April 12, 2025 • 34 mins
The Last Word, the Colts’ offseason radio show, returns this week with Jeffrey Gorman and Matt Taylor reacting to the Colts' latest roster moves, including the signing of tight end Mo Alie-Cox in free agency and the surprise release of kicker Matt Gay. The guys also debut the NFL Draft Thermometer, breaking down the hottest positional needs for the Colts as the draft quickly approaches. Plus, they dive into the biggest offseason storylines and explore the looming quarterback battle with Ty Dunne, veteran NFL insider and founder of Go Long and GoLongTD.com.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
The NFL never sleeps.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The roster is ever evolving, and it's all about finding
the edge. This is the last word, the off season
home of the Indianapolis Colts. Now here's Jeffrey Gorman and
Matt Taylor.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
We're here on ninety three five and one oh seventy
five the Fan coming to you from inside the Indiana
Union Construction Industry Radio studio. Jeffrey Gorman, Voice of the coach,
Matt Taylor, Mayte.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
I never get tired of this song? How are you
love it?
Speaker 4 (00:35):
Bro?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
We started weekend right? Sorry tangent, I mean I'd already started.
I don't mind whatever you played, brother. You know that
JMB thinks he's got a good gig on Saturday night.
Listen to some of your playlists. Yeah, I think he's
stealing some in.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
For the masses. I guess.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Hey, man, I'm telling you what Pacers are coming up.
But we've got some football to talk about. How about that? Yeah,
Halliburt with that shot last night. Listen, let's talk some football.
We do have some news. Moali Cox back in the mix.
The Colts have signed him to a one year deal.
Also yesterday, Matt Gay released the kicker, I want to
start with Moali with you. By the way, we got
Ty Dunn coming up from Golong, one of the best
(01:13):
in the business, getting you ready for the draft and
everything coming up on the twenty twenty five season. But
may te Moali Cox. We were wondering about this, the
veteran tight end yep, longest tenured Colt, if you will
in that locker room one year deal welcoming back. What
does it mean for this offense?
Speaker 5 (01:26):
I think it makes a lot of sense for the offense.
As you said, Moe kind of tested the waters in
free agency, decided that his best option was a return
back to Indianapolis. And I think Mo has great value
as it relates to the Colts within this offense because
he's tremendous in the running game. He's one of the
best blocking tight ends in the NFL, and I think
he's been Mo that is underutilized in the passing game
(01:50):
because of the inconsistencies at quarterback and the intermediate part
of the passing game, specifically in the middle of the field,
like we've talked about at nauseum in the past. So
great for Cox. He's played in over one hundred games
with the Colts, hasn't missed a game in the last
four years and serves as a great role model, great
leader and teammate inside that locker.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
The big power forward from Virginia Commonwealth's right who played
for Shock as smart. If your basketball fans are out there,
that is our own Moalley Cox, Maddie, does it change
any sort of direction or blueprint when it comes to
the draft and the tight end? And you know, obviously
everybody and their brother wants the Colts to get the
best tight end at fourteen. I personally don't think that
guy's gonna be there, But Maddie, does it change the
(02:31):
outlook for them drafting a tight end this year?
Speaker 1 (02:33):
No, I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
I still think the Colts are going to be on
a lookout for a game changing tight end, like they've said,
Chris Ballard said they don't have that guy on the
roster a few weeks back, actually last week at the
NFL Owners Meeting. So, like I said, Moe's a great player,
great asset in the running game. But I think there's
a lot of enticing tight ends in the draft, and
I still think that need for the Colts is still
(02:55):
there all right.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Other news Matt Gabe was released. Matt, were you shocked
at this one? Was this head scratcher to you? Or
what do you make of this? And what does it
make for who holds this job? Coming up on when
training camp opening?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
Yeah, I mean this happened yesterday Thursday around lunchtime, and
I was a little taken aback by this, just because
of the investment the Colts made a couple of years ago.
They were very aggressive and going out and nabbing Matt
Gay in the offseason and free agency. But last year
I think he had some weird splits. He was thirty
one of thirty seven total for the season eighty three percent.
(03:28):
He was twenty eight for twenty eight inside fifty, but
just three for nine from fifty plus. And if you
look at his two years with the Colts overall, just
eleven for twenty two over fifty. And I think it
really comes down to that. In the NFL, most guys,
most kickers are pretty automatic under fifty, but you make
your money by making the big ones, the clutch long ones,
(03:49):
if you will. And since twenty twenty three, Matt Gay's
field goal percentage over fifty yards at fifty percent, that
rank thirtieth.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
In the NFL, So I do it.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
It's a bottom line deal, but I was I thought
it was gonna be. You know, they signed Spencer Strader
a few weeks back in free agency, and I thought
when they made that move, along with Matt Gay's inconsistencies
and troubles over fifty last season, I thought it was
gonna be kind of like what the Colts are doing
at quarterback, bringing a guy that can push him. We're
not just gonna hand him the job. Iron sharpens iron,
(04:22):
you know, things like that. I thought it was gonna
be one of those situations. I wasn't expecting an all
out release in the month of April. So a little
bit surprised by that.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Well think about it. One kicker on the roster right now,
and it is Spencer Schrader, who does have some experience here.
Last year kicked for the Chiefs, and I think the Jets.
Maybe I'm wrong on that, but I know Jet, yeah,
Jets and Chief Jets and Chief, so he does have
some experience. But this, I mean, is this his job
going into camp? He's the number one kicker. I have
to believe they always bring in an extra leg for camp.
There will be another kicker in there. But the way
(04:51):
it looks right now, this is our guy.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
I would think so like you, like you said, bring
in somebody else to compete, because Spencer Strader got a
lot of upside. His leg is tremendus, but his NFL
resume is very thin. Last year, spent some time with
the Colts in training camp and in Week one. I
do expect the Colts to sign another kicker in free agency,
either after the draft, undrafted free agent, or another free
(05:15):
agent before the draft. But yeah, I don't think they're
just gonna hand the job to Spencer Strader. He's gonna
have to go out and earn it. After the release
of Matt Game.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Notre Dame Ties there right, Notre Name Times, kind of
a homecoming of sorts.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
He's back.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
We're gonna keep you updated on those battles when it
comes to training camp because we are getting ready for
the NFL Draft here and there are some storylines out
here on the Colts. Maddie. I love this. We do
it once or twice a year. It's called the draft thermometer.
I take out the big plug, I throw it in
the big piece of beef. I see you at the temperatures. Right, yeah, yeah, Okay,
So that's what I'm saying. I'm gonna go with this
right now, here's your scale when it comes to this
(05:50):
NFL draft. The heat scale is room temperature, it's boiling
or it's scorching. Offensive line, where.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Are we at? Ah, I would like your feedback.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
I'm going to say it's it's boiling at the very least,
because the Colts need to bring in some quality depth
along that offensive line after you lost Ryan Kelly and
Will Fries in free agency, so that's going to open
up two starting offensive line jobs. The Colts are holding
an open competition there with some depth pieces that were
here last year. But Chris Ballard loves to have quality
(06:22):
depth in the trenches. He's never gonna skimp there. And
you got to protect this quarterback no matter who it is,
whether it's Jones or Richardson, You've got to be able
to protect that guy. And I think bringing in an
athletic offensive lineman who can play inside and outside on
a rookie contract, it's very, very appealing. So we've talked
a lot about tight end and you know, the Colts
(06:42):
are definitely going there with the fourteenth overall pig. I
say Corso style, not so fast offensive line could be
very much in play for that.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Mattie, I call that scorching. Who's your swing tackle, who's
your backup on the left side? To Ryman, who's your
backup on the right side? At I'm saying, so, I'm
calling it scorching. Let's flip the switch go to the
defensive line. A lot of talent too, on the interior especially.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
I'm going scorching because you don't have as much depth
on the defensive line as you do on the offensive
line as of right now. Because behind to Forrest Buckner
and Grover Stewart, you need more. They signed Neville Gallimore.
That's good comes over in free agency from the Rams.
I think he could be an upgrade over Rakwon Davis,
who they released back in March.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
But they need more.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
You gotta have guys that can step up and hold
the level of play when Stewart and Buckner are out
of the game. And I know that's way easier said
than done, because those guys are that good. But I
would expect the Colts to spend a fairly decent pick
at that position when you need depth, and by fairly
decent I mean, premium pick top three rounds on guys
(07:48):
that can stop the run when those two top dogs
Buckner and Stuart need a breath.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Hey, Chris Baller talked about competition, not just at the
quarterback position. I'm saying there's gonna be big time competition
in the defensive line this upcoming training camp to find
out that depth. That's what I'm saying. I'm with you
on scorching go to linebacker.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
For me, this is somewhere between room temperature and boiling.
I don't know how you feel about it, because the
great the Colts have had really good success finding linebackers
on Day three. You know, guys like Anthony Walker and EJ. Speed,
Zaire Franklin, and now the latest example of that is
Jalen Carlies. You can get really good value at that
position in the later rounds, as we've seen. So the
(08:28):
Colts they need depth at linebacker here in the offseason
to supplement the loss of EJ. Speed and Grant Stewart.
But I think the Colts can find good value in
good players to be in the mix on day three
of the draft, rounds four through seven.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
With you on that one room temperature boiling somewhere in
the middle there. Let's go to the tight end position.
Because everyone and their brother, especially all the football heads
out there saying Colts need a tight end, Well, get
them in the draft at fourteen. It's not that easy.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Yeah, I'll say scorching because I think the Colts are
still on the move or on the lookout, I should
say for that game changer at that position according to
Chris Ballard. But again, you know, the big question is,
well the Colts draft a guy in the first round
at fourteen overall, because depth there is pretty good at
that position. You know, perhaps the Colts field they can
get a good tight end in round two around three
(09:16):
and pick up another position of need earlier in the draft.
But there's no question that the Colts need a tight
end for next season. That is a game changer in
the sense that it's not so obvious when you play
with just one tight end on the field. Not so
obvious if you're gonna be in a run position or
a passing situation based on the personnel on the field.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Hey, you're cooking with gas today. You like that the
thermometer a lot of heats. I shoved that thermometer in
that big old roast and Maddie, guess what it's ready
to go.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
You're like doctor phil Man, you got more degrees than
the thermometer.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
What are we eating for some side? You want some
small redskin potatoes?
Speaker 5 (09:49):
You want a little squashed spars? Here we go out
of asparagus. Maybe some mac and cheese.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Hey, that's your thermometer check. Don't forget about this. You
got the Colts Audio Network getting you ready for the
NFL Draft and the Colts biggest needs. We do that
with a host of experts, so check it out. Also,
April twenty fourth, why don't you come on down to
Lucas Oil Stadium the Colts Official Draft Party, presented by
bud Light. Fans are invited to come to Lucas Oil
Stadium and watch the first round of that draft. You're
(10:14):
gonna have access to the field, plus autographs from current
Colts players and former Colts greats are gonna be there.
It's ten bucks to get in five dollars if you're
a season ticket member. More information is available at Colts
dot com. Okay, stay tuned when we come back more
upcoming Colts draft talk and offseason plans. We're gonna do
that with Tye Dunn, the founder of Golong and golongtd
(10:35):
dot com. He's gonna weigh in on some of the
colts biggest needs in the draft and that quarterback competition
we spoke of. Plus we got some juicy storylines around
the NFL we're gonna touch on with Tye. Don't go anywhere.
This is the Last Word. Ninety three five one oh
seven five to the fan.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
This is your weekly fix on Colts football. The Last
Word with Jeffrey Gorman and Matt Taylor from the Indiana
Union Construction Industry Radio studio.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
A little Christine McBee there in Fleetwood, Mac welcoming you
back here on the Last Word. We're brought to you
by our friends Admire, the official supercenter of the Indianapolis Colts,
proud sponsor of hundreds of local sports teams across the Midwest.
Time now to get smarter. Love this man. He's a
friend of the show. Ty Dunn, longtime NFL insider, founder
of Golong at Substack, a home for long form pro
(11:23):
football journalism. You can also find out more information at
golongtv dot com. Ty how are you today doing?
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Fantastic man? I gotta hire you as a hype man
or I love it like that so much.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I love having you on because your old school, your
new school. You know what's going on. Then you know
what's going on.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Now.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Can I just say one thing, Matt Taylor, don't give
me a look here either. Ty will appreciate this. I
still can't get over when I talk about generational talents
of the upcoming draft and you hear that term about
Travis Hunter. Can we not forget that his coach, Dion Sanders,
played a National League Champion Series game on Saturday night,
flew to Miami that night, received the opening kickoff against
(12:03):
the Dolphins while playing for the Falcons. You want to
talk about generational talent, Tie Dunn. We'll never see that again,
will we.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
No. I know that that's it's something that's kind of
a core memory I think for all of us, you know,
back in the nineties, and it's still.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Absurd, absurd, absurd.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
We'll never It's one of those things we'll never hear up,
never see it.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Sounds like it's made up, I know, and I just
wanted to, you know, just recollect that thing because it's
stupid to what a great athlete Dion was, but to
do that and pull that off, which brings me to
Travis Hunter. Some are calling a generational talent. Where do
you see this guy going the best fit for him
and where's he playing on the football field?
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Hi, great question, because you know, ask like a casual
college football consumer, like through the season. I don't know
if you guys are like this, we're so NFL crazy.
You know, Saturday is the day you kind of catch
up on life all the long, you know, take the
kids to the zoo, do something family oriented. I didn't
really like I was a peripheral Colorado Buffalo and Silver,
(13:05):
not even a fan. It's just like, I don't know.
It seemed kind of ridiculous that this team and this
coach were generating all the headlines on the cover of
Sports Illustrated, but like this spring, having a chance to
actually go back and watch Travis Hunter, but more importantly
here with the scouts. Had to tell Bob McGinn in
his draft series at the site, I'm sorry, yeah, shameless plug.
(13:25):
You know, Bob is talking to scouts all over the country.
Forty first year he's done a series, and it's again
to go along they do. View Travis Hunter in the
same vein as a Charles Woodson, as a Champ Bailey, hell,
even a Dion Sanders, somebody who can do it all.
I mean, he could be a perennial pro bowler, all
(13:48):
Pro at cornerback, at receiver, and it's just how how
do you view him? Do you view him as a
predominant cornerback that you don't really shut down corners anymore?
But he couldn't be somebody who eliminates a player from
the game as best as you can in today's game,
and then he moonlights that receiver. I mean, that's feasible,
But I don't know, guy, I want to hear what
(14:09):
you guys think too. I mean, the wide receiver position
is just too valuable. I mean, this is an offensive
friendly game. And the way they describe his stop and
start ability, it's rare. It's different. And I'll pull up
the exact quote and it said, this is one scout.
He said his feet are like machines. It's tap tap, tap,
and he's gone. Think of those small punt returners, he's
(14:32):
like them. You throw him at receiver. I would be
tempted to play him as a wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
It is a fascinating debate and We're not going to
have a full answer on it until I guess less
than two weeks from tonight, with the first round coming
up on April twenty fourth. Ty Dunn is our guest,
longtime NFL insider, great work and founder of golong. You
can find that on substack and also golongtd dot com.
All right, Ty, as it relate to the Colts here,
(15:01):
how do you think the Colts are going to approach
this draft.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
And their needs?
Speaker 5 (15:06):
You know, they've got needs at tight end, along the
offensive line and the defensive line. Obviously, Daniel Jones is
here now to compete at quarterback with Anthony Richardson. So
how do you think the top end of the draft
goes for the Indianapolis Colts and how they might be
approaching this draft going into a very unique situation heading
into the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Yes, very very unique. This surely is not the way
Chris Baller drew it up at quarterback. And yeah, I'm
sure we'll get into the quarterback situation because I loved
the pick. I loved the swing after that to vet,
to recycle the vet, you had to take a swing.
But yeah, as it pertains to this draft man. I'm
(15:51):
sure this is a player that has you guys all
jacked up. If Tyler Ward is there, give me Tyler Ward.
He is in that vein of all of the tight
end greats. And what a pleasure it was to travel
the country a few years back. I mean, I sat
down with Mike Dicka, Jeremy Shockey. We threw drinks back
(16:11):
in the South Beach, which was as crazy as you
can imagine. You know, Jackie Smith, he's a forgotten great
all the way to Tony Gonzalez Gronk. And when you
watch Tyler Warren, he is you know, he can be
that traditional why which is rare. You just don't see
tight ends who can put a hand in the dirt,
line up and tight and move people. He does that
(16:33):
while also running the four four four or five, splitting
the scene, making plays downfield. Obviously, he was used all
over that offensive Penn State. So I mean, I feel like,
I don't even know how you use him where you
use him. Who's going to play quarterback? If if you're looking
to help your quarterback, that seems like the absolute slam
dunk perfect pick if you're Chris Ballader and the Colts.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
Yeah, I mean, everybody's been targeting Warren, like you said,
or another tight end to the Colts, and you can
certainly understand why. But in the last few years we've
had Kyle Pitts and Brock Bowers and now Tyler Warren
or Colston Lovelin, and you wrote an entire book, like
you said, about tight ends not that long ago. Are
the dynamic tight ends here to stay? I mean, is
(17:16):
it time to start changing our perception on the positional
value of the tight end as it relates to the draft,
especially after what we saw Brock Bauers do last season?
Speaker 4 (17:27):
I think so. I mean it's you know, Kyle Pitts.
I think it kind of maybe warped our brains a
little bit. We all that the expectations were just way
too high, and the Falcons they drafted him ahead of everybody, right,
I mean Jamar Chase and Jalen Waddle, Michaeh Parsons, and
I'm trying to think that might might not have been chased.
(17:47):
They drafted him ahead of players that could be in Canton.
So that I think maybe left a bad taste in
all of our mouths, like, oh, you really take tight
ends that high? And then you see what black Bowers
powers did with the Raiders. I feel like it's a
player that just adds a layer of unpredictability to your offense.
(18:08):
And if you're if you're the Colts and you're going
through this uh less than ideal quarterback competition in between,
you know, Anthony and Richardson do or die his last stand.
Andel Jones, who you know sailed miserably with Brian Dable
and the Giants last years. It did not end well.
This is the player that's gonna maximize your lesson. You're
(18:29):
gonna get the most out of that position and the
most out of your offense. And look, you still want
to run the ball. Obviously, you've got maybe the best
back in all of football. He's gonna help you do that.
If he's on the field, you don't know if you're
gonna run, You don't know, if the defense doesn't know if
you're gonna run, the defense doesn't know if you're gonna pass.
That's not the case for a Kyle Pitt, you know.
And I think that he even blocks better than than
(18:50):
black Bowers out there with the Raiders. So if he's there, man,
what a what?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
What?
Speaker 4 (18:56):
What a player who shocks so many boxes for you.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Let's ty Dunn follow him go longtd dot com find
out more information, and again follow him on Twitter x
at tie Donn talking NFL. Here, I just want to
segue to this quarterback competition we've got. You mentioned Daniel
Jones earlier with Anthony Richardson. If you're Chris ballor change
Dyke in right now and you're going into camp with
the true quarterback competition, what's your feelings on that? And
(19:18):
you know what kind of players were talking about. We
got a rare talent Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones has
been a guy you know that had an upside. Then
we all saw a downside as well, you know, not to.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Be all gloom and doom. I guess the upside here
is it's not like you have to swap out one
playbook and swap one in like they had to last year.
I mean, you can't get any more different than Anthony
Richardson and Joe Flacco. And even then, you know, they
were able to kind of hover around that in the
hunt and graphic in the AFC for a while it
(19:51):
went very very poorly. Yet they're right right there still,
so that's good. And now change. Stiking can theoretically the
same playbook in place because Daniel Jones. Look he's and
I talked to giant sources about this late last season
when it all kind of fell apart, and look the Joe, Shane,
Brian Dable, that whole coaching staff. They squeezed out a lot.
(20:15):
They made the playoffs with this quarterback. There's a reason
they gave him that big contract and for whatever reason,
he gift never turned that corner. As a quarterback, who
can see it, anticipate it, throw it. I think back
to Troy Yikman pointing this out one of those primetime games.
It might have been the Steelers loss where you see
the league neighbors open but the ball's not out. Okay,
(20:36):
So he's he's not that quarterback. He probably will never
see that quarterback. But what he is athletically mobility, tough.
I mean, this is a tough SOB. He'll lower his
shoulder and run through you. In this offense, I feel
like Shane Steichen will maximize those gifts. So whether it's
it's Jones or Richardson running the show, you at least
(20:56):
kind of have an identity. You're gonna have a quarterback
that's gonna use their legs and maybe he's smart enough
the scheme stuff up in the passing game where that
extra split second it takes for either quarterback to throw
the ball, it doesn't matter because that receiver is so open.
So I guess that's the best case scenario. Yeah, and
you got Jonathan Taylor. You're gonna be able to run
the ball. It's a weak division. I mean the Jaguars,
(21:18):
they seems like they just kind of cut loose everybody.
It's still up for the takings. And we'll see because
you're gonna have a quarterback at least who's gonna push
the hell out of Anthony Richardson. And it seems like
that's that's what he needs. You know, he's got all
this talent. We've seen the talent. You saw it at Florida.
He just didn't have the snaps, didn't have the experience,
(21:40):
and maybe didn't have that fire within right like this,
If this doesn't light the fire within Anthony Richardson, then
nothing will.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
That's tie done. Longtime NFL insider and founder of golong
and on substack and golongtd dot com with Jeffrey Gorman.
I'm Matt Taylor. This is the last word here on
ninety three five in one O seven to five the fans,
So Ty, last one from me. You're so plugged in
and you know the league inside it out. And when
we have a national guy like you on here in
(22:09):
the offseason, I always like to kind of kick around
this question, so you know the drill here, the parody.
In the NFL since the nineteen seventy merger, at least
one team has improved its win total from the previous
season by four plus wins in every season except the
strike season of nineteen eighty two. So, Ty, which team
or teams is most likely to experience a major turnaround
(22:33):
for next season?
Speaker 4 (22:35):
That is a beautiful question. I like it because it's
gonna happen, right, somebody is gonna take a big jump in.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Who do you like?
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Yeah, they try to say, you know, I think the
Bengals are a super Bowl team, but that's too easy.
Let's go with the New England Patriots. Litol were thirteen
last year. Yeah, and you know they still have needs.
I don't think Stefan Diggs just is that magic wand
at wide receiver, they haven't been able to convince stars
(23:05):
at that position to move to Massachusetts with that weather
and those taxes and a young quarterback. I saw here
in Buffalo with Josh Allen, Like nobody wanted to play
in Buffalo for seventeen years, and then people started to see,
Holy cow, Josh Allen is unbelievable. I want to play
with him. I want to chase the ring. I'll deal
with the lake effects snow. We had three different stretches,
(23:26):
guys where we had three plus feet of snow here.
It's miserable, and we have the terrible taxes, but Josh
Allen is unreal, and the Bills were able to rebuild
around him. I think the Patriots will get to that
place with Drake May And I just love what Mike
Rabel did in his first what twenty four hours of
free agency forty eight hours? Yeah, you overpaid for Milton Williams,
(23:47):
but you've got you've got the money, you might as
well use it, you know, Robert splain Right down the list.
They just added players, Carlton Davis. I mean, this is
an old school cornerback and the Lester Hayes model. Like
they got guys who embody everything that Mike Brabel wants
to bring to the football field, it's going to mean
something collectively, and there's just gonna be a brutal, miserable
(24:09):
team to play. I think even for the Bills, nobody's
gonna want to play this team. They're gonna reflect their
head coach. So I can easily see four and thirteen
improving to eight to nine or nine and eight this year.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
All right, stay there type because you obviously like the
hire of Rabel in New England. How about Shottenneimer in Dallas,
Pete Carroll in Vegas, Cohen Down in Jacksonville, Aaron Glenn
New York, and Ben Johnson Chicago, which one of those
outside of Brabel gets you really fired up and was
a good pick.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Certainly not Schottenheimer in Dallas. Okay, Jared and Stephen Jones
don't really care about winning football games, so the Cowboys
will just continue to bash their head against the wall.
How can you not love Ben Johnson in Chicago? And
it's I know he's been a top that coach he
lists back to back years, but there's a reason that
(24:58):
we're all talking about him and thinking of about him,
and he can demand the kind of money that he
got from the mccawskey family. It's beyond the exits and oh,
the guy's a genius. I just was talking to Jonah
Jackson about this last week. We've got a story up
on him, by the way, and like the way Ben
Jonson's mind works is next level. Everybody's copping each other
in the NFL. It's a copycat league every Monday. Every Tuesday,
(25:20):
You've got staffers just trying to figure out, you know,
what is that play that nobody can stop. But he
is at the top of that food chain. He's the
one creating and innovating and originating this stuff. So you
you bring him to Chicago with all of those weapons
and three new interior alignment. I don't know if Caleb
(25:40):
Williams is the answer. I'm not going to go all
all all in and say this team is a is
a super Bowl contender. We've got to see it out
of Caleb Williams because it was ugly for him last
year too. But he's going to have the absolute best,
you know, supporting cast and best coaching to succeed. I
think I think Ben Johnson schematically but also culturally scene
(26:01):
with Dan Campbell did up close with Detroit to turn
that thing around up there's a reason. He's worth every.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Penny, absolutely, and they'll go at it twice a year.
I like that up there, ty Don, you're the best
in the business. Follow him on Twitter, acts at Tie Dunn,
founder of Go along at Substack your home for long
form pro football journalism. Also, don't forget a great book,
Blood and Guts, How Tight Ends Save Football. Subscribe today
go to golongtd dot com. Sure appreciate the time. Keep
(26:27):
doing what you're doing, brother. I love chatting with you.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Hey, love chat with you guys. Thanks so much for
having me.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Hey, you were a little quiet when I brought up
Dion Sanders. Why was that? We're how old are you?
How old were you when that happened eight ninety two?
Oh my gosh, you're crapping your pants and forget it.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
But you are so right though. I mean, if that
happens now in this day and age, we don't know
how to react.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
I just think that was just a different era, different
place in time. I think we consume sports so differently,
we consume media. We didn't appreciate that, I know back then.
I think if it happens now, we're like, how is
this guy doing who is this And you know this
is like that's like the equivalent of the guys on
Memorial Day weekend doing the double. But that's one umbrella
(27:12):
of a sports. I mean, that's still auto racing even
though it's two different cars. But this is two completely
different skill sets doing it at the highest of levels.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
I did not think I was going to give love
to Deon Sanders today, but it hit my mind. So
you know what, Tiger was along there with me. Hey,
don't forget the Inddeapolis Colts. They've teamed up with the anthem,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield recognized school teachers, administrators, as
well as nurses and staff members who go above and beyond.
If you know a classroom quarterback, nominate them today at
colts dot com slash Classroom Quarterbacks. Also girls Flag Football,
(27:42):
the Colts commitment it continues to the growth of high
school girls flag football. The team's goals to launch one
hundred high school girls flag football teams by the fall
of twenty twenty five, and the Colts are providing up
to ten grand and resources for the first hundred schools
that join. Need your help, They'll get your local high
school and communities involved as a culture dot com slash
girls flag to learn more. Don't go anywhere. When we
(28:03):
come back, I'm gonna tell you why. Forum Credit Union
question of the week regarding the Masters Golf tournament, and
I'm still ticked off at Matt Taylor for this. I'll
explain why. And also, don't forget he's coming in like
a big old storm from the South showcase Casey Valier
dropping some tidbits on here. This is the Last Word.
We're back with Mario Hurricane Casey.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Ninety three.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
We talked Colts football every Friday on the Last Word,
the off season radio Home of the Colts with Jeffrey
Gorman and Matt Taylor from the Indiana Union Construction Industry
Radio Studio.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Wow, I like this. This give me ready for my
Friday night. By the way, mayday after this, I'm bowling
to the Chuck Strong event. Okay, going to see Pigano.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Yeah, I love the Chuckster.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Yeah, raising funds for cancer.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
I bet he likes some earth wind and fire.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Absolutely, that's a great call. Right here, I want to
welcome one of our guests that is watching the show today,
Chris Anderson. I don't want to raffle earlier today, we
brought him into studio to watch us. How we do it?
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Register online at coats dot com.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
I guess my question, really, what's he doing here again?
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Blue paints.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
He's getting blue paint.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
That's our buddy, showcase Casey Valie's here. Oh right, brother,
I am great.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I'm that storm coming in from the south. Is that?
Is that how you introduced me? I'm here.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
I didn't say what kind of storm. I didn't say it.
I can't say it on the air.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
That Casey value coming storm of positivity.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
Hey, uh, are you going to Germany next year?
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Case?
Speaker 1 (29:45):
It's the plan?
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Are you going with our friends on location e xp
dot com.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
That's the plan, the plan.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Really, fans, you can do the same join the Colts
in Berlin by placing a deposit to unlock early access
to official Colts Germany ticket and travel packages. It's a
one stop shop, easy as it gets on location exp
dot com slash Colts Germany for more information. Time now
for the Forum Credit Union question.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Of the week.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
It's why showcases here? Matt Taylor who does not like golf,
who doesn't play golf? Okay, and I'm putting words in
your mouth, but I'm saying, you're not going out on
Saturday and kicking around with the boys for five hours
out at Eagle Creek or wherever else. Right, it's just
not what you do, That's correct. Once in a while
you use your celebrity status and you show it those big,
big golf tournaments like ACS and stuff like that. Yeah,
(30:30):
he has been and watched the Masters golf tournament Casey
in person. Yes, he's followed the golfers around the hollowed
grounds of Augusta and and he says it's the only
golf tournament of the year that he'll watch. Explain yourself
to me.
Speaker 5 (30:45):
Why I will only watch the Masters, Why I'm only
interested in the Masters. First of all, the beauty of
the course. The course is ten times more beautiful in person,
and it is on TV, and you know that splodes
on TV.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Who got you a ticket to this?
Speaker 1 (31:02):
To this? My brother did?
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (31:04):
My brother did?
Speaker 3 (31:04):
So you fell into that one.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
I did, appreciated the heck out of it, you did,
all right. Secondly, the familiarity of the course. I know
what I'm looking at. I know what whole ten looks, right,
I know what corner is right. I know you know
what legendary moments have happened on each hole. I do
like the fact that it's the one tournament that occurs
on the same course every year.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
I do like that.
Speaker 5 (31:28):
And maybe this is all of golf, but the way
I so enjoy the Masters because of the way the
broadcast on television sounds. It sounds like my grandparents talking
to one another on their front porch, you know what
I mean. She's like laid back, You're sipping on tea,
your lemonade. Yeah, And there's like there's no major play
by play. You have like these little catchphrases, like these
(31:48):
three word punctuations like yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Batt'll help now he's rolling, or need of that one?
U useful?
Speaker 5 (31:57):
That's my favorite useful shot, you know, like that was
the right club. You know, he found it, He's gonna
like it. The Masters is just familiar to me and
it's the one I watch every year.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
I love it. I love it, And that's that's good.
That's a good feeling because you're a non golf fan
who becomes a golf fan for a weekend. And I'm
with you one hundred percent. It's that place case we
talked about it earlier, watching this earlier today. If they
line the fairways and we got a tee off in
that tournament, you said you're gonna take out Bill and
Gladys on the left side. Yeah, because you're you're just
gonna pepper him spray in the ball. You could not
(32:26):
hit a drive in this tournament. Not a chance.
Speaker 6 (32:28):
And I mean, I'm not gonna say that I'm a
good golfer by any means. I'll go out and I'll
shoot a couple of good rounds every summer. But if
I were to stand up there and have the gallery
around me to tee off, not a chance.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
I mean, I move as far away as possible.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
We're a helmet, and I mean I might.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
I might be on a streak where I don't shank
one off off the tea box in months. But you
put people there.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
To gun, they are to Hey, it's that simple. It's
a masters. It's this weekend. Matt Taylor loves a golf
tournament and will not turn on golf for the rest
of the three hundred and sixty days.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
I don't know golf courses, that's true.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Hey, that's a form Credit Union question of the Week.
Visit the Fanfum section of Colts dot com. Interact with
other fans online. You can post a topic, participate in
various discussions regarding your Colts forum credit Union helping members
live their financial dreams. Boys, we got a hot team
in town and they're called the Pacers, all right. They
are going up against Rookie of the Year Shaquille O'Neal
out of LSU. Amberny Hardaway is coming in here this evening.
(33:28):
Pacers Co Pacers appreciate you guys listening. This is the
last word. Ninety three five one oh seven by the
fan Tell me baby, and she said, taking candles and
(34:04):
then you'll burning now made up paper boad
The NFL never sleeps.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
The roster is ever evolving, and it's all about finding
the edge. This is the last word, the off season
home of the Indianapolis Colts. Now here's Jeffrey Gorman and
Matt Taylor.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
We're here on ninety three five and one oh seventy
five the Fan coming to you from inside the Indiana
Union Construction Industry Radio studio. Jeffrey Gorman, Voice of the coach,
Matt Taylor, Mayte.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
I never get tired of this song? How are you
love it?
Speaker 4 (00:35):
Bro?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
We started weekend right? Sorry tangent, I mean I'd already started.
I don't mind whatever you played, brother. You know that
JMB thinks he's got a good gig on Saturday night.
Listen to some of your playlists. Yeah, I think he's
stealing some in.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
For the masses. I guess.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Hey, man, I'm telling you what Pacers are coming up.
But we've got some football to talk about. How about that? Yeah,
Halliburt with that shot last night. Listen, let's talk some football.
We do have some news. Moali Cox back in the mix.
The Colts have signed him to a one year deal.
Also yesterday, Matt Gay released the kicker, I want to
start with Moali with you. By the way, we got
Ty Dunn coming up from Golong, one of the best
(01:13):
in the business, getting you ready for the draft and
everything coming up on the twenty twenty five season. But
may te Moali Cox. We were wondering about this, the
veteran tight end yep, longest tenured Colt, if you will
in that locker room one year deal welcoming back. What
does it mean for this offense?
Speaker 5 (01:26):
I think it makes a lot of sense for the offense.
As you said, Moe kind of tested the waters in
free agency, decided that his best option was a return
back to Indianapolis. And I think Mo has great value
as it relates to the Colts within this offense because
he's tremendous in the running game. He's one of the
best blocking tight ends in the NFL, and I think
he's been Mo that is underutilized in the passing game
(01:50):
because of the inconsistencies at quarterback and the intermediate part
of the passing game, specifically in the middle of the field,
like we've talked about at nauseum in the past. So
great for Cox. He's played in over one hundred games
with the Colts, hasn't missed a game in the last
four years and serves as a great role model, great
leader and teammate inside that locker.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
The big power forward from Virginia Commonwealth's right who played
for Shock as smart. If your basketball fans are out there,
that is our own Moalley Cox, Maddie, does it change
any sort of direction or blueprint when it comes to
the draft and the tight end? And you know, obviously
everybody and their brother wants the Colts to get the
best tight end at fourteen. I personally don't think that
guy's gonna be there, But Maddie, does it change the
(02:31):
outlook for them drafting a tight end this year?
Speaker 1 (02:33):
No, I don't think so.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
I still think the Colts are going to be on
a lookout for a game changing tight end, like they've said,
Chris Ballard said they don't have that guy on the
roster a few weeks back, actually last week at the
NFL Owners Meeting. So, like I said, Moe's a great player,
great asset in the running game. But I think there's
a lot of enticing tight ends in the draft, and
I still think that need for the Colts is still
(02:55):
there all right.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Other news Matt Gabe was released. Matt, were you shocked
at this one? Was this head scratcher to you? Or
what do you make of this? And what does it
make for who holds this job? Coming up on when
training camp opening?
Speaker 5 (03:06):
Yeah, I mean this happened yesterday Thursday around lunchtime, and
I was a little taken aback by this, just because
of the investment the Colts made a couple of years ago.
They were very aggressive and going out and nabbing Matt
Gay in the offseason and free agency. But last year
I think he had some weird splits. He was thirty
one of thirty seven total for the season eighty three percent.
(03:28):
He was twenty eight for twenty eight inside fifty, but
just three for nine from fifty plus. And if you
look at his two years with the Colts overall, just
eleven for twenty two over fifty. And I think it
really comes down to that. In the NFL, most guys,
most kickers are pretty automatic under fifty, but you make
your money by making the big ones, the clutch long ones,
(03:49):
if you will. And since twenty twenty three, Matt Gay's
field goal percentage over fifty yards at fifty percent, that
rank thirtieth.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
In the NFL, So I do it.
Speaker 5 (04:00):
It's a bottom line deal, but I was I thought
it was gonna be. You know, they signed Spencer Strader
a few weeks back in free agency, and I thought
when they made that move, along with Matt Gay's inconsistencies
and troubles over fifty last season, I thought it was
gonna be kind of like what the Colts are doing
at quarterback, bringing a guy that can push him. We're
not just gonna hand him the job. Iron sharpens iron,
(04:22):
you know, things like that. I thought it was gonna
be one of those situations. I wasn't expecting an all
out release in the month of April. So a little
bit surprised by that.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Well think about it. One kicker on the roster right now,
and it is Spencer Schrader, who does have some experience here.
Last year kicked for the Chiefs, and I think the Jets.
Maybe I'm wrong on that, but I know Jet, yeah,
Jets and Chief Jets and Chief, so he does have
some experience. But this, I mean, is this his job
going into camp? He's the number one kicker. I have
to believe they always bring in an extra leg for camp.
There will be another kicker in there. But the way
(04:51):
it looks right now, this is our guy.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
I would think so like you, like you said, bring
in somebody else to compete, because Spencer Strader got a
lot of upside. His leg is tremendus, but his NFL
resume is very thin. Last year, spent some time with
the Colts in training camp and in Week one. I
do expect the Colts to sign another kicker in free agency,
either after the draft, undrafted free agent, or another free
(05:15):
agent before the draft. But yeah, I don't think they're
just gonna hand the job to Spencer Strader. He's gonna
have to go out and earn it. After the release
of Matt Game.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Notre Dame Ties there right, Notre Name Times, kind of
a homecoming of sorts.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
He's back.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
We're gonna keep you updated on those battles when it
comes to training camp because we are getting ready for
the NFL Draft here and there are some storylines out
here on the Colts. Maddie. I love this. We do
it once or twice a year. It's called the draft thermometer.
I take out the big plug, I throw it in
the big piece of beef. I see you at the temperatures. Right, yeah, yeah, Okay,
So that's what I'm saying. I'm gonna go with this
right now, here's your scale when it comes to this
(05:50):
NFL draft. The heat scale is room temperature, it's boiling
or it's scorching. Offensive line, where.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
Are we at? Ah, I would like your feedback.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
I'm going to say it's it's boiling at the very least,
because the Colts need to bring in some quality depth
along that offensive line after you lost Ryan Kelly and
Will Fries in free agency, so that's going to open
up two starting offensive line jobs. The Colts are holding
an open competition there with some depth pieces that were
here last year. But Chris Ballard loves to have quality
(06:22):
depth in the trenches. He's never gonna skimp there. And
you got to protect this quarterback no matter who it is,
whether it's Jones or Richardson, You've got to be able
to protect that guy. And I think bringing in an
athletic offensive lineman who can play inside and outside on
a rookie contract, it's very, very appealing. So we've talked
a lot about tight end and you know, the Colts
(06:42):
are definitely going there with the fourteenth overall pig. I
say Corso style, not so fast offensive line could be
very much in play for that.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Mattie, I call that scorching. Who's your swing tackle, who's
your backup on the left side? To Ryman, who's your
backup on the right side? At I'm saying, so, I'm
calling it scorching. Let's flip the switch go to the
defensive line. A lot of talent too, on the interior especially.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
I'm going scorching because you don't have as much depth
on the defensive line as you do on the offensive
line as of right now. Because behind to Forrest Buckner
and Grover Stewart, you need more. They signed Neville Gallimore.
That's good comes over in free agency from the Rams.
I think he could be an upgrade over Rakwon Davis,
who they released back in March.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
But they need more.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
You gotta have guys that can step up and hold
the level of play when Stewart and Buckner are out
of the game. And I know that's way easier said
than done, because those guys are that good. But I
would expect the Colts to spend a fairly decent pick
at that position when you need depth, and by fairly
decent I mean, premium pick top three rounds on guys
(07:48):
that can stop the run when those two top dogs
Buckner and Stuart need a breath.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Hey, Chris Baller talked about competition, not just at the
quarterback position. I'm saying there's gonna be big time competition
in the defensive line this upcoming training camp to find
out that depth. That's what I'm saying. I'm with you
on scorching go to linebacker.
Speaker 5 (08:05):
For me, this is somewhere between room temperature and boiling.
I don't know how you feel about it, because the
great the Colts have had really good success finding linebackers
on Day three. You know, guys like Anthony Walker and EJ. Speed,
Zaire Franklin, and now the latest example of that is
Jalen Carlies. You can get really good value at that
position in the later rounds, as we've seen. So the
(08:28):
Colts they need depth at linebacker here in the offseason
to supplement the loss of EJ. Speed and Grant Stewart.
But I think the Colts can find good value in
good players to be in the mix on day three
of the draft, rounds four through seven.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
With you on that one room temperature boiling somewhere in
the middle there. Let's go to the tight end position.
Because everyone and their brother, especially all the football heads
out there saying Colts need a tight end, Well, get
them in the draft at fourteen. It's not that easy.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Yeah, I'll say scorching because I think the Colts are
still on the move or on the lookout, I should
say for that game changer at that position according to
Chris Ballard. But again, you know, the big question is,
well the Colts draft a guy in the first round
at fourteen overall, because depth there is pretty good at
that position. You know, perhaps the Colts field they can
get a good tight end in round two around three
(09:16):
and pick up another position of need earlier in the draft.
But there's no question that the Colts need a tight
end for next season. That is a game changer in
the sense that it's not so obvious when you play
with just one tight end on the field. Not so
obvious if you're gonna be in a run position or
a passing situation based on the personnel on the field.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Hey, you're cooking with gas today. You like that the
thermometer a lot of heats. I shoved that thermometer in
that big old roast and Maddie, guess what it's ready
to go.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
You're like doctor phil Man, you got more degrees than
the thermometer.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
What are we eating for some side? You want some
small redskin potatoes?
Speaker 5 (09:49):
You want a little squashed spars? Here we go out
of asparagus. Maybe some mac and cheese.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Hey, that's your thermometer check. Don't forget about this. You
got the Colts Audio Network getting you ready for the
NFL Draft and the Colts biggest needs. We do that
with a host of experts, so check it out. Also,
April twenty fourth, why don't you come on down to
Lucas Oil Stadium the Colts Official Draft Party, presented by
bud Light. Fans are invited to come to Lucas Oil
Stadium and watch the first round of that draft. You're
(10:14):
gonna have access to the field, plus autographs from current
Colts players and former Colts greats are gonna be there.
It's ten bucks to get in five dollars if you're
a season ticket member. More information is available at Colts
dot com. Okay, stay tuned when we come back more
upcoming Colts draft talk and offseason plans. We're gonna do
that with Tye Dunn, the founder of Golong and golongtd
(10:35):
dot com. He's gonna weigh in on some of the
colts biggest needs in the draft and that quarterback competition
we spoke of. Plus we got some juicy storylines around
the NFL we're gonna touch on with Tye. Don't go anywhere.
This is the Last Word. Ninety three five one oh
seven five to the fan.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
This is your weekly fix on Colts football. The Last
Word with Jeffrey Gorman and Matt Taylor from the Indiana
Union Construction Industry Radio studio.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
A little Christine McBee there in Fleetwood, Mac welcoming you
back here on the Last Word. We're brought to you
by our friends Admire, the official supercenter of the Indianapolis Colts,
proud sponsor of hundreds of local sports teams across the Midwest.
Time now to get smarter. Love this man. He's a
friend of the show. Ty Dunn, longtime NFL insider, founder
of Golong at Substack, a home for long form pro
(11:23):
football journalism. You can also find out more information at
golongtv dot com. Ty how are you today doing?
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Fantastic man? I gotta hire you as a hype man
or I love it like that so much.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I love having you on because your old school, your
new school. You know what's going on. Then you know
what's going on.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
Now.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Can I just say one thing, Matt Taylor, don't give
me a look here either. Ty will appreciate this. I
still can't get over when I talk about generational talents
of the upcoming draft and you hear that term about
Travis Hunter. Can we not forget that his coach, Dion Sanders,
played a National League Champion Series game on Saturday night,
flew to Miami that night, received the opening kickoff against
(12:03):
the Dolphins while playing for the Falcons. You want to
talk about generational talent, Tie Dunn. We'll never see that again,
will we.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
No. I know that that's it's something that's kind of
a core memory I think for all of us, you know,
back in the nineties, and it's still.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Absurd, absurd, absurd.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
We'll never It's one of those things we'll never hear up,
never see it.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Sounds like it's made up, I know, and I just
wanted to, you know, just recollect that thing because it's
stupid to what a great athlete Dion was, but to
do that and pull that off, which brings me to
Travis Hunter. Some are calling a generational talent. Where do
you see this guy going the best fit for him
and where's he playing on the football field?
Speaker 4 (12:42):
Hi, great question, because you know, ask like a casual
college football consumer, like through the season. I don't know
if you guys are like this, we're so NFL crazy.
You know, Saturday is the day you kind of catch
up on life all the long, you know, take the
kids to the zoo, do something family oriented. I didn't
really like I was a peripheral Colorado Buffalo and Silver,
(13:05):
not even a fan. It's just like, I don't know.
It seemed kind of ridiculous that this team and this
coach were generating all the headlines on the cover of
Sports Illustrated, but like this spring, having a chance to
actually go back and watch Travis Hunter, but more importantly
here with the scouts. Had to tell Bob McGinn in
his draft series at the site, I'm sorry, yeah, shameless plug.
(13:25):
You know, Bob is talking to scouts all over the country.
Forty first year he's done a series, and it's again
to go along they do. View Travis Hunter in the
same vein as a Charles Woodson, as a Champ Bailey, hell,
even a Dion Sanders, somebody who can do it all.
I mean, he could be a perennial pro bowler, all
(13:48):
Pro at cornerback, at receiver, and it's just how how
do you view him? Do you view him as a
predominant cornerback that you don't really shut down corners anymore?
But he couldn't be somebody who eliminates a player from
the game as best as you can in today's game,
and then he moonlights that receiver. I mean, that's feasible,
But I don't know, guy, I want to hear what
(14:09):
you guys think too. I mean, the wide receiver position
is just too valuable. I mean, this is an offensive
friendly game. And the way they describe his stop and
start ability, it's rare. It's different. And I'll pull up
the exact quote and it said, this is one scout.
He said his feet are like machines. It's tap tap, tap,
and he's gone. Think of those small punt returners, he's
(14:32):
like them. You throw him at receiver. I would be
tempted to play him as a wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (14:39):
It is a fascinating debate and We're not going to
have a full answer on it until I guess less
than two weeks from tonight, with the first round coming
up on April twenty fourth. Ty Dunn is our guest,
longtime NFL insider, great work and founder of golong. You
can find that on substack and also golongtd dot com.
All right, Ty, as it relate to the Colts here,
(15:01):
how do you think the Colts are going to approach
this draft.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
And their needs?
Speaker 5 (15:06):
You know, they've got needs at tight end, along the
offensive line and the defensive line. Obviously, Daniel Jones is
here now to compete at quarterback with Anthony Richardson. So
how do you think the top end of the draft
goes for the Indianapolis Colts and how they might be
approaching this draft going into a very unique situation heading
into the twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Yes, very very unique. This surely is not the way
Chris Baller drew it up at quarterback. And yeah, I'm
sure we'll get into the quarterback situation because I loved
the pick. I loved the swing after that to vet,
to recycle the vet, you had to take a swing.
But yeah, as it pertains to this draft man. I'm
(15:51):
sure this is a player that has you guys all
jacked up. If Tyler Ward is there, give me Tyler Ward.
He is in that vein of all of the tight
end greats. And what a pleasure it was to travel
the country a few years back. I mean, I sat
down with Mike Dicka, Jeremy Shockey. We threw drinks back
(16:11):
in the South Beach, which was as crazy as you
can imagine. You know, Jackie Smith, he's a forgotten great
all the way to Tony Gonzalez Gronk. And when you
watch Tyler Warren, he is you know, he can be
that traditional why which is rare. You just don't see
tight ends who can put a hand in the dirt,
line up and tight and move people. He does that
(16:33):
while also running the four four four or five, splitting
the scene, making plays downfield. Obviously, he was used all
over that offensive Penn State. So I mean, I feel like,
I don't even know how you use him where you
use him. Who's going to play quarterback? If if you're looking
to help your quarterback, that seems like the absolute slam
dunk perfect pick if you're Chris Ballader and the Colts.
Speaker 5 (16:54):
Yeah, I mean, everybody's been targeting Warren, like you said,
or another tight end to the Colts, and you can
certainly understand why. But in the last few years we've
had Kyle Pitts and Brock Bowers and now Tyler Warren
or Colston Lovelin, and you wrote an entire book, like
you said, about tight ends not that long ago. Are
the dynamic tight ends here to stay? I mean, is
(17:16):
it time to start changing our perception on the positional
value of the tight end as it relates to the draft,
especially after what we saw Brock Bauers do last season?
Speaker 4 (17:27):
I think so. I mean it's you know, Kyle Pitts.
I think it kind of maybe warped our brains a
little bit. We all that the expectations were just way
too high, and the Falcons they drafted him ahead of everybody, right,
I mean Jamar Chase and Jalen Waddle, Michaeh Parsons, and
I'm trying to think that might might not have been chased.
(17:47):
They drafted him ahead of players that could be in Canton.
So that I think maybe left a bad taste in
all of our mouths, like, oh, you really take tight
ends that high? And then you see what black Bowers
powers did with the Raiders. I feel like it's a
player that just adds a layer of unpredictability to your offense.
(18:08):
And if you're if you're the Colts and you're going
through this uh less than ideal quarterback competition in between,
you know, Anthony and Richardson do or die his last stand.
Andel Jones, who you know sailed miserably with Brian Dable
and the Giants last years. It did not end well.
This is the player that's gonna maximize your lesson. You're
(18:29):
gonna get the most out of that position and the
most out of your offense. And look, you still want
to run the ball. Obviously, you've got maybe the best
back in all of football. He's gonna help you do that.
If he's on the field, you don't know if you're
gonna run, You don't know, if the defense doesn't know if
you're gonna run, the defense doesn't know if you're gonna pass.
That's not the case for a Kyle Pitt, you know.
And I think that he even blocks better than than
(18:50):
black Bowers out there with the Raiders. So if he's there, man,
what a what?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
What?
Speaker 4 (18:56):
What a player who shocks so many boxes for you.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Let's ty Dunn follow him go longtd dot com find
out more information, and again follow him on Twitter x
at tie Donn talking NFL. Here, I just want to
segue to this quarterback competition we've got. You mentioned Daniel
Jones earlier with Anthony Richardson. If you're Chris ballor change
Dyke in right now and you're going into camp with
the true quarterback competition, what's your feelings on that? And
(19:18):
you know what kind of players were talking about. We
got a rare talent Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones has
been a guy you know that had an upside. Then
we all saw a downside as well, you know, not to.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
Be all gloom and doom. I guess the upside here
is it's not like you have to swap out one
playbook and swap one in like they had to last year.
I mean, you can't get any more different than Anthony
Richardson and Joe Flacco. And even then, you know, they
were able to kind of hover around that in the
hunt and graphic in the AFC for a while it
(19:51):
went very very poorly. Yet they're right right there still,
so that's good. And now change. Stiking can theoretically the
same playbook in place because Daniel Jones. Look he's and
I talked to giant sources about this late last season
when it all kind of fell apart, and look the Joe, Shane,
Brian Dable, that whole coaching staff. They squeezed out a lot.
(20:15):
They made the playoffs with this quarterback. There's a reason
they gave him that big contract and for whatever reason,
he gift never turned that corner. As a quarterback, who
can see it, anticipate it, throw it. I think back
to Troy Yikman pointing this out one of those primetime games.
It might have been the Steelers loss where you see
the league neighbors open but the ball's not out. Okay,
(20:36):
So he's he's not that quarterback. He probably will never
see that quarterback. But what he is athletically mobility, tough.
I mean, this is a tough SOB. He'll lower his
shoulder and run through you. In this offense, I feel
like Shane Steichen will maximize those gifts. So whether it's
it's Jones or Richardson running the show, you at least
(20:56):
kind of have an identity. You're gonna have a quarterback
that's gonna use their legs and maybe he's smart enough
the scheme stuff up in the passing game where that
extra split second it takes for either quarterback to throw
the ball, it doesn't matter because that receiver is so open.
So I guess that's the best case scenario. Yeah, and
you got Jonathan Taylor. You're gonna be able to run
the ball. It's a weak division. I mean the Jaguars,
(21:18):
they seems like they just kind of cut loose everybody.
It's still up for the takings. And we'll see because
you're gonna have a quarterback at least who's gonna push
the hell out of Anthony Richardson. And it seems like
that's that's what he needs. You know, he's got all
this talent. We've seen the talent. You saw it at Florida.
He just didn't have the snaps, didn't have the experience,
(21:40):
and maybe didn't have that fire within right like this,
If this doesn't light the fire within Anthony Richardson, then
nothing will.
Speaker 5 (21:49):
That's tie done. Longtime NFL insider and founder of golong
and on substack and golongtd dot com with Jeffrey Gorman.
I'm Matt Taylor. This is the last word here on
ninety three five in one O seven to five the fans,
So Ty, last one from me. You're so plugged in
and you know the league inside it out. And when
we have a national guy like you on here in
(22:09):
the offseason, I always like to kind of kick around
this question, so you know the drill here, the parody.
In the NFL since the nineteen seventy merger, at least
one team has improved its win total from the previous
season by four plus wins in every season except the
strike season of nineteen eighty two. So, Ty, which team
or teams is most likely to experience a major turnaround
(22:33):
for next season?
Speaker 4 (22:35):
That is a beautiful question. I like it because it's
gonna happen, right, somebody is gonna take a big jump in.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Who do you like?
Speaker 4 (22:42):
Yeah, they try to say, you know, I think the
Bengals are a super Bowl team, but that's too easy.
Let's go with the New England Patriots. Litol were thirteen
last year. Yeah, and you know they still have needs.
I don't think Stefan Diggs just is that magic wand
at wide receiver, they haven't been able to convince stars
(23:05):
at that position to move to Massachusetts with that weather
and those taxes and a young quarterback. I saw here
in Buffalo with Josh Allen, Like nobody wanted to play
in Buffalo for seventeen years, and then people started to see,
Holy cow, Josh Allen is unbelievable. I want to play
with him. I want to chase the ring. I'll deal
with the lake effects snow. We had three different stretches,
(23:26):
guys where we had three plus feet of snow here.
It's miserable, and we have the terrible taxes, but Josh
Allen is unreal, and the Bills were able to rebuild
around him. I think the Patriots will get to that
place with Drake May And I just love what Mike
Rabel did in his first what twenty four hours of
free agency forty eight hours? Yeah, you overpaid for Milton Williams,
(23:47):
but you've got you've got the money, you might as
well use it, you know, Robert splain Right down the list.
They just added players, Carlton Davis. I mean, this is
an old school cornerback and the Lester Hayes model. Like
they got guys who embody everything that Mike Brabel wants
to bring to the football field, it's going to mean
something collectively, and there's just gonna be a brutal, miserable
(24:09):
team to play. I think even for the Bills, nobody's
gonna want to play this team. They're gonna reflect their
head coach. So I can easily see four and thirteen
improving to eight to nine or nine and eight this year.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
All right, stay there type because you obviously like the
hire of Rabel in New England. How about Shottenneimer in Dallas,
Pete Carroll in Vegas, Cohen Down in Jacksonville, Aaron Glenn
New York, and Ben Johnson Chicago, which one of those
outside of Brabel gets you really fired up and was
a good pick.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Certainly not Schottenheimer in Dallas. Okay, Jared and Stephen Jones
don't really care about winning football games, so the Cowboys
will just continue to bash their head against the wall.
How can you not love Ben Johnson in Chicago? And
it's I know he's been a top that coach he
lists back to back years, but there's a reason that
(24:58):
we're all talking about him and thinking of about him,
and he can demand the kind of money that he
got from the mccawskey family. It's beyond the exits and oh,
the guy's a genius. I just was talking to Jonah
Jackson about this last week. We've got a story up
on him, by the way, and like the way Ben
Jonson's mind works is next level. Everybody's copping each other
in the NFL. It's a copycat league every Monday. Every Tuesday,
(25:20):
You've got staffers just trying to figure out, you know,
what is that play that nobody can stop. But he
is at the top of that food chain. He's the
one creating and innovating and originating this stuff. So you
you bring him to Chicago with all of those weapons
and three new interior alignment. I don't know if Caleb
(25:40):
Williams is the answer. I'm not going to go all
all all in and say this team is a is
a super Bowl contender. We've got to see it out
of Caleb Williams because it was ugly for him last
year too. But he's going to have the absolute best,
you know, supporting cast and best coaching to succeed. I
think I think Ben Johnson schematically but also culturally scene
(26:01):
with Dan Campbell did up close with Detroit to turn
that thing around up there's a reason. He's worth every.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Penny, absolutely, and they'll go at it twice a year.
I like that up there, ty Don, you're the best
in the business. Follow him on Twitter, acts at Tie Dunn,
founder of Go along at Substack your home for long
form pro football journalism. Also, don't forget a great book,
Blood and Guts, How Tight Ends Save Football. Subscribe today
go to golongtd dot com. Sure appreciate the time. Keep
(26:27):
doing what you're doing, brother. I love chatting with you.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
Hey, love chat with you guys. Thanks so much for
having me.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Hey, you were a little quiet when I brought up
Dion Sanders. Why was that? We're how old are you?
How old were you when that happened eight ninety two?
Oh my gosh, you're crapping your pants and forget it.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
But you are so right though. I mean, if that
happens now in this day and age, we don't know
how to react.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
I just think that was just a different era, different
place in time. I think we consume sports so differently,
we consume media. We didn't appreciate that, I know back then.
I think if it happens now, we're like, how is
this guy doing who is this And you know this
is like that's like the equivalent of the guys on
Memorial Day weekend doing the double. But that's one umbrella
(27:12):
of a sports. I mean, that's still auto racing even
though it's two different cars. But this is two completely
different skill sets doing it at the highest of levels.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
I did not think I was going to give love
to Deon Sanders today, but it hit my mind. So
you know what, Tiger was along there with me. Hey,
don't forget the Inddeapolis Colts. They've teamed up with the anthem,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield recognized school teachers, administrators, as
well as nurses and staff members who go above and beyond.
If you know a classroom quarterback, nominate them today at
colts dot com slash Classroom Quarterbacks. Also girls Flag Football,
(27:42):
the Colts commitment it continues to the growth of high
school girls flag football. The team's goals to launch one
hundred high school girls flag football teams by the fall
of twenty twenty five, and the Colts are providing up
to ten grand and resources for the first hundred schools
that join. Need your help, They'll get your local high
school and communities involved as a culture dot com slash
girls flag to learn more. Don't go anywhere. When we
(28:03):
come back, I'm gonna tell you why. Forum Credit Union
question of the week regarding the Masters Golf tournament, and
I'm still ticked off at Matt Taylor for this. I'll
explain why. And also, don't forget he's coming in like
a big old storm from the South showcase Casey Valier
dropping some tidbits on here. This is the Last Word.
We're back with Mario Hurricane Casey.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Ninety three.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
We talked Colts football every Friday on the Last Word,
the off season radio Home of the Colts with Jeffrey
Gorman and Matt Taylor from the Indiana Union Construction Industry
Radio Studio.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Wow, I like this. This give me ready for my
Friday night. By the way, mayday after this, I'm bowling
to the Chuck Strong event. Okay, going to see Pigano.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Yeah, I love the Chuckster.
Speaker 3 (28:54):
Yeah, raising funds for cancer.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
I bet he likes some earth wind and fire.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
Absolutely, that's a great call. Right here, I want to
welcome one of our guests that is watching the show today,
Chris Anderson. I don't want to raffle earlier today, we
brought him into studio to watch us. How we do it?
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Register online at coats dot com.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
I guess my question, really, what's he doing here again?
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Blue paints.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
He's getting blue paint.
Speaker 3 (29:24):
That's our buddy, showcase Casey Valie's here. Oh right, brother,
I am great.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I'm that storm coming in from the south. Is that?
Is that how you introduced me? I'm here.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
I didn't say what kind of storm. I didn't say it.
I can't say it on the air.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
That Casey value coming storm of positivity.
Speaker 3 (29:42):
Hey, uh, are you going to Germany next year?
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Case?
Speaker 1 (29:45):
It's the plan?
Speaker 3 (29:46):
Are you going with our friends on location e xp
dot com.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
That's the plan, the plan.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
Really, fans, you can do the same join the Colts
in Berlin by placing a deposit to unlock early access
to official Colts Germany ticket and travel packages. It's a
one stop shop, easy as it gets on location exp
dot com slash Colts Germany for more information. Time now
for the Forum Credit Union question.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Of the week.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
It's why showcases here? Matt Taylor who does not like golf,
who doesn't play golf? Okay, and I'm putting words in
your mouth, but I'm saying, you're not going out on
Saturday and kicking around with the boys for five hours
out at Eagle Creek or wherever else. Right, it's just
not what you do, That's correct. Once in a while
you use your celebrity status and you show it those big,
big golf tournaments like ACS and stuff like that. Yeah,
(30:30):
he has been and watched the Masters golf tournament Casey
in person. Yes, he's followed the golfers around the hollowed
grounds of Augusta and and he says it's the only
golf tournament of the year that he'll watch. Explain yourself
to me.
Speaker 5 (30:45):
Why I will only watch the Masters, Why I'm only
interested in the Masters. First of all, the beauty of
the course. The course is ten times more beautiful in person,
and it is on TV, and you know that splodes
on TV.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Who got you a ticket to this?
Speaker 1 (31:02):
To this? My brother did?
Speaker 3 (31:03):
Is that right?
Speaker 1 (31:04):
My brother did?
Speaker 3 (31:04):
So you fell into that one.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
I did, appreciated the heck out of it, you did,
all right. Secondly, the familiarity of the course. I know
what I'm looking at. I know what whole ten looks, right,
I know what corner is right. I know you know
what legendary moments have happened on each hole. I do
like the fact that it's the one tournament that occurs
on the same course every year.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
I do like that.
Speaker 5 (31:28):
And maybe this is all of golf, but the way
I so enjoy the Masters because of the way the
broadcast on television sounds. It sounds like my grandparents talking
to one another on their front porch, you know what
I mean. She's like laid back, You're sipping on tea,
your lemonade. Yeah, And there's like there's no major play
by play. You have like these little catchphrases, like these
(31:48):
three word punctuations like yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Batt'll help now he's rolling, or need of that one?
U useful?
Speaker 5 (31:57):
That's my favorite useful shot, you know, like that was
the right club. You know, he found it, He's gonna
like it. The Masters is just familiar to me and
it's the one I watch every year.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
I love it. I love it, And that's that's good.
That's a good feeling because you're a non golf fan
who becomes a golf fan for a weekend. And I'm
with you one hundred percent. It's that place case we
talked about it earlier, watching this earlier today. If they
line the fairways and we got a tee off in
that tournament, you said you're gonna take out Bill and
Gladys on the left side. Yeah, because you're you're just
gonna pepper him spray in the ball. You could not
(32:26):
hit a drive in this tournament. Not a chance.
Speaker 6 (32:28):
And I mean, I'm not gonna say that I'm a
good golfer by any means. I'll go out and I'll
shoot a couple of good rounds every summer. But if
I were to stand up there and have the gallery
around me to tee off, not a chance.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
I mean, I move as far away as possible.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
We're a helmet, and I mean I might.
Speaker 6 (32:45):
I might be on a streak where I don't shank
one off off the tea box in months. But you
put people there.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
To gun, they are to Hey, it's that simple. It's
a masters. It's this weekend. Matt Taylor loves a golf
tournament and will not turn on golf for the rest
of the three hundred and sixty days.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
I don't know golf courses, that's true.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Hey, that's a form Credit Union question of the Week.
Visit the Fanfum section of Colts dot com. Interact with
other fans online. You can post a topic, participate in
various discussions regarding your Colts forum credit Union helping members
live their financial dreams. Boys, we got a hot team
in town and they're called the Pacers, all right. They
are going up against Rookie of the Year Shaquille O'Neal
out of LSU. Amberny Hardaway is coming in here this evening.
(33:28):
Pacers Co Pacers appreciate you guys listening. This is the
last word. Ninety three five one oh seven by the
fan Tell me baby, and she said, taking candles and
(34:04):
then you'll burning now made up paper boad
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