July 28, 2025 • 46 mins
00:00 - 23:16 - Lance McAlister of 700WLW joins the show from Cincinati, and he and JMV discuss the Reds! They talk about how the team is starting to click, even with Elly De La Cruz not hitting home runs lately. They also dive into the NFL, and how the Colts and Bengals are gearing up for the season.
23:17 - 46:15 - Stephen Holder of ESPN joins the show and gives an update from Colts training camp in Grand Park. They discuss the QB battle, as well as the Colts wide receivers struggling with drops. They also get into what has to happen this season for the Colts brass to get another chance.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Meantime with the Andy Moore Automotive Group potline right now
from seven hundred WLW and all the coverage and the
Queens City that is necessary. Lance McAllister joins us and
Lance I can tell you this as we start, I'm
going to quote the point of Sisters. I'm so excited
and I just can't hide it right now. Do I
(00:20):
have a reason to be excited or is this all
still window dressing until further notice with this Reds team.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
No, You've got reason. And look when you do what
I do. There are moments during this season when they
dropped four under five hundred, where you start looking at
the calendar and thinking, all right, your job is to
talk after the Reds game for two two and a
half hours, wrapping up games with a season heading in
the wrong direction. Yep, this team is. They're playing good baseball.
They I said yesterday, something's I don't want to get
(00:49):
I'm not a hitting coach, but something has clicked with
this team. They are getting much tougher at bats, they're
extending at bats, they're going the other way, they're hitting
behind runners, they're you know, Ellie hasn't homered in incredibly
twenty six games. But he's hitting over three hundred during
that stretch, and there's so many times he's hitting the
ball up the middle now and getting hits, and a
(01:10):
hit a lot of times with him can turn into
a double. What with the steel is just it's a
lot of that, which to me is simply a buy
in of we all don't have to try to hit
home runs. We can all be part of moving the line.
And they've been moving the.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Line watching La Mature as a play, very young, incredibly
stratispherically talented player.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
How's that been for you?
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Is there a comparison you could make from your history
in Cincinnati?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
You know? To me? And he gets he gets tagged
here a lot with he makes too many errors. They
should move in the center, or he strikes out too much.
He's got to start making contact. And I keep telling people,
I say, show me another twenty three year old who
in his third year in the majors has seen his
(01:58):
batting average go up every year, his on base every year,
his slugging every year, his ops his ops plus, his
walk rate is up every year. His strikeout rate is
down every year. It's a complete across the board sweep
of improvement. And he's played at grand total of three
hundred and sixty four major league games. He's just scratching
the surface.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah, I just I don't know if I've been as
excited about a player since Eric Davis, and I've been
that way with Elie the entire time.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
You know. I always go back to a conversation I
had with Eric at Redsfest a couple of years ago,
and I asked him about the pressure, what he would
say to La about the pressure he was facing. I said,
because Eric, you were compared to Willie Mays when you
were coming up. And he said, well, I would tell
La and anybody else there is no comparison because there's
nobody in baseball who can do what Ela can do.
(02:51):
And he meant from a body type standpoint, his height,
his weight, his speed, his arm, his glove, his bad
he says all of that right now. He says, I'm
not saying he's going to reach all that, but there's
nobody you could put side by side and say this
guy does everything that Ellie does right now. And I
just remember everybody just kind of pausing and thinking, we
(03:12):
did Eric Davis just say that about Ellie Day, La
Cruz and we're seeing it developed before our very eyes. Look,
he's got a long way to go. He's not a
finished product. He still goes through his folks. He's still
you know, takes too many times, or it's a tap
tap of the glove on the fielder and he sails
it over the first basement's head. But again, he's twenty
three years old and he's doing this. It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Lace McAllister of the Big One Red's coverage, Bengals coverage,
all you need to know in Cincinnati, including King's Island coverage.
I'm sure he's on the anymore automatic grip potline. So
where's the proof going to be for Nick and company
to pull a trigger on something to help this team
(03:53):
out trade deadline wise?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
It's a great question because I've said it's the credibility
point for this franchise two years ago. I'm a big
believer in the old adage whoever said it first, that
when it comes to baseball and tenant races and contending
in the Wild Card, you don't choose the year you contend.
The baseball guys choose you. And two years ago, this
team came out of nowhere. They had won sixty two
(04:17):
the year before, and they eventually won eighty two. Two
years ago, and going into August they were in first
place under David Bell. They were ten games over five hundred,
and so many people forget this, and all they did
at the deadline on July thirty first was acquire Sam
Mall and Sam was good, but they needed so much
more help. They were playing really well, but it wasn't sustainable.
(04:40):
Their pitching wasn't sustainable. And all they did was maul
and I watched them in August and September just struggle
and basically signed guys off the street to take up
starts for this rotation because their arms got hurt, their
arms went dead, and they just they missed a golden opportunity.
The city fell in love with that team two years
(05:00):
ago because that was Ellie and Matt and steering guys
bursting onto this scene. And they let that season. They
punted it, and there was never any guarantee who's going
to come back around? Well it has. It didn't last year.
They took a step back last season, but it's come
around this year and they're in it and they're a
(05:21):
game out and they get they need help. They're fun,
they're good. They're not good enough.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Give me or us an example of the type of
help that they need right now.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, you could put together a lengthy list, and the list.
When you do that, it makes it seem like they're
worse than they are. Like I could give you a
list and you'd say, well, that sounds like a team
that might win the struggle to win seventy. But they,
in theory, could use They need a bat. This city,
this organization, for two years, has chased the elusive air
quotes the bat of presence in the order behind Eli
(05:54):
Dela Cruz. And that could be a Uenio Suarez coming
back and playing third base. And maybe they moved Marte
to the outfield full time. Maybe that's Stephen Kuan, who's
just a bat who makes contact a lot, who's dropped
into that order and gets on base. You can make
the argument, and I stand by this. They need at
least another bullpen arm. They have four guys on pace
(06:16):
to throw career high in appearances, and I just have
a fear that their tanks are going to go dry,
and the tank is gonna be pinning empty come the
middle of August or the end of August, and they're
starting pitching situation right now. They've got Chase Burns, who
is pitching under an innings limit that is probably somewhere
in the neighborhood of forty maybe forty innings away. They
(06:37):
don't want to shut him down, so that may mean
they back him off and maybe move him into the bullpen.
Hunter Green is going to throw a rehab start tomorrow night.
I don't know. I'm not going to count on him
when he's coming back. I just don't know. So you
could make a case, and I guess it plays the
Nix's advantage of needing an update a greade in three
or four different departments or areas of this team, so
(07:00):
you really can't go wrong. You got to get at
least one of those. Though.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, I'm nick ownership. You think everybody's going to be
motivated to do something they.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I think they have to. I think the organization a player.
It's been very interesting, whether it's Emilio Fagan on the
post game on the TV side. Ten days or so
ago TJ three delivered the weekend, they have been very
vocal publicly saying something along the lines of we want
to force the front office's hand to get us some
help in so many words. Not At the same time,
(07:32):
you could argue, well, that means some of your teammates
may be traded, and you guys all like each other,
why are you publicly campaigning? But I think the bigger
point is they know there's something brewing here, but they're
realistic enough when they wake up and look in the
mirror to think, we got to get some help. And
if we do with this rotation of Abbott and Lodolo
in singer and maybe get Hunter Green back. I don't
(07:54):
want to say teams would be scared to play them
in a short playoff series, but I wouldn't be lining
up to face Andrew Rabbit Nicolodolo and maybe Hunter Green
won two to three in a series.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Let's go ahead and give credit too.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
By the way, you brought up David Bell, and yes,
all of a sudden, now the Blue Jays have the
best record in baseball, So there's some positive influence with
David Bell organizationally speaking, right.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I said all along, this organization's issue wasn't David Bell.
It was they needed more talent. And that's not to
diminish what Terry Francone is doing. I love what Terry
Francone is doing the team obviously loves playing for him.
But I always thought when people centered on the manager,
they were getting lost in the shuffle of the much
bigger picture. That was letting ownership in the front office
off the hook. And I don't like doing that, and
(08:37):
I'm not going to do that. They walk in. They're
trying to walk a very delicate line of threading the
needle because they've assembled a lot of prospects. They tore
this system down. They built it up at the trade
deadline of twenty twenty two and brought out a lot
of prospects, but man, there's a lot of prospects who
never develop into major league talent. And there were a
couple of years ago everybody thought guys like Jeter Downs
(09:00):
and Taylor Trammel, we're going to be key pieces in
the organization. They traded him to the Dodgers and they're
not even well Taylor is but they're not doing anything
in major league Baseball. So you can't keep all your prospects.
All prospects are meant to be kept, some are meant
to be used as trade ships to help you get
something proven for the now.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
He is Lance McAllister with us, and I'm assuming this
is probably going to arouse the Cubs fans and those
five or six Brewers fans out there. I don't know
how the Cardinal fans are going to feel about it
being nine back right now, but they are the Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Who knows what happens?
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Is the central to this point of the season, and
the National League the best division in baseball.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Man, it sure looks like it. I mean the way
they're playing and the way the Braves went on the run.
The Cubs went on the early run, and they've obviously
come back to the pack a little bit. But if
you look at the Cubs at a five ninety winning
percentage and the Brewers tied at a five ninety winning percentage,
those are two in they're illing it at home. Those
are two heavyweights. Now. I still look the Cubs and
(10:00):
I say, man, pitching wise, how and can they And
I look the Brewers offense and I say, I really
love Pat Murphy. I covered Pat Murray. He was a
manager at Notre Day and the coach at Notre Dame
when I was in TV in South Bend that long ago.
And I love him. But you talk about some of
your parts type of team you look at their lineup
and say, that isn't exactly Murderers Row or the Big
(10:21):
Red Machine. How do they do it? They're like Nats.
They just get on base, and they just get on base,
and they run and they catch it and they throw
and you look up and they win games and there's
there's nothing. We're like dazzling from one night to the next.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Eye Lance, the Dodgers would seem to be in the
end of July here a big series against an incredibly
quality team, as we know, what are we thinking?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Well, I mean, the Dodgers have clearly been banged up
all season long, and we know they've still been able
to win sixty one games. We're gonna get Otani on Wednesday,
but he'll only go four. The Reds are at home
and they're playing their best baseball of the year, and
they're they're protecting home field. They haven't been very good
at home in recent years. One of their biggest problems
(11:08):
have been they don't play well at home. They don't
play well in the Vision, and they don't get off
the good starts. Well. Now they start playing well at home.
They're not really playing well in the Division. But outside
of it and in the American League they've been able
to find ways. And the Dodgers, I don't want to
say they're ripe for the picking, but we know the
stretch they've been in over the last couple of weeks.
They're they're in a position where they're more beatable than
(11:29):
they usually are. So you got to take two out
of three at least.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I'd be great to see. I'd be excited.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
See I'm a little bit apprehensive about bringing you on
because I'm afraid I'm going to Jenson and I'm assuming
I'm not the only Red fan out there that feels
the same way about that.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Lads, Well, you talk about a city that will be
on edge. Alexis d As has caught a pitch for
the Dodgers twice in the last week. If Alexis d
Has takes the mound any of the next three nights
in this city, and it could go one of two ways.
He will strike out the side and every call of
my post game will be I told you they could
never have enough on the ass. Or he will come
(12:06):
in and walk the first three guys and this city
will just be in heaven laughing. In the fact he's
no longer doing it for this city and loving it.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Is it a similar fan base in Heaven with the
Bengals At the start of camp, I know the Bengals
get I think the Eagles right in the preseason opener
in a handful of days away. How are things going
with the football team over there?
Speaker 3 (12:27):
So far?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
They're healthy, so that's good. They ended the contract hold
out to squabble with their first rounders, so that's good.
Trey Hendrickson remains on the outside looking in. They're squabbling
over guaranteed money, and that's not good. There's enough fans
around here who decided that Sacks are overrated and they
can win without him. I'm here to tell you the
Bengals super Bowl chances go down this season without Trey Hendrickson.
(12:50):
And I'm going to say what I told you the
last time. The Bengals doing often have to do things
they don't want to do. I want that to be
the case this time. I want them to have to
pay Trey Hendrickson because they really they can't risk another
season in the Joe Burrow window and missed the playoffs.
Role would be the third straight season.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Is hendrick sitting one hundred percent in the right on
this angle, he's taking what the Bengals here.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I understand he got an extension, and I understand there's
still a year left on his extension. But I also
know if you look around the league, whether it's what
or Garrett or Crosby or Hunter or karloftis defensive end
edge rushers are getting extensions left and right in the
market has blown up, and I understand where Trey's coming from.
They seem to be according to the report from Adam Schefter,
(13:31):
they're down to like between six and ten million dollars
of money that is left to either be guaranteed or
not Bengals maybe no Trey wants it, so they're getting
maybe closer. But I have been in the corner of
Trey Hendrickson and I appreciate the value he brought to
this team, and I just I think he's too good
for them to hold firm and fold their arms and say,
(13:54):
let's see you hold out this season. I think that
would be ugly.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
He is last McCallister with I'll ask you this to
a degree, before lou Anerumo was the decordinator, there in
some good times and then at the end some bad times.
He's the first year DC here in Indy, and you
could tell some of the puzzle pieces they put together
in the secondary, whether it's Mooney Ward or cam Binam
(14:18):
came with the effect that Anirumo brings. And I think
you and I have discussed this, and you made the
point I thought you said, the turning point of that
defense from good to bad kind of came with the
Baits situation. So does it make a lot of sense,
for example, what the colts are doing and how much
better they planned to be in the secondary because Ana
(14:39):
Roumo was pulling the trigger coordinator here now.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Yeah, he you know, and I defaulted this and you're right.
They lost Jesse Bates and they never really replaced him
in the secondary. They lost DJ Reader from the interior
of that defensive line, and they never really replaced They've
been chasing those two positions since. I'm going to always
go back to lou Atroumo a couple of years ago
was a hot candidate for a head coaching job. He
got in the head of Patrick Mahomes and it was
(15:04):
like the Mahomes whisperer. He was able to see make
Mahomes see things that weren't there. I do I reject
the notion that Luke forgot how to coach. I believe
the talent drained Lou can be a little bit complicated
in his schemes. We always said he was like the
Mad scientists, and that always doesn't go well with a
younger group of guys. So there's always that give and
(15:25):
take there, and I do think in the end it
was time for a change here. But I am a
big fan of lou.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Ana Roomos, So it is so funny you quoted Mad
scientist Taekwon Lewis was on with me last week and
he said the same damn thing about Ana Roumo. He said,
he's but he said it in a favorable sense, kind
of said it to a point where it can be
a bit overwhelming, especially if you don't have the same.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Level of talent as you once had.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
It can be. But I love the point you just
made with the comment from the player, because Bengal players
here would tell you they were excited to come in
for their first four day of work on Wednesday for
the install of the game plan to see what Lou
had for them, or on Tuesday they were excited because
they knew he was he would be in like the
lab with Bunsen burners and chemicals and mixing and matching,
(16:14):
and they said, we can't wait each week to see
what he's going to give us. In the end, I
think there was such a talent drain. He had to
go above and beyond with some stuff, if that makes sense,
and it just got kind of complicated and not everybody.
There's a lot being said now about guys playing free
and easy, and I understand what they mean, because with Lou,
if you didn't know him and didn't know his schemes,
(16:35):
there was that kind of pause and Okay, now which
way do I go? And that's not good playing defense.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
So it's funny you know this as well as I do.
Is it'd be like the first time where you don't
find a coach or somebody the NFL that hasn't decided
to outthink or believe they can outthink the room at
every turn. So this would not be an anomaly at
all with Lou and Romo does that though kind of
(17:01):
work to a disadvantage sometimes for him.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
It can depending on the age of your defense, the
football IQ of your defense. But I think in any case,
he was going to be coming in with like a
clean board and a clean slate of how he's going
to approach this. And I think Lou's smart enough to
know and learn from experiences of the past. So I
would imagine there were moments where Lou stopped and thought, Okay,
(17:27):
wait a minute, maybe this went a little bit too
far in Sincy. Let me dial it back a little
bit here. Let me give him morsels of this and
not a full helping of this, and then we'll take
it from there and add as we go. I would
think he's smart enough to realize and to kind of
add and subtract as he goes based on this personnel
versus the personnel he had.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Yeah, what you're saying is we may have here in
Indy the two goats of out thinking in the room
and both Chris Ballard and lou Anromo. So it's incredible
there's no more thinking in the room going on or
those two are in it.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I'm a big fan and Lou I always sit here
in Lou I trust.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
So yeah, no, it's He seemed like a very soft
spoken good Now. It was our initial conversation, So what
the hell do I know?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Right? But I didn't want to.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I didn't want to play off of what you had
to say, because there is kind of there's the good
and the bad. Yeah, when it was the best of times,
shout out to sticks. It was the best of times
you talk about. You know, we see Kansas City on
the Colt schedule coming up in week number twelve. He
is kind of the Mahomes defensive whisperer. I didn't know
(18:33):
too much about that. Can you elaborate a little bit please, Well, let's.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Remember the year they went to the Super Bowl. They
won in Kansas City. I've lost track now they won
in Kansas City two or three times in a row.
They beat him in the AFC Championship game to go
to the Super Bowl. Uh, they then lost them went
down to the wire and lost to him on a
late kick in the next year the AFC Championship Game.
But whether it was regular season or postseason, if you
(18:56):
look at Mahomes numbers, there was there was stuff going
on with Lou and guys dropping in spots that did
normally drop where Mahomes even talked about it afterwards like
whoa wait a minute, And it was just kinda that
the chess pieces got moved in different spots for somebody
like Mahomes and they were very good with that.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
So yeah, that's the twenty show. I'm gonna I'm going
a hard target that match up on the twenty third.
That's in the NFL's biggest dump known as Arrowhead Stadium,
which I hate. A great deal coming up on the
twenty third. So Wednesday is Otani Day with the Dodge, Yes, correct, Yeah,
So what's the crowd going to be like on Wednesday?
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I would think they'll exceed thirty. Now, part of that's
going to be maddening because there are, for whatever reason,
always there are a lot of It's not like they're
jumping in their cars and driving from LA, but there's
a maddening number of Dodger fans who come out of
the woodwork around here because of the appeal of Otani
and guys like Freddie Freeman and others. So there will
(19:58):
be big crowds here three straight nights.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Yeah, yeah, man, Lance, do you ever find yourself missing
the old school nl West.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Like I do?
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Oh? You know it's funny you say that because every
night I have a segment on the Xtra Innings postgame
show and it's sponsoring and it's called Tracking the Machine
and it's an honor the fiftieth anniversary the Big Red Machine.
And I look at the box score from fifty years
ago each night and look at the matt and I
just give some notes from the box score, and so
many things just pop. Those those rivalries that people now think, wait,
(20:28):
Reds and Astros are in the same division, the Reds
and the Brave, the Reds and the Dodgers and the
Padres and Giants, And it was just, oh man, you'd
get a Friday night in this city in the seventies
with the Dodgers in the town. There'd be fifty five
thousand on Friday night, fifty five on Saturday, and fifty
five on Sundays.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Yeah, and then somebody hit a ground ball at Fulton
County Stadium and skip off an infield rock and hit
Andres Thomas in the face.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I miss those days.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I'd show up now, this is what I remember. I'd
show up as like a nine to ten year old
on a Sunday and I look at the score and
it was Sperky's Sunday lineup. He'd have Bill Plumber catching, yes,
like Mike Lum in the outfield and Junior Kennedy at second.
I said, wait a minute, I'm here to see Morgan
begs Rose.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
You give me Mike lumb I've got nine thousand of
his cards. I don't need to watch him food. And
he looks like, yeah, that old Mike Lum tops card.
I think from maybe seventy seven or seventy eight. I
think that's what it was.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
But he's swinging the bat and it's his back swing,
and he looks like he's never decided to swing a
boat in his entire life.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
That takes sure. It is incredible. Hey, yeah, quit.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Quite two other quick points jump out every night, how
few strikeouts there are. The other night the Reds had
a game where they had fifty plate appearances and they
had one strikeout. And then it also amazes me as
much as Sperky was Captain hook, he does relievers like
two and three innings at a time. There was an
elevenating game the other night. His starter went seventy had
run reliever go three in the other go to in
(22:00):
a twelve minning game. I think, oh my god, the
times have changed.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
No, Sparky Anderson is going to go down in history
as one of the greatest of all time just for
being on WKRP in Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
By the way, the fantastic, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Hey, final quick thing, seventy five, seventy six or ninety
your favorite all time Reds team?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
It's probably seventy five because that was the first As
a kid, I was nine, so that was my first
championship and it just I remember begging my parents to
stay up late for Game seven or Game six as
it went so late into the night and saying, I
can't possibly go to bed right now, and it was just,
you know, a classic world series. It would be that team.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
When's the last time he rode the Beast at King's Island?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Well, you know, I've got a pacemaker, so I'm not
technically I'm not allowed to ride. That's my huge and
I'm picking by it. I'm not supposed to ride roller coasters.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Off the roller coast and then we want you around
who alright, Well, hey, hopefully this interview, this conversation didn't
jinx it. But it has been fun, especially lately watching
this team. Always a pleasure speaking with you. We'll do
it again before I started the football season too, I promise.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Sounds like you're playing. Can't wait.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Thanks and the Andy Moore Automotive group potline. As we
do right now, we share time talking colts with Steven
Holder of ESPN at ESPN dot com.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Well, I can't wait to see you on Thursday. It's
been too damn long.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
It has been because you know, I've been out of
been out of the pocket. It's been summertime. But it
is summer no longer, at least summer break no longer.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Yes, yes, and you got some things to actually be
talking about right now, So I do.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Want to start.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
I know everybody wants to start with a quarterback and
what we will, but has maybe the theme so far,
because that's what I see the most from you and
and your colleagues that are discussing what's going on practice
after practice, there's it seems like that there is a
large amount of drops going on up there right now.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Is that kind of just what you.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Normally get at the start of camp or has this
been somewhat of an inordinate amount to this point early
in camp?
Speaker 4 (24:16):
It has bothersome for me at least, I do think
that drops are to be somewhat expected when you start
training camp because you know, guys have been away, they
lose their rhythm a little bit. You know, you're not
as on the screws. That's okay, don't I don't have
a huge problem accepting occasional drops early in training camp.
(24:37):
That's fine. This is not occasional. This has been regular
in fact, and so Michael Pittman, for example, had one
today on a I guess a crosser from Anthony Richardson
where the ball was on the money. He just didn't
see it into his hands and turned to run and
the balls on the ground. And that's happening way too much.
(24:59):
There was now other than that, I thought today the
balls that weren't caught, I would say they were they
were well defended, they were contested throws. So not as
many today. But I think there have been not that
I think. I'm telling you there have been days over
the past week where there were multiple drops, you know,
in one day. And that's before they even gotten pads,
(25:23):
so you're not going to get hit catch the ball man.
It's it's disheartening and it has affected the quarterbacks. Look,
they have had their own struggles, but but they haven't
been helped in the large part by the by the
wide receivers. And that's it's it's a concern I'd say.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
How does that muddy the water in this competition?
Speaker 4 (25:46):
I mean, I think you can separate the drops from
the quarterbacks throws and decisions and that kind of thing,
But it definitely it muddies the water when you start
looking at, like, for example, preseason numbers. You know, when
we start talking about who has been better than the
other guy, one of the things you got to consider
is who's completed the ball and who hasn't. And so
(26:08):
if you're if this continues into the preseason games, it
can skew the numbers. I do think that's a possibility.
I mean, frankly, it's skewed Anthony Richardson's numbers a bit
last year. And that is not to say he completed
nearly enough passes. Okay, let me be clear, but the
Colts were on the high side when it came to drops,
(26:28):
you know, particularly their tight ends, and I think that
can hurt a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
And here's how.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
Here's the other way it hurts you. It's not just
about your numbers or just how the guy looks. It's
not about that. In fact, in fact, that's that's not
the most important thing. Where it hurts you is being
able to sustain drives and how the quarterbacks really get
in a rhythm. You get in a rhythm by being
able to get first downs and keep the change moving,
(26:54):
and you stay on the field. When you have drops,
they are drive killers. Now quarterbacks on the sideline. Whatever
rhythm you had hoped to maybe sustain is now gone.
So that's where I think it's notable that drops can
really I think impact the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
He is Steven Holder of ESPN and ESPN dot Com
on the Andy Moore Automotive Group potline. All right, Dan,
we know where ad Mitchell may rank right now. Is
he having a level of camp that is man roster wise?
Is that troublesome warriorsome there at all?
Speaker 3 (27:32):
I'm just I'm kind.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Of curious because how much time will you invest if
this continues to happen at this level.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
I'm assuming he's going nowhere this year.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
I'm not suggesting that, but it seems like the clock
may be ticking on him just a little bit, especially
after last year.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Is that true?
Speaker 4 (27:50):
Well, I would say in disrespect, I think when it
comes to how much opportunity he's going to get, I
think he has to earn it now. I thought last
year when when we got to the end of the
season and he had repeatedly failed to execute, I thought
his time was up in terms of like, stop going
to this guy, you know what I mean. I don't
mean he's getting cut, yeah yeah, right, sure, yeah, yeah, yeah,
(28:13):
for sure. It's more about opportunity and whether they're going
to put you in position to have to make plays.
And repeatedly I thought of the lack of execution, I
thought was appalling. Okay, And I'm not killing him because
he would not be the first rookie that I could
say that about. Okay, I can say that about a
lot of rookies that I've seen over my twenty five
years and twenty years of NFL coverage at least. And
(28:37):
that's fine, that's to be expected. But I want to
see progress. It's not always a straight line, that's okay,
but over the course of you know, days, weeks, and months,
you want there to be an upward trend. And I
think what I've seen this training camp suggests the opposite
with Ady Mitchell, and that's the concern he has been.
(28:58):
I think suspect number one with the drops number one, Okay, unequivocally,
and that's where I have an issue is like you
got to here a problem. Last year, if you're Ady Mitchell,
the problem was finishing plays. Well, he's not finishing them
now either. In fact, he's had a lot of outright drops.
(29:19):
I have to think it's it's frustrated the quarterbacks to
a degree. He's got to be better. And if you're him,
I mean, if you have the coaches, I should say,
think about it. You have Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, Alec Pearce.
There's enough talent there that you don't really have to
play Ady Mitchell. Okay, you don't have to, not extensively.
(29:40):
At least last year they chose to play him. They
chose to put him on the field in position to
give him opportunities to make plays. I think you have
to give him less rope this year. So we'll see
what happens.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
So Stephen Holder, who joins us, so was today by
far Richardson's best practice. And I would have to ask
you where would if that's true it compared to some
of the good practices you've seen him of the past.
And I do want to add that we all understand
nothing matters until it really matters. We're just going on
(30:16):
the level of practice today and what you saw in
your description of it was it his best.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
I think that's a fair statement. And look, when we
talk about practice, we have what we have, right and
what we have is what they've done in practice. That's
all we got to go by right now. I think
it matters because when you have two guys that you
are trying to contrast and compare, you have to look
(30:46):
at everything. I mean, the Colts told us everything matters,
so let's act accordingly, right They said, every snap matters,
every throw matters, every practice matters. Okay, so we're going
to act accordingly, is what I would say now. I
think we should all keep it in perspective. That's true.
And I will never be the guy to nick too
(31:07):
big a deal about practice, believe me. But it's all
we got right now. And I do think he's been
fine today. I thought he was really sharp. And what
I like is I think overall he's just been okay.
There's nothing special. But I think today and then maybe
I think one or two other days, I'd say, in particular,
(31:27):
I saw him really be sharp. The question is can
he do it consistently? I don't know that, but it
is a window and a preview of what he can
be if he can just if he can just do
this and a with a little more consistency. Here's what
I like. I've seen Anthony Richardson be better in the
short and intermediate game. I mean, that's the whole ball
(31:49):
of watch with this guy. I don't have any concerns
about him throwing the ball fifty yards down the field,
but I also can tell you they're not going to
do that six seven, eight times a day a game, right,
I mean, those are few and far between. You've got
to be consistent on the short stuff, and you got
to be consistent in getting the ball out to that
first read if it's open. And I have seen him,
(32:11):
I think, be much better and much more decisive in
doing that. And I'll tell you why. I think it's
notable because, as he pointed out the other day, that's
where his focus was in this off season work. The
focus was on, let's work on the short stuff and
the rhythmic passing. You know, look, he could throw the
(32:33):
ball on a rope thirty yards down the field in
between two defenders. Amazingly, He's really good at that. But
those are not going to be the majority of your throws,
so that he's been more decided.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
What are some of the larger differences you've seen in
less than.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
A week, but it's been better.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Yeah, I'm sorry you kind of cut out there for
a moment. Stephen hild Is with us, would have been
some of the larger differences you have seen in both
quarterbacks through these early days of practice.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
I'd say the big thing is, I mean Richardson hasn't
been He hasn't been really aggressive, which I thought was
gonna set the apart, you know, because Daniel Jones is
not really looking to stretch the field. I think he
gets a little bit defensive about that when you ask him,
because he does do it. We ask him about like, hey,
(33:26):
that was a pretty aggressive throw there. Will tell us
what you saw, and he kind of like downplays it.
And I think it's because he's heard that before. You
know that he's not aggressive, that he doesn't stretch the field.
But he's done it a time or two. I think, Anthony,
I think the last couple of practices has done it
more and I think the big play potential for me
(33:48):
sets them apart. Look, I mean there's a long way
to go, and I will look like in a week
or two. But but we know that that if they're
if they're equal in other ways, and I think they've
been largely equal to some degree, if they're equal in
other ways, then I think the big play potential has
(34:09):
to set them apart. I know, I thought what would
set them apart going in If you would have asked
me before camp, I would have said I expected Richard
excuse me, Daniel Jones uh to basically complete more passes
and to be more predictable in terms of being a
higher percentage passer. I thought that's what would set them apart.
(34:30):
But that hasn't been the case. And I think that
is it's to the detriment of Daniel Jones because as
I see this, Okay, no one, no one's asking me
for my opinion. But but if you want to, if
you want to think about it in this in this way,
I think this is a smart way to think about this.
You have Chris Ballard and Carl Ursay Gordon both this
(34:54):
excuse me last week saying on the record they think
that Anthony Richardson still has time and that he can
still be that guy and that we should be patient. Right,
that was the message. Okay, So if that is the message,
then you are telling me you are going to govern
yourself with that attitude. So what that tells me is
that Daniel Jones has to beat him out, like he
(35:15):
has to take the job. But if you're, if you're
pulling the drug out from under him, then why are
you telling us to be patient? Right? So, Anthony rich
was the quarterback last year, the incumbent in my estimation,
the way they've couched this, Daniel Jones is a challenger.
He's got to go take it from him. He has
not done that through a week of training camp, for
whatever that's worth. So that's how I'm thinking about it.
(35:37):
I could be wrong, but I think that's the only
way to interpret it.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
And I go all the way back Stephen to when
this whole quarterback competition started, and if you remember you
and I were talking about it, I thought, yeah, whatever, I.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Mean, really, what they're saying is what they.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
Have to say, what they need to say until we
see action, the reality of it in games, because that's
that's the way that it has to go. So I
always thought when everybody, for well, you know, Daniel Jones
in week one is going to be the starter and
all this, you know, without injury. I didn't think that
was going to be the case whatsoever. I don't think
(36:16):
this quarterback competition so far in less than a week
has been a bad thing. I just think all along
we kind of know where this is going, because this
is the one last shot to see what you have.
Any guy that so far hasn't been close to living
up to any expectations.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
Yeah, I do think. Look, there are there are probably
a fair number of fans that have moved past Anthony Richardson,
and that's okay. I mean, he completed forty seven percent
of his path is last year. I mean, like, I'm
not going to defend that, Okay. I would say though, ultimately,
if you're the Colts, let's say they went with Daniel Jones,
(36:59):
and let's say this thing is close and there's no
real discernible difference. If you go with Daniel Jones and
he's Daniel Jones, right, the Daniel Jones we've come to know,
and Anthony Richardson sitting on the sideline, I mean, how
do you square that? Right?
Speaker 3 (37:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (37:16):
I mean it seems like it's over. It'd be over
in the court of public. It may be over now,
but it certainly would then yes, right.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
Because then you're saying he's not better than this guy.
We don't think he can outplay this guy who's not
very good, you know, so, and think look about look
at Daniel Jones. What we have is we have five
years of history to call upon. With Anthony, we have
seventeen starts. So look, I'm not telling you the guys
(37:45):
going to the Hall of Fame. I'm not even telling
you the starting quarterback. All I'm saying is there is
still more to learn. I would say, though, if you
if you start Anthony Richardson, let's say they let's say
my theory is right, right that they say, let's go
with Anthony. See how it goes. Look, it doesn't really
hurt you to put him out there and he either
(38:07):
does one or two things. He sinks or swims, or
he gets hurt again, and then the decision gets made
for you. You don't have to stick with him. You're
just giving him another opportunity. So I see, I would
see it that way. I think if Anthony Richardson starts,
you're giving him that basically the final opportunity. If you
said be patient, well that's how you demonstrate your patients
(38:29):
is by giving him one more shot, and if he
can't do it, you pull him, you put Daniel Jones
in and you go on with your life. Or if
he gets hurt, Daniel Jones, you're the starter. Anthony Richardson
will talk to you later, right, I mean that's where
you're at. So I think that's the way you play it.
I think that's the way they will play it. But wait, wait,
one last thing. Yeah, provided provided Anthony doesn't crash and burn.
(38:52):
As long as it's close. I'm saying, but.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
What do you think has to happen?
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Do you have something kind of cobbled together in your
mind your opinion that has to happen with his team
for them to maintain as they have the past couple
of years, with the exception obviously of the defensive coordinating position.
What what do they have to do? What clip do
they need to win to maintain for another year?
Speaker 4 (39:17):
You mean for the regime to.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
For for Shane, for you know, all the above.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Yeah, I mean I think it has to be playoffs.
And look, I would say with Shane, it's interesting, Like Shane,
I don't know for a fact, Like I'm not going
to stake my reputation on saying Shane is a good
head coach because I don't I don't know if we
really know that, but I would say this in his defense.
(39:46):
He has basically had a five hundred team for two years,
effectively for two years, and has done it without consistent
quarterback play. So that that reflects well on you as
a head coach or whatever it is, that you know
that your role is there. That reflects well on Shame's tiken.
But the problem here is that it's not about the
(40:08):
last two years. It's really about the last eight to
ten to twelve years, you know. I mean, they haven't
won the division since twenty fourteen. You know. I told
the guys on ESPN Radio about that yesterday morning, and
you know we know that. But every time I say
that on a national media outlet, people say, no, that's
(40:29):
got to be wrong. You got to be kidneyed. They
can't believe it, And then they think about it and
they're like, wait, you're right. So what I'm getting at is, frankly,
I think it's playoffs or bust, And frankly, you need
to win the division to make to leave no doubt. Frankly,
But you know, look it all depends on how it
plays out too. You know, if let's say Houston goes
(40:50):
on a tier this year, well I think people can
live with that, right, But if Houston is what they
were last year and you're still lollygagging and you're not
winning the division or challenging for the division, then what
are we talking about?
Speaker 2 (41:02):
Right?
Speaker 4 (41:03):
So I do think there you're talking about all cards,
I mean, all bets being off at that point, and
then we'll just have to see what the sisters decided.
He is, but I think the goal minimum has got
to be playoffs.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Yes, Steven Older of ESPN at ESPN dot com, he's
on the Andy Moore Automotive Group potline. So I've seen
a lot of the positivity coming out of the secondary
so far, the playmaking ability, the glue likability, certainly of Mooney.
And how much of that is a product of the
new direction first year defensive coordinator here, lou Anarumo.
Speaker 4 (41:42):
Well, it's that and it's personnel. It's very simple, I
would say. I've heard I've heard coaches, multiple coaches over
the years say that you get what you emphasize, meaning
what you focus on in practice will lead to result. Well,
I'm gonna twist it a little bit. I think here
(42:03):
from a personnel perspective, what you focus on will lead
to results. I mean, look, they focused on the secondary.
They went out there, they got Cam by them, they
got moone Ward, and then they made a really important
draft pick and Justin Wally And wouldn't you know all
three of those guys are making plays. Imagine that, all right?
(42:24):
Justin Wally, by the way, you know, I get that nationally,
he's not a guy that people are talking about. But
this guy's gonna play, man, This guy is going to play.
He came down against Tyler Warren today and had a
pass breakup. Look, he's a lot smaller than Tyler Warren. Okay,
he went over his back and got his hand in
there and got a pass breakup. And Tyler Warren catches everything, buddy, Okay,
(42:48):
he did not catch this ball. And I just think
that's the aggressive mindset, that it's a combination of the
personnel and the scheme. This scheme is going to allow
them to mix it up, to be physical and to
be in guy's faces. Look, Cam Biden had I believe
ten pass deflections last season. I think that led the NFL.
(43:08):
This guy has a nose for the football. He hasn't
taken it away as much. But my point is his
skill set suggest he's a guy who has a nose
for the ball. And I told you about Wally Mooney.
Ward is all over Michael Pittman, and Pittman had had
a better day today, but I'm just saying it's been
tough for him and that's what you want to see.
(43:29):
I love the secondary, and I think the secondary is
going to be if this defense gets on track, this
secondary will be the difference. Go back to last year. Okay,
they're pulling guys off of waivers in Week one trying
to get to opening day. That is a disastrous way
(43:49):
to build a unit, to build a defense. And I
know it was because of injuries, but that's because he
didn't have depth. So lou Ana Roumo was going was
not going to play any such games with Chris Baalers
clearly and told him I need some guys, and he
got his guys.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
Yeah, it's a way that it sounds. It sounds like that.
Speaker 1 (44:10):
It's you know, Ana Roumo, They're they're they're they're stacking
with talent in a fashion in which has been beneficial to.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
An Arumo in the past, right when he was Cincinnati.
Speaker 4 (44:22):
Yes, And and Frankly, I think I think he fletxsed
his muscle a little bit. You know, Look, he came
in here, and you know, I have to assume he
had other options maybe or at least was talking to
some other teams. And I think it's if you're him,
if you look at the film before you took before
he took this job, if he took a quick look
at the film, it wouldn't take long for him to say,
(44:46):
all right, there's some talent there, but I can't play
with that secondary. I mean, what do you think his
first impression was right that that was just not good enough?
And I think he had I believe he was on
it because lou Ana Rumo has the standing to do that,
and he very clearly did. The guys that they acquired
(45:07):
our guys to do what he loves, so they gave
him the players that he wanted, that he needed. Frankly,
and that is something Chris Ballard has never really done
consistently in the secondary. So I don't think he did
it without any provocation to doing it. I think he
was motivated to do it because number One, the results
weren't good and number two because this defensive coordinator he
(45:31):
hired required it. So there's a little bit I mean,
you know, theorizing there. Let me be clear, but I'm
with you. That's what it looks like. And when you
hear Anna Rumo talk about those guys that came in here,
he talks about them as if he had a lot
to do with that. That's what I take from it.
Speaker 2 (45:50):
Yees.
Speaker 1 (45:50):
Steven Older vespn adespn dot com.
Speaker 3 (45:53):
He is on the Andy Moore Automotive Group podline.
Speaker 1 (45:55):
I will see you up there on Thursday and we
will continue discussions and see what's going on later in
the week.
Speaker 3 (46:02):
Thank you, buddy.
Speaker 4 (46:03):
All Right, man, you can see for yourself. I'll see that.
Speaker 1 (46:05):
I'm gonna be right there. I'm gonna be in there.
I'm gonna bring the cooler temperatures with me too from
what I witness. So yes, all right, I see, I know,
see see you there, man,
Meantime with the Andy Moore Automotive Group potline right now
from seven hundred WLW and all the coverage and the
Queens City that is necessary. Lance McAllister joins us and
Lance I can tell you this as we start, I'm
going to quote the point of Sisters. I'm so excited
and I just can't hide it right now. Do I
(00:20):
have a reason to be excited or is this all
still window dressing until further notice with this Reds team.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
No, You've got reason. And look when you do what
I do. There are moments during this season when they
dropped four under five hundred, where you start looking at
the calendar and thinking, all right, your job is to
talk after the Reds game for two two and a
half hours, wrapping up games with a season heading in
the wrong direction. Yep, this team is. They're playing good baseball.
They I said yesterday, something's I don't want to get
(00:49):
I'm not a hitting coach, but something has clicked with
this team. They are getting much tougher at bats, they're
extending at bats, they're going the other way, they're hitting
behind runners, they're you know, Ellie hasn't homered in incredibly
twenty six games. But he's hitting over three hundred during
that stretch, and there's so many times he's hitting the
ball up the middle now and getting hits, and a
(01:10):
hit a lot of times with him can turn into
a double. What with the steel is just it's a
lot of that, which to me is simply a buy
in of we all don't have to try to hit
home runs. We can all be part of moving the line.
And they've been moving the.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Line watching La Mature as a play, very young, incredibly
stratispherically talented player.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
How's that been for you?
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Is there a comparison you could make from your history
in Cincinnati?
Speaker 2 (01:37):
You know? To me? And he gets he gets tagged
here a lot with he makes too many errors. They
should move in the center, or he strikes out too much.
He's got to start making contact. And I keep telling people,
I say, show me another twenty three year old who
in his third year in the majors has seen his
(01:58):
batting average go up every year, his on base every year,
his slugging every year, his ops his ops plus, his
walk rate is up every year. His strikeout rate is
down every year. It's a complete across the board sweep
of improvement. And he's played at grand total of three
hundred and sixty four major league games. He's just scratching
the surface.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah, I just I don't know if I've been as
excited about a player since Eric Davis, and I've been
that way with Elie the entire time.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
You know. I always go back to a conversation I
had with Eric at Redsfest a couple of years ago,
and I asked him about the pressure, what he would
say to La about the pressure he was facing. I said,
because Eric, you were compared to Willie Mays when you
were coming up. And he said, well, I would tell
La and anybody else there is no comparison because there's
nobody in baseball who can do what Ela can do.
(02:51):
And he meant from a body type standpoint, his height,
his weight, his speed, his arm, his glove, his bad
he says all of that right now. He says, I'm
not saying he's going to reach all that, but there's
nobody you could put side by side and say this
guy does everything that Ellie does right now. And I
just remember everybody just kind of pausing and thinking, we
(03:12):
did Eric Davis just say that about Ellie Day, La
Cruz and we're seeing it developed before our very eyes. Look,
he's got a long way to go. He's not a
finished product. He still goes through his folks. He's still
you know, takes too many times, or it's a tap
tap of the glove on the fielder and he sails
it over the first basement's head. But again, he's twenty
three years old and he's doing this. It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Lace McAllister of the Big One Red's coverage, Bengals coverage,
all you need to know in Cincinnati, including King's Island coverage.
I'm sure he's on the anymore automatic grip potline. So
where's the proof going to be for Nick and company
to pull a trigger on something to help this team
(03:53):
out trade deadline wise?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
It's a great question because I've said it's the credibility
point for this franchise two years ago. I'm a big
believer in the old adage whoever said it first, that
when it comes to baseball and tenant races and contending
in the Wild Card, you don't choose the year you contend.
The baseball guys choose you. And two years ago, this
team came out of nowhere. They had won sixty two
(04:17):
the year before, and they eventually won eighty two. Two
years ago, and going into August they were in first
place under David Bell. They were ten games over five hundred,
and so many people forget this, and all they did
at the deadline on July thirty first was acquire Sam
Mall and Sam was good, but they needed so much
more help. They were playing really well, but it wasn't sustainable.
(04:40):
Their pitching wasn't sustainable. And all they did was maul
and I watched them in August and September just struggle
and basically signed guys off the street to take up
starts for this rotation because their arms got hurt, their
arms went dead, and they just they missed a golden opportunity.
The city fell in love with that team two years
(05:00):
ago because that was Ellie and Matt and steering guys
bursting onto this scene. And they let that season. They
punted it, and there was never any guarantee who's going
to come back around? Well it has. It didn't last year.
They took a step back last season, but it's come
around this year and they're in it and they're a
(05:21):
game out and they get they need help. They're fun,
they're good. They're not good enough.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Give me or us an example of the type of
help that they need right now.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, you could put together a lengthy list, and the list.
When you do that, it makes it seem like they're
worse than they are. Like I could give you a
list and you'd say, well, that sounds like a team
that might win the struggle to win seventy. But they,
in theory, could use They need a bat. This city,
this organization, for two years, has chased the elusive air
quotes the bat of presence in the order behind Eli
(05:54):
Dela Cruz. And that could be a Uenio Suarez coming
back and playing third base. And maybe they moved Marte
to the outfield full time. Maybe that's Stephen Kuan, who's
just a bat who makes contact a lot, who's dropped
into that order and gets on base. You can make
the argument, and I stand by this. They need at
least another bullpen arm. They have four guys on pace
(06:16):
to throw career high in appearances, and I just have
a fear that their tanks are going to go dry,
and the tank is gonna be pinning empty come the
middle of August or the end of August, and they're
starting pitching situation right now. They've got Chase Burns, who
is pitching under an innings limit that is probably somewhere
in the neighborhood of forty maybe forty innings away. They
(06:37):
don't want to shut him down, so that may mean
they back him off and maybe move him into the bullpen.
Hunter Green is going to throw a rehab start tomorrow night.
I don't know. I'm not going to count on him
when he's coming back. I just don't know. So you
could make a case, and I guess it plays the
Nix's advantage of needing an update a greade in three
or four different departments or areas of this team, so
(07:00):
you really can't go wrong. You got to get at
least one of those. Though.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah, I'm nick ownership. You think everybody's going to be
motivated to do something they.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I think they have to. I think the organization a player.
It's been very interesting, whether it's Emilio Fagan on the
post game on the TV side. Ten days or so
ago TJ three delivered the weekend, they have been very
vocal publicly saying something along the lines of we want
to force the front office's hand to get us some
help in so many words. Not At the same time,
(07:32):
you could argue, well, that means some of your teammates
may be traded, and you guys all like each other,
why are you publicly campaigning? But I think the bigger
point is they know there's something brewing here, but they're
realistic enough when they wake up and look in the
mirror to think, we got to get some help. And
if we do with this rotation of Abbott and Lodolo
in singer and maybe get Hunter Green back. I don't
(07:54):
want to say teams would be scared to play them
in a short playoff series, but I wouldn't be lining
up to face Andrew Rabbit Nicolodolo and maybe Hunter Green
won two to three in a series.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Let's go ahead and give credit too.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
By the way, you brought up David Bell, and yes,
all of a sudden, now the Blue Jays have the
best record in baseball, So there's some positive influence with
David Bell organizationally speaking, right.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
I said all along, this organization's issue wasn't David Bell.
It was they needed more talent. And that's not to
diminish what Terry Francone is doing. I love what Terry
Francone is doing the team obviously loves playing for him.
But I always thought when people centered on the manager,
they were getting lost in the shuffle of the much
bigger picture. That was letting ownership in the front office
off the hook. And I don't like doing that, and
(08:37):
I'm not going to do that. They walk in. They're
trying to walk a very delicate line of threading the
needle because they've assembled a lot of prospects. They tore
this system down. They built it up at the trade
deadline of twenty twenty two and brought out a lot
of prospects, but man, there's a lot of prospects who
never develop into major league talent. And there were a
couple of years ago everybody thought guys like Jeter Downs
(09:00):
and Taylor Trammel, we're going to be key pieces in
the organization. They traded him to the Dodgers and they're
not even well Taylor is but they're not doing anything
in major league Baseball. So you can't keep all your prospects.
All prospects are meant to be kept, some are meant
to be used as trade ships to help you get
something proven for the now.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
He is Lance McAllister with us, and I'm assuming this
is probably going to arouse the Cubs fans and those
five or six Brewers fans out there. I don't know
how the Cardinal fans are going to feel about it
being nine back right now, but they are the Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Who knows what happens?
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Is the central to this point of the season, and
the National League the best division in baseball.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Man, it sure looks like it. I mean the way
they're playing and the way the Braves went on the run.
The Cubs went on the early run, and they've obviously
come back to the pack a little bit. But if
you look at the Cubs at a five ninety winning
percentage and the Brewers tied at a five ninety winning percentage,
those are two in they're illing it at home. Those
are two heavyweights. Now. I still look the Cubs and
(10:00):
I say, man, pitching wise, how and can they And
I look the Brewers offense and I say, I really
love Pat Murphy. I covered Pat Murray. He was a
manager at Notre Day and the coach at Notre Dame
when I was in TV in South Bend that long ago.
And I love him. But you talk about some of
your parts type of team you look at their lineup
and say, that isn't exactly Murderers Row or the Big
(10:21):
Red Machine. How do they do it? They're like Nats.
They just get on base, and they just get on base,
and they run and they catch it and they throw
and you look up and they win games and there's
there's nothing. We're like dazzling from one night to the next.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
Eye Lance, the Dodgers would seem to be in the
end of July here a big series against an incredibly
quality team, as we know, what are we thinking?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Well, I mean, the Dodgers have clearly been banged up
all season long, and we know they've still been able
to win sixty one games. We're gonna get Otani on Wednesday,
but he'll only go four. The Reds are at home
and they're playing their best baseball of the year, and
they're they're protecting home field. They haven't been very good
at home in recent years. One of their biggest problems
(11:08):
have been they don't play well at home. They don't
play well in the Vision, and they don't get off
the good starts. Well. Now they start playing well at home.
They're not really playing well in the Division. But outside
of it and in the American League they've been able
to find ways. And the Dodgers, I don't want to
say they're ripe for the picking, but we know the
stretch they've been in over the last couple of weeks.
They're they're in a position where they're more beatable than
(11:29):
they usually are. So you got to take two out
of three at least.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
I'd be great to see. I'd be excited.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
See I'm a little bit apprehensive about bringing you on
because I'm afraid I'm going to Jenson and I'm assuming
I'm not the only Red fan out there that feels
the same way about that.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Lads, Well, you talk about a city that will be
on edge. Alexis d As has caught a pitch for
the Dodgers twice in the last week. If Alexis d
Has takes the mound any of the next three nights
in this city, and it could go one of two ways.
He will strike out the side and every call of
my post game will be I told you they could
never have enough on the ass. Or he will come
(12:06):
in and walk the first three guys and this city
will just be in heaven laughing. In the fact he's
no longer doing it for this city and loving it.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
Is it a similar fan base in Heaven with the
Bengals At the start of camp, I know the Bengals
get I think the Eagles right in the preseason opener
in a handful of days away. How are things going
with the football team over there?
Speaker 3 (12:27):
So far?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
They're healthy, so that's good. They ended the contract hold
out to squabble with their first rounders, so that's good.
Trey Hendrickson remains on the outside looking in. They're squabbling
over guaranteed money, and that's not good. There's enough fans
around here who decided that Sacks are overrated and they
can win without him. I'm here to tell you the
Bengals super Bowl chances go down this season without Trey Hendrickson.
(12:50):
And I'm going to say what I told you the
last time. The Bengals doing often have to do things
they don't want to do. I want that to be
the case this time. I want them to have to
pay Trey Hendrickson because they really they can't risk another
season in the Joe Burrow window and missed the playoffs.
Role would be the third straight season.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Is hendrick sitting one hundred percent in the right on
this angle, he's taking what the Bengals here.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
I understand he got an extension, and I understand there's
still a year left on his extension. But I also
know if you look around the league, whether it's what
or Garrett or Crosby or Hunter or karloftis defensive end
edge rushers are getting extensions left and right in the
market has blown up, and I understand where Trey's coming from.
They seem to be according to the report from Adam Schefter,
(13:31):
they're down to like between six and ten million dollars
of money that is left to either be guaranteed or
not Bengals maybe no Trey wants it, so they're getting
maybe closer. But I have been in the corner of
Trey Hendrickson and I appreciate the value he brought to
this team, and I just I think he's too good
for them to hold firm and fold their arms and say,
(13:54):
let's see you hold out this season. I think that
would be ugly.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
He is last McCallister with I'll ask you this to
a degree, before lou Anerumo was the decordinator, there in
some good times and then at the end some bad times.
He's the first year DC here in Indy, and you
could tell some of the puzzle pieces they put together
in the secondary, whether it's Mooney Ward or cam Binam
(14:18):
came with the effect that Anirumo brings. And I think
you and I have discussed this, and you made the
point I thought you said, the turning point of that
defense from good to bad kind of came with the
Baits situation. So does it make a lot of sense,
for example, what the colts are doing and how much
better they planned to be in the secondary because Ana
(14:39):
Roumo was pulling the trigger coordinator here now.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Yeah, he you know, and I defaulted this and you're right.
They lost Jesse Bates and they never really replaced him
in the secondary. They lost DJ Reader from the interior
of that defensive line, and they never really replaced They've
been chasing those two positions since. I'm going to always
go back to lou Atroumo a couple of years ago
was a hot candidate for a head coaching job. He
got in the head of Patrick Mahomes and it was
(15:04):
like the Mahomes whisperer. He was able to see make
Mahomes see things that weren't there. I do I reject
the notion that Luke forgot how to coach. I believe
the talent drained Lou can be a little bit complicated
in his schemes. We always said he was like the
Mad scientists, and that always doesn't go well with a
younger group of guys. So there's always that give and
(15:25):
take there, and I do think in the end it
was time for a change here. But I am a
big fan of lou.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Ana Roomos, So it is so funny you quoted Mad
scientist Taekwon Lewis was on with me last week and
he said the same damn thing about Ana Roumo. He said,
he's but he said it in a favorable sense, kind
of said it to a point where it can be
a bit overwhelming, especially if you don't have the same.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Level of talent as you once had.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
It can be. But I love the point you just
made with the comment from the player, because Bengal players
here would tell you they were excited to come in
for their first four day of work on Wednesday for
the install of the game plan to see what Lou
had for them, or on Tuesday they were excited because
they knew he was he would be in like the
lab with Bunsen burners and chemicals and mixing and matching,
(16:14):
and they said, we can't wait each week to see
what he's going to give us. In the end, I
think there was such a talent drain. He had to
go above and beyond with some stuff, if that makes sense,
and it just got kind of complicated and not everybody.
There's a lot being said now about guys playing free
and easy, and I understand what they mean, because with Lou,
if you didn't know him and didn't know his schemes,
(16:35):
there was that kind of pause and Okay, now which
way do I go? And that's not good playing defense.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
So it's funny you know this as well as I do.
Is it'd be like the first time where you don't
find a coach or somebody the NFL that hasn't decided
to outthink or believe they can outthink the room at
every turn. So this would not be an anomaly at
all with Lou and Romo does that though kind of
(17:01):
work to a disadvantage sometimes for him.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
It can depending on the age of your defense, the
football IQ of your defense. But I think in any case,
he was going to be coming in with like a
clean board and a clean slate of how he's going
to approach this. And I think Lou's smart enough to
know and learn from experiences of the past. So I
would imagine there were moments where Lou stopped and thought, Okay,
(17:27):
wait a minute, maybe this went a little bit too
far in Sincy. Let me dial it back a little
bit here. Let me give him morsels of this and
not a full helping of this, and then we'll take
it from there and add as we go. I would
think he's smart enough to realize and to kind of
add and subtract as he goes based on this personnel
versus the personnel he had.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Yeah, what you're saying is we may have here in
Indy the two goats of out thinking in the room
and both Chris Ballard and lou Anromo. So it's incredible
there's no more thinking in the room going on or
those two are in it.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
I'm a big fan and Lou I always sit here
in Lou I trust.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
So yeah, no, it's He seemed like a very soft
spoken good Now. It was our initial conversation, So what
the hell do I know?
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Right? But I didn't want to.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
I didn't want to play off of what you had
to say, because there is kind of there's the good
and the bad. Yeah, when it was the best of times,
shout out to sticks. It was the best of times
you talk about. You know, we see Kansas City on
the Colt schedule coming up in week number twelve. He
is kind of the Mahomes defensive whisperer. I didn't know
(18:33):
too much about that. Can you elaborate a little bit please, Well, let's.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Remember the year they went to the Super Bowl. They
won in Kansas City. I've lost track now they won
in Kansas City two or three times in a row.
They beat him in the AFC Championship game to go
to the Super Bowl. Uh, they then lost them went
down to the wire and lost to him on a
late kick in the next year the AFC Championship Game.
But whether it was regular season or postseason, if you
(18:56):
look at Mahomes numbers, there was there was stuff going
on with Lou and guys dropping in spots that did
normally drop where Mahomes even talked about it afterwards like
whoa wait a minute, And it was just kinda that
the chess pieces got moved in different spots for somebody
like Mahomes and they were very good with that.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
So yeah, that's the twenty show. I'm gonna I'm going
a hard target that match up on the twenty third.
That's in the NFL's biggest dump known as Arrowhead Stadium,
which I hate. A great deal coming up on the
twenty third. So Wednesday is Otani Day with the Dodge, Yes, correct, Yeah,
So what's the crowd going to be like on Wednesday?
Speaker 2 (19:37):
I would think they'll exceed thirty. Now, part of that's
going to be maddening because there are, for whatever reason,
always there are a lot of It's not like they're
jumping in their cars and driving from LA, but there's
a maddening number of Dodger fans who come out of
the woodwork around here because of the appeal of Otani
and guys like Freddie Freeman and others. So there will
(19:58):
be big crowds here three straight nights.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Yeah, yeah, man, Lance, do you ever find yourself missing
the old school nl West.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Like I do?
Speaker 2 (20:07):
Oh? You know it's funny you say that because every
night I have a segment on the Xtra Innings postgame
show and it's sponsoring and it's called Tracking the Machine
and it's an honor the fiftieth anniversary the Big Red Machine.
And I look at the box score from fifty years
ago each night and look at the matt and I
just give some notes from the box score, and so
many things just pop. Those those rivalries that people now think, wait,
(20:28):
Reds and Astros are in the same division, the Reds
and the Brave, the Reds and the Dodgers and the
Padres and Giants, And it was just, oh man, you'd
get a Friday night in this city in the seventies
with the Dodgers in the town. There'd be fifty five
thousand on Friday night, fifty five on Saturday, and fifty
five on Sundays.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
Yeah, and then somebody hit a ground ball at Fulton
County Stadium and skip off an infield rock and hit
Andres Thomas in the face.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I miss those days.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I'd show up now, this is what I remember. I'd
show up as like a nine to ten year old
on a Sunday and I look at the score and
it was Sperky's Sunday lineup. He'd have Bill Plumber catching, yes,
like Mike Lum in the outfield and Junior Kennedy at second.
I said, wait a minute, I'm here to see Morgan
begs Rose.
Speaker 3 (21:12):
You give me Mike lumb I've got nine thousand of
his cards. I don't need to watch him food. And
he looks like, yeah, that old Mike Lum tops card.
I think from maybe seventy seven or seventy eight. I
think that's what it was.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
But he's swinging the bat and it's his back swing,
and he looks like he's never decided to swing a
boat in his entire life.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
That takes sure. It is incredible. Hey, yeah, quit.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Quite two other quick points jump out every night, how
few strikeouts there are. The other night the Reds had
a game where they had fifty plate appearances and they
had one strikeout. And then it also amazes me as
much as Sperky was Captain hook, he does relievers like
two and three innings at a time. There was an
elevenating game the other night. His starter went seventy had
run reliever go three in the other go to in
(22:00):
a twelve minning game. I think, oh my god, the
times have changed.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
No, Sparky Anderson is going to go down in history
as one of the greatest of all time just for
being on WKRP in Cincinnati.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
By the way, the fantastic, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Hey, final quick thing, seventy five, seventy six or ninety
your favorite all time Reds team?
Speaker 2 (22:21):
It's probably seventy five because that was the first As
a kid, I was nine, so that was my first
championship and it just I remember begging my parents to
stay up late for Game seven or Game six as
it went so late into the night and saying, I
can't possibly go to bed right now, and it was just,
you know, a classic world series. It would be that team.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
When's the last time he rode the Beast at King's Island?
Speaker 2 (22:43):
Well, you know, I've got a pacemaker, so I'm not
technically I'm not allowed to ride. That's my huge and
I'm picking by it. I'm not supposed to ride roller coasters.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Off the roller coast and then we want you around
who alright, Well, hey, hopefully this interview, this conversation didn't
jinx it. But it has been fun, especially lately watching
this team. Always a pleasure speaking with you. We'll do
it again before I started the football season too, I promise.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Sounds like you're playing. Can't wait.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Thanks and the Andy Moore Automotive group potline. As we
do right now, we share time talking colts with Steven
Holder of ESPN at ESPN dot com.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Well, I can't wait to see you on Thursday. It's
been too damn long.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
It has been because you know, I've been out of
been out of the pocket. It's been summertime. But it
is summer no longer, at least summer break no longer.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Yes, yes, and you got some things to actually be
talking about right now, So I do.
Speaker 3 (23:43):
Want to start.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
I know everybody wants to start with a quarterback and
what we will, but has maybe the theme so far,
because that's what I see the most from you and
and your colleagues that are discussing what's going on practice
after practice, there's it seems like that there is a
large amount of drops going on up there right now.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Is that kind of just what you.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Normally get at the start of camp or has this
been somewhat of an inordinate amount to this point early
in camp?
Speaker 4 (24:16):
It has bothersome for me at least, I do think
that drops are to be somewhat expected when you start
training camp because you know, guys have been away, they
lose their rhythm a little bit. You know, you're not
as on the screws. That's okay, don't I don't have
a huge problem accepting occasional drops early in training camp.
(24:37):
That's fine. This is not occasional. This has been regular
in fact, and so Michael Pittman, for example, had one
today on a I guess a crosser from Anthony Richardson
where the ball was on the money. He just didn't
see it into his hands and turned to run and
the balls on the ground. And that's happening way too much.
(24:59):
There was now other than that, I thought today the
balls that weren't caught, I would say they were they
were well defended, they were contested throws. So not as
many today. But I think there have been not that
I think. I'm telling you there have been days over
the past week where there were multiple drops, you know,
in one day. And that's before they even gotten pads,
(25:23):
so you're not going to get hit catch the ball man.
It's it's disheartening and it has affected the quarterbacks. Look,
they have had their own struggles, but but they haven't
been helped in the large part by the by the
wide receivers. And that's it's it's a concern I'd say.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
How does that muddy the water in this competition?
Speaker 4 (25:46):
I mean, I think you can separate the drops from
the quarterbacks throws and decisions and that kind of thing,
But it definitely it muddies the water when you start
looking at, like, for example, preseason numbers. You know, when
we start talking about who has been better than the
other guy, one of the things you got to consider
is who's completed the ball and who hasn't. And so
(26:08):
if you're if this continues into the preseason games, it
can skew the numbers. I do think that's a possibility.
I mean, frankly, it's skewed Anthony Richardson's numbers a bit
last year. And that is not to say he completed
nearly enough passes. Okay, let me be clear, but the
Colts were on the high side when it came to drops,
(26:28):
you know, particularly their tight ends, and I think that
can hurt a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
And here's how.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
Here's the other way it hurts you. It's not just
about your numbers or just how the guy looks. It's
not about that. In fact, in fact, that's that's not
the most important thing. Where it hurts you is being
able to sustain drives and how the quarterbacks really get
in a rhythm. You get in a rhythm by being
able to get first downs and keep the change moving,
(26:54):
and you stay on the field. When you have drops,
they are drive killers. Now quarterbacks on the sideline. Whatever
rhythm you had hoped to maybe sustain is now gone.
So that's where I think it's notable that drops can
really I think impact the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
He is Steven Holder of ESPN and ESPN dot Com
on the Andy Moore Automotive Group potline. All right, Dan,
we know where ad Mitchell may rank right now. Is
he having a level of camp that is man roster wise?
Is that troublesome warriorsome there at all?
Speaker 3 (27:32):
I'm just I'm kind.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Of curious because how much time will you invest if
this continues to happen at this level.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
I'm assuming he's going nowhere this year.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
I'm not suggesting that, but it seems like the clock
may be ticking on him just a little bit, especially
after last year.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Is that true?
Speaker 4 (27:50):
Well, I would say in disrespect, I think when it
comes to how much opportunity he's going to get, I
think he has to earn it now. I thought last
year when when we got to the end of the
season and he had repeatedly failed to execute, I thought
his time was up in terms of like, stop going
to this guy, you know what I mean. I don't
mean he's getting cut, yeah yeah, right, sure, yeah, yeah, yeah,
(28:13):
for sure. It's more about opportunity and whether they're going
to put you in position to have to make plays.
And repeatedly I thought of the lack of execution, I
thought was appalling. Okay, And I'm not killing him because
he would not be the first rookie that I could
say that about. Okay, I can say that about a
lot of rookies that I've seen over my twenty five
years and twenty years of NFL coverage at least. And
(28:37):
that's fine, that's to be expected. But I want to
see progress. It's not always a straight line, that's okay,
but over the course of you know, days, weeks, and months,
you want there to be an upward trend. And I
think what I've seen this training camp suggests the opposite
with Ady Mitchell, and that's the concern he has been.
(28:58):
I think suspect number one with the drops number one, Okay, unequivocally,
and that's where I have an issue is like you
got to here a problem. Last year, if you're Ady Mitchell,
the problem was finishing plays. Well, he's not finishing them
now either. In fact, he's had a lot of outright drops.
(29:19):
I have to think it's it's frustrated the quarterbacks to
a degree. He's got to be better. And if you're him,
I mean, if you have the coaches, I should say,
think about it. You have Michael Pittman, Josh Downs, Alec Pearce.
There's enough talent there that you don't really have to
play Ady Mitchell. Okay, you don't have to, not extensively.
(29:40):
At least last year they chose to play him. They
chose to put him on the field in position to
give him opportunities to make plays. I think you have
to give him less rope this year. So we'll see
what happens.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
So Stephen Holder, who joins us, so was today by
far Richardson's best practice. And I would have to ask
you where would if that's true it compared to some
of the good practices you've seen him of the past.
And I do want to add that we all understand
nothing matters until it really matters. We're just going on
(30:16):
the level of practice today and what you saw in
your description of it was it his best.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
I think that's a fair statement. And look, when we
talk about practice, we have what we have, right and
what we have is what they've done in practice. That's
all we got to go by right now. I think
it matters because when you have two guys that you
are trying to contrast and compare, you have to look
(30:46):
at everything. I mean, the Colts told us everything matters,
so let's act accordingly, right They said, every snap matters,
every throw matters, every practice matters. Okay, so we're going
to act accordingly, is what I would say now. I
think we should all keep it in perspective. That's true.
And I will never be the guy to nick too
(31:07):
big a deal about practice, believe me. But it's all
we got right now. And I do think he's been
fine today. I thought he was really sharp. And what
I like is I think overall he's just been okay.
There's nothing special. But I think today and then maybe
I think one or two other days, I'd say, in particular,
(31:27):
I saw him really be sharp. The question is can
he do it consistently? I don't know that, but it
is a window and a preview of what he can
be if he can just if he can just do
this and a with a little more consistency. Here's what
I like. I've seen Anthony Richardson be better in the
short and intermediate game. I mean, that's the whole ball
(31:49):
of watch with this guy. I don't have any concerns
about him throwing the ball fifty yards down the field,
but I also can tell you they're not going to
do that six seven, eight times a day a game, right,
I mean, those are few and far between. You've got
to be consistent on the short stuff, and you got
to be consistent in getting the ball out to that
first read if it's open. And I have seen him,
(32:11):
I think, be much better and much more decisive in
doing that. And I'll tell you why. I think it's
notable because, as he pointed out the other day, that's
where his focus was in this off season work. The
focus was on, let's work on the short stuff and
the rhythmic passing. You know, look, he could throw the
(32:33):
ball on a rope thirty yards down the field in
between two defenders. Amazingly, He's really good at that. But
those are not going to be the majority of your throws,
so that he's been more decided.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
What are some of the larger differences you've seen in
less than.
Speaker 4 (32:50):
A week, but it's been better.
Speaker 1 (32:52):
Yeah, I'm sorry you kind of cut out there for
a moment. Stephen hild Is with us, would have been
some of the larger differences you have seen in both
quarterbacks through these early days of practice.
Speaker 4 (33:04):
I'd say the big thing is, I mean Richardson hasn't
been He hasn't been really aggressive, which I thought was
gonna set the apart, you know, because Daniel Jones is
not really looking to stretch the field. I think he
gets a little bit defensive about that when you ask him,
because he does do it. We ask him about like, hey,
(33:26):
that was a pretty aggressive throw there. Will tell us
what you saw, and he kind of like downplays it.
And I think it's because he's heard that before. You
know that he's not aggressive, that he doesn't stretch the field.
But he's done it a time or two. I think, Anthony,
I think the last couple of practices has done it
more and I think the big play potential for me
(33:48):
sets them apart. Look, I mean there's a long way
to go, and I will look like in a week
or two. But but we know that that if they're
if they're equal in other ways, and I think they've
been largely equal to some degree, if they're equal in
other ways, then I think the big play potential has
(34:09):
to set them apart. I know, I thought what would
set them apart going in If you would have asked
me before camp, I would have said I expected Richard
excuse me, Daniel Jones uh to basically complete more passes
and to be more predictable in terms of being a
higher percentage passer. I thought that's what would set them apart.
(34:30):
But that hasn't been the case. And I think that
is it's to the detriment of Daniel Jones because as
I see this, Okay, no one, no one's asking me
for my opinion. But but if you want to, if
you want to think about it in this in this way,
I think this is a smart way to think about this.
You have Chris Ballard and Carl Ursay Gordon both this
(34:54):
excuse me last week saying on the record they think
that Anthony Richardson still has time and that he can
still be that guy and that we should be patient. Right,
that was the message. Okay, So if that is the message,
then you are telling me you are going to govern
yourself with that attitude. So what that tells me is
that Daniel Jones has to beat him out, like he
(35:15):
has to take the job. But if you're, if you're
pulling the drug out from under him, then why are
you telling us to be patient? Right? So, Anthony rich
was the quarterback last year, the incumbent in my estimation,
the way they've couched this, Daniel Jones is a challenger.
He's got to go take it from him. He has
not done that through a week of training camp, for
whatever that's worth. So that's how I'm thinking about it.
(35:37):
I could be wrong, but I think that's the only
way to interpret it.
Speaker 1 (35:40):
And I go all the way back Stephen to when
this whole quarterback competition started, and if you remember you
and I were talking about it, I thought, yeah, whatever, I.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
Mean, really, what they're saying is what they.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
Have to say, what they need to say until we
see action, the reality of it in games, because that's
that's the way that it has to go. So I
always thought when everybody, for well, you know, Daniel Jones
in week one is going to be the starter and
all this, you know, without injury. I didn't think that
was going to be the case whatsoever. I don't think
(36:16):
this quarterback competition so far in less than a week
has been a bad thing. I just think all along
we kind of know where this is going, because this
is the one last shot to see what you have.
Any guy that so far hasn't been close to living
up to any expectations.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
Yeah, I do think. Look, there are there are probably
a fair number of fans that have moved past Anthony Richardson,
and that's okay. I mean, he completed forty seven percent
of his path is last year. I mean, like, I'm
not going to defend that, Okay. I would say though, ultimately,
if you're the Colts, let's say they went with Daniel Jones,
(36:59):
and let's say this thing is close and there's no
real discernible difference. If you go with Daniel Jones and
he's Daniel Jones, right, the Daniel Jones we've come to know,
and Anthony Richardson sitting on the sideline, I mean, how
do you square that? Right?
Speaker 3 (37:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (37:16):
I mean it seems like it's over. It'd be over
in the court of public. It may be over now,
but it certainly would then yes, right.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
Because then you're saying he's not better than this guy.
We don't think he can outplay this guy who's not
very good, you know, so, and think look about look
at Daniel Jones. What we have is we have five
years of history to call upon. With Anthony, we have
seventeen starts. So look, I'm not telling you the guys
(37:45):
going to the Hall of Fame. I'm not even telling
you the starting quarterback. All I'm saying is there is
still more to learn. I would say, though, if you
if you start Anthony Richardson, let's say they let's say
my theory is right, right that they say, let's go
with Anthony. See how it goes. Look, it doesn't really
hurt you to put him out there and he either
(38:07):
does one or two things. He sinks or swims, or
he gets hurt again, and then the decision gets made
for you. You don't have to stick with him. You're
just giving him another opportunity. So I see, I would
see it that way. I think if Anthony Richardson starts,
you're giving him that basically the final opportunity. If you
said be patient, well that's how you demonstrate your patients
(38:29):
is by giving him one more shot, and if he
can't do it, you pull him, you put Daniel Jones
in and you go on with your life. Or if
he gets hurt, Daniel Jones, you're the starter. Anthony Richardson
will talk to you later, right, I mean that's where
you're at. So I think that's the way you play it.
I think that's the way they will play it. But wait, wait,
one last thing. Yeah, provided provided Anthony doesn't crash and burn.
(38:52):
As long as it's close. I'm saying, but.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
What do you think has to happen?
Speaker 1 (38:56):
Do you have something kind of cobbled together in your
mind your opinion that has to happen with his team
for them to maintain as they have the past couple
of years, with the exception obviously of the defensive coordinating position.
What what do they have to do? What clip do
they need to win to maintain for another year?
Speaker 4 (39:17):
You mean for the regime to.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
For for Shane, for you know, all the above.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Yeah, I mean I think it has to be playoffs.
And look, I would say with Shane, it's interesting, Like Shane,
I don't know for a fact, Like I'm not going
to stake my reputation on saying Shane is a good
head coach because I don't I don't know if we
really know that, but I would say this in his defense.
(39:46):
He has basically had a five hundred team for two years,
effectively for two years, and has done it without consistent
quarterback play. So that that reflects well on you as
a head coach or whatever it is, that you know
that your role is there. That reflects well on Shame's tiken.
But the problem here is that it's not about the
(40:08):
last two years. It's really about the last eight to
ten to twelve years, you know. I mean, they haven't
won the division since twenty fourteen. You know. I told
the guys on ESPN Radio about that yesterday morning, and
you know we know that. But every time I say
that on a national media outlet, people say, no, that's
(40:29):
got to be wrong. You got to be kidneyed. They
can't believe it, And then they think about it and
they're like, wait, you're right. So what I'm getting at is, frankly,
I think it's playoffs or bust, And frankly, you need
to win the division to make to leave no doubt. Frankly,
But you know, look it all depends on how it
plays out too. You know, if let's say Houston goes
(40:50):
on a tier this year, well I think people can
live with that, right, But if Houston is what they
were last year and you're still lollygagging and you're not
winning the division or challenging for the division, then what
are we talking about?
Speaker 2 (41:02):
Right?
Speaker 4 (41:03):
So I do think there you're talking about all cards,
I mean, all bets being off at that point, and
then we'll just have to see what the sisters decided.
He is, but I think the goal minimum has got
to be playoffs.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Yes, Steven Older of ESPN at ESPN dot com, he's
on the Andy Moore Automotive Group potline. So I've seen
a lot of the positivity coming out of the secondary
so far, the playmaking ability, the glue likability, certainly of Mooney.
And how much of that is a product of the
new direction first year defensive coordinator here, lou Anarumo.
Speaker 4 (41:42):
Well, it's that and it's personnel. It's very simple, I
would say. I've heard I've heard coaches, multiple coaches over
the years say that you get what you emphasize, meaning
what you focus on in practice will lead to result. Well,
I'm gonna twist it a little bit. I think here
(42:03):
from a personnel perspective, what you focus on will lead
to results. I mean, look, they focused on the secondary.
They went out there, they got Cam by them, they
got moone Ward, and then they made a really important
draft pick and Justin Wally And wouldn't you know all
three of those guys are making plays. Imagine that, all right?
(42:24):
Justin Wally, by the way, you know, I get that nationally,
he's not a guy that people are talking about. But
this guy's gonna play, man, This guy is going to play.
He came down against Tyler Warren today and had a
pass breakup. Look, he's a lot smaller than Tyler Warren. Okay,
he went over his back and got his hand in
there and got a pass breakup. And Tyler Warren catches everything, buddy, Okay,
(42:48):
he did not catch this ball. And I just think
that's the aggressive mindset, that it's a combination of the
personnel and the scheme. This scheme is going to allow
them to mix it up, to be physical and to
be in guy's faces. Look, Cam Biden had I believe
ten pass deflections last season. I think that led the NFL.
(43:08):
This guy has a nose for the football. He hasn't
taken it away as much. But my point is his
skill set suggest he's a guy who has a nose
for the ball. And I told you about Wally Mooney.
Ward is all over Michael Pittman, and Pittman had had
a better day today, but I'm just saying it's been
tough for him and that's what you want to see.
(43:29):
I love the secondary, and I think the secondary is
going to be if this defense gets on track, this
secondary will be the difference. Go back to last year. Okay,
they're pulling guys off of waivers in Week one trying
to get to opening day. That is a disastrous way
(43:49):
to build a unit, to build a defense. And I
know it was because of injuries, but that's because he
didn't have depth. So lou Ana Roumo was going was
not going to play any such games with Chris Baalers
clearly and told him I need some guys, and he
got his guys.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
Yeah, it's a way that it sounds. It sounds like that.
Speaker 1 (44:10):
It's you know, Ana Roumo, They're they're they're they're stacking
with talent in a fashion in which has been beneficial to.
Speaker 3 (44:17):
An Arumo in the past, right when he was Cincinnati.
Speaker 4 (44:22):
Yes, And and Frankly, I think I think he fletxsed
his muscle a little bit. You know, Look, he came
in here, and you know, I have to assume he
had other options maybe or at least was talking to
some other teams. And I think it's if you're him,
if you look at the film before you took before
he took this job, if he took a quick look
at the film, it wouldn't take long for him to say,
(44:46):
all right, there's some talent there, but I can't play
with that secondary. I mean, what do you think his
first impression was right that that was just not good enough?
And I think he had I believe he was on
it because lou Ana Rumo has the standing to do that,
and he very clearly did. The guys that they acquired
(45:07):
our guys to do what he loves, so they gave
him the players that he wanted, that he needed. Frankly,
and that is something Chris Ballard has never really done
consistently in the secondary. So I don't think he did
it without any provocation to doing it. I think he
was motivated to do it because number One, the results
weren't good and number two because this defensive coordinator he
(45:31):
hired required it. So there's a little bit I mean,
you know, theorizing there. Let me be clear, but I'm
with you. That's what it looks like. And when you
hear Anna Rumo talk about those guys that came in here,
he talks about them as if he had a lot
to do with that. That's what I take from it.
Speaker 2 (45:50):
Yees.
Speaker 1 (45:50):
Steven Older vespn adespn dot com.
Speaker 3 (45:53):
He is on the Andy Moore Automotive Group podline.
Speaker 1 (45:55):
I will see you up there on Thursday and we
will continue discussions and see what's going on later in
the week.
Speaker 3 (46:02):
Thank you, buddy.
Speaker 4 (46:03):
All Right, man, you can see for yourself. I'll see that.
Speaker 1 (46:05):
I'm gonna be right there. I'm gonna be in there.
I'm gonna bring the cooler temperatures with me too from
what I witness. So yes, all right, I see, I know,
see see you there, man,
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