December 26, 2024 • 42 mins
John Schmeelk and Tony Pauline discuss the recent declarations for the NFL Draft, review the first round of the College Football Playoff, and preview next week’s games.
:00 - Indiana vs Notre Dame
14:16 - SMU vs Penn State
19:02 - Clemson vs Texas
23:26 - Ohio State vs Tennessee
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
It is now officially open. This is Draft Season, brought
to you by Moody's, a proud partner of the New
York Giants, Decode Risk, Unlock Opportunity. Learn more at Moody's
dot com. Merry Christmas and Happy Honakh, the happy Holidays
if you're celebrating anything else. For the folks out there,
(00:23):
everyone welcome to Draft Season, the Holiday Edition. Just so
you guys are aware of recording this on the Monday
before Christmas Eve, it's airing on Thursday. So if there's
any other big announcements come in your way the next
couple of days that we don't touch on it. That's
why I am John Schmelk. John is always by Tony
Pauline from sports Keita Tony. Merry Christmas, my friend.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Sam to you and your family, John and Sam to
our viewers. Happy Honnick. And as you mentioned, this has
been taking place where recording this the day before Christmas Eve,
which is December twenty third, So I gotta say Happy
Festivus to all of those out people out there who
celebrate Festivus. The airing of grievances has already come in
and they will be extended for a year for the
New York football fans.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
The Aluminum Poll is out. Let's rock and roll. Good call, Tony.
All right, let's get to it. Before we get to
the college football playoffs, we'll talk about those games, will
preview next week's games because next week's episode is going
to be recorded and airing next Thursday on January second,
after those games are played, so we can react to
the second round of the college fotball playoffs and the
(01:25):
rest of the bowl games too. We'll got some bowl
games in that area as well, so we'll do all
that in today's show. Tone I'm very pumped up of that.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
He'd be good, absolutely, absolutely a lot to talk about.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, all right, so let's get to this first declarations.
Anything jump out at you over the last week since
we last.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Spoke, Well, I think the only thing that I really
saw is Patrick Payton, the pass rusher from Florida State
who had a terrible year. Like most people, the entire
program of Florida State is not going down to the draft.
Did you get to transfer to LSU, which I think
is the best move. I mean, coming into the season,
many of us thought Patrick Payton had top forty five,
if not top thirty two, potential. He was disastrous right
(02:02):
from the get go. Jimney brought that point up the
first time we had him on. I mean, if he
entered the draft, he's a late round pick, but he's
got early round potential. So not only does he decide
to stay a year, but he transfers to LSU to
a better conference. Good for Patrick Payton. I think that's
the best movie could make.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
All right, Tony, it was a ho hum watch the
first half of these games and then figure out what
else you gotta do with your holiday weekend type of
college football playoffs. Obviously we stuck through him to talk
about some of the prospects in these games, but for
what I would consider non competitive games, Clemson Texas was
probably the closest thing that you add to a game
that really was in some question in the second half,
(02:44):
though Texas ends up winning thirty eight to twenty four. Well,
let's go in the order in which these games were played.
Indiana Notre Dame was last Friday Night. Tony and Notre
Dame just kind of beat Indiana at their own game, right,
run the ball, play defense, and they were just the
more fit and they won up front, and Indiana just
could not get anything going offensively.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I think the Indiana Notre Dame games set the tone
for all four games, and that is what we saw
on paper happened on the field because there were some
big mismatches in these contests and it was just I
thought for Indiana, SMU, the moment was just too big
for them. I mean, the fighting Irish Notre Dame expects
(03:26):
to go into each season fighting for a national title.
Now they haven't done that for a while, but they
expect to where Indiana, you know, they deserve applause. It
was a great season, but this was sort of the
cream cream of the crop, and you know, as you said,
a lot of excitement. You know, Indiana gets that turnover
early in the game, They're going into the end zone
(03:47):
and then Curtis Rourke throws a pick to Xavier Watts,
a bad pass. Xavier watch. I mentioned that matchup and
it was all downhill from there. I mean, the Notre
Dame offensive line just pounded Indiana. Indiana's offensive line could
not contain Notre Dame, which was a problem for them
against Michigan, was slight problem against Ohio State. Listen, it
(04:09):
shouldn't surprise anybody Notre Dame was the much better team.
And I think you gotta start off with Riley Leonard,
who had a good game. He wasn't great. He played
within the system, he was efficient, he was methodical. Twenty
three or yards, one touchdown, one I int although that
was on a tip pass, thirty yards rushing on one
TV when you watch Riley Leonard, and again we talked
(04:32):
about Riley Leonard with Jim Nagy the second time he
was on when we were talking about the Senior Bowl invites.
You know, you could see the athleticism, you could see
the arm strings, you could see the ability to make
all the passes. It's just a matter of going from
athlete with a big arm to a passer. And I
think he's starting to do that. He wasn't great, but
he did what Notre Dame needed him to do.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
No, I'm with you one hundred percent. Let's talk about
the other quarterback then, Curtis rock Tony. He's a guy
that was a transfer obviously, twenty thirty three, two hundred
fifty yards, two touchdowns, a pick efficient and that interception hurt,
and those red zone interceptions always do. But look, I
think he's a guy that profiles if he figures things out,
could be a backup quarterback in the NFL and kind
of play that role for a real long time. As
(05:15):
a Day three pick.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Marvelous year. I mean, despite the fact that he had
the intercept the band interception, did a great job all
season protecting the ball for Indiana. Really ran that offense efficiently.
Was huge in getting Indiana to where they are, where
they were into the playoffs. We're gonna see him at
the Shrine ball. I agree with you. I think with
Curtis Roark, he's a real good game manager. He protects
(05:39):
the football, He's got it going on between the ears.
What I'm gonna look at at the shrine balls. Does
he have the downfield arm Kenny let it fly? Are
the downfield passes, you know, arriving to the receiver with speed.
But he had a terrific here. I'm sure he didn't
want to end this way because they're early on. You
could see that, you know he was off. But he's
(06:01):
definitely elevated his draft stock. I mean last year, two
seasons ago, he entered it as a senior in Ohio
with potential late round grades. Didn't have a great twenty
twenty three season in Ohio was injured part of the time,
played much better this year. So he's moving towards the
draft process with elevated draft grades, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
And it's funny, you know, we a lot of this
big picture and then we'll hit some of the other
Notre Dame players. You know, there was some complaints from
people out there about how you know, they didn't take
strength to schedule into consideration enough. You have these conference winners,
the winners of the Big twelve, winners of the ACC
you know, Indiana, they I think their best winner was
against what the seventh best team and the Big ten
something like that, right.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And beat Michigan. They beat Michigan.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Yeah, yeah, And Michigan was what like the fourth or
fifth in the conference this year or something that.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Mission was not very good this year, right, you know,
right that that.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
No question of quality win. But I don't know if
they had it anyway around this the committee, right, like
you have to reward teams for winning games. But I
think think the concept of the critics was correct, Like
if you have oh miss in one of these games,
but they have been more competitive than say Indiana, you
know what, probably, But if you're going to do a
(07:10):
playoff system, you have to reward winning games and winning
divisions despite the strength of schedule deal. Even though I
think in this first round the teams you worried about
their strength of schedule, they ended up struggling in some
of these games.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Listen, you played a schedule that's put in front of you.
Indiana was a one loss team that one game they
lost to Ohio State. They lost pretty badly, although they
were in that game for most of the first half
until two special teams blunders late in the first half.
But I got no problem with Indiana, who was eleven
to one, being in the College Football playoffs, considering where
(07:44):
they came from. I know that doesn't factor into it.
But still a one loss team out of the Big
Ten where you got Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, and
the College Football Playoffs and they beat Michigan, I have
there should be no problem with that at all.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I agree one hundred percent. You can only beat teams
that are on your schedule in front of you, right,
I'm with you, all right. Notre Dame Tony. He was
one of their offensive player here before he jumped to
the defense. And I know he's not draft eligible yet.
But he had a big game. Jeremiah loved their running
back had that really big run in the game. Is
he a guy that will be talking about his potential
running back one next year? He's Julian love Form Giant's
younger brother. By the way, For the people that did
(08:21):
not know that, Uh, what's the buzz around him? Have
you even talked to anybody about him?
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah? Well we'll be talking about him. He keeps ninety
six yard touchdown runs like he did the first play
after that interception.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Yeah, that was in ninety eight or was in ninety six?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
I think it was night. I mean, i'd be bro't take.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
All the way from the kid. It's Christmas time, Tony.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
It was long, that's for sure. I mean, you know,
no one's really talked about him in the scouting community
because he's not draft eligible. I'm not hearing you know,
there's no buzz about Wow, we can't wait for this
guy to become drafted. But I want to say, and
Anthony Hill will linebacker from Texas. But listen, I mean,
obviously somebody to keep an eye on, no.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Question about it. All right, let's go to the defensive
side of the ball for the Notre Dame. You already
mentioned the Xavier Watts pick. He was one of the
guys you wanted to keep an eye on this game.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Ten tackles, one interception. I mean, he is just a smart,
efficient safety. Not going to be in an early draft
pick unless he tests off the charge. I don't think
that's gonna happen. You're looking more as a third or
fourth round of prospect. But still, you know plenty of
you know, early day three safeties go on to start
in the NFL. I think he's more of a zone
(09:28):
type of safety. I don't know that is traditional free safety,
but just smart, instinctive, does the little things well and
comes away with the big plays. That was the big
matchup I was looking for against Curtis Rourke and obviously
right off the bat, Xavier Watch came off the winner.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah, And there was just an overthrow right and Wats
was kind of a He threw a little two forehead
on the crossing pattern and Wats was in the right
place at the right time to grab that pick. Couple
defensive linemen for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and two
sons of former Giants as well. R j Oben former
Giants him in Roman Obin's son at a tackle in
the game. Then Howard Crossed the third had a tackle
(10:04):
on a pass breakup. But they played in the whole.
I thought a Notre Dame line played a lot better
than maybe the numbers might dictate.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah, very explosive. I mean, they got a lot of pressure,
which I think really hurt Curtis Rourke. And they were
occupying the blockers well, which allow for those blitzes to
be effective. You know, it's funny because they play at
three man line, but most of these guys, especially Oben
and Howard Crush, are more one gap defensive players, whether
it be do one gap defensive end, one gap defensive tackle.
The bigger guy, Riley Mills, he's also you know, if
(10:33):
you're gonna put him at defensive tackle, he's about three
hundred pounds, so he's more of a one gap defensive tackle.
Maybe you stick him at the defensive end and in
a three man line if you can put some weight
on him. Did hurt his knee in that game, and
we the most latest reports are Riley Mills is out
for the rest of the college football players. Is that true?
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I didn't hear that. That's too bad. It looked like
he had a chance to maybe because you were still
in uniform. They thought maybe had a chance to cut
back into the game. But they're saying he's not going
to return now.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Ten minutes before we started recording, I read that he's
out for the rest of the college football players. Will
see how that affects his decision to enter the draft
if he has any eligibility left. But he's the bigger guy.
He's the bigger of the three. He's got the most
growth potential, he's the hard All these guys are hardworking.
The motors always running on uh, always running for them.
(11:21):
And I think they're all, you know, mid to late
Day three selections. But they'll have a place on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
All right, let's go to the game that Notre Dame's
gonna be playing next week. I'm not sure if they're
New Year's even in the Year's Day. I haven't looked
at the schedule yet, Tony, but Georgia, and these are
the games where Notre Dame, you know, they look great,
they're beating all these teams. They're an independent, they're not
a conference obviously. Then they play an SEC team, You're like, oh,
there is the talent differential are we Do you think
going to see that again this week when they take
(11:49):
on Georgia.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
There's definitely a talent differential and Notre Dame's really gonna
have to step it up as well as they played
against Indiana. This is a completely different ball of wax.
I mean, you start off with Riley Leonard, I mean,
number one, he's gonna have Jalen Walker and Michael Williams,
both potential first round picks, breathing down his neck, and
then he's got to keep an eye on out for
Malachi Starks, who is a first round pick. Some people
(12:13):
think he's a top ten prospect. So for Riley Leonard,
you know, we went from methodical game manager, which he
did so well against Indiana. Now there's gonna be a
lot more on his shoulders, and there's gonna be it's
gonna be a lot more uncomfortable for him with the
way George is able to rush the passer with two
great NFL prospects, and then when he puts the ball up,
(12:34):
he's got one of the best safeties we've seen in
a long while, who's also a ballhawk who could also
play over the slot receiver. You know, trying to defend
the pass. So from that aspect, it's a large difference
in a differential and talent Notre Dame's got and especially
Riley Leonard's got to step it up.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
And then on the other side, how does the Notre
Dame defensive line stop that Georgia rushing attack?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Have you?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Well, let's start with this. Have you heard anything on
Carson Beck in availability? What are they saying about him? Uh?
Speaker 2 (13:02):
From what I've read, they are expecting to be without
Carson Beck from most of the playoffs. Now again, go
back to two of our shows to go with Jim
Naggi when he was talking about the Yebow injury, and
then last week I had mentioned that when I talked
to people, they said, it's really bad. From what I'm hearing,
Georgia is at least preparing to be without Carson Beck
(13:23):
the next three weeks, assuming they get that.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Far, which to Tony to your point, they're gonna lean
along the rud game then, right, So, how does this
Notre Dame defensive line we kind of just talked about
these guys, right, how do they hold up against that
Georgian offensive line? And Trevor atn in that running attack.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Yeah, I mean the Georgia offensive line is bigger, they're
more physical, and they're much more talented than the Indiana
offensive line. You know, not trying to offend the Indiana
offensive line, but when you look at Tate Rutledge, you
look at Xavier Trust who's had been up and down
this year, Dylan Fairchild, I mean, these guys will be
able to handle that, should be able to handle that
(14:00):
to Notre Dame defensive line just with body positioning and
strength along and the fact that Riley Mills is not
is not going to play. I mean that's really going
to hurt Not Your Dame. Oben Junior and Howard crossed
the third better beyond their game because you know, this
Georgia offensive line, although it struggled at times this year,
and I don't think it's played up to expectations. You know,
(14:21):
when they are in their game, they were a big, tough,
next level type of blockers.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
All right, let's jump to SMU Penn State. Penn State
destroying SMU in this game thirty eight to ten. You're
those two pick sixes earlier, right if I remember correctly,
in this game, and then Penn State really didn't have
to do a ton offensively the rest of the way,
to be completely honest with you, so quiet game for
ju Aller, he didn't really have to do much. Tony
just threw twenty two passes, completed thirteen of them for
one hundred and twenty seven yards. His big tight end
(14:48):
Tyler Warren four catches thirty three yards. Because again you
got those defensive scores, you had to do a whole
lot in this game with the football, and.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
They also rushed for I believe almost two on your yards.
The top two backs were close to two on yards.
I may be off on that, maybe one hundred and
fifty yard, so you're right. I mean a Laar was
sort of like a Riley Leonard to a lesser extent.
Just managed the game, was methodical. You know. The SMU
again that significantly overmatched and just like Indiana, I think
that the moment was bigger than what they were ready for.
(15:18):
Although they deserve to be credit. They deserve the credit
being there winning the acc during the regular season then
going down to Clemson, but I mean, you look at
the roster, they have few NFL prospects. That Kobe the
safety I talked about, was basically non existent. And like
you said, early on, it was SMU mistakes that put
Penn State ahead. There was no way SMU was going
(15:39):
to come back. I was impressed with some of the
second tiery even third tier Penn State defenders who came up,
who stepped up their game. Cody Izzer, the explosive defensive tackle.
Five tackles, one and a half tackles for loss. He's
a guy who two years ago really caught my attention
during my summer film work. I had them in my
(16:00):
database scheme. Never really off took off Scoucher talking about
him as a street free agent. He's a fourth year senior,
probably can come back for another year. But he's a
bigger guy who moves very well. He just has to
play at a high level on an every snap basis.
Kobe King, the solid linebacker eight tackles, Danny Dannis Sutton
(16:22):
got to keep an eye on for the future an
edge rusher for Penn State. Four tackles, one and a
half tackles for loss, one and a half sacks in
the game. Really helped the Penn State defense set the
tempo of that contest.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
By the way, Kobe King brother twin brother, which I
did not realize off Kaitlin King, who is currently the
corner he's actually on the Packers right now, who had
a rough postcraft process last year. But second brother we've
had mentioned in this in this podcast today, it's a
it's a family affair, it's the holidays. It makes sense,
Tony and know. Let's look ahead Penn State Boise Stage.
You mentioned some of those upfront defenders for the Nitney Lions. Well,
(16:58):
they're gonna have their hands ball. But here comes asking Genty,
who's been the best offensive player in college football this year,
runner up in the Heisman Trophy. No one's been able
to tackle this guy all year long. He's broken all
sorts of rushing records. He's been phenomenal. He's gonna have
to carry the ball and the weight and the offense
and everything else for Boys State if they want a
chance to be Penn State.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
This week, and they're gonna have to switch it up
with Ashton Genty. I mean, if they try and run
down the teeth of that Penn State defense, it's not
gonna work because I think that Penn State defense is
just gonna eat him up. They're gonna have to try
for some perimeter runs and hope that Genty can be
the Penn State defenders around the corner. He is a
good perimeter runner. He is a good pass catcher out
of the backfield. He's a three down back. He's a
(17:38):
triple threat player. You know at the position, they're gonna
have to mix it up, but they're still gonna be
up against it. I mean again, this is this is
one of the rankings that you wanted because you knew
that Boise State was gonna be one of the easier
second round games, despite the fact that they had such
such a sensational season. We talk about Ashton Genty Genty.
(18:00):
Keep an eye out on their left tackle, Casey Cage,
red shirt sophomore. I have it right now as a
fourth fifth round type of prospect. Obviously there's room for
growth there. But see how he does against Abdul Carter,
who I'm sure is probably licking his chops. He's gonna
try and beat the younger guy, and how he does
run blocking. If you're looking for one guy on defense
(18:23):
who could maybe disrupt Droular from the boys state point
of view, Ahmad Hasanian eight and a half sacks. He's
more of your undersized air rusher, very quick up the field.
It's only about two hundred and forty five pounds, so
if they run right at him, he may have some struggles.
But that's a guy that may try that has the
ability at least to disrupt Duile's game plan.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Yeah, out of Cairo, Egypt. You don't see that very
often on the old player page, right, So we'll keep
an eye on him. I'm curious to see because I've
seen a couple of places that have is height and
weighted different I saw a six six three two seventy
in one spot, so I'll be curious to see where
he actually weighs in. You know, some of these schools
they can pump up sometimes a height, weight stuff. So
we'll have to see how he weighs in. But yeah,
eight and a half sacks this year, in twelve and
(19:04):
a half sacks last year too, So he's the guy
that's haid a couple of years of production here, and
we'll see how he does in this game. And as
we head towards the draft, game number three Tony Clemson, Texas.
Texas won that game thirty eight twenty four. Clemson goes
right down in their first drive. Now they score that touchdown.
You think, oh, maybe we've got a game here, and
then all of a sudden, I'm flipping back and forth.
That was on the same time as I believe the
(19:26):
Raven Steelers game, if I'm not mistaken, on Saturday. So
I was trying to keep an eye on Raven Steelers
a lot because that was such an important game for
the AFC North. I turn it back, and all of
a sudden, Texas has a commanding lead in this game.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Yeah, I mean Clemson. Antonio Williams, the wide receiver who's
a Day three pick. Four receptions for sixty six yards
and a touchdown. Jake bringing Stool, the big, tall, lanky
tight end Number nine, you can't miss a film.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Looks good.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Four receptions for sixty nine yards. I think his kind
of full. He did not have the season that the
scouts expected, and he's gone for a potential third round
pick to the fifth round. Wade with Doz, the middle linebacker.
A lot of people don't talk about. He is a
draftable prospect. Eight tackles. I mean again, Texas on paper,
you know, had the decided advantage, and after that first
(20:15):
drive they came through. I do think that, you know,
we've talked about Queen Viewers. We haven't talked about him glowingly.
And when you look at kay Klubeck versus quinn Ewers
in this game, they were basically neck and neck. And
I mean kay Klubeck is a late round pick at best.
He's probably not going to not going to even gets drafted,
(20:37):
and Youwers really wasn't able to take advantage of it.
I do like John Dave Barren, We've talked about him
a couple of times, the defensive back, cornerback from Texas
that can play corner, he can play Nickel had two
pass breakups.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Then this year for him, he's been He's got in
his hands on the ball a lot this season.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
He's a smart, tough defensive back. And then you look
at that Texas defensive line. Baron Soowell, who's going to
beat the Senior Bowl three tackle, one and a half
tackles for loss one sack. I have him as a
third round pick. Ethan Burke, the underclassman the other defensive end,
basically the same numbers, and Alfred Collins, a fifth round
defensive tackle, had the four tackles. A lot of talent
(21:15):
on that Texas defensive line that doesn't get talked about
too much because everybody concentrates on their offense, and they
had a lot of guys like the and Andre Sweat
and Byron Murphy who left last year. But they still
have some draftable prospects on that longhorned defensive line.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, we'll see about Antonio Williams, the wide receiver out
of Clemson. You mentioned in four catches, sixty six yards
at a touchdown, five to eleven one ninety richard sophomore.
So if decide whether he wants to come out in
this draft, and it's not a top heavy wide receiver group,
but there is deep, like the wide receiver position is
every year, it's always deep, right, So we'll see what
his decision is. You mentioned Kate club Nick twenty six
to forty three, three indred and thirty six yards, three
(21:52):
touchdowns at a pick. Really strong numbers, yours. In this game,
they ran the ball so well Texas. I want to
get your take on their running back shoots because they're
so productive. Tony yours was seventeen of twenty four, two
hundred two yards, one touchdown, one pick. But Texas, they
just ran the ball in this game an awful lot.
I'll bring up the numbers here very quickly, just so
we're on the same page and the fans know who
(22:12):
we're talking about here. But in this game, you had
Blue who had fourteen carries for one hundred and forty
six yards in this game. He ran it all over
the place. And it wasn't just him. They spread the
ball around. That was Jayden Blue. And then they had
Quintravian Wisner who had fifteen carries for one hundred and
ten yards. Seven yards of carry for Wisner, ten yards
(22:32):
of carry for Blue. Texas just dominated this game on
the ground.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Yeah, And first it starts with the offensive line. They
got an outstanding offensive line. We talked about the Cameron Williams,
the right tackle, we talked about the Calvin Banks. But
they've got some good players on the interior. Now Jayden Blue,
who's an underclasso and I think he's a middle round
pick right now. Be interesting to do see what he
does because he's the number two back on that depth chart.
You know, depending on how far Texas advances to the
(22:59):
college football playoffs, does he enter the draft, does he considering,
excuse me, transferring to another school. But I think right
now you're looking at a middle round pick. As far
as Wisner's concern, Wisen is a true sophomore, so we
got to wait on him.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Yeah, no question about it. But good good players and
Texas once again one of the most talented teams in
the College Football Playoffs. They have a chance to win
it all if they can put it all together, and
yours continues to play well. All right, Tony, Let's move
on to Texas and Arizona State. They take on one
another and Round two of the College Football Playoffs. Your
(23:33):
thoughts on that game?
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Yeah, and the Peach Bowl, And like Penn State, this
was the other bracket that you wanted to be in
because you've got Arizona State, who I believe at the
end of the year was ranked number fifteen when they
won the Big Twelve Championship, but got in by virtue
of winning the Big Twelve championship.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
And they blew out Iowa State in that game too.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
They hammered him at Iowa State, who's a pretty good team. Now,
I mean, on paper, Texas should win this game by
thirty five points, but they don't. You know, that's why
they play the game. And Arizona State is an incredibly
well coached team. You know, They've been behind the eight
ball before and they consistently come through. If you're looking
for a couple of guys to watch, you gotta watch
(24:12):
Max Anchor their big right tackle against those those Texas
defensive ends Baron Sowell and Ethan Burke who I just mentioned.
I mean, you look at Iron Anchor, I mean, he
just looks like an NFL offensive lineman. He's got that big,
thick lower body, he moves relatively well. Came into the
season with free agent grades. Some scouts have him as
(24:34):
early as the fourth round right now, So that'll be
a matchup to watch. And then, of course Cam Scattabo,
who was just announced as accepting his invitation to the
Senior Ball. You know, the tough interior running back transfer
from Sacramento State. You mentioned that the Iowa State game,
how they handled Iowa State. I think Scatabo had what
(24:55):
one hundred and sixty six yards rushing that game. You know,
runs around players, runs through players, carries the pile. We're
gonna see him at the Senior ball kind of remember
reminds me of and this is going to be a
name that a few people may remember. Bryan Leonard of Rutgers.
The way he was just a big, powerful ball carrier
who kind of invited contact, you know, look to take
(25:18):
on and punish the opponents. That's the kind of player
that Scatabo is and it's worked out well for Arizona State.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Yeah. Here's very low to the ground compact, right, a
very strong, good contact balance. You know, he's not gonna
wie on the forty, Tony, but he knows how to
play the position, so he off to play well if
the Arizona State wants a chance to beat Texas in
the Peach Bowl. All right, final game from the weekend.
Ohio State just comes right out throwing the ball. I
like to see. I like to see Ryan Davey aggressive
getting the ball out to Jeremiah Smith, someone that we're
(25:45):
gonna have to wait two more years for. It's gonna
be a long way because he's a heck of a player.
But Ohio State just dominating Tennessee in this game, Tony.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, from the word go. You know Ryan day chip
Kelly as well, he got much maligned offensive coordinated there,
and especially coming off of that Michigan game where they
were just terrible offensively, he couldn't get anything going. I
think number one in the preview last week, I talked
about the interior of that Tennessee defensive line kind of,
you know, trying to employ that same sort of Michigan
(26:12):
game plan and take advantage of the weakness of that
Ohio State offensive line. Omar Norman lot the defensive tackle
Bryce and Easton Omari Thomas combined for two tackles and
one tackle for loss. So obviously Ohio State offensive line
came into the game with a chip on their shoulder
after that Michigan game. They knew what was gonna happen,
(26:35):
and they did a great job protecting Will Howard. They
did a terrific job for the running game. I mean,
Donovan Jackson, I thought, did a real good job on
James Pierce. Hall get to a second. Pierce had three
tackles and two tackles for losses. But really there was
not a lot of pressure on Will Howard and that
was because of that offensive line. It's gonna be interesting
(26:55):
when you look at James Pierce, because a lot of
people had him graded as a top five player pass
rushing numbers off the twenty twenty three, but he's thin,
he doesn't have it seem to have a lot of
growth potential, but he is incredibly athletic and he made as.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
I'm sorry, Tony, I mean he reminds me of almost
like like the like Nick Benito types, right, who was
super productive and athletic. But he's just small, right thin.
Can he figure out how to be more than just
like a situational pass rusher because he can't rush the
pass it, there's no question about it. I just don't
know what his size and frame. You know, he's like
two hundred and forty pounds. We'll see what he weighs
in at. I'm sure he'll be drinking water like crazy
(27:31):
before he gets on the seal with the combine. But
he's a guy that just does not have a huge
rain but he does know how to get after the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Well, go back to what my conversation with Jim Naggie
about Ty Robinson the Nebraska defensive line and how they
line him up on the inside and the outside. It
knows tackling, move him around. That's what a defensive coordinator
is gonna have to do with James Pierce. I mean,
put him up, put his hand on the ground on occasion,
line him up in space, have him dropped back off
the line of scripts because he has that athleticism. A
(27:57):
zone blitz have him stand over tackle. I I think
he'll be able to do it. I think it's more
important that a defensive coordinator allows him to do it
rather than just kind of segments him as an edge
rusher because he is so athletic. You know, you mentioned
the freshman receiver from Ohio State, Mecca Buca, had a
(28:17):
real good game. Five receptions any one yards. Nothing outstanding,
but just very solid. Does the little things well. I
like the route discipline. You know, just stayed disciplined with
his routes and if the ball wasn't thrown in his direction,
well there was a receiver that was open underneath him
because of the fact that you know, he wasn't being
selfish with his routes. Again, Abuca, I like him as
(28:40):
a maybe a late second, early third round choice. Some
people have in the first round. I just don't see
it with them. I think he's a nice complementary receiver,
which is what he's been at Ohio State the past
couple of years. But he had a real good game,
and I gotta tell you, I know everybody loves quin
Shawn Jenkins at Ohio State with Trayvon Henderson, he's gonna
(29:01):
be underdrafted. I don't know if he's gonna end up
in Day two. He's just a terrific all around back.
What do you have eighty yards on ten carries in
the game with two tds, four receptions for fifty four yards.
He's explosive, he's creative, He's an outstanding pass catcher of
the backfield. And I think what's gonna happen with Trayvon
(29:23):
Henderson because of the fact he's had some injuries in
the past, and then they brought in quin Shawn Jenkins
with that nice NLI deal, so he kind of had
to share carries again this year. Somebody's gonna get a
real steal with Henderson, probably, if not late Day two,
somewhere in the fourth round of the twenty twenty five
NFL drafts.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Yeah. Boy, I always say it has the perfect running
back combination, right. Henderson's kind of there receiving threat, the
perimeter player, things like that, while quin Shawn Jenkins is
kind of there between the tackles guy. He does a
lot of the dirty work. He was ten carries, thirty
four yards and two touchdowns in this game. By the way,
Moodies is a proud partner of the New York Giants,
uniting the brightest minds to turn today's risk into opportunities.
Learn more at moodies dot com. Moody He's proud partner
(30:03):
of the New York Football Giants. And then you had
the usual cast of characters on defense only that we
talked a lot about this year and the defensive backs.
The corner has actually had a nice little game for
a while State.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
No mental breakdowns, no lapses, didn't give up any big plays. Now,
a lot of that had to do with the pressure
that Ohio State got up front, which I'll get to
in a minute, but still I thought both starting cornerbacks
and even their nickelbacks and safeties played very very well
protecting against the big playability of Tennessee. That will bowl
(30:35):
well for Burke and the the other kid at Bazooman
if he enters the draft, because both of those guys
have had a difficult season up front. I was really
impressed with Tyler Williams. I mean, he only ended with
three tackles, but he caused a lot of mayhem and
it was his pressure and his ability to penetrate the
line of scrimmage that created opportunities for his teammates multiple times,
(30:57):
just blowing up plays and the quarterback had a move
his feet or leave the pocket because he penetrated the
line of scrimmage. Not the biggest guy in the world,
but explosive, very quick, very athletics. JT. T. Miloe eight tackles,
two and a half tackles for lost, two sacks, had
a real nice game. Jack Sawyer five tackles, one and
a half tackles for lost, one and a half sacks.
(31:19):
Both I had a nice game. We know these guys
can rush the passer, but you know the criticism and
I think justifiably so was they were hit and miss
for most of the years. And I think because most
of the year, most of the season, I think because
of that what went on in that mission game, I
think because of TYLERK. Williams, those guys really stepped it
up two may Low. It is going to be a
real interesting scouting guy to scout moving forward, because when
(31:44):
he's on his game, he is just incredibly explosive and
he is tough to stop. But he's not on his
game all the time. It's hit and miss with him.
Jack Sawyer kind of reminds me of Anthony as Alone,
the linebacker from Detroit, in the sense that you know,
he's the guy who not the greatest apt in the world,
but wow, I mean he he's just go, go, go, go,
go intense intense intents. I think he's gonna be drafted
(32:06):
a little bit later than what people think fourth round,
maybe early third round. But like James Pierce, if you
get a good defensive coordinator who's creative, who knows how
to use him, he's going to be a real good
Sunday player, all right.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
And then you have the game next week, and this
is the premier second round game, at least in my opinion,
Tony Ohio State Oregon in the Rose Bowl. This is
a game that the winner of this team could very
well win the national championship and win are they still
calling it the National Championship? Is the College Football Playoffs
champion whatever that they're calling it. And they have some
really good matchup starting with the Ohio State pass rush
against two Oregon offensive tackles and offensive lineman. I know
(32:41):
you're a big fan of Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
The premier game at the Premier Bowl, I mean the
Rose Bull, the granddaddy of them, all you have, you
have two packed, two Big ten teams, although it's what
the Big the Big fourteen now in a matchup that
usually last year would have been the Pac twelve against
the Big ten, which is what the Rose Bowl always was.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Quite yeah, and I wonder if they designed it that
way on purpose, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
With you, I you know, I thought about that, although
that would have been very tough. Obviously, putting Oregon in
that slot, you know, made it easy. But I think
the rest of the settings of the brackets and the
rankings of the teams, and then you know, in trying
to hope we're ensure that Ohio State was going to
beat Tennessee, which they did rather handly, would have been
(33:23):
a tough thing to do. That did cross my mind.
But getting back to the game. Josh Connelly, the left tackle,
I've exposed my espoused my love for him. I think
he's going to be a late first round pick, maybe
not as a tackle, but potentially as a zone blocking
guard and as Jeannie Cornelius, who began his college career
at Rhode Island, the big right tackle for Oregon, who
(33:43):
projects as a mid day three pick, probably in the
fifth or sixth round going against that Ohio State pass rush,
the j T two and may Low and the Jack
Soros who had just talked about, I mean, the Ohio
State guys have got to step it up because these
both of these Oregon offensive linemen are real, real good.
And then when you flip you gonna flipped that around.
Talked about how well the Ohio State the offensive line
(34:05):
played against Tennessee. Well, now it's next level against Jordan
Birch of Oregon, against Derek Harmon of Oregon, the big
for the explosive interior defensive tackle and Jammery Caldwell, a
potential late round pick who doesn't get a lot of mention.
I mean, there are gonna be battles whenever the teams
are on the field offensively, both teams. There's gonna be
(34:26):
great battles on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
And that's up front, Tony. And then we have great
battles between two of the better sets of wide receivers
in college football, with Oregon's wide receivers Evan Stewart, Tess
Johnson and Tree Shawn Holden against some good and highly
valued Ohio State defensive backs. And then you have the
Ohio State receivers. We already talked about will will test
the Oregon corners in safeties.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
And remember, you know, obviously these teams know each of
them because they played early in the year. I believe
it was the fourth fifth game of the year on October.
Oregon won by a point. That is when Josh Simmons,
the left tackle for Ohio State went down with the
season ending knee injury. That was also a game where
Evan Stewart really did a good job, really had his
way against that Ohio State secondary. So you know, the
(35:13):
lapses that we didn't see and the ability to stop
and defend against the big playability that Tennessee posed that
the Ohio State defensive backs were able to stop on Saturday, Well,
you're gonna have to multiply that by at least two
because these receivers are much more better, They're much more explosive,
they're more consistent, and they're they're productive on a weekend
(35:36):
and week got a basis. Evan Stewart, notwithstanding, we've talked
about his ups and downs, but this is going to
be a real battle and a real challenge for the
Ohio State secondary. The Oregon secondary doesn't get a lot
of mention, but they're solid. Jabari Mohammed, a smaller guy
who transferred from Washington last year. You mentioned Cam Alexander
(35:58):
Taishim Johnson against what could be or what has shown
to be when they're on their game and the quarterback
is on the game. A very potent receiving duo out
of Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
All right, and then finally, who are some of the
guys on Oregon. You'll be keeping an eye on their offense?
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Yeah, you know Ohio State defense. It doesn't stop just
with the receivers that you mentioned. I mean, they're gonna
have to have an answer for Dylan Gabriel, a guy
who really doesn't get much mentioned. I think it's underrated
in the scouting community. I like him as a Day
three pick. He's got a lot of Baker Mayfield in
his game if you watch him. An RPO quarterback who
can play from the pocket, who can get outside the
(36:34):
pocket and make plays with his arms, who can make
plays with his legs. He's smart, he protects the football.
He's always in command of the game. You know, when
you go back to that Big Ten title game, you
know when it was third and long and it looked
like Penn State was going to turn the tide of
the game. Dylan Gabriel had an answer, and Dylan Gabriel
has consistently had an answer for him. And if it's
(36:55):
not Dylan Gabriel, it's Jordan James. They're explosive running back.
Not the biggest guy in the world, but it's impossible
to attack.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
He's gonnapack man. The more I watch him, Tony, he's
a good player.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
He's got to burst through the hole. He makes defenders miss,
he picks up yardage off initial contact. He's good around
the corner. He's got great vision on the inside. So
that's gonna have to be somebody that they watch out for.
And then Terrence ferguson the tight end. Not really a
big play tight end athletically, but he's smart, he plays
within the system, good blocker, and we'll find the open
(37:28):
spot down the field and make big plays as a
pass catcher. So the Ohio State defense, it's got a
lot too. Uh, They're gonna be up against it a
lot because Oregon can hit you in a variety of ways,
which is why they're undefeated and they are the number
one team in the nation all right.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
I think this is a coin flay game. They'll fall
close with me on this before I ask you a
question about holidays. So do you think we get one
upset in either Penn State going up against Boise, Texas
going up against Arizona State, well, Notre Dame going up
against Georgia. I haven't looked at the spreads in those games.
I don't know what they are. I'm sure the teams
(38:06):
we expect to be favorites are fairly big favorites. Do
you think we'll get an upset in one of those
three games?
Speaker 2 (38:11):
I doubt it. I mean, most of the nation's gonna
be rooting for Boise, A lot of people are gonna
be rooting for Arizona State. There are a lot of
people just root against not Your Dame because they don't
like Notre Dame. But I think Georgia, I think Penn State,
and I think Texas are going to win handily.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Yeah, and then we'll see Ohio State Oregon. That'll be
a big game, do they say, I think.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
The Ohio State Orgon game. Will Howard has played well
against Tennessee. He's gonna have to play better against Oregon.
If Will Howard can protect the ball. If he can
hit the receivers accurately, then I think Ohio State has
got a chance to win.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
So what are you got to ony? Are you hosting
Christmas or Christmas Eve? What are you doing?
Speaker 2 (38:52):
Well? Being of Italian heritage from New York, Christmas Eve
is the big holiday in our house. If you're in
the air, we've got twenty people. In fact, that was
up but this morning at six forty five, I had
to run to the seafood place before anybody got there
to get the Jonas crab claws.
Speaker 1 (39:06):
And how many fishes? Seven fishes?
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Well, we call it seven fishes, but it's usually about
eight or nine. I now just call it one thousand
dollars dinner. More expense by the year, but yeah, it's
called seven fishes. We usually end up with about eight.
You know, people bring this, people bring that. But it's
a lot of funny here at the poly Eat Household
Christmas Eve, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Yeah. Well we're hosting too, so my brother and my
sister with their families will be coming over. We do
we do some Swedish meatballs. We do some spicy turkey meatballs.
My sister brings like little Delly finger sandwiches, and my
brother usually brings like a big zd or Lasagnia and
we kind of just have, like I kinda hang out,
eat a little bit. We don't do like an official
sit down dinner. It's kind of grab as you go
and eat as the open presents and all that sort
(39:48):
of stuff. So it should be a fun night.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
Well, well see we do both. Well, first the appetite
everybody comes from the appetizer's grabbing, you know, and then
we have to sit down dinner as you would expect
an Italian fashion.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Do you have any do many little kids come into
your house and are mostly adults?
Speaker 2 (40:03):
No, all the little kids are grown up. I mean, yeah,
we used to have a lot of little kids, but
they're all My daughter is the little list and she's
about twenty one. So now I guess we got to
wait for the next generation to have their little kids before.
And it was fun. I mean it was fun with
the little kids because there were enormous amounts of presents
and now everybody gets gift cards and tickets to Ranger
games and things like that.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
Yeah, we have my three nephews were now two of
them are in college, one's going and then we have
ones going in in a couple of years. He's a
junior in high school. I believe that's Andrew. And then
my two kids are the youngest. We were my seven
year old and my two year old. She's all every day,
week's first thing. She's like, how many days for Christmas? Dad?
How many years for Christmas dads? So she'll be spoiled.
My two year old last year year, last year with
(40:45):
my Yeah, that's exactly how what it should be. So
my my son who was one and a half last
year had zero interest in opening presents. You would give
it to him, me just put it down and walk away.
So literal, we were like a week after Christmas, we
couldn't get him to open this present. So we're just
gonna open it for him now, kid Like, like we
can't have these sitting year rap for like two weeks.
He doesn't want to open him. So we're hoping that
he gets a little bit more into it this year
or two and a half and it's kind of like
(41:06):
more ready to go.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
And then when you did open him, he played with
the boxes, not the toys inside of him. Right.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
Oh, No, last year on Christmas morning, we game all
these presents, didn't care. He was literally in the kitchen
playing with the pots and pans out of the cabinet
for an hour and a half. Like not even I
put a picture of my Instagram, like you can't make
it up.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
Yeah, no, no you can't. Well it's it's and you're
not alone, I'm sure like a lot of the guy people.
Why the guys and girls watching the show. I mean,
I remember when my daughter was young wards the presence
for two and a half days, she played with the
chapstick that was in her rus Stockey, So I mean,
you know, it's the way it goes.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
It is Tony, Merry Christmas, my friend, Happy Honig, Merry Christmas.
All you guys out there, Happy holidays if you if
you celebrate something else. Thanks for being with us, everybody.
Enjoy your holidays.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
Again.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
This will be airing on Thursday. Enjoy your NFL weekend,
Enjoy your college football playoffs, New Year's even New Year's
Day next Tuesday and Wednesday, and then again we'll be
back with draft season next Thursday. As you review around
two of the college Foball playoffs and also some of
the other bowl games as well. And then we only
have four games left after that, Tony, and the three
games left rather and we'll be ready to go for
(42:11):
the pre draft process, which will take us for a
couple of months. And then before you know, we're gonna blink,
it's gonna be April and we're gonna be in the
final stretch run.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
You know, after that National Championship game, it's what apparently
a week later, and we're on our way to Frisco,
Texas for three days of practice for the Shrine Bowl.
And then after the third day of practice from the
Shrine Bawl, you get on a plane, you hop over
the mobile. It's three days of practice at the Senior Bowl,
which is always always a busy but fun trip.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
Yeah, can't wait. It's gonna be a lot of fun. Tony,
have fun, my friend. I appreciate it, and enjoy your holidays.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
Sham with you and your family. John.
Speaker 1 (42:45):
Yeah, Merry Christmas, Tony Murray, Christmas to everybody out there,
Happy Honkah and all that good stuff. Thanks for being
with us on draft season. Brought to you by Moody's.
We'll see you next time. Everybody
It is now officially open. This is Draft Season, brought
to you by Moody's, a proud partner of the New
York Giants, Decode Risk, Unlock Opportunity. Learn more at Moody's
dot com. Merry Christmas and Happy Honakh, the happy Holidays
if you're celebrating anything else. For the folks out there,
(00:23):
everyone welcome to Draft Season, the Holiday Edition. Just so
you guys are aware of recording this on the Monday
before Christmas Eve, it's airing on Thursday. So if there's
any other big announcements come in your way the next
couple of days that we don't touch on it. That's
why I am John Schmelk. John is always by Tony
Pauline from sports Keita Tony. Merry Christmas, my friend.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Sam to you and your family, John and Sam to
our viewers. Happy Honnick. And as you mentioned, this has
been taking place where recording this the day before Christmas Eve,
which is December twenty third, So I gotta say Happy
Festivus to all of those out people out there who
celebrate Festivus. The airing of grievances has already come in
and they will be extended for a year for the
New York football fans.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
The Aluminum Poll is out. Let's rock and roll. Good call, Tony.
All right, let's get to it. Before we get to
the college football playoffs, we'll talk about those games, will
preview next week's games because next week's episode is going
to be recorded and airing next Thursday on January second,
after those games are played, so we can react to
the second round of the college fotball playoffs and the
(01:25):
rest of the bowl games too. We'll got some bowl
games in that area as well, so we'll do all
that in today's show. Tone I'm very pumped up of that.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
He'd be good, absolutely, absolutely a lot to talk about.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, all right, so let's get to this first declarations.
Anything jump out at you over the last week since
we last.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Spoke, Well, I think the only thing that I really
saw is Patrick Payton, the pass rusher from Florida State
who had a terrible year. Like most people, the entire
program of Florida State is not going down to the draft.
Did you get to transfer to LSU, which I think
is the best move. I mean, coming into the season,
many of us thought Patrick Payton had top forty five,
if not top thirty two, potential. He was disastrous right
(02:02):
from the get go. Jimney brought that point up the
first time we had him on. I mean, if he
entered the draft, he's a late round pick, but he's
got early round potential. So not only does he decide
to stay a year, but he transfers to LSU to
a better conference. Good for Patrick Payton. I think that's
the best movie could make.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
All right, Tony, it was a ho hum watch the
first half of these games and then figure out what
else you gotta do with your holiday weekend type of
college football playoffs. Obviously we stuck through him to talk
about some of the prospects in these games, but for
what I would consider non competitive games, Clemson Texas was
probably the closest thing that you add to a game
that really was in some question in the second half,
(02:44):
though Texas ends up winning thirty eight to twenty four. Well,
let's go in the order in which these games were played.
Indiana Notre Dame was last Friday Night. Tony and Notre
Dame just kind of beat Indiana at their own game, right,
run the ball, play defense, and they were just the
more fit and they won up front, and Indiana just
could not get anything going offensively.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I think the Indiana Notre Dame games set the tone
for all four games, and that is what we saw
on paper happened on the field because there were some
big mismatches in these contests and it was just I
thought for Indiana, SMU, the moment was just too big
for them. I mean, the fighting Irish Notre Dame expects
(03:26):
to go into each season fighting for a national title.
Now they haven't done that for a while, but they
expect to where Indiana, you know, they deserve applause. It
was a great season, but this was sort of the
cream cream of the crop, and you know, as you said,
a lot of excitement. You know, Indiana gets that turnover
early in the game, They're going into the end zone
(03:47):
and then Curtis Rourke throws a pick to Xavier Watts,
a bad pass. Xavier watch. I mentioned that matchup and
it was all downhill from there. I mean, the Notre
Dame offensive line just pounded Indiana. Indiana's offensive line could
not contain Notre Dame, which was a problem for them
against Michigan, was slight problem against Ohio State. Listen, it
(04:09):
shouldn't surprise anybody Notre Dame was the much better team.
And I think you gotta start off with Riley Leonard,
who had a good game. He wasn't great. He played
within the system, he was efficient, he was methodical. Twenty
three or yards, one touchdown, one I int although that
was on a tip pass, thirty yards rushing on one
TV when you watch Riley Leonard, and again we talked
(04:32):
about Riley Leonard with Jim Nagy the second time he
was on when we were talking about the Senior Bowl invites.
You know, you could see the athleticism, you could see
the arm strings, you could see the ability to make
all the passes. It's just a matter of going from
athlete with a big arm to a passer. And I
think he's starting to do that. He wasn't great, but
he did what Notre Dame needed him to do.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
No, I'm with you one hundred percent. Let's talk about
the other quarterback then, Curtis rock Tony. He's a guy
that was a transfer obviously, twenty thirty three, two hundred
fifty yards, two touchdowns, a pick efficient and that interception hurt,
and those red zone interceptions always do. But look, I
think he's a guy that profiles if he figures things out,
could be a backup quarterback in the NFL and kind
of play that role for a real long time. As
(05:15):
a Day three pick.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Marvelous year. I mean, despite the fact that he had
the intercept the band interception, did a great job all
season protecting the ball for Indiana. Really ran that offense efficiently.
Was huge in getting Indiana to where they are, where
they were into the playoffs. We're gonna see him at
the Shrine ball. I agree with you. I think with
Curtis Roark, he's a real good game manager. He protects
(05:39):
the football, He's got it going on between the ears.
What I'm gonna look at at the shrine balls. Does
he have the downfield arm Kenny let it fly? Are
the downfield passes, you know, arriving to the receiver with speed.
But he had a terrific here. I'm sure he didn't
want to end this way because they're early on. You
could see that, you know he was off. But he's
(06:01):
definitely elevated his draft stock. I mean last year, two
seasons ago, he entered it as a senior in Ohio
with potential late round grades. Didn't have a great twenty
twenty three season in Ohio was injured part of the time,
played much better this year. So he's moving towards the
draft process with elevated draft grades, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
And it's funny, you know, we a lot of this
big picture and then we'll hit some of the other
Notre Dame players. You know, there was some complaints from
people out there about how you know, they didn't take
strength to schedule into consideration enough. You have these conference winners,
the winners of the Big twelve, winners of the ACC
you know, Indiana, they I think their best winner was
against what the seventh best team and the Big ten
something like that, right.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
And beat Michigan. They beat Michigan.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
Yeah, yeah, And Michigan was what like the fourth or
fifth in the conference this year or something that.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Mission was not very good this year, right, you know,
right that that.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
No question of quality win. But I don't know if
they had it anyway around this the committee, right, like
you have to reward teams for winning games. But I
think think the concept of the critics was correct, Like
if you have oh miss in one of these games,
but they have been more competitive than say Indiana, you
know what, probably, But if you're going to do a
(07:10):
playoff system, you have to reward winning games and winning
divisions despite the strength of schedule deal. Even though I
think in this first round the teams you worried about
their strength of schedule, they ended up struggling in some
of these games.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Listen, you played a schedule that's put in front of you.
Indiana was a one loss team that one game they
lost to Ohio State. They lost pretty badly, although they
were in that game for most of the first half
until two special teams blunders late in the first half.
But I got no problem with Indiana, who was eleven
to one, being in the College Football playoffs, considering where
(07:44):
they came from. I know that doesn't factor into it.
But still a one loss team out of the Big
Ten where you got Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State, and
the College Football Playoffs and they beat Michigan, I have
there should be no problem with that at all.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I agree one hundred percent. You can only beat teams
that are on your schedule in front of you, right,
I'm with you, all right. Notre Dame Tony. He was
one of their offensive player here before he jumped to
the defense. And I know he's not draft eligible yet.
But he had a big game. Jeremiah loved their running
back had that really big run in the game. Is
he a guy that will be talking about his potential
running back one next year? He's Julian love Form Giant's
younger brother. By the way, For the people that did
(08:21):
not know that, Uh, what's the buzz around him? Have
you even talked to anybody about him?
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Yeah? Well we'll be talking about him. He keeps ninety
six yard touchdown runs like he did the first play
after that interception.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Yeah, that was in ninety eight or was in ninety six?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
I think it was night. I mean, i'd be bro't take.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
All the way from the kid. It's Christmas time, Tony.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
It was long, that's for sure. I mean, you know,
no one's really talked about him in the scouting community
because he's not draft eligible. I'm not hearing you know,
there's no buzz about Wow, we can't wait for this
guy to become drafted. But I want to say, and
Anthony Hill will linebacker from Texas. But listen, I mean,
obviously somebody to keep an eye on, no.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
Question about it. All right, let's go to the defensive
side of the ball for the Notre Dame. You already
mentioned the Xavier Watts pick. He was one of the
guys you wanted to keep an eye on this game.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Ten tackles, one interception. I mean, he is just a smart,
efficient safety. Not going to be in an early draft
pick unless he tests off the charge. I don't think
that's gonna happen. You're looking more as a third or
fourth round of prospect. But still, you know plenty of
you know, early day three safeties go on to start
in the NFL. I think he's more of a zone
(09:28):
type of safety. I don't know that is traditional free safety,
but just smart, instinctive, does the little things well and
comes away with the big plays. That was the big
matchup I was looking for against Curtis Rourke and obviously
right off the bat, Xavier Watch came off the winner.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
Yeah, And there was just an overthrow right and Wats
was kind of a He threw a little two forehead
on the crossing pattern and Wats was in the right
place at the right time to grab that pick. Couple
defensive linemen for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and two
sons of former Giants as well. R j Oben former
Giants him in Roman Obin's son at a tackle in
the game. Then Howard Crossed the third had a tackle
(10:04):
on a pass breakup. But they played in the whole.
I thought a Notre Dame line played a lot better
than maybe the numbers might dictate.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah, very explosive. I mean, they got a lot of pressure,
which I think really hurt Curtis Rourke. And they were
occupying the blockers well, which allow for those blitzes to
be effective. You know, it's funny because they play at
three man line, but most of these guys, especially Oben
and Howard Crush, are more one gap defensive players, whether
it be do one gap defensive end, one gap defensive tackle.
The bigger guy, Riley Mills, he's also you know, if
(10:33):
you're gonna put him at defensive tackle, he's about three
hundred pounds, so he's more of a one gap defensive tackle.
Maybe you stick him at the defensive end and in
a three man line if you can put some weight
on him. Did hurt his knee in that game, and
we the most latest reports are Riley Mills is out
for the rest of the college football players. Is that true?
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I didn't hear that. That's too bad. It looked like
he had a chance to maybe because you were still
in uniform. They thought maybe had a chance to cut
back into the game. But they're saying he's not going
to return now.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Ten minutes before we started recording, I read that he's
out for the rest of the college football players. Will
see how that affects his decision to enter the draft
if he has any eligibility left. But he's the bigger guy.
He's the bigger of the three. He's got the most
growth potential, he's the hard All these guys are hardworking.
The motors always running on uh, always running for them.
(11:21):
And I think they're all, you know, mid to late
Day three selections. But they'll have a place on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
All right, let's go to the game that Notre Dame's
gonna be playing next week. I'm not sure if they're
New Year's even in the Year's Day. I haven't looked
at the schedule yet, Tony, but Georgia, and these are
the games where Notre Dame, you know, they look great,
they're beating all these teams. They're an independent, they're not
a conference obviously. Then they play an SEC team, You're like, oh,
there is the talent differential are we Do you think
going to see that again this week when they take
(11:49):
on Georgia.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
There's definitely a talent differential and Notre Dame's really gonna
have to step it up as well as they played
against Indiana. This is a completely different ball of wax.
I mean, you start off with Riley Leonard, I mean,
number one, he's gonna have Jalen Walker and Michael Williams,
both potential first round picks, breathing down his neck, and
then he's got to keep an eye on out for
Malachi Starks, who is a first round pick. Some people
(12:13):
think he's a top ten prospect. So for Riley Leonard,
you know, we went from methodical game manager, which he
did so well against Indiana. Now there's gonna be a
lot more on his shoulders, and there's gonna be it's
gonna be a lot more uncomfortable for him with the
way George is able to rush the passer with two
great NFL prospects, and then when he puts the ball up,
(12:34):
he's got one of the best safeties we've seen in
a long while, who's also a ballhawk who could also
play over the slot receiver. You know, trying to defend
the pass. So from that aspect, it's a large difference
in a differential and talent Notre Dame's got and especially
Riley Leonard's got to step it up.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
And then on the other side, how does the Notre
Dame defensive line stop that Georgia rushing attack?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Have you?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Well, let's start with this. Have you heard anything on
Carson Beck in availability? What are they saying about him? Uh?
Speaker 2 (13:02):
From what I've read, they are expecting to be without
Carson Beck from most of the playoffs. Now again, go
back to two of our shows to go with Jim
Naggi when he was talking about the Yebow injury, and
then last week I had mentioned that when I talked
to people, they said, it's really bad. From what I'm hearing,
Georgia is at least preparing to be without Carson Beck
(13:23):
the next three weeks, assuming they get that.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Far, which to Tony to your point, they're gonna lean
along the rud game then, right, So, how does this
Notre Dame defensive line we kind of just talked about
these guys, right, how do they hold up against that
Georgian offensive line? And Trevor atn in that running attack.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Yeah, I mean the Georgia offensive line is bigger, they're
more physical, and they're much more talented than the Indiana
offensive line. You know, not trying to offend the Indiana
offensive line, but when you look at Tate Rutledge, you
look at Xavier Trust who's had been up and down
this year, Dylan Fairchild, I mean, these guys will be
able to handle that, should be able to handle that
(14:00):
to Notre Dame defensive line just with body positioning and
strength along and the fact that Riley Mills is not
is not going to play. I mean that's really going
to hurt Not Your Dame. Oben Junior and Howard crossed
the third better beyond their game because you know, this
Georgia offensive line, although it struggled at times this year,
and I don't think it's played up to expectations. You know,
(14:21):
when they are in their game, they were a big, tough,
next level type of blockers.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
All right, let's jump to SMU Penn State. Penn State
destroying SMU in this game thirty eight to ten. You're
those two pick sixes earlier, right if I remember correctly,
in this game, and then Penn State really didn't have
to do a ton offensively the rest of the way,
to be completely honest with you, so quiet game for
ju Aller, he didn't really have to do much. Tony
just threw twenty two passes, completed thirteen of them for
one hundred and twenty seven yards. His big tight end
(14:48):
Tyler Warren four catches thirty three yards. Because again you
got those defensive scores, you had to do a whole
lot in this game with the football, and.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
They also rushed for I believe almost two on your yards.
The top two backs were close to two on yards.
I may be off on that, maybe one hundred and
fifty yard, so you're right. I mean a Laar was
sort of like a Riley Leonard to a lesser extent.
Just managed the game, was methodical. You know. The SMU
again that significantly overmatched and just like Indiana, I think
that the moment was bigger than what they were ready for.
(15:18):
Although they deserve to be credit. They deserve the credit
being there winning the acc during the regular season then
going down to Clemson, but I mean, you look at
the roster, they have few NFL prospects. That Kobe the
safety I talked about, was basically non existent. And like
you said, early on, it was SMU mistakes that put
Penn State ahead. There was no way SMU was going
(15:39):
to come back. I was impressed with some of the
second tiery even third tier Penn State defenders who came up,
who stepped up their game. Cody Izzer, the explosive defensive tackle.
Five tackles, one and a half tackles for loss. He's
a guy who two years ago really caught my attention
during my summer film work. I had them in my
(16:00):
database scheme. Never really off took off Scoucher talking about
him as a street free agent. He's a fourth year senior,
probably can come back for another year. But he's a
bigger guy who moves very well. He just has to
play at a high level on an every snap basis.
Kobe King, the solid linebacker eight tackles, Danny Dannis Sutton
(16:22):
got to keep an eye on for the future an
edge rusher for Penn State. Four tackles, one and a
half tackles for loss, one and a half sacks in
the game. Really helped the Penn State defense set the
tempo of that contest.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
By the way, Kobe King brother twin brother, which I
did not realize off Kaitlin King, who is currently the
corner he's actually on the Packers right now, who had
a rough postcraft process last year. But second brother we've
had mentioned in this in this podcast today, it's a
it's a family affair, it's the holidays. It makes sense,
Tony and know. Let's look ahead Penn State Boise Stage.
You mentioned some of those upfront defenders for the Nitney Lions. Well,
(16:58):
they're gonna have their hands ball. But here comes asking Genty,
who's been the best offensive player in college football this year,
runner up in the Heisman Trophy. No one's been able
to tackle this guy all year long. He's broken all
sorts of rushing records. He's been phenomenal. He's gonna have
to carry the ball and the weight and the offense
and everything else for Boys State if they want a
chance to be Penn State.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
This week, and they're gonna have to switch it up
with Ashton Genty. I mean, if they try and run
down the teeth of that Penn State defense, it's not
gonna work because I think that Penn State defense is
just gonna eat him up. They're gonna have to try
for some perimeter runs and hope that Genty can be
the Penn State defenders around the corner. He is a
good perimeter runner. He is a good pass catcher out
of the backfield. He's a three down back. He's a
(17:38):
triple threat player. You know at the position, they're gonna
have to mix it up, but they're still gonna be
up against it. I mean again, this is this is
one of the rankings that you wanted because you knew
that Boise State was gonna be one of the easier
second round games, despite the fact that they had such
such a sensational season. We talk about Ashton Genty Genty.
(18:00):
Keep an eye out on their left tackle, Casey Cage,
red shirt sophomore. I have it right now as a
fourth fifth round type of prospect. Obviously there's room for
growth there. But see how he does against Abdul Carter,
who I'm sure is probably licking his chops. He's gonna
try and beat the younger guy, and how he does
run blocking. If you're looking for one guy on defense
(18:23):
who could maybe disrupt Droular from the boys state point
of view, Ahmad Hasanian eight and a half sacks. He's
more of your undersized air rusher, very quick up the field.
It's only about two hundred and forty five pounds, so
if they run right at him, he may have some struggles.
But that's a guy that may try that has the
ability at least to disrupt Duile's game plan.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Yeah, out of Cairo, Egypt. You don't see that very
often on the old player page, right, So we'll keep
an eye on him. I'm curious to see because I've
seen a couple of places that have is height and
weighted different I saw a six six three two seventy
in one spot, so I'll be curious to see where
he actually weighs in. You know, some of these schools
they can pump up sometimes a height, weight stuff. So
we'll have to see how he weighs in. But yeah,
eight and a half sacks this year, in twelve and
(19:04):
a half sacks last year too, So he's the guy
that's haid a couple of years of production here, and
we'll see how he does in this game. And as
we head towards the draft, game number three Tony Clemson, Texas.
Texas won that game thirty eight twenty four. Clemson goes
right down in their first drive. Now they score that touchdown.
You think, oh, maybe we've got a game here, and
then all of a sudden, I'm flipping back and forth.
That was on the same time as I believe the
(19:26):
Raven Steelers game, if I'm not mistaken, on Saturday. So
I was trying to keep an eye on Raven Steelers
a lot because that was such an important game for
the AFC North. I turn it back, and all of
a sudden, Texas has a commanding lead in this game.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
Yeah, I mean Clemson. Antonio Williams, the wide receiver who's
a Day three pick. Four receptions for sixty six yards
and a touchdown. Jake bringing Stool, the big, tall, lanky
tight end Number nine, you can't miss a film.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Looks good.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
Four receptions for sixty nine yards. I think his kind
of full. He did not have the season that the
scouts expected, and he's gone for a potential third round
pick to the fifth round. Wade with Doz, the middle linebacker.
A lot of people don't talk about. He is a
draftable prospect. Eight tackles. I mean again, Texas on paper,
you know, had the decided advantage, and after that first
(20:15):
drive they came through. I do think that, you know,
we've talked about Queen Viewers. We haven't talked about him glowingly.
And when you look at kay Klubeck versus quinn Ewers
in this game, they were basically neck and neck. And
I mean kay Klubeck is a late round pick at best.
He's probably not going to not going to even gets drafted,
(20:37):
and Youwers really wasn't able to take advantage of it.
I do like John Dave Barren, We've talked about him
a couple of times, the defensive back, cornerback from Texas
that can play corner, he can play Nickel had two
pass breakups.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Then this year for him, he's been He's got in
his hands on the ball a lot this season.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
He's a smart, tough defensive back. And then you look
at that Texas defensive line. Baron Soowell, who's going to
beat the Senior Bowl three tackle, one and a half
tackles for loss one sack. I have him as a
third round pick. Ethan Burke, the underclassman the other defensive end,
basically the same numbers, and Alfred Collins, a fifth round
defensive tackle, had the four tackles. A lot of talent
(21:15):
on that Texas defensive line that doesn't get talked about
too much because everybody concentrates on their offense, and they
had a lot of guys like the and Andre Sweat
and Byron Murphy who left last year. But they still
have some draftable prospects on that longhorned defensive line.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, we'll see about Antonio Williams, the wide receiver out
of Clemson. You mentioned in four catches, sixty six yards
at a touchdown, five to eleven one ninety richard sophomore.
So if decide whether he wants to come out in
this draft, and it's not a top heavy wide receiver group,
but there is deep, like the wide receiver position is
every year, it's always deep, right, So we'll see what
his decision is. You mentioned Kate club Nick twenty six
to forty three, three indred and thirty six yards, three
(21:52):
touchdowns at a pick. Really strong numbers, yours. In this game,
they ran the ball so well Texas. I want to
get your take on their running back shoots because they're
so productive. Tony yours was seventeen of twenty four, two
hundred two yards, one touchdown, one pick. But Texas, they
just ran the ball in this game an awful lot.
I'll bring up the numbers here very quickly, just so
we're on the same page and the fans know who
(22:12):
we're talking about here. But in this game, you had
Blue who had fourteen carries for one hundred and forty
six yards in this game. He ran it all over
the place. And it wasn't just him. They spread the
ball around. That was Jayden Blue. And then they had
Quintravian Wisner who had fifteen carries for one hundred and
ten yards. Seven yards of carry for Wisner, ten yards
(22:32):
of carry for Blue. Texas just dominated this game on
the ground.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Yeah, And first it starts with the offensive line. They
got an outstanding offensive line. We talked about the Cameron Williams,
the right tackle, we talked about the Calvin Banks. But
they've got some good players on the interior. Now Jayden Blue,
who's an underclasso and I think he's a middle round
pick right now. Be interesting to do see what he
does because he's the number two back on that depth chart.
You know, depending on how far Texas advances to the
(22:59):
college football playoffs, does he enter the draft, does he considering,
excuse me, transferring to another school. But I think right
now you're looking at a middle round pick. As far
as Wisner's concern, Wisen is a true sophomore, so we
got to wait on him.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Yeah, no question about it. But good good players and
Texas once again one of the most talented teams in
the College Football Playoffs. They have a chance to win
it all if they can put it all together, and
yours continues to play well. All right, Tony, Let's move
on to Texas and Arizona State. They take on one
another and Round two of the College Football Playoffs. Your
(23:33):
thoughts on that game?
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Yeah, and the Peach Bowl, And like Penn State, this
was the other bracket that you wanted to be in
because you've got Arizona State, who I believe at the
end of the year was ranked number fifteen when they
won the Big Twelve Championship, but got in by virtue
of winning the Big Twelve championship.
Speaker 1 (23:50):
And they blew out Iowa State in that game too.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
They hammered him at Iowa State, who's a pretty good team. Now,
I mean, on paper, Texas should win this game by
thirty five points, but they don't. You know, that's why
they play the game. And Arizona State is an incredibly
well coached team. You know, They've been behind the eight
ball before and they consistently come through. If you're looking
for a couple of guys to watch, you gotta watch
(24:12):
Max Anchor their big right tackle against those those Texas
defensive ends Baron Sowell and Ethan Burke who I just mentioned.
I mean, you look at Iron Anchor, I mean, he
just looks like an NFL offensive lineman. He's got that big,
thick lower body, he moves relatively well. Came into the
season with free agent grades. Some scouts have him as
(24:34):
early as the fourth round right now, So that'll be
a matchup to watch. And then, of course Cam Scattabo,
who was just announced as accepting his invitation to the
Senior Ball. You know, the tough interior running back transfer
from Sacramento State. You mentioned that the Iowa State game,
how they handled Iowa State. I think Scatabo had what
(24:55):
one hundred and sixty six yards rushing that game. You know,
runs around players, runs through players, carries the pile. We're
gonna see him at the Senior ball kind of remember
reminds me of and this is going to be a
name that a few people may remember. Bryan Leonard of Rutgers.
The way he was just a big, powerful ball carrier
who kind of invited contact, you know, look to take
(25:18):
on and punish the opponents. That's the kind of player
that Scatabo is and it's worked out well for Arizona State.
Speaker 1 (25:24):
Yeah. Here's very low to the ground compact, right, a
very strong, good contact balance. You know, he's not gonna
wie on the forty, Tony, but he knows how to
play the position, so he off to play well if
the Arizona State wants a chance to beat Texas in
the Peach Bowl. All right, final game from the weekend.
Ohio State just comes right out throwing the ball. I
like to see. I like to see Ryan Davey aggressive
getting the ball out to Jeremiah Smith, someone that we're
(25:45):
gonna have to wait two more years for. It's gonna
be a long way because he's a heck of a player.
But Ohio State just dominating Tennessee in this game, Tony.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, from the word go. You know Ryan day chip
Kelly as well, he got much maligned offensive coordinated there,
and especially coming off of that Michigan game where they
were just terrible offensively, he couldn't get anything going. I
think number one in the preview last week, I talked
about the interior of that Tennessee defensive line kind of,
you know, trying to employ that same sort of Michigan
(26:12):
game plan and take advantage of the weakness of that
Ohio State offensive line. Omar Norman lot the defensive tackle
Bryce and Easton Omari Thomas combined for two tackles and
one tackle for loss. So obviously Ohio State offensive line
came into the game with a chip on their shoulder
after that Michigan game. They knew what was gonna happen,
(26:35):
and they did a great job protecting Will Howard. They
did a terrific job for the running game. I mean,
Donovan Jackson, I thought, did a real good job on
James Pierce. Hall get to a second. Pierce had three
tackles and two tackles for losses. But really there was
not a lot of pressure on Will Howard and that
was because of that offensive line. It's gonna be interesting
(26:55):
when you look at James Pierce, because a lot of
people had him graded as a top five player pass
rushing numbers off the twenty twenty three, but he's thin,
he doesn't have it seem to have a lot of
growth potential, but he is incredibly athletic and he made as.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
I'm sorry, Tony, I mean he reminds me of almost
like like the like Nick Benito types, right, who was
super productive and athletic. But he's just small, right thin.
Can he figure out how to be more than just
like a situational pass rusher because he can't rush the
pass it, there's no question about it. I just don't
know what his size and frame. You know, he's like
two hundred and forty pounds. We'll see what he weighs
in at. I'm sure he'll be drinking water like crazy
(27:31):
before he gets on the seal with the combine. But
he's a guy that just does not have a huge
rain but he does know how to get after the quarterback.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Well, go back to what my conversation with Jim Naggie
about Ty Robinson the Nebraska defensive line and how they
line him up on the inside and the outside. It
knows tackling, move him around. That's what a defensive coordinator
is gonna have to do with James Pierce. I mean,
put him up, put his hand on the ground on occasion,
line him up in space, have him dropped back off
the line of scripts because he has that athleticism. A
(27:57):
zone blitz have him stand over tackle. I I think
he'll be able to do it. I think it's more
important that a defensive coordinator allows him to do it
rather than just kind of segments him as an edge
rusher because he is so athletic. You know, you mentioned
the freshman receiver from Ohio State, Mecca Buca, had a
(28:17):
real good game. Five receptions any one yards. Nothing outstanding,
but just very solid. Does the little things well. I
like the route discipline. You know, just stayed disciplined with
his routes and if the ball wasn't thrown in his direction,
well there was a receiver that was open underneath him
because of the fact that you know, he wasn't being
selfish with his routes. Again, Abuca, I like him as
(28:40):
a maybe a late second, early third round choice. Some
people have in the first round. I just don't see
it with them. I think he's a nice complementary receiver,
which is what he's been at Ohio State the past
couple of years. But he had a real good game,
and I gotta tell you, I know everybody loves quin
Shawn Jenkins at Ohio State with Trayvon Henderson, he's gonna
(29:01):
be underdrafted. I don't know if he's gonna end up
in Day two. He's just a terrific all around back.
What do you have eighty yards on ten carries in
the game with two tds, four receptions for fifty four yards.
He's explosive, he's creative, He's an outstanding pass catcher of
the backfield. And I think what's gonna happen with Trayvon
(29:23):
Henderson because of the fact he's had some injuries in
the past, and then they brought in quin Shawn Jenkins
with that nice NLI deal, so he kind of had
to share carries again this year. Somebody's gonna get a
real steal with Henderson, probably, if not late Day two,
somewhere in the fourth round of the twenty twenty five
NFL drafts.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Yeah. Boy, I always say it has the perfect running
back combination, right. Henderson's kind of there receiving threat, the
perimeter player, things like that, while quin Shawn Jenkins is
kind of there between the tackles guy. He does a
lot of the dirty work. He was ten carries, thirty
four yards and two touchdowns in this game. By the way,
Moodies is a proud partner of the New York Giants,
uniting the brightest minds to turn today's risk into opportunities.
Learn more at moodies dot com. Moody He's proud partner
(30:03):
of the New York Football Giants. And then you had
the usual cast of characters on defense only that we
talked a lot about this year and the defensive backs.
The corner has actually had a nice little game for
a while State.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
No mental breakdowns, no lapses, didn't give up any big plays. Now,
a lot of that had to do with the pressure
that Ohio State got up front, which I'll get to
in a minute, but still I thought both starting cornerbacks
and even their nickelbacks and safeties played very very well
protecting against the big playability of Tennessee. That will bowl
(30:35):
well for Burke and the the other kid at Bazooman
if he enters the draft, because both of those guys
have had a difficult season up front. I was really
impressed with Tyler Williams. I mean, he only ended with
three tackles, but he caused a lot of mayhem and
it was his pressure and his ability to penetrate the
line of scrimmage that created opportunities for his teammates multiple times,
(30:57):
just blowing up plays and the quarterback had a move
his feet or leave the pocket because he penetrated the
line of scrimmage. Not the biggest guy in the world,
but explosive, very quick, very athletics. JT. T. Miloe eight tackles,
two and a half tackles for lost, two sacks, had
a real nice game. Jack Sawyer five tackles, one and
a half tackles for lost, one and a half sacks.
(31:19):
Both I had a nice game. We know these guys
can rush the passer, but you know the criticism and
I think justifiably so was they were hit and miss
for most of the years. And I think because most
of the year, most of the season, I think because
of that what went on in that mission game, I
think because of TYLERK. Williams, those guys really stepped it
up two may Low. It is going to be a
real interesting scouting guy to scout moving forward, because when
(31:44):
he's on his game, he is just incredibly explosive and
he is tough to stop. But he's not on his
game all the time. It's hit and miss with him.
Jack Sawyer kind of reminds me of Anthony as Alone,
the linebacker from Detroit, in the sense that you know,
he's the guy who not the greatest apt in the world,
but wow, I mean he he's just go, go, go, go,
go intense intense intents. I think he's gonna be drafted
(32:06):
a little bit later than what people think fourth round,
maybe early third round. But like James Pierce, if you
get a good defensive coordinator who's creative, who knows how
to use him, he's going to be a real good
Sunday player, all right.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
And then you have the game next week, and this
is the premier second round game, at least in my opinion,
Tony Ohio State Oregon in the Rose Bowl. This is
a game that the winner of this team could very
well win the national championship and win are they still
calling it the National Championship? Is the College Football Playoffs
champion whatever that they're calling it. And they have some
really good matchup starting with the Ohio State pass rush
against two Oregon offensive tackles and offensive lineman. I know
(32:41):
you're a big fan of Yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
The premier game at the Premier Bowl, I mean the
Rose Bull, the granddaddy of them, all you have, you
have two packed, two Big ten teams, although it's what
the Big the Big fourteen now in a matchup that
usually last year would have been the Pac twelve against
the Big ten, which is what the Rose Bowl always was.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Quite yeah, and I wonder if they designed it that
way on purpose, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
With you, I you know, I thought about that, although
that would have been very tough. Obviously, putting Oregon in
that slot, you know, made it easy. But I think
the rest of the settings of the brackets and the
rankings of the teams, and then you know, in trying
to hope we're ensure that Ohio State was going to
beat Tennessee, which they did rather handly, would have been
(33:23):
a tough thing to do. That did cross my mind.
But getting back to the game. Josh Connelly, the left tackle,
I've exposed my espoused my love for him. I think
he's going to be a late first round pick, maybe
not as a tackle, but potentially as a zone blocking
guard and as Jeannie Cornelius, who began his college career
at Rhode Island, the big right tackle for Oregon, who
(33:43):
projects as a mid day three pick, probably in the
fifth or sixth round going against that Ohio State pass rush,
the j T two and may Low and the Jack
Soros who had just talked about, I mean, the Ohio
State guys have got to step it up because these
both of these Oregon offensive linemen are real, real good.
And then when you flip you gonna flipped that around.
Talked about how well the Ohio State the offensive line
(34:05):
played against Tennessee. Well, now it's next level against Jordan
Birch of Oregon, against Derek Harmon of Oregon, the big
for the explosive interior defensive tackle and Jammery Caldwell, a
potential late round pick who doesn't get a lot of mention.
I mean, there are gonna be battles whenever the teams
are on the field offensively, both teams. There's gonna be
(34:26):
great battles on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
And that's up front, Tony. And then we have great
battles between two of the better sets of wide receivers
in college football, with Oregon's wide receivers Evan Stewart, Tess
Johnson and Tree Shawn Holden against some good and highly
valued Ohio State defensive backs. And then you have the
Ohio State receivers. We already talked about will will test
the Oregon corners in safeties.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
And remember, you know, obviously these teams know each of
them because they played early in the year. I believe
it was the fourth fifth game of the year on October.
Oregon won by a point. That is when Josh Simmons,
the left tackle for Ohio State went down with the
season ending knee injury. That was also a game where
Evan Stewart really did a good job, really had his
way against that Ohio State secondary. So you know, the
(35:13):
lapses that we didn't see and the ability to stop
and defend against the big playability that Tennessee posed that
the Ohio State defensive backs were able to stop on Saturday, Well,
you're gonna have to multiply that by at least two
because these receivers are much more better, They're much more explosive,
they're more consistent, and they're they're productive on a weekend
(35:36):
and week got a basis. Evan Stewart, notwithstanding, we've talked
about his ups and downs, but this is going to
be a real battle and a real challenge for the
Ohio State secondary. The Oregon secondary doesn't get a lot
of mention, but they're solid. Jabari Mohammed, a smaller guy
who transferred from Washington last year. You mentioned Cam Alexander
(35:58):
Taishim Johnson against what could be or what has shown
to be when they're on their game and the quarterback
is on the game. A very potent receiving duo out
of Ohio State.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
All right, and then finally, who are some of the
guys on Oregon. You'll be keeping an eye on their offense?
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Yeah, you know Ohio State defense. It doesn't stop just
with the receivers that you mentioned. I mean, they're gonna
have to have an answer for Dylan Gabriel, a guy
who really doesn't get much mentioned. I think it's underrated
in the scouting community. I like him as a Day
three pick. He's got a lot of Baker Mayfield in
his game if you watch him. An RPO quarterback who
can play from the pocket, who can get outside the
(36:34):
pocket and make plays with his arms, who can make
plays with his legs. He's smart, he protects the football.
He's always in command of the game. You know, when
you go back to that Big Ten title game, you
know when it was third and long and it looked
like Penn State was going to turn the tide of
the game. Dylan Gabriel had an answer, and Dylan Gabriel
has consistently had an answer for him. And if it's
(36:55):
not Dylan Gabriel, it's Jordan James. They're explosive running back.
Not the biggest guy in the world, but it's impossible
to attack.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
He's gonnapack man. The more I watch him, Tony, he's
a good player.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
He's got to burst through the hole. He makes defenders miss,
he picks up yardage off initial contact. He's good around
the corner. He's got great vision on the inside. So
that's gonna have to be somebody that they watch out for.
And then Terrence ferguson the tight end. Not really a
big play tight end athletically, but he's smart, he plays
within the system, good blocker, and we'll find the open
(37:28):
spot down the field and make big plays as a
pass catcher. So the Ohio State defense, it's got a
lot too. Uh, They're gonna be up against it a
lot because Oregon can hit you in a variety of ways,
which is why they're undefeated and they are the number
one team in the nation all right.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
I think this is a coin flay game. They'll fall
close with me on this before I ask you a
question about holidays. So do you think we get one
upset in either Penn State going up against Boise, Texas
going up against Arizona State, well, Notre Dame going up
against Georgia. I haven't looked at the spreads in those games.
I don't know what they are. I'm sure the teams
(38:06):
we expect to be favorites are fairly big favorites. Do
you think we'll get an upset in one of those
three games?
Speaker 2 (38:11):
I doubt it. I mean, most of the nation's gonna
be rooting for Boise, A lot of people are gonna
be rooting for Arizona State. There are a lot of
people just root against not Your Dame because they don't
like Notre Dame. But I think Georgia, I think Penn State,
and I think Texas are going to win handily.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Yeah, and then we'll see Ohio State Oregon. That'll be
a big game, do they say, I think.
Speaker 2 (38:34):
The Ohio State Orgon game. Will Howard has played well
against Tennessee. He's gonna have to play better against Oregon.
If Will Howard can protect the ball. If he can
hit the receivers accurately, then I think Ohio State has
got a chance to win.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
So what are you got to ony? Are you hosting
Christmas or Christmas Eve? What are you doing?
Speaker 2 (38:52):
Well? Being of Italian heritage from New York, Christmas Eve
is the big holiday in our house. If you're in
the air, we've got twenty people. In fact, that was
up but this morning at six forty five, I had
to run to the seafood place before anybody got there
to get the Jonas crab claws.
Speaker 1 (39:06):
And how many fishes? Seven fishes?
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Well, we call it seven fishes, but it's usually about
eight or nine. I now just call it one thousand
dollars dinner. More expense by the year, but yeah, it's
called seven fishes. We usually end up with about eight.
You know, people bring this, people bring that. But it's
a lot of funny here at the poly Eat Household
Christmas Eve, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
Yeah. Well we're hosting too, so my brother and my
sister with their families will be coming over. We do
we do some Swedish meatballs. We do some spicy turkey meatballs.
My sister brings like little Delly finger sandwiches, and my
brother usually brings like a big zd or Lasagnia and
we kind of just have, like I kinda hang out,
eat a little bit. We don't do like an official
sit down dinner. It's kind of grab as you go
and eat as the open presents and all that sort
(39:48):
of stuff. So it should be a fun night.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
Well, well see we do both. Well, first the appetite
everybody comes from the appetizer's grabbing, you know, and then
we have to sit down dinner as you would expect
an Italian fashion.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Do you have any do many little kids come into
your house and are mostly adults?
Speaker 2 (40:03):
No, all the little kids are grown up. I mean, yeah,
we used to have a lot of little kids, but
they're all My daughter is the little list and she's
about twenty one. So now I guess we got to
wait for the next generation to have their little kids before.
And it was fun. I mean it was fun with
the little kids because there were enormous amounts of presents
and now everybody gets gift cards and tickets to Ranger
games and things like that.
Speaker 1 (40:23):
Yeah, we have my three nephews were now two of
them are in college, one's going and then we have
ones going in in a couple of years. He's a
junior in high school. I believe that's Andrew. And then
my two kids are the youngest. We were my seven
year old and my two year old. She's all every day,
week's first thing. She's like, how many days for Christmas? Dad?
How many years for Christmas dads? So she'll be spoiled.
My two year old last year year, last year with
(40:45):
my Yeah, that's exactly how what it should be. So
my my son who was one and a half last
year had zero interest in opening presents. You would give
it to him, me just put it down and walk away.
So literal, we were like a week after Christmas, we
couldn't get him to open this present. So we're just
gonna open it for him now, kid Like, like we
can't have these sitting year rap for like two weeks.
He doesn't want to open him. So we're hoping that
he gets a little bit more into it this year
or two and a half and it's kind of like
(41:06):
more ready to go.
Speaker 2 (41:07):
And then when you did open him, he played with
the boxes, not the toys inside of him. Right.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
Oh, No, last year on Christmas morning, we game all
these presents, didn't care. He was literally in the kitchen
playing with the pots and pans out of the cabinet
for an hour and a half. Like not even I
put a picture of my Instagram, like you can't make
it up.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
Yeah, no, no you can't. Well it's it's and you're
not alone, I'm sure like a lot of the guy people.
Why the guys and girls watching the show. I mean,
I remember when my daughter was young wards the presence
for two and a half days, she played with the
chapstick that was in her rus Stockey, So I mean,
you know, it's the way it goes.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
It is Tony, Merry Christmas, my friend, Happy Honig, Merry Christmas.
All you guys out there, Happy holidays if you if
you celebrate something else. Thanks for being with us, everybody.
Enjoy your holidays.
Speaker 2 (41:49):
Again.
Speaker 1 (41:49):
This will be airing on Thursday. Enjoy your NFL weekend,
Enjoy your college football playoffs, New Year's even New Year's
Day next Tuesday and Wednesday, and then again we'll be
back with draft season next Thursday. As you review around
two of the college Foball playoffs and also some of
the other bowl games as well. And then we only
have four games left after that, Tony, and the three
games left rather and we'll be ready to go for
(42:11):
the pre draft process, which will take us for a
couple of months. And then before you know, we're gonna blink,
it's gonna be April and we're gonna be in the
final stretch run.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
You know, after that National Championship game, it's what apparently
a week later, and we're on our way to Frisco,
Texas for three days of practice for the Shrine Bowl.
And then after the third day of practice from the
Shrine Bawl, you get on a plane, you hop over
the mobile. It's three days of practice at the Senior Bowl,
which is always always a busy but fun trip.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
Yeah, can't wait. It's gonna be a lot of fun. Tony,
have fun, my friend. I appreciate it, and enjoy your holidays.
Speaker 2 (42:43):
Sham with you and your family. John.
Speaker 1 (42:45):
Yeah, Merry Christmas, Tony Murray, Christmas to everybody out there,
Happy Honkah and all that good stuff. Thanks for being
with us on draft season. Brought to you by Moody's.
We'll see you next time. Everybody
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