1 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Welcome into the lounge presented by DraftKings. We have the 2 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: pleasure of being joined by director or player personnel George Kakinas. 3 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 2: George, let's start out talking about the draft. 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 1: What are your emotions right now at this stage of 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: the draft process. 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 3: Well, definitely excited. I think we just came off like 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 3: the most fun set of meetings because the coaches are 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 3: involved in this round, all the informations here, the pro 9 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,520 Speaker 3: days are all in, so you have all the information. 10 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:38,919 Speaker 3: So now it's a matter of hearing the coaches evaluations 11 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 3: and then matching the talent with what the scheme is 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 3: and see if we can get a fit. 13 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 2: Right. 14 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm curious to try to get a perspective of 15 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 4: what it's like inside that room as you guys go 16 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 4: through those meetings and you sit down with scouts and 17 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 4: it's basically the culmination of a year, sometimes year. 18 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: Plus of work. So what are those. 19 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 4: Meetings like when you all get into that room and 20 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 4: you hash it out and build that board. 21 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 3: Well, the February meetings are probably the more of the 22 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 3: grind type because of all the names that you have, 23 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 3: all the information that the area scouts have, all the 24 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 3: projected numbers from like what their strength coaches, So you 25 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 3: have to take that into consideration. So you're going in 26 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 3: and evaluating these players and you have a four to 27 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 3: four oh by their strength coach, and then the guy 28 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 3: goes to Indian runs a four to six oh. So 29 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 3: then evaluator has to kind of distinguish in those set 30 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 3: of meetings like am I seeing the speed on tape? 31 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 3: Or am I not seeing the speed on tape regardless 32 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 3: of the numbers that he borrowed. So grinding through and 33 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 3: figure out that takes some time. These set of meetings, 34 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 3: like I said, they're they're they're great, Like you're really 35 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 3: you know, you're you're weeding out the kind of guys 36 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 3: that fit us. You you have more looks, you have 37 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 3: all star games. So it's just a complete evaluation and 38 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 3: then you just see, like I said, just see who 39 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 3: fits what. 40 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: We do and at what point does the board get 41 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 1: finalized that you're like, we're done, you know, we feel 42 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: good about where everything's ranked. And is it a literal 43 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: one through whatever two hundred and fifty ranking? 44 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 2: Like it does it look like that? 45 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 3: What times a draft start on Thursday? 46 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 2: Little tweets? 47 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 5: It sounds like you with your mock drafts. 48 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 3: I mean, Eric, he's the master really in terms of 49 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 3: how we look at the board. I think it's will 50 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 3: be pretty much set at We have two more meetings 51 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 3: Monday and Tuesday next week. Any final things, any last 52 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 3: minute medical information that we have. There might be a 53 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,239 Speaker 3: media switch of a guy in a category or a 54 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:58,239 Speaker 3: coach looked at it and you know, like I think 55 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 3: this just fits a little bit better. We might just 56 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 3: flip that guy. I don't think there's gonna be any 57 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 3: major changes unless it's a medical thing. But you know, 58 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 3: Eric's got his list. We've been working at it, you know, 59 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 3: for nine months, ten months, the area guys three years 60 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 3: on some guys, you know, so uh, you know it's 61 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 3: getting close. 62 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm going back to the meetings. 63 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 4: Like you you've been in these meetings, you know, every year, 64 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 4: and when you hear about the conversations of guys like 65 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 4: standing on the table, you know, advocating whether it's a coach, 66 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 4: whether it's a scout. 67 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 5: What does that happen? 68 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 4: Like does that actually happen in any instances that like 69 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 4: as you think back over your time here, that really 70 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 4: stand out to you was like I remember this guy 71 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 4: really wanted this player and he made the case we 72 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 4: ended up drafting him. 73 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 5: Any stories that stand out to. 74 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 2: You, now, I just have images of somebody literally standing 75 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 2: on the table. Happened. George is literally up on the table. 76 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 3: Well, sometimes I need to stand on the table just 77 00:03:57,920 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 3: so people. 78 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: Can see powright. 79 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 3: No, I shoot. I think every draft room probably has 80 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 3: a Tom Brady story. But Matt Cavanaugh two thousand I 81 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 3: do remember that. He uh, he was like, I don't 82 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 3: know where you take him. It's not really my you know, 83 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 3: I don't I don't know the whole draft. I don't 84 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 3: know where you take a guy like this, but we 85 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 3: need to take this guy. So I'm sure every every coach, 86 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 3: every scout said they had Tom Brady's great to hire. Yeah, 87 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 3: but that actually that actually did happen. Interesting. I think 88 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 3: Suggs was one. I know Eric really he loves Suggs. 89 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 3: And that was what two thousand and three, right, yep. 90 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 3: So I mean he'd going Ozzie was like, oh I 91 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 3: love this guy. And this was during the draft process, 92 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 3: and Ozzy be like, no, no, no, no no, we're 93 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 3: not going to get him. We can we're not going 94 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 3: to get him. We're not going to get him. And 95 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 3: then so Suggs ran his pro da. He got his 96 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 3: prote in like four eighty six forty five, and like 97 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 3: Eric just like slammed the table screamed. He's like, yes, 98 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 3: it ran into Ozzy's office just and we got him. 99 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 3: That's awesome. Ran a little bit slower of a time. 100 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, speaking of draft stories, can you recount the story 101 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 1: of picking Lamar and just the stampede that went on 102 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,039 Speaker 1: upstairs and how that all went about. 103 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, uh, you know, obviously everybody evaluated him 104 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 3: going in, not every single person, but the Airy guys, 105 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 3: the national guys, the coaches, Eric, you know, Ozzy, all everybody. 106 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 3: I think as the draft got going, I think it 107 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 3: really was Steve kind of initiated it. He we really 108 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 3: we really need to take another look at this, Like 109 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 3: not not like to change our minds because we had 110 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 3: good grades, but it's just like I want everybody evaluating them. 111 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 3: So we all took the time. Everybody evaluated him, talked 112 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 3: to Eric about it, talked about it, and uh so 113 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 3: we went into that draft with a little bit more 114 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 3: of kind of what what did everybody feel about this? 115 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 3: Like it's a major decision in the quarterback position, It's 116 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 3: it's pivotal in the league. It's pivotal when you pick 117 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 3: him in the first round. Uh, it could set or 118 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 3: you know, hurt your franchise. And so I think Steve 119 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 3: would just wanted everybody on board with that pick. And 120 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 3: then as the draft went, uh, you know, Eric and 121 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 3: Ozzie were kind of true to the process, like they 122 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 3: they had guys ranked at a certain spot. We picked Hayden, 123 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 3: and then I think Steve was sitting at the end 124 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 3: of the table kind of had his arms crossed. He 125 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 3: was starting to get locked in a little bit. I 126 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 3: think he turned to Eric and Ozzie and be like, 127 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,160 Speaker 3: is there any way we can get back up here? 128 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 3: And they pulled it off, and. 129 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 5: Well the rest is history. 130 00:06:58,040 --> 00:06:59,679 Speaker 1: I mean that that would had to be a moment 131 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: that I remember being down here just watching it and realizing, 132 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously you have Joe, you have Super Bowl winner, 133 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: super Bowl MVP, and like and then you're like, wow, 134 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: like this is a turning point in our franchise. And 135 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: then come you know, it's a two time MVP now 136 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: and it's even bigger than it felt in the moment. 137 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: But like, were the emotions in that, what were the 138 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: emotions like in that room when that pick was made, well. 139 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 3: I think you know, when the order came in for 140 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 3: everybody to look at him, you know, I think the 141 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 3: you know is this is like this is not that 142 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 3: it's never for real, right, you know. I mean when 143 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 3: the head man says, hey, we want everybody looking at him, 144 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 3: we knew the importance of it. And then sort of 145 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 3: when the plan kind of came to fruition, I mean, 146 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,679 Speaker 3: there was just a lot of excitement. I mean because 147 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 3: you knew the impact of not only the position, but 148 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 3: of that player and what he could be, yeah, and 149 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 3: what he can be so uh, you know, getting you know, 150 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 3: two picks in that round, and and and and getting 151 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: him was was awesome. Yeah. 152 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 4: I mean the last question on that of it were 153 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 4: you were you after you take Hayden? 154 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 5: Were you thinking all right, like we're done? 155 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 4: Or was it kind of like are you looking down 156 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 4: at that end of the table saying like, okay, so 157 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 4: are you guys gonna like is this gonna happen here? 158 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 5: Like what were what were you actually thinking? 159 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 4: Like the Hayden pick's done, Everyone celebrate your you know, 160 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 4: you're high five and and then like I know, Harball 161 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 4: has told the story like some coaches left the room, 162 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 4: and it's like, what were you kind of thinking in 163 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 4: that moment before obviously the trade up to to go 164 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 4: get him. 165 00:08:30,320 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, uh, as I recall the you look 166 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 3: at the board, you kind of figure out, Okay, who's 167 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 3: gonna be there the next day sort of thing. Uh 168 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,440 Speaker 3: So you start going through your list and who's gonna 169 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 3: pick what? And then Steve didn't move. 170 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 5: He was still very locked in. You're like, okay, okay, 171 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:55,200 Speaker 5: you sort. 172 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 3: Of feel like, all right, you know something's brewing. You know, 173 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 3: I don't know what. Yeah, you know, because he's he's 174 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 3: kind of down at that side, and and you know, 175 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,200 Speaker 3: he starts leaning over and I'm like, okay, something's going down. 176 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 3: Like so it was it was great that's what. He 177 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 3: was not moving, so I knew something could be up. 178 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's funny. 179 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: So fast forwarding to this year, Just what are your 180 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,479 Speaker 1: general impressions of this draft class? 181 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 3: Uh? You know, I like it, you know for scouts, like, 182 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 3: it's just you know, what we really want to do 183 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 3: is just you know, give our opinion, give recommendations, see 184 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 3: what players can impact the team and help us win. 185 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,920 Speaker 3: Like that's really what we live for. So I think 186 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 3: in every draft, we we kind of look at, you know, 187 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 3: each round, what what's going to be there possibly and 188 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 3: and what we could target would what would make us 189 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 3: a better football team and complement the guys that we have. 190 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 3: So you know, I'm still getting all the name straight, 191 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 3: you know, Fishano and Fatanu, Fuaga, Fisher, Foster, Flax. I 192 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 3: mean that's a good year. You know, there's an odds 193 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 3: that could be an f but I don't, you know, 194 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 3: I don't it's good. The old line's you know strong. 195 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 3: I think you can get something in every round. You know. 196 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 3: Wide Outs are always a topic because there's so many 197 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 3: variety of them. You know, there's uh, you know, the 198 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 3: big X, and you got the speedy Z and route 199 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 3: running you know, slot receiver. Then you got receivers that 200 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 3: are the returners, and then receivers that are special teamers. 201 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,640 Speaker 3: So there's going to be a variety of those players, 202 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 3: and every team needs a certain thing and how it 203 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: complements the players on their team. So receivers are always 204 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 3: something that go m HM. 205 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 4: Now, trade is always possible. We've seen that with Eric 206 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 4: a couple of times. He's made a few trades and 207 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 4: his time as GM, and certainly He always talks about 208 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:51,719 Speaker 4: accumulating picks and atti picks. 209 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,079 Speaker 5: You already got nine, you know, which is a big collection. 210 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:59,119 Speaker 4: Walk us through the process and the potential of potentially 211 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 4: trading adding picks or even going the other direction. 212 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 5: You know, you got nine. 213 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 4: Eric has talked about how this class there's not as 214 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 4: many draftable players, and you know, part maybe because of COVID, 215 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 4: but just that process, the trade process of potentially moving 216 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 4: back or going up if you feel like you like 217 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 4: a guy. 218 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I mean the trade part of it's really 219 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 3: not my expertise. You know, I sit there and I 220 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 3: try to evaluate the trade is really Eric and Azzie 221 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 3: and Steve Nick and Pat. I think when you look 222 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 3: at trades, you know, generally in the first round, if 223 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 3: there's a clump of players that you like and you 224 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 3: could move back and you would take those players and 225 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 3: you can move back that certain number spots. So if 226 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 3: you have five players you like and you can move 227 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 3: back that number and still get a player that you like, 228 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 3: then you probably look at it. So I think in general, 229 00:11:56,160 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 3: that's that's kind of what you do. You know. I 230 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,360 Speaker 3: think certainly picks, the more swings you get, the more 231 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 3: hits you're gonna get or the odds or that you're 232 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 3: going to hit the ball. So certainly we you know, 233 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 3: wouldn't mind that either, you know. I think scouts love that, 234 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 3: you know, more players in their area, you know they 235 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 3: can brag about, you know, but more chance for them 236 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 3: to impact the team. 237 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: I'm curious from a scouting perspective, there's so much more 238 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 1: analytics in the game now. You know, I can pull 239 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: up next gen stats and see how fast Zay Flowers 240 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: ran in the second quarter in this specific play and 241 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: blah blah blah. Right, as an evaluator, how much more 242 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: is that factored into your evaluations as compared to before. 243 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: You do you feel like now it is a little 244 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: bit more science than art of what it used to be. 245 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 3: I think we've probably always approached it that you have 246 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 3: to marry the two or you have to just you know, 247 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 3: piece the puzzle together. I don't think one overshadows the other. Yeah, 248 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 3: there's value in everything that we look at, you know, 249 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 3: whether it's talent, whether it's intangibles, whether it's background, medical, analytics, 250 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:18,200 Speaker 3: gut feel. You got to just piece it all together 251 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 3: and get that picture. I think that's kind of what 252 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 3: Eric one of his strength is really just kind of 253 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 3: taking all that information in and being able to recall 254 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 3: that and and then you have to make a call 255 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 3: on game day, so on draft day, so there's a 256 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 3: lot of info, but you got to just piece it 257 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 3: all together. 258 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: What does stand out to you about Eric and how 259 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: he operates this draft? And how has he changed? I mean, 260 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 1: you two have been working together for a long time. 261 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:46,680 Speaker 1: How has that evolved? How has he changed? 262 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 3: You know, I don't know if he's he's changed. I 263 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 3: mean he's good, right, So, I mean I think first 264 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 3: and foremost, he probably I mean he puts he does 265 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 3: his homework right. So like I'm in a little bit 266 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 3: of an owl. So I might shoot him at text, 267 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:06,160 Speaker 3: like twelve thirty or so one o'clock, go to bed, 268 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 3: you know, three thirty in the morning. I hear my 269 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 3: phone ringing he's grinding tape at three thirty. I'm like, son, 270 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 3: you know, I wasn't expected a return to the like 271 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 3: seven or eight. 272 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 2: You know, says that gets you out of bed. Then 273 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 2: when you get the three thirty text. 274 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 3: Not really. 275 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: Salent mood. 276 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 3: I think what sets maybe sets him apart. So a 277 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 3: buddy of mine was over my house the other day 278 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 3: and we were talking about like successful coaches and you 279 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 3: know CEOs, top business guys. And he turns to me. 280 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 3: He turns to me and goes, uh, you know, are 281 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 3: you James Bond fan. I'm like yeah. He's like, uh, 282 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 3: there's a movie for your eyes, for your eyes only. 283 00:14:54,960 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 3: And there's this Greek smuggler, his name is Colombo and 284 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 3: he kidnaps James Bond and he has him on his 285 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 3: in his office in his yacht and he says, mister Bond, 286 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: you have what the Greeks called rossos guts and and 287 00:15:14,520 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 3: I think that's I think you know, when you're sitting 288 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 3: there and you got to make a call and you 289 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 3: have all that information you gotta recall from the scouts. 290 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 3: You have the pressure of the coaching staff. You have 291 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 3: the pressure of the players, you know, because they want 292 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 3: to you want they want you to add good players, 293 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 3: the pressure of the city, trade calls coming in, people 294 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 3: talking about who they want in the room, and you 295 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 3: got to sit there and lock in and focus. I 296 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 3: think you know that that takes guts and he's good 297 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 3: at it. 298 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 2: That's great. 299 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 4: He's more of a you know Eric always talk about 300 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 4: he's more of a not sopranos godfather, he's, you know, 301 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 4: a godfather guy, but maybe he's Bond. 302 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 3: I mean, he already wants to be James Bond. 303 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: Okay, Okay, that's interesting that you say, like people in 304 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 1: the room talking about who they want, Like, is there 305 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: kind of you know, you have your board, right, but 306 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: are there people who throw. 307 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 2: Out a last minute lob? 308 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 3: Like I kind of like this guy right now, but 309 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 3: I think when you're sitting there trying to make that call, 310 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 3: you might possibly like hear's some whispers you wish you know, 311 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 3: but he's locked in. He knows what he's doing. 312 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 4: Right right right. I'm curious about whenever we're going through 313 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 4: this process, and of course we do our mock draft, 314 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 4: which I know you guys you know, always print out 315 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 4: and take very seriously. Those are the whispers at Eric's hearing, 316 00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 4: you know, draft to say, those are the ones. But 317 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 4: one of the things that we always talk about is 318 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 4: like the story, and you guys have talked about kind 319 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 4: of over the years, just the character of players, and 320 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 4: you like, guys who have overcome things and the off 321 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 4: the field stuff is important, and you know, there's plenty 322 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 4: of examples of players who have overcome things and succeeded, 323 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 4: and that can be an indicator of success. I am curious, 324 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 4: like how much of a factor is that those intangibles 325 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 4: is off the field things, the overcoming of adversity, Like 326 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 4: how big of a factor is that when you're making 327 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:11,400 Speaker 4: these evaluations. 328 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 3: You know, I think it's a it's a huge factor. 329 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 3: I think, you know, the stories are not so much 330 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 3: like did a player rescue a cat from a tree? 331 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 3: It's not like that like a feel good kind. 332 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 2: Of we appreciate that a media side, Yeah, you got. 333 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,160 Speaker 3: To take that guy. I think it is the stories 334 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 3: of like how what what guys have overcome, Like what 335 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 3: adversity has have they faced? If there's stories like that 336 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,840 Speaker 3: and they've been through it, like they they understand what 337 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,320 Speaker 3: it takes to get through something like that, because you know, 338 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 3: I mean, when you're in the NFL and you're early 339 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 3: in your career, you know you're gonna have kind of 340 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 3: these waves and ups and downs, uh, you know, and 341 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:59,439 Speaker 3: and even if you don't, uh, you're gonna have some 342 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:03,159 Speaker 3: distract And so having gone through something like that or 343 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 3: if you if you've had that in your background, I 344 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 3: think it's important because you can kind of rely on Okay, 345 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 3: what did I do before to pull me this? Pull 346 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,520 Speaker 3: this out like it pulled me from out of this. 347 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 3: So I think players that can do that and compartmentalize 348 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 3: and then focus on what the task at hand and 349 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 3: know who to go to if they need support and rely, 350 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 3: you know, you know, whether it's a coach or talk 351 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 3: to Trish, you know Eric John, uh, you know, family member, 352 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 3: mentor whatever within the locker room or out, Like if 353 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 3: they know how to get through it, because everybody goes 354 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 3: through something and if they've been through it, they can 355 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 3: get through it and and and do what they're uh, 356 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 3: they're capable of doing on the field. 357 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 4: You talked about what makes Eric great and this is 358 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 4: kind of the this is the challenge of any NFL 359 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:50,560 Speaker 4: evaluator in your years of doing this, if you had 360 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:52,200 Speaker 4: to distill it down, like what is it that makes 361 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:56,360 Speaker 4: a player succeed that from like a prospect, a prospect 362 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 4: succeed you know, you put this grade out there and 363 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 4: you know, some guys are first round pick and it 364 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 4: doesn't pan out. Some guys are seventh round picks and 365 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 4: are undrafted and they have great careers. And so what 366 00:19:05,400 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 4: is it in your mind that. 367 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:09,399 Speaker 5: Allows a prospect to succeed at the next level. 368 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 3: Well, talent, that's a big one. The talent is huge. 369 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 3: There's a lot of talented players up here, so you're 370 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 3: you know, you're trying to figure out the ones that 371 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 3: have talent that don't and the ones that have talent, 372 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 3: you know, flourish, So you know, I mean, god, there's 373 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 3: so many things. Like what's hard about scouting is you know, 374 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:35,879 Speaker 3: you really don't know what you don't How is a 375 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 3: player going to react when he gets up here. That's 376 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 3: why our area scouts are so valuable in terms of 377 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 3: talking to so many people on what the player has 378 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 3: done to get him through tough times or get him 379 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:52,119 Speaker 3: or put him where he is right now, Like what 380 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 3: does he face? Like how does he practice? How is 381 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 3: he on the sideline? But what you don't know about 382 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 3: a player that is hard is how he's going to 383 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 3: react when he gets up here. He's not the best 384 00:20:03,440 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 3: player in his room, perhaps he's he's not the best 385 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 3: player on the team. There's a million distractions out there. 386 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:14,760 Speaker 3: Maybe he's got a little money. How do you play 387 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 3: with that? You got family members that you know NFL? 388 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 3: You know, I want to come to the games fifty tickets. Yea. 389 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 3: You know, there's so many stumbling blocks that a player 390 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 3: has to be able and to be able to separate 391 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 3: and be able to do because it's hard. It's really 392 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:35,399 Speaker 3: hard to play this game, and it's hard to be 393 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 3: really good at it, let alone great. I mean we 394 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 3: throw that word out a lot. Great, you know, just god, 395 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 3: be really good at it and get better. Like it's hard, 396 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 3: and these guys have a lot of things to deal 397 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 3: with and then learning like a whole new language, Like 398 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 3: you know, some guy's never been in a huddle before, 399 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 3: Like how do you do that? So the hard thing 400 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 3: is you just really don't know how a player is 401 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 3: going to react when he gets up here. You know, 402 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 3: you can see the talent he's got the ability to 403 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 3: do it. Why that's that's the million dollar question. 404 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: Right, How has this pre draft process been different for 405 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,400 Speaker 1: you after Joe's departure to LA. 406 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 3: Well, you're not going to replace Joe Ortiz. I mean, 407 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 3: he's just he's such a good evaluator. He's so well 408 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:28,120 Speaker 3: connected within college football in terms of you could pick 409 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 3: up the phone call any head coach. Really, but I think, 410 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,640 Speaker 3: you know, in saying that, I'm really proud like our 411 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 3: group like they they got they buckled it up. They 412 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 3: knew he was leaving. H They did the extra work. 413 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 3: They went to extra prode's, they did extra tape, they 414 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 3: got extra source like information from sources. They double back. Okay, 415 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 3: not only coordinators, position coaches, you know GA's student assistant. 416 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,400 Speaker 3: Like they they they pressed the pedal a little bit. 417 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 3: So I think it was good. Like you know, like 418 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,199 Speaker 3: I said before, Scout wants to impact the team, to 419 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 3: help us win. That's all. That's all I care about. 420 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 3: That's all we care about. Titles. Yeah, we just want 421 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,199 Speaker 3: this team to win. It's important to us. You know. 422 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 2: So does the seating chart in the draft room change 423 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 2: at all? 424 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 3: Uh? No, I mean I went and planning days are 425 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 3: like far from now in terms of seating. 426 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 2: See it's in your history. 427 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, I got three younger kids, so that I'll 428 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:37,360 Speaker 3: be charting seats at some point. But listen, if there's 429 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 3: a the way our mentality is, if there's a something 430 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 3: to be done, uh, it's gonna get done whether you 431 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 3: go do it or I do it. Joe, I mean 432 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 3: not Joe, but Mark. 433 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 5: You're still referencing Joe. It's like you're still here. 434 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:56,679 Speaker 3: Well, we have Joe sadona Oka and Joey Cleary. So 435 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 3: you know we're still still play Yeah, you know, not 436 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 3: regular Joe's. These guys are good, but you know all 437 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,720 Speaker 3: those guys upstairs, TJ and Travis thrill there. I mean, 438 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:12,919 Speaker 3: if there's something to do, you know, go do it 439 00:23:13,040 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 3: or find a way to get it done. 440 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 5: Now. 441 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:17,440 Speaker 4: You talked a little bit about Steve and how he 442 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 4: is on in the Lamar story of Draft Weekend. You know, 443 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 4: Eric talked about the Bashati Reign of Terror at the 444 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 4: pre draft Fresh conference and where you know, you basically 445 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 4: keep trading a future years picked. You go from a 446 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 4: seventh all the way up over the course of seven 447 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 4: years to go to a first round pick. 448 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 5: So what is he like in draft room? 449 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 4: Is he always is he basically always trying to make 450 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:39,879 Speaker 4: the Bashatti Reign of Terror come into fruition. 451 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 3: Well, you know, I'm not privileged to that plan for 452 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 3: a very few I'll say this, you could tell he 453 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:53,000 Speaker 3: loves it, right, So he studies it. He knows the players, 454 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 3: he knows the type of players that we like. You know, 455 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 3: he knows the trade process. I mean, who knows how 456 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:06,359 Speaker 3: you better than him? But he asks like you know, 457 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 3: just pointing questions. He challenges you, he understands it, He 458 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 3: makes you look at it from a different perspective. So yeah, 459 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 3: he'll try to keep us loose, you know, as you 460 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 3: know we're twenty ten picks away, but then you see 461 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 3: his competitiveness, like he locks in now like so as 462 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 3: it gets like everybody else, like when it gets to 463 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 3: five picks away and you're starting to narrow it down 464 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,399 Speaker 3: and the phones are ringing and we're putting up the 465 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,880 Speaker 3: trades possibilities, and his wheels are turning like he locks 466 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:46,720 Speaker 3: in just just as much as we do. So it's 467 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:47,480 Speaker 3: it's kind of cool. 468 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:50,120 Speaker 2: That's interesting. The last question for me, George. 469 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: You know, obviously with Lamar's contract escalating, him eating up 470 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: a bigger piece of the pie, you know the draft 471 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: is going to have more and more importance, right, we 472 00:24:58,440 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: got to keep hitting these picks, Retar talking with young, 473 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:02,119 Speaker 1: cheap talent. 474 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,399 Speaker 2: Right, do you guys look at these drafts? 475 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: Of course, there's a million reasons why every draft is 476 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: very important, but do you, with Lamar's contract situation, look 477 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,160 Speaker 1: at each of these drafts and say, like, all right, 478 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: these we got we have to nail these if we're 479 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:17,360 Speaker 1: going to continue to remain as competitive as we have been. 480 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean regardless of contracts, no contracts, quarterback contract, 481 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 3: quarterback on a rookie deal. I think you just you know, 482 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 3: every year you try to build it within the parameters 483 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:32,720 Speaker 3: that you have, so you know, we play to win. 484 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:36,199 Speaker 3: So I don't think we overanalyze like how we're going 485 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 3: to go replace or whatnot. I think we just we 486 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 3: you know, cause this year's team, if you look at 487 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:47,360 Speaker 3: this year's team, you know, one of the biggest reasons 488 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 3: why it was successful is because we had great depth. 489 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 3: So it's not like, Okay, we're going to replace this 490 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 3: player in a couple of years, so we got to 491 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 3: pick this player, this this position. Like you just want 492 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 3: to create as much depth as you can each and 493 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 3: every year because we expect to win each and every 494 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 3: year here. So you know, I mean you look at 495 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 3: this year. You know the guys we added, I mean, 496 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:13,879 Speaker 3: you know, Ronald Darby and Simpson stepped up to be 497 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:18,479 Speaker 3: a starter, and van Oy and Clowney. I mean we 498 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,879 Speaker 3: had tremendous depth. And then you look at somebody like 499 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 3: Patrick McCarry. I mean, the guy can start. I mean 500 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 3: he could play every position, and how many teams can 501 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 3: say they have say that they to go win and 502 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 3: play winning football at all five positions, Like that's that's rare. 503 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 3: So the depth that we have. So I think to 504 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 3: answer your question when you look at the draft, like 505 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 3: where can we build that? Like obviously everybody looks at 506 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 3: the first round impact player blah blah blah, but really 507 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 3: it's like, we have good players on this team and 508 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 3: where can we compliment with what's in the draft? Right? 509 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:54,960 Speaker 2: Very cool? 510 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:56,360 Speaker 4: Well, I can't wait to see you have a store 511 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 4: this week. It's going to be a lot of fun. 512 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:00,360 Speaker 4: So thank you so much for the time and good luck. 513 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:04,520 Speaker 4: You're listening to the Lounge podcast. We're coming to you 514 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 4: from the Sea Geek Studio. We also want to go 515 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,320 Speaker 4: shout out to our friends with DraftKings Sportsbook. They're an 516 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 4: official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens. They've got 517 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:12,919 Speaker 4: a limit of time off for running right now that 518 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,200 Speaker 4: you don't want to miss. Download the Draft King Sportsbook 519 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 4: app today. Use the promo code flock. If you are 520 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:20,959 Speaker 4: a new user, you can get a deposit bonus up 521 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,399 Speaker 4: to one thousand dollars. Again, that promo code is flock 522 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,360 Speaker 4: only at draftings. You need to be twenty one years 523 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 4: or older and physically president in Maryland to play. For help, 524 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 4: visit MD gamblinghelp dot org or call one eight hundred gambler. 525 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 4: So really enjoy the conversation with George. I think, you know, 526 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,159 Speaker 4: it's fun to hear stories. I mean, the story of 527 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 4: draft and Lamar is a great one, and it's fun 528 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 4: to look back on, like a pivotal moment, a turning 529 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 4: point in Ravens history. 530 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure, I really like that story. 531 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 1: I like this story about Eric Tacosta, you know, describing, describing. 532 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 2: Though that the whole fond thing. 533 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 3: Thanks going. 534 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:58,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, George is great. 535 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, he's he's a little different from 536 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 1: Joe Ortiz, who we've interviewed many times leading into the draft, 537 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: and one big difference between him, just so viewers and 538 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 1: listeners knows, he does not talk about any individual prospects. 539 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:11,159 Speaker 2: So if you're wondering, why. 540 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: Aren't you asking him about his take on Maarus Mims 541 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:16,520 Speaker 1: and the other tackles, George don't play that game, and 542 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 1: which is totally fine, that's his choice. He just operates 543 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,879 Speaker 1: a little differently from Joe. But you know, a super respected, 544 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 1: longtime scout. George is just he's given his take on players, 545 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: whether it be free agents, you know, the draft, prospects, 546 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: all that stuff for a long time and he's been 547 00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: a key part of why the Ravens have had so 548 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: much success, keeping that pipeline stocked with talent and have 549 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:39,000 Speaker 1: been so successful over the years. 550 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, George is really influential in the overall process in 551 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 4: the personnel department. You know, this is draft focused, but 552 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 4: George is also pivotal on the pro side as well. 553 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 4: So when the Ravens have guys like Ronald Darby and 554 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:56,840 Speaker 4: Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle van Noy and Arthur Molett who 555 00:28:56,840 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 4: come in here and have a lot of success, you know, 556 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 4: George is highly highly involved in that process of bringing 557 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 4: those that pro scouting piece, which is a pivotal piece 558 00:29:05,440 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 4: of the equation too. 559 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,160 Speaker 1: So I thought it was interesting. You know who else 560 00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:09,960 Speaker 1: is very influential is Steve Bashadi. 561 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, he was very influential. He was very influential. 562 00:29:12,480 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, especially on the draft. 563 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: I mean you talk about culture, right and and why 564 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: the Ravens are so successful, and I think a lot 565 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:22,120 Speaker 1: of that is because they draft so well. They Like 566 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 1: I said, keep that pipeline stocked. And a lot of 567 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,320 Speaker 1: that I think stems from Stee Bashadi, right, and his 568 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 1: vision for how important the draft is to this organization 569 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: and his involvement in it, you know, not only in 570 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: the room and kind of being their trades guru, right, 571 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:39,440 Speaker 1: Like when you see the Ravens trade on draft Day, 572 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 1: which to part Daniel Jeremiah from last year, I'd be 573 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 1: surprised if they didn't make a single trade on draft Day. 574 00:29:46,200 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: When you see that. Steve Bashati was probably speaking up 575 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 1: when that happened, very in the mix, and and I thought, 576 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: even from the Lamar story of him being like, you 577 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: know what, I want everybody to double back on this guy, 578 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 1: and that kind of queuing every body like, oh oh, 579 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: we might take a first round quarterback here, like this 580 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: is going to happen, right, And so it's it's really 581 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 1: interesting to see see his involvement in how key he 582 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: views the draft as being to the raven success. 583 00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 4: I just think it's funny too that that George tells 584 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 4: the story of you knew something was up when you 585 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:21,200 Speaker 4: didn't see Steve get up from the table exactly. Everyone's 586 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 4: like high five and it's like okay, all right, good 587 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,240 Speaker 4: first round guys, and it's like, wait, we're not done here. Okay, 588 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:27,280 Speaker 4: all right, let me settle settle back in here. I'll 589 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:28,320 Speaker 4: see where this thing goes. 590 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:29,000 Speaker 3: Yep, yep. 591 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 2: Very cool. 592 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 5: So you know the draft is is, it's this week. 593 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 4: You know, it's coming up in a few days, and 594 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:37,200 Speaker 4: we are going to be breaking down kind of everything 595 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 4: over the course of this week to give you our 596 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:40,160 Speaker 4: final take. 597 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 2: We're going daily. 598 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 4: We're going daily, we are We're going to do some 599 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 4: big questions, some of the big questions and break down those. 600 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 4: The episode is going to be coming out tomorrow and 601 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 4: on Wednesday, Okay. 602 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 1: I have kind of a surprise waiting in the wings 603 00:30:53,080 --> 00:30:55,280 Speaker 1: for that, a prediction surprise for you. 604 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,560 Speaker 4: I'm sure you're going to do twenty different predictions and 605 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 4: then no, no, no, and then this prediction and this. 606 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 5: Prediction comes true. 607 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 4: Then you can just throw as much stuff up against 608 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 4: the wall and see what sticks. But then on Wednesday, 609 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 4: we're gonna do our full seven round mock draft. Okay, 610 00:31:09,640 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 4: so look forward to that. And actually on Thursday, during 611 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 4: the first round of the draft, we're gonna do a 612 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 4: live episode of the podcast from Reckless Shepherd Brewing, which 613 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,760 Speaker 4: is where we're hosting a PSL event for some PSL 614 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,240 Speaker 4: owners for our draft party. 615 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 5: It's an an event only for those PSL owners. We're 616 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 5: going to be there, but you'll be able to watch 617 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 5: the podcast. 618 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 4: All right, So we're gonna do a live episode that's 619 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 4: gonna be around seven thirty Thursday night. Just set the 620 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 4: table for draft covers, you know, so you're getting ready 621 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,120 Speaker 4: for draft coverage. You eat dinner, put on the lounge, 622 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 4: get kind of every the table set, and then you 623 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 4: can go into watching your draft covers throughout Thursday night. 624 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 2: Our prediction is getting even better when you mix a 625 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 2: brewery in there. 626 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's very exactly exactly when it comes all together. 627 00:31:50,040 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 5: It's a perfect convergence right there. 628 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:54,040 Speaker 4: So you'll be able to watch that on our app 629 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 4: our site as well as our YouTube channel on Thursday. 630 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:57,400 Speaker 5: So it's gonna be a busy week. 631 00:31:57,440 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 4: I mean, this is this is what it's all exciting, 632 00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 4: this is what we do afore and so Draft Weeek 633 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 4: is here as always. You can email us at the 634 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:06,479 Speaker 4: lounge at RAVENSOTNFL dot net. Thank you so much for 635 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 4: watching and for listening, and we'll talk with you again 636 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 4: later this week.