosters
up by personnel groupings on offense and defense. We won't
quite have that same fixed idea this year, but very

(03:15):
very similar from the two staffs and make sure our
players are a position to be successful. Eric, you answer
you one of my questions as far as the coaches
having input in the in the roster break up, the
coach the teams have any say as far as the invitations.
With a team whose coaches say, hey, you know, we'd
like to see this guy playing a game, can you
extend an invitation, it's a good question they have both

(03:37):
teams had said, hey, we'd like to have these players considered.
I will say I'm very thankful to both both, you know,
Falcons and Terry and Matt and the Patriots of not
not being demanding, not saying we want this guy no
matter what, et cetera. Two, they're very interesting that, hey,
there their guests for a week at the Shrine Bowl
as opposed to as well too. But again I'd be
naive not to take their input like I take all
out offel teams and put pretty seriously too. But again
I want to make sure that, hey, all three two

(03:59):
teams have equal access to our roster. The coaches have
are gonna side who coaches and how they played a
week of practice, but all three two teams have them
put on the roster too. So to answer your question,
I talked to the Patriots and Falcons more often recently
about what players have to see at the Shrine Bull.
But all three two teams have the same level of
access to building the roster. Now. My follow up question
then is do the Falcons and the Patriots have autonomy

(04:20):
in coaching the teams or can you say or another
team say, hey, listen, we've got this two pound pass
rushing defensive mem from college. We want to see him
at linebacker. We want to see him do linebacker drills.
Is there any input in that sort of scenario. It's
a great question. It came up actually just about you know,
just for us talking right now, um, in the sense
that you know, players have said, hey, I don't feel

(04:41):
colmortable doing that and can I not do that? And
what I've told both staffs and what I've told players
as well too is hey, I want to the staffs know.
And again I'm very thankful for both Arthur Smith Belichick
and their staff were understanding this. This is about putting
players position to show what they can do right, not
showing what a player can't do and looking bad. We
could practice and and neither one of these staffs want
that to happen as all too. So I'm providing already

(05:02):
and will as well get close to the event, to hey,
this player feels countable playing here, and what the encouragement
has been is saying, hey, maybe the back end of
the week. If a guy that's a tackle his whole
career wants to do some snaps at center, O, hey,
let's do that on the back end of the week
as well. And maybe there's not as much screwted on
these players. But early on the week, a d N
s playing d N and you can test out linebacker
later tackles playing left tackle, not right tackles, not count

(05:24):
ball until the back end of the week too, So
that's kind of the compromises these teams want to see
these guys in new positions, but definitely early on the
week when all the attention starts. Play we're gonna be
best and play, We're gonna be drafted as early as possible.
We're joined by our galco, Director of Football Operations and
player Personnel for the Shrine Bowl game takes place on
February second in Las Vegas. Or how about practice structure?

(05:44):
You know, you know, we I've been to a lot
of these you know games in a lot of times,
the practice structure doesn't necessarily lend itself to evaluating a
lot of these guys. Is their input to and what
these practices from the staff will look like when they
look similar, with these coaches basically gonna do what they do. Yeah,
that's a good question, and I'll say, you know, as someone,
I'm sure like you guys who have been to a
lot of All Star Games in the past, and the
fact that I had a lot of autonomy, especially last

(06:06):
year to kind of change things up. It was like
playing in a sandbox, like, Hey, what does an a value?
What I really want to get out of these practices?
And I think for me the real focus has been
this year. Maybe sure these coaches know exactly what time
they're on off the field and what resources they have
and what's worked in the past, and then a little
bit even more than last ye kind of let them
do their things. So um and talking with both staffs,

(06:26):
the likely is going to be, hey, early on right
that Saturday, our first practice on Sunday, a lot more
one on one's individual drills and then maybe some you know,
quick walkthroughs on team stuff. And the back end of
the week is more nine on seven seven on seven
team environments as well too. But both of these teams
have already been creative. Again, they have their entire staff,
So our coaching staff is gonna be thirt bigger than

(06:47):
when we have the nominated staffs and what the Senior
Bowl has this year. So we've got more coaches and
more people want their hands on these players. We're gonna
have a lot more drills, a lot more stuff going on,
a lot more creativity. And again, if if talking with
these coaches and these video coordinators an indictment, a lot
of creative things are going to happen during the week
of practice at UMLB in the Raiders facility. Tony want
to star knocking all some of these players, Well, yeah,

(07:08):
let's stuck players to Let's start off with three players,
I mean three highly rated players. These are guys that
you know are gonna be Day two players at the
very least or in that area. We'll go through him
Individually's a Flowers of Boston College. Just give us a
little breakdown on a guy had had a great season,
had its terrific season for a program that struggled in
two thousand two. Yeah, but Boston College is all time

(07:30):
leading receivers and basically every category. He's had a fantastic career.
He stayed in school a year ago, if you remember,
and it was kind of surprising at the time because
he would have been a top two round pick a
year ago, and talking with NFL clubs that maybe liked
him a bit last year, that kind of comparison I
heard was if wan Dale Robinson would early second round,
why Kansa go go first. I fully expects A Flowers
to end the draft process the first round pick. I

(07:50):
think his comparison is somewhere between the Deshaun Jackson and
the way they can track the ball down the field
for a small receiver at such a high level right now,
some teams have questions on maybe hand hand strength and
finishing in the midfield, but downfield he consistently catches deep
balls like to Sean Jackson. And then you added the
fact that we've seen how much Jail and Waddle and
Tyreek Kill can make a mess of an opposing offense,
both in their catching ability as well as just the

(08:12):
pressure they put on safeties and corners. I think is
gonna bring both of those things. We kind of has
that early two thousand's to Shawn Jackson deep play one
on one ability as well as the top end speed,
the fourth three speed to be a guy that defense
have to account for no matter where he's on the
field too, So again, Za's excited to be down there.
He'll be coached by a team that really wants to
coach him as well as you can imagine. But I
think between the Shrine Bowl, the NFL Combine and how

(08:33):
he's gonna interview again, I fully fully expects A Flowers
be a first round pick. I'm not biased or I
promise my expectations are he'll be a top three to
pick up on top twenty. Think when it's all said
and done, you know arg and I think, well, I
think what excites me about him too? He's five ten
seventy two, seventy eight catches over thousand. You are just
year twelve touchdowns? You know, the least figure out a
way to use these guys outside and inside at that

(08:54):
size now, right, they can be more of a vertical
speed guy when they're outside, but they wouldn't even slot.
He has that suddenly new quickness to you know, to
separate on those option routes and stuff like that too.
So I think with with the way the league is
going and how the schemes are developing, these smaller guys
can be used in in a lot more creative ways
and maybe they were five six years ago in the league.
And I think Tony you made a point about how

(09:15):
BC struggled this year. I think if you watch them,
especially talking with Zay as well, he learned how to
be so much craftier as a receiver because of that,
right he was getting double teamed or shadow coverage or
all those kind of things that teams were doing to
stop Zay because and again, BC struggled this year. It's
no surprise of the offense didn't as many weapons as
they usually have, but but they had to be creative.
He still going out there getting a hundred yards. I
think if you watch those games just from an offensive standpoint,

(09:37):
you're like, holy cow, how did he get a hundred
yards when they're doing triple coverage on him. I think
he learned a lot about the nuance of the position
through experience, which I think is really hard to learn
unless you have that experience yourself too. So I think
zay Is is coming in as a very pro ready
receiver who's got this elite weapon as as a speed
downfield threat. Ask you about to perdue kids first, O'Connell.

(09:59):
I mean, teams love this kid coming coming into the
season and all he did was produced last year. I
mean he had, he had a terrific year. A big quarterback,
He's got a big time arm. He knows how to
use all his receivers, uses his tight ends very very well.
I mean, I think this is a major get for
the Shrine Ball. He is. I think he's Jimmy Garoppolo
two point oh and and maybe a better prospect. I

(10:20):
think he's got even a better arm than Jimmy, maybe
not quite as quick of release, but as the same
arm and actually has the same quarterback coach of Jimmy
Garoppolo ronically and Jeff Christensen, who was a great job
with kind of building quarterbacks up from the base and
allowed him to kind of process information quickly. Um. I
think it will be the top, you know, senior quarterback
at any All Star Game this year. I think from
talking with NFL teams and kind of how they feel
about him. He's married, he's extremely mature, right, he knows

(10:43):
how to manage players, He's not phased by things. I
won't make the classic rock Purty comparison, but a lot
of those rock pretty qualities that he had a year ago.
When I met with him at the Shrine Bowl which
was calm, this understanding ability to be witty but also
locked in on his career. I think Aidan's gonna command
at presents in a locker room run away. And I
think in terms of the other quarterbacks in this draft,
you know how talented Bryce Young is and C. J.

(11:04):
Stroud Er, Will levis immensely talented as well, and then
you look at guys like Aiden, who Hey, I can
go to bed at night knowing An O'Connell is my
quarterback and I'm gonna win eight games next year. Right
at the very least, He's gonna be this baseline quality
NFL quarterback that you can win with. And he might
be so much more as well too. So I know
a lot of NFL executives down at the Shrine bow
and I think he's gonna have a fantastic week uh

(11:25):
during during we can practice. And it's funny that you
bring up Jimmy Garoppolo because if people remember, Jimmy Garoppolo
started his Marshall Draft boards with his performance at the
Shrine game back in the days when it was at St. Pete.
The only kid I want to mention to you from
uh DO who I absolutely love is Corey Trice, the quarterback,
another kid who came into the season highly regarded by scouts.
You can play him i press, you can play him

(11:46):
in zone. He's tough, he's smart, he's got outstanding wall skills.
I mean, in my opinion, this guy is one of
the most undervalued players at the cornerback position. Yeah, I'm
not sure how other teams people outside the lead maybe value,
but I could agree with you, Tony. I think he's
got first round trades altogether. And I was point scouts
in the direction of I think it was the Syracuse
game when he was still banged up, and he's still

(12:08):
probably playing at sixty percent of his ability because he
was hurt and still shut down every receiver and that
entire game. He was dominant that entire game at press,
like you mentioned, downfield, double moves, deep, comeback, coming back.
As a longer corner. He is the what NFL teams
want now. He's a longer corner who can move. He's
gonna run in the four fours, four or five. He's
gonna test well across the board. He can press, he's smart,

(12:29):
He's been around for a while, right, He's a senior,
so he's played two or three years at high level
in the Big ten. I think absolutely he's gonna be
again at his first round trades. We'll see how it
all shakes out. But again, now that he's kind of
fully healthy, at his best for the Shrine both in
the NFL combine, I think he's one of the most
interesting quarners. And we just saw what Sauce Gardner and
and Rick Won did as longer corners. In this year's draft,
I think teams can see Corey Trice and say maybe

(12:49):
he's our trek will and except not in the fifth round,
for sure, that's that's not gonna happen this year. Again.
You know, I think you hit it. He's six three,
two fifteen, right, I mean that is that is great
size for a cornerback, and I think would impressed me.
You know, he played very tight coverage. Ton't you mentioned
you can press him up. You know, he got his
head around. He didn't commit passing the Ferarence penalties either.
Just four penalties is passed year. You know, when you're pressing,

(13:10):
you got your back to the quarterback, you can run
into the receiver, things like that. I thought he did
a really good job not doing that and if you
think he's gonna test in the high four or fours.
That was my one question watching the day, what his
deep speed was. If that's where he's gonna test with
those traits. You're right, that is a late day one
early day to pick. Yeah, we'll see if he does.
I want to put pressure in the kid either, but
no matter what, he's gonna test ball together. And of course,

(13:31):
again you watched the film. I did see a speed
guy get passing this. You're comfortably right. It's it's game
speed for sure, game speel. Whatever you want to quantify
that is. That's four or four or four or five.
Quality support be one thing. But he's got the ability
to kind of hang with Maybe he's a Flowers, will
see think he handles a Flowers as pretty fast, but
he can handle guys like a Flowers at the NFL
level for sure. Well, I want to ask you about
a quarterback during Thompson Robinson from a great story. My

(13:55):
question is this, and it goes back to using players
at different positions. Last year you had to reach game
in the quarterback from Miami at the Shrine game and
we shrine ball and we saw him play. Take a
couple of reps at receiver. Do you think we're gonna
see during rob during Thompson Robinson possibly play line up
in a different position next week. I don't, I don't.

(14:15):
I don't think he'll playny receiver. He's gonna be a quarterback.
And I'll tell you, Tony, I think there are a
lot of NFL teams that value what he does as
a quarterback. And again I think we're we're seeing, hopefully
a resistance. It's something I believe philosophical and quarterback evaluation,
which is managing games, being efficient, being able to improvise,
not making mistakes. Again, I want to keep saying that
where Brock Purty, but he was the Shrine Bowl Darling
of a year ago, right, But Brock's whole career, he

(14:38):
was very efficient, didn't make mistakes, can make the two
or three big throws when he has to make him
And that was kind of that. He was steady the
entire time, and I always stay did that for the
Niners this year as well too, when I think Dorian
playing as much football as he has and at U
c l A in big games, in big matchups, going
on third and five in the Pack twelve championship game,
two years ago, right making those kind of throws. He's

(14:59):
seen that, and I think that he can move, he
can improvise, He's a good athlete, and he's seen a
lot of football. I think every NFL team is gonna
say we'd love that guy as our backup. But I
think for the last decade of my opinion, at least,
I think teams have overvalued the elite rates saying will
develop those guys. When I think now, with as much
receiver talent as it is in the NFL, and tight
end talent, and maybe offensive line play not as good

(15:21):
as it was a decade ago, we're seeing teams get
the ball out quicker, get at their playmakers, so you
don't eat a quarterback with a big, strong arm all
the time, any guy who's not gonna make mistakes on
the quick slants, quick screens, et cetera. I think guys
like Brock Purty have shown that if you can do that,
make a couple of throws, you'd be along to meta
FHL quarterback. I think Dorian could definitely be that kind
of guy this year. I think Dorian has some similarity
of Taylor Heineke, also a former stri Bowl player who

(15:41):
also played the NFL for a long time. A lot
of similarities there, I think too. But to answer your question,
I highly don't play receiver. Un Let's see is having
a great week at quarterback and he gets a little
bored and wants to play some receiver too, But I
don't playing a cord receiver this weeman Eric. I love
the contrast between O'Connell and Thompson Robinson, right. O'Connell is
more of your traditional drop back pocket guys six three
to fifteen. But Thompson Robinson, I mean he had a
run early in the year on a scram, but he

(16:03):
made like six guys Mitts cuts back to the middle
of the field like a sixties five you are touchdown run.
This guy could be a real playmaker with his legs. Yeah.
And I think every NFL team too, was saying if
not the brock Purty type or Bailey's appy type and
not use rock Purty every time, right, They want the
guy who can move a little bit as their backup
quarterback as well too, So I think During kind of
fits both those areas. But again I think there's there's

(16:24):
If he had declared last year's draft, during would have
been drafted a year ago, based on the teams I
had spoken with too, I think this year people may
be surprised, if you don't think so already, that he
might be a guy that's gonna go in the top
four or five rounds as a guy the teams love
as their backup quarterback offensive weapon. Talk about two centers first.
Ricky Schoenberg of Arkansas, another guy's highly regarded, really a tough,
nasty guy. If you're a practice and hopefully you get,

(16:46):
you get to get after the shrine game. I think
Ricky Schoenberg is the kind of guy that we're gonna
see a lot of pushing and shoven when the whistle blows.
After the whistle blows, He's that type guy. Big strong,
uh small area Moailler give us you a quick breakdown
on him. Yeah, I think you bailed it. I mean,
he's a guy that's not gonna lose reps on the
interior for power rushers, right. I think he's gonna show
on a fel teams that he can move in space

(17:06):
a little bit and work. Latterly at Arkansas they didn't
really have them do that too too much. I think
he'll show that he can work in the entirely in
the A gap, maybe push guys out to the B
gap as well, and be an effective pass blocker in space,
and he'll certainly show kind of that run game masses.
But I'm excited to see Ricky go against some of
our nose tackles, are head up guys and show how
he can really consistently win there. And and you know, Tony,
it's hard to find a center who can snap and

(17:27):
take on big tradition pound nose tackles consistently in pass protection.
You've got a center you could do that. You can
have your guards protecting on stunts blitzes and do a
much better job. I think that's why I think sometimes
guys like Ricky are undervalued, because, hey, he may not
be a four seven four right type of freak offense
lem is gonna run well in the portyard dash, but
he's never gonna lose against nose tackles. And he can
protect your A gap from blitz is to late as

(17:48):
well to and those two things are super important for
today's NFL, where a gap pressure or so it's so
valuable for defense to get home. I think Ricky's a
guy that can win against nose tackles and win against
those pressure as a practice for sure. Other center a
guy who I absolutely love and I think the rads.
Do Scruggs from Penn State played guard last year for
Penn State, made the seamless transition to center this year.

(18:09):
Great fundamentals you can get out on the second level.
All of the guy never makes mistakes, and I mean,
I don't know how this guy is it more highly
rated when you watch the last two years of film
because he is that explosive, He's smart and and it's
the mechanics that need bend, the blocking with leverage to
hand used that really blows me away every time I
watch him. Top top three name at the Shrine both

(18:29):
well to Juice Scruggs you got him and Snacks Coburn
at Texas my two favorite nicknames at the Shrine Bow.
But no, I completely agree. I think again we make
the classic mistake of this guy was too much is taller?
He would be a first second round pick. Right. I
think people look at the side as an issue, but
it doesn't show up on film. Right. Size is an issue.
Length is an issue if it shows up on HILM.
I totally with you on do drugs. He can move laterally,
He's played guard. He understands how to pull, how to

(18:51):
get to the second level. He could be his zone
blocking lineman at work down the line and get to
a linebacker at the second level on an outside zone.
Or he could be a man guy and again pull
and and up field as well on those linebackers middle
of the field too. So I think he's a great mover.
He could a great vendor. He could play center and guard.
He'll do both in the week of practice as well too.
But again, Tony, I'm not sure what the outside world thinks.
I know, NFL teams no juice the draft pick. The

(19:12):
question is gonna be a a guy you can start right
away for us in the NFL, And if he shows
that during the week of practice, I think a top three,
four round pick is where he's gonna up. Going ahead,
we'll we'll move to some of the small offensive linement.
You know, we talked about Jimmy Garoppolo. You mentioned Jimmy Garoppolo,
and I mentioned how he's uh, you know, his his
rise of draft boards started the Shrine game. I was
also they went to Ron Armstead of Arkansas Pine Bluff.

(19:33):
Just everybody away at the Shrine game, and and you
look at what he's doing. Three offensive linemen, ironically one
of the players from uh from Armstairs, Almamada, Mark Evans,
the left half from Arkansas Pine Bluff. I think he's
gonna be a zone blocking guard. A little bit shorter
than you want for a tackle, but he's mobile, he's agile,
he's got good footwork, he's exceptional in space. Again, fundamentally sound,

(19:58):
very explosive. I was very happy to see him at
the Shrine game because I don't think this guy gets
the credit that he deserves. And he'll be working at center,
as Walter we could practice well to He'll go from
tackle the center, and he's snapping very well so far.
And again, centers obviously a spot where maybe your height
and length is not as much of a question mark
for NFL teams. But Tony, you're absolutely right. You turn
to the film for even three or four plays and
watch like to Mark Evans pass sets, and you're blown

(20:19):
away by the feet, the movement, the ability reposition and
balance shutting down guys in the perimeter. Me he's shutting
down six five defensive ends easily despite being a guy
that's a little bit short and not as great length
to when I think you move that guy inside, I'm
curiously how he does to be honest and see, hey,
if that moving ability that balance on the perimeter will
hold up the same way on the inside. But I
know he's snapping well. He's a fantastic athlete at the

(20:40):
position I think a garden, especially center where maybe those
lack of length is not going to be an issue
for him. I think he's gonna easily handle three text
stunts blitzing linebackers with ease. I think he'll learn how
to handle nose tackles in that kind of short area.
I think he'll be just fine there because he can
bend and sink his hips and and win with anchor.
But I think for NFL teams, if he can show that, hey,
he can handle those tackles and snap the ball pretty well,

(21:01):
they know he can handle those stunts and three tex
in late blitzer. So I think he's a guy that
NFL teams again absolutely aware of an absolutely like quite
a bit too. But the Shrine Bowl, we can show
that guard center vers until they could push him way
up draftwards. Well, in another monement, who's gonna have no
problem handling big A nasty defensive lineman, Quentin Barrel Grand
Valley State play played left tackle little Grand Valley State.

(21:21):
I think he's more of a right tackle guy. But
this guy is a is a specimen out there. He's
all these big, long arms, and the thing about is
he's always looking to bury the opponent. I mean when
he's always trying to bury the guy into the ground.
And you've gotta love that nastiness about Barrel. He'll play
left hand right to echo O, but a guard as
well to really good practice. But I think I've already
talked to Quit about that too, like, hey, don't don't,

(21:41):
don't play off the whistle too too much. Don't get
some fights here, right, but definitely show that nasses showed
unfilled because I think all these guys that are d
two fcs guys a little bit chip on their shoulder
going against the Clemson Ohio State helmelets, they're gonna see
him practice, and I think I told him, hey, he's
not tended. I'll tell you that he's not tended at
all by those bigger guys. But I'm like, hey, show
that you have that nassas, show that character that you
do have as well too, when again he'll play left

(22:01):
right guard. He's played a lot of positions in training
in his high school and college career, and I think
he'll show that versatility for NFL teams. And I think
quentnin knows as well. If the NFL teams want to see, hey,
can a guy like Quentin get us out of a
game at least as a rookie at two or three spots.
That's when a lot of these guys want to show
during practice. Is not just your ability to play left
tackle right tackle, but to be a six seventh grade
offensive line but an active roster, you better show you

(22:23):
could play two or three spots. I think Quentin can
do that and that'll be his big focus for the practice,
the show that he can play left right and maybe
some guard spots as well during practice. And the NFL
is a rookie. One last small school guy. I think
he was announced just a couple of weeks ago Brent
Lang of Minnesota to loose another guy, probably gonna have
to move from the college position that he played, but still,
I mean went back. I believe for his second senior

(22:44):
season improved his game. He's another more of a power gap,
more of a guy, but he's also not ban on
his feet, can get out to the second level. What
one gets your take on him, he is. I think
he'll be one of the fastest offensive line of the
entire draft class. I think when it's all said, he'll
run a sub five oh forty yard dash time. He's
a great mover, and he'll be a guy that you're
absolutely right. Is gonna play mostly guard and we could

(23:06):
practice will play sub tackle to kind of get some
get some reps there for philm but he'll play largely
guard in the triball and he's prepared for that. There's
NFL teams that really like Brett Lane, really really like him,
know how athletic he is, know how fast he is.
And I talked to a couple of area scouts whore like,
I gotta go to Minnesota Looth, that's impossible to get
up there and think I get the two shuttles and
a bus whatever else. And I talked to for scouts
who said, I'm so glad did this year because bretent

(23:28):
despite coming back for now his six season in college,
he got even so much better from a year ago.
He had enough fil interest a year before. But I
think every scout went up and every team went up
there obviously too, but every time I went up there
said I'm glad I'm here. He's gotten so much better.
He's a great athlete. He's developed his hand placement, his
technique even further. He's dominating games this past season. I
think he's got that NFL teams are really excited to
see because if he could transfer from that Minnesota to

(23:49):
Looth to the Ohio State Georgia guys will be going
against and he has that kind of spe at the
NFL combin like I know he has, and he know
he has. I think he's a guy who could really
really rise. The draft boards were drove by Eric Galco
to do through football operations and play a personnel for
the Shrine Bowl. Go to Shrine Bowl dot com all
the infos air games. On February two, Let's talk about
some of the scope position guys, a couple of linebackers
and start Leonard tall or at a Cincinnati. You know,

(24:11):
he's a guy. The numbers do not jump off the page,
but if you watch him move, you wonder why the
numbers didn't jump off the page a little bit more. Yeah,
he and he's playing alongside Josh Wader and really tell
the tight end and SENSEETI as well too, And I
think that's part of why that happened too. But there
are games where Leonard was the guy last two years
where Leonard was a guy and Josh was and then
vice versus. So I think both guys really play off
each other well, right, he was more of the why

(24:33):
while and more of the age move tight end. They
kind of did some more situational things, but I think
Leonard's a I think we're NFL teams are going as
they played more eleven personnel. You need a tight end
who can block, who can brother short terror routes, who
get down field as a route, runners, frets of scene,
and it's hard to find guys who can do all three. Right.
We've got a lot of athletes that tight end now
in the NFL that might get sicky types, but those
guys that they can't be in line. You can't really

(24:54):
go eleven personnel and go no huddle consistently. But Leonard
Taylor fits that to a t. He's a plus athlete,
he's a great a kid. It's a high character, high
energy kind of guy. Got you want your locker with
you that kind of guy in your tight end receiver group.
But he's a here'll be a guy that stretches to
seem in practice. But I'm really excited to see him
as a blocker because I think you showed that since
any of this year more than even previous years, and
he could be a really capable why eleven personnel blocker. Right,

(25:16):
take on those strong I dns, climbed to the second level,
make plays on safeties when they're outside of outside zone runs. Right.
He showed that in college. I think he'll show that
in practice this year too. And then between that his
wraps and then when he tested the combine, I think
it's got to can really drive up draft boards because
the production is out there, so teams have maybe some
lower expectations. That's what they try and bolts with the
All Star Game process is all about I tell people,

(25:37):
let her tell you. Gotta go back and watch the
two thousands twenty one film because part of the problem
this year was Ben Bryant just didn't use the tight ends.
He threw the throw the ball twenty thirty yards down
the field and the tight ends were not part of
the bassing offense. And you know teams. You talk to people,
they always thought that there was this huge divide between
Josh Wiley and Leonard Taylor. I never saw anything more
than a round a round and a half of difference

(25:59):
between the two because I thought that Leonard Taylor was
so undervalued. I would be looking forward to watching him
and practice. Another major UH invitee Much Schumacher from Michigan
was consistently productive, had some injury issues last year. But
you know a big hole guy who at times plays
the tight end position like he's a receiver. He catches

(26:20):
the ball, all that that, well, he's also a solid blocker.
You can get him out in space. I think this
is a major, major, major get for the Shrine Ball. Yeah.
I think he'll be one of the first tight ends
take in the draft. I think there'll be a couple
of conuers that go early. I think he'll be one
of the first, if not the first senior tight end drafted.
Because when I mentioned for Leonard Taylor, he's a guy
that can play eleven personnel tomorrow in the NFL. It

(26:41):
could be a really good blocker against the ends, linebacker,
safeties in space. He can get downfield. He's showed the
ability to run corner routes, fade routes, and seam routes
at Michigan this year, he's got kind of those Kyle
Rudolph win in that five and seven yard area. He
could also get downfield again, corner routes probably four or
five as biggest plays this year. We're in corner routes.
He's a really efficient, smart red zone receiver, which we

(27:01):
under value sometimes we think of these bigger guys that
can make plays. But there's a reason why Travis Kelson
makes a lot of plays on other tight ends don't
because he knows kind of how to play in that
red zone and skill in itself. And Luke knows that
as well too. And again NFL teams love Luke coming
end of the year, he's played well. I got it's
some injury stuff like you mentioned too, but early on
in that season against Indiana, later in the year again
in the in the playoff game. I think he was
really really important for that Michigan offense all year. Along

(27:23):
to he's a leader, great kid, high character guy. I
think NFL teams are gonna cover him. I don't think
he gets out of the first two rounds, and I
think he'll be a guy that NFL teams really want
to have because when you start assessing the tight end
group we saw last year tight end group was a
little bit deep, right, but not a lot of guys
that could be tomorrow starters in the NFL. I think
Luke is a guy that whoever drafts him will be
a starter tomorrow. I think he's maybe a better version
of a guy like Daniel Bellinger who went fourth round

(27:45):
for the Giants but played right away. I think Lukes
maybe a better version of that. It will be a
Day one starter for his NFL team. I'm sorry, we'll
talk about a couple of defensive players front seven players. Yes,
I've actually I've really had an affection for since it's
rights your freshman year Isaiah More North Carolina State. I mean,

(28:05):
this guy is a three down linebacker. He complains space,
he defends a run. They'll do a good job for
you if you need him, if you send him up
the field on the blitz. He's a smart guy. He's
a tough guy. He plays within the system again, and
he's got great measurables. It's it's not like he's slow.
It's not like I just don't see why this guy
doesn't get more love. Yeah, I would say that there's

(28:26):
a good number of various scouts. We a Downsizaiah more
that texts me saying, just like you are, Tony really
excited to have him there. Don't know why more teams
don't think he's hired to which I'll take the sleeper
from right now, because how he's gonna test, how he's
gonna play at this rin bull But even but Isaiah,
because you hit a nail on the head of most
of those details. Talking to Isaiah again, I know a
lot of our players are high character, they're gonna test,
we'll interview well, et cetera. But Isaiah just oozes the

(28:47):
ability like that guy is a green dot player tomorrow
in the NFL. Can handle the play calling, can lead
his defense. He knows how to articulate that to the
entire defense very very quickly. He called a lot of
blitz changes, a lot of play changes, a lot of
scrimmage for and se said this past year as well too.
And he has that ability to move out to the
tackle box, be a tackle finisher in the in the interior,
dropping coverage, go against tight end's running back, et cetera.

(29:08):
Two so I think Isaiah's gonna have a really steady,
efficient coverage, nine on seven type of week at the
Shrine Bowl. But again those interviews, I think NFL team
is gonna leave that saying again it's hard to find
a guy who's a green dot player as a rookie
that can play linebacker for me tomorrow. I think NFL
team is gonna leave the Shrine bull saying we got
to get isaim More at some point in the draft too.
I think he goes even higher because supply and demand,
not many guys like him mentally and physically can do

(29:30):
that as rookies. I think he can. Yeah, and then
let's jump to the other ahead. I want to jump
to the other defensive guy, to any kind to jump.
Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan. You know, you watch him against
these players. He's going against these tackles, and you just
on the tape, it's all right, this guy's the best
athlete up front, and he runs back past these guys.
They try to chip him with backs. He doesn't matter.
He beats double teams. I'm really anxious to see him

(29:53):
against different competition when he gets into an All Star
game like yours. To see how that athleticism will translate.
I remember talking with Eastern Michigan as a staff and
then a couple of area scouts. We were debating Jose
and I go, well, he hasn't gotten many sacks, like
for four games this season, he had no sacks in
the year yet I'm like, but go watch again, he's
had like twenty five pressures and four games he was
almost there, and then of course he had like a

(30:13):
five stack game like the week after right now, and
all that prossion kind of came through, which shows kind
of maybe saxs and be misleading, but a fantastic athlete.
He has some counter rush moves. I know he'ven working
on even more counters during training, but a special athlete
in space. He's got that rare athletics and that he
can work up field initially and kind of be guys
with speed and bend, but also has that twitch to

(30:33):
counter back inside or counter back to the outside as
well too. So he's a guy that has kind of
the double double version of what do you want to
speed rushers? A guy can win in the perimeter initially
and then counter back inside and hose gonna that all
week along and practice as well too, So I've told
all of our offensive tackles the Rhine Bowl. Hey, I
know it might be a mack helmet, don't get complacent.
This guy can really rush the path around the perimeter.
I think our offer the tackles will be ready to go,

(30:54):
but I still expect Jose to be again. For me,
it won't be a while because I'm looking forward to it,
but I think he'll be one of the I guess, wow, guys,
those first two days of practice, it's funny because Wow,
he's very sudden, he's very explosive. He comes out of
nowhere and basically blows up the play, and it's funny
that it's it's maybe it's ironic that you talk about, yeah,
he doesn't have the teams are complaining he didn't have

(31:14):
the stack. Production. We heard that same criticism about a
guy by Namy treyvon Walker a year ago, I believe,
who had had only six sacks, but oh yeah, he
had like thirty three quarterback coveries. So you know, it's
not just about the stack, like you said, it's about
making the quarterback move his feeting and leave the pocket,
which Mirrors has done for the past couple of years
in Eastern Michigan. I think he's you know, he was

(31:34):
the best pass rusher in the MAC this year bar
non production wise, and when he's that back in the
field too in Eastern Michigan. You know, you watch the
bottom of the benefits of a guy playing on a
defense doesn't have a lot of NFL players is you
can see how crystal clear his value with that defense,
and they're they're you know, dictating on wins and losses.
You know, Harvard's Truman Jonales, other guy on our roster
as well too. I think a guy you'll learn about
a week of practice, he's really really talented, but you

(31:56):
watch the film and their defense goes the way he goes,
and think for those they were or their defense with
the way he went and he knew that on the field,
and he's able to be as an effective pass rusher.
But also for Jose as well. He's not giving up
plays in the run game either. He's not selling out
as a pass rusher. He's got that kind of awareness
because he knows a guy that he's the best player
in the defense, that he can't make mistakes. You know,
sometimes you see guys that even the Bamba's the Georgia's

(32:18):
when they have so much talent and edge rusher might say,
you know what, I'm gonna go all for the quarterback
because if I don't get him, I got a first
round pick who can make my play for me. Right,
But jose knew he couldn't do that, And that's why
you still see the quality tackle production, the ability to
make plays in the run game because he can rush
the pass or has the explosiveness, has the twish to counter,
but also as the instincts recognized, Hey, if it's a
read option or delay or a draw, I gotta make

(32:38):
that playing the ball carry as well, you know, Eric,
And I'll throw this out there too. He he's only
listened at six too, right, And I know people looking
for the long and lanky pass rushers, but for me,
you know, I watched a Son Reddick for the Eagles
all the time. He's six one. He kills these offensive
tackles because he's too low for him. He's that little
dit move around the edge, and I sold the same
thing from Ramirez. He gets too low and these bigger

(33:00):
tackles don't know how to handle a guy that load
of the ground, that can then dip and bend around
that corner. You know, we we call receivers and edge
rushers creator positions. They're very similar positions seven signs of ball,
but very similar in the sense that as an edge rusher,
if you've got six good plays and forty bad plays,
if those six good plays are two sacks and three
tagles for a loss, you had a heck of a game. Right,

(33:20):
Then think for receiver, and I think we underappreciate for
a while then that edge rushers had to be these big,
long guys and defend. But a teams are passing more
than ever. The running backs are smaller, right receivers or
what you can have smaller guys that feel it's really okay.
And then see the bast part for Jose again, he's
not losing instincts on the run game either, right, He's
able to work in space and separate. Right Back in

(33:40):
the day, it was you had to be six four
five to be a d N because you want to
separate with strength. No Jose can back up, move laterally
and make a play in the ball carrier. I again,
I think we're we're kind of moving away from the
need to have six three, six four six five d ns.
All the time. Some schemes require that. I think, like
you said, if Jose has two sacks and three tackles
for a loss and he misses two run, play is
you'll take that all day along. And today's yeah, kind

(34:03):
of funny that you said to the players, you know,
don't be uh, don't get old crazy, or don't dismiss
the fact that he's wearing a mac helmet. Because the
last time a big pass rusher came out of Eastern
Michigan was a guy by named Max Crosby, who's doing
a great job in the NFL. Yes, sir, yes, sir.
So I would say Jose's quite has Max's ceiling, but
who knows neither we think Max of the time either.
So I we'll see if Jose they can call him

(34:24):
Max flot Steps so Tony you want him? Any other
individual players? Before I touch on the class as a whole,
I'll leave it to you. I just couple of couple
of other names. H cornerback Mickey Garner started at Louisiana
Lafayette was taught that if he had entered the two
thousand twenty two draft, he would have been a middle
round pick, maybe a Day two pick. Goes to h

(34:44):
L L s U. Got some red flags here and there.
We're depending on what scouts you talked to. Had a
real terrific season at LSU last year. Yeah, I think
he's a player that I always I love these guys
talking to scouts in terms of, hey, why can't that
guy be a higher draft pick? If they give me
one reason, I get really excited because if that player
can answer that question, then he's gonna go really high. Right.

(35:05):
Everyone says for McKay Gardner speed, right, he's gonna be
a slow forty yard he might be a four six,
four seven guy. I know McKay is not going to
be that, and talking with him and talking with their
staff and seeing their GPS numbers on him as well too.
So once he's a four or four or four or
five guy, people are changing their grades drastically. And mckaysm
a guy that does just that. He's physical, He's an
outside press guy. He plays him off man cover as
well too. He's had great games throughout the season, one

(35:26):
or two games I think he wished you had back.
But overall of physical, six six fift twenty pound corner.
I think he can play safety, but I think NFL
teams are gonna realize that help the speeds there. I
think he's got that could really be a top huncher
pick when it's all said down, but I'll have a
lot to prove it. We could have Shrie Bowl because
I think teams want to see that ability. You gotta
handle speed guys downfield. Big offensive lineman from U A B.

(35:47):
A guy I've watched the past three years, plays left tackle.
Its probably gonna have to make the move the right tackle.
But he's a mountain of a man and he moves
relatively well for a guy that is huge. Cadeem Teleford,
what do you expect him to weigh in at and
give us, you know, a little breakdown on him. Yeah,
I think he'll be in the three twenties, um three
twenties when it's all said and done. I think he
knows he wants to get that down. But I think
the easiest thing for Kadem if you want to see

(36:08):
what kind of player he is, and you know, I've
even heard some scouts mentioned going from G five to
playing its bad guys will see what he does. Go
watch the LSU game right played Larly this year two.
He was dominant against LSU level pass rushers, a team
known for having great NFL players. They're rotating guys consistently,
and I think one of the benefits of going against
guys like Bama and George and l s U is
not just that they have talented players, but they've got

(36:29):
a lot of talented guys. And you seek a deem
Tele for going against the second third string fresh d
ns at l s U and winning those reps frequently
as well too. So condem is gonna be a bigger
guy again Breach twenty in that range, someone would be
really important for him to be after the wig Ins,
But I think it's ability to win as a guy
that's so massive and can kind of control those guys,
almost like Corny Glenn, who was his biggest Corty Glenn.
But Cordy was so massive and so physical that if

(36:51):
you have to speed rush to him, he was too
wide to get around Powell rush, he was too big
to get through. I think that's gonna take a deem
tele for again. He'll be a firm draft pick. I
think teams want to see, you know, how quickly this
guy's start in the NFL. NFL teams are very excited
to see him another guy who I absolutely love. He
doesn't have the measurables. He's probably a smaller defensive tackle.
But when you watch the Toledo film the past two years,
all you see is this guy making place to Shawn Johnson,

(37:13):
the defensive linement was very happy to see him get
an invite. All he does is penetrate the line of scrimmage,
get in the backfield, disrupt the action, makes play after
play aff to play. But because he doesn't have those
great measurables, maybe teams a little bit down on them.
But the guy can play football. No, I think he'll
be I think you're right. Think it'll be a scheme
and a team dictated kind of draft pick. But we

(37:33):
saw Curtis Brooks a year ago get drafted very similar measurable,
some more play style from Cincinnati. He was a six
round draft pick. I think I think Johnson could be
kind of the same type of guy. And then the
difference between those two players is Johnson has a little
bit more to length and I think he can actually
work as kind of a penetrating speed four I five
tech for some schemes as well too. There are some
NFL schemes now there are three four or fourth three hybrid,
but actually don't mind those undersized guys at five tech

(37:55):
that canna be bullet China shop type of players. A
third and they're down in passing said wations as well too.
So I think he's gonna test well, he's gonna move well,
he's gonna win as a D tackle slash ten the
we can practice as well too. But I think you're
absolve right. There's there a certain teams that say, you
know what, good player not a fit for us. They
seems already told me that, but they'll be about ten
NFL team to say, you know what, we've got an
absolute role for this guy. And again, similar to the

(38:17):
pass rushers, I think teams are recognizing even after Aaron Donald,
Grady Jared tookhim a little bit of time, right, But hey,
I shouldn't rule out a guy if you can rush
the passer just because the undersize. I think Johnson will
find that mold pretty well any other players. Eric that
we missed that you're very excited about that, that that
you like to inform our listeners and viewers about all
one thirty. I'm excited about all. I'm married to all

(38:38):
of them. But you know a couple of guys I
think people will learn about during the week of practice
that will be draft fixed that people may not have
heard of quite yet. One quarterback from Fordham Tim de
Mora at Um He broke the FCS record for touchdowns
in a season this year. Um he plays an offense
similar to Henn and Hooker at Tennessee's will show n
F fil teams can kind of leave that offensive be successful.
But six four to twenty runs of four runs a

(39:00):
four seven like good athletes, a pastor as well to
really quick release, efficient quarterback, then he'll be a riser
in the draft process as well. I mentioned Truman Jones
from Harvard one of my favorite players in this draft process.
He's gonna test well. He's a bigger d N can
play some D tackle as well, some three tech as
well too. But a plus athlete, high character kid, Harvard smart,
a great player as well to Bryce Ford Wheaton of

(39:23):
Western West Virginia. He's six four to twenty. He's going
to test out of this world. He'll be one of
the best testers. I think he's this year's Gilani Woods
for us, who was a guy that we liked a lot.
He impressed the Shrine Bowl and through the draft process
rose to be a third round pick. I think Bryce
will rise much higher than is probably already a third
fourth round pick at the least for NFL teams that
he'll rise up quite a bit too. And then lastly,

(39:43):
a T. Perry, that receiver from Wake Forest, the guy
that NFL teams really really like. He had a great
career at Wake Forest, was really impressive I think last
year and you mentioned about someone else earlier, Tony about
going back to last year's film, I think was outstanding
for a tee Perry. And let's just say our two
teams definitely fought over who's gonna coach Parris. But I
think NFL teams really really like a T. I think
ends up being a day to pick as well as

(40:08):
around by guys are all my favorite Son'll get me
in trouble here, John, No no worries. We're joined by
Eric Gauco Director of Football Operations and play a personnel
for the Shrine. Go will go to Shrine Bowl dot
Com the games on February two. Let's expand the lens here, Eric,
we had now through our underclassmen declaration period in the draft,
we have a couple of days where guys can still
kind of bail if they want. Your thoughts on the

(40:30):
class as a whole as we start to embark upon
this three month process, three plus month process now until
the draft at the end of April. Yeah, I think
it's it's been fascinating, I think myself, and I mean
my counterpart of the Suner Bowl, Jim Naggy, see's the
same thing. We're seeing the impact of n I l
uh giving these players opportunities to stay in school for
reasons beyond just I might get drafted higher, right, I

(40:52):
might get draft our next year, and I can make two, three,
four or five six dollars extra as well too, which
is great. I'm all about for the players, and I
think it's tasks when they have that opportunity. But I
think there's some positions that maybe are not going to
be as deep as teams were expecting. Right, we saw
last year a lot of teams punted on quarterbacks early
in the draft. I know in part that's because next
year's class this year now was gonna be so much better.

(41:14):
And it's certainly a great class. We're gonna see three first,
you know, three or four first round quarterbacks most likely,
and you've got guys like Aidan and Dorian will be
there on Day two. But it's not as deep as
teams were expecting. But teams are still gonna plan on
taking quarterbacks. Right. If you take a fourth, fifth, sixth
round quarterback, he's at least a very inexpensive backup for you.
But those guys, maybe you don't exist in this year's
draft as much as teams thought. I think offensive line
was already be one of the weaker spots in this

(41:35):
year's draft as a whole, and again that not many
guys really emerge this year either too, So I think
teams were expecting a lot more quarterbacks and hopefully some
good offensive linemen to kind of be there. There are
some talented guys up top, and the depth of those
positions will be a question teams want to answer on
draft date, because it's easy to be like, hey, don't
don't reach for a quarterback, don't reach for alignment, but
if you kind of need one to fill a roster
spot's hard to pass those guys too too long. So

(41:56):
we'll see some guys get pushed up and and good
for those players as well. Yeah, just just just to
confirm whatever he said. I was talking on somebody in
the league yesterday. He told me two things. He said,
the two thousand four draft is gonna be incredibly deep
in the middle rounds. He said, you're gonna get great
value in rounds three to five because of so many
guys that have decided to go back. And he said,

(42:19):
it's gonna be super deep at the quarterback position because
so many quarterbacks have decided to take that extra year
of eligibility, the Boone Nicks to Jaden Daniels who would
have been in this year's draft. So that is the
thought within the league, as well as far as guys
who have gone back because of n I L which
makes it a lot easier to go back. It's just
gonna make next year's draft even deeper. Yeah, I think

(42:41):
people don't appreciate sometimes that that wide depth matters so much, right,
But depth create for quarterbacks specially. Hey, maybe some quarterbacks
in the top of next year's draft that don't go
as earlier teams already donny to trade multiple first round
picks to get a guy, because there might be a
guy at round too that can kind of draft that
guy instead. So I think that's a great point, and
it's it's fast, and how many guys stayed in school.
I've talked to most of these quarterbacks and I don't

(43:02):
concourage has come out for the draft at all too.
I make sure they kind of know what to expect,
but I think a lot of these guys going back
to school thinking I might be the guy next year.
And I think, you know, spoiler, I'm pretty sure Caleb
Williams of the US will be the first pick and
next year's draft and Quinn Years of Texas probably one
or two. We two. But outside of that, there'll be
plenty of quarterbacks teams to choose from. But again, I
just generally teams passed on quarterbacks a year ago. You

(43:22):
need to have young inexpensive to be to be blood
about it, right, an expensive quarterbacks as your backups and
your practice squad guys. And if last year wasn't it,
this year is gonna be it too, and next year
may not be it, so it'll be I'm watching the
Tony because it's gonna be faster to see how teams
kind of handle the quarterback market and the draft process
compared to free agency. You got anything else for Eric?
No that's it other than we'll see you in Vegas

(43:44):
in a week and half. Yeah, this is awesome, Eric,
I had all my plans ready. We actually booked the
flight to go to the Vegas. With the Giants keep
winning playoff games, so I'm not selling. I'm not sure,
which is a great reason, by the way, but I
might not feel the Vega down for Vegas. I hope
to see you down there. Otherwise, let's catch up after
the game. We'll talk about happened, and we'll catch up
later in the draft process. Yes, sir, I appreciate guy.
Thank you for having I really appreciate it. We thank

(44:04):
Eric Galco. Excellent job Director of Football Operations to play
a personnel for the Shrine Bowl. Go to Shrine Bowl
dot com. The game on February second, right during that
bye week time. So if you're desperate some football between
the championship games and the Super Bowl, go check out
the Shrine Game. I believe that's a Thursday night tony
if I'm not mistaken correct. And then the Senior Bowl
gets played on that Saturday, hoping we'll see if the

(44:27):
Giants one to the super Bowl. I'm not gonna be
at the Senior Bowl either we'll see, you know, knock
on one, we'll see. I'll take care of the coverage
for Giants, Yes he will that Tony will be our
correspond and no doubt about it. But I hope to
down be down there in Mobile even though I can't
get out there in Vegas. So forward to it. Tony
told me, you know what a great job Eric did
down there. I wanted to get out of you know,
get down there and watch the practice this year, but
you know, I have to have a weekend off at

(44:49):
some point. I think my kids are forgetting my name. Tony.
Oh listen, February. I'll be here soon. And well, I
actually gotta cover the draft, so listen. Who knows it
may Welcome to the Welcome to the group. Right. I'm
downstairs in my office watching film, game film night in day,
twelve months a year. So it is what it is,
absolutely all right, Tony. I mentioned it during the interview

(45:11):
with Eric. We've had our declaration deadline pass. Now the
guys have a couple of days here to back out
if they want decide they don't want to stay, you know,
in the NFL draft, and we had some guys that,
oh yeah, we're really shocked that they declared that they're
going into the draft, but they had to do it officially.
Uh and the number one guy on top of that
list of c J. Straude out of Ohio State. I

(45:32):
think the the interesting thing with c J. Stroude was
he took so long to make the decision and it
was a last minute decision, and my information was Ohio
State was offering him a huge n I L package.
There were rumors that at the end of the season,
when Ohio State was convinced that c J. Stroude was
going to go pro, they went to Drake May of

(45:53):
North Carolina and they said, we'll give you a five
million dollar n I L package to transfer to Ohio State.
I'm told that information is true, and I'm sure that
there was talks giving that, if not more, to c J.
Stroud to stay. Now, you know, he's not gonna stay
for a five million dollar or a seven million dollars
six million dollars and the L package. He's gonna stay

(46:14):
because he wants to win the Heisman. He thinks he
can win a national championship with those receivers that he has,
and you know, he wants to develop as a quarterback,
which I think they're all and and on top of
that make five to six million dollars as a college
as a student athlete, right, And I think those are all,
you know, good reasons. But in the end, I guess
he figured, you know, the the NFL was in his

(46:37):
is in his calling. I just hope he gets gets
in a good organization with a good quarterback coach, because
that's what C. J. Stroud really needs. Yeah, no question
about it, I think, right, and two other wide receivers
and Tony good chance the first two wide receivers are
gonna be taken in the draft Quentin Johnson at TCO
and Jordan Addison, who was with Pittsburgh then transferred to USCA.

(47:00):
Both those guys also officially declared for the draft. And
I think that's gonna be gonna be like a chef's
choice type of deal. Right, What are you looking for?
You looking for the technician, the route runner, uh, the
guy that I think is gonna be a more higher
volume catch guy in Addison, Or you're looking for that big, tall, fast,
big play guy down the field in Johnston. It all
depends what you need. I think there's an argument for

(47:21):
both of them. It also depends on what risk you're
willing to take. Because Addison is definitely a much better receiver.
Johnson is definitely a much better athlete. So two or
three years, Johnson could be, you know, significantly better than
Addison in the NFL. But he also has a bigger
bus factor attached him because, as we've spoken about in
the Best on his program, the body catches the ball.

(47:43):
He dropped some catchaball throws. He's not a real good
route runner. So you have to take this great athlete
with terrific size in Quinton Johnson and really develop him
into an NFL receiver because you know, making plays yards
downfield on Saturday doesn't cut it on Sunday. So he's
gonna have to learn to do the things that Jordan
Addison does so well, run routes, consistently, catch the ball

(48:05):
with his hands away from his frame, and do those
little things which are necessary in the NFL. Yeah, no
question about it. It It should be a lot of fun. Uh.
Next week we'll turn our attention to the Senior Bowl.
We will try to get Jim Naggy, who's the executive
director down there um for the Recie's Senior Bowl, will
try to get him on if we can next week.
Altherwise we'll talk about the game and we'll have our
reaction to the NFL playoffs and everything going on around

(48:26):
in college football. Tony, you want to leave the folks
on anything before we say goodbye? No, Uh, you know,
getting closer to draft. Good Luck to the Giants this
weekend because I know that's a big game, and as
you say, this is a draft podcast, but this is
still giants dot com. So good luck to the Giants,
and uh, getting closer to a big long trip, three
days of trying bowls, three days of Senior Bowl. Looking
forward to that. It should be a lot of fun.

(48:47):
We have a short bus ride the Philly in a
few days that will be taken as the John's try
to get to the believe it or not, the NFC
championship game. Geez, I mean, it's it's crazy. It's fun,
but it's crazy, Tony. Everybody, thanks for being with us
on draft seasons. All brought to you by Tom He'll figure,
a PVH brand and an official partner of the New
York Football Giants. For Tony Pauline, I'm John Schelk. This
is draft season