The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL - Prospects to Pros: Heisman finalists and the P2P maibag

Episode Date: December 6, 2023

With the regular season behind us, Nate Tice and Dane Brugler dig into the mailbag on this episode of The Athletic Football Show's Prospects to Pros. Plus, the guys discuss this year's Heisman finalists, headlined by favorite, and Dane's QB3, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.Follow Nate on Twitter: @Nate_TiceFollow Dane on Twitter: @dpbruglerSubscribe to The Athletic Football Show...AppleSpotifyYouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the athletic football show's Prospects to Prospects to Pros. Hello and welcome to Prospects to Pros presented by Invesco QQ, the official ETF of the NCAA. We have a mailbag episode today. It's been a while. Let's hear from you guys. So we threw that out on Twitter before we did the show. Got some great questions. And we are going to go over them. We're also going to go over the Heisman finalists. Just a little check-in just to talk about those for you guys and where they stack up. And to help me do that, as always, is the... Mr. Beast himself. Dane Bruegler, how you doing today, Dane? I'm good. I'm good.

We're, yeah, weird part of the calendar with college football really over now. We're kind of the lull between Army Navy. Army Navy. Yeah, we have Army Navy coming up. Bet the under. Yeah, no kidding. No, we had, my son was the lead in the Christmas pageant last night. Oh.

That was fun. Yeah, he was elfish. So Elvis, but an elf. And it was fun. He didn't tell us. He was the lead. He told us he had a line, like, thank you, thank you very much. Like, he's like, I got one of those lines.

We go last night. He's, he's the freaking lead. He's singing. He's like, has 20 lines. I'm like, what is going on right now? It was kind of bizarre. Was that what you've been doing in the basement? He's like me.

Like he's. Undersells it? I was just going to say. And instead of putting pressure on himself, he just, I'm going to wing it. I'm going to, like, because he didn't practice at home. I think, and he knew if we knew, we would make him practice every day. Right. Like, go, go, recite your lines.

And I think that was part of his thinking, but he's probably also like me where he just, he wants to wing it. And, you know, instead of putting pressure on himself about it, and hey, he did a good job. So, yeah, it's, it's fun. He, I did want to ask you, it's Christmas movie season. Oh. What are your top three Christmas movies? Not to put you on the spot, but I am.

Top three Christmas movies. I know you're a movie guy. I am. I know. In my Christmas, there's ones I definitely prefer. Like a Christmas story is definitely way up there. I do appreciate Elf, but it would not make my top three. And I do love it as a modern classic.

And I get, like, I'm sure the younger generations can always view that. I always loved the original Santa Claus with Tim Allen. Oh, yeah. When I was a kid, that was one of my favorites. Same here. I don't think it gets a lot of love, but it's... For a while, that was easily number one for me. And I think just our ages coming up, because it came out in 94, so, you know, right in, yeah, exactly when we're growing up.

And so there's a nostalgic aspect to it, no doubt. And it wasn't a movie we owned. So it was a movie I only got to see it. on special, like when it came on TV. So it actually was something for me. Same with the Christmas story. I'm a big home alone guy. But we had, again, what we owned, we had Home Alone 2 before we had Home Alone 1 on VHS.

So I actually give the tip to Home Alone 2, which is definitely the worst movie of the two. But I have more of a nostalgia for that. So if I had to do a top three, it's probably Santa Claus, Home Alone 2 in a Christmas story. It would probably be my top three based off when I was a kid. I like it. great. I think the only, because I'm with you, big home alone, big on Santa Claus. Christmas vacation has to be in there for me. Oh, that's a great one. Yeah. It's, I watched it last night and it's just, it's so good. It's, it's amazing. Every year,

I find myself laughing at new parts. So that would definitely be in a three for me, probably with the Home Alone and Santa Claus. But yeah, there's a lot of, a lot of good ones. A lot of movies to watch this time. Well, the thing is, too, is I watch other movies as the weather gets cold. It's like my... Several movies I watch every year. Jurassic Parks won, but Lord of the Rings trilogy is always a winner watch. And then my wife has gotten me into watching the Harry Potter movies in succession.

Because I read the books as a kid. Actually, I always credit Harry Potter to getting me into reading when I was like nine years old, give or take. And I was wondering what all the kids in Minnesota when I moved there were talking about this weird wizard kid. the third one came out and I was like, all the cool kids doing. So I started reading, but I really always credit Harry Potter to getting me into reading. But she got me into the movies because I was kind of hipster with that. No, I like the books.

I don't watch the movies. And so that's another winner thing for us too. My wife's the same way because she's, she loved those movies. And we're waiting until our kids are a little bit older to kind of, because I've never seen them. So I'll probably catch them when. Oh, that's fun. We introduce them to the kids. Yeah.

I was just thinking the same. Okay. There's like, what, eight or something like that? There's seven, well, seven books.

They made the last book into two movies, you know, which actually let it breathe a little bit. It actually made up some better reviewing experience. In my opinion, they're making a TV series too. They're making an HBO Harry Potter series,

which I think is a great idea, but I'm curious how that's going on. They can make money off of it. They'll do it. Exactly. I was, I was just thinking about this because, uh,

James Bond movies, they must have been, they must have been, they must have do marathons. Yes. On like TBS when I was a kid, because I associate this time of the year with James Bond and 007 movies. So most of them are, I think, on Amazon Prime right now.

So I've been going through those as well. We have too. I can't believe you said that. My wife was like, let's watch all the Daniel Craig ones. So we watch Casino Royale, and that reminds me always at Thanksgiving. So, okay, Bell are just telling us it's called the 007 Days of Christmas. That's fun. Really?

Yeah, but that's funny you say that because they used to be on marathons all the time. And I want to say, yeah, one of the channels was like Spike TV or used to be TNN maybe. But they would have them. I remember watching Moonraker, Octopus, watching all those 70s ones. Oh, yeah, Goldfinger. Yeah, so spike did it. Yeah, okay, thank you, but yeah, that's so funny you say that because we watch Casino Royale. It's probably the first time in like a decade.

I've watched it. And then we watched. Oh, so good. It actually ages. It aged really well. And then quantum. The poker scenes are a little. Yeah.

unrealistic. A little like an exposition going on. Yeah. Those are called coolers and poker. Yeah. One of the better openings in that movie for sure. The black and white. I forgot all the stuff.

Yeah. That and then, yeah, all the stuff at the construction site. Yeah. Yeah. So many good, good villain in that one. Great villain. Connem of Solis was, eh, it's okay. Yeah.

But I mean, Skyfall. Skyfall's the best. I love Skyfall so much. It's amazing. Yes. Love Skyfall. All right. So enough of all that.

What podcast is? I can keep talking about this, though. I know, it's so funny you brought the 007 stuff because it's, I'm also reading a book called The Wager. It's really good. But no, it's, so we're talking about Heisman finalists to start. So that's Jane Daniels, Marvin Harrison Jr., Bo Nix, and Michael Pennix. That was an alphabetical order and not preference, so no one yell at me. But I will think these four have been announced as the finalist.

They're off to New York. I think Daniels has been one of the most fun, like, guys to watch in all of football this year. And I just want to start with him. because just watching Jane Daniels has been a pleasure because he is such an exciting player and it's been really fun as a prospect-wise as well to see his growth as a player, not just last year, but this year as well. But that's why I just want to start with MyCon, but I know, Dane, you've had similar feelings about Daniels as well. Yeah, and let me just ask you real quick.

Would it be a surprise to you if he does not win? I think, I mean, he's the clear favorite going in. He's been the favorite for at least a month, at least in my opinion. I'm not sure what the betting odds say, but would it be a surprise to you if Jane Daniels does not win? I would be more, I would be surprised. That would be the biggest surprise if he did not win to me, I think. I think especially what happened last Friday in the Oregon-Washington game. Right.

You know, what could a Knicks could have done or did not do. But no, I think just Daniels, yeah, just his play, the numbers pop. They're truly wow numbers. And it's truly, it feels like him doing a lot. So he would have been my pick, I think, for this. I had a vote. It seems like there's 5,000 voters out there. But what about you? You'd feel the same way. Yeah, yeah, I do. I mean, Jane Daniels has been, look, he benefits from an awesome wide receiver group, a really good offensive line that has given him time to work in the pocket. But his ability

to create explosives is something that is undeniable with his arm, with his legs. And he's just, he's doing it with a confident flare that we didn't always see when he was an underclassman. He's doing it with calm eyes. He is doing it with, there's a process to what he's doing. And you couldn't always say that when you watched, even last year when you watched him, that was one of the big, big knocks was the decision making. And, you know, why did you do this? Why did your eyes take you here?

But this year, it's, you can understand, oh, so he saw this priest now. Okay, I see what, oh, yep, yep, connecting the dots. So he's figuring things out. And, you know, he's an older player. He's a fifth year senior, fifth year starter. So on one hand, you kind of expect that from him to get better and better, better. But to his credit, he's been able to take it to heights. We didn't really, I don't think anybody really saw it going to this level.

But credit to him, he should be the Heisman winner with some of the, I mean, he leads the country in so many areas that I care about, especially those explosive plays. is. And again, I mean, he was seventh overall in my mock draft. And I even wrote in my mock draft at,

I promise you, you're going to start seeing him in the top 10. We have more mock drafts as these things come out. And already I've seen it a few this week. So it's,

and it's not, I don't think, you know, it's trying to jump the gun. It's talking to NFL scouts. That's kind of where they said this is heading. Because,

right, the bottom line with, with Jane Daniels, the more you watch him, the more you run out of reasons why he can't be an impact starter at the next level and plain and simple. So I think by the time, as long as he doesn't stub his toe between now and April, we'll see if he actually plays in the senior bowl. We'll see what he does at the combine, all that.

And I don't even think he's announced if he's playing in the bowl game or not for LSU. I hope he doesn't go badgers. Yeah, there you go. Let the backup quarterback get some reps. Yeah, right. But, you know, so we'll see what happens here the next few months. But, yeah, he has put himself in a really enviable spot. Yeah. And we'll be talking about more about Jaden Daniels here more with some of these questions we got.

He's earned this, which I think is really cool. And you talk about the more you watch him, and I think that's what it is for me. And I thought when I, you kept saying it, we've had a conversations about Daniel several times, but just like, oh, it felt like the book was written on him. And it was just like, actually, it is not. He keeps adding to his game. But what you're talking about too, is. his ability to find answers. The flash plays, of course, him running around and creating plays with his legs and a couple,

you know, big wow throws to his talented receivers. But when you watch him on film and I harp on this all the time, down to down sustainability. This is what a guy is even like a guy like Jordan Love is doing right now where they have an answer to every problem that the defense is solving. And I'm not even just saying, oh, the coverage answer and they go to the right read, when stuff goes askew, they have an answer with their legs. they do it quickly or the throwaway or the checkdown or the Tom Brady miss where they throw it out the legs of the receiver you know that it's supposed to take an eight yard sack hey it's just a neutral

play no yards are gained or lost and I think that's where where you're saying the more you watch him the more he grows on the end it's just really cool on top of it having athletic traits and pretty good arm and all those types of things so it's like you said it's it's because of him like how is this not an impact guy I had him at 20 in my mock and I felt good about it then and it's like wow I might been low. Might be some of those other teams. You gave them to the Bucks, I believe. Tampa, yeah.

And that's funny. I heard from a lot of Giants fans who, Giants were picking five in that mock draft who, why did we pass on Jay and Dam? So it's, I think more and more fans are on board with this. If he wants the Heisman, wait until what happens after that. Yeah.

Well, it's funny. The Heisman, I used to, you know, really push against it being, you know, like, it doesn't matter if he wins the Heism. Indignant. Yeah. But you'll go back the Heisman winners the last 10 years.

They've all been. Name guys. High picks. I mean, just the last few of Caleb Williams, Bryce Young. I mean, you go on and on.

And it's a lot of early top five, top three picks. Yeah. I know. It's no more Eric Crouches. Right. Actually, there's a relevant question about that.

We'll get to in a minute. But talk about any, any notes on the other finalists. We can go to Marvin Harrison, Jr. I don't know how much more poetic we need to wax about him. I'm just so happy he got invited. Yeah. He might not even win the Blitnikov.

Because there are better, or I shouldn't say better, there are receivers with better stats. That might be one of the best Blitnikovs, kind of like even just finalists, but even semi-finalist list when you look at one's longer. I have no problem if Malik Nibers wins a Blitnikov. I totally get him. Lake Neighbors has been LSU wide receiver.

It's been awesome this year. In my opinion, he is wide receiver two in this track. I think in my I get it. I'm always going to keep an open mind. But for me, I think he's wide receiver too. And I don't see myself coming off that throughout the rest of the process. It's Roma Dunzei and Keon Coleman fighting for wide receiver three in my opinion. I totally get it.

I'm a dunzae. I'm a duncee because he's just a receiver after my own heart. But neighbors is a guy. I thought I had an idea of more I watch him. his skill set is like what you prize in the NFL right now to build you do create an explosive play is the number one thing there's talked about it with the receiver, the quarterback, but for a receiver to take a five-yard run and take it to the house or create an explosive, that's one of the most prized things right now. There's some Garrett Wilson there with, with, you know, just stylistically, there's some Garrett Wilson there. So I, Marvin Harrison Jr., though, the best player that I saw this year.

Right. And so I, he's, like I said, he might not even win the Bolitnikov, but I'm glad he's going to get his flowers in New York City, be on this stage, get, be in that spotlight. not going to win. And I, you know, I understand that. But he was the best player I saw this year. So I'm just glad he got invited. He's been awesome. Yeah. He's only, only answered.

I didn't have many questions about him, but it's just like there's not much to doubt with him. So yeah, like you're saying, it's cool to see the accolades as opposed to us just going, the guy that has 600, 700 yards, maybe going top three or something like that. Right. Well, and he's still pretty over a thousand yards. He had 14 touchdowns this year. And big plays.

And when you factor in, okay, Malik neighbor. what he did with the Heisman frontrunner or Jane Daniels, Romad Dunezay, what he did with a Heisman finalist, and then Marvin Harrison Jr. with a quarterback who is not even on the roster anymore at Ohio State. He did it with an average, and again, I go back to that Penn State tape, watching him just cook Kaelin King up and down the field and the ball placement of some of these throws,

and he's just consistently, Harrison, bailing him out. You know, he's, without Marvin Harrison, Junior, Ohio State, I don't know, three lost team maybe this year. I don't know. It's they are, he was that offense more in, you know, when the quarterback was very average. And so the fact that he was able to have the production that he did was just really impressive. How much attention got put on him. And then other ways they try to use them.

He excelled at it's awesome. Yeah, we might see a little Cam Warden Columbus. Is that the current rumor right now? I've heard so many rumors. Oh, I'm sure. Oh, my God. Transfer Portal, quarterbacks. It's like, oh, my goodness.

I mean, it's basically all my QB3s this year. Riley Leonard, Tyler Van Dyke. Yeah. It's funny how in some guys that are like Michael Pratt, Tulane, who. I know. I think most expect him to go to the NFL, but he's hearing from a lot of teams that are throwing money at them, at least through the NIL collectives, to stay in college one more year and kind of be the Sam Hartman, you know, the hired gun for one year before going to the NFL. So and Pratt's probably a A third, fourth round pick.

So it's, he has something to think about for sure. A lot of games if he goes to a right team. He can have about a lot of teams. It's, it's a whole new ball game with this, with the transfer portal and NIL and all these guys would be declaring if this was a few years ago. A lot of them. A lot of them because they would just be,

oh, well, I got to get my money now. Like, hey, I got to do this. I know it's crazy and just notable names. Well, speaking of transfer quarterbacks, two of them ended up being final. Bo Nix and Michael Pettix. We've kind of, I think we've collided solidified what our kind of feelings on Nix and Pennix are for now, always regular season tape and everything.

Let me, you were, you saw them live, both of them. Friday night in the stands there in Vegas. What were, obviously you watched these guys before. So you have your opinion going in. Right. So seeing them both live, what were your takeaways from Friday night? I was, well. Those washing receivers sure are good.

That's the number one thing. I would say panics has a little more zip to his arm than maybe I gave him credit for, maybe put in person and some of those throws, they let him use it as well. Not as good as I actually came away thinking he's a lesser athlete than I thought he would be. There's a couple times he was trying to pull away on corners and he was trying to scramble and whatnot. And then it just was not happening.

He wasn't really getting to the edge. So that, having said that, Nix, on the other hand, was a little bit more impressive physically than I thought he would be. I remember asking you earlier this year. I was like, what is the size? Like, is that official? But I would say in person, him moving and everything, but then also his arm did not impress me as much. I kind of feel the same how I felt on tape where I think I was underrating Penix's arm strength, but his processing and everything, exactly the same. I had a great angle, too. I was that kind of like an isometric view from like the corner end zone. So it was like I had kind of an end zone sideline view on both sides.

And watching Pennix a couple times, it was just that hair late throwing the ball. And I could see it developing from my angle. So it's even in person, I could see it was almost like live all 22. Literally, you're watching the game. But I could see him not pulling that trigger. And I was like, okay, so that is how it feels on when I'm watching them on tape. It's how it feels when I'm watching my person. But they were still ended up being good plays.

But that's a difference between NFL anticipation and college high level. anticipation. That long throw, the deep throw to McMillan. That's the one I'm thinking of. Yeah. If he, like, yeah, he was a big, it was an explosive play. But if he throws it a hair earlier instead of waiting for him to come open, it's a touchdown. That's literally the exact play I'm thinking of is. Yeah, exactly. I flagged that play too as yeah, like that's Twitter's blowing up. People are loving this. But he's he waited till he got clear on the. Yes. It kind of was it a corner route and. It was a big, it was a big. It was a big. It was a big. long over route, like a high overrout, but that's exactly what you're thinking of. It's a play. It's a shot play to him. And that's the thing. It's like, that's where you're going. Like, so yeah, let a rip. He almost ran out of real estate because it was right up against a sideline. And if he throws it just a hair earlier and anticipates that, it's a touchdown. Yeah, no doubt. Yeah, I know. So that, that's kind of came in person. But it's, yeah, kind of, it's what I felt in film, I like my grade was on moved, good or bad with either and

just maybe some more traits thing, seeing him in person, which always helps. We're going to get to the mailbag now because I'm excited to see who does win a lot of those awards because it's like, I don't know, you mentioning to Blitnikov is going to be very interesting because everybody has a lot of feelings about that award. It seems like on Twitter. But going in, I mentioned Eric Crouch. And that leads us to maybe our first question from the mailbag, which was from ZD on Twitter, who asked which day one and day two prospects could change positions in the NFL. See where I was getting at with the crouch thing. Yeah, there you go. But yeah, he was, I think he was a third rounder.

But yes, but yeah, I was curious actually where you would go with this. I had a couple thoughts, more DB related, which aren't as fun, but I was curious what maybe you would think. I went to the offensive line. I think that's where, you know, you usually see the most position changes. It's the most common. This year, definitely several candidates, including a few potential first rounders, someone that you saw Friday night Washington left tackle Troy Fontonou

we've talked about him a ton on this pot left tackle feet and he's got the length 34 and a half inch arms but the style and the blocking aesthetics it just most teams are projecting him inside the guard and I totally get it the first touchdown that Washington had Friday night

the pin pool design Fontonu got a chance to show off his range really just besides I think one flag was a holding penalty on Friday night besides that He was terrific all night. The guy beat him inside. I can't remember.

I'm trying to know. I think he was Jordan Birch. Yeah, yeah. That's where he will struggle with length at times. When they can get him into his chest, use that long arm, yeah. Yeah, no, that's a good one. I, Graham Barton, same kind of discussion point. He's going to be a guard.

Yeah. Well, I think he's going to be a center. I think he's going to be the best center in this class. Because he actually played center as a freshman. Right. And with Frazier, the West Virginia Center now, you know, he broke his leg. And by the way, did you see that clip of him getting off the field when it happened? Oh, no, that you would try to walk it off?

I mean, he literally was as fast as he could was crawling off. Like, he knew it immediately. He knew what happened. And they caught it all on video. As soon as it happened, he didn't even like hesitate and like, you know, call out in pain or anything. He just started crawling as fast as he could to. the sideline and then they stopped it they you know the rest were like oh wow this is bad you know we got to shut the play down but i mean it was remarkable to see just i mean talk about a team first

guy yeah just broke his leg and to have the the wherewithal to not for a second think oh what was me and oh this really hurts it's oh i need to get off the field so uh you know the offense can keep going oh it's unbelievable that's awesome it reminds me of a hockey player trying to crawl to back to the bench like when they're skating skating because they don't like the legal substitution stuff. So yeah, that, that, no, that's crazy. But back to what I'm talking about these centers. Yeah. With, with Frazier out, I think Barton is going to be the first center drafted this year. And I think he could be, like I said, in the first round.

I would, I will almost guarantee you most of his snaps at the senior bowl will come at center. That'll be big for him. Yeah. That's huge. Yeah. And so I do think guard center is his best spot, but won't be surprised if he's a starting center in the NFL next year. He's smart. The way he stays centered to blocks is outstanding, really strong hands. Just a really good player. So, yeah, Grant Barton's, yeah. I mean, he's, every year,

if we feel like we have one, you know, Cody White hair or, you know, last year, Skoronsky, the guy the tackle who doesn't have great arm length, moves inside, ends up being a really good pro. Yeah, that's what's what my dad did with Matt Burke. Matt Burke was a Harvard left tackle.

Turned out okay. Turned out okay, moving to center. Jeff Christie was a fullback. He was a Wow. The OG Jason Kelsey. Oh, yeah. Oh, I drafted him on Madden every, I'd do it in franchise mode. Oh, yeah. I'd love to get him.

Sure. Yeah, but those guys, the move moving to center is like one of those. Rodney Hudson at Florida State and then ending up at center was another one. But he was just, he was just such a terrible athlete, but it was like you just got to get him, get him on the field somehow. So center it is. Let's use that. But that's awesome to hear about Barton. Yeah.

And I want to throw out Jordan Morgan to. Arizona left tackle. I think he's on the side. Yeah. I mean, he has his 34 inch arms. He's a good athlete. Just some of that lateral range is not ideal for the tackle. And so I think it's kind of 50-50. Some teams will see him a tackle. Some will bump him inside to guard.

A third round type of player who I think is going to be back inside. Dominic Poonie from Kansas. Not as much of a projection because he played guard last season, but great backstory. He started out Division 2, Central Missouri. He was teammates with his two older brothers. So not many guys can say that that played college football with two of his older brothers. He transferred up to Kansas. Pretty big bet on himself. Looked pretty good last year. It looked even better this year at left tackle. But yeah, I think he's, I think a strong week at

the Senior Bowl, kind of solidify himself as a top 100 guy as a guard prospect. Yeah, I know a lot teams like him and I know watching Kansas. I like him. Watch more Kansas football than I ever have him. Oh, that's a lie. 2008, Kansas was a lot of fun too. And we were ranked top five in the country. Yeah, that Mizzou Kansas game in 2007 with some of that comes on our channel all the time, Chase Daniel.

So it's, uh, it's, I know those games though, those live in my memory. Yeah, my DB one was Kiel and King at safety. I was curious. I would give him a chance. there. I obviously try my corner, but saying like, I don't know, I always, my initial grade on him, I think we both were, came kind of lowered on him. I still think he's a fine player. Sure. I was like, man, I think he would be best in like a, you know, Fangio type defense where they use some cover two and cover six stuff, like more of a zone heavy corner, like true

zone heavy corner and not some more of the matchy Seattle type guys. And that kind of, well, those guys actually sometimes transition to safety. Okay. His size is not great. So he's about 190. I know. That was my one thing. But I don't know. His skill set at least because I feel like he has to have eyes on the quarterback to affect the game the best as opposed to maybe being manned up or maybe the Marvin Harrison snaps from from from both years. Are burned into my memory.

But I don't know. That was just one like transition. I would maybe try if like corner it doesn't really stick for him. But no, that was one. Cooper DeGine, of course, could just play whatever. Yeah, that's the obvious one. He could play a linebacker and I wouldn't really be surprised. He could be a dime linebacker and be fantastic.

Yeah. He did it. He played what they call it maybe a cash. I can't remember what they call it in Iowa's defense, their scheme. I think it's cash. But yeah, he'll play in the box. He'll play. He's got experience all over the secondary and all over that back seven.

Go back and watch some of his basketball highlights. Oh, my gosh. This kid is in middle school doing these dunks at, you know, 5, 10, not even. I just crazy, crazy athlete. I know. People are going to love him. He's been such a joy. way to watch. I'm so sad when he got hurt. He is. He's just a fun football player.

They could have used them. They could have used them. Michigan. That's for sure. That was a drag of our first half. Well, do you know how he got hurt in practice actually practicing with the offense? They were trying to the Joe Thomas. Right. Yeah. Playing Joe Thomas at defensive end. Can you imagine if Twitter was around for that? I don't think a lot of people realize that Joe Thomas tore his ACL. I think was it bowl game.

It was a ball game. Yeah. Playing defensive end as a juke like I don't the Twitter would go nuts if that happened or if it was around when that happened. So for the bowl game too, not like the Rose Bowl. Right. It was like, I think it was probably the one they're playing it today. They used to be the Outback Bowl or this year.

Right, right. Yeah, but no, Thomas did okay for himself. Yeah, you still want to be number three overall and playing every snap. Right, right. Just went into the Hall of Fame. It's okay. A couple of these defense alignment, you know, Tumolu, Trice and everything, it's not more of a position switch. It's just that I think that they're going to have some use and passing downs in the NFL inside.

And I think that's going to be really interesting to watch how certain teams I think are going to really like those guys more than others, which we've talked about a lot, their pocket push for more types. But I think that it's not a position switch. It's more of a role that they might lean into at the NFL level. So those guys are kind of want to just shout out because I could maybe see, can I could see that path. I can see them kicking inside with some team, you know, and just like, all right, you're kicking inside on passing downs and helping out our bendy out dressers on the outside.

One more that I'll mention too. And it's because I've heard this from Scouts is Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton, possibly, he's going to get a chance at a quarterback. Yeah, yeah. He's going to get a chance at a quarterback. You know, his arm is one of the most special arms in terms of velocity and pure power that I've ever seen. but scouts will bring up like, you know, like Logan Thomas, who a fourth round pick at quarterback out of Virginia Tech,

you know, consistency was always an issue for him, eventually moves a tight end. That might be a realistic path for Milton, who's probably a, you know, a 460 type of athlete, you know, someone that, you know, at least could be a path for arm if quarterback just if it doesn't work out. But I do think he'll get a shot at quarterback. The arm is just too amazing.

Yeah, absolutely. when my dad did. He was a college quarterback and below his shoulder and lasted one day. He moved tight end. Blake Bell is another quarterback with the Ta-N Oklahoma, Oklahoma, the bell dozer, even though he was basically used like a fullback anyways in college. Who's the Buffalo tight end? Went to the Eagles.

They're trying them at tight end. Oh, oh, yeah, the former quarterback. Oh, University of Buffalo. Yeah, Jackson. Tyree Jackson. Sorry, man. Yeah, yeah. I was thinking of the bills.

I was like, actually there was a guy that, that's so starting to think of that. So I was trying to think of that. No, yes, yes, that was another one. That's the classic. That's the classic switch. There was the Nebraska Omaha quarterback that ended up playing tight end for the Jacks and the Bears. I'm blinking on his name right now.

There's another one. Yeah, that's the classic transition for these guys. Right. I know, if you all look, they're all 64, 65. Next question from Ricky Wilson 87. Can Fuaga, Talulis? Is that, is I say it, Talese, Fala from Oregon State and Amarius Mims from Georgia, play both tackle positions, meaning left or right tackle, or just one.

Dane, when do you think about this question? Yeah, and this is always an interesting one because you can't just assume, right? You know, it's, and I think with Fulaga, I actually think he might be best at guard. I know some teams have him projected inside because his feet can get tied up a little bit versus speed. He's so wide too. Yeah, and what's his strength? It's as a run blocker. It's when he uses his hands.

And so I'm not projecting for all guys, someone you want protecting the blind side. I think he's going to be more of a right tackle, maybe even better inside a guard. Mims is the interesting one. He is, I mean, I've kind of professed my love for him before. He's the most gifted, one of the most gifted players in the country. The movement skills at 6-7, 3.30 are just ridiculous.

It sucked to see him exit the SEC title game after just, I think it was 11 plays, at another ankle injury. He had that tight rope, surgery back in September, missed half the season. He's got a grand total of eight starts to his name. Doesn't have a ton of experience. But again, the talent is off the charts. And if he declares, like, I'm told he will,

it's going to be a really interesting evaluation because it will take a leap of faith. But to the original question, Mims was a right tackle only in college, didn't play another snap, I don't know, a different position. It was a little surprising. He didn't move to the left side when Broderick Jones left. for the draft after last season.

Yeah. So, you know, you talk to the coach. If you're a scout, you talk to the coaches, try to figure out, okay, was it just, you know, continuity. Like what he did, right tackle last year in the college football playoffs. So he just wanted to keep him there. I have no doubts that he has the physical traits to do it. But this is where also those private workouts are important.

Having your offensive line coach work them out in a left tackle stance and seeing the footwork, seeing how he does just in a different spot, different position, how natural does he look. Uh, that's where I think teams will rely on to really project him. Is he a right tackle only? Or is he a guy that has that position versatility? Yeah. It's the Tyrant Smith that the right draft the freak. And, oh, yeah, but there's plenty of flashes on tape.

I mean, even when those 11 snaps, Mims had a pancake on a screen, I think, or somewhere he was on the second level and he just tossed a guy about the screen. That first, first touchdown they had. I mean, they ran it right to on the right side and the right, right guard and right tackle just cleared the way. Yeah. It's not just athletic. I mean, it is athleticism with him,

but at least the tape is real football tape. It's not like, oh, well, we got a, oh, man, maybe he can figure it out. That Ohio State tape last year was the best. It was fantastic. Offensive tackle tape that I watched last year. He was number five overall in my preseason top 50 just because of that tape alone, even though we just don't have a ton of body of work for him yet.

But, man, is he so talented. Yeah. Like, his tape's good. Like, that's what's, that's what makes easy. And if you're going to take, and that's, I had them going to Buffalo fans, then not like that in the first round, taking a tackle,

even though they should. Neither of their tackles are under contract after next season. That was a good point, but you know, I really like Mims. Yeah. That, you know, I, I really like that fit, but, I mean, I get it.

This is a team that wants to win now. Yeah. But yeah, it's hard to get an elite guy. This guy has the traits of being an elite guy. He does. He definitely does. And I've gone to the thinking and as,

because a lot's been made for, okay, always right side only or is he a right tackle. I remember when Tristan Worf's was coming out. And I've really got into the thinking where it is like baseball pitchers. It's like, of course you prefer the lefty. But if I'm not, the righty is the righty. Because just where everybody lines up these days in the NFL, pass rush or wise, it's not as big left and right anymore.

They're just going to find your weak point anyways. So yeah, if the guy's more naturally on the right, play him on the right, fine. And that, honestly, that is a great example of doing your homework when you're a scout. because, you know, guys that went into Iowa, they, you find out Tristan Wirffs played right tackle because the left tackle couldn't play right tackle. Correct. The left tacklerick Jackson had to play, believe it was Alaric Jackson, had to play left tackle. So, I mean, it was, it was something that, you know, they knew Tristan Worf's could

really play anywhere on that offensive line. He could play all five spots. But to get the best five on the field, they had to keep the left tackle, left tackle, and that meant worse on the right side. And, you know, it wasn't a case of. of, oh, he's a right tackle only. And obviously we're, you know, seeing that in the NFL, how he's doing this year.

Right. But that's the job of Scouts is to figure that out. What's the context here? Can you really not play right tackle? Or can he really not move to the other side? It's just not natural form? Or is there more of an explanation here? So, yeah, that's that.

And on J.C. Latham, another one with kind of figure that out, who a really good right tackle. But is he a right tackle? He played left tackle at IMG Academy in high school, but since he's been to, Ben at Alabama has not played a snap at left tackle, and some thought he might move to the left side this year. They kept them at right tackle for continuity.

Another thing that scouts will be trying to figure out, nail down, just exactly why he stayed at right tackle, if there's anything else besides just, you know, what we see on the surface. My scouting friend, and I got to find the text, he watched, it's not his area, but he watched Latham, and he gave me a one-liner. He said that to their scout, and I have to read it because it's worth reading because it was so funny.

He said, after watching him, my one-liner is like Dante's Inferno, Abandon All Hope, Yehu enter here. Once he gets his hands on you, it's over. George has got some pretty good defensive linemen, and watching these big powerful defensive linemen just squirm and not being able to gain their freedom, once he puts his hands on you, it's just it's something to watch. He is the strongest player in this draft. And it's,

he's not a perfect prospect. I mean, there are times, he got beat a few times inside. It doesn't get depth and a set. That's one thing I got to figure out with him why he does that. That's another thing you want to ask, like why you do that.

Like he doesn't get back and I wonder why. And I think it affects his aiming points. Yeah. With some of the placement of, because he has really violent hands, really strong hands. But sometimes, you know,

he, when his sets are off, the placement of his hands are outside on the, on the outside shoulder or, you know, because he tries to knock guys out. Yeah, he wants to be a bully. He tries to stun him every time.

Yeah. Right. And he, he gave himself the nickname TK. Uh, for, for trench king. So you always have to wonder about,

uh, the self given nicknames. Um, but hey, you know what? He embraces that bully role. And, uh,

I mean, he is, yeah, really, really good player. And again, not, he's young.

He's still. still just 20 years old. There's going to be some, you know, just in terms of on-field discipline and consistency, needs to get better. But the play strength and the way he moves, really, really impressive. I mean, he's, I won't say locked into the top 10, but to me, he's locked into OT3 and a guy that I can't see lasting very long on draft night. I'm right there with you, a true lottery pick.

Yeah. And I think Mims is too. I'm right there with you too. That, again, it's a great tackle class. And that is fun. Next question from Chris Henley. Randy Miller has Jane Daniels over Drake May. And we talked about a little bit of Daniel, so that was great.

If you were going to make the case against Drake May, what would your argument be? Randy Mueller, of course, former NFL GM, not going to be read and heard on the athletic. Yeah. He's been doing us a long time. So when he brings a really interesting perspective. And, you know, having Daniels over May, I think. think perfectly illustrates what I've been saying since the start is there's rarely a consensus when it comes to quarterback rankings in the draft from team to team from evaluator to evaluator

and it's true again this year and I know I know some NFL scouts who believe may is the best quarterback in this draft plan and simple others I think no no question they believe calib's the top quarterback I haven't heard anyone say jane daniels is the top quarterback at one but I think you know they they see him as a top 10 guy like we mentioned so So, but back to the question, you know, the case against May, it comes down to some of the reckless tendencies. You know, his arm gets juiced up at times. So miss some layups.

Some really ill-advised throws when he's, and there's really some, a lot of the things we've been saying about Caleb, you know, tries to put that superhero cape on and he's getting sacked. And before he goes down, he's trying to throw up a prayer. And it's like, just maybe, you know, live to see the next play instead of putting the ball in harm's way like that. So, and you could look back at the last. two games he has played at Clemson at NC State. Didn't look like QB1 on those tapes.

Now, the pass protection was bad. I have no clue what the receivers were doing out there. They gave up on routes. They're not getting open. I mean, it was, the tape was rough for that entire offense, but you don't want to have to make excuses for your quarterback one, right? And so they're not, there are more reasons than excuses, but at the same time, you know, you just, you wish it wasn't like that. And so, I mean, if you're going to make a case against Drake May, um, especially in terms of him over him against Jaden Daniels, that, that's what I would say.

There's no perfect prospect ever. It's like, even though guys that were like, number one, this guy's a grace. It's like, yeah, they still have blemishes. And I, yeah, that's where, that's where I'm in with May is that his heat, the heat check moments, uh, which is fitting because of his basketball, you know, family with basketball and everything is that, like you said, I liked how you said it. his arm gets juiced up sometimes where he's feeling it. And then he tries the fire one in it.

He has the classic line drive throwers spray, certain guys just because of their throw types, herberts like this where it's like, oh, he's inaccurate. It's like, no, he just miss,

when he does miss, it's the worst miss you've ever seen because they're line drive throwers. And they just go, so it's not that kind of, as someone that had a little bit of a softer arm, we arc it in there. That's why Mack Jones and those guys,

they arc that thing in there. They lob that thing in there. They don't miss as wilder. And but it's they just have that's it's not inaccuracy. It's just the one-off sprays. But I would say that's why Justin Herbert's my comp, the good and the bad with with Drake Matt. Yeah. How Herbert played this year where he's playing with a little bit more F you and I think just

because it's a Chargers situation. This is the most. He has to, right. Has to. This is most Herbert's ever scrambled. Like he's truly like put the team on my back. That's what I think May can be because he has more recklessness to him than Herbert did coming out of Oregon.

Also just a huge reminder. He's a retro sophomore at quarterback, which is pretty insane that, you know, him and Kayla being younger as well. But the biggest negatives, too, is also that, yes, he's a little too aggressive. He check. He last year, he would work backwards in the pocket trying to make a play, which is a no-no. This year, he's gotten way better stepping up into the pocket and trying to work out. Once in a while, he will bail out. But like you said, some of that's from the O line.

And some of that's from, oh, there's two guys on this route because we're trying to match. to protect our O line, the O line still lets up something into the interior. And there's only two guys out on routes. And he's trying to create something. So like you said, you're not trying to create excuses, but there are some answers to it. I would say that his ability to operate in structure and in the pocket and his eyes, all to me have passed the smell test. So that's why maybe I'm not as concerned as maybe some other guys where I'm like, oh, he's a runaround guy. May runs around.

And when he watch all 22, it helps bring a perspective when he has to. And that's a huge difference, I think, for me at least. But I do think some recklessness does come up. But again. And in his age being, he just turned 21 years old. You know, he's two full years younger than Jane Daniels. And so, you know, if Jane Daniels, after his third year in college was a late round pick, you know, so it's like there's context involved here with just whenever you do quarterback evaluation. When you do any evaluation, but especially with quarterbacks and so.

But bottom line, um, I, no one's going to have the same, there's not going to be any consensus with these quarterbacks. Never. Even when you have Trevor Lawrence, who was viewed as, you know, the generational guy and,

you know, easy quarterback one. He wasn't the quarterback one for every single team. You and I both agree. He was a third round grade on him. Yeah. You and I both agree he was the best quarterback in that draft. Yeah.

At the time and obviously now, but at the time, there were, you know, some teams had Zach Wilson over him. Yes, you know, and it's,

it's, But he will go down as being the first quarterback drafted because that's what the Jaguars wanted to do at number one. But if a different team had that first pick, who knows? And we'll see this year with if it is the Bears or whoever ends up picking number one. They will dictate who will be forever known as the first quarterback drafted in this class. It's something that goes on your resume. You're number one. Speaking of that, having that number one pick, the next question is from Matt Gravy Train.

That's pretty fun. The number of pick is available for trade. Which teams are in a position to give up three first round picks for it? The RG3 trade, basically. It will take more than three. You'll take more than three. Yeah, probably right. I mean, first round pick, you know, it depends how many bidders are, right?

Like, people want to look at past deals, really. And that's kind of where the negotiation starts. But if there's more than a couple bidders, I mean, that's going to dictate the price, what someone's willing to pay. And so when you look at it, let's just, okay, let's say hypothetical, Justin Fields goes on a heater the last month of the season. And the Bears decide, you know what, we, we're not going to give them an extension just yet, but we can't cut bait either.

Let's ride with him another year, you know, his fourth years of his rookie deal. And, yeah, we could take Marvin Harrison Jr. at one, but man, what we could get in a trade. Let's do that. So they open it up for trade. that's where it gets really interesting. Is there a particular team to you that you think, okay, no brain or they have to make a move? One team that stands out to me is Vegas.

Yes, that was one of my finalists, I would say. I mean, they are, they just feel like, I mean, obviously they have to hire a general manager and a head coach. That's priority one before they can take any direction, a next direction moving forward. But they are, they kind of stuck a quarterback. and it's a it's a lot to a big price to pay to move up but bring Caleb to Vegas or May or Daniel whoever they end up drafting.

Vegas was the one team that really kind of flashing and bright lights like hey, we need to do this. Let's let's make a splash. And also it's, you know, Mark Davis. It's like you never know. Like that's why that's a great team. And even when I was going into my kind of like finalists like ones I would kind of want to throw out here.

it was kind of like, would they do it? Like actually, would there be a narrative, but they do it? And one that stuck out to me, and probably because they did it for a receiver, trading up so high and giving up a lot, was the Falcons. Totally different GM, totally different regime. It's not Thomas Dimitrov anymore. But that was one that stood out to me because of just where they're at as a team. I, you know, having the offensive weapons, the offense of lines pretty is decent. They played better at least thankfully in the last couple weeks.

And then I think the defense is more vet-laden and, unfortunately, Of course, they need pass rusher and everything like that, but they have other pieces and they kind of vetted it up and they have cap space to kind of make this work. So they were one that was like, eh, I could see it. I could understand the argument for it. It probably depends how they finish, right? Because if they make the playoffs, if they win the NFC South. They would be in pick 20 or, yeah, whatever. Yeah, it gets a lot harder to do that.

But if they say they lose out, say Tampa or, you know, whoever wins that division, all of a sudden they're picking ninth overall. And it becomes much, much easier. year. Oh, yeah, exactly. So that's, that, that is interesting. It's all these middle ground teams. Yeah. Like, all the ones that I thought were the most interesting were all ones that I could see are like the borderline wild card or playoff teams. You know, Vikings were another one just because I'm trying to figure out their future. I feel like they stand that and hope something falls to them. Rams just because I think it would be hilarious. And the other one is the Steelers. It was just depending on how their season finishes up because that is interesting. Yeah. And with their team makeup is. Now. Yes. Pickett being out hurts this team because if like if I'm a Steelers fan, I'm, I was already probably thinking Pickett's my quarterback next year just because this,

it's a franchise that does not move on quickly. You know, from coaches, from from anything. So the leash is probably longer for Kenny Pickett. But now that he's out these next few weeks, it really, it's, it's a chance that it's a missed opportunity to evaluate him and maybe for the Steelers to realize, hey, this isn't. the guy. Right. So I'll, I mean, I think it's, it's, you're right to bring up to Steelers here because I think

the right move would be to move on from Kenny Pickett, try to upgrade the position. I just don't think they're going to do it. Yeah. And they're not that kind of aggressive gopher broke kind of team. They will move up, but not kind of like that. I know. They were just one that was like, man, the rest of their team kind of sits okay for it, like with their defense and what they could do with the run game, their old line.

They got some youth in it now. It's like, yeah, I don't know. It was one that was like, yeah. Like, Washington, do you think they've seen enough from Sam Howell that they think he could be the guy? Or do you think that they think he's good, but not good enough? And we need to make a move. I think, whoever. New ownership.

Right. That's the big thing with all this. And also, I could see them doing the whole day one, everybody. Owner, coach, G. Fresh star. Quarterback. Right. Full fresh slate.

And that's, that's. That's why I think they will move on, even if how, how I struggle with me. Because there's times from like, this dude gets it. Holy crap, look at that throw. And then he takes three sacks in a row. And then it's just like, ah, ah, like, there are a lot of Baker-Mayfield comparisons coming out and you can still see it. He, he, how it's unbelievable how much they play alike.

Like, it's just, it's, they even run similar. Like, it's just, they're built the same. It's crazy. But he is, I enjoy howl because he, it's the classic, is he fun or is he good? And that's what I'm still trying. I'm still trying to figure it out because he does enough. And I think he does see the game okay. It just has got to quicken up.

But man, he's so tough. It's like, and you can tell the players, his teammates love them. So yeah, I'm back and forth. But I think any, if they did get the Caleb or the Drake of the world,

obviously that would be an upgrade. But if they moved up. Now to a couple other individual players that we just got, I just got a couple replies on Twitter. So I'm just going to throw them in here. Dane, what are your thoughts on Tavanger, Swet from Texas?

all 370 pounds of them. I just say if he gets to 390 at some point in his NFL career, I don't think it'd be that big of a surprise. That's a big boy. Well, he's actually a tight end for me now after the Big 12 championship game. He's seeing him catch that touchdown pass. He is a Y-W. He's two Y's put together.

Right, yeah. I mean, he is at the Combine, I'm guessing he'll be right around 350. I'm sure he'll kind of get it in a good spot for him. which I think is 350, but to have the movement skills that he has at 350 is just kind of silly. So he's really, I can't wait for this. We'll talk about more the college football playoffs here

and those matchups coming up in a future pod, but that Washington offensive line against that Texas defensive line is going to be a lot of fun just to evaluate. And Byron Murphy for Texas defensive line, he's a day two pick. To find a sweat, I think, is a day two pick. Both these guys are just, they're different in what they offer,

but they're both disruptive. They both win in different ways. Texas defensive line, I mean, the reason Texas is in the playoff is that offense and the quarterback playing with consistency with those weapons, but that defensive line is why they have a legitimate chance to go to the national title and potentially win at all because it's not just, you know, your typical Big 12 offense

that's putting up a lot of points, the defense can make some plays too. Oh, they bullied Oklahoma State. Like, it was like, they had toyed with them the whole game, both sides of the ball. I mean, Sark was, Sark got some stuff up his sleeve. I mean, very excited to see what they kind of on offense anyways, what they, they show in that college football playoff. But yeah, the defense as well. I always, there is something to with hand-eye coordination with the big boys.

Like, with, that's athletic, that's true athleticism. Like, you know, it's, I have a theory, too, about receivers. that the receivers with the best hands are the ones that can throw the ball. One that can actually, you know, a lot of receivers have that little sidearm where they kind of let the ball go. And it's not actually throwing it. How you're supposed to throw a football? It works. The ones that actually can throw the ball with the best arms are the ones that actually have the best hand hand coordination.

It's a theory I've had for years. I've nothing to prove it yet. There's also a lot of pass catchers that are lefties. That's another thing I've always noticed. A lot tight ends that are lefties. Another thing I never studied it. Just my own little theory. But big guys with good hands,

Don't Terry Poe, true athleticism right there. Warren Sapp had good hands. He got some touchdowns too. Brable. We got all those guys. The other player, we got a couple of people asked this about this player, which is we've mentioned them earlier, a lot of the quarterback discussions, but Spencer Rattler from South Carolina.

Do you have an updated Rattler take? Because I believe he is going to the Senior Bowl, which I think is going to be huge for him, maybe more for off-field stuff in interviews. That's it. The interviews, getting a chance to know him better, that'll be huge for him. But then also, yeah, during practice, because he's as talented as any quarterback that will be in Mobile, just pure talent. Throwing on air is going to be like a fireworks show.

Yeah, it will. And in terms of consistency, that's where he just needs to be better. And, you know, because he's a good athlete. He can throw from any platform. that he like watching the clumson tape with uh from what two weeks ago or this past week um he he makes some throws where it's like no why are you doing that why are you doing that oh wow great throw like it just he his decision making process is when we mentioned with jane daniels how that's been

a plus for him yeah not quite the same with spencer ratler in terms of his decision making process but he has the arm to get it done and it just he's an effective scrambler yes Yeah, that quick delivery with the ball. He's got zip. Physically, the talent, there's a lot to like. And, you know, the NFL teams are going to like him more than I think fans will. And they'll be kind of surprised how early he's drafted just because teams are willing to bet on the talent. And I get it, especially at that position and say, okay, we'll coach him up. And it doesn't always work, but sometimes it does.

So, you know, when you're talking about a third round lottery pick, you know, it's, day two is always a weird spot for quarterbacks. Right. You know, like we don't really see a ton of them going round two. And because if you're good enough, you're going round one. Right. If you're not, then we're not going to take your own. And now teams are thinking that way too. They're like, oh, let's just wait to round three or later.

Right. Right. And one, you know, I saw, yeah, two years ago with when, besides Pickett, everyone went in the third and fourth round with Ritter and Willis and those guys. No, we were actually right with our grades. I remember my first bleacher report grade. I had nobody in the top 30 and I got, I got roasted for it. And I was like, well, I don't know.

guys. I'm not really seeing any of this. Do you many, I, I, I, I, I thought so many wars of that year who told me, Malik Willis was going to two to the Lions. It was unbelievable how many people thought that was going to happen. And I was like, guys, I, I, maybe he'll sneak into the late first. I, that's possible. I wouldn't, you know, I wouldn't, uh, be surprised if that happened, but guys, he's not going second overall. What are we, what are we doing here? And yeah, it's, I can't wait to see what the, with the version of that will be the show. year.

Right. There's going to be some crazy ones, I'm sure. People get just get tired to talk about the same old things. That's it. And then someone gets a new angle and then that gets turned over, turned over, yes, exactly. I know. That's exactly how I guess. Oh, we're not even in the thick of it yet.

Wait until March. We'll see Rattler a few first round mocks, I'm sure at some point. Just, you know, get some new names in there. His highs are so high. And the fact that you can make every throw, he's willing to make every throw, he can create a decent amount and everything. That's someone's going to love him. It's the classic where they interview them.

They go, oh, it's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's not, he's a great eye of the beholder type quarterback, I think. And I, that's why I'm curious how senior rule goes for him, which I actually tip in. I can't wait, yeah. And I, it's funny, because I'm looking at my notes and I, I have down, like, time stamps of, you know, okay, the 2023 Clemson, play number 53. And I have a lot, and I put a little description just so I know which play it is. And I have all these timestamps for Rattler for all the tapes I've watched. And a lot of them are like, not a great decision, but man, what a thrower.

What are you doing there? But it's a completion. It's a big play. Like it's a lot of descriptions that are like that, yeah. That's perfect. I can't wait. Last question here from Nick Follis, not Nick Foles, 33. Is there a major team that because of the system they run makes it easier to scout and project their players and vice versa?

Is there a major team that is a pain in the ass to scout and project? Any for you, Dane? Yeah, and this is something that you go through when you do mock drafts. You learn trends and tendencies of certain GMs, certain cultures. Packers receivers. Exactly. Size thresholds. Right.

I think, you know, like Eagles, don't mock them a linebacker or running back in the first round. down don't do it it's not going to happen uh trenches receiver and quarterback corner oh in quarter yes corn yes that they will they those are those positions are so i like last year i even fell into that trap i was like man if bejohn's there at 10 all right maybe they do it maybe they do it and it's and then eventually it's like no stop they're not going to do it they're it's just not going to happen and so um yeah the eagles are definitely one um i mean the cowboys used to be like it's in the past that Cowboys were not a team that would have drafted Mazi Smith in the first round. They've kind of switched a little bit on that.

So that's been interesting. But yeah, no, whenever you do a mock draft, whenever you kind of go through this and look at the history, so you always pick up these little tips and trends about, oh, wow, this team, they don't draft corners with arms below 31 inches. Right, right. You know, like there's all these little things. Man, the Jaguars, every player has 34. and Trulonger arms. Right, right, exactly.

What about you? Is there a certain team that stands out? All those types of things you're saying is exactly it. Like back of the day, it used to be gigantic offense alignment in the Steelers. You know exactly the type of guy they were always going off, or my dad, too, actually, to be honest. The Colts right now, who have the highest athletic scores.

Yeah, okay, that's the Colts big board, every position. Some more scheme stuff is, you know, Shanahan's zone heavy running backs. Like that, I kind of had a nice feel for it. Even when I was with the Falcons, I was a big Tevin Coleman fan. And then they drafted them. And I remember just looking around being like, hey, that's pretty cool. And then Eli Mitchell, when he was coming out of Lafayette, I kind of, I watched him.

And I was like, this guy would be great in his own scheme. And then the foreigners took him. Bobby Turner, I know does a lot for him. They're running backs coach. They're a long, long time running back's coach. And I think he's huge in that eval. So, yeah, me and Bobby T. We like a couple of the same guys.

certain defense alignments for those kind of push the pocket type defenses. Patriots, you know what a Patriots front seven player is going to look like or a tweener DB that the Patriots like. You know, like that is, that's going to be their M.O. So like he didn't go there, of course, but Leo Chanel when he came out, it was like, oh, Patriots, duh. Now he's with the Chiefs. So, yeah, show us what I know. And then, yeah, but like guys like Saints defensive linemen, you kind of have a good feel for what they like long brawler type. push-to-pocket types.

Titans are kind of like that as well. Falcons now, Bears are now like that with Iber Fluse. But those kind of guys, I kind of know their type. And so I know I always want to go, well, they're going to draft one bendy guy, but they just keep replenishing with the same type of player. Josh Uche is the one exception for the Patriots. But that's one thing is more kind of those skill sets that I think some of these teams like on defense.

Yeah, yeah, no doubt. Everyone's got their type, right? I mean, it's just look at me and my receivers. I say you and I both that's human nature so it is. Yeah it is interesting how and we'll see this because this off season we're going to see a lot of turnover

a lot of head coaches are going to new head coaches a lot of movement we'll see with GMs so it'll be really interesting how that applies to this draft in terms of where we see certain matchups working out and maybe you know something that made

perfect sense in my first mock draft might not make any sense in the third mock draft because of some of these personnel changes in the front office and then decision making. So yeah, always an interesting part of this whole process. And then for them free agency happens. And it's like, okay, that's a whole other thing. That's not happening.

Yeah, I know. Exactly. No, but that was a lot of fun. Thank you guys so much for sending in your questions. They were very good. Got the, you know, got some things brewing in the brain. Really, I got to bring it up Dante's Inferno comparisons to J.C. Latham. That was a, that's always a good one. Yeah, but no, thank you guys so much for

joining us. We will be here every single Wednesday. Thank you to Dane, and we will see you guys next time. This was the Athletic Football Show's prospects to pros podcast.