1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: This is the Friday edition of the Combine Conversations podcast 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 1: here in the Colts Audio Network. Thanks for joining in. 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Taylor and the twenty twenty five NFL Combines 4 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 1: in town and we've been camped out on Radio Row 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: all week long having chats with the top NFL insiders 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: and NFL draft analysts in the business as they've invaded 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: Indianapolis ahead of the NFL Draft. And today we're talking 8 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: about the draft and the Colts with two top notch guests, 9 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 1: Cynthia Freeland from the NFL Network and Field Yates from ESPN. 10 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:36,279 Speaker 1: Freeland is the NFL Data Science analyst at NFL Network 11 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: and Yeates is a Fantasy football at NFL Draft analyst 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,320 Speaker 1: for ESPN, and they both chatted with JJ Stangovitz the 13 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 1: Combine this week to discuss their thoughts on the state 14 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: of the Colts in the offseason and what they see 15 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: big picture on the strength of this twenty twenty five 16 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: draft class. So, without further ado, let's get into it. 17 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: We begin with Cynthia Freeland, a Combine staple with us, 18 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: leading off today's Combine Conversations from Radio Row. At the Combine. 19 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 2: JJ's Tikobitz back here at the NFL Combine with NFL 20 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: Network in NFL dot Com. Cynthia Freeland, thanks for joining us, 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. Let's start with your most recent 22 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 2: mock draft, which, like several mock drafts that I have 23 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 2: seen for the Colts, had the Colts drafting Penn State 24 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 2: tight end Tyler Warren with the fourteenth overall pick. What 25 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 2: do you like about that fit for the Colts? What 26 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 2: do you like about that player and the draft profile 27 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 2: he has? 28 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 3: Well? First of all, I have to say I am 29 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:33,119 Speaker 3: a huge lu Ana Rimo fan, Like. 30 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 4: When it comes Okay, we'll get into that. 31 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,639 Speaker 3: Yes, I wanted very badly to give him a defensive player, 32 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 3: but I like Tyler Warren's upside in profile so much 33 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 3: and the fact that it fits well with at least 34 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 3: what I believe is the plan here, right, the offensive 35 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 3: strategy and the ability, Like there's some special tight ends 36 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 3: in this draft class, and I think the ability to 37 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 3: help out a quarterback that is mobile and able to you, 38 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 3: you know, maybe don't need to take so many shots downfield, 39 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 3: maybe like make it a little bit, just make it 40 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 3: a little bit easier. Best friend of a quarterback tight 41 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 3: end I don't know. Maybe he's a running back who 42 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 3: knows that running back here. 43 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 2: Too with Tyler Warren, him being that in line kind 44 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: of why tight end where when he's on the field, 45 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 2: it's not a tell if you're gonna throw or you're 46 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 2: gonna run or looked at Shane Steichen when he was 47 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: in Philadelphia, that's split in twenty two and twenty one 48 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 2: and twenty two with Dallas got Ter was basically fifty 49 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 2: to fifty when he was on the field, it was 50 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 2: an even split. Yep, that seems to kind of be 51 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: the goal of getting that guy at tight end. 52 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 4: Is you want that even split? 53 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 3: You'd think so, right, you don't want to tell if 54 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 3: you're looking at The other interesting thing is that this year, 55 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 3: specifically with inline tight ends that are disguised so look 56 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,639 Speaker 3: at the Eagles like that, it has helped drive up 57 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 3: the expected and the actual rushing yards for a running back. 58 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 3: So instead of three and a half three point seven yards, 59 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 3: it's like up over four two four to three, which 60 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 3: doesn't sound like a big difference, but it is over 61 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 3: the course of the game, it is, and it's. 62 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 4: A lot more over a thousand carries, right, And. 63 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 3: Also it's a lot more explosive place to you, which 64 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 3: are those that travel at least ten yards. 65 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 2: So when you look at this draft, you know, we 66 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: just talked about Tyler Warren. I feel like I've talked 67 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 2: about Tyler Warren. I know pretty much everyone here, right, 68 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: Give me three or four other guys who you think 69 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 2: would be good fits for the Colts at fourteen. 70 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 3: The hard part is that I'm so confused this season 71 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 3: about where we're going to see quarterbacks go, where we're 72 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 3: going to see Like I think this is a very 73 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 3: light offensive line class. I think this is a very 74 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 3: so I think it's gonna the top of drafts can 75 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 3: be very interesting. We'll know more after free agency. Like 76 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 3: this doesn't really affect you like this, you know that, 77 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,119 Speaker 3: Like you're at fourteen, so you're only affected by who 78 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 3: maybe jumps ahead of you great defensive tackle class. Okay, 79 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 3: maybe to me, Like I keep saying how much I 80 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 3: like the Michigan corner, I think he can be Johnson. Yeah, 81 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 3: he could be an asset to pretty much any team. 82 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 3: I like the idea. D like, your defense is better 83 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 3: than it looked last year, in my opinion. I told 84 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 3: dyr Franklin at the Pro Bowl, I was like, you're 85 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:07,839 Speaker 3: not going to lead the league in tackles next year? 86 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 3: And he's like what, And I was like, not because 87 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 3: you're not awesome. I'm like, you're just not gonna have 88 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 3: to do that, Like you're just like, it's not a 89 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 3: it's not a shade, it's a positive. You're not going 90 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 3: to have to do that, right, Like, well, you'll get 91 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 3: some help up front. So to me, that could be 92 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 3: an interesting you I would stick with. This is kind 93 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 3: of a light wide receiver class, maybe a wide receiver, 94 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 3: but I like the tight ends. I don't maybe maybe 95 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 3: you go the other tight end, maybe Missie, I don't 96 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 3: know who, depends on who's available. But to me, I'm 97 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 3: I'm trying to stick with corner maybe wide receiver, and 98 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 3: I love that tight end. 99 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: Okay, so you you teased it right off the top. Yep, 100 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: you're you really like Lou and remote, he's amazing. What 101 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 2: do you like about his fit with this defense and 102 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 2: the players the Colt have on that defense? 103 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 3: Well, you don't always have to play zone. So ultimately, 104 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 3: what Lou really does well is find the pieces of 105 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 3: a particular defense and and and make them perform at 106 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 3: their optimal kind of rate. So he was the guy 107 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 3: who was the first to stop Patrick Mahomes when it 108 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 3: was a long time ago. You know, the Bengals went 109 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,839 Speaker 3: to the Super Bowl because they stopped Patrick Mahomes. They 110 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 3: figured out the two safety shells and figured out how 111 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 3: to like keep everything in front of the guys who 112 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 3: needed it in front of them, and keep everything in 113 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 3: arms reach of the guys who needed in arms reach 114 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 3: of them. So that's where you're gonna see this defense 115 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 3: excel with guys in the middle of the defense. Like 116 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 3: the Bengals defense was tough this year because they didn't 117 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 3: spend any money in free agency. Many of their rookies 118 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 3: like were hurt. Like it with like the middle of 119 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 3: that defense. DJ Reader went up to Detroit. Then he 120 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 3: got hurt there too, but whatever, Like that's where he's 121 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 3: gonna shore up the middle and figure out how to 122 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 3: keep everything kind of like like in the in the 123 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 3: middle of the field. Not you know, I don't think 124 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 3: you're gonna see as many opportunities to get kind of 125 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 3: beat behind you like that, Like it's it's not gonna 126 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 3: it's there's be more man, Sorry, I don't know. And 127 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 3: then and and ultimately, like a nice the middle of 128 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 3: the defense will be short up. 129 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: The way that Shane Styken describe Lou is that he's 130 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: always going to have a plan to take away the 131 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 2: opponent's best player, and that is that is something the 132 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 2: Golts did kind of struggle with this past season, is 133 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 2: they got beat by guys who you would expect to 134 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 2: do that. And it's it's very easy to say, oh, 135 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: we're just going to take away you know, uh. 136 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 3: Everyone would like to take away the team's best player. 137 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: You'd love to take away Nico Collins. Very easy to 138 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 2: say that. It's not as easy to do that, but 139 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: you're saying Lou has that proven track record to be 140 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 2: able to do that. 141 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 3: And in game adjustments are where he like if you 142 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 3: look at the course of his entire tenure at the Bengals, 143 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 3: his in game adjustments meaning points per game and first 144 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 3: downs allowed, he is the best first to second half 145 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 3: in game adjuster. Now there are some adjustments for that, 146 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:51,840 Speaker 3: but there he's very, very good at in game adjustments 147 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 3: as well, which is huge. 148 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 2: So you mentioned Zira Franklin and the conversation you had 149 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 2: with him him, who do you think is the if 150 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: you're going to circle one player on this Colts defense 151 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,839 Speaker 2: who can take a big step up with Luanna Rumo's 152 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 2: the defensive coordinator who comes to mind. 153 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 3: The weird part is I'm also going to say Zy 154 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 3: or Franklin. Not because he didn't lead the league in tackles. 155 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,960 Speaker 3: We already know that, but I think that giving him 156 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 3: more latitude to tell other people what to do. I 157 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 3: think he's I mean, I think he could be Like 158 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 3: we're talking all pro, like I'm saying he could go 159 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 3: from so I think that's a big jump, right, Like 160 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 3: that's a huge like that could be the it could 161 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 3: go that high. Like all pros are really hard. The 162 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:32,680 Speaker 3: need not just pro bol all pro. 163 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 2: When you look at this Colts team, where do you 164 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 2: feel like the biggest need is for them that they 165 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: need to address this offseason, whether it's through free agency, 166 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: through the draft, or both. 167 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 3: The hard part for me is that I would like 168 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 3: to do whatever I need to do to ensure that 169 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 3: my quarterback is optimally efficient. It is very hard to 170 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 3: get quarterback right in this league, and you don't need 171 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 3: everyone to be quarterback number one, meaning you don't need 172 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 3: you Patrick Wilmes on every team. So what are the 173 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 3: things I would go get every potential thing to help 174 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 3: my guy out. There are very few offensive linemen in 175 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 3: free agency. There are very few like wide receiver, very 176 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 3: few as well. I would go get like rotational players 177 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 3: and be fine if I'm wrong, but take some swings 178 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: on some guys who aren't the like super super premium 179 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 3: guys and be fine if I'm wrong. Give me like 180 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 3: weird gadgety receivers that help give me, give me things 181 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 3: that make sense to my guy. You know, give me 182 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 3: three in line tight ends and then draft one two. 183 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 3: I know that doesn't sound sexy and it's gonna be 184 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 3: like what are you doing your wait, but you're actually 185 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 3: not wasting. Sometimes you have to try a few before 186 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 3: you get him right, because there aren't that many truly 187 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 3: elite players. It's just by virtue of the way that 188 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 3: the like the law of averages work. So go get 189 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 3: me every like Lamar Jackson. Treatment me right like they 190 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 3: They gave Lamar Jackson so many tight ends it was unbelievable, Right, 191 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 3: do that for him? You know, get who cares? If 192 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 3: you then what you can you get you you trade 193 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 3: one later. Doesn's not like a bad problem. It sounds 194 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 3: like a bad problem to have. 195 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 2: So this division the Cults are in where the winners 196 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: of it have won ten games, nine games, ten games. 197 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 2: Where do you think the Colts are in terms of 198 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 2: the Colts have won the division since twenty fourteen. Where 199 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 2: do you think this team is in terms of their 200 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 2: ability to contend for a division this year or how 201 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 2: long do you think it'll take for this team to 202 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 2: contend for a division. 203 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 3: I think this team has home run it's gonna like. 204 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,840 Speaker 3: I don't think it's a base hit situation. I think 205 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 3: given the division, given the opportunity, meaning the division is 206 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 3: very achievable this year, I think this could be a 207 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 3: home run or it could strike out. It all really 208 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 3: depends on your quarterback. 209 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 4: That's what it comes down to, right, Yeah, so. 210 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 3: Supporting your quarterback is best. Now, A good defense will help, 211 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 3: the right pieces will help. But I think the I 212 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 3: think this comes down to how does the team. Again, 213 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 3: you don't need to have quarterback one. He does need 214 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 3: to somehow morph in to Patrick Mahomes, right, you know 215 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,680 Speaker 3: he can. He can be quarterback eleven in the league 216 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 3: and be a plus. That would be a plus. 217 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 4: Where do you what do you think about Anthony Richardson 218 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 4: right now? 219 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 3: No, I don't know, Yeah, I don't know what I 220 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 3: think about it. Do you know what I'm saying? Like, 221 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:19,880 Speaker 3: I like the data is so sometimes the data tracks great, 222 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 3: sometimes the data tracks not great. There is a lot 223 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 3: of irregularity as to when that happens. It feels like 224 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 3: the same players are being called and there's a different outcome, 225 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 3: and you see that a little bit. But like there's 226 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 3: more variance in his results than there are in other 227 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,319 Speaker 3: similarly profiled quarterbacks. I think part of that is lack 228 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 3: of experience because he's coming and he didn't play a 229 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 3: ton in college and he's but his body type and 230 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 3: his the raw he's a great lump of clay. But 231 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 3: I don't know. I think like it could go either, 232 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 3: Like truly, it's like bifurcated big time. 233 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 2: Think about in baseball scouts. Some scouts will tell you 234 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 2: guys need like a thousand at bats, fifteen at bats, 235 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 2: two thousand at bats in the minders before they are 236 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,839 Speaker 2: ready for the major leagues. Yeah, Anthony Richardson's thrown seven 237 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,360 Speaker 2: hundred and forty one passes since he graduated high school 238 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 2: in games that matter between college and the NFL. Is 239 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: there an optimal number of pass attempts of snaps of 240 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 2: games that a quarterback does need to hit to start 241 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 2: really building on who they can be. 242 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 3: If I'm honest, I say, yeah, I don't know what 243 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 3: the number is, but it's something like it does exist. 244 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 3: Like people are always like, well with you, Jade Daniel, 245 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 3: who's a winner? I'm like, well, he did win. Yes, 246 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 3: I still don't. I don't know who he is because 247 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:32,760 Speaker 3: I still don't know who Caleb Williams is, so I'm 248 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,199 Speaker 3: not willing to say. And those guys are younger, right, 249 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 3: So like it's like, if I'm going to treat I 250 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 3: have to measure everyone with the same stick. So like, yeah, 251 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,240 Speaker 3: he had a great rookie season and that was epic. 252 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 3: He seemed to be tracking well, but I'm not ready 253 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 3: to crown him yet. I mean CJ Stroud, we would 254 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 3: have said the same thing about last year, and then 255 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 3: he really struggled against own defense this year. 256 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 2: That's a really interesting point, just last one here, because 257 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 2: you brought up CJ. 258 00:11:55,360 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 4: Stroud. 259 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:59,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, and the regression that he had statistically, were there 260 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 2: anything underlying in that that told you he's still he still. 261 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 4: Got it in him? 262 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 3: Yeah? 263 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: Maybe they just need a change somewhere and obviously they 264 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 2: made a change it offensive coordinator after the season. 265 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 3: Something's up there. I don't know what it is. Maybe 266 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 3: we'll like here it in a thirty for thirty later, 267 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 3: but like, you know, like because like Laramie Tunsel was 268 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 3: injured and like was playing weird. That was not great. 269 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 3: Their interior O line allowed the most sacks. That was 270 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 3: not great. It didn't feel like they had great solutions 271 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 3: for any when a problem happened. It didn't feel like 272 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 3: they were like, oh, this is how we fix it. 273 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 3: So I don't I don't really know. Perhaps the change 274 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 3: that OC will help. I don't think he's not a 275 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 3: good player anymore. I don't think he's like, you know, 276 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 3: we don't throw him out or we're not like discarding 277 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,080 Speaker 3: him in any way, shape or form. But you know, 278 00:12:43,280 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 3: I think it's hard to whatever was going on there, 279 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,640 Speaker 3: it's hard to win when it's that. I mean, when 280 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 3: your interior old line lets you down like that, that's 281 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 3: really hard. 282 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 2: Cynthia Freelin from NFL dot Com and NFL Network, thanks 283 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:56,719 Speaker 2: for the time. 284 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 3: Appreciate you so much for having me. 285 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 4: I'm jjs Sakavviz. 286 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 2: You're at the NFL Combine with ESPN Draft analyst and 287 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:07,559 Speaker 2: fantasy football analyst Field Yates field big week, obviously, with 288 00:13:07,600 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 2: a lot of news developing about Abdul Carter this week. 289 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:13,479 Speaker 2: We got to hear from Tyler Warren today on Thursday. 290 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,200 Speaker 2: What's maybe been the biggest news item though, that you've 291 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 2: sort of taken away from this week that you wanted 292 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 2: to learn that you have now learned about this draft class. 293 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, you know, I think that probably to this point 294 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 5: in the process, because we still have a lot of 295 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 5: the on field question marks to answer. It's the health 296 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:30,840 Speaker 5: of Abdul Carter, which the most recent reporting makes me 297 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 5: feel as though it's going to be a non issue 298 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,679 Speaker 5: relative to where he lands in the draft. But I 299 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 5: always say that when we come to Indianapolis, it's the 300 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 5: health curve ball that can often be amongst the most 301 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 5: influential things that you learn about, just because no matter 302 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,439 Speaker 5: how much you've watched with the player, no matter how 303 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 5: much you've heard from teams. I mean, they're not doctors, right, 304 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,079 Speaker 5: So to have basically head to toe evaluation all these 305 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 5: guys and get a better sense of what they're dealing 306 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 5: with is an important part of the puzzle. But so far, good, 307 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 5: great week. I mean, it's always a great week. So 308 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 5: honored to be here in Indianapolis and really my favorite 309 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 5: host city for this event. 310 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 6: And there's no close second. 311 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 2: Let's obviously we'd love it to stay here. It's where 312 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,120 Speaker 2: it belongs. It should be here. Who do I have 313 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 2: to talk to? Yeah, well, I think most people you 314 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 2: talk to here would tell you that it should stay here. 315 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 2: To s Yes, So you mentioned led Luck Carter. The 316 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 2: cults are not in on Abdul Carter. Unfortunately, as a 317 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 2: Colts program, we don't need to talk anymore about a 318 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 2: guy who might go number one overall. But your most 319 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: recent mock draft in ESPN, you have the Colts taking 320 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 2: Tyler Warren. We've heard a lot about Tyler Warren this week, 321 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 2: the Penn State tight end. 322 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 4: I want to throw it at you. 323 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 2: Give me three or four other guys who you may 324 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 2: be considered to mock to the Colts at fourteen other 325 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 2: than Tyler Warren. 326 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 4: And who are they? What are their fits, and what's 327 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 4: their profile? 328 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 5: So it's like every year there is a player who's 329 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 5: just so obvious that he just gets mocked to that 330 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 5: team every single time that it gets boring by the 331 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 5: time the NFL Draft actually arrives and then it's like, 332 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 5: now it'll never happen, right. That seems to be how 333 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 5: the NFL draft works. So there were some of the 334 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 5: guys that were considered there, and with the fourteenth pick, 335 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 5: you know, the right that that spot. I would argue 336 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 5: that this year, like you start to see a little 337 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 5: bit like I think the twenty to forty, like the 338 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 5: prospects available there are fairly comparable. 339 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 6: So it's not like, you know. 340 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 5: I don't feel like, you know, the guy you're getting 341 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 5: at twenty two is like decidedly better or worse. I 342 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 5: mean better for sure, but like it you might get 343 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 5: the same guy, same level. 344 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 6: Of player at thirty two. So if I think about 345 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 6: the sort of the Colts'. 346 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 5: Needs and fits right now, you know it's going to 347 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 5: be a new defense now under Loom, But I think 348 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 5: just you know, some of the defensive reparations there. I 349 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 5: am a big proponent in never having enough rushers, even 350 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 5: after using your first overall pick on a pass rusher 351 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 5: last year. There are some pass rushers who I think 352 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 5: will be available at fourteen that could be kind of 353 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 5: intriguing for the Colts, even if it is not the 354 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 5: most pressing need I think safety will be a big 355 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 5: need for the Colts. 356 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 6: We've talked about that. 357 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 5: That has been talked about, I'm sure plenty over the 358 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,120 Speaker 5: past month and a half since the season concluded. Malachi 359 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 5: Sarks has been a guy that has been mocked to 360 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 5: the Colts often as well. He is the Georgia safety 361 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 5: who had just one interception this past year. It was 362 00:15:58,120 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 5: the first game of the season against Clemson. 363 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 6: Very there's a. 364 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 5: Gorgeous Sports Center Top ten highlight type of play by him. 365 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 5: Had a better year in twenty twenty three. He kind 366 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 5: of just felt him more, especially in the back end 367 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 5: of the defense. But he has a ton of positional versatility. 368 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 5: He can hover over the slot and give you some 369 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 5: man covered snaps. He can play in the deep middle 370 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 5: portion of the field. He can impact the run defense 371 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 5: as well. Up there in the box. He'd be in 372 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 5: named that comes to mind. Nicky Man Moorey, also at 373 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 5: safety from South Carolina, will come to mind as well. 374 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 5: Nick might be one of the most impressive players you'll 375 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 5: see in terms of just physical stature. He's the proverbial 376 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 5: you want him coming off the bus first kind of guy. 377 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 5: Six foot three, two hundred and twenty seven pounds that 378 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 5: was his roster weight to South Carolina. Could be a 379 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:42,480 Speaker 5: little different once we actually measure these guys here in Indianapolis. 380 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 5: But he has just tremendous speed. He had a couple 381 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 5: of pick sixes this year, but there was one of 382 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 5: them which it reminded me of the DK metcalf chase 383 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 5: down of Buddha Baker where you're just watching it, you're 384 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 5: just like nobody that BIG's allowed to run that fast, right, 385 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 5: And that's what Nick brings to the table in terms 386 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 5: of math profile. I and maybe this is like too 387 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 5: reductive and too simplistic of me, but I will continue 388 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:08,800 Speaker 5: to monitor offensive tackles and offensive guards because the NFL 389 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 5: has shown his time and again that you've got to 390 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 5: have those, you know, and the Colts give some questions 391 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 5: the middle of the offensive line with Ryan Kelly in 392 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 5: his future with the franchise. 393 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:19,240 Speaker 6: We'll see where that lands. 394 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 5: But Tyler Booker is a tremendous prospect guard who obviously 395 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:25,199 Speaker 5: Q is a huge part of what they do and 396 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 5: has earned everything he has gotten for the Colts. But 397 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 5: you can never have enough good pass protectors, you know. 398 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 5: I'm not going to say quarterback because I don't think 399 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 5: that there's the right fit there, but you know, finding 400 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 5: ways to empower Anthony and whoever they bring in for 401 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 5: competition to me is important. 402 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,440 Speaker 2: So you mentioned the quarterback competition there that the Colts 403 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 2: are going to have. Chris Pallard told us this week 404 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 2: the Cults are going to have an open quarterback competition. 405 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 4: Yeah. 406 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 2: What dominoes need to fall before the Colts can identify 407 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 2: that guy who they believe they can bring in to 408 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,960 Speaker 2: provide that real competition. Because that's something Chris Pallard said, 409 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 2: is it's got to be someone who can actually competition 410 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 2: for Anthony Richardson. And that seems like a tough needle 411 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 2: threat in free agents. 412 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 5: Yeah, because I don't think that that player Like I 413 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:07,919 Speaker 5: think if you draft a quarterback early, like in the 414 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:11,239 Speaker 5: first round, that's not a competition. It's basically holding the 415 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 5: place until that quarterback takes the job. Right, Like, as 416 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 5: much as it would hurt to wave the white flag 417 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 5: and the fourth pick just two years ago, if you're 418 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,439 Speaker 5: taking a guy fourteenth overall quarterback, you're doing so because 419 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 5: you think he's got the goods to take you to 420 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 5: the next level. So I think it would be a 421 00:18:25,760 --> 00:18:28,600 Speaker 5: quarterback in free agency. But what I don't know is 422 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 5: whether there is one that like truly unequivocally the minute 423 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 5: you sign him, comes in and is the guy. There 424 00:18:36,480 --> 00:18:38,880 Speaker 5: are their names and their options, right, but the best 425 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 5: of the bunch is Sam Darnold. 426 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 6: Don't I'm following the lead. 427 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 5: Of the top insiders here who have not yet linked 428 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 5: him to Indianapolis, right, And that's going to be a 429 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 5: significant financial commitment as well. It might be something kind 430 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 5: of like where Joe was last year. Not maybe not 431 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,399 Speaker 5: the same money for Joe Flacco, maybe a different age 432 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,199 Speaker 5: than Joe Flacco as well, but the idea of a 433 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 5: guy who's played a lot of football games and you 434 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,400 Speaker 5: can come in and give you some spark wasn't enough 435 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 5: last year, obviously, but it was some. But you know, 436 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 5: I just hope, and I you know, I'm not saying 437 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 5: that this hasn't been the case, but I just hope 438 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 5: that before that conversation was had publicly that it was 439 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 5: all and I'm sure it was, but communicated to Anthony 440 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 5: very clearly, yes, right, So that's an important part of 441 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 5: it too. 442 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 2: Chris Power did say that Anthony Richardson took the news 443 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 2: very well. He's you know, I was traveling during this 444 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,239 Speaker 2: So I just reade cliff notes on the Internet. So 445 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 2: it sounds like Anthony took the news. Well, he's I 446 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 2: don't want to say, maybe excited about it, but he's 447 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 2: I think motivated, should you right? 448 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 4: Right? 449 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 2: So I think that's that's a really good sign. Where 450 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 2: are you at with Anthony Richardson? 451 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 4: Though? Right now? Man? 452 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 5: I was like I was completely intoxicated by him going 453 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 5: into last year. He's such an interesting and compelling prospect 454 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 5: just because we're talking about not just like unique traits, 455 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 5: but like borderline on precedented physical traits. But the game 456 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 5: is so much more than just physical traits. It's you know, 457 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:04,879 Speaker 5: playing quarterback, right he needs time. I don't think anything 458 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 5: that I'm going to say over the next thirty seconds 459 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 5: or so is going to blow you away in terms 460 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 5: of like never hearing it before. But I do believe 461 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:13,159 Speaker 5: that when you take a player who had one season 462 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 5: as a college starter, who came out as the youngest 463 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 5: quarterback in a draft class, who came out with some 464 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 5: questions about ballplacement an Accura scene, I just think the 465 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:25,919 Speaker 5: plan needs to be that we're going to ride this 466 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 5: thing out until the bitter end, and like sink or 467 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 5: swim with this player, because the most important thing that 468 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 5: Anthony can get is reps on the field. Now, last 469 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 5: year when they made the switch to Joe, I was 470 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 5: sort of thinking to myself, you know what in that 471 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 5: division with nobody separated themselves from the pack, Like, I'm 472 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 5: okay with Joe taking over if he can give them 473 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,479 Speaker 5: a spark and they can start putting points up on 474 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,439 Speaker 5: the board. When that became clear, it wasn't exactly the answer. 475 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 5: I do feel like it was the right call to 476 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 5: go back to Anthony, But now I want this to 477 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,280 Speaker 5: be We're going to get to the end of the 478 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 5: line with Anthony and that's either at some point next 479 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 5: year or it's like a decade and a half from 480 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 5: right now, which would be of course the ideal scenario. 481 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,440 Speaker 2: Where do you feel the Colts are in the AFC 482 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 2: South right now? When you think about the division, you 483 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 2: think about the team that they have, the opportunity they 484 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 2: have to make some move this offseason. 485 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 4: Where do you think they are. 486 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 6: At worse second? 487 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 5: You know, I think that we got along, got a 488 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 5: long road ahead here for a couple of teams. 489 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 6: You know, Jacksonville, Tennessee made significant. 490 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 5: Changes this offseason for a reason, right, both hired a 491 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 5: new general manager in the case of Jacksonville had new 492 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 5: head coach as well. So this this division is more 493 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 5: wide open than the two South divisions are quite wide open. 494 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:37,119 Speaker 5: It fields like the Bucks probably deserve They've got that 495 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 5: that division, I think understandably they should be viewed as 496 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:43,239 Speaker 5: the favorites, but they also had to win games late 497 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 5: in the season to cement that spot. So anyways, the 498 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 5: AAFC South to me feels wide open enough that the Colts, 499 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 5: with a quality off season and a big step from Anthony, 500 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:52,640 Speaker 5: could be division champs as soon as next year. 501 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 4: All right, let's get back to the draft. 502 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 2: A question I've been asking some folks here is, how 503 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:59,440 Speaker 2: do you view, as someone who analyzes the draft, how 504 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 2: do you view NL the transfer portal and conference realignment? 505 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 6: And man, it's such a tricky question because. 506 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 4: This is as an analyst, not as a fan. 507 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 5: Yeah no, no, as an analyst, no one cares about 508 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 5: how much you have to work, right, But I had 509 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 5: draftable grades on sixty two players that decided to go 510 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 5: back to college this year. 511 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 4: Wow. 512 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 5: So and not all the I mean, some of those 513 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 5: guys were legitimate, like you know, maybe top fifty players. 514 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 5: A lot of them were more like, hey, I could 515 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,960 Speaker 5: see this guy getting drafted on day three, but it really, 516 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,680 Speaker 5: you know, it requires you to do some extra leg 517 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 5: work on guys, and you know, I respect that these 518 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 5: players have the right to make the decision to transfer. 519 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 6: And all that. 520 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 5: I have found that in my exposure to some of 521 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 5: these players, the moving around to multiple different schools has 522 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,160 Speaker 5: resulted in as many experiences that didn't end up being 523 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 5: net positives as ones that did result net positives for 524 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 5: the players. So it's very hard to tell a kid 525 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,239 Speaker 5: who's maybe not playing that much that you know, you 526 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 5: stick around here, we can get a whole lot more later. 527 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,120 Speaker 5: Because there also had been some great success stories. I mean, 528 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 5: SMU and Indiana made the Playoff this year, and in 529 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,199 Speaker 5: part because as you know, especially with the Hoosiers, like 530 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:13,160 Speaker 5: a lot of that team is brand. 531 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:13,480 Speaker 4: New this year. 532 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 5: He can galvanize a program. But in terms of like 533 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 5: what it means for that player's NFL trajectory, not all 534 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 5: of these have equated to big quantum leaps forward that 535 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 5: have resulted in better NFL. 536 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:28,640 Speaker 2: Prospects, something that I've talked to some people about about 537 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 2: this though, In terms of evaluation is with realignment and 538 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 2: with the portal, you get more chances to see these 539 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 2: guys against top level competition. 540 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:38,159 Speaker 6: That says fair ye. 541 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:40,879 Speaker 2: And I'm thinking about Layatu Latu where he's coming out 542 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 2: of the PAC twelve, which is basically a zombie conference 543 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 2: at this point. But when he was there, he wasn't 544 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 2: going up against the kind of caliber of tackles that 545 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 2: UCLA players now are going up against in the Big Ten. 546 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 2: And I wonder if that maybe means his learning curve 547 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:58,679 Speaker 2: into the NFL is a little bit steeper than some 548 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 2: of these guys who are coming out of Ohio State 549 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 2: and you know, now Oregon where they are getting these opportunities. 550 00:24:04,040 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 2: How do you think the opportunity to play against more 551 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 2: top level talent in these bigger conferences impacts draft prospects? 552 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 5: Well, there's always this element is that you know, when 553 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,159 Speaker 5: you've played in the SEC and you're an offensive tackle, 554 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 5: you've seen enough guys every single week that what you 555 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 5: see is probably closer to what you're going to get 556 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,280 Speaker 5: compared to some other conferences. 557 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 6: It's just the reality of it. And I've watched each 558 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 6: of the Georgia. 559 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 5: Texas games probably twenty times already this year, right, not 560 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 5: just because you know how how dramatic these games can be, 561 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:37,560 Speaker 5: but also because it feels like the entire roster could 562 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:40,560 Speaker 5: end up on this on NFL fields one day, right, 563 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:44,360 Speaker 5: So it definitely helps. And you know, nothing will totally 564 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 5: compare or prepare you for the NFL, but the closest 565 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 5: thing you're going to get is that high level competition 566 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 5: Oregon Ohio State games. 567 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 6: Not that the second one was particularly competitive. 568 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 5: But that first one in Eugene is a game that 569 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 5: I've watched time and again because both teams, especially High State, 570 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 5: are loaded with draft prospects this year. 571 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:03,399 Speaker 6: So it definitely helps you. 572 00:25:03,480 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 5: And this process will forever be by nature unpredictable, but 573 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 5: it definitely feels makes you feel a little more emboldened 574 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 5: that your evaluation is closer to where the mark will 575 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 5: be in the NFL. 576 00:25:16,040 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 2: Good stuff, Field Yates, ESPN NFL Draft, Dan Fantasy Football Analyst, 577 00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:20,119 Speaker 2: appreciate the time. 578 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:21,239 Speaker 6: Thanks, JJ, I appreciate it man. 579 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 1: That's Field Yates from ESPN with JJ Stangowitz. Thanks to 580 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,679 Speaker 1: him and Cynthia Friedland for the time this week, and 581 00:25:29,760 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 1: we hope you enjoyed those conversations. All things Colts and 582 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: the Draft. And we're not done. We've got an AFC 583 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:38,639 Speaker 1: South round table set for you on Saturday and then 584 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:41,840 Speaker 1: on Sunday. Over the weekend, we'll have two more really 585 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: big chats with NFL insiders on our final installment of 586 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,520 Speaker 1: Combined Conversations, wrapping up the event. But that's it for 587 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:51,720 Speaker 1: this installment of the podcast. I'm Matt Taylor. Keep it 588 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,040 Speaker 1: here for the latest on the Colts. You know the drill, 589 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 1: Come on back on the Colts Audio Network.