Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Filling in for Benjamin Albright as he's covering the NFL
Combine out in Indianapolis. We'll catch up with Ben oh
here in about a half hour. So thanks to the
Hall of Famer Steve Atwater for joining us in the
previous hour. If you miss any of that, you can
find it on the free and totally redesigned iHeartRadio app
where you can set it as a preset in your
car now or sorry, just like you do in your
(00:22):
car on the free and awesome iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
From one Hall of Famer to another, We're.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Going to head out to the Kawa Common Spirit Health Hotline.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I'm joined be joined by Clark Kellogg.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
He's an analyst for college basketball for CBS and just
receive the twenty twenty five Kurt Goudi Media Award from
the Nay Smith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Kurk Clark.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
How you doing tonight, Hey, I am.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Good, Grant, thank you. I'm doing great, looking forward to
the next several weeks of the madness of March, and
I'm great to have a chance to jump on with
you tonight.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Man, it's a pleasure to chat with you.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I am originally from Ohio, and I was actually at
Ohio University at the same time as a couple of
your boys, and that was a great time for Ohio
men's basketball at that time.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
Yeah, there was back in twenty twelve. Grand It's so
hard to believe that that's thirteen years ago when the
Vocats made a magical run to the Sweet sixteen. Our
youngest son, Nick was starting on that team, and just
a great memory for our entire family and forever. That's
(01:30):
in our family's history and in the history of Mark Maddiness.
I mean, a team that was a thirteen seed, able
to get to the Sweet sixteen and actually pushed a
North Carolina team overtime and just that close to being
part of the elite. But the great memory and part
of what we all love Mark Maddness, I mean, the
stories that emerged, the surprises, the excitement, the unpredictability of
(01:57):
it all is part of what makes it really special.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yeah, and I still remember going out on Court Street
that night with about twenty other twenty thousand other Bobcats and.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Has in the time of our lives.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
That was one of my favorite memories from ou as well.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Well, I bet yeah, that's part of it. It reels
everybody in especially if you often happen to be into
thet ME, a graduate of the university or connected to
it in some way, when when your team makes a
realm during that time, it really galvanizes and uplifts everybody
because it's such a feel good and memorable experience, especially
(02:34):
teams from the non power conferences. When they make a
run to the second weekend, that's almost like getting to
a Final four in some ways. So yeah, I can
certainly understand why that would kind of stand out for
you and the rest of the Bob guys. We felt
that the Green and White were all over the place
during that time, and we still bump in the folks
(02:55):
on occasion that we call that fun run again teen
years ago already, which is hard to believe, Clug.
Speaker 6 (03:03):
When when you look at the Houston Cougar, as they
say right now, as the number four team in the country,
and you know we're right on the precipice of March
madness when you want them, what stands out about this
team and what makes you think that this team, the
Sampson's coach team, that they can make a deep run
and possibly win a hold.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Darnthe oh that's really capable.
Speaker 7 (03:23):
Man.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
I think a couple of things stand up whenever you
watch a Houston team, particularly says to Alvin Sampson and
his staff and family have been there overseeing the program,
leading the program. It's the culture, it's the way they play.
You know, their identity is foundation on defense and toughness
(03:45):
and rebounding, and they consistently have guys that are fully
voughting in to playing that way to join the way
Calvin Sampson coaches, teachers and demands that have been done.
And then recently the play guard and even going back
to Alvin time time at Oklahoma, he has really good
(04:05):
point guards and minos hugh z and has been terrific.
It took him a while as a transfer to get activated,
but I think he's been outstanding over the last six
to eight weeks in leading that team and giving them
exactly what they need at the point guard's flout. So
(04:26):
those are things that really step out stand out to me.
And then you know the development of the players. Typically
they don't have a lot of guys to transfer in
and out. They are foundation on them developing the players
they get, getting the right players from the start and
then develop them developing those guys over over time, so
(04:47):
clearly because they defended such a high level. They've got
sound makers, and they've got a really solid point guard.
And I think Joan Roberts has been one of the
most improved.
Speaker 8 (04:58):
Interior players in the country week from last year to
this year as there is, so they've got all the
ingredients necessary to be playing into that first week in April.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yeah, and we're all too familiar with them out here.
We're the home of the Colorado Buffalo's who had a
great run in the March Madness last year, but Houston
clearly running away with the big poll this year, and
a lot of people's much too early final four predictions,
I have my own. Actually, I'd love to get your
thoughts on my final four.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
As of now, I've got.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Duke Tennessee, Michigan State, and Iowa State, even though Iowa
State came off a tough loss over the weekend and
we saw Michigan State earlier tonight squeak out a win
over Maryland.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
What are your thoughts on my final four?
Speaker 5 (05:43):
I like it because it's not heavy number one seede.
I mean, I just think there are so many really
good teams in the country, and a lot of teams
in the middle of the bracket when it comes out
on the sixteen are runner week apa bole, you know,
beating the number one seed. I mean you think about
(06:04):
the teams that will be at the top. I think
Auburn has been the most consistent and best team all year.
Duke could certainly come on and played at a high level.
They get it, they get it done at both ends.
You mentioned Tennessee, Alabama probably in that mix for a
potential number one seed, and maybe Houston if they're able
(06:25):
to run the table the rest of the way and
win the Big twelve. So we've got five or six
teams that looked like Yobe line for a number one
seed and really strong twos. Well, I'll tell you five
through ten, and I know Michigan State most likely. Well,
I think they're gonna probably make it into the top
sixteen seeds if they hold on to the record season
Big ten and then have a chance to do decent
(06:46):
in the tournament. I would think they'd get to maybe
the four, perhaps perhaps the three line. But after that,
you know, Iowa State, they've had some most some downs
in part because of injury. I like the fact that
there are going to be a lot of really good
teams in the middle of this bracket, capaboard winning two
(07:07):
or more games in the tournament.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Well, Clug, I'm glad you said that.
Speaker 6 (07:12):
In looking at Grant's list, is not like a lot
of those blue bloods.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
But the one thing that we all kind of love about.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
March mad is, you know, are those Cindereller types of teams,
those teams that no one's really talking about.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Is there a couple of teams.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
That you feel that could make a deep run because
they got great point guards and they played great team basketball.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
Well, that's one of the things I love about moving
into Marx. As we head forwards to the early Conference
tournament starting in the next ten days or so, teams
that are outside of the Power conferences that very well
could be in the bracket, and based on't match ups,
Nick and Grant have a chance to pull the first
(07:56):
round maybe a sweet sixteen surprise. I love this. You
see San Diego tried and seen out of the Plus,
they've got tremendous shooting. Jones is a to do it
all kind of player at the wing. They're really fun
to watch, capable of knocking off the higher power conference scene.
(08:20):
I think, you know, you look across the country and man,
the Yelp Bulldogs in the IVY League. They one of
the best shooters in all of college basketball, and John
Bulaktas they've got a terrific do it all point guard
and Mesimbang. They've got nine or ten guys they playing
that play well, they sport, they defend, they rebound. So
(08:43):
there are a number of teams of that hill in
that eleven, twelve, thirteen seed range, depending on matchups, that
could be surprising. And those are a couple that I've
kind of highlighted, and then they're a handful of other
teams that I'll be zeroing in on as we move
towards them. Selection Sunday high Points run off with Bunt
(09:03):
two wins in a row. I saw them earlier. They're
dangerous because they've got tremendous guards.
Speaker 8 (09:09):
Jacksonville.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
I love the Liberty team that Richard McKay is coaching,
the Planes. I think they won four or five in
a row. I watched them multiple times earlier. They got
two pint size dynamic guards, and they've got a big
guy who's not a big guy, but he plays so
much bigger than he is. They've got a laser shooter
and they play a style that's deliberate, but he's fishing.
(09:35):
And if they get the right match up where they
aren't overwhelmed with size, they can be really problematic. So
there are a number of teams out there, and as
we get towards the selection Sunday, I'll home in and
have a handful that I feel really comfortable about picking.
The the upset takes early on in the tournament.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Yeah, and like you said at the beginning of our conversation,
that's the beauty of March madness. Right there are guests
Clark Kello college basketball analysts for CBS.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
And don't forget about the maction.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Even though our Bobcats handed Akron their first losses past weekend,
Akron looking pretty darn good. They're what thirteen and one
in the MAC right now?
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Yeah, yeah, they were the last women's zick Yale with
only two teams I'm going into last week that were
undefeated in conference play. You know, continues to be so.
But you're right, team specifically get out of the map,
whether it's oh You or Akron. Miami, Ohio is had
a nice year this year. So whoever comes out of
(10:34):
that conference. I think particularly this one of those two
teams could have a chance to surprise some folks.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
And there's a young guy in college basketball and I
remember his name being mentioned before the Olympics playing against
Team USA, and.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
That's Cooper Flag.
Speaker 6 (10:51):
And I know, I know it's kind of early, but
when you look towards like the NBA top draft picks,
you got to figure that Cooper Flag his name is
one of those players when when you watch him play,
as a guy that played the game yourself, what stands
out to you about this young kid's game.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
Well, there's a lot that stands out in there. I mean, one,
he's as good as appetite. I've not seen him in person,
so I tend to reserve full judgment and conviction.
Speaker 8 (11:17):
On the player.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
If I haven't seen him in person, I've seen enough
is his caenacity, is skill set, the way he's improved
even in this short Cressman year with his decision making,
the effort he gives at the defensive end, is feel
and savvy as a passer.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
I mean, there's this not much that he doesn't do.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
But the one thing that I really like about him
is his mobile at both ends of the floor. I mean,
he really gives a tremendous effort before a guy who's
super young even for his class, to play with that
type of focus and energy and to nasty at both ends.
Speaker 8 (12:03):
It is special.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
And you combine that with his steal set and he's
going to get stronger. That's the one thing that I mean,
he's what eighteen years old, so he's going to continue to develop.
But that's the one thing that I would love to
see him commit to, and I know he will if
he decides to, say another year to really add to
(12:26):
a physical frame, because he's got everything else in this
passage that you need to have a long high a
successful NBA career.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Big games coming up this weekend, you know, Clark, We're
usually a football show, but this is my favorite sports
time of the year, getting down and dirty in college basketball,
getting ready for Arch Madness. And we've got Auburn at
Kentucky and Alabama at Tennessee this weekend.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
And we're used to talking about SEC.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Being the dominant conference in college football, but.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
What are your thoughts on them?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
As from most pundits, they say that the SEC is
the most dominant conference in college basketball.
Speaker 5 (13:03):
This year. Oh, there's no question about it. I mean,
it's one of the great stories in the game. When
you think about it, You've got a two player race
that looks like between jan I Broom at Auburn and
Hooper Flag a duke per Player of the Year. You've
got the dominance of the SEC, which has been pretty
much from the start of the season throughout, They're going
to be heavily represented in the tournament. You could have
(13:25):
three of those schools. Florida Perti is another potential number
one seed as well as Auburn being a surefire number
one seed. I can't see anything keeping Auburn off the
one line at this point. And then you've got Alabama
and Tennessee as well. Then you've got in the middle
of the back of that league. I mean, every game
in the SEC, you could pretty much mark it as
(13:47):
the game of the week in comfact, I mean, I mean,
you wouldn't be far off if you just went right
to the SEC matchup ranked versus ranks, top ten versus
top ten, top fifteen versus OpEd in. I mean, that's
just the probably the league is unprecedented. I've been at
a long time on the mircropole at the college level one.
(14:08):
I can't recall a league being this good top middle,
and even the bottom teams in that league are are challenging.
So it's an unprecedented year in my mind for one
league to me as strong as the SEC has during
this season.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Clark, this was a true pleasure talking with you tonight.
Hopefully we'll get to catch up with you again during
match March Madness.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
But thanks so much for the time this evening.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
Yeah, would love to do it again, Brett, take care
of and enjoying the night, and the madness is on
the way and it always always delivers.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
It does, man, that it does. That was our guest,
Clark Kellogg. That was a treat for me. You know,
I mentioned the connection I had to him with his
sons being at Ohio University when I was there at
that sweet sixteen when run we went on man DJ
Cooper at point guard, Nick Kellogg just draining threes from
all types of distance, and the party on Court Street
(15:08):
in Athens that night was unmatched.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Man, that's the beauty of March Madness. You never know
what you're gonna get in this tournament.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Now you sound like you know what's it Forrest Gun
at the box of chocolate.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
I don't know what's gonna get, but you know what,
that's a great part of this part of the year.
Marsh Madness brings so many college basketball fans out, Like
I stopped doing brackets because usually that first round there's
always some kind of underdog team that wins on the
last three second, three second shot to knock down the
(15:42):
three point shot, and you're like, well, now my whole
bracket is just trash, just trash right now.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
But I love it. It's really exciting.
Speaker 6 (15:48):
This is what I love more about college sports than
I love about pro just kind of the college students
really rallying and getting behind their team. So I'm excited
for to see what happens. But I like it, and
I like Auburn.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Yeah, those are safe bets.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I think we'll have to see how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
We'll get back to football when we come back.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Joined by our very own wet Blanket Benjamin Albright live
from Indianapolis covering the Combine when we come back on
Broncos Country Tonight on KOA A fifty am ninety four
to one FM Broncos Country Tonight, I'm your guest host
Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright as he's on
(16:27):
KOA Sports all this week covering the combine with the
og of Broncos Country Tonight.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Ryan Edwards in here with Nick Ferguson.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Thanks to Clark Kellogg for joining us in the last
segment and Steve Atwater earlier in the show The Hall
of Famer Steve at Water. But we can't go too
long staying away from our wet blanket. Let's go out
to the KOA Common Spirit Health Hotline and bring on
Benjamin Albright.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Ben, how are you tonight?
Speaker 5 (16:52):
Man?
Speaker 7 (16:53):
I'm doing well, just just drying the blanket out right now?
Speaker 6 (16:57):
Is trying to blanket out what I know at some
point you're gonna add some more moisture to it, So
you want to just go ahead and definitely kind of
get into it now. Well, we look once again, the
guy's gonna sat workout tomorrow and we have more definitely
to kind of break down from a players standpoint.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Is there a player that you're looking.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
Forward to seeing as things open up tomorrow?
Speaker 7 (17:24):
You know there's there's a few throughout this process. I
don't know if there's anybody else spotlighting them all per
se but throughout this process, there's some guys that I have,
you know, some favorites, guys I saw out to see
their bowlder, guys I've looked at on tape that I
really want to see, you know, I think everybody knows
I've talked about Maria Hampton and obviously want to see
it tests out here. MATTHI the the you know, the
inside linebacker from Oregon, somebody I definitely had my Ryan
(17:45):
got a great video with him askeding some bo Nick's questions.
He read a great answer actually about picking up leadership
tips from from Bownicks, who used to be his locker buddy. Uh,
they're at Oregon, and so.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Yeah, I think there's you know, I think there's a
couple of guys here.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
I want to see. I want to see Royals and
how he runs, uh you know, at the receiver position.
Not sure if the Broncos are interested there, but just
just some of those guys that you see that kind
of pop at you and you're like, all right, well,
I'm curious to see how this how this guy tests.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Here's that sound you were referencing with Ryan Edwards and
Bass earlier today.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Really good, really good.
Speaker 9 (18:15):
He was my locker buddy, so fun fact, so spent
a lot of time with you know, with him, you know,
just learned about offense and me teaching him at a little
about defense, even though you know he's pretty much seeing
it all for him, uh, you know, in his college days.
But now it was really really good. He taught me
how to be a better man on and off the field,
kind of how to be a better leader.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
You know.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
I took a lot of you know, aspects and knowledge
from his game.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
And applied that to mind.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
How you have with the Broncos at all?
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Yes, I have?
Speaker 1 (18:41):
How'd that go?
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Went really well?
Speaker 5 (18:43):
Went really well?
Speaker 9 (18:44):
I know that, you know, they got a good field
for me and I got a good foe.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
Friend.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
We're talking with Benjamin Albright live from the Combine and Indianapolis,
and my favorite part of the Combine is all the
juicy rumors floating around and all the source offs as
you called it on KO Sports it's earlier today, update
the listeners on the latest rumors coming out of Indy.
Speaker 7 (19:05):
Well, I think everybody's probably seen them. Matt Stafford stories
or you know that are out there. You know, certainly
there's been a disagreement in the way that that should
be phrased. But in the end, uh, you know, Matt
Stafford and the Raiders with Tom Brady certainly met up
there in Montana Yellowstone Ski Club. And you know, now
now we've got people, you know, saying it was an
(19:27):
accidental meeting, which, you know, sure, if you want to
believe that that's cool. It's that Stafford just happens to
accidentally meet teams that want recruiting for new jobs, just
asking about Cabo a couple.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Of years ago.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
But but you know, I think I think the Raiders
aren't interested in Stafford. The question becomes whether or not
they would meet a RAMS asking point, asking price, that
kind of stuff, and whether that the Rams actually won't
actually want to move him, which I'm not one hundred
percent yet convinced on. But I'll tell you this, man,
there's a lil berdie that told me that the instigator
(19:58):
behind all this uh bo, making all this subterfuge to
light might have been one Broncos head coach Sean Payton,
you know, kind of trying to mess with his derision
rival by letting the story see the light of day.
And now the Raiders all of a sudden, they're looking
at potential tampering, So just just something to keep your
eye on there. As you know, maybe our head coach
(20:18):
played a little uh uh, played a little carsonne card
game there, trying to trying to set up the opponent's
for failure.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
Well, you know, Ben, hopefully that is the case, because
this time of year, it's about strategy. But you know,
being a guy that spent time in the military, it's
about having a great strategy and being able to deploy it.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
At the same time.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
With that being said, obviously a lot of guys are
being interviewed, how do you feel about some of the players,
and Abdul Carter is a very talented player, and you
know he's coming out and saying, okay, well he should
be the number one player drafted in this draft, like
not in the first round, but it's the number one
(21:01):
player period. Do you think that Abdul Carter should be
the first player taking.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Off of the board?
Speaker 7 (21:10):
I do, and I think he probably will be. And
I think you got to have that kind of confidence
in yourself. You know, you played in the lead, Nick,
you gotta have you gotta have a certain belief in
yourself that you belong there. To begin with, you know
much less, you know, being being selected in front of
other guys and all that kind of stuff. I think
there's a certain bravado to it. But at the same time,
I think there's a certain level of you having a
belief in oneself. And so I don't, you know, I
(21:32):
don't certainly begrudge ad Will Carter for having that that
attitude about it and coming out public with that. Why not?
Why not? Why not him? You know, as far as
that goes. So I do think he'll be the number
one pick, and do you think of the number one
pick of the Titans. But you know what, we'll see.
There's there's still you know, quite a bit of time
to go, you know, and those kinds of things. Obviously
Carter's here to test. I think you wait in what
(21:54):
two forty eight, which is which is about right these
days for one an edge rusher generally ways that coming
in the league. So you know, we'll see what he
tests out at and go from there.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
I want to go back to the running back position
a little bit because it seems like we're seeing a resurgence,
resurgence of the value of the running back position. And
you said something that really caught my ear on Ka
Sports earlier today, you think both Ashton Genty and Omari
and Hampton are going to be gone in.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
The top fifteen picks. Is that what you said?
Speaker 4 (22:24):
I did, and I do believe that.
Speaker 7 (22:26):
I think these running backs are going to go earlier
than people think. We'll see. You know, there's a possibility
Jams he could go high as maybe six to the
to the Raiders. You know, Hampton could go to the
Dallas Cowboys. There's there's all kinds of scenarios there in
between as well. But even in a deep running back class,
I don't think anybody offers with those two specifically offer
to an NFL team. So we'll see again. You know,
(22:48):
I this is early projecting type stuff, but you know
this is this is something that looks fairly realistic.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
Well, when we talk about football, you know, family like
first families of football. I think most people in today's
game think about the Mannings, right but for me, there
is now becoming a first family and coaching and right
away you probably think about, you know, Kyle Shanahan, Mike Shannan.
But there's another family emerging and that is the Kubiaks.
(23:17):
When you think about you know, Clint Kubiak is now
the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, but now his
brother Clay Kubiak has now been given the manser to
be the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
When you look at this and.
Speaker 6 (23:32):
There's a lot of father son type of duos, could
we see the Kubiaks now become the first family of
coaching in the NFL in the next couple of years.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
I believe so.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
I mean, I think we're more close to that now
when you look at you know where all the kids
are and everything else, and you know where that coaching
tree has gone and what they've been able to do.
You know, a Clinton, Klay and everybody else. You're certainly
starting to see that that sort of emerge. So I
would not be surprised to see that in the next
you know, three or four years where you've got multiple
Kubiaks who head coaching jobs and all of a sudden
(24:05):
they're the first family and you know in coaching in
the NFL.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Well, last question for me, Ben, as you're covering the
combine out in Indy, have you gotten the shrimp cocktail
yet at Saint Elmo.
Speaker 10 (24:17):
I don't need to do that, Mom.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
I've been out here so many times and it's not
like a write of passage for me. I don't need
to knock the snot out of my nose with that teacher.
But yeah, I've done it before. Certainly these days we
go for a little bit more sensible meals. Myself, mister Edwards,
went out and got some dinner earlier. I had myself
a nice brown sugar glaze pork chop and the side
of steam Brocley, so keep it fairly healthy.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Did you stuff that pork shop in the glaze donut?
Speaker 5 (24:44):
No?
Speaker 7 (24:45):
I mean it already came with a brown sugar glaze,
but if the doughnut option had been available, I'm sure
I would have looked into it.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
No buggers this time around. Ben, We appreciate your time
as always.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Man, looking forward to you on KOA Sports again tomorrow
with Ryan covering the combine.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Have a great rest of your night.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Man.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Absolutely, I love giving him a hard time.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Yeah, you know what, it's almost like, because he's visiting all.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Bright, it's like you need to do that.
Speaker 6 (25:14):
Not doing that just wouldn't be right because he's who
he is.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Yeah, And my favorite thing about Ben Man is like as.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Much hate as he gets.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
He is so good at like taking that heat and
then delivering it right back to you. You know, he's
not someone who gets offended by things like that. He's
someone who can absorb the roast and then roast someone
else himself.
Speaker 6 (25:36):
You know who's that, who's the guy who normally does
the roast. He's just knowing this that the comedian Ross,
Jeff Ross, Jeff Ross. It's just seemed like for me,
if Jeff Ross roasted Ben, he would be on the
floor in stitches, not uptight about anything. He just kind
(25:56):
of going along with the flow. But that's what some
people don't know about Benjamin Albright, Like there's just like
two different people. There is been on social media and
then there's been off of social media. There's two different
people there.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
I certainly like the Ben off social media a lot more. Yeah,
so you and some of the people, well, they are
getting all kinds of exclusive content out there at the combine,
and they had the one on one with Broncos GM
George Payton yesterday. They also caught up with Trevor Sikima
earlier today. He's the lead draft analyst over at Pro
(26:33):
Football Focus, and Ryan Edwards had a great conversation with him,
and he asked them about the dream scenario of the
Broncos for their first round pick at pick twenty.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Here's what he had to say, perfect scenario for you
at pick twenty?
Speaker 11 (26:47):
What would that be for the Broncos?
Speaker 10 (26:49):
I mean, ashle Jant at twenty would be great.
Speaker 12 (26:52):
I running back, I do not think, well, not just
running back, but like he's I think special.
Speaker 10 (26:57):
Like I think that he is truly a guy who
to some of the best. I mean, like what Alvin
Kamara has meant to the Saints.
Speaker 12 (27:04):
You know, some people looked at him and see La
Daney and Thomlinson, right. I mean we're talking about some
incredibly impactful running backs, and so I know that it's
you know, sometimes taboo to talk about a running back
in the first round, talk about position of value and everything,
But like, this kid's special.
Speaker 10 (27:17):
I think he's going to be a.
Speaker 12 (27:18):
Consensus top five player in this class, no matter what
draft analysts that you're talking about.
Speaker 10 (27:23):
And you look.
Speaker 12 (27:24):
At Denver and certainly an area that they really need
to improve from last year is what they were able
to do on the ground to be able to stay
balanced and Sean Payton knows that, and I think that
they were trying to figure out did they have that
guy in the roster.
Speaker 10 (27:36):
They're rotating a lot of those guys, and I feel
like the answer was just no.
Speaker 12 (27:39):
And so yes, I think that they can go a
couple of different positions. But Ashon genty, to me, brings
you so much value, and so would I take any
running back at twenty?
Speaker 7 (27:48):
No?
Speaker 10 (27:49):
Would I take Ashon genty?
Speaker 5 (27:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (27:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 12 (27:51):
But I also think that it was very interesting hearing
Sean Payton talk about that joker offensive position.
Speaker 10 (27:56):
I think we talked about, you know, sort.
Speaker 12 (27:57):
Of that hybrid nickel defender on the other side of
the ball, where you know, you call him a star
or a money backer or like what. There's a lot
of different terms for it. We don't really hear that
as much on the offensive side of the ball. We
don't really use that sort of terminology. And so to
hear him talk about that and say, well, it's this
tight end slash wide receiver or running back slash wide receiver,
just as player that could be an impact guy over
(28:19):
the middle, that really intrigues me. With you know, some
players like Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, like Luther Burden.
Speaker 10 (28:26):
I think he's that player as well.
Speaker 12 (28:27):
So those are a handful of names that when we
talk about ideal scenario for.
Speaker 10 (28:30):
The Broncos, one of those guys being available for that.
Speaker 11 (28:33):
And I do feel like we're sort of been a
bit of a renaissance in the running back position, right,
all of a sudden, a lot of these teams popped.
Play sakuon Barkley, you know you're about to dip, and
then all of a sudden, it's like, gosh, now running
back is the position, and just a few years ago
say hey, don't take one of.
Speaker 10 (28:47):
The first round.
Speaker 11 (28:47):
But then you see jamyor Gibbs pop the way he does,
and you see what that does for your offense. So
I'm unpursuit with you, Shan Roybus for one more second here.
So Mario and Hampton, I'm a big fan of it.
Speaker 10 (28:57):
Should be should be right, would be?
Speaker 11 (28:58):
So Broncos say miss out on Ashton Jenny is twenty
too early to necessarily dropt him.
Speaker 12 (29:04):
I don't know if I would say it's too early,
because he is also supremely talented.
Speaker 10 (29:08):
I mean, he's somebody who I don't know where I'm
gonna have him.
Speaker 12 (29:10):
In my final rankings, it'll be top thirty, top twenty five,
something like that. So that is that range when you
look at talent overall in the class, it depends at
that point. Do you think that Ashon Genty's so special
that you couldn't pass.
Speaker 10 (29:23):
Up up at twenty? Do you think that of Amaron
Hampton as well?
Speaker 12 (29:27):
Because there's a lot of really good running backs in
this class, right, Caleb Johnson to Dylan Sampson and quench
Seud Jenkins and Travon Henderson, even guys a little bit
further down a Devin neil An RJ.
Speaker 10 (29:37):
Harvey. Right, there's a lot of backs I think in
this class that are going to be productive pros.
Speaker 12 (29:41):
Do you see Omarion Hampton is that far and away
so much where we have to pick him at twenty.
Speaker 10 (29:46):
I'd entertain the idea.
Speaker 12 (29:47):
I really would, because I do think that he is
that talent that he has built so well for the position,
bounces off contact very well, he gives you that yards
after catchability, he's got a pretty good miss tackles force
for attempt average to him, pretty high rushing grades as well.
And somebody who gives you that they're downability, which is
really important right. When you talk about a guy that's
going to give you the value that you want from
the running back position in the first round, you've got
(30:08):
to be able to be an impact on passing down situations,
either as a pass detector or a receiver. You do
both of those things as well, So I think it's
a little bit more of a yeah, you don't really
question the running back choice at all at the tashion
Gente twenty. For Marian Hampton, it's not as much of
a slam dunk, But to me, he is in that
group of those players that you would think about here.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
That's Trevor Sikhama, the lead draft analysts for Pro Football
Focus with Ryan Edwards earlier today, and I think we're
all on board if fashion gent falls to the Broncos
at pick twenty. But what do you think about Omari
and Hampton at twenty? Do you think that's a reach
for the Broncos. Like Trevor said, this is a deep class.
You could maybe wait until the third or fourth round
to get another guy that you really like. Would you
(30:49):
consider that a reach if the Broncos draft him at
pick twenty, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
I definitely would, because the class is deep.
Speaker 6 (30:57):
In my opinion with a lot of running backs, and
it all depends on the value the Broncos ce and
either Hampton or Genty.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Right.
Speaker 6 (31:09):
But for me, even though everyone is saying Aston Gentsy,
if he's there, you got to take him, I can
easily see the Broncos going you know what, someone's gonna
want to take Aston Genty, So that pick at twenty
now goes up in value.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Now for me, I'm all about adding.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
Value to a team with a young quarterback and the
Broncos possibly moving back because Hampton could be there.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
But outside of Gensy, I like Quinshawn.
Speaker 6 (31:40):
Jenkins from Ohio State because when you think about explosion,
because I think about guys' second level ability, that explosion that.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Could run away from guys.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
And then I go back to my time playing against
Sean Payton type of teams.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
How did he use his running backs?
Speaker 6 (31:57):
It's dumping him off in screen passes, and Kushan Jenkins
junkins he can actually give you that level of explosion.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
Because that word that's often floated.
Speaker 6 (32:06):
Around, everyone keeps saying joker is not just a joker,
and the jokers is not one player.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
It's a player.
Speaker 6 (32:12):
Who is a playmaker, and you need multiple guys, and
Kushan Jenkins he can definitely give you that suf. The
Broncos don't get acid Gentz, There're still other guys.
Speaker 13 (32:23):
I fully agree there's other guys. I personally, I don't
think Omario and Haampton that twenty would be a reach necessarily.
I think he's a back that, like Genti, even though
he didn't have that gaudy production, could be a full
package player in his own right.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
You know, good pass protector.
Speaker 13 (32:37):
I think he's got good vision, unlike you know, the
Javante Williams if people are maybe having some flashbacks to that.
But he's also an explosive runner. I think he brings
that explosive qualities. There's a lot of power to his game,
like we saw with Javonte. He could be a truly
special back. And I think the lesson of this season
is maybe the running back doesn't have that value to everyone,
(32:59):
like New York Giants, but if you have the offensive line,
if you have the pieces in place, that special running
back can really catapul you into elite standing.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Seekers And from one North Carolina running back maybe to another.
And George Payton actually talked about Javonte Williams and what
they're looking at as a running back position and how
it relates to the NFL Draft, And we're going to
get into that when we come back on Broncos Country
to Night right here on KOA FI ninety four to
one FM.
Filling in for Benjamin Albright as he's covering the NFL
Combine out in Indianapolis. We'll catch up with Ben oh
here in about a half hour. So thanks to the
Hall of Famer Steve Atwater for joining us in the
previous hour. If you miss any of that, you can
find it on the free and totally redesigned iHeartRadio app
where you can set it as a preset in your
car now or sorry, just like you do in your
(00:22):
car on the free and awesome iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
From one Hall of Famer to another, We're.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Going to head out to the Kawa Common Spirit Health Hotline.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I'm joined be joined by Clark Kellogg.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
He's an analyst for college basketball for CBS and just
receive the twenty twenty five Kurt Goudi Media Award from
the Nay Smith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Kurk Clark.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
How you doing tonight, Hey, I am.
Speaker 5 (00:46):
Good, Grant, thank you. I'm doing great, looking forward to
the next several weeks of the madness of March, and
I'm great to have a chance to jump on with
you tonight.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Man, it's a pleasure to chat with you.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I am originally from Ohio, and I was actually at
Ohio University at the same time as a couple of
your boys, and that was a great time for Ohio
men's basketball at that time.
Speaker 5 (01:09):
Yeah, there was back in twenty twelve. Grand It's so
hard to believe that that's thirteen years ago when the
Vocats made a magical run to the Sweet sixteen. Our
youngest son, Nick was starting on that team, and just
a great memory for our entire family and forever. That's
(01:30):
in our family's history and in the history of Mark Maddiness.
I mean, a team that was a thirteen seed, able
to get to the Sweet sixteen and actually pushed a
North Carolina team overtime and just that close to being
part of the elite. But the great memory and part
of what we all love Mark Maddness, I mean, the
stories that emerged, the surprises, the excitement, the unpredictability of
(01:57):
it all is part of what makes it really special.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yeah, and I still remember going out on Court Street
that night with about twenty other twenty thousand other Bobcats and.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Has in the time of our lives.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
That was one of my favorite memories from ou as well.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Well, I bet yeah, that's part of it. It reels
everybody in especially if you often happen to be into
thet ME, a graduate of the university or connected to
it in some way, when when your team makes a
realm during that time, it really galvanizes and uplifts everybody
because it's such a feel good and memorable experience, especially
(02:34):
teams from the non power conferences. When they make a
run to the second weekend, that's almost like getting to
a Final four in some ways. So yeah, I can
certainly understand why that would kind of stand out for
you and the rest of the Bob guys. We felt
that the Green and White were all over the place
during that time, and we still bump in the folks
(02:55):
on occasion that we call that fun run again teen
years ago already, which is hard to believe, Clug.
Speaker 6 (03:03):
When when you look at the Houston Cougar, as they
say right now, as the number four team in the country,
and you know we're right on the precipice of March
madness when you want them, what stands out about this
team and what makes you think that this team, the
Sampson's coach team, that they can make a deep run
and possibly win a hold.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Darnthe oh that's really capable.
Speaker 7 (03:23):
Man.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
I think a couple of things stand up whenever you
watch a Houston team, particularly says to Alvin Sampson and
his staff and family have been there overseeing the program,
leading the program. It's the culture, it's the way they play.
You know, their identity is foundation on defense and toughness
(03:45):
and rebounding, and they consistently have guys that are fully
voughting in to playing that way to join the way
Calvin Sampson coaches, teachers and demands that have been done.
And then recently the play guard and even going back
to Alvin time time at Oklahoma, he has really good
(04:05):
point guards and minos hugh z and has been terrific.
It took him a while as a transfer to get activated,
but I think he's been outstanding over the last six
to eight weeks in leading that team and giving them
exactly what they need at the point guard's flout. So
(04:26):
those are things that really step out stand out to me.
And then you know the development of the players. Typically
they don't have a lot of guys to transfer in
and out. They are foundation on them developing the players
they get, getting the right players from the start and
then develop them developing those guys over over time, so
(04:47):
clearly because they defended such a high level. They've got
sound makers, and they've got a really solid point guard.
And I think Joan Roberts has been one of the
most improved.
Speaker 8 (04:58):
Interior players in the country week from last year to
this year as there is, so they've got all the
ingredients necessary to be playing into that first week in April.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Yeah, and we're all too familiar with them out here.
We're the home of the Colorado Buffalo's who had a
great run in the March Madness last year, but Houston
clearly running away with the big poll this year, and
a lot of people's much too early final four predictions,
I have my own. Actually, I'd love to get your
thoughts on my final four.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
As of now, I've got.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Duke Tennessee, Michigan State, and Iowa State, even though Iowa
State came off a tough loss over the weekend and
we saw Michigan State earlier tonight squeak out a win
over Maryland.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
What are your thoughts on my final four?
Speaker 5 (05:43):
I like it because it's not heavy number one seede.
I mean, I just think there are so many really
good teams in the country, and a lot of teams
in the middle of the bracket when it comes out
on the sixteen are runner week apa bole, you know,
beating the number one seed. I mean you think about
(06:04):
the teams that will be at the top. I think
Auburn has been the most consistent and best team all year.
Duke could certainly come on and played at a high level.
They get it, they get it done at both ends.
You mentioned Tennessee, Alabama probably in that mix for a
potential number one seed, and maybe Houston if they're able
(06:25):
to run the table the rest of the way and
win the Big twelve. So we've got five or six
teams that looked like Yobe line for a number one
seed and really strong twos. Well, I'll tell you five
through ten, and I know Michigan State most likely. Well,
I think they're gonna probably make it into the top
sixteen seeds if they hold on to the record season
Big ten and then have a chance to do decent
(06:46):
in the tournament. I would think they'd get to maybe
the four, perhaps perhaps the three line. But after that,
you know, Iowa State, they've had some most some downs
in part because of injury. I like the fact that
there are going to be a lot of really good
teams in the middle of this bracket, capaboard winning two
(07:07):
or more games in the tournament.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Well, Clug, I'm glad you said that.
Speaker 6 (07:12):
In looking at Grant's list, is not like a lot
of those blue bloods.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
But the one thing that we all kind of love about.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
March mad is, you know, are those Cindereller types of teams,
those teams that no one's really talking about.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
Is there a couple of teams.
Speaker 6 (07:27):
That you feel that could make a deep run because
they got great point guards and they played great team basketball.
Speaker 5 (07:34):
Well, that's one of the things I love about moving
into Marx. As we head forwards to the early Conference
tournament starting in the next ten days or so, teams
that are outside of the Power conferences that very well
could be in the bracket, and based on't match ups,
Nick and Grant have a chance to pull the first
(07:56):
round maybe a sweet sixteen surprise. I love this. You
see San Diego tried and seen out of the Plus,
they've got tremendous shooting. Jones is a to do it
all kind of player at the wing. They're really fun
to watch, capable of knocking off the higher power conference scene.
(08:20):
I think, you know, you look across the country and man,
the Yelp Bulldogs in the IVY League. They one of
the best shooters in all of college basketball, and John
Bulaktas they've got a terrific do it all point guard
and Mesimbang. They've got nine or ten guys they playing
that play well, they sport, they defend, they rebound. So
(08:43):
there are a number of teams of that hill in
that eleven, twelve, thirteen seed range, depending on matchups, that
could be surprising. And those are a couple that I've
kind of highlighted, and then they're a handful of other
teams that I'll be zeroing in on as we move
towards them. Selection Sunday high Points run off with Bunt
(09:03):
two wins in a row. I saw them earlier. They're
dangerous because they've got tremendous guards.
Speaker 8 (09:09):
Jacksonville.
Speaker 5 (09:10):
I love the Liberty team that Richard McKay is coaching,
the Planes. I think they won four or five in
a row. I watched them multiple times earlier. They got
two pint size dynamic guards, and they've got a big
guy who's not a big guy, but he plays so
much bigger than he is. They've got a laser shooter
and they play a style that's deliberate, but he's fishing.
(09:35):
And if they get the right match up where they
aren't overwhelmed with size, they can be really problematic. So
there are a number of teams out there, and as
we get towards the selection Sunday, I'll home in and
have a handful that I feel really comfortable about picking.
The the upset takes early on in the tournament.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Yeah, and like you said at the beginning of our conversation,
that's the beauty of March madness. Right there are guests
Clark Kello college basketball analysts for CBS.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
And don't forget about the maction.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Even though our Bobcats handed Akron their first losses past weekend,
Akron looking pretty darn good. They're what thirteen and one
in the MAC right now?
Speaker 5 (10:13):
Yeah, yeah, they were the last women's zick Yale with
only two teams I'm going into last week that were
undefeated in conference play. You know, continues to be so.
But you're right, team specifically get out of the map,
whether it's oh You or Akron. Miami, Ohio is had
a nice year this year. So whoever comes out of
(10:34):
that conference. I think particularly this one of those two
teams could have a chance to surprise some folks.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
And there's a young guy in college basketball and I
remember his name being mentioned before the Olympics playing against
Team USA, and.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
That's Cooper Flag.
Speaker 6 (10:51):
And I know, I know it's kind of early, but
when you look towards like the NBA top draft picks,
you got to figure that Cooper Flag his name is
one of those players when when you watch him play,
as a guy that played the game yourself, what stands
out to you about this young kid's game.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
Well, there's a lot that stands out in there. I mean, one,
he's as good as appetite. I've not seen him in person,
so I tend to reserve full judgment and conviction.
Speaker 8 (11:17):
On the player.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
If I haven't seen him in person, I've seen enough
is his caenacity, is skill set, the way he's improved
even in this short Cressman year with his decision making,
the effort he gives at the defensive end, is feel
and savvy as a passer.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
I mean, there's this not much that he doesn't do.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
But the one thing that I really like about him
is his mobile at both ends of the floor. I mean,
he really gives a tremendous effort before a guy who's
super young even for his class, to play with that
type of focus and energy and to nasty at both ends.
Speaker 8 (12:03):
It is special.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
And you combine that with his steal set and he's
going to get stronger. That's the one thing that I mean,
he's what eighteen years old, so he's going to continue to develop.
But that's the one thing that I would love to
see him commit to, and I know he will if
he decides to, say another year to really add to
(12:26):
a physical frame, because he's got everything else in this
passage that you need to have a long high a
successful NBA career.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Big games coming up this weekend, you know, Clark, We're
usually a football show, but this is my favorite sports
time of the year, getting down and dirty in college basketball,
getting ready for Arch Madness. And we've got Auburn at
Kentucky and Alabama at Tennessee this weekend.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
And we're used to talking about SEC.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Being the dominant conference in college football, but.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
What are your thoughts on them?
Speaker 1 (12:57):
As from most pundits, they say that the SEC is
the most dominant conference in college basketball.
Speaker 5 (13:03):
This year. Oh, there's no question about it. I mean,
it's one of the great stories in the game. When
you think about it, You've got a two player race
that looks like between jan I Broom at Auburn and
Hooper Flag a duke per Player of the Year. You've
got the dominance of the SEC, which has been pretty
much from the start of the season throughout, They're going
to be heavily represented in the tournament. You could have
(13:25):
three of those schools. Florida Perti is another potential number
one seed as well as Auburn being a surefire number
one seed. I can't see anything keeping Auburn off the
one line at this point. And then you've got Alabama
and Tennessee as well. Then you've got in the middle
of the back of that league. I mean, every game
in the SEC, you could pretty much mark it as
(13:47):
the game of the week in comfact, I mean, I mean,
you wouldn't be far off if you just went right
to the SEC matchup ranked versus ranks, top ten versus
top ten, top fifteen versus OpEd in. I mean, that's
just the probably the league is unprecedented. I've been at
a long time on the mircropole at the college level one.
(14:08):
I can't recall a league being this good top middle,
and even the bottom teams in that league are are challenging.
So it's an unprecedented year in my mind for one
league to me as strong as the SEC has during
this season.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Clark, this was a true pleasure talking with you tonight.
Hopefully we'll get to catch up with you again during
match March Madness.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
But thanks so much for the time this evening.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
Yeah, would love to do it again, Brett, take care
of and enjoying the night, and the madness is on
the way and it always always delivers.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
It does, man, that it does. That was our guest,
Clark Kellogg. That was a treat for me. You know,
I mentioned the connection I had to him with his
sons being at Ohio University when I was there at
that sweet sixteen when run we went on man DJ
Cooper at point guard, Nick Kellogg just draining threes from
all types of distance, and the party on Court Street
(15:08):
in Athens that night was unmatched.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
Man, that's the beauty of March Madness. You never know
what you're gonna get in this tournament.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Now you sound like you know what's it Forrest Gun
at the box of chocolate.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
I don't know what's gonna get, but you know what,
that's a great part of this part of the year.
Marsh Madness brings so many college basketball fans out, Like
I stopped doing brackets because usually that first round there's
always some kind of underdog team that wins on the
last three second, three second shot to knock down the
(15:42):
three point shot, and you're like, well, now my whole
bracket is just trash, just trash right now.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
But I love it. It's really exciting.
Speaker 6 (15:48):
This is what I love more about college sports than
I love about pro just kind of the college students
really rallying and getting behind their team. So I'm excited
for to see what happens. But I like it, and
I like Auburn.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Yeah, those are safe bets.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
I think we'll have to see how it plays out.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
We'll get back to football when we come back.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
Joined by our very own wet Blanket Benjamin Albright live
from Indianapolis covering the Combine when we come back on
Broncos Country Tonight on KOA A fifty am ninety four
to one FM Broncos Country Tonight, I'm your guest host
Grant Smith filling in for Benjamin Albright as he's on
(16:27):
KOA Sports all this week covering the combine with the
og of Broncos Country Tonight.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Ryan Edwards in here with Nick Ferguson.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Thanks to Clark Kellogg for joining us in the last
segment and Steve Atwater earlier in the show The Hall
of Famer Steve at Water. But we can't go too
long staying away from our wet blanket. Let's go out
to the KOA Common Spirit Health Hotline and bring on
Benjamin Albright.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
Ben, how are you tonight?
Speaker 5 (16:52):
Man?
Speaker 7 (16:53):
I'm doing well, just just drying the blanket out right now?
Speaker 6 (16:57):
Is trying to blanket out what I know at some
point you're gonna add some more moisture to it, So
you want to just go ahead and definitely kind of
get into it now. Well, we look once again, the
guy's gonna sat workout tomorrow and we have more definitely
to kind of break down from a players standpoint.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
Is there a player that you're looking.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
Forward to seeing as things open up tomorrow?
Speaker 7 (17:24):
You know there's there's a few throughout this process. I
don't know if there's anybody else spotlighting them all per
se but throughout this process, there's some guys that I have,
you know, some favorites, guys I saw out to see
their bowlder, guys I've looked at on tape that I
really want to see, you know, I think everybody knows
I've talked about Maria Hampton and obviously want to see
it tests out here. MATTHI the the you know, the
inside linebacker from Oregon, somebody I definitely had my Ryan
(17:45):
got a great video with him askeding some bo Nick's questions.
He read a great answer actually about picking up leadership
tips from from Bownicks, who used to be his locker buddy. Uh,
they're at Oregon, and so.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Yeah, I think there's you know, I think there's a
couple of guys here.
Speaker 7 (17:57):
I want to see. I want to see Royals and
how he runs, uh you know, at the receiver position.
Not sure if the Broncos are interested there, but just
just some of those guys that you see that kind
of pop at you and you're like, all right, well,
I'm curious to see how this how this guy tests.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
Here's that sound you were referencing with Ryan Edwards and
Bass earlier today.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Really good, really good.
Speaker 9 (18:15):
He was my locker buddy, so fun fact, so spent
a lot of time with you know, with him, you know,
just learned about offense and me teaching him at a little
about defense, even though you know he's pretty much seeing
it all for him, uh, you know, in his college days.
But now it was really really good. He taught me
how to be a better man on and off the field,
kind of how to be a better leader.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
You know.
Speaker 9 (18:34):
I took a lot of you know, aspects and knowledge
from his game.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
And applied that to mind.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
How you have with the Broncos at all?
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Yes, I have?
Speaker 1 (18:41):
How'd that go?
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Went really well?
Speaker 5 (18:43):
Went really well?
Speaker 9 (18:44):
I know that, you know, they got a good field
for me and I got a good foe.
Speaker 7 (18:47):
Friend.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
We're talking with Benjamin Albright live from the Combine and Indianapolis,
and my favorite part of the Combine is all the
juicy rumors floating around and all the source offs as
you called it on KO Sports it's earlier today, update
the listeners on the latest rumors coming out of Indy.
Speaker 7 (19:05):
Well, I think everybody's probably seen them. Matt Stafford stories
or you know that are out there. You know, certainly
there's been a disagreement in the way that that should
be phrased. But in the end, uh, you know, Matt
Stafford and the Raiders with Tom Brady certainly met up
there in Montana Yellowstone Ski Club. And you know, now
now we've got people, you know, saying it was an
(19:27):
accidental meeting, which, you know, sure, if you want to
believe that that's cool. It's that Stafford just happens to
accidentally meet teams that want recruiting for new jobs, just
asking about Cabo a couple.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Of years ago.
Speaker 7 (19:37):
But but you know, I think I think the Raiders
aren't interested in Stafford. The question becomes whether or not
they would meet a RAMS asking point, asking price, that
kind of stuff, and whether that the Rams actually won't
actually want to move him, which I'm not one hundred
percent yet convinced on. But I'll tell you this, man,
there's a lil berdie that told me that the instigator
(19:58):
behind all this uh bo, making all this subterfuge to
light might have been one Broncos head coach Sean Payton,
you know, kind of trying to mess with his derision
rival by letting the story see the light of day.
And now the Raiders all of a sudden, they're looking
at potential tampering, So just just something to keep your
eye on there. As you know, maybe our head coach
(20:18):
played a little uh uh, played a little carsonne card
game there, trying to trying to set up the opponent's
for failure.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
Well, you know, Ben, hopefully that is the case, because
this time of year, it's about strategy. But you know,
being a guy that spent time in the military, it's
about having a great strategy and being able to deploy it.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
At the same time.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
With that being said, obviously a lot of guys are
being interviewed, how do you feel about some of the players,
and Abdul Carter is a very talented player, and you
know he's coming out and saying, okay, well he should
be the number one player drafted in this draft, like
not in the first round, but it's the number one
(21:01):
player period. Do you think that Abdul Carter should be
the first player taking.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Off of the board?
Speaker 7 (21:10):
I do, and I think he probably will be. And
I think you got to have that kind of confidence
in yourself. You know, you played in the lead, Nick,
you gotta have you gotta have a certain belief in
yourself that you belong there. To begin with, you know
much less, you know, being being selected in front of
other guys and all that kind of stuff. I think
there's a certain bravado to it. But at the same time,
I think there's a certain level of you having a
belief in oneself. And so I don't, you know, I
(21:32):
don't certainly begrudge ad Will Carter for having that that
attitude about it and coming out public with that. Why not?
Why not? Why not him? You know, as far as
that goes. So I do think he'll be the number
one pick, and do you think of the number one
pick of the Titans. But you know what, we'll see.
There's there's still you know, quite a bit of time
to go, you know, and those kinds of things. Obviously
Carter's here to test. I think you wait in what
(21:54):
two forty eight, which is which is about right these
days for one an edge rusher generally ways that coming
in the league. So you know, we'll see what he
tests out at and go from there.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
I want to go back to the running back position
a little bit because it seems like we're seeing a resurgence,
resurgence of the value of the running back position. And
you said something that really caught my ear on Ka
Sports earlier today, you think both Ashton Genty and Omari
and Hampton are going to be gone in.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
The top fifteen picks. Is that what you said?
Speaker 4 (22:24):
I did, and I do believe that.
Speaker 7 (22:26):
I think these running backs are going to go earlier
than people think. We'll see. You know, there's a possibility
Jams he could go high as maybe six to the
to the Raiders. You know, Hampton could go to the
Dallas Cowboys. There's there's all kinds of scenarios there in
between as well. But even in a deep running back class,
I don't think anybody offers with those two specifically offer
to an NFL team. So we'll see again. You know,
(22:48):
I this is early projecting type stuff, but you know
this is this is something that looks fairly realistic.
Speaker 6 (22:54):
Well, when we talk about football, you know, family like
first families of football. I think most people in today's
game think about the Mannings, right but for me, there
is now becoming a first family and coaching and right
away you probably think about, you know, Kyle Shanahan, Mike Shannan.
But there's another family emerging and that is the Kubiaks.
(23:17):
When you think about you know, Clint Kubiak is now
the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, but now his
brother Clay Kubiak has now been given the manser to
be the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
When you look at this and.
Speaker 6 (23:32):
There's a lot of father son type of duos, could
we see the Kubiaks now become the first family of
coaching in the NFL in the next couple of years.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
I believe so.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
I mean, I think we're more close to that now
when you look at you know where all the kids
are and everything else, and you know where that coaching
tree has gone and what they've been able to do.
You know, a Clinton, Klay and everybody else. You're certainly
starting to see that that sort of emerge. So I
would not be surprised to see that in the next
you know, three or four years where you've got multiple
Kubiaks who head coaching jobs and all of a sudden
(24:05):
they're the first family and you know in coaching in
the NFL.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Well, last question for me, Ben, as you're covering the
combine out in Indy, have you gotten the shrimp cocktail
yet at Saint Elmo.
Speaker 10 (24:17):
I don't need to do that, Mom.
Speaker 7 (24:18):
I've been out here so many times and it's not
like a write of passage for me. I don't need
to knock the snot out of my nose with that teacher.
But yeah, I've done it before. Certainly these days we
go for a little bit more sensible meals. Myself, mister Edwards,
went out and got some dinner earlier. I had myself
a nice brown sugar glaze pork chop and the side
of steam Brocley, so keep it fairly healthy.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Did you stuff that pork shop in the glaze donut?
Speaker 5 (24:44):
No?
Speaker 7 (24:45):
I mean it already came with a brown sugar glaze,
but if the doughnut option had been available, I'm sure
I would have looked into it.
Speaker 2 (24:50):
No buggers this time around. Ben, We appreciate your time
as always.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Man, looking forward to you on KOA Sports again tomorrow
with Ryan covering the combine.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Have a great rest of your night.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
Man.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Absolutely, I love giving him a hard time.
Speaker 6 (25:08):
Yeah, you know what, it's almost like, because he's visiting all.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Bright, it's like you need to do that.
Speaker 6 (25:14):
Not doing that just wouldn't be right because he's who
he is.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
Yeah, And my favorite thing about Ben Man is like as.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Much hate as he gets.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
He is so good at like taking that heat and
then delivering it right back to you. You know, he's
not someone who gets offended by things like that. He's
someone who can absorb the roast and then roast someone
else himself.
Speaker 6 (25:36):
You know who's that, who's the guy who normally does
the roast. He's just knowing this that the comedian Ross,
Jeff Ross, Jeff Ross. It's just seemed like for me,
if Jeff Ross roasted Ben, he would be on the
floor in stitches, not uptight about anything. He just kind
(25:56):
of going along with the flow. But that's what some
people don't know about Benjamin Albright, Like there's just like
two different people. There is been on social media and
then there's been off of social media. There's two different
people there.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
I certainly like the Ben off social media a lot more. Yeah,
so you and some of the people, well, they are
getting all kinds of exclusive content out there at the combine,
and they had the one on one with Broncos GM
George Payton yesterday. They also caught up with Trevor Sikima
earlier today. He's the lead draft analyst over at Pro
(26:33):
Football Focus, and Ryan Edwards had a great conversation with him,
and he asked them about the dream scenario of the
Broncos for their first round pick at pick twenty.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
Here's what he had to say, perfect scenario for you
at pick twenty?
Speaker 11 (26:47):
What would that be for the Broncos?
Speaker 10 (26:49):
I mean, ashle Jant at twenty would be great.
Speaker 12 (26:52):
I running back, I do not think, well, not just
running back, but like he's I think special.
Speaker 10 (26:57):
Like I think that he is truly a guy who
to some of the best. I mean, like what Alvin
Kamara has meant to the Saints.
Speaker 12 (27:04):
You know, some people looked at him and see La
Daney and Thomlinson, right. I mean we're talking about some
incredibly impactful running backs, and so I know that it's
you know, sometimes taboo to talk about a running back
in the first round, talk about position of value and everything,
But like, this kid's special.
Speaker 10 (27:17):
I think he's going to be a.
Speaker 12 (27:18):
Consensus top five player in this class, no matter what
draft analysts that you're talking about.
Speaker 10 (27:23):
And you look.
Speaker 12 (27:24):
At Denver and certainly an area that they really need
to improve from last year is what they were able
to do on the ground to be able to stay
balanced and Sean Payton knows that, and I think that
they were trying to figure out did they have that
guy in the roster.
Speaker 10 (27:36):
They're rotating a lot of those guys, and I feel
like the answer was just no.
Speaker 12 (27:39):
And so yes, I think that they can go a
couple of different positions. But Ashon genty, to me, brings
you so much value, and so would I take any
running back at twenty?
Speaker 7 (27:48):
No?
Speaker 10 (27:49):
Would I take Ashon genty?
Speaker 5 (27:50):
Yeah?
Speaker 10 (27:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 12 (27:51):
But I also think that it was very interesting hearing
Sean Payton talk about that joker offensive position.
Speaker 10 (27:56):
I think we talked about, you know, sort.
Speaker 12 (27:57):
Of that hybrid nickel defender on the other side of
the ball, where you know, you call him a star
or a money backer or like what. There's a lot
of different terms for it. We don't really hear that
as much on the offensive side of the ball. We
don't really use that sort of terminology. And so to
hear him talk about that and say, well, it's this
tight end slash wide receiver or running back slash wide receiver,
just as player that could be an impact guy over
(28:19):
the middle, that really intrigues me. With you know, some
players like Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland, like Luther Burden.
Speaker 10 (28:26):
I think he's that player as well.
Speaker 12 (28:27):
So those are a handful of names that when we
talk about ideal scenario for.
Speaker 10 (28:30):
The Broncos, one of those guys being available for that.
Speaker 11 (28:33):
And I do feel like we're sort of been a
bit of a renaissance in the running back position, right,
all of a sudden, a lot of these teams popped.
Play sakuon Barkley, you know you're about to dip, and
then all of a sudden, it's like, gosh, now running
back is the position, and just a few years ago
say hey, don't take one of.
Speaker 10 (28:47):
The first round.
Speaker 11 (28:47):
But then you see jamyor Gibbs pop the way he does,
and you see what that does for your offense. So
I'm unpursuit with you, Shan Roybus for one more second here.
So Mario and Hampton, I'm a big fan of it.
Speaker 10 (28:57):
Should be should be right, would be?
Speaker 11 (28:58):
So Broncos say miss out on Ashton Jenny is twenty
too early to necessarily dropt him.
Speaker 12 (29:04):
I don't know if I would say it's too early,
because he is also supremely talented.
Speaker 10 (29:08):
I mean, he's somebody who I don't know where I'm
gonna have him.
Speaker 12 (29:10):
In my final rankings, it'll be top thirty, top twenty five,
something like that. So that is that range when you
look at talent overall in the class, it depends at
that point. Do you think that Ashon Genty's so special
that you couldn't pass.
Speaker 10 (29:23):
Up up at twenty? Do you think that of Amaron
Hampton as well?
Speaker 12 (29:27):
Because there's a lot of really good running backs in
this class, right, Caleb Johnson to Dylan Sampson and quench
Seud Jenkins and Travon Henderson, even guys a little bit
further down a Devin neil An RJ.
Speaker 10 (29:37):
Harvey. Right, there's a lot of backs I think in
this class that are going to be productive pros.
Speaker 12 (29:41):
Do you see Omarion Hampton is that far and away
so much where we have to pick him at twenty.
Speaker 10 (29:46):
I'd entertain the idea.
Speaker 12 (29:47):
I really would, because I do think that he is
that talent that he has built so well for the position,
bounces off contact very well, he gives you that yards
after catchability, he's got a pretty good miss tackles force
for attempt average to him, pretty high rushing grades as well.
And somebody who gives you that they're downability, which is
really important right. When you talk about a guy that's
going to give you the value that you want from
the running back position in the first round, you've got
(30:08):
to be able to be an impact on passing down situations,
either as a pass detector or a receiver. You do
both of those things as well, So I think it's
a little bit more of a yeah, you don't really
question the running back choice at all at the tashion
Gente twenty. For Marian Hampton, it's not as much of
a slam dunk, But to me, he is in that
group of those players that you would think about here.
Speaker 1 (30:27):
That's Trevor Sikhama, the lead draft analysts for Pro Football
Focus with Ryan Edwards earlier today, and I think we're
all on board if fashion gent falls to the Broncos
at pick twenty. But what do you think about Omari
and Hampton at twenty? Do you think that's a reach
for the Broncos. Like Trevor said, this is a deep class.
You could maybe wait until the third or fourth round
to get another guy that you really like. Would you
(30:49):
consider that a reach if the Broncos draft him at
pick twenty, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
I definitely would, because the class is deep.
Speaker 6 (30:57):
In my opinion with a lot of running backs, and
it all depends on the value the Broncos ce and
either Hampton or Genty.
Speaker 2 (31:09):
Right.
Speaker 6 (31:09):
But for me, even though everyone is saying Aston Gentsy,
if he's there, you got to take him, I can
easily see the Broncos going you know what, someone's gonna
want to take Aston Genty, So that pick at twenty
now goes up in value.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
Now for me, I'm all about adding.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
Value to a team with a young quarterback and the
Broncos possibly moving back because Hampton could be there.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
But outside of Gensy, I like Quinshawn.
Speaker 6 (31:40):
Jenkins from Ohio State because when you think about explosion,
because I think about guys' second level ability, that explosion that.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Could run away from guys.
Speaker 6 (31:51):
And then I go back to my time playing against
Sean Payton type of teams.
Speaker 3 (31:55):
How did he use his running backs?
Speaker 6 (31:57):
It's dumping him off in screen passes, and Kushan Jenkins
junkins he can actually give you that level of explosion.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
Because that word that's often floated.
Speaker 6 (32:06):
Around, everyone keeps saying joker is not just a joker,
and the jokers is not one player.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
It's a player.
Speaker 6 (32:12):
Who is a playmaker, and you need multiple guys, and
Kushan Jenkins he can definitely give you that suf. The
Broncos don't get acid Gentz, There're still other guys.
Speaker 13 (32:23):
I fully agree there's other guys. I personally, I don't
think Omario and Haampton that twenty would be a reach necessarily.
I think he's a back that, like Genti, even though
he didn't have that gaudy production, could be a full
package player in his own right.
Speaker 2 (32:36):
You know, good pass protector.
Speaker 13 (32:37):
I think he's got good vision, unlike you know, the
Javante Williams if people are maybe having some flashbacks to that.
But he's also an explosive runner. I think he brings
that explosive qualities. There's a lot of power to his game,
like we saw with Javonte. He could be a truly
special back. And I think the lesson of this season
is maybe the running back doesn't have that value to everyone,
(32:59):
like New York Giants, but if you have the offensive line,
if you have the pieces in place, that special running
back can really catapul you into elite standing.
Speaker 2 (33:10):
Yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Seekers And from one North Carolina running back maybe to another.
And George Payton actually talked about Javonte Williams and what
they're looking at as a running back position and how
it relates to the NFL Draft, And we're going to
get into that when we come back on Broncos Country
to Night right here on KOA FI ninety four to
one FM.
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