October 14, 2025 • 47 mins
0:00-14:50- Voice of the Boilermakers Rob Blackman joins. Blackman and Jake discuss the Purdue Boilermakers being named Preseason Number 1 in College Basketball, preview the upcoming season, and more. The two also discuss the return of Purdue’s roster, including Braden Smith. Also, Jake and Rob share their favorite Charlie Sheen role. Who is the sleeper star on Purdue’s roster?
14:50-38:13- ESPN’s Stephen Holder joins. Holder discusses the Colts O-Line, the Anthony Richardson injury, and more. Also, Holder shares his thoughts on the Colts resigning Daniel Jones. Holder also touches on the Colts pass rush and the struggles they had against the Cardinals.
38:13-47:54- Indy Ignite Coach Lauren Bertolacci joins. Bertolacci discusses coming to the Indy Ignite, the similarities for US and foreign volleyball, and more.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining us now on the Java House Peel and Poor
guest Line. He is the radio play by play voice
of the Purdue Boilermaker basketball program. You hear him on
the football broadcast as well. Andy shares a birthday with
what is destined to be eventually a national holiday because
we have the same birthday. Rob Blackman joining me on
the show, Rob, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
That's right? Jake? Rob and sting Ray Rob of IndyCar
racing fame. All September third birthdays?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
You know who else?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
By the way, Rob, and we probably we probably should
have stopped there while we were ahead. Charlie Sheen as
well as September third birthday, I believe.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Have you watched the documentary on Charlie Sheen?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
So you know, I interesting you mentioned that I caught
probably the last third of it because I got Shannon
was watching it. I got over to her house and
I'm like, what are we watching here? And then you know,
it was like this vortex you couldn't get out of
once you start watching it. And I will say, you know,
my Charlie Sheen. Actually, so I assume you've seen the documentary, correct?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I have?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yes, Yeah, he's a bit of a wildlifestyle. One of
the things that I don't know if this was covered
in the documentary, but I've got to give Charlie Sheen
his flowers here. One of the things he did, Rob
that I always thought was cool was do you remember
the time when he bought the entire left field seats
at Dodger Stadium.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I had forgotten about that, but yes.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Now that you bring it up, like, he always wanted
to get a home run ball, so he bought the
entire left field seats and just sat by himself. And
I don't think anybody hit a homer, right, No, I
think that.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Was the story right. That was ended up being the
whole the storyline was the fact that no one ever
hit a home run the day.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
You know, knowing Charlie Sheen, he probably did that when
they were playing the Giants to try to get a
Barry Bonds ball and didn't think about the fact that
he should have bought it in right field instead of
left right, You know what I mean? Yeah, exactly, All right,
let's talk about this, Rob. You know, I don't think
it's any big surprise that Matt Paters group is ranked
number one, And I think one of the things and
(02:00):
I've we talked about this with the Corsi, but but
you know, you see it up close and personal. One
of the things about Purdue basketball rob to me that
makes this so both special and impressive is this is
because of the experience and not that they're not great
players that Purdue has, but the challenge in today's world
(02:22):
of keeping a unit together and having them buy in
and continue to not search greener pastors elsewhere. I'm not
saying they're not getting Aniel money, but you get what
I'm saying there. What is it about Purdue basketball that
so far, to this point has been able to buck
the trend of its mainline players constantly coming and going.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
So, you know, I've heard Matt Painter speak on this
numerous times this summer because that's been a pretty popular question,
as you might imagine. And I also heard both Trey
Kauflin Wren and Braydon Smith speak to this at media
day last week of the Big Ten meeting, and the
word they all kept using was family. And I know
it sometimes that can sound a bit hokey because I
(03:05):
understand that every team atmosphere is trying to try and
to make it family like, but they really do feel
like they're part of the family and that it goes
further than just basketball and what happens on the court.
And there is something to be said for having a
coaching staff and an administration that truly believes in what's
best for you. As Matt Painter likes to say, once
the ball starts stops bouncing, because as most of our
(03:28):
guys figure out, eventually that ball does stop bouncing, you
have to do something else in life besides play basketball.
So that's the word that seems to be thrown around
a lot, and I think it is fair. I think
it certainly is appropriate that it is a family atmosphere
that once you're there, you really feel like you're a
part of something bigger than just basketball. Now, Matt Painter
(03:49):
has also been very clear that, you know, Purdue's never
had in this in this modern day now transfer portal stuff,
Purdue has never had a starter that has has entered
the portal.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Now.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
We've had some guys that played some minutes and played
off the off the bench, but as far as a
guy that was in the regular starting lineup, they've never left.
So obviously there's something about coming to Purdue and you know,
not only having a chance to play, but having a
chance to again put yourself in a position where you
can do something with your life when basketball is all
said and done. So certainly, and you brought it up there,
(04:19):
you kind of hinted at it. Braydon Smith and Trey
Coffin Rinn and Fletcher Lawyer. I am certain they had
opportunities this offseason to go play somewhere else and probably
make a little bit more money, if not a lot
more money than the making that Purdue. But they certainly
enjoy where they're at. They love being Purdue basketball players,
and again they feel like they're part of something bigger
(04:39):
than just basketball. So that is, at least with this
group of guys, at least the guys we've seen here
in the last really ten or twelve years or so,
that's been something that's been very important to them.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What would you say is Charlie Sheen's signature role.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Rob Oh, Well, here's the problem. This'll be a little
off the wall because it's one of my all time
favorite movies. But so me personally, I go with Young Guns. Okay,
I know he gets killed in Young Guns. I understand that,
but that's one of my all time favorite movies. So
when I think Charlie she knows always the first movie
(05:13):
that comes to my mind.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Here's what's funny for me, because I mean major league,
you know, like I look at his list and I'm like,
oh gosh, major league, Like how do I how do
you forget you know? Ricky Vaughan?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Right?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
But absolutely, But I but.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Probably because it was the first time I kind of
was introduced to him, even though it was a cameo
that was very brief, Ferris Bueller's Day Off jumps out
at me. I know, that's crazy. And obviously Platoon is
the most decorated pardon the pun movie that he was in,
and then two and a half minute goes without saying
if you're doing TV, but you know it, I don't.
(05:49):
I mean, would be major League? Is that what the
general population would say? You think? Or Platoon?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
No? I think I think major League would be the
especially the audience that's listening to us right now. But
it's interesting. You really do need to watch the documentary Jake,
because they talk specifically about his role in Ferris Bueller's
Day Off and really what a breakthrough point it was
for him in his career. I'm not going to ruin
it for you. But you really do need to watch
the documentary because that's something they spend I don't know,
(06:18):
good four or five minutes talking about.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
By the way, just so that we're clear rob in
terms of the audience listening, that's listening to us right now.
That's my mom. That's basically it.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Just so you know, I know the feeling trusts me.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Hey what new faces. So let's so just for example,
if Braydon Smith and Fletcher Lawyer and you know obviously
Trey Koffman Rehn, I mean, if that's your major League
two and a half Ben Ferris Bueller's day off right.
Bottom line is Charlie Sheen had other movies where there
were complimentary roles. Give me a player or two that
are new cast members to Purdue that you think actually
(06:54):
can have complimentary role or even become almost a starring
role for the Boilers this year that we may not
be familiar with going into it.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well, I think most the general fan base is going
to say omer Meyer, and while I certainly believe, yes,
he's going to be a guy that can help this team, eventually,
he's the freshman from Tel Aviv, Israel who spent his
past season playing for Team Israel in the FEBA games,
and he certainly looks the part, making no mistake about it.
I do think the most important new piece is going
(07:24):
to be Oscar Kluff. He's a young man transferred in
from South Dakota State. Played at two seasons at Washington
State before that, two seasons of junior college before that,
so he's a veteran guy. Been around the block double
double last year, averaged a double double for South Dakota
State and was you know, for those that follow this
kind of stuff, he was picked as the number one
(07:45):
overall transfer portal of all the transfer guys this past
offseason by a number of publications. So he's going to
really help for two reasons. Number one, his rebounding. It
will be much needed. You know, two seasons ago, when
Prdue goes all the way to the National Championship game,
Perdue was the second rebounding team in the country at
about plus eleven point five eleven point six somewhere in
there per game. You know, last year that number was
(08:07):
down to about one point five a game, plus one
point five. So Oscar Cluff's going to really help shore
up the rebounding and the second thing he's going to
do is offer some produce an interior defense. Now, look,
Daniel Jacobson is back. You know, he's seven foot four,
played only one game last year because he broke his
foot in that game and then didn't get to play
the rest of the season. So he's going to help
(08:28):
in that in that role. But so will Oscar Cluff,
who's a who's really an underrated interior post defender. You know,
Purdue at the worst two point defensive percentage defense in
the country last year. Think about that. They were the
worst in the nation of every Division one team at
two point field goal percentage, which meant obviously everyone's getting
to the rim and finishing with either layups or dunks.
(08:50):
So that's never good. Uh So those are the and
those so those are the two areas that absolutely had
to be shored up, rebounding and defensive field goal percentage
in the pain And that's where Oscar Cleff, I think,
is going to really make the biggest, the biggest splash
for Purdue.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
By the way, I've not seen Young Guns and you
already spoiled it to me that Charlie Sheen dies early.
Is that a critical part of the movie did you
waste the whole thing for me?
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Ah?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Well, yeah, it's critical, But you haven't seen Young Guns.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
I don't think I have. I don't think I have.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
The greatest films ever ever made.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
I mean I was reading a list just the other
day that had sounded music Wizard of Oz, Young Guns
right there, top three, right, great films of all time.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Yeah, you haven't seen the Wizard of Oz.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
No, I'm being sarcastic. I'm saying you're saying it's one
of the great films of all time. I believe, personally,
Rob this goes back to one of my great radio
segments of all time that I'm shocked didn't win me
a Marconi. I personally believe I did an entire segment
on this one time. Derek Schultzen I got into a
furious debate and argument at this didn't talk to each
other for six months. It was the best six months
in my life. I believe that The Wizard of Oz
(09:57):
is the most widely is the movie that has been
seen by the highest percentage of living Americans. Your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Living Americans, I would say that's probably correct. I would
say if you include those that are living and those deceased,
Gone with the Wind might actually take the honors. But yeah,
I would say living American.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
The thing about Wizard of Oz is like it's one
of those movies though that most people you can't even
remember the first time you've seen it. You just have
all you're just like, I don't know, I've just seen
I've seen it a hundred times, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Totally agree, but let's not get sidetracked here. I am
thoroughly disappointed.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I try to throw you off the scent there of
you're you're a gast of horror with this. Hey, I
want to get back into real quick talking about Jacobson.
And you know, you mentioned the fact that a year ago,
you know, Daniel Jacobson, to me is fascinating because we
so often rob think of guys as who it is
(10:56):
that they're replacing. So you look at him and you go, well,
they had Zach Edy and Nowjacobson. You know, they got
another seven to four guy, and here goes Matt Painter again.
But to me, he looked like and I'm not saying
Zach Edy wasn't a remarkably fluid player for his size,
because he was, but he wasn't early on. Jacobson to
me appears to have a natural fluidity about him from
(11:17):
the get go that we have not seen before. Am
I off base there? What kind of a player or
what kind of use will they will they try to
involve him with?
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Yeah, certainly more fluid, I think just as a guy
that doesn't play like he's seven foot four can step
out and shoot the three, has done that consistently in practice.
That's obviously something Zach Edy never did. Now it's ironic
that Zach's doing that in the NBA now, but he
made only one three point basket his whole Purdue career.
And also very light and nimble on his feet is
(11:50):
Daniel Jacobson. That's what makes him such a good rim protector. Certainly,
not his physical as Zach Edy, not even close to
the physicality physicality that Zach Edy had in the low post,
but nimble on his feet, really real good sense of
timing when it comes to blocking shots, really good sense
for that. So again that's where it's Purdue's going to
be looking for help in those areas. As I mentioned
(12:12):
earlier with Oscar Cluff, that's where Daniel Jacobson is really
going to help out. But yes, I would agree, Yes
both are you know, Zach seven foot four Daniel seven
foot four. Everyone wants just to make the automatic comparison
that they're one and the same, when when you're right,
there are two really very different players.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Lastly, Rob, before we go, I'd be remiss if I
didn't ask you about the football side of things, because
obviously you work on that broadcast as well. Tough one
at Minnesota. I thought, actually Purdue kind of had that one.
It got away from him a little bit. What areas
I guess have even though I realize, I mean, Barry
Odam's groups lost four in a row, but I do
(12:49):
think that they seem sound, you know what I mean.
I think they just seem like a group that is
a little more disciplined than what we saw a year ago.
The area that they need to really show or up
here before they go into Northwestern and then take on Rutgers, Well.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
If you're going to give, if you want one answer,
it would be turnovers. I mean, Purdue is minus ten
in the turnover game right now, and that's through six games.
It's impossible to win in the Big Ten when you're
minus ten on the season. Perdue has only two takeaways defensively,
one interception, one fumble recovery. As crazy as that sounds,
we're through six games now, but that would be the
one area that absolutely if Purdue could just just flip
(13:26):
the script in the turnover game, even in save this
upcoming game against Northwestern, you feel pretty good that Purdue
could win. I watching that game, and if my own
two eyes on Saturday night in Minnesota, I thoroughly felt
like Purdue was the better team. You know, they held
Minnesota to just thirty yards rushing, and this is Minnesota
team that makes its living by running a football. Purdue
(13:47):
was was able to run the football themselves, Perdue marched
the ball up and down the field all game long,
quite frankly, and other than really two offensive series from Minnesota,
the Gophers didn't do anything offensively. So I felt like
Purdue was the better team. But hey, you know, at
the end of the day, it's all about what the
final score is, for get who the better team was.
But that would be yes, if i'm if I'm you know,
(14:08):
if the question is, what's the one thing you start
right there with turnovers? If Purdue would just even get
even in the turnover game, I do feel like Produce,
still has two or three wins left on the schedule
in front of them.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Here again Purdue number one in college basketball college football
for the boiler Makers. It is upcoming at Northwestern this weekend. Rob,
appreciate the time as always, Man.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yes, now go run young guns tonight.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Please, I will. I'll head right over to Blockbuster on
my way home. Yes, do that, I'll even rewind.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Right, don't be fine?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Please? That's right? All right?
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Rob, appreciate it. Rob Blackman joining us on the program
from ESPN dot com. Stephen Holder joining me, Steven. I'm
going to begin with this. I mentioned this off the
top of the show going into the season. I don't
know that I anticipated that the Colts would be right
now the top of the heap in terms of protecting
(15:08):
the quarterback sacks allowed, the Colts are giving up the
fewest in the National Football League. Is that because of
the solidarity of this line or because of just the
way Daniel Jones is getting rid of the football and
the way Shane Stikeen is designing plays.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
Terrible answer, but it's all of the above. Well, before
I go on, you know you've made it when you've
got your own discount code. Don't you love That's that's
big time. Okay, I know people, I can say that people.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
So here's here's why.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
It's all of the above, because any one thing is
not enough to achieve that. In other words, like just
you know, delivering the football quickly is not enough because
those throws won't always be available to you, or just
an offensive line being really good. That's not singularly enough it.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
It ask to be all of it. And here's why.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Because or here's how that's happening. I should say, they
have a situation where all those things are sort of intersecting,
if you will. Right, why is Daniel Jones able to
get the ball out quickly? To some degree, it's because
Shane Stykeing is very skilled at putting together really good
(16:27):
route combinations and getting guys open. It's also a product
of Daniel Jones understanding the coverage before the snap, which
is the most important part. Right, It's what got him
the job is his ability to understand what's happening before
the snap and then what he does behind closed doors.
Money through Friday too, right, So that is playing out
(16:49):
as well. And then you have an offensive line that
I think has exceeded expectations.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
I didn't think they would be bad.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
I never said that, but I thought this might be
a process, like it might take some time for these
particular five guys to really gel. They've gelled, I think
from day one, frankly, and this has been a really
good group. So it's all coming together. Past protection is
a function of all of that, and they're getting great
(17:17):
performances in all of those areas.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Steven, When you look at you know, Daniel Jones in
general and what he's done this year, it really is
a great story. I mean, it might be the best
story in the National Football League right now, just the
stability here and whether you know, and I think people
are starting to figure out, gosh, maybe he wasn't the
total problem in New York. But having said all of that,
(17:40):
and I realized this is probably something I'm going to
ask you weekly and it will maybe get tiresome in
that regard. But when do you believe that the Colts
really will sit down and determine whether or not this
is the answer to all of their problems going forward,
or is it, in fact, as Sam Donald, possibility of
(18:02):
a one year turnaround and then you hand it back
over to someone else.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Well, the first thing I'd say regarding the Sam Donald
part of your question is that is not a comparable situation, right,
because they did have a first round pick who they drafted,
who was waiting in the wings, and you know, we
still don't know a lot Minnesota, Minnesota. Correct, sorry that
(18:29):
we still don't know a lot about J. J. McCarthy,
who they had drafted the in fact around at the
same time the same spring where they draft where they
signed Sam Donald. But I would say this, they at
least knew the player and had had held him in
high regard, so they didn't have the same sort of
(18:50):
calculation that the Colts will have to make. I think,
as we say here today, I see no reason Daniel
Jones won't be back here. But I also would say
you don't have to make that decision right now, nor
will they. I will say that it has already been
broached in like internally, like all right, this is probably
(19:13):
gonna work, like we can probably make this work beyond
this year. That has been broached, but no one's going
to do anything about it like actively right now. I
don't think Dangl Jones is even going there right now, right.
I mean, here's why we're six games in their defensive
matchups the offense coats offense versus opponent defense, those matchups
(19:36):
are going to intensify. They're gonna get a lot tougher.
I don't know that they're necessarily playing a really difficult
schedule the rest of the way. I believe I saw
the ESPN projections. I believe the remaining strength of schedule
is like right in the middle. I think it's like fifteenth.
So they have an average remaining schedule, not too hard,
(19:58):
not too easy. But specifically, the defenses they are going
to face do get better over the course of the
remaining what eleven games, So that will in turn tell
us a lot about Daniel Jones, right, I mean he's
going to be tested, I think in some of those games.
I don't think this is going to be a situation
(20:19):
where he goes in the tank. I don't anticipate that happening.
I think he's playing too well for this to completely
go the other way. Well, there'd be some challenges probably,
but I don't know that it's going to be a
wholesale situation where it changes how we see this guy.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
I think this is real, and.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
It's not only him shame staken is a huge part
of this, for sure, right, But a lot of this
is Daniel Jones really just being who he always was.
He's just in a better situation, and you know, maybe
the joke's on us, you know who knew.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
And again probably something perhaps for later. But I have
a feeling on this, Steven, I want your thoughts on it,
and I feel bad for him. I do feel bad
for him because I mentioned yesterday he seems to be
a magnet for the bizarre, but at no fault of
his I realize, But just knowing you know, all that's
(21:17):
gone into it, did this injury seal the end of
the era for Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis?
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Well, I mean I would say at minimum, it brings
us closer to that that likelihood. I think that's what
i'd say. I mean, I don't think this singularly pushes
it over the edge. I mean, I think it was
likely before this, it's likely now that he doesn't play
here next year. I think that's that's where this ends up.
(21:50):
But I just think it probably is another nail in
the coffin. Though I think that's fair. And here's why,
Because I don't know how this is going to go
for or But it does seem like they're going to
bring in another quarterback. I don't know who that will be.
If they bring in another quarterback, then that person now
gets all of the reps as the number two, number
(22:13):
two QB. That person gets ingrained. Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson is
not participating, he's not developing, he's not getting that experience
that they say he badly needs.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
So it doesn't help. It absolutely does not.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Help, you know, Stephen the and again, then you wonder,
I mean this is but does he have value elsewhere?
Anthony Richardson? I mean, is there a team that's going
to take a flyer on him?
Speaker 4 (22:43):
I mean I think, yeah, I think he'll be somewhere
for sure. Now what it looks like, what his role
looks like, that's harder to project. But there are worse
or less talented quarterbacks than Anthony Richardson who'll get second chances?
Who who weren't you know, the number four overall pick.
I mean, I do think he has a lot to
(23:06):
live down. Okay, he has some you know, some like
Samans not samanthis, I guess, you know, the the the
how people perceive him, perceptions I guess right, he has
some perceptions that he has to live down, whether it's
you know, the tap out or whether it's you know,
does he or does he not work hard enough?
Speaker 3 (23:27):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Like, I think those questions are out there and he
has to confront them. Some of them are fair, some
of them are not.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Let's just be.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
Honest, right, But but they're out there and he's going
to have to confront them. But uh, he you it
could be something where it doesn't cost you a lot
of money. Let's say, for example, let's say he gets
traded after this season. No idea if that's going to happen,
but you could cut him, you could trade him. Let's
say he gets traded, which is where I predict this
(23:57):
would go. That's just you know, way too early prediction. Right,
You're gonna get him, probably for not much money. I
don't know what the trade compensation would be, but probably.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Not a ton.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
And what is the harm? Right, what is the harm?
You know you saw that with with Daniel Jones to
some degree last year in the middle of the season
when the Vikings brought him in and when when that
season ended this past spring, the Giants didn't make excuse me.
The the Vikings did make a concerted effort to keep him.
They just weren't prepared to pay fourteen million dollars when
(24:31):
they had a viable quarterback in JJ McCarthy. But they
they were serious about retaining him. So I fail that
to say there will be some kind of market for
Anthony Richardson. Whether it ends up being whether the result
ends up being what he really wants, that's harder to say.
But I think he'll be somewhere and someone will give
(24:52):
him a long look and we'll see what happens from there.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Stephen Holder is our guests from ESPN dot com. He
is on the Jaba House Peel and Poor Guest Line, Stephen.
The pass Rush an area that you know, interestingly enough,
the Chargers are fairly susceptible at getting to Justin Herbert.
That's one area where they have not been as strong
as Indianapolis and protecting their quarterback. But and the Colts
(25:15):
have had their moments right, but they've invested so much
in pass Rush. Is it where you think they thought
it would be at this point? And if not, what
can they do to jumpstart it?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
I don't think it's where they hoped it would be
it's okay. That's all I can say about, right, It's
just okay. And frankly, I think the fact that from
week to week my answer kind of changes it tells
you all you need to know. And what I mean
by that is like, I think a couple of weeks ago,
I was like, well, you know what, Watson has really
(25:48):
taken another step here, and if that's the case, they're
going to be pretty good. But then the next week
it kind of feels like Jacobe has all day in
the pocket and you're like, are they even out there?
You know? And Quittye Pay did have a good game,
and that was kind of the first time I really
felt like Quitty impacted them in a consistent way throughout
(26:09):
the game. But that's the problem, right, It's like one
game somebody's somebody has some impact. The rest of the
guys are quiet. I'm not seeing that across the board.
Efforts all come together where everybody's hitting on the same day,
and with what they have, they should get more of
(26:29):
that because they have a lot of veterans. As you said,
they have a lot of capital invested there, both financial
and draft capital. This unit needs to be more impactful
they are, I believe in the top five in the NFL,
and defensive line spending. You've got to get more bang
(26:51):
for your butts period. That is just unequivocal. And they
are going to see tougher quarterbacks as they go on.
So this is going to be I think front and
center for the Colts.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Where do things stand in terms of their defensive backfield?
Because you know, Savarius mooney Ward, really good player, freak
concussion that knocks him out. You've got to consider the
fact that you don't know what the availability is there
and they are still looking at practice, squad plays elsewhere.
That is an area I feel bad, Steven for Chris
(27:24):
Ballard in this regard and the fact that I think
he really did make a concerted effort to strengthen that
defensive backfield, and at no fault of his or anybody else,
is due to freak circumstance. They're just not flat out healthy.
Where do things stand down in terms of who may
be in and what they may need to do to
shore that up?
Speaker 5 (27:41):
All?
Speaker 3 (27:41):
Right? Where do they stand? Well? I mean are you available? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (27:44):
No, seriously, I mean I mean it's bad. You know,
I come with a discount code that's right, This is
perfect right, that's right. You know who has cap money
in October? You got to look for like bargains, right,
So yeah, it's bad. I mean, look, think the thing
about Ward that you've got to remember is this is
his second concussion in a very short span.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
He had.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
He sat out week two, I believe, right, So you
know this is tough man. And I don't know that
we can sit here and pretend he's gonna play on Sunday.
I have no idea, but I think to assume that
he has a likely shot of playing as probably fool's
goal right now. Right, So Kenny Moore than meanwhile, not
(28:32):
really seeing any recent progress there. I get tomorrow's the
next mile post on him. Well, he returned to practice.
But even if he does practice a little this week,
I mean he's been out three weeks. Is he's just
gonna roll out of bed and play? I don't know.
Does he has to ramp up? You know, Jalen Jalen Jones.
They would kill for him right now, But I don't
(28:54):
know he's any Uh, he's closer, but I don't know
that he's on the verge of returning. So they're nowhere
and they're gonna have to buckle down and get what
they can out of these young guys, you know. So
it's the uh, it's some of these undrafted guys in
many cases who you know, people are just learning their names. Hell,
(29:15):
I'm just learning some of their names, you know.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
And I think it is what it is.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
It's it's gonna be tough, and it's gonna put perhaps
more more strain or more pressure on the offense, uh
to get the job done, because on the back end
of the defense, the likelihood of them giving up some
points is pretty high right now. And I don't think
there are any great and easy answers. They're plucking guys
(29:42):
off of waivers right now, and that tells you everything
about what you need to know about where they are.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
Steven, when you are you're sitting at home right You're
sitting there and you're you're reading about Tennessee making a
coaching change, and you're wondering what that means for cam
Ward who came out of the same school as you.
So you've been paying a little attention to the way
he's going to jump start his NFL career, and you're like, man,
this is like Trevor Lawrence all over again. You know,
(30:07):
you got a rookie quarterback with a lot of promise,
and there's upheaval in the coaching situation. So you're reading
about all of that and your editor at ESPN calls
you and he says, Steven Bill here, you're editor. You
say hey, Bill, He says, listen, we got all this
stuff going on, and the Colts are they're five and one,
they the number one seed in the AFC, and we
want to really do something original. We want to do
(30:28):
something really unique, and we want you to write a
column about what it is about the Colts that no
one's talking about. What do you tell Bill? Is your idea?
Speaker 4 (30:38):
H Well, I think it's I don't know if this
makes a great story, but it's definitely important. There's a
confidence right now. And I think Michael Pittman said it
yesterday and maybe I should have picked up on this earlier,
but maybe it just comes from winning. But he said,
(31:00):
this feels like twenty twenty when Philip Rivers came here,
and I think Rivers kind of infused that locker room
with a confidence, because you know, there's a swagger when
you're Philip Rivers, right, and you've been doing it for
you know, fifteen or sixteen seasons, okay, and have the
resume that he had, so he brought that with him
(31:23):
and you know, sort of infused that locker room with
a lot of confidence and raised everybody's level. And right
now they have a little bit of that, he said.
Pittman said, we just expect to win every game. And
it sounds like a cliche line. It's not the first
time I've heard a player say something like that, but
(31:45):
I think this was different, and I think you see
it when you're in the locker room. You feel it
like they they are now expecting to win, like they're
not surprised anymore. You know, we were certainly surprised at
they're five and one. But expectations change when you have
success externally, but they also change internally.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
And this is a team that.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Right now has like an expectation of itself that we win,
that's what we do. And where does that come from?
I think a couple of places. Number One, Shane Stike
and it's weird, like he's not maybe the most you know,
I don't know if he's like the most raw raw
Coast per se, but he's intense and I think his
(32:28):
intensity and his his his expectations of his players. I
think that raises the bar. And then there's there's Daniel Jones. Man,
that's just a part of it. Like when the quarterback
is getting it done. Even though Daniel Jones is quiet
and he doesn't say much, and you know, I don't
know what kind of presence he has per se in
the locker room, but when he's getting it done, players
(32:51):
respond to that. If they respond to nothing else, they
respond to a guy who's playing really well. And there's
a confidence here that it's hard to capture maybe in words,
but when you're a round it, you see it and
you feel it.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
You know, Daniel Jones is interesting to me, Steven, because
Stevenholder ESPN dot Com. I guess we still don't know
a lot about him. You know, he's a quiet guy,
and I'm talking about the fan base, even the media.
You know, he's new here obviously, but he doesn't come
in with that Philip Rivers Bravada.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Right.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
So if if a quarterback was a was an automobile,
you know, like Lamar Jackson's a Ferrari. I mean he's sleek,
he's fast, he's you know, he he looks the part
Josh Allen would be. You know, I don't know what
Josh Allen would be. Probably like a like a Camaro, right,
a little bit more muscle to it, but yet still
fast when it needs to be. What kind of car
(33:42):
from a personality standpoint, from when you've been around him?
What kind of car is Daniel Jones? And I'm saying
this to illustrate to listeners just what kind of dude
he is?
Speaker 3 (33:54):
This is actually a great question.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
I actually think he's like like alexis SUV, like the
small ones, the crossovers, you know that they can they
can run for like thirty years. Okay, just change the oil.
But they're also nice, right, they're they're not. It's not
it's not you know, it's it's not a supercar. It's
(34:19):
not sexy necessarily, but.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Nice, reliable.
Speaker 4 (34:25):
Uh, you never have to worry about it.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
It is.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
It blends in, right, it's not what did you say,
Josh Allen is a Camaro? Yeah, maybe not supercharged Camaro
or or you know, Corvette. But also if you drove
it to you know, if you parked it at the
the valet at Saint Elmos, nobody be looking at you
like really right, so you fit in right, it's it's perfect,
(34:53):
it's so, it's it's it's persatle you can you can
drive to the grocery store. You can drive it out.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
When he's When Daniel Jones walks into the locker room,
is he the guy that players stop like Peyton Manning
when you walk in the locker room, like everybody stopped like, okay,
what's the mood?
Speaker 3 (35:09):
You know?
Speaker 1 (35:10):
And Andrew Luck when he'd walk in the locker room
like kind of had a goofiness about him. Of guys
you could tell just they knew he was in charge.
Is Jones that kind of guy?
Speaker 4 (35:22):
Yes, in a in a way that I think maybe
you have to see, like for example, like you mentioned
Luck and you know the whole awe sucks thing that
I think you know, people on the outside perceived it
was true to a degree. He's look he was he
a nerd. Yes, that's true. He would tell you that.
But at the same time, I have seen him two
(35:43):
guys out things were Luck. I've seen him two guys
out and drop an F bomb and tell them where
they need to be. With my own two eyes, I've
seen that, right. I haven't seen that from Daniel Jones.
But I but there there is feedback from players who say,
like he is demanding and there are the expectations are clear.
(36:04):
I think he understands, like what what the expectation is
of a quarterback in terms of how how they should
carry themselves and how they should be demanding of their
of their teammates. Remember, you know he has a relationship
with the Mannings, right, so they understand that and and
they imparted that on him. So I think some of
(36:25):
that comes from that, and some of it just comes
from him just being, you know, Daniel Jones really just
being a someone who has high standards for himself. So
in that regard, I think yes, the answer is yes
to that that he is Definitely he's not maybe in
your face and and and maybe doesn't like heads don't
turn when he walks in the room and all that,
(36:47):
he's not that guy. But when it's time to work,
you know, like you don't half asked with Daniel Jones.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
Stephen, what's new with what you're working on at ESPN
dot com in terms of your coverage of the.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
So I'm writing about this some guy named Jonathan Taylor.
So he's leading the league in rushing, right. But I
think the question for me is, or what I think
what's interesting for me is there were a couple of seasons,
you know, twenty two and twenty three, where you wondered, like,
all right, is he.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Ever gonna be that guy again?
Speaker 4 (37:21):
He was good, but he kept getting hurt and you know,
he had to hold out and all that, and there
was a moment there where I think he was a
little bit forgotten maybe nationally, right. We still appreciated him locally,
but I think nationally people had moved on. Say, Kwon
Barkley's out there running for two thousand yards, Derrick Henry
the second act in Baltimore, right, And what Jonathan Taylor
(37:45):
has shown us last year and already this year is
that I'm not done yet, Like I'm still that guy.
And I think that's pretty remarkable to see good because
it doesn't always happen with running backs. A lot of
times they flashed in the pan for two or three
years and then they're never the same guy. This guy
shows that he is and that's pretty worthwhile.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Stevenholder ESPN dot Com appreciate the time. As always, We'll
talk to you soon, all right, But I want to
welcome to the program and to Central Indiana. The new
head coach of the Indian Knight, coach Lauren Bertolachi, who
joins me on the JAVA House Peel and poor guest
line and coach. It has been a circuitous route to
(38:27):
land you in Indianapolis. But let me be amongst many
to say welcome to Central Indiana.
Speaker 5 (38:33):
Oh, thank you so much. I'm really excited to be
here and I love it already.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
Now I can tell by the accent you're not from Kentucky,
so you are Australian. But you most recently have coached
in Switzerland. Now I want to begin with this. So
you have coached in Europe. You have had a massively
successful coaching career there. How does one end up coming
from Switzerland now to Indianapolis to coach with the Indian Knight.
Speaker 5 (39:00):
Oh good recruiting from India right now, I'm kidding. Listen.
They it's volleyball so big here and it was just
a matter of time that they were going to be
kind of both. I feel like I'm stepping a great
career choice for me and I've landed in a spot
that very professional and really cares what about volleyball and
the work they're doing.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
Here's a really dumb question for you. Okay, I'm almost
embarrassed to ask, and it's so dumb, but I've made
a living coach with dumb questions. It is volleyball. You know,
you grew up in Australia, you have coached, you know,
you've been around, as I'd mentioned you, you know coached
in Switzerland, You've been part of a national team, and
you are a native of Australia and now you come here.
(39:38):
Does the game change in different areas or is volleyball
pretty much the same and stylistically regardless of where you're playing.
Speaker 5 (39:47):
That's actually a very smart question.
Speaker 7 (39:48):
I would say stylistic changes. Stilistically, it changes a little
bit country to country. The Let's say look at Japanese
versus Brazilian volleyball, soyl of coaching different style of play
America and really have their own style as well, So
there are small styl stylistic differences and the end of
the day, we still run by the same rules, so
(40:10):
there are a lot of similarities as well. But I've
seen a lot of volleyball and I really try to
blend a lot of different styles and find out kind.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
Of what works best.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
Had you spent a lot of time in the US
before coming here for this job, not at.
Speaker 5 (40:22):
All Indian as my first stop in the US.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
Is it really yep? What are your initial impressions.
Speaker 5 (40:29):
I love it here. I live up in Fishes near
our events center, and I think it's really beautiful. I'm
here with my dog and she loves all the trailers
and everything, most importantly sport community here. I walked in
the door and pretty much saw how much everybody cares
about volleyball and sport. And I can see that everyone's
really ready to push women's volleyball through the roof. And
that's pretty much what I'm all about.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
Yeah, And you know you mentioned this when we started
talking there in terms of and I was surprised by it, coach,
and I you know, I apologize for that, in the
fact that I was not dasm for volleyball in this
area and in a particular and I think it's great
and I wanted you to touch on this in the
fact that Lauren Bertolacci is my guest, the head coach
(41:14):
of the Indian Night the example for young girls, because
I think sometimes, you know, the saying is sometimes to
be something you have to see something, and for young
girls in this area to see high level volleyball and
professional volleyball right there as the example as they're just
starting to play and growing the sport which already has
(41:37):
a popularity to it. But are you aware of that
example that you're setting for young people and what it
can mean to this community.
Speaker 5 (41:46):
Oh, one hundred percent. I agree with you. We can't
be what we can't see. I think, like I said,
it's been a long time coming that pro volleyball has
come to America and it's a bit of the tip
of the iceberg. So we show what volleyball is, show
how volleyball can change. People have all eyes on us,
and we are the top of the top us, So
we absolutely must understand our influence and understand how many
(42:08):
young women are going to be watching us every day
and the way we play, the character that we play
with who we are. I think it's very important and
something we certainly won't take lightly at Indian Nighthame, and
we really wanted to find what professional volleyball is going
to look like in Indiana and hopefully that can sort
of drip down into the huge club scene we have
here as well. And yeah, I'm very excited for the
(42:29):
influence that.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
We can have. By the way, how cool was it
to live in Switzerland? I've never been, you know. Now,
let me ask you, actually, coach, let me ask you
this I need you've got to be. I'm going to
allow you to be the judge and jury on a
very important question.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Here.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
Are you ready?
Speaker 5 (42:43):
I am?
Speaker 1 (42:44):
Okay, I'm flying coming up in a month here, I'm
going on a vacation where I have a four hour
layover in the Geneva, Switzerland airport. That's just a layover.
Four hour layover. Okay, So I will get off the
plane and I'll be at the airport. I likely will
not have time to leave the airport. Can I check
(43:05):
the box saying that I've been in Switzerland? Or does
that not count?
Speaker 5 (43:09):
Absolutely does not count?
Speaker 3 (43:11):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Hold on, what if I leave the airport and I
just go and get a piece of Swiss chocolate and
then come back into the airport and go back through security.
Does it then count?
Speaker 5 (43:21):
Yeah? And that's actually all the gator you got to
get down to the Jeneva like grab a croissant and chocolate.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
How far is that from the airport? Will I have time?
This is this This is the stuff I really want
to get to. Will I have time to do that?
Speaker 5 (43:35):
Yeah, You'll be able to have a little quick stop
in the city.
Speaker 1 (43:37):
Yes, all right, and then then it will count, right,
it will count Okay. So honestly, though, how did you
go from Australia to Switzerland and what you know? I
mean that's a world away obviously? How did that change you?
How did that grow you? Not only as a coach,
but maybe as a person as well, to be that
far from home?
Speaker 5 (43:57):
Oh gosh ya. I actually left Australia when I was twenty.
There was no well there is still no professional volleyball
league in Australia, so I want to make my living
from that. It was a necessity to head to Europe,
so I did, and I think it's it set me
on my career path. It's opened all my opportunities. That's
exposed me to many many different cultures and I don't
(44:19):
even think i'd be close to the same person that
I am right now, but it certainly was. It's been
an amazing twenty years that I've spent in Europe and
I think every every journey I've taken it has been
really important and wouldn't trade anything.
Speaker 1 (44:30):
And your dog is Swiss, is that right?
Speaker 5 (44:33):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (44:34):
My dog Swiss yep, barks in several languages. Then right, that's.
Speaker 5 (44:38):
Impressed, very very very very impressive.
Speaker 1 (44:41):
The one thing I know about Australia and this is
the biggest stereotype of all time. But many people that
listen to this show know of my friends that I
met through the Pacers from Melbourne the ass. They've been
here for several games. They brought me vegemite on several occasions.
I pretend, for the sake of you know, not offending them,
that I really like it, but I find it horrifically
(45:01):
too salty and gross. Do you like vegamite?
Speaker 5 (45:05):
Yeah? I mean then if you don't like it, you're
not using it correctly.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
That's what they tell you.
Speaker 5 (45:10):
A little bit of little yeah, a little bit on
the bread and you you're golden. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (45:15):
Well, I have nine pounds of it at home from
their visits, so if you need any you let me know. Also,
now they do bring tim tams, however, are awesome Tim Tams.
I'm down with right.
Speaker 5 (45:26):
I got a dne Comunion copylo.
Speaker 1 (45:29):
And listen, maybe I could get some of the tim
Tams when I step out to go to the lake
in Geneva so that I can check Switzerland off the
box because it's all chocolate, right, I'm curious of this.
Have you seen Ignite the Fire, which is the Heartland
Film Festival film about the inaugural season of the Indian
Ignite and the enthusiasm for them in this community.
Speaker 5 (45:50):
Yep, I've seen it. It was very motivating and really
really impressively done, and they captured the season, so it
made me even more so.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
It's just so, are you excited to watch this on
Thursday Gamebridge Field House, the Modern Spike match between Indiana
and Purdue, Because I do think that you know, here
you have two college programs that are from right here
in central Indiana that are both nationally ranked, and again,
I think coach that that kind of illuminates the enthusiasm
and the skill set for this sport and this area.
(46:21):
I'm assuming you're pretty excited to be able to experience
that coming up Thursday.
Speaker 5 (46:25):
Yeah, I mean, I think we have pretty close to
a top twenty matchup right down the road in India
and in a historic place to watch volleyball for the
first time. I think it absolutely shows the community that's
been here for a really long time, hame, but it's
building and growing and showing with volleyball stands in a match.
Indiana's having a really good start to their season, and
(46:47):
I mean to do it so historically a great team,
so I'm pretty excited to watch it.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
Twenty second ranked Indiana, twelfth ranked Purdue, lastly coached for
you guys, the schedule coming up here, because it's going
to happen quickly now that you're here. I mean you're
going to basically jump into it. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Draft coming up for you guys in a couple of weeks,
then into camp in December, and then everything getting underway
in January. Correct exactly.
Speaker 5 (47:12):
Yeah, we'll actually have an official schedule coming out later
this month, and the draft will happen near the end
of November. Then we'll start our training camp. Draft athletes
will join us sort of as they finish their programs.
I can get a little bit of rest, of course,
because it's a crazy season for them as well. And
then yeah, early January. Really nice to have our first game.
Speaker 1 (47:29):
I'm telling you, it's awesome, folks. You need to come
out and see it. I've mentioned before that Lecator member
Mena is one of my favorite athletes in Central Indiana
because the athleticism is incredible. Coach and certainly look forward
to it. Appreciate the time. Welcome to Indianapolis, all right,
thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (47:45):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Appreciate it again. Joining us on the Java House Peel
and Poor guest line. She is the head coach of
the Indian Night Lauren Bertalachi joining us on the show
Joining us now on the Java House Peel and Poor
guest Line. He is the radio play by play voice
of the Purdue Boilermaker basketball program. You hear him on
the football broadcast as well. Andy shares a birthday with
what is destined to be eventually a national holiday because
we have the same birthday. Rob Blackman joining me on
the show, Rob, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:19):
That's right? Jake? Rob and sting Ray Rob of IndyCar
racing fame. All September third birthdays?
Speaker 3 (00:27):
You know who else?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
By the way, Rob, and we probably we probably should
have stopped there while we were ahead. Charlie Sheen as
well as September third birthday, I believe.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Have you watched the documentary on Charlie Sheen?
Speaker 1 (00:39):
So you know, I interesting you mentioned that I caught
probably the last third of it because I got Shannon
was watching it. I got over to her house and
I'm like, what are we watching here? And then you know,
it was like this vortex you couldn't get out of
once you start watching it. And I will say, you know,
my Charlie Sheen. Actually, so I assume you've seen the documentary, correct?
Speaker 2 (01:00):
I have?
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yes, Yeah, he's a bit of a wildlifestyle. One of
the things that I don't know if this was covered
in the documentary, but I've got to give Charlie Sheen
his flowers here. One of the things he did, Rob
that I always thought was cool was do you remember
the time when he bought the entire left field seats
at Dodger Stadium.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
I had forgotten about that, but yes.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Now that you bring it up, like, he always wanted
to get a home run ball, so he bought the
entire left field seats and just sat by himself. And
I don't think anybody hit a homer, right, No, I
think that.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Was the story right. That was ended up being the
whole the storyline was the fact that no one ever
hit a home run the day.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
You know, knowing Charlie Sheen, he probably did that when
they were playing the Giants to try to get a
Barry Bonds ball and didn't think about the fact that
he should have bought it in right field instead of
left right, You know what I mean? Yeah, exactly, All right,
let's talk about this, Rob. You know, I don't think
it's any big surprise that Matt Paters group is ranked
number one, And I think one of the things and
(02:00):
I've we talked about this with the Corsi, but but
you know, you see it up close and personal. One
of the things about Purdue basketball rob to me that
makes this so both special and impressive is this is
because of the experience and not that they're not great
players that Purdue has, but the challenge in today's world
(02:22):
of keeping a unit together and having them buy in
and continue to not search greener pastors elsewhere. I'm not
saying they're not getting Aniel money, but you get what
I'm saying there. What is it about Purdue basketball that
so far, to this point has been able to buck
the trend of its mainline players constantly coming and going.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
So, you know, I've heard Matt Painter speak on this
numerous times this summer because that's been a pretty popular question,
as you might imagine. And I also heard both Trey
Kauflin Wren and Braydon Smith speak to this at media
day last week of the Big Ten meeting, and the
word they all kept using was family. And I know
it sometimes that can sound a bit hokey because I
(03:05):
understand that every team atmosphere is trying to try and
to make it family like, but they really do feel
like they're part of the family and that it goes
further than just basketball and what happens on the court.
And there is something to be said for having a
coaching staff and an administration that truly believes in what's
best for you. As Matt Painter likes to say, once
the ball starts stops bouncing, because as most of our
(03:28):
guys figure out, eventually that ball does stop bouncing, you
have to do something else in life besides play basketball.
So that's the word that seems to be thrown around
a lot, and I think it is fair. I think
it certainly is appropriate that it is a family atmosphere
that once you're there, you really feel like you're a
part of something bigger than just basketball. Now, Matt Painter
(03:49):
has also been very clear that, you know, Purdue's never
had in this in this modern day now transfer portal stuff,
Purdue has never had a starter that has has entered
the portal.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
Now.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
We've had some guys that played some minutes and played
off the off the bench, but as far as a
guy that was in the regular starting lineup, they've never left.
So obviously there's something about coming to Purdue and you know,
not only having a chance to play, but having a
chance to again put yourself in a position where you
can do something with your life when basketball is all
said and done. So certainly, and you brought it up there,
(04:19):
you kind of hinted at it. Braydon Smith and Trey
Coffin Rinn and Fletcher Lawyer. I am certain they had
opportunities this offseason to go play somewhere else and probably
make a little bit more money, if not a lot
more money than the making that Purdue. But they certainly
enjoy where they're at. They love being Purdue basketball players,
and again they feel like they're part of something bigger
(04:39):
than just basketball. So that is, at least with this
group of guys, at least the guys we've seen here
in the last really ten or twelve years or so,
that's been something that's been very important to them.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What would you say is Charlie Sheen's signature role.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Rob Oh, Well, here's the problem. This'll be a little
off the wall because it's one of my all time
favorite movies. But so me personally, I go with Young Guns. Okay,
I know he gets killed in Young Guns. I understand that,
but that's one of my all time favorite movies. So
when I think Charlie she knows always the first movie
(05:13):
that comes to my mind.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Here's what's funny for me, because I mean major league,
you know, like I look at his list and I'm like,
oh gosh, major league, Like how do I how do
you forget you know? Ricky Vaughan?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Right?
Speaker 2 (05:24):
But absolutely, But I but.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Probably because it was the first time I kind of
was introduced to him, even though it was a cameo
that was very brief, Ferris Bueller's Day Off jumps out
at me. I know, that's crazy. And obviously Platoon is
the most decorated pardon the pun movie that he was in,
and then two and a half minute goes without saying
if you're doing TV, but you know it, I don't.
(05:49):
I mean, would be major League? Is that what the
general population would say? You think? Or Platoon?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
No? I think I think major League would be the
especially the audience that's listening to us right now. But
it's interesting. You really do need to watch the documentary Jake,
because they talk specifically about his role in Ferris Bueller's
Day Off and really what a breakthrough point it was
for him in his career. I'm not going to ruin
it for you. But you really do need to watch
the documentary because that's something they spend I don't know,
(06:18):
good four or five minutes talking about.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
By the way, just so that we're clear rob in
terms of the audience listening, that's listening to us right now.
That's my mom. That's basically it.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Just so you know, I know the feeling trusts me.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Hey what new faces. So let's so just for example,
if Braydon Smith and Fletcher Lawyer and you know obviously
Trey Koffman Rehn, I mean, if that's your major League
two and a half Ben Ferris Bueller's day off right.
Bottom line is Charlie Sheen had other movies where there
were complimentary roles. Give me a player or two that
are new cast members to Purdue that you think actually
(06:54):
can have complimentary role or even become almost a starring
role for the Boilers this year that we may not
be familiar with going into it.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well, I think most the general fan base is going
to say omer Meyer, and while I certainly believe, yes,
he's going to be a guy that can help this team, eventually,
he's the freshman from Tel Aviv, Israel who spent his
past season playing for Team Israel in the FEBA games,
and he certainly looks the part, making no mistake about it.
I do think the most important new piece is going
(07:24):
to be Oscar Kluff. He's a young man transferred in
from South Dakota State. Played at two seasons at Washington
State before that, two seasons of junior college before that,
so he's a veteran guy. Been around the block double
double last year, averaged a double double for South Dakota
State and was you know, for those that follow this
kind of stuff, he was picked as the number one
(07:45):
overall transfer portal of all the transfer guys this past
offseason by a number of publications. So he's going to
really help for two reasons. Number one, his rebounding. It
will be much needed. You know, two seasons ago, when
Prdue goes all the way to the National Championship game,
Perdue was the second rebounding team in the country at
about plus eleven point five eleven point six somewhere in
there per game. You know, last year that number was
(08:07):
down to about one point five a game, plus one
point five. So Oscar Cluff's going to really help shore
up the rebounding and the second thing he's going to
do is offer some produce an interior defense. Now, look,
Daniel Jacobson is back. You know, he's seven foot four,
played only one game last year because he broke his
foot in that game and then didn't get to play
the rest of the season. So he's going to help
(08:28):
in that in that role. But so will Oscar Cluff,
who's a who's really an underrated interior post defender. You know,
Purdue at the worst two point defensive percentage defense in
the country last year. Think about that. They were the
worst in the nation of every Division one team at
two point field goal percentage, which meant obviously everyone's getting
to the rim and finishing with either layups or dunks.
(08:50):
So that's never good. Uh So those are the and
those so those are the two areas that absolutely had
to be shored up, rebounding and defensive field goal percentage
in the pain And that's where Oscar Cleff, I think,
is going to really make the biggest, the biggest splash
for Purdue.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
By the way, I've not seen Young Guns and you
already spoiled it to me that Charlie Sheen dies early.
Is that a critical part of the movie did you
waste the whole thing for me?
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Ah?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Well, yeah, it's critical, But you haven't seen Young Guns.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
I don't think I have. I don't think I have.
Speaker 2 (09:19):
The greatest films ever ever made.
Speaker 1 (09:23):
I mean I was reading a list just the other
day that had sounded music Wizard of Oz, Young Guns
right there, top three, right, great films of all time.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Yeah, you haven't seen the Wizard of Oz.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
No, I'm being sarcastic. I'm saying you're saying it's one
of the great films of all time. I believe, personally,
Rob this goes back to one of my great radio
segments of all time that I'm shocked didn't win me
a Marconi. I personally believe I did an entire segment
on this one time. Derek Schultzen I got into a
furious debate and argument at this didn't talk to each
other for six months. It was the best six months
in my life. I believe that The Wizard of Oz
(09:57):
is the most widely is the movie that has been
seen by the highest percentage of living Americans. Your thoughts.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Living Americans, I would say that's probably correct. I would
say if you include those that are living and those deceased,
Gone with the Wind might actually take the honors. But yeah,
I would say living American.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
The thing about Wizard of Oz is like it's one
of those movies though that most people you can't even
remember the first time you've seen it. You just have
all you're just like, I don't know, I've just seen
I've seen it a hundred times, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Totally agree, but let's not get sidetracked here. I am
thoroughly disappointed.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I try to throw you off the scent there of
you're you're a gast of horror with this. Hey, I
want to get back into real quick talking about Jacobson.
And you know, you mentioned the fact that a year ago,
you know, Daniel Jacobson, to me is fascinating because we
so often rob think of guys as who it is
(10:56):
that they're replacing. So you look at him and you go, well,
they had Zach Edy and Nowjacobson. You know, they got
another seven to four guy, and here goes Matt Painter again.
But to me, he looked like and I'm not saying
Zach Edy wasn't a remarkably fluid player for his size,
because he was, but he wasn't early on. Jacobson to
me appears to have a natural fluidity about him from
(11:17):
the get go that we have not seen before. Am
I off base there? What kind of a player or
what kind of use will they will they try to
involve him with?
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Yeah, certainly more fluid, I think just as a guy
that doesn't play like he's seven foot four can step
out and shoot the three, has done that consistently in practice.
That's obviously something Zach Edy never did. Now it's ironic
that Zach's doing that in the NBA now, but he
made only one three point basket his whole Purdue career.
And also very light and nimble on his feet is
(11:50):
Daniel Jacobson. That's what makes him such a good rim protector. Certainly,
not his physical as Zach Edy, not even close to
the physicality physicality that Zach Edy had in the low post,
but nimble on his feet, really real good sense of
timing when it comes to blocking shots, really good sense
for that. So again that's where it's Purdue's going to
be looking for help in those areas. As I mentioned
(12:12):
earlier with Oscar Cluff, that's where Daniel Jacobson is really
going to help out. But yes, I would agree, Yes
both are you know, Zach seven foot four Daniel seven
foot four. Everyone wants just to make the automatic comparison
that they're one and the same, when when you're right,
there are two really very different players.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Lastly, Rob, before we go, I'd be remiss if I
didn't ask you about the football side of things, because
obviously you work on that broadcast as well. Tough one
at Minnesota. I thought, actually Purdue kind of had that one.
It got away from him a little bit. What areas
I guess have even though I realize, I mean, Barry
Odam's groups lost four in a row, but I do
(12:49):
think that they seem sound, you know what I mean.
I think they just seem like a group that is
a little more disciplined than what we saw a year ago.
The area that they need to really show or up
here before they go into Northwestern and then take on Rutgers, Well.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
If you're going to give, if you want one answer,
it would be turnovers. I mean, Purdue is minus ten
in the turnover game right now, and that's through six games.
It's impossible to win in the Big Ten when you're
minus ten on the season. Perdue has only two takeaways defensively,
one interception, one fumble recovery. As crazy as that sounds,
we're through six games now, but that would be the
one area that absolutely if Purdue could just just flip
(13:26):
the script in the turnover game, even in save this
upcoming game against Northwestern, you feel pretty good that Purdue
could win. I watching that game, and if my own
two eyes on Saturday night in Minnesota, I thoroughly felt
like Purdue was the better team. You know, they held
Minnesota to just thirty yards rushing, and this is Minnesota
team that makes its living by running a football. Purdue
(13:47):
was was able to run the football themselves, Perdue marched
the ball up and down the field all game long,
quite frankly, and other than really two offensive series from Minnesota,
the Gophers didn't do anything offensively. So I felt like
Purdue was the better team. But hey, you know, at
the end of the day, it's all about what the
final score is, for get who the better team was.
But that would be yes, if i'm if I'm you know,
(14:08):
if the question is, what's the one thing you start
right there with turnovers? If Purdue would just even get
even in the turnover game, I do feel like Produce,
still has two or three wins left on the schedule
in front of them.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Here again Purdue number one in college basketball college football
for the boiler Makers. It is upcoming at Northwestern this weekend. Rob,
appreciate the time as always, Man.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yes, now go run young guns tonight.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Please, I will. I'll head right over to Blockbuster on
my way home. Yes, do that, I'll even rewind.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Right, don't be fine?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Please? That's right? All right?
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Rob, appreciate it. Rob Blackman joining us on the program
from ESPN dot com. Stephen Holder joining me, Steven. I'm
going to begin with this. I mentioned this off the
top of the show going into the season. I don't
know that I anticipated that the Colts would be right
now the top of the heap in terms of protecting
(15:08):
the quarterback sacks allowed, the Colts are giving up the
fewest in the National Football League. Is that because of
the solidarity of this line or because of just the
way Daniel Jones is getting rid of the football and
the way Shane Stikeen is designing plays.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
Terrible answer, but it's all of the above. Well, before
I go on, you know you've made it when you've
got your own discount code. Don't you love That's that's
big time. Okay, I know people, I can say that people.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
So here's here's why.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
It's all of the above, because any one thing is
not enough to achieve that. In other words, like just
you know, delivering the football quickly is not enough because
those throws won't always be available to you, or just
an offensive line being really good. That's not singularly enough it.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
It ask to be all of it. And here's why.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Because or here's how that's happening. I should say, they
have a situation where all those things are sort of intersecting,
if you will. Right, why is Daniel Jones able to
get the ball out quickly? To some degree, it's because
Shane Stykeing is very skilled at putting together really good
(16:27):
route combinations and getting guys open. It's also a product
of Daniel Jones understanding the coverage before the snap, which
is the most important part. Right, It's what got him
the job is his ability to understand what's happening before
the snap and then what he does behind closed doors.
Money through Friday too, right, So that is playing out
(16:49):
as well. And then you have an offensive line that
I think has exceeded expectations.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
I didn't think they would be bad.
Speaker 4 (16:56):
I never said that, but I thought this might be
a process, like it might take some time for these
particular five guys to really gel. They've gelled, I think
from day one, frankly, and this has been a really
good group. So it's all coming together. Past protection is
a function of all of that, and they're getting great
(17:17):
performances in all of those areas.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Steven, When you look at you know, Daniel Jones in
general and what he's done this year, it really is
a great story. I mean, it might be the best
story in the National Football League right now, just the
stability here and whether you know, and I think people
are starting to figure out, gosh, maybe he wasn't the
total problem in New York. But having said all of that,
(17:40):
and I realized this is probably something I'm going to
ask you weekly and it will maybe get tiresome in
that regard. But when do you believe that the Colts
really will sit down and determine whether or not this
is the answer to all of their problems going forward,
or is it, in fact, as Sam Donald, possibility of
(18:02):
a one year turnaround and then you hand it back
over to someone else.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
Well, the first thing I'd say regarding the Sam Donald
part of your question is that is not a comparable situation, right,
because they did have a first round pick who they drafted,
who was waiting in the wings, and you know, we
still don't know a lot Minnesota, Minnesota. Correct, sorry that
(18:29):
we still don't know a lot about J. J. McCarthy,
who they had drafted the in fact around at the
same time the same spring where they draft where they
signed Sam Donald. But I would say this, they at
least knew the player and had had held him in
high regard, so they didn't have the same sort of
(18:50):
calculation that the Colts will have to make. I think,
as we say here today, I see no reason Daniel
Jones won't be back here. But I also would say
you don't have to make that decision right now, nor
will they. I will say that it has already been
broached in like internally, like all right, this is probably
(19:13):
gonna work, like we can probably make this work beyond
this year. That has been broached, but no one's going
to do anything about it like actively right now. I
don't think Dangl Jones is even going there right now, right.
I mean, here's why we're six games in their defensive
matchups the offense coats offense versus opponent defense, those matchups
(19:36):
are going to intensify. They're gonna get a lot tougher.
I don't know that they're necessarily playing a really difficult
schedule the rest of the way. I believe I saw
the ESPN projections. I believe the remaining strength of schedule
is like right in the middle. I think it's like fifteenth.
So they have an average remaining schedule, not too hard,
(19:58):
not too easy. But specifically, the defenses they are going
to face do get better over the course of the
remaining what eleven games, So that will in turn tell
us a lot about Daniel Jones, right, I mean he's
going to be tested, I think in some of those games.
I don't think this is going to be a situation
(20:19):
where he goes in the tank. I don't anticipate that happening.
I think he's playing too well for this to completely
go the other way. Well, there'd be some challenges probably,
but I don't know that it's going to be a
wholesale situation where it changes how we see this guy.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
I think this is real, and.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
It's not only him shame staken is a huge part
of this, for sure, right, But a lot of this
is Daniel Jones really just being who he always was.
He's just in a better situation, and you know, maybe
the joke's on us, you know who knew.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
And again probably something perhaps for later. But I have
a feeling on this, Steven, I want your thoughts on it,
and I feel bad for him. I do feel bad
for him because I mentioned yesterday he seems to be
a magnet for the bizarre, but at no fault of
his I realize, But just knowing you know, all that's
(21:17):
gone into it, did this injury seal the end of
the era for Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis?
Speaker 4 (21:27):
Well, I mean I would say at minimum, it brings
us closer to that that likelihood. I think that's what
i'd say. I mean, I don't think this singularly pushes
it over the edge. I mean, I think it was
likely before this, it's likely now that he doesn't play
here next year. I think that's that's where this ends up.
(21:50):
But I just think it probably is another nail in
the coffin. Though I think that's fair. And here's why,
Because I don't know how this is going to go
for or But it does seem like they're going to
bring in another quarterback. I don't know who that will be.
If they bring in another quarterback, then that person now
gets all of the reps as the number two, number
(22:13):
two QB. That person gets ingrained. Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson is
not participating, he's not developing, he's not getting that experience
that they say he badly needs.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
So it doesn't help. It absolutely does not.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Help, you know, Stephen the and again, then you wonder,
I mean this is but does he have value elsewhere?
Anthony Richardson? I mean, is there a team that's going
to take a flyer on him?
Speaker 4 (22:43):
I mean I think, yeah, I think he'll be somewhere
for sure. Now what it looks like, what his role
looks like, that's harder to project. But there are worse
or less talented quarterbacks than Anthony Richardson who'll get second chances?
Who who weren't you know, the number four overall pick.
I mean, I do think he has a lot to
(23:06):
live down. Okay, he has some you know, some like
Samans not samanthis, I guess, you know, the the the
how people perceive him, perceptions I guess right, he has
some perceptions that he has to live down, whether it's
you know, the tap out or whether it's you know,
does he or does he not work hard enough?
Speaker 3 (23:27):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Like, I think those questions are out there and he
has to confront them. Some of them are fair, some
of them are not.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Let's just be.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
Honest, right, But but they're out there and he's going
to have to confront them. But uh, he you it
could be something where it doesn't cost you a lot
of money. Let's say, for example, let's say he gets
traded after this season. No idea if that's going to happen,
but you could cut him, you could trade him. Let's
say he gets traded, which is where I predict this
(23:57):
would go. That's just you know, way too early prediction. Right,
You're gonna get him, probably for not much money. I
don't know what the trade compensation would be, but probably.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Not a ton.
Speaker 4 (24:08):
And what is the harm? Right, what is the harm?
You know you saw that with with Daniel Jones to
some degree last year in the middle of the season
when the Vikings brought him in and when when that
season ended this past spring, the Giants didn't make excuse me.
The the Vikings did make a concerted effort to keep him.
They just weren't prepared to pay fourteen million dollars when
(24:31):
they had a viable quarterback in JJ McCarthy. But they
they were serious about retaining him. So I fail that
to say there will be some kind of market for
Anthony Richardson. Whether it ends up being whether the result
ends up being what he really wants, that's harder to say.
But I think he'll be somewhere and someone will give
(24:52):
him a long look and we'll see what happens from there.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Stephen Holder is our guests from ESPN dot com. He
is on the Jaba House Peel and Poor Guest Line, Stephen.
The pass Rush an area that you know, interestingly enough,
the Chargers are fairly susceptible at getting to Justin Herbert.
That's one area where they have not been as strong
as Indianapolis and protecting their quarterback. But and the Colts
(25:15):
have had their moments right, but they've invested so much
in pass Rush. Is it where you think they thought
it would be at this point? And if not, what
can they do to jumpstart it?
Speaker 4 (25:28):
I don't think it's where they hoped it would be
it's okay. That's all I can say about, right, It's
just okay. And frankly, I think the fact that from
week to week my answer kind of changes it tells
you all you need to know. And what I mean
by that is like, I think a couple of weeks ago,
I was like, well, you know what, Watson has really
(25:48):
taken another step here, and if that's the case, they're
going to be pretty good. But then the next week
it kind of feels like Jacobe has all day in
the pocket and you're like, are they even out there?
You know? And Quittye Pay did have a good game,
and that was kind of the first time I really
felt like Quitty impacted them in a consistent way throughout
(26:09):
the game. But that's the problem, right, It's like one
game somebody's somebody has some impact. The rest of the
guys are quiet. I'm not seeing that across the board.
Efforts all come together where everybody's hitting on the same day,
and with what they have, they should get more of
(26:29):
that because they have a lot of veterans. As you said,
they have a lot of capital invested there, both financial
and draft capital. This unit needs to be more impactful
they are, I believe in the top five in the NFL,
and defensive line spending. You've got to get more bang
(26:51):
for your butts period. That is just unequivocal. And they
are going to see tougher quarterbacks as they go on.
So this is going to be I think front and
center for the Colts.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Where do things stand in terms of their defensive backfield?
Because you know, Savarius mooney Ward, really good player, freak
concussion that knocks him out. You've got to consider the
fact that you don't know what the availability is there
and they are still looking at practice, squad plays elsewhere.
That is an area I feel bad, Steven for Chris
(27:24):
Ballard in this regard and the fact that I think
he really did make a concerted effort to strengthen that
defensive backfield, and at no fault of his or anybody else,
is due to freak circumstance. They're just not flat out healthy.
Where do things stand down in terms of who may
be in and what they may need to do to
shore that up?
Speaker 5 (27:41):
All?
Speaker 3 (27:41):
Right? Where do they stand? Well? I mean are you available? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (27:44):
No, seriously, I mean I mean it's bad. You know,
I come with a discount code that's right, This is
perfect right, that's right. You know who has cap money
in October? You got to look for like bargains, right,
So yeah, it's bad. I mean, look, think the thing
about Ward that you've got to remember is this is
his second concussion in a very short span.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
He had.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
He sat out week two, I believe, right, So you
know this is tough man. And I don't know that
we can sit here and pretend he's gonna play on Sunday.
I have no idea, but I think to assume that
he has a likely shot of playing as probably fool's
goal right now. Right, So Kenny Moore than meanwhile, not
(28:32):
really seeing any recent progress there. I get tomorrow's the
next mile post on him. Well, he returned to practice.
But even if he does practice a little this week,
I mean he's been out three weeks. Is he's just
gonna roll out of bed and play? I don't know.
Does he has to ramp up? You know, Jalen Jalen Jones.
They would kill for him right now, But I don't
(28:54):
know he's any Uh, he's closer, but I don't know
that he's on the verge of returning. So they're nowhere
and they're gonna have to buckle down and get what
they can out of these young guys, you know. So
it's the uh, it's some of these undrafted guys in
many cases who you know, people are just learning their names. Hell,
(29:15):
I'm just learning some of their names, you know.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
And I think it is what it is.
Speaker 4 (29:20):
It's it's gonna be tough, and it's gonna put perhaps
more more strain or more pressure on the offense, uh
to get the job done, because on the back end
of the defense, the likelihood of them giving up some
points is pretty high right now. And I don't think
there are any great and easy answers. They're plucking guys
(29:42):
off of waivers right now, and that tells you everything
about what you need to know about where they are.
Speaker 1 (29:47):
Steven, when you are you're sitting at home right You're
sitting there and you're you're reading about Tennessee making a
coaching change, and you're wondering what that means for cam
Ward who came out of the same school as you.
So you've been paying a little attention to the way
he's going to jump start his NFL career, and you're like, man,
this is like Trevor Lawrence all over again. You know,
(30:07):
you got a rookie quarterback with a lot of promise,
and there's upheaval in the coaching situation. So you're reading
about all of that and your editor at ESPN calls
you and he says, Steven Bill here, you're editor. You
say hey, Bill, He says, listen, we got all this
stuff going on, and the Colts are they're five and one,
they the number one seed in the AFC, and we
want to really do something original. We want to do
(30:28):
something really unique, and we want you to write a
column about what it is about the Colts that no
one's talking about. What do you tell Bill? Is your idea?
Speaker 4 (30:38):
H Well, I think it's I don't know if this
makes a great story, but it's definitely important. There's a
confidence right now. And I think Michael Pittman said it
yesterday and maybe I should have picked up on this earlier,
but maybe it just comes from winning. But he said,
(31:00):
this feels like twenty twenty when Philip Rivers came here,
and I think Rivers kind of infused that locker room
with a confidence, because you know, there's a swagger when
you're Philip Rivers, right, and you've been doing it for
you know, fifteen or sixteen seasons, okay, and have the
resume that he had, so he brought that with him
(31:23):
and you know, sort of infused that locker room with
a lot of confidence and raised everybody's level. And right
now they have a little bit of that, he said.
Pittman said, we just expect to win every game. And
it sounds like a cliche line. It's not the first
time I've heard a player say something like that, but
(31:45):
I think this was different, and I think you see
it when you're in the locker room. You feel it
like they they are now expecting to win, like they're
not surprised anymore. You know, we were certainly surprised at
they're five and one. But expectations change when you have
success externally, but they also change internally.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
And this is a team that.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Right now has like an expectation of itself that we win,
that's what we do. And where does that come from?
I think a couple of places. Number One, Shane Stike
and it's weird, like he's not maybe the most you know,
I don't know if he's like the most raw raw
Coast per se, but he's intense and I think his
(32:28):
intensity and his his his expectations of his players. I
think that raises the bar. And then there's there's Daniel Jones. Man,
that's just a part of it. Like when the quarterback
is getting it done. Even though Daniel Jones is quiet
and he doesn't say much, and you know, I don't
know what kind of presence he has per se in
the locker room, but when he's getting it done, players
(32:51):
respond to that. If they respond to nothing else, they
respond to a guy who's playing really well. And there's
a confidence here that it's hard to capture maybe in words,
but when you're a round it, you see it and
you feel it.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
You know, Daniel Jones is interesting to me, Steven, because
Stevenholder ESPN dot Com. I guess we still don't know
a lot about him. You know, he's a quiet guy,
and I'm talking about the fan base, even the media.
You know, he's new here obviously, but he doesn't come
in with that Philip Rivers Bravada.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
Right.
Speaker 1 (33:21):
So if if a quarterback was a was an automobile,
you know, like Lamar Jackson's a Ferrari. I mean he's sleek,
he's fast, he's you know, he he looks the part
Josh Allen would be. You know, I don't know what
Josh Allen would be. Probably like a like a Camaro, right,
a little bit more muscle to it, but yet still
fast when it needs to be. What kind of car
(33:42):
from a personality standpoint, from when you've been around him?
What kind of car is Daniel Jones? And I'm saying
this to illustrate to listeners just what kind of dude
he is?
Speaker 3 (33:54):
This is actually a great question.
Speaker 4 (33:56):
I actually think he's like like alexis SUV, like the
small ones, the crossovers, you know that they can they
can run for like thirty years. Okay, just change the oil.
But they're also nice, right, they're they're not. It's not
it's not you know, it's it's not a supercar. It's
(34:19):
not sexy necessarily, but.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
Nice, reliable.
Speaker 4 (34:25):
Uh, you never have to worry about it.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
It is.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
It blends in, right, it's not what did you say,
Josh Allen is a Camaro? Yeah, maybe not supercharged Camaro
or or you know, Corvette. But also if you drove
it to you know, if you parked it at the
the valet at Saint Elmos, nobody be looking at you
like really right, so you fit in right, it's it's perfect,
(34:53):
it's so, it's it's it's persatle you can you can
drive to the grocery store. You can drive it out.
Speaker 1 (34:59):
When he's When Daniel Jones walks into the locker room,
is he the guy that players stop like Peyton Manning
when you walk in the locker room, like everybody stopped like, okay,
what's the mood?
Speaker 3 (35:09):
You know?
Speaker 1 (35:10):
And Andrew Luck when he'd walk in the locker room
like kind of had a goofiness about him. Of guys
you could tell just they knew he was in charge.
Is Jones that kind of guy?
Speaker 4 (35:22):
Yes, in a in a way that I think maybe
you have to see, like for example, like you mentioned
Luck and you know the whole awe sucks thing that
I think you know, people on the outside perceived it
was true to a degree. He's look he was he
a nerd. Yes, that's true. He would tell you that.
But at the same time, I have seen him two
(35:43):
guys out things were Luck. I've seen him two guys
out and drop an F bomb and tell them where
they need to be. With my own two eyes, I've
seen that, right. I haven't seen that from Daniel Jones.
But I but there there is feedback from players who say,
like he is demanding and there are the expectations are clear.
(36:04):
I think he understands, like what what the expectation is
of a quarterback in terms of how how they should
carry themselves and how they should be demanding of their
of their teammates. Remember, you know he has a relationship
with the Mannings, right, so they understand that and and
they imparted that on him. So I think some of
(36:25):
that comes from that, and some of it just comes
from him just being, you know, Daniel Jones really just
being a someone who has high standards for himself. So
in that regard, I think yes, the answer is yes
to that that he is Definitely he's not maybe in
your face and and and maybe doesn't like heads don't
turn when he walks in the room and all that,
(36:47):
he's not that guy. But when it's time to work,
you know, like you don't half asked with Daniel Jones.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
Stephen, what's new with what you're working on at ESPN
dot com in terms of your coverage of the.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
So I'm writing about this some guy named Jonathan Taylor.
So he's leading the league in rushing, right. But I
think the question for me is, or what I think
what's interesting for me is there were a couple of seasons,
you know, twenty two and twenty three, where you wondered, like,
all right, is he.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Ever gonna be that guy again?
Speaker 4 (37:21):
He was good, but he kept getting hurt and you know,
he had to hold out and all that, and there
was a moment there where I think he was a
little bit forgotten maybe nationally, right. We still appreciated him locally,
but I think nationally people had moved on. Say, Kwon
Barkley's out there running for two thousand yards, Derrick Henry
the second act in Baltimore, right, And what Jonathan Taylor
(37:45):
has shown us last year and already this year is
that I'm not done yet, Like I'm still that guy.
And I think that's pretty remarkable to see good because
it doesn't always happen with running backs. A lot of
times they flashed in the pan for two or three
years and then they're never the same guy. This guy
shows that he is and that's pretty worthwhile.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
Stevenholder ESPN dot Com appreciate the time. As always, We'll
talk to you soon, all right, But I want to
welcome to the program and to Central Indiana. The new
head coach of the Indian Knight, coach Lauren Bertolachi, who
joins me on the JAVA House Peel and poor guest
line and coach. It has been a circuitous route to
(38:27):
land you in Indianapolis. But let me be amongst many
to say welcome to Central Indiana.
Speaker 5 (38:33):
Oh, thank you so much. I'm really excited to be
here and I love it already.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
Now I can tell by the accent you're not from Kentucky,
so you are Australian. But you most recently have coached
in Switzerland. Now I want to begin with this. So
you have coached in Europe. You have had a massively
successful coaching career there. How does one end up coming
from Switzerland now to Indianapolis to coach with the Indian Knight.
Speaker 5 (39:00):
Oh good recruiting from India right now, I'm kidding. Listen.
They it's volleyball so big here and it was just
a matter of time that they were going to be
kind of both. I feel like I'm stepping a great
career choice for me and I've landed in a spot
that very professional and really cares what about volleyball and
the work they're doing.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
Here's a really dumb question for you. Okay, I'm almost
embarrassed to ask, and it's so dumb, but I've made
a living coach with dumb questions. It is volleyball. You know,
you grew up in Australia, you have coached, you know,
you've been around, as I'd mentioned you, you know coached
in Switzerland, You've been part of a national team, and
you are a native of Australia and now you come here.
(39:38):
Does the game change in different areas or is volleyball
pretty much the same and stylistically regardless of where you're playing.
Speaker 5 (39:47):
That's actually a very smart question.
Speaker 7 (39:48):
I would say stylistic changes. Stilistically, it changes a little
bit country to country. The Let's say look at Japanese
versus Brazilian volleyball, soyl of coaching different style of play
America and really have their own style as well, So
there are small styl stylistic differences and the end of
the day, we still run by the same rules, so
(40:10):
there are a lot of similarities as well. But I've
seen a lot of volleyball and I really try to
blend a lot of different styles and find out kind.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
Of what works best.
Speaker 1 (40:17):
Had you spent a lot of time in the US
before coming here for this job, not at.
Speaker 5 (40:22):
All Indian as my first stop in the US.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
Is it really yep? What are your initial impressions.
Speaker 5 (40:29):
I love it here. I live up in Fishes near
our events center, and I think it's really beautiful. I'm
here with my dog and she loves all the trailers
and everything, most importantly sport community here. I walked in
the door and pretty much saw how much everybody cares
about volleyball and sport. And I can see that everyone's
really ready to push women's volleyball through the roof. And
that's pretty much what I'm all about.
Speaker 1 (40:51):
Yeah, And you know you mentioned this when we started
talking there in terms of and I was surprised by it, coach,
and I you know, I apologize for that, in the
fact that I was not dasm for volleyball in this
area and in a particular and I think it's great
and I wanted you to touch on this in the
fact that Lauren Bertolacci is my guest, the head coach
(41:14):
of the Indian Night the example for young girls, because
I think sometimes, you know, the saying is sometimes to
be something you have to see something, and for young
girls in this area to see high level volleyball and
professional volleyball right there as the example as they're just
starting to play and growing the sport which already has
(41:37):
a popularity to it. But are you aware of that
example that you're setting for young people and what it
can mean to this community.
Speaker 5 (41:46):
Oh, one hundred percent. I agree with you. We can't
be what we can't see. I think, like I said,
it's been a long time coming that pro volleyball has
come to America and it's a bit of the tip
of the iceberg. So we show what volleyball is, show
how volleyball can change. People have all eyes on us,
and we are the top of the top us, So
we absolutely must understand our influence and understand how many
(42:08):
young women are going to be watching us every day
and the way we play, the character that we play
with who we are. I think it's very important and
something we certainly won't take lightly at Indian Nighthame, and
we really wanted to find what professional volleyball is going
to look like in Indiana and hopefully that can sort
of drip down into the huge club scene we have
here as well. And yeah, I'm very excited for the
(42:29):
influence that.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
We can have. By the way, how cool was it
to live in Switzerland? I've never been, you know. Now,
let me ask you, actually, coach, let me ask you
this I need you've got to be. I'm going to
allow you to be the judge and jury on a
very important question.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Here.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
Are you ready?
Speaker 5 (42:43):
I am?
Speaker 1 (42:44):
Okay, I'm flying coming up in a month here, I'm
going on a vacation where I have a four hour
layover in the Geneva, Switzerland airport. That's just a layover.
Four hour layover. Okay, So I will get off the
plane and I'll be at the airport. I likely will
not have time to leave the airport. Can I check
(43:05):
the box saying that I've been in Switzerland? Or does
that not count?
Speaker 5 (43:09):
Absolutely does not count?
Speaker 3 (43:11):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Hold on, what if I leave the airport and I
just go and get a piece of Swiss chocolate and
then come back into the airport and go back through security.
Does it then count?
Speaker 5 (43:21):
Yeah? And that's actually all the gator you got to
get down to the Jeneva like grab a croissant and chocolate.
Speaker 1 (43:27):
How far is that from the airport? Will I have time?
This is this This is the stuff I really want
to get to. Will I have time to do that?
Speaker 5 (43:35):
Yeah, You'll be able to have a little quick stop
in the city.
Speaker 1 (43:37):
Yes, all right, and then then it will count, right,
it will count Okay. So honestly, though, how did you
go from Australia to Switzerland and what you know? I
mean that's a world away obviously? How did that change you?
How did that grow you? Not only as a coach,
but maybe as a person as well, to be that
far from home?
Speaker 5 (43:57):
Oh gosh ya. I actually left Australia when I was twenty.
There was no well there is still no professional volleyball
league in Australia, so I want to make my living
from that. It was a necessity to head to Europe,
so I did, and I think it's it set me
on my career path. It's opened all my opportunities. That's
exposed me to many many different cultures and I don't
(44:19):
even think i'd be close to the same person that
I am right now, but it certainly was. It's been
an amazing twenty years that I've spent in Europe and
I think every every journey I've taken it has been
really important and wouldn't trade anything.
Speaker 1 (44:30):
And your dog is Swiss, is that right?
Speaker 5 (44:33):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (44:34):
My dog Swiss yep, barks in several languages. Then right, that's.
Speaker 5 (44:38):
Impressed, very very very very impressive.
Speaker 1 (44:41):
The one thing I know about Australia and this is
the biggest stereotype of all time. But many people that
listen to this show know of my friends that I
met through the Pacers from Melbourne the ass. They've been
here for several games. They brought me vegemite on several occasions.
I pretend, for the sake of you know, not offending them,
that I really like it, but I find it horrifically
(45:01):
too salty and gross. Do you like vegamite?
Speaker 5 (45:05):
Yeah? I mean then if you don't like it, you're
not using it correctly.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
That's what they tell you.
Speaker 5 (45:10):
A little bit of little yeah, a little bit on
the bread and you you're golden. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (45:15):
Well, I have nine pounds of it at home from
their visits, so if you need any you let me know. Also,
now they do bring tim tams, however, are awesome Tim Tams.
I'm down with right.
Speaker 5 (45:26):
I got a dne Comunion copylo.
Speaker 1 (45:29):
And listen, maybe I could get some of the tim
Tams when I step out to go to the lake
in Geneva so that I can check Switzerland off the
box because it's all chocolate, right, I'm curious of this.
Have you seen Ignite the Fire, which is the Heartland
Film Festival film about the inaugural season of the Indian
Ignite and the enthusiasm for them in this community.
Speaker 5 (45:50):
Yep, I've seen it. It was very motivating and really
really impressively done, and they captured the season, so it
made me even more so.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
It's just so, are you excited to watch this on
Thursday Gamebridge Field House, the Modern Spike match between Indiana
and Purdue, Because I do think that you know, here
you have two college programs that are from right here
in central Indiana that are both nationally ranked, and again,
I think coach that that kind of illuminates the enthusiasm
and the skill set for this sport and this area.
(46:21):
I'm assuming you're pretty excited to be able to experience
that coming up Thursday.
Speaker 5 (46:25):
Yeah, I mean, I think we have pretty close to
a top twenty matchup right down the road in India
and in a historic place to watch volleyball for the
first time. I think it absolutely shows the community that's
been here for a really long time, hame, but it's
building and growing and showing with volleyball stands in a match.
Indiana's having a really good start to their season, and
(46:47):
I mean to do it so historically a great team,
so I'm pretty excited to watch it.
Speaker 1 (46:52):
Twenty second ranked Indiana, twelfth ranked Purdue, lastly coached for
you guys, the schedule coming up here, because it's going
to happen quickly now that you're here. I mean you're
going to basically jump into it. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Draft coming up for you guys in a couple of weeks,
then into camp in December, and then everything getting underway
in January. Correct exactly.
Speaker 5 (47:12):
Yeah, we'll actually have an official schedule coming out later
this month, and the draft will happen near the end
of November. Then we'll start our training camp. Draft athletes
will join us sort of as they finish their programs.
I can get a little bit of rest, of course,
because it's a crazy season for them as well. And
then yeah, early January. Really nice to have our first game.
Speaker 1 (47:29):
I'm telling you, it's awesome, folks. You need to come
out and see it. I've mentioned before that Lecator member
Mena is one of my favorite athletes in Central Indiana
because the athleticism is incredible. Coach and certainly look forward
to it. Appreciate the time. Welcome to Indianapolis, all right,
thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (47:45):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (47:46):
Appreciate it again. Joining us on the Java House Peel
and Poor guest line. She is the head coach of
the Indian Night Lauren Bertalachi joining us on the show
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