December 24, 2025 • 40 mins
Travis is back for a variety Christmas Eve episode of Drive Time. Today: the Dolphins pro bowlers and alternates were announced. We’ll pick the Week 17 games, break down Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore, and head from the Miami Dolphins High School Coach of the Year, Robert Ortega.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is up, Dolphins and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast.
I am your host, Travis Wingfield. And on today's show,
we are bouncing around some topics. Today we'll cover professional football,
college football, and high school football. We're gonna talk about
the top two quarterbacks who might come out this year
in the draft class, Dante Moore and Fernanda Mendoza. Put
them on the tape, broke their games down. Going to
(00:32):
talk about both those guys for you, plus Pro Bowlers
Week seventeen picks. And we're gonna welcome and coach Robert Ortega,
the Miami Dolphins high school football coach of the Year,
who will be honored pregame Sunday against the Buccaneers from
the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex.
This is the Draft Time Podcast. Pro Bowl rosters have
(00:53):
been announced for twenty twenty six and I hate it.
I love that Devon eh Chan got in. He is
obviously a very deserve of that, but he was the
only one. We have four alternates, which I'm sure you'll
see a couple of these guys at least, you know,
participate because of the way the Pro Bowl goes every year.
But Jordan Brooks and alec Ingold were first alternates, Jalen
Waddle and Mika Fitzpatrick were third alternates at wide receiver
(01:16):
and safety of respectively. And no sign of Arin Brewer,
which I think he'll be an All Pro, like he's
been the best center on tape all year. I imagine
I'll get corrected in the All Pro portion of this
the offseason awards, but I guess we shall see, but
I anticipate that he'll get something his way via via
the All Pro team, which is more important than Pro Bowl.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Anyways.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Let's go ahead and kick off the show here after
that with our Week seventeen picks. We have games all
over the calendar this week. Thursday three games, Saturday two games,
and then I think there's like five one o'clock kickoffs
and on Sunday two kickoffs in the four to thirty window,
like kind of a strange Sunday in terms of the slate,
and there's some pretty good games. Saturday is banging, and
(02:00):
then we get some good games in primetime as well
on Sunday Night Football and the four twenty five Buffalo
and Philly games. So let's go ahead and run through
these real quick and make the picks. Since this is
the last time you'll hear me until Friday when we
preview the Dolphins and Buccaneers game. Go ahead and cue
the music right there. Ten and six last week, one
sixty seven, seventy two and one on the season. Time
for some live math. You guys know how this works.
(02:22):
One sixty seven, whoa not sixteen twenty seven. One sixty
seven plus seventy two is two thirty nine. You win
one sixty seven divided by two thirty nine, and that
is sixty nine point eight percent.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
We are dwindling. I got smoked last week.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
So many close games came right down to it, like
the Chicago Green Bay game. Come on, come on, I
had the Ravens and they lose their quarterback and we
still have an eleven point lead in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
We can't close it out.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Come on.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Anyway, It's not been as good of a year for
us and the picks this year. We try to move on.
Hopefully we can get a fourteen win week here and
I get ourselves in composition here going into week eighteen.
So sixty nine point eight percent round up to seventy
for POSTA and go ahead and pick the game. So
on Christmas, I'm taking the Cowboys over the Commanders, the
Lions over the Vikings, and the Broncos over the Chiefs.
We are on a third stream quarterback for the Commanders here,
(03:10):
and the Cowboys defense has kind of regressed back to
what you saw of them early in the season before
the trade for Quinn Williams. And who else did they get?
They got to Marion over shown back. They traded for
somebody else. Now I can't think about who it was.
It doesn't matter. I think they're gonna win this game
because Washington will fate. We'll start the fame Josh Johnson,
who's playing for his seventy third NFL team. It's an
(03:31):
NFL all time record for teams played for Josh Johnson
seventy three franchise. If you can believe that the Lions
over the Vikings. McCarthy got knocked out again. Is that
his third time going to the injury report getting knocked
out of a game this season? Is it going to
be a Max Brosmer in the lineup? You Die Hard
and we're gonna talk about some college prospects on the show.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Today.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Max Brosmer was the guy I was talking about as
like a possible seventh round undrafted free agent pick for
the Miami Dolphins. He's gonna get his second start of
the season if McCarthy can't go. The Lions all had
their season ended on Sunday, but I still think they're
going to come out and blast the Vikings in this
one and then the Broncos, which if the Dolphins had
kept on winning and gotten a little more help around
(04:11):
the AFC, this would have been the game that you
were counting on for the Chiefs to pull off the
upset over the Broncos, and you would have had to
have hoped for Shane bouchell. I believe it was going
to start the game for them, if I'm not mistaken,
because Gardner Minshew got injured after replacing Patrick Mahomes last week.
So give me the Broncos in a slate that's going
to have three third string quarterbacks and we're gonna pick
(04:31):
against all three of them on Thursday on Christmas Marry Christmas,
NFL fans enjoy this slate. Now it does get better.
On Saturday, we get a repeat of the wild Card
game from last year when Justin Herbert threw four picks
against the Houston Texans, and Herbert's been playing his butt
off the last couple of weeks. However, playing tackles five
and six on their depth chart against that Houston front
seems problematic. I think the pressure will beyond Herbert. He
(04:53):
does not really operate that well on the quick game.
Everything else he does is pretty damn good. But when
you can force him to win in the quick game
and heat him up, that's not usually good recipe for
success for the Chargers. I think the Texans can play
an ugly game with the Chargers in this one and
get a big dub and make one more step closer
to possibly clinching a playoff Berth or challenging Jacksonville for
the AFC South. I'll take the Packers over the Ravens.
(05:14):
I don't know if Lamar Jackson is going to play
with or without him. It's just been a weird year
for the Ravens, and I think it kind of comes
to an end right here if they just win this game. Wait, no,
they have to have the Steelers also have to lose
the Browns, so this could be curtains on their season
right here. That the Steelers could go into the Browns
game clinch pretty much the four seed if that. If
this game goes this way, is Jordan Love going to
(05:35):
play in the game. If it's Milik Willis, I still
like him as well. I think that game on Sunday
night maybe might have done the Ravens in. So give
me the Packers to bounce back after a brutal loss
on Saturday to the Chicago Bears. I'm taking the Bucks
over the Dolphins. I'll take the Patriots over the Jets.
I reserve the right to change my pick back to
the Browns if they don't play Aaron Rodgers in the game.
(05:56):
I imagine they will then possibly rest in week eighteen,
But I reserve the right to change that. If we
get stars for the Steelers, I'm taking the Steelers. If not,
I can change it to the Browns. Just so you
guys know, I'll take Jacksonville over the Colts. How much
fun was that to watch Peyton Manning not Peyton Manning.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Great, I retire. We're calling it a podcast. Close it up.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
He's retired, all right, I'm backing up. I'll see you guys.
I'm not coming back. This is it that's end in
the podcast. On the no drive time ceases to exist.
I'm gonna go, uh freaking I'm gonna go be a
teaching aid at Washington State University of Triceity's campus.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
That's it. Close it up.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Podcast is over Philip Rivers, not Peyton Manning Philip Rivers.
I really enjoyed watching that game on Monday night, despite
the fact that they got blasted because, like Philip Rivers
plays quarterback. The way I used to run my Madden
team back in like eight when I had a like
seventy four and eight was like my record when I
(06:52):
quit playing Madden Online back in my junior college days.
I was pretty damn good, but every single route was
a I would change it, I would change the protection,
I would slide every all ten players on the field
pretty much got a new assignment based off the play
call compared to what I got from their defensive look.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
And that was what Philip Rivers was doing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Man.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
And we're gonna talk about this in the Mendoza and.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
The Mendoza and Dante more discussion on the podcast today
about trades versus process because one is really good in one,
one's really good in the other and It kind of
breaks my brain. But I think you saw the value
of a quarterback that can decipher front and coverage and
disguise and rotation.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
That's so valuable.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Man.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
If you get if you can find that, if you
can find Philip Rivers's brain and put it into an
athletic quarterback, that's what you're looking for, right That's that's
the entire point of this scouting process. As the Dolphins
pretty much re enter the quarterback world again for the
first time in five or six years.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Here, that's it.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
That game kind of peaud my interest with regards to
trades versus process, traits versus process. Back to the picks,
I'm taking the Jaguars, duh, because the Colts aren't going
to catch that fire and their defense seems to have
fallen off the face of the earth. I'll take the
Saints over the Titans. The Saints are a team worth
watching if you're trying to move with the draft board.
Here for the Miami Dolphins, the Saints, the Bengals, and
the Commanders are all teams who could possibly could possibly
(08:12):
find themselves below you in the draft order. I think
Saints and Bengals is likely, Commanders unlikely. If Miami's at
six and eleven, they could pick eighth in the draft,
possibly as highest seventh, but looks like eighth will be
the spot somewhere between eight and ten, depending on how these
last two games go. The Saints over the Titans would
help you get in that position. Seahawks over the Panthers.
The Panthers if they win this game, if it won't
(08:33):
matter to their division standing, because the Bucks will beat
us in these predictions, so that game, I think the
Seahawks will continue on their winning ways and move one
step closer to the one seed in the NFC. I'll
take the Bengals over the Cardinals. The Bengals offense I
think is going to keep rolling the rest of the season.
I will take the Raiders over the Giants in the
number one overall pick Bowl. And this is a big
one to watch because whoever loses this game is going
(08:56):
to be in prime position for that first pick. And
if it's the Giants, you might see activity at the
top of the draft. If it's the Raiders, it's probably
gonna be a quarterback, right But if the Giants get
that spot and they stick with Jackson Dart, which I
could see him not doing that too. Because we talked
about McCarthy leaving forty two games this season, Jackson Dart
has left the game sixty eight times like Josh Johnson.
That's also an NFL record. So if you want to
(09:17):
go back into the quarterback well, I would not blame
them one iota for doing that. But if they do
think that Dart is the guy, then maybe they sell
the pickoff. So Raiders and Giants is a huge game.
I'm taking the Raiders just because I think their veteran
presence and Ashton Genty will be enough to beat what's
been a really bad Giants team this year, who seems
a little bit ruddless right now in what are they
seven to eight weeks removed from their coaching change. I'll
(09:39):
take the Bills over the Eagles in the one big
Sunday game that really has like massive ramifications here it
seems like, I mean, other than that, well, the Eagles
already clinch their division, so maybe not. I don't know,
but I'll take the Bills to get that win right there,
and then the Niners over the Bears on Sunday night.
I don't feel great about that. I feel like the
Bears are kind of on a magic carpet ride. Right now,
they're playing good football. Caleb Williams is ma, can we
(10:00):
look stupid for playing good football as well? But I
think the Niners just I trust the program, I trust
the way they're playing right now, and rock perties can
I come back to life and their defense is playing
pretty good as well.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
So give me the Niners in that one.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I'll take the Rams over the Falcons on Monday night
because uh, let's go ahead and take our first break
right there, come back and talk about college. We're talking
at the quarterback position. The Dolphins offense stands to a
tongue bailoa and we're gonna compare for Nando Mendoza and
Dante Moore. That's next Draft Time Podcast, brought to you
by AutoNation.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Midweek show.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Here on a Christmas Eve edition of the Draft Time Podcast.
Hope you all have a very happy holiday season and
hear this podcast whenever it suits you. I know you're
gonna be home with your loved ones, drinking some eggnog,
opening some presents, and cannot wait to give my kids
their presence. We are taking the kids to Disney World
for the second time in two years. Spoiled little kids. Right,
We're gonna be doing that in February're gonna surprise them
(10:51):
on Christmas with that gift. So don't listen to this podcast, honey.
We gotta surprise the kids on Sunday morning or on
Christmas morning. And also my son, we have a train
that goes around the Christmas tree that's going to make
him lose his mind. I also, I am really excited
about the gift I got my wife and my kids
as well. It's kind of a family gift, So I'm
very excited for Christmas. It's the best when you have
little ones, right. But as far as the midweek show,
(11:11):
I didn't have a lot of topics to deep dive
and get into the Miami Dolphins here. I think that
you know, we've kind of covered like the rookies and
the surge to the young part of the roster and
kind of developing this core foundation of the roster, and
so I wanted to kind of get into something that
is a little bit too full here with regards to
what might happen this offseason, but also something that's kind
of challenged me as a you know, want to be
(11:33):
scout of this game that we'd love so much. And
it's the concept of traits versus process at the quarterback
position and where we're going with the way the game
is today, and you know, with the college football playoff
and bowl season chugging right along, I thought it was
a good time to dive in some college tape here
between Fernando Mendoza and Dante More, the presumed one and
two quarterbacks in this class, should they both declare We've
(11:56):
talked about some players on the show here throughout the season,
whether it was the Ohio State Defenders, whether it was
Reuben Bain at Miami. We've covered this, but those are
broadcasts Saturday afternoon watches where I'm just taking a few
notes here. This we're talking about film and rewinding and
pausing and drawing up coverages and diagrabbing plays. This is
the really valuation, the final evaluation for me. We'll look
out at the Senior Bowl and the Combine, but it
(12:16):
all comes back to the film. And as you know,
we'll eventually get into our positional capsule where I give
my rankings on prospects and perspective free agents as well.
But I thought this was a good way to kickstart
the film process and give you a bit of a
college football preview in the process, although it's not really that.
But Pro Football Focus published a mock draft on Tuesday
(12:37):
that had the Dolphins moving up from wherever they pick
in the draft number one overall in twenty twenty six,
and taking either Fernando Mendoza or Dante More but they
go with Mendoza. The South Florida kid went to Columbus
High School down here. He speaks Spanish as well Cuban
grandparents like it's the whole deal, right, and he is
a sharp young man that is a Heisman Trophy winner,
big year. Gonna play some big football games down the
(12:59):
stretch here as well to hopefully push Indiana towards a
national championship. But both players have eligibility left More as
a first year starter, but also as eligible for the draft.
We've seen Leonora Seller's return to school, Brendan Soresby, Drew
Aller got hurt. Wasn't really an other guy ever, but
he was part of that discussion. Arch Manning's not eligible.
There's a lot of quarterbacks coming back to the twenty
(13:19):
twenty seven class. The figures to have some real name power,
and I believe if you get more and Mendoza coming out,
they would both hear their names called in the top
five of this year's draft. I've watched a bunch of
their games this year, and I've like dvrd them. I know,
old man, so I can kind of dissect and watch
and go back and skip the defensive snaps and jump
ahead of the running game snaps.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
But it's been helpful to evaluate.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
But you know, I off of the broadcast copies, these
were my like cliffs notes if you will. Mendoza highly
highly polished field general, enough arm to make the throws.
Not an impressive athlete, but has the feel to manage
and navigate the pocket with Dante more easy gas, plenty
of mobility design run options are on the menu. Very
precise ballplacement. Not sure how I felt about his command
(14:05):
of the offense and keying the defense. That was gonna
be something we watched in the tape. Now, just real quick.
I talked about Quinn Eewers in that film review podcast
and the thought, the thought process, the fuel, seeing the field.
I thought that was all pretty good for a guy
making his first start. I thought a few of the
throws with footwork and timing got away from him. More
than anything else, and I prefer that. I think it's
(14:26):
a better sign when it's the placement and like the
timing of the drop more so than seeing the defense
and reading it out.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
But I wanted to give you guys this first. Did
you know?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
That was the first game quarterbacked by somebody not named
to a tongue by Lois since twenty twenty two Mike
McDaniel era with a positive offensive EPA. In the game,
we had a three point one to three offensive EPA.
The previous high was the twenty twenty two game at
New England where Teddy Bridgewater got picked sixth by Kyle
Dugger to lose a second half lead that we never regained.
(14:54):
That was negative one point four And quite frankly, it's
mostly negatives and greater than like six or seven ep
so a lot of really bad quarterback performances in there
among those eleven games. So quinn Ewers leads an offensive
attack that had a better EPA than the previous high
by four full points. He threw for eighty more yards
than our average passing total in those games, and we
scored five more points in the average in those games. Now,
(15:16):
of course, that touchdown that came in the fourth quarter
in a forty or a thirty point blow upside a blowout.
You know, you can take what you want from that.
But the production was better across the board. But we
are three and nine now, or three and ten if
you include the playoffs. In games quarterback by not tua
over the last four years, we averaged three hundred and
two yards per game one hundred and eighty eight passing yards.
(15:37):
We averaged negative ten EPA in those games. So Quinn
was thirteen points better than the average and sixteen points
per game, five points better. So viewers was not great,
but he was better than what we've had at that position.
And I think it's fair to say the run game
here is better than it has been any year besides
basically twenty twenty three, and Devon Hian's forty eight yard
touchdown run really helps that EPA. So you can talk
about whether that was the quarterback or not. But the
(15:59):
year of the two play every game was twenty twenty three, right,
So there's some hope there. I think I think yours
has a chance to earn a shot, to have a shot,
if you will, if that next year, and we'll get
into this as we go along, But I don't love
the idea as the PFF article suggests, of trading up,
because I think that we still needed work to recoup
the drafts that were lost in twenty two and twenty three.
So to me, it's more like wait until day two,
(16:20):
take a flyer on like a John Mattier, a Sawyer Robinson,
maybe ty Simpson. Maybe sign somebody like Malik Willison. Attack
twenty twenty seven with vigor if you don't get your solution.
They're kind of the Saints approach this year, right Tyler
Shook in the second round, they had Spencer Rattler as
they're kind of veteran holdover, but he didn't really see
it with him. I just don't think we're in a
position right now to start selling off capital. Maybe I'm wrong,
(16:41):
maybe I'm completely wrong, but I think we need to
keep on going with this approach of restocking the cupverage
with the young foundational players. So the idea of trading
up makes me a little bit Joe philbin queasy. But
the whole point I'm trying to make here with the
data points is I just see all this stuff about
Tua being propped up by the offense, but are we
sure that's not backwards and the tool was not the
one holding the offense up. The numbers would indicate that
(17:03):
that is the case. So all of that said, how
different is the tape on More and Mendoza compared to
what I thought coming into this. Let's go ahead and
take a look at Fernando Mendoza Heisman trophy went out
of Indiana. I watched two games on tape. I wanted
to watch that Penn State game because he kind of
struggled in that one at times, and then the Ohio
State game because he got a Matt Patricia NFL style defense.
And I went off of process, anticipation and release, mechanics, feet, velocity, placement,
(17:28):
in touch, creativity, off script, in tangibles, and the big picture.
So it's a pretty lengthy skyting report. Let's go ahead
and dive right in so minute four. Fernando Mendoza really
strong feel for the coverage, for defense's tendencies and potential
for disguise before the snap. He is so sharp at
gleaning information pre snap, processes a post snap and makes
(17:49):
a quick sound decision. Accordingly, he knows what side to
work and what indicators can take him off of those
potential looks like there was the Ohio State game. It
kind of was a little bit rocky off the start,
but he settled in in a big way after just
a couple of series. And there was a play where
on consecutive third downs in the first quarter of the game,
they went two man. It's two high safeties man coverage
(18:10):
across the board, and one of them was actually a
hybrid zone man coverage front side man backside zone, but
it's the same concept. And he saw this light front
and he immediately just tucked it and ran for a
first down. He saw an avenue, knew he had the
man coverage of the one side of the formation, attacked
it because the dbs won't get involved in the run
game that way, and got the first down with his legs.
There are plenty of reps where he gathers backside information
(18:32):
from the front side read that is using half the
field to get a full field picture. That's NFL stuff, man,
That's what I talked about with the Philip Rivers stuff
back in the open of the show. Here making the
week seventeen picks because of the safety's rotation, Like I know,
the safety has to do this. Therefore, the backside's going
to give me that right and you get the lightning
quick progressions. As a result of that, he creates windows
(18:54):
with his post snap lookoff. He can get to the
back throw blind without loss and mechanics in placement. He
can get back a lot, get his feet set, get
the shoulders in the right position, and drive that ball
without having a lot of time to get to it.
His anticipation and release. I wouldn't say it's otherworldly, but
it's good. Sometimes he sees it then fires, but understands
leverage like what a receiver's sinking into his route at
(19:15):
the break. He understands like if he has outside leverage,
I'm throwing the out route. I can really drive that
thing and we can get that position to him and
attacks it accordingly. He can really hang on to the
last moment as well and flick the risk couple of
players where I thought he was going to get wrecked,
but he just hangs on to it, takes the shot
and gets the ball out at the last second and
converts accordingly. His mechanics are very very solid, very well
coached football player at this stage of his career, consistent
(19:37):
armslot consistently aligns to his target. Ball comes off tight
with a sharp spiral, compact upper body. He's not throwing
that shoulder open, the lower half is always underneath him.
Releases it pretty tight, plenty of drive.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
On the football.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
He can get to it from multiple platforms off of
play pass and RPO. Feet went back into position, whether
it's off of a pivot, off play action, whether it's
off that RPO look, everything quickly gets a lot and
again despite being out of position when he makes the
decision to throw the football. So you know, Travis likes
out a whole heck of a lot.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
The feet.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
They're hardwired to his eyes and that accentuates his processing right.
He's polished in different drops strides to his target. He
can throw without his cleats in the ground, but he
does lose some velocity when he's not tethered to the ground.
Speaking of velocity, he has plus velo, not great velo.
He drives the ball stationary and on the move because
of the mechanical proficiency of his game. The ball doesn't
(20:27):
lose gas to the perimeter if he's got his feet
to the ground, but if he's off platform, it can
sputter out there a little bit. His placement in touch.
He throws one of the best deep balls you're ever
going to see. I mean he picks a landmark, he
shoots it with loft and depth, good downward descent that
kind of makes for an easy catch for the receiver.
Sixty plus yards in the chamber. There layers it nicely.
Not pinpoint accurate, but pretty close. His creativity and off
(20:50):
script prowess won't be much of a factor to meet
the next level.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
He doesn't.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
He kind of moves like Kirk Cousins, like maybe a
little hyped, a younger Kirk Cousins. He can feel rush
and coverage and take advantage of openings, but he's not
making rushers miss in the pocket. He's not going to
make a free runner, you know, completely a whiff of him.
He's not a design run threat on zone read. I
mean he can do it and get around the edge
and get a few yards, but he's not gonna, you know,
take a twenty yard run. He's not really a creator
outside of structure. It shows up and glimpses against lesser competition,
(21:17):
but when he played Ohio State, it was non existent.
The intangibles. This is not from the tape, and you're
not gonna get an every prospect because you don't see
you know everyone like a Heisman trophy winner. Get ten
minutes of art of interviews, you know every game. But
this is not from the tape, just his passion and
love for the game, the process of being a solution finder.
He's a leader, he's he really communicates well, you know
(21:39):
in interviews. I thought his Heisman speech was fantastic. The
call out to is Abuela was really really cool. So
A big fan of his intangibles and the kind of
kid that he is. The big picture, I've got a
polished field general who can decipher coverage and attack with
requisite anticipation, reading leverage and the marriage between Russian coverage.
What that means for him in his process exceptional deep
ball thrower, thrower, plus arm to the perimeter, tight mechanics
(22:01):
with his feet hardwired to his eyes. Not a plus
creator nor design runner. He can make plays outside the
pocket and squeeze every ounce out of play with his
quick release. He's willing to hang in there and take
a shot to maximize a play. Touch and placement are good,
not consistent, keeping his eyes down filled against muddy pockets,
and can run himself into some trouble.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
So there you go. That's Nanda Mendoza.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Let's talk about Dante Moore, the Organ quarterback who I
watched against both Washington and Penn State as well. And
the more I watch this guy, the more I am
kind of becoming enamored with him. So process first year starter,
and sometimes it shows a little bit slow to process.
A post snap picture change opens up with some sacks
and from free runners he does not identify. Now go
(22:42):
to the last game of the season and it's come
a long way from where it was back in Week one,
which has me excited about the potential growth because it's
a first year starter. But in the Washington game, there's
a repp where he uses motion to id the coverage,
has a dummy count, gets movement up front, and he
sees a hard edge who's going to crash. He checks
the play, goes across the offensive line and checks the
(23:03):
protection and moves the running back and then runs zone
read off that crashing end. He knew what he was
going to get and he took advantage of it. It was
really impressive to see that read. Thatsnap or pre snap
execute a post snap, And the more I watched, I
see it in the passing game too. I mean there's
a rep in the UDUB game fourth and three where
he works the front side of his progression that he
(23:24):
wants to work, and then he gets to the middle
of the field and works the safety and sees him
getting depth on this dagger concept. And the minute he
sees that safety turns his hips and runs, he starts
to fire the dagger, which is the dig off of
the vertical clear out, and puts the ball right in
the hole on the money, on the defenders or on
the receiver. I should say, so, uh, you know, work
the recognition, work the safety, recognize the rotation, and attack accordingly.
(23:46):
Anticipation and release. The release is as good as it gets.
Compact doesn't need to load into it drives the ball
from muddy formations. The wrist action is absurd. Has that
Vic Flick style of delivery, the way Michael Vick could
just pinpoint the ball all from sixty five yards away
and it looked effortless. Because of that, there's not always
the need for anticipation, which can help him survive early
(24:07):
in his career. In my opinion, while he is green,
if he sees coverage change, he can interrupt his footwork
and process and get the ball out there. There's enough
anticipation to see where he can go with it. When
he feels it off of one hitch timing and cuts
it loose, he has the confidence to jam that thing
in there to where he can anticipate, but doesn't always
have to. He can kind of read the window opening
up and fit that tight window.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Mechanically.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
It's not consistent and setting and driving towards his target
and leads to some off target throws, but I think
he can learn from this. He can misstride and either
opens up or closes that front shoulder and it causes
the ball to go wayward on him, and you can
usually tell with how the ball comes off of his hand.
It's not as tight as a spiral and obviously not
on target the feet. Whether it's different drops, hitch up,
pivot off of play action, it all looks natural to me.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
It's there in the running game too.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Zone read they run option at organ they switch the
strength and he gets to the different footwork reps with ease.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
It looks like it's inherent to him.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
He's clearly drilled this and individual drill for a long
time as a you know high school and you know
pre high school quarterback as well. Velocity is exceptional, exceptional
arm talent. He threw a forty yard corner against Washington
from the far hash and drove it there. It's a
fifty plus yard throw because you know, college hashes are
wide as hell, and it's not a layered shot.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
It is a frozen rope.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
It's going to force you to cover the initial route
and then handle the off schedule ability he has because
he doesn't have to be on time as a smaller
arm quarterback like he can. He can get it there,
you know after he sees it, which is a dangerous
place to be for a defense. Then the placement in touch.
There's not going to be anybody in this class that
has more arm talent than Dante Moore.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
Quick release, smooth flick ball, jumps off the hand.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
He can place it on a dime, whether it's a
gassed up seam shot to the you know cover one
seam beater or the boundary the go that requires that
flat zip over the top to get in there before
the safety gets over the top, or a field fade
with loft and touch. It kind of has that beautiful descent.
The way Mendoza's ball has doesn't have to have his
cleats in the ground to generate velocity. The spiral and
(26:00):
placement can be effected when he's not coiled properly, but
I think that can be coached out of him. But
he has no problem throwing frozen robes twenty five yards
without having his feet under him. And then the way
he can layer the ball to the middle of the field. Like,
I like what I'm seeing here, guys. The creativity and
offscript stuff. Design runs aren't there when you need them.
But he's not asked to do it a lot, which
tells me that he's kind of developing his game the
right way. But his poise, his feel and desire to
(26:21):
beat you with his arm, with the athletic ability and
makes him a serious threat the easy gas on the
run if you don't plaster, and if you don't respect
the ability that he can shoot it over your head vertically,
the way we haven't really threatened here in a long time.
He can burn you with big plays. He stands out
among this class in a lot of ways, but especially
in this area the intangibles.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
He's poised.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I thought he was unfazed by the environment the atmosphere,
in the weather, and two tough places to play at
Happy Valley and up at Washington. I corroborated the film
with the broadcast of those games to see that he's
kind of a steady heart rate guy.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
Didn't look like much got to him in either of
those games.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
He played Washington in the rain and win and drove
that forty yard corner route where the ball travel at
least yards from the far hash. Big picture, he is
oozing upside for a one year start that demonstrated real
growth in the line, scrimmadge command post snap process and
throwing with anticipation over the middle of the field. He
can threaten every blade of grass with an elastic arm
that sling shots the football from a compact release, generating
(27:16):
power from his wrist action. He's deadly on the move,
a threat with his legs, part of the red zone
run package. He's green first year starter, a lot of
production on deep shots that don't require a process. But
I think if you're gonna try to make the big
move here and make a you know, let's let's go
for broke. To me. Dante Moore's the guy because I
think where I come down it is like, you know,
the management, the on schedule, the polish pocket stuff.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
That's more important the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
But I see enough of it there to think he
can get to Mendoza's level, and then once he does that,
he's a such a superior athlete.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
But that might only get me.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
You know that the polish might get me eleven wins
into the playoffs. But who's the guy that's gonna cut
the snow in January in Buffalo right to get us
to the super Bowl. Because of that, because of Drake
Man and the Division two, I curry favor to the
traits so long as the prospect has shown some semblance
of a proclivity for the process. It's a non starter
without it. But if we go minimal traits, we limit
(28:07):
our upside. It's a fascinating dichotomy. I come down right
now today on Dante Moore by a comfortable margin. So
there you go. Let's take our last break right there.
Come back and hear from coach Robert Ortega, the Miami
Dolphins high school football coach of the Year. That's Next
Draft Time podcast, brought to you by AutoNation. Joining us
today is the Miami Dolphins High school football Coach of
(28:28):
the Year, Robert Ortega, coach, thank you for your time
today and jump on the podcast with me.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Hey, how you doing today. I appreciate you guys too. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
I want to start by I guess there's two ways
we can go here, talk about your football season, but
also the honor here. Let's go ahead and start with
the ladder and the fact that you're gonna be with
us on Sunday against the Buccaneers honoring you as the
Miami Dolphins high school football coach of the Year.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
What does that mean to you, coach?
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Yeah, it's a crazy honor, kind of like shocking and
didn't understand.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
I was like, you know, because you have a great year,
like your year, but you didn't finish all the way.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
You still feel like you didn't do enough, But everybody
in the community is telling you did crazy work, and
it's it's flattering, it's it's it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
It's a blessing and I'm grateful.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Yeah, I imagine that's part of what got you in
this position, right. You talk about not finishing, you know,
the season the way you wanted to. Has that kind
of been your message to the players this year, despite
a ten and three, ten and three record after a
two and eight record last year. Probably pretty fired up
to get back to work next year, I imagine.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
I mean, I'm here right now in school.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
We're working out right now, so we're already in motion
to get better and and and keep going building on
what we did, becoming a better team and as good
as the team we were. And again, you know, losing
the two teams that we lost to, we got to
beat them. And that's the goal is keep people building,
(29:55):
gets try getting faster, getting bigger.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
To make sure that we can finish the TRIU.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Yeah, I mean South Florida right, It's it's full of
powerhouse programs that are nationally recognized and that's what you
guys are up against and had a great season despite
all that. I'm curious, what was what was your favorite
part about this first season, coach?
Speaker 4 (30:11):
What stands out to you above you know, the highs
and the lows.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
What was the highest moment this year for your football team?
Speaker 3 (30:17):
I would say the kids believing.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
You know, like you said, you here you go taking
over a two in a program and you're telling these
kids we're not gonna be too eight, We're gonna be great.
We're gonna change the culture. We're gonna make a name
for ourselves. So we're gonna do our way. And you know,
people say things, and you know, in life, my dad
always taught me is you know men men, men don't
just talk. Their actions speak louder than words, you know.
So we can talk all we want, but everything's coming
(30:42):
into reality.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
It was.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
It was pretty cool to see the kids in in
everything behind the scenes, the alumni support, it was, that
administration support, it was.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
I was, it was blown away. I was very I'm
very grateful.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
It was, like I said, I didn't think it would
be this big of a deal, you know, because I
believe in my in my heart everything that this is
going to happen.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
But to see it all come from, you know, into
reality is it was. That was amazing. It was amazing.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
We have coach Robert Ortega here. He's the MacArthur Mustang's
head coach. Ten and three this season after a two
and eight campaign the year prior. He took over this
year and got that program going in the right direction,
and he talked about culture their coach. I'm curious because look, man,
I'm a father of a five and a three year
old and a six month old, and I'm a little
bit terrified about teenage years and what raising kids is
(31:31):
going to be like in this generation of smartphones and
tablets and all this stuff.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
Right, TikTok, Like, how do you do that?
Speaker 2 (31:37):
How do you go into a high school, a new
territory and establish a culture the way you wanted to?
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Well, I believe everything's.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
About energy and positive and you know, I'm a spiritual person,
so I believe that you know, you give all the
energy they're going to believe into they're going to buy
into it. As long as a kid knows you love them,
they'll respond the way you want them to respond, no
matter how much they're getting upset their kids. We were
once teenagers as well. What that being said is, you know,
you got some teenagers that are a little bit of
trouble than the others. You just can't give up on them.
(32:08):
And there's been time where at other programs some of
these kids probably would have been kicked off, and I.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Pointed to them my way.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
I suspended in my way, and not everybody would agree
to the magnitude of but I believe in you know,
like God gives chances, and we got to give them
chances because kids need us and we're using football as
an outlet to create better men later on in life.
And with that being said, like you just said, like
you're raising kids, and it's a lot to deal with
because you know, kids see things that are really not
(32:37):
even real on in internets. You know, there's so many
fake things you see from the offers that are not
real offers. But their kids are getting they're calling a
friend that to verbally offer at their school to make
them look good.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
And my kids like, coach, what about me?
Speaker 1 (32:50):
And I'm like, dude, dude, trust It's not that I
don't lot of kids. I've always been honest and I
tell them the truth sometimes of course, like anybody, all
don't like the truth.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
But I, like I said, when we.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Built that culture, we told them all we're gonna work out.
We're gonna work our tail off, We're gonna work hard
there everybody out there.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
We had five in the morning practices.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
I only had one kid late at a seventy Like everybody,
you're not gonna be able to get kids there at
five in the morning. We were here for two weeks
straight in summer, five week five am, and nobody only
one time one kid was late. So you know, you
gotta build the culture. You gotta believe in it. But
if you don't believe in it, you know the kids
are gonna see it. The kids are gonna feed off
your energy, and you got to keep bringing that positive
(33:31):
energy and no feed off of it.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
Yeah, coach, I respect that because it sounds like it
sounds like you're coming from the place of if we
do things the right way, we'll get the results we
want right Like we're not. We're not worried about like
maybe some programs, and this is you know, beyond high
school into college, especially where it's like development of the
of the prospect of the player. Be dan, we want
to win football games, but it sounds like you do
it the inverse way, where it's develop these kids getting
(33:56):
ready for life and the win will take care of itself.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Oh man, it's it's an you know, being I never
thought I would want I would want to be a
head coach. I was always assistant coach, and I was
okay with that. But then a lot of times you're
around people and you're like, I feel like we're giving
up on kids, and I feel like we're throwing kids away,
and what that being said is I've been doing this
twenty years and it was just time to bring that
positive to the to reality because, like you said, we're
(34:20):
trying to build men like these are the guys that
are gonna supposed to be taking over our country later
on life, you know, running companies, cleaning up, doing everything.
What they want to do. College is teachers. But if
we don't teach some life lessons now with positive reinforcement,
then we're failing our society anyways, you know what I mean.
So we got to build a culture. You have to
(34:40):
build it. You got to stand on it. And sometimes
it's tough because you might need that kid, but you
know what, you're gonna win with him in life more
than that game.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
This all kind of ties back to I just talked
to Bradley Chubb in the podcast are Walter Payton manner
of your Club Winner?
Speaker 4 (34:54):
And this is exactly what he does.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
He goes back in the community, He gets in touch
with young kids and kind of develops them from that process.
He teaches through games like he uses chess to help
teach like financial literacy at things like that. It's a
really cool way to make sure that you're using these
outlets as ways to you know, prepare kids for life.
And it sounds like that's a lot of what you've done,
so you've obviously impacted them in a big way. I
always love to ask people this that work with kids.
How have they impacted you? Man?
Speaker 4 (35:16):
How have these kids in one year changed your life?
Speaker 3 (35:20):
Ten kids stay at my house right now? There you go,
So I mean they changed my life in And I
used to ask. I used to say to my.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Ex wife, if I didn't have all these kids around,
I'd be so rich, he goes, You'd be lost without them.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
And I didn't understand that when you made that comment.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
But then I look back this year and the year
by myself in my office and I'm looking at the
kids smile and celebrating and just taking it all in.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
And I look back and I'm just.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Like, thank you God, Like that was awesome, Like that
is such an amazing blessing to watch. And just like
I said, they taught me so much about myself. And
like you know, because you know we all have them,
we're men, and we have lonely times where we questioned
a lot of things like like why are we doing this?
Speaker 3 (36:04):
It just was it worth it?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Like you put so much time into it, but then
when you see the results coming from what you put
the time and the hard work and energy, I look
back and I'm so thankful for them.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
I'm thankful that I told every parent.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Seniors, the ones that are even some kids that might
transfer away from me. I told them straight up, thank
you very much for giving the opportunity. I really appreciate
the support, everything about what happened this year.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
I'm grateful for it all, and I'm thankful. I'm so
thankful for that.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
That's really cool.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
Man.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
So you you took ten kids into your home this year.
How did that come to be?
Speaker 1 (36:37):
You know, it's some kids I just met, like some
kids I've had from Like I've been coaching little leagues
and I've got them around. And if I know a
kid's in a bad situation, it's not good, there's no
food around, I take all of them, come stay in
the house, like hey, man, I like it's hard for
me to say no, and I feel like sometimes of
course they take advantage. They do, but at the same time,
(36:59):
I'm doing it for the right reasons. I'm not doing
it for no more more than just like being able
to give them a safe space, safe area, get your
butt up, go to school.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
You know, they got hot water, they got food every day.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
I cook dinner every night for them, So I appreciate it.
Like I said, I know, once it's all said and dinners,
no kids in the house. As much as I know
my eight hundred do electric bill every month's not gonna
be there a nomore.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
Three hundred and fifty dollars water bill, I will tell.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
You I'll miss it because I've learned to love the
controlled chaos of life.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Man, you're rich in memories, and you're rich and making
an impact and love us what that all is about.
Speaker 4 (37:37):
Man, I'm sure that.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
I'm sure that ten wins using pels in comparison to
what you experience every day with those connections with those kids, Man,
that's really cool, really admirable. So who you're bringing on
Sunday is the whole crew coming out to the game
with you on Sunday?
Speaker 1 (37:49):
No, man, it's crazy because they all want to go.
And then they told me I only have one extra
ticket to go, So I'm gonna take Junior with me,
My son Robert Julians going to come with me because, uh,
as much as I'm crazy about football.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
I think he's gonna be a better coach to me.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
I better.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
He loves it way more. He's going to college right now,
so yeah, he's gonna couple me be excited.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
Does he have a favorite Dolphins player?
Speaker 3 (38:14):
It's funny I would ask you a question.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
I need to ask him that as far as I
would say, was gonna be yeah, running back.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
You know. I would say that because, uh, well he's
a big foot players.
Speaker 1 (38:23):
He watches everything, you know, So I mean he's even
when I'm not watching, he's telling me Dad.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
We I'm like, I don't hear it. Don't stress me out.
When the Dolphins lose, I get stressed out.
Speaker 4 (38:32):
I was gonna say, I was curious about your Dolphins fan.
So you grew up a Dolphins fan. Then it sounds
like I'm a.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
Diehard tattered on my arm, I am a die hard Dolphin.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
Well, hey, it sounds like we have the right guy
here for the for this award, because the success in
the high school football program. Also that the die hard
Dolphins fan. And I love to hear all that. Coach
Robert Ortega the MacArthur Mustangs ten and three this year. Coach,
thanks for your time today, we'll see you on Sunday.
Best look this upcoming season, and we really appreciate you
spend some time with us here.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Oh man, thank you guys. This is a this is
this is a pretty cool dream right here is pretty cool.
It's exciting.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
So thank you guys so much. Everything about Miami. I
love you guys, and it's so good to see you
guys giving back to the high school coaches.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Great stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Coach you'll see a Sunday man anybuddy anyway, he goes
fun stuff. They're fun different podcast today. I'm excited about this,
you know, college prospects and off season primer stuff Like
it's been a long year, right and so they kind
of change the page to something new. I'm looking forward
to that and I'm really well prepared this year to
bring you guys good content to cover the entire Miami
Dolphins off season.
Speaker 4 (39:29):
We have two more games though. We'll preve the Bucks
on Friday.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Hope you all have a merry Christmas and we'll see
you on Friday before the recap show on Sunday. In
the meantime, you all please be sure subscribe, rate review
of the show, follow me on social at Winkel NFL.
Speaker 4 (39:42):
The team at Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Check out the YouTube channel for Dolphins HQ, media availabilities
and so much more and last button not least, Miami
Dolphins dot com. Until next time, Fin's up, Caroline, Cameron
and Willow Daddy.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
He's coming home.
This is Drivetime with Travis Wingfield.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What is up, Dolphins and welcome to the Draft Time Podcast.
I am your host, Travis Wingfield. And on today's show,
we are bouncing around some topics. Today we'll cover professional football,
college football, and high school football. We're gonna talk about
the top two quarterbacks who might come out this year
in the draft class, Dante Moore and Fernanda Mendoza. Put
them on the tape, broke their games down. Going to
(00:32):
talk about both those guys for you, plus Pro Bowlers
Week seventeen picks. And we're gonna welcome and coach Robert Ortega,
the Miami Dolphins high school football coach of the Year,
who will be honored pregame Sunday against the Buccaneers from
the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex.
This is the Draft Time Podcast. Pro Bowl rosters have
(00:53):
been announced for twenty twenty six and I hate it.
I love that Devon eh Chan got in. He is
obviously a very deserve of that, but he was the
only one. We have four alternates, which I'm sure you'll
see a couple of these guys at least, you know,
participate because of the way the Pro Bowl goes every year.
But Jordan Brooks and alec Ingold were first alternates, Jalen
Waddle and Mika Fitzpatrick were third alternates at wide receiver
(01:16):
and safety of respectively. And no sign of Arin Brewer,
which I think he'll be an All Pro, like he's
been the best center on tape all year. I imagine
I'll get corrected in the All Pro portion of this
the offseason awards, but I guess we shall see, but
I anticipate that he'll get something his way via via
the All Pro team, which is more important than Pro Bowl.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Anyways.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Let's go ahead and kick off the show here after
that with our Week seventeen picks. We have games all
over the calendar this week. Thursday three games, Saturday two games,
and then I think there's like five one o'clock kickoffs
and on Sunday two kickoffs in the four to thirty window,
like kind of a strange Sunday in terms of the slate,
and there's some pretty good games. Saturday is banging, and
(02:00):
then we get some good games in primetime as well
on Sunday Night Football and the four twenty five Buffalo
and Philly games. So let's go ahead and run through
these real quick and make the picks. Since this is
the last time you'll hear me until Friday when we
preview the Dolphins and Buccaneers game. Go ahead and cue
the music right there. Ten and six last week, one
sixty seven, seventy two and one on the season. Time
for some live math. You guys know how this works.
(02:22):
One sixty seven, whoa not sixteen twenty seven. One sixty
seven plus seventy two is two thirty nine. You win
one sixty seven divided by two thirty nine, and that
is sixty nine point eight percent.
Speaker 4 (02:33):
We are dwindling. I got smoked last week.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
So many close games came right down to it, like
the Chicago Green Bay game. Come on, come on, I
had the Ravens and they lose their quarterback and we
still have an eleven point lead in the fourth quarter.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
We can't close it out.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Come on.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Anyway, It's not been as good of a year for
us and the picks this year. We try to move on.
Hopefully we can get a fourteen win week here and
I get ourselves in composition here going into week eighteen.
So sixty nine point eight percent round up to seventy
for POSTA and go ahead and pick the game. So
on Christmas, I'm taking the Cowboys over the Commanders, the
Lions over the Vikings, and the Broncos over the Chiefs.
We are on a third stream quarterback for the Commanders here,
(03:10):
and the Cowboys defense has kind of regressed back to
what you saw of them early in the season before
the trade for Quinn Williams. And who else did they get?
They got to Marion over shown back. They traded for
somebody else. Now I can't think about who it was.
It doesn't matter. I think they're gonna win this game
because Washington will fate. We'll start the fame Josh Johnson,
who's playing for his seventy third NFL team. It's an
(03:31):
NFL all time record for teams played for Josh Johnson
seventy three franchise. If you can believe that the Lions
over the Vikings. McCarthy got knocked out again. Is that
his third time going to the injury report getting knocked
out of a game this season? Is it going to
be a Max Brosmer in the lineup? You Die Hard
and we're gonna talk about some college prospects on the show.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Today.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Max Brosmer was the guy I was talking about as
like a possible seventh round undrafted free agent pick for
the Miami Dolphins. He's gonna get his second start of
the season if McCarthy can't go. The Lions all had
their season ended on Sunday, but I still think they're
going to come out and blast the Vikings in this
one and then the Broncos, which if the Dolphins had
kept on winning and gotten a little more help around
(04:11):
the AFC, this would have been the game that you
were counting on for the Chiefs to pull off the
upset over the Broncos, and you would have had to
have hoped for Shane bouchell. I believe it was going
to start the game for them, if I'm not mistaken,
because Gardner Minshew got injured after replacing Patrick Mahomes last week.
So give me the Broncos in a slate that's going
to have three third string quarterbacks and we're gonna pick
(04:31):
against all three of them on Thursday on Christmas Marry Christmas,
NFL fans enjoy this slate. Now it does get better.
On Saturday, we get a repeat of the wild Card
game from last year when Justin Herbert threw four picks
against the Houston Texans, and Herbert's been playing his butt
off the last couple of weeks. However, playing tackles five
and six on their depth chart against that Houston front
seems problematic. I think the pressure will beyond Herbert. He
(04:53):
does not really operate that well on the quick game.
Everything else he does is pretty damn good. But when
you can force him to win in the quick game
and heat him up, that's not usually good recipe for
success for the Chargers. I think the Texans can play
an ugly game with the Chargers in this one and
get a big dub and make one more step closer
to possibly clinching a playoff Berth or challenging Jacksonville for
the AFC South. I'll take the Packers over the Ravens.
(05:14):
I don't know if Lamar Jackson is going to play
with or without him. It's just been a weird year
for the Ravens, and I think it kind of comes
to an end right here if they just win this game. Wait, no,
they have to have the Steelers also have to lose
the Browns, so this could be curtains on their season
right here. That the Steelers could go into the Browns
game clinch pretty much the four seed if that. If
this game goes this way, is Jordan Love going to
(05:35):
play in the game. If it's Milik Willis, I still
like him as well. I think that game on Sunday
night maybe might have done the Ravens in. So give
me the Packers to bounce back after a brutal loss
on Saturday to the Chicago Bears. I'm taking the Bucks
over the Dolphins. I'll take the Patriots over the Jets.
I reserve the right to change my pick back to
the Browns if they don't play Aaron Rodgers in the game.
(05:56):
I imagine they will then possibly rest in week eighteen,
But I reserve the right to change that. If we
get stars for the Steelers, I'm taking the Steelers. If not,
I can change it to the Browns. Just so you
guys know, I'll take Jacksonville over the Colts. How much
fun was that to watch Peyton Manning not Peyton Manning.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Wow?
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Great, I retire. We're calling it a podcast. Close it up.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
He's retired, all right, I'm backing up. I'll see you guys.
I'm not coming back. This is it that's end in
the podcast. On the no drive time ceases to exist.
I'm gonna go, uh freaking I'm gonna go be a
teaching aid at Washington State University of Triceity's campus.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
That's it. Close it up.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Podcast is over Philip Rivers, not Peyton Manning Philip Rivers.
I really enjoyed watching that game on Monday night, despite
the fact that they got blasted because, like Philip Rivers
plays quarterback. The way I used to run my Madden
team back in like eight when I had a like
seventy four and eight was like my record when I
(06:52):
quit playing Madden Online back in my junior college days.
I was pretty damn good, but every single route was
a I would change it, I would change the protection,
I would slide every all ten players on the field
pretty much got a new assignment based off the play
call compared to what I got from their defensive look.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
And that was what Philip Rivers was doing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Man.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
And we're gonna talk about this in the Mendoza and.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
The Mendoza and Dante more discussion on the podcast today
about trades versus process because one is really good in one,
one's really good in the other and It kind of
breaks my brain. But I think you saw the value
of a quarterback that can decipher front and coverage and
disguise and rotation.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
That's so valuable.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Man.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
If you get if you can find that, if you
can find Philip Rivers's brain and put it into an
athletic quarterback, that's what you're looking for, right That's that's
the entire point of this scouting process. As the Dolphins
pretty much re enter the quarterback world again for the
first time in five or six years.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Here, that's it.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
That game kind of peaud my interest with regards to
trades versus process, traits versus process. Back to the picks,
I'm taking the Jaguars, duh, because the Colts aren't going
to catch that fire and their defense seems to have
fallen off the face of the earth. I'll take the
Saints over the Titans. The Saints are a team worth
watching if you're trying to move with the draft board.
Here for the Miami Dolphins, the Saints, the Bengals, and
the Commanders are all teams who could possibly could possibly
(08:12):
find themselves below you in the draft order. I think
Saints and Bengals is likely, Commanders unlikely. If Miami's at
six and eleven, they could pick eighth in the draft,
possibly as highest seventh, but looks like eighth will be
the spot somewhere between eight and ten, depending on how these
last two games go. The Saints over the Titans would
help you get in that position. Seahawks over the Panthers.
The Panthers if they win this game, if it won't
(08:33):
matter to their division standing, because the Bucks will beat
us in these predictions, so that game, I think the
Seahawks will continue on their winning ways and move one
step closer to the one seed in the NFC. I'll
take the Bengals over the Cardinals. The Bengals offense I
think is going to keep rolling the rest of the season.
I will take the Raiders over the Giants in the
number one overall pick Bowl. And this is a big
one to watch because whoever loses this game is going
(08:56):
to be in prime position for that first pick. And
if it's the Giants, you might see activity at the
top of the draft. If it's the Raiders, it's probably
gonna be a quarterback, right But if the Giants get
that spot and they stick with Jackson Dart, which I
could see him not doing that too. Because we talked
about McCarthy leaving forty two games this season, Jackson Dart
has left the game sixty eight times like Josh Johnson.
That's also an NFL record. So if you want to
(09:17):
go back into the quarterback well, I would not blame
them one iota for doing that. But if they do
think that Dart is the guy, then maybe they sell
the pickoff. So Raiders and Giants is a huge game.
I'm taking the Raiders just because I think their veteran
presence and Ashton Genty will be enough to beat what's
been a really bad Giants team this year, who seems
a little bit ruddless right now in what are they
seven to eight weeks removed from their coaching change. I'll
(09:39):
take the Bills over the Eagles in the one big
Sunday game that really has like massive ramifications here it
seems like, I mean, other than that, well, the Eagles
already clinch their division, so maybe not. I don't know,
but I'll take the Bills to get that win right there,
and then the Niners over the Bears on Sunday night.
I don't feel great about that. I feel like the
Bears are kind of on a magic carpet ride. Right now,
they're playing good football. Caleb Williams is ma, can we
(10:00):
look stupid for playing good football as well? But I
think the Niners just I trust the program, I trust
the way they're playing right now, and rock perties can
I come back to life and their defense is playing
pretty good as well.
Speaker 4 (10:10):
So give me the Niners in that one.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I'll take the Rams over the Falcons on Monday night
because uh, let's go ahead and take our first break
right there, come back and talk about college. We're talking
at the quarterback position. The Dolphins offense stands to a
tongue bailoa and we're gonna compare for Nando Mendoza and
Dante Moore. That's next Draft Time Podcast, brought to you
by AutoNation.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Midweek show.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
Here on a Christmas Eve edition of the Draft Time Podcast.
Hope you all have a very happy holiday season and
hear this podcast whenever it suits you. I know you're
gonna be home with your loved ones, drinking some eggnog,
opening some presents, and cannot wait to give my kids
their presence. We are taking the kids to Disney World
for the second time in two years. Spoiled little kids. Right,
We're gonna be doing that in February're gonna surprise them
(10:51):
on Christmas with that gift. So don't listen to this podcast, honey.
We gotta surprise the kids on Sunday morning or on
Christmas morning. And also my son, we have a train
that goes around the Christmas tree that's going to make
him lose his mind. I also, I am really excited
about the gift I got my wife and my kids
as well. It's kind of a family gift, So I'm
very excited for Christmas. It's the best when you have
little ones, right. But as far as the midweek show,
(11:11):
I didn't have a lot of topics to deep dive
and get into the Miami Dolphins here. I think that
you know, we've kind of covered like the rookies and
the surge to the young part of the roster and
kind of developing this core foundation of the roster, and
so I wanted to kind of get into something that
is a little bit too full here with regards to
what might happen this offseason, but also something that's kind
of challenged me as a you know, want to be
(11:33):
scout of this game that we'd love so much. And
it's the concept of traits versus process at the quarterback
position and where we're going with the way the game
is today, and you know, with the college football playoff
and bowl season chugging right along, I thought it was
a good time to dive in some college tape here
between Fernando Mendoza and Dante More, the presumed one and
two quarterbacks in this class, should they both declare We've
(11:56):
talked about some players on the show here throughout the season,
whether it was the Ohio State Defenders, whether it was
Reuben Bain at Miami. We've covered this, but those are
broadcasts Saturday afternoon watches where I'm just taking a few
notes here. This we're talking about film and rewinding and
pausing and drawing up coverages and diagrabbing plays. This is
the really valuation, the final evaluation for me. We'll look
out at the Senior Bowl and the Combine, but it
(12:16):
all comes back to the film. And as you know,
we'll eventually get into our positional capsule where I give
my rankings on prospects and perspective free agents as well.
But I thought this was a good way to kickstart
the film process and give you a bit of a
college football preview in the process, although it's not really that.
But Pro Football Focus published a mock draft on Tuesday
(12:37):
that had the Dolphins moving up from wherever they pick
in the draft number one overall in twenty twenty six,
and taking either Fernando Mendoza or Dante More but they
go with Mendoza. The South Florida kid went to Columbus
High School down here. He speaks Spanish as well Cuban
grandparents like it's the whole deal, right, and he is
a sharp young man that is a Heisman Trophy winner,
big year. Gonna play some big football games down the
(12:59):
stretch here as well to hopefully push Indiana towards a
national championship. But both players have eligibility left More as
a first year starter, but also as eligible for the draft.
We've seen Leonora Seller's return to school, Brendan Soresby, Drew
Aller got hurt. Wasn't really an other guy ever, but
he was part of that discussion. Arch Manning's not eligible.
There's a lot of quarterbacks coming back to the twenty
(13:19):
twenty seven class. The figures to have some real name power,
and I believe if you get more and Mendoza coming out,
they would both hear their names called in the top
five of this year's draft. I've watched a bunch of
their games this year, and I've like dvrd them. I know,
old man, so I can kind of dissect and watch
and go back and skip the defensive snaps and jump
ahead of the running game snaps.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
But it's been helpful to evaluate.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
But you know, I off of the broadcast copies, these
were my like cliffs notes if you will. Mendoza highly
highly polished field general, enough arm to make the throws.
Not an impressive athlete, but has the feel to manage
and navigate the pocket with Dante more easy gas, plenty
of mobility design run options are on the menu. Very
precise ballplacement. Not sure how I felt about his command
(14:05):
of the offense and keying the defense. That was gonna
be something we watched in the tape. Now, just real quick.
I talked about Quinn Eewers in that film review podcast
and the thought, the thought process, the fuel, seeing the field.
I thought that was all pretty good for a guy
making his first start. I thought a few of the
throws with footwork and timing got away from him. More
than anything else, and I prefer that. I think it's
(14:26):
a better sign when it's the placement and like the
timing of the drop more so than seeing the defense
and reading it out.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
But I wanted to give you guys this first. Did
you know?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
That was the first game quarterbacked by somebody not named
to a tongue by Lois since twenty twenty two Mike
McDaniel era with a positive offensive EPA. In the game,
we had a three point one to three offensive EPA.
The previous high was the twenty twenty two game at
New England where Teddy Bridgewater got picked sixth by Kyle
Dugger to lose a second half lead that we never regained.
(14:54):
That was negative one point four And quite frankly, it's
mostly negatives and greater than like six or seven ep
so a lot of really bad quarterback performances in there
among those eleven games. So quinn Ewers leads an offensive
attack that had a better EPA than the previous high
by four full points. He threw for eighty more yards
than our average passing total in those games, and we
scored five more points in the average in those games. Now,
(15:16):
of course, that touchdown that came in the fourth quarter
in a forty or a thirty point blow upside a blowout.
You know, you can take what you want from that.
But the production was better across the board. But we
are three and nine now, or three and ten if
you include the playoffs. In games quarterback by not tua
over the last four years, we averaged three hundred and
two yards per game one hundred and eighty eight passing yards.
(15:37):
We averaged negative ten EPA in those games. So Quinn
was thirteen points better than the average and sixteen points
per game, five points better. So viewers was not great,
but he was better than what we've had at that position.
And I think it's fair to say the run game
here is better than it has been any year besides
basically twenty twenty three, and Devon Hian's forty eight yard
touchdown run really helps that EPA. So you can talk
about whether that was the quarterback or not. But the
(15:59):
year of the two play every game was twenty twenty three, right,
So there's some hope there. I think I think yours
has a chance to earn a shot, to have a shot,
if you will, if that next year, and we'll get
into this as we go along, But I don't love
the idea as the PFF article suggests, of trading up,
because I think that we still needed work to recoup
the drafts that were lost in twenty two and twenty three.
So to me, it's more like wait until day two,
(16:20):
take a flyer on like a John Mattier, a Sawyer Robinson,
maybe ty Simpson. Maybe sign somebody like Malik Willison. Attack
twenty twenty seven with vigor if you don't get your solution.
They're kind of the Saints approach this year, right Tyler
Shook in the second round, they had Spencer Rattler as
they're kind of veteran holdover, but he didn't really see
it with him. I just don't think we're in a
position right now to start selling off capital. Maybe I'm wrong,
(16:41):
maybe I'm completely wrong, but I think we need to
keep on going with this approach of restocking the cupverage
with the young foundational players. So the idea of trading
up makes me a little bit Joe philbin queasy. But
the whole point I'm trying to make here with the
data points is I just see all this stuff about
Tua being propped up by the offense, but are we
sure that's not backwards and the tool was not the
one holding the offense up. The numbers would indicate that
(17:03):
that is the case. So all of that said, how
different is the tape on More and Mendoza compared to
what I thought coming into this. Let's go ahead and
take a look at Fernando Mendoza Heisman trophy went out
of Indiana. I watched two games on tape. I wanted
to watch that Penn State game because he kind of
struggled in that one at times, and then the Ohio
State game because he got a Matt Patricia NFL style defense.
And I went off of process, anticipation and release, mechanics, feet, velocity, placement,
(17:28):
in touch, creativity, off script, in tangibles, and the big picture.
So it's a pretty lengthy skyting report. Let's go ahead
and dive right in so minute four. Fernando Mendoza really
strong feel for the coverage, for defense's tendencies and potential
for disguise before the snap. He is so sharp at
gleaning information pre snap, processes a post snap and makes
(17:49):
a quick sound decision. Accordingly, he knows what side to
work and what indicators can take him off of those
potential looks like there was the Ohio State game. It
kind of was a little bit rocky off the start,
but he settled in in a big way after just
a couple of series. And there was a play where
on consecutive third downs in the first quarter of the game,
they went two man. It's two high safeties man coverage
(18:10):
across the board, and one of them was actually a
hybrid zone man coverage front side man backside zone, but
it's the same concept. And he saw this light front
and he immediately just tucked it and ran for a
first down. He saw an avenue, knew he had the
man coverage of the one side of the formation, attacked
it because the dbs won't get involved in the run
game that way, and got the first down with his legs.
There are plenty of reps where he gathers backside information
(18:32):
from the front side read that is using half the
field to get a full field picture. That's NFL stuff, man,
That's what I talked about with the Philip Rivers stuff
back in the open of the show. Here making the
week seventeen picks because of the safety's rotation, Like I know,
the safety has to do this. Therefore, the backside's going
to give me that right and you get the lightning
quick progressions. As a result of that, he creates windows
(18:54):
with his post snap lookoff. He can get to the
back throw blind without loss and mechanics in placement. He
can get back a lot, get his feet set, get
the shoulders in the right position, and drive that ball
without having a lot of time to get to it.
His anticipation and release. I wouldn't say it's otherworldly, but
it's good. Sometimes he sees it then fires, but understands
leverage like what a receiver's sinking into his route at
(19:15):
the break. He understands like if he has outside leverage,
I'm throwing the out route. I can really drive that
thing and we can get that position to him and
attacks it accordingly. He can really hang on to the
last moment as well and flick the risk couple of
players where I thought he was going to get wrecked,
but he just hangs on to it, takes the shot
and gets the ball out at the last second and
converts accordingly. His mechanics are very very solid, very well
coached football player at this stage of his career, consistent
(19:37):
armslot consistently aligns to his target. Ball comes off tight
with a sharp spiral, compact upper body. He's not throwing
that shoulder open, the lower half is always underneath him.
Releases it pretty tight, plenty of drive.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
On the football.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
He can get to it from multiple platforms off of
play pass and RPO. Feet went back into position, whether
it's off of a pivot, off play action, whether it's
off that RPO look, everything quickly gets a lot and
again despite being out of position when he makes the
decision to throw the football. So you know, Travis likes
out a whole heck of a lot.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
The feet.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
They're hardwired to his eyes and that accentuates his processing right.
He's polished in different drops strides to his target. He
can throw without his cleats in the ground, but he
does lose some velocity when he's not tethered to the ground.
Speaking of velocity, he has plus velo, not great velo.
He drives the ball stationary and on the move because
of the mechanical proficiency of his game. The ball doesn't
(20:27):
lose gas to the perimeter if he's got his feet
to the ground, but if he's off platform, it can
sputter out there a little bit. His placement in touch.
He throws one of the best deep balls you're ever
going to see. I mean he picks a landmark, he
shoots it with loft and depth, good downward descent that
kind of makes for an easy catch for the receiver.
Sixty plus yards in the chamber. There layers it nicely.
Not pinpoint accurate, but pretty close. His creativity and off
(20:50):
script prowess won't be much of a factor to meet
the next level.
Speaker 3 (20:53):
He doesn't.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
He kind of moves like Kirk Cousins, like maybe a
little hyped, a younger Kirk Cousins. He can feel rush
and coverage and take advantage of openings, but he's not
making rushers miss in the pocket. He's not going to
make a free runner, you know, completely a whiff of him.
He's not a design run threat on zone read. I
mean he can do it and get around the edge
and get a few yards, but he's not gonna, you know,
take a twenty yard run. He's not really a creator
outside of structure. It shows up and glimpses against lesser competition,
(21:17):
but when he played Ohio State, it was non existent.
The intangibles. This is not from the tape, and you're
not gonna get an every prospect because you don't see
you know everyone like a Heisman trophy winner. Get ten
minutes of art of interviews, you know every game. But
this is not from the tape, just his passion and
love for the game, the process of being a solution finder.
He's a leader, he's he really communicates well, you know
(21:39):
in interviews. I thought his Heisman speech was fantastic. The
call out to is Abuela was really really cool. So
A big fan of his intangibles and the kind of
kid that he is. The big picture, I've got a
polished field general who can decipher coverage and attack with
requisite anticipation, reading leverage and the marriage between Russian coverage.
What that means for him in his process exceptional deep
ball thrower, thrower, plus arm to the perimeter, tight mechanics
(22:01):
with his feet hardwired to his eyes. Not a plus
creator nor design runner. He can make plays outside the
pocket and squeeze every ounce out of play with his
quick release. He's willing to hang in there and take
a shot to maximize a play. Touch and placement are good,
not consistent, keeping his eyes down filled against muddy pockets,
and can run himself into some trouble.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
So there you go. That's Nanda Mendoza.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Let's talk about Dante Moore, the Organ quarterback who I
watched against both Washington and Penn State as well. And
the more I watch this guy, the more I am
kind of becoming enamored with him. So process first year starter,
and sometimes it shows a little bit slow to process.
A post snap picture change opens up with some sacks
and from free runners he does not identify. Now go
(22:42):
to the last game of the season and it's come
a long way from where it was back in Week one,
which has me excited about the potential growth because it's
a first year starter. But in the Washington game, there's
a repp where he uses motion to id the coverage,
has a dummy count, gets movement up front, and he
sees a hard edge who's going to crash. He checks
the play, goes across the offensive line and checks the
(23:03):
protection and moves the running back and then runs zone
read off that crashing end. He knew what he was
going to get and he took advantage of it. It was
really impressive to see that read. Thatsnap or pre snap
execute a post snap, And the more I watched, I
see it in the passing game too. I mean there's
a rep in the UDUB game fourth and three where
he works the front side of his progression that he
(23:24):
wants to work, and then he gets to the middle
of the field and works the safety and sees him
getting depth on this dagger concept. And the minute he
sees that safety turns his hips and runs, he starts
to fire the dagger, which is the dig off of
the vertical clear out, and puts the ball right in
the hole on the money, on the defenders or on
the receiver. I should say, so, uh, you know, work
the recognition, work the safety, recognize the rotation, and attack accordingly.
(23:46):
Anticipation and release. The release is as good as it gets.
Compact doesn't need to load into it drives the ball
from muddy formations. The wrist action is absurd. Has that
Vic Flick style of delivery, the way Michael Vick could
just pinpoint the ball all from sixty five yards away
and it looked effortless. Because of that, there's not always
the need for anticipation, which can help him survive early
(24:07):
in his career. In my opinion, while he is green,
if he sees coverage change, he can interrupt his footwork
and process and get the ball out there. There's enough
anticipation to see where he can go with it. When
he feels it off of one hitch timing and cuts
it loose, he has the confidence to jam that thing
in there to where he can anticipate, but doesn't always
have to. He can kind of read the window opening
up and fit that tight window.
Speaker 4 (24:28):
Mechanically.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
It's not consistent and setting and driving towards his target
and leads to some off target throws, but I think
he can learn from this. He can misstride and either
opens up or closes that front shoulder and it causes
the ball to go wayward on him, and you can
usually tell with how the ball comes off of his hand.
It's not as tight as a spiral and obviously not
on target the feet. Whether it's different drops, hitch up,
pivot off of play action, it all looks natural to me.
Speaker 4 (24:50):
It's there in the running game too.
Speaker 2 (24:51):
Zone read they run option at organ they switch the
strength and he gets to the different footwork reps with ease.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
It looks like it's inherent to him.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
He's clearly drilled this and individual drill for a long
time as a you know high school and you know
pre high school quarterback as well. Velocity is exceptional, exceptional
arm talent. He threw a forty yard corner against Washington
from the far hash and drove it there. It's a
fifty plus yard throw because you know, college hashes are
wide as hell, and it's not a layered shot.
Speaker 4 (25:17):
It is a frozen rope.
Speaker 2 (25:18):
It's going to force you to cover the initial route
and then handle the off schedule ability he has because
he doesn't have to be on time as a smaller
arm quarterback like he can. He can get it there,
you know after he sees it, which is a dangerous
place to be for a defense. Then the placement in touch.
There's not going to be anybody in this class that
has more arm talent than Dante Moore.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
Quick release, smooth flick ball, jumps off the hand.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
He can place it on a dime, whether it's a
gassed up seam shot to the you know cover one
seam beater or the boundary the go that requires that
flat zip over the top to get in there before
the safety gets over the top, or a field fade
with loft and touch. It kind of has that beautiful descent.
The way Mendoza's ball has doesn't have to have his
cleats in the ground to generate velocity. The spiral and
(26:00):
placement can be effected when he's not coiled properly, but
I think that can be coached out of him. But
he has no problem throwing frozen robes twenty five yards
without having his feet under him. And then the way
he can layer the ball to the middle of the field. Like,
I like what I'm seeing here, guys. The creativity and
offscript stuff. Design runs aren't there when you need them.
But he's not asked to do it a lot, which
tells me that he's kind of developing his game the
right way. But his poise, his feel and desire to
(26:21):
beat you with his arm, with the athletic ability and
makes him a serious threat the easy gas on the
run if you don't plaster, and if you don't respect
the ability that he can shoot it over your head vertically,
the way we haven't really threatened here in a long time.
He can burn you with big plays. He stands out
among this class in a lot of ways, but especially
in this area the intangibles.
Speaker 4 (26:39):
He's poised.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
I thought he was unfazed by the environment the atmosphere,
in the weather, and two tough places to play at
Happy Valley and up at Washington. I corroborated the film
with the broadcast of those games to see that he's
kind of a steady heart rate guy.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
Didn't look like much got to him in either of
those games.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
He played Washington in the rain and win and drove
that forty yard corner route where the ball travel at
least yards from the far hash. Big picture, he is
oozing upside for a one year start that demonstrated real
growth in the line, scrimmadge command post snap process and
throwing with anticipation over the middle of the field. He
can threaten every blade of grass with an elastic arm
that sling shots the football from a compact release, generating
(27:16):
power from his wrist action. He's deadly on the move,
a threat with his legs, part of the red zone
run package. He's green first year starter, a lot of
production on deep shots that don't require a process. But
I think if you're gonna try to make the big
move here and make a you know, let's let's go
for broke. To me. Dante Moore's the guy because I
think where I come down it is like, you know,
the management, the on schedule, the polish pocket stuff.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
That's more important the end of the day.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
But I see enough of it there to think he
can get to Mendoza's level, and then once he does that,
he's a such a superior athlete.
Speaker 4 (27:45):
But that might only get me.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
You know that the polish might get me eleven wins
into the playoffs. But who's the guy that's gonna cut
the snow in January in Buffalo right to get us
to the super Bowl. Because of that, because of Drake
Man and the Division two, I curry favor to the
traits so long as the prospect has shown some semblance
of a proclivity for the process. It's a non starter
without it. But if we go minimal traits, we limit
(28:07):
our upside. It's a fascinating dichotomy. I come down right
now today on Dante Moore by a comfortable margin. So
there you go. Let's take our last break right there.
Come back and hear from coach Robert Ortega, the Miami
Dolphins high school football coach of the Year. That's Next
Draft Time podcast, brought to you by AutoNation. Joining us
today is the Miami Dolphins High school football Coach of
(28:28):
the Year, Robert Ortega, coach, thank you for your time
today and jump on the podcast with me.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
Hey, how you doing today. I appreciate you guys too. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
I want to start by I guess there's two ways
we can go here, talk about your football season, but
also the honor here. Let's go ahead and start with
the ladder and the fact that you're gonna be with
us on Sunday against the Buccaneers honoring you as the
Miami Dolphins high school football coach of the Year.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
What does that mean to you, coach?
Speaker 1 (28:51):
Yeah, it's a crazy honor, kind of like shocking and
didn't understand.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
I was like, you know, because you have a great year,
like your year, but you didn't finish all the way.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
You still feel like you didn't do enough, But everybody
in the community is telling you did crazy work, and
it's it's flattering, it's it's it's pretty cool.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
It's a blessing and I'm grateful.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
Yeah, I imagine that's part of what got you in
this position, right. You talk about not finishing, you know,
the season the way you wanted to. Has that kind
of been your message to the players this year, despite
a ten and three, ten and three record after a
two and eight record last year. Probably pretty fired up
to get back to work next year, I imagine.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
I mean, I'm here right now in school.
Speaker 1 (29:32):
We're working out right now, so we're already in motion
to get better and and and keep going building on
what we did, becoming a better team and as good
as the team we were. And again, you know, losing
the two teams that we lost to, we got to
beat them. And that's the goal is keep people building,
(29:55):
gets try getting faster, getting bigger.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
To make sure that we can finish the TRIU.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
Yeah, I mean South Florida right, It's it's full of
powerhouse programs that are nationally recognized and that's what you
guys are up against and had a great season despite
all that. I'm curious, what was what was your favorite
part about this first season, coach?
Speaker 4 (30:11):
What stands out to you above you know, the highs
and the lows.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
What was the highest moment this year for your football team?
Speaker 3 (30:17):
I would say the kids believing.
Speaker 1 (30:20):
You know, like you said, you here you go taking
over a two in a program and you're telling these
kids we're not gonna be too eight, We're gonna be great.
We're gonna change the culture. We're gonna make a name
for ourselves. So we're gonna do our way. And you know,
people say things, and you know, in life, my dad
always taught me is you know men men, men don't
just talk. Their actions speak louder than words, you know.
So we can talk all we want, but everything's coming
(30:42):
into reality.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
It was.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
It was pretty cool to see the kids in in
everything behind the scenes, the alumni support, it was, that
administration support, it was.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
I was, it was blown away. I was very I'm
very grateful.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
It was, like I said, I didn't think it would
be this big of a deal, you know, because I
believe in my in my heart everything that this is
going to happen.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
But to see it all come from, you know, into
reality is it was. That was amazing. It was amazing.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
We have coach Robert Ortega here. He's the MacArthur Mustang's
head coach. Ten and three this season after a two
and eight campaign the year prior. He took over this
year and got that program going in the right direction,
and he talked about culture their coach. I'm curious because look, man,
I'm a father of a five and a three year
old and a six month old, and I'm a little
bit terrified about teenage years and what raising kids is
(31:31):
going to be like in this generation of smartphones and
tablets and all this stuff.
Speaker 4 (31:35):
Right, TikTok, Like, how do you do that?
Speaker 2 (31:37):
How do you go into a high school, a new
territory and establish a culture the way you wanted to?
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Well, I believe everything's.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
About energy and positive and you know, I'm a spiritual person,
so I believe that you know, you give all the
energy they're going to believe into they're going to buy
into it. As long as a kid knows you love them,
they'll respond the way you want them to respond, no
matter how much they're getting upset their kids. We were
once teenagers as well. What that being said is, you know,
you got some teenagers that are a little bit of
trouble than the others. You just can't give up on them.
(32:08):
And there's been time where at other programs some of
these kids probably would have been kicked off, and I.
Speaker 3 (32:14):
Pointed to them my way.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
I suspended in my way, and not everybody would agree
to the magnitude of but I believe in you know,
like God gives chances, and we got to give them
chances because kids need us and we're using football as
an outlet to create better men later on in life.
And with that being said, like you just said, like
you're raising kids, and it's a lot to deal with
because you know, kids see things that are really not
(32:37):
even real on in internets. You know, there's so many
fake things you see from the offers that are not
real offers. But their kids are getting they're calling a
friend that to verbally offer at their school to make
them look good.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
And my kids like, coach, what about me?
Speaker 1 (32:50):
And I'm like, dude, dude, trust It's not that I
don't lot of kids. I've always been honest and I
tell them the truth sometimes of course, like anybody, all
don't like the truth.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
But I, like I said, when we.
Speaker 1 (33:03):
Built that culture, we told them all we're gonna work out.
We're gonna work our tail off, We're gonna work hard
there everybody out there.
Speaker 3 (33:08):
We had five in the morning practices.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
I only had one kid late at a seventy Like everybody,
you're not gonna be able to get kids there at
five in the morning. We were here for two weeks
straight in summer, five week five am, and nobody only
one time one kid was late. So you know, you
gotta build the culture. You gotta believe in it. But
if you don't believe in it, you know the kids
are gonna see it. The kids are gonna feed off
your energy, and you got to keep bringing that positive
(33:31):
energy and no feed off of it.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
Yeah, coach, I respect that because it sounds like it
sounds like you're coming from the place of if we
do things the right way, we'll get the results we
want right Like we're not. We're not worried about like
maybe some programs, and this is you know, beyond high
school into college, especially where it's like development of the
of the prospect of the player. Be dan, we want
to win football games, but it sounds like you do
it the inverse way, where it's develop these kids getting
(33:56):
ready for life and the win will take care of itself.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Oh man, it's it's an you know, being I never
thought I would want I would want to be a
head coach. I was always assistant coach, and I was
okay with that. But then a lot of times you're
around people and you're like, I feel like we're giving
up on kids, and I feel like we're throwing kids away,
and what that being said is I've been doing this
twenty years and it was just time to bring that
positive to the to reality because, like you said, we're
(34:20):
trying to build men like these are the guys that
are gonna supposed to be taking over our country later
on life, you know, running companies, cleaning up, doing everything.
What they want to do. College is teachers. But if
we don't teach some life lessons now with positive reinforcement,
then we're failing our society anyways, you know what I mean.
So we got to build a culture. You have to
(34:40):
build it. You got to stand on it. And sometimes
it's tough because you might need that kid, but you
know what, you're gonna win with him in life more
than that game.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
This all kind of ties back to I just talked
to Bradley Chubb in the podcast are Walter Payton manner
of your Club Winner?
Speaker 4 (34:54):
And this is exactly what he does.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
He goes back in the community, He gets in touch
with young kids and kind of develops them from that process.
He teaches through games like he uses chess to help
teach like financial literacy at things like that. It's a
really cool way to make sure that you're using these
outlets as ways to you know, prepare kids for life.
And it sounds like that's a lot of what you've done,
so you've obviously impacted them in a big way. I
always love to ask people this that work with kids.
How have they impacted you? Man?
Speaker 4 (35:16):
How have these kids in one year changed your life?
Speaker 3 (35:20):
Ten kids stay at my house right now? There you go,
So I mean they changed my life in And I
used to ask. I used to say to my.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Ex wife, if I didn't have all these kids around,
I'd be so rich, he goes, You'd be lost without them.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
And I didn't understand that when you made that comment.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
But then I look back this year and the year
by myself in my office and I'm looking at the
kids smile and celebrating and just taking it all in.
Speaker 3 (35:45):
And I look back and I'm just.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
Like, thank you God, Like that was awesome, Like that
is such an amazing blessing to watch. And just like
I said, they taught me so much about myself. And
like you know, because you know we all have them,
we're men, and we have lonely times where we questioned
a lot of things like like why are we doing this?
Speaker 3 (36:04):
It just was it worth it?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Like you put so much time into it, but then
when you see the results coming from what you put
the time and the hard work and energy, I look
back and I'm so thankful for them.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
I'm thankful that I told every parent.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
Seniors, the ones that are even some kids that might
transfer away from me. I told them straight up, thank
you very much for giving the opportunity. I really appreciate
the support, everything about what happened this year.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
I'm grateful for it all, and I'm thankful. I'm so
thankful for that.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
That's really cool.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
Man.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
So you you took ten kids into your home this year.
How did that come to be?
Speaker 1 (36:37):
You know, it's some kids I just met, like some
kids I've had from Like I've been coaching little leagues
and I've got them around. And if I know a
kid's in a bad situation, it's not good, there's no
food around, I take all of them, come stay in
the house, like hey, man, I like it's hard for
me to say no, and I feel like sometimes of
course they take advantage. They do, but at the same time,
(36:59):
I'm doing it for the right reasons. I'm not doing
it for no more more than just like being able
to give them a safe space, safe area, get your
butt up, go to school.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
You know, they got hot water, they got food every day.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
I cook dinner every night for them, So I appreciate it.
Like I said, I know, once it's all said and dinners,
no kids in the house. As much as I know
my eight hundred do electric bill every month's not gonna
be there a nomore.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
Three hundred and fifty dollars water bill, I will tell.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
You I'll miss it because I've learned to love the
controlled chaos of life.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Man, you're rich in memories, and you're rich and making
an impact and love us what that all is about.
Speaker 4 (37:37):
Man, I'm sure that.
Speaker 2 (37:38):
I'm sure that ten wins using pels in comparison to
what you experience every day with those connections with those kids, Man,
that's really cool, really admirable. So who you're bringing on
Sunday is the whole crew coming out to the game
with you on Sunday?
Speaker 1 (37:49):
No, man, it's crazy because they all want to go.
And then they told me I only have one extra
ticket to go, So I'm gonna take Junior with me,
My son Robert Julians going to come with me because, uh,
as much as I'm crazy about football.
Speaker 3 (38:03):
I think he's gonna be a better coach to me.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
I better.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
He loves it way more. He's going to college right now,
so yeah, he's gonna couple me be excited.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
Does he have a favorite Dolphins player?
Speaker 3 (38:14):
It's funny I would ask you a question.
Speaker 1 (38:15):
I need to ask him that as far as I
would say, was gonna be yeah, running back.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
You know. I would say that because, uh, well he's
a big foot players.
Speaker 1 (38:23):
He watches everything, you know, So I mean he's even
when I'm not watching, he's telling me Dad.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
We I'm like, I don't hear it. Don't stress me out.
When the Dolphins lose, I get stressed out.
Speaker 4 (38:32):
I was gonna say, I was curious about your Dolphins fan.
So you grew up a Dolphins fan. Then it sounds
like I'm a.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
Diehard tattered on my arm, I am a die hard Dolphin.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
Well, hey, it sounds like we have the right guy
here for the for this award, because the success in
the high school football program. Also that the die hard
Dolphins fan. And I love to hear all that. Coach
Robert Ortega the MacArthur Mustangs ten and three this year. Coach,
thanks for your time today, we'll see you on Sunday.
Best look this upcoming season, and we really appreciate you
spend some time with us here.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
Oh man, thank you guys. This is a this is
this is a pretty cool dream right here is pretty cool.
It's exciting.
Speaker 1 (39:04):
So thank you guys so much. Everything about Miami. I
love you guys, and it's so good to see you
guys giving back to the high school coaches.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Great stuff.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
Coach you'll see a Sunday man anybuddy anyway, he goes
fun stuff. They're fun different podcast today. I'm excited about this,
you know, college prospects and off season primer stuff Like
it's been a long year, right and so they kind
of change the page to something new. I'm looking forward
to that and I'm really well prepared this year to
bring you guys good content to cover the entire Miami
Dolphins off season.
Speaker 4 (39:29):
We have two more games though. We'll preve the Bucks
on Friday.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
Hope you all have a merry Christmas and we'll see
you on Friday before the recap show on Sunday. In
the meantime, you all please be sure subscribe, rate review
of the show, follow me on social at Winkel NFL.
Speaker 4 (39:42):
The team at Miami Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (39:44):
Check out the YouTube channel for Dolphins HQ, media availabilities
and so much more and last button not least, Miami
Dolphins dot com. Until next time, Fin's up, Caroline, Cameron
and Willow Daddy.
Speaker 4 (39:53):
He's coming home.
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