WEBVTT - Spring Snapshots: Auburn, Florida State, Michigan + Texas A&M with Sam Khan, Jr. 0:00:02.160 --> 0:00:06.040 Welcome to the solid verbal. 0:00:04.840 --> 0:00:08.000 Hell that for me. I'm a man, I'm. 0:00:07.800 --> 0:00:09.760 For I've heard so many players. 0:00:09.400 --> 0:00:10.639 Say, well, I want to be happy. 0:00:10.800 --> 0:00:12.080 You want to be happy for a day? 0:00:12.360 --> 0:00:16.840 Eta Steak is that woo woof? And don and tie 0:00:18.600 --> 0:00:21.480 Welcome back to the solid verbal Boys and girls, My 0:00:21.600 --> 0:00:23.919 name is ty hilden Brand has always joined by the 0:00:23.920 --> 0:00:27.600 Monster of the Midway, Dad Rubenstein. Sir, how are you. 0:00:28.480 --> 0:00:30.840 I'm not too bad. I'm not too bad. It's a 0:00:30.880 --> 0:00:35.239 windy day here, but life is decent. Life, life is 0:00:35.240 --> 0:00:38.600 pretty decent. I didn't have to attack any rodents today, great, 0:00:39.159 --> 0:00:41.839 which to me is a win. I uh, I'm a 0:00:41.880 --> 0:00:44.279 little bit sore from working out yesterday, but I got 0:00:44.280 --> 0:00:47.040 to watch highlights of spring games and go back and 0:00:47.360 --> 0:00:50.360 see what people think of where rosters are at, and 0:00:50.880 --> 0:00:54.600 got to come up with an especially silly and nonsensical 0:00:54.680 --> 0:00:57.120 theme for an off season show, Tye. 0:00:58.520 --> 0:01:00.960 The juices are flowing, The juice is are full. And 0:01:01.000 --> 0:01:03.960 we had our board meeting we did last night, so 0:01:03.960 --> 0:01:06.080 we're recording the show a little bit early. This show 0:01:06.120 --> 0:01:08.520 is going to play back for most of the general 0:01:08.520 --> 0:01:12.200 public on Tuesday. We're recording this on Thursday. We had 0:01:12.240 --> 0:01:14.320 the opportunity to meet with our board of trustees. It 0:01:14.360 --> 0:01:16.919 was a productive meeting. I can't give too much away. 0:01:16.959 --> 0:01:20.640 We will make some minutes from that call public because 0:01:20.640 --> 0:01:24.400 folks on the Patreon obviously are very interested. But let's 0:01:24.400 --> 0:01:27.560 just say a productive call, a spirited group of rebawlers 0:01:27.600 --> 0:01:31.480 who had wisdom to impart on the show on college football, 0:01:31.520 --> 0:01:33.280 on life in general. I was thrilled. It was a 0:01:33.319 --> 0:01:34.119 great experience. 0:01:34.600 --> 0:01:37.080 They have approved me as co host for our They've 0:01:37.120 --> 0:01:40.080 rolled over my contract for another year, which was it 0:01:40.080 --> 0:01:43.040 was a close vote, it was, but I'm grateful that 0:01:43.319 --> 0:01:45.720 I will be a board for the next year until 0:01:45.720 --> 0:01:49.360 the next board meets exactly. And we also released funds 0:01:49.480 --> 0:01:51.040 so that I can buy a new stool or a 0:01:51.120 --> 0:01:53.240 new chair, because look, you go starting to be a 0:01:53.320 --> 0:01:54.800 hunchback here, which isn't good. 0:01:55.160 --> 0:01:57.360 It's insane given this current set up. A long way 0:01:57.400 --> 0:02:00.360 to go as we build towards the college football season. 0:02:00.760 --> 0:02:03.200 This episode, all of our episodes driven by our good 0:02:03.240 --> 0:02:06.520 friends over at Geiico. Don't forget to subscribe or follow 0:02:06.600 --> 0:02:10.760 whatever your podcasting apps vernacular is, Please do click it. 0:02:11.160 --> 0:02:13.400 We'll be here all off season due and two shows 0:02:13.440 --> 0:02:15.760 a week. You can go out to Forballers dot com. 0:02:15.760 --> 0:02:19.160 That's our Patreon. You can find an additional show every 0:02:19.160 --> 0:02:22.639 week called The Brew and A. We also have bonus 0:02:22.680 --> 0:02:25.520 features that we drop there from time to time, the 0:02:25.560 --> 0:02:28.560 most notable of which as of late has been Dan's 0:02:28.639 --> 0:02:31.720 Extra Nuggets podcast, the Trivia Bass show that he does 0:02:31.760 --> 0:02:34.280 with our good friend Adam Amin, the voice of the 0:02:34.360 --> 0:02:38.160 Bulls Dan Rubinstein. Yeah, stay tuned for more on that. 0:02:38.280 --> 0:02:41.399 Of course, there's also Discord Server. There's also a bunch 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:44.639 of other knickknacks that are available only to that Patreon 0:02:44.680 --> 0:02:48.760 community at verballers dot com and finally, Solid Giveaway dot Com. 0:02:48.760 --> 0:02:50.480 That's where you can go to put your name in 0:02:50.520 --> 0:02:53.960 the hat to win that AJ Brown signed ole Miss 0:02:54.040 --> 0:02:57.680 Mini helmet. You've gotten till April to twenty third to 0:02:57.800 --> 0:03:03.840 do just that mentioned earlier, the theme of this show. Yeah, 0:03:03.919 --> 0:03:06.800 you mentioned that you're excited about it. Correct, Yes, I 0:03:06.919 --> 0:03:09.320 too am excited about this concept. It may not be 0:03:09.440 --> 0:03:14.840 for everybody, yeah, but correct, But we're building to the 0:03:14.919 --> 0:03:18.720 season and a big step on that journey is what 0:03:18.760 --> 0:03:21.440 we call spring football. What we're doing right now, what 0:03:21.480 --> 0:03:23.880 we're reading about on a weekly basis right now, as 0:03:23.919 --> 0:03:27.440 we go through April, we are taking spring snapshots today, 0:03:28.160 --> 0:03:31.680 we are talking about after these games, what seems to 0:03:31.720 --> 0:03:35.720 be in focus, what seems to be still fairly blurry. 0:03:36.400 --> 0:03:39.400 And on that note, Dan, let me turn the baton 0:03:39.440 --> 0:03:41.720 over to you for a little bit more detail around 0:03:41.760 --> 0:03:42.440 what is this show. 0:03:43.040 --> 0:03:46.320 Yeah, especially given the time of year and given the 0:03:46.440 --> 0:03:49.600 movement across the sport with coaches and players, I think 0:03:49.680 --> 0:03:53.000 it's almost a rarity that too much is in focus. 0:03:53.040 --> 0:03:56.880 You're going to have your incumbent star quarterbacks, your Bryce Young's, 0:03:56.920 --> 0:04:00.280 your CJ. Strouds, You'll have your Clemson defensive line where 0:04:00.320 --> 0:04:03.000 it's just like, of course, it's completely in focus. What 0:04:03.080 --> 0:04:06.400 the strength, where the experience, where the talent of this 0:04:06.520 --> 0:04:09.760 team lies as a no brainer. But by and large, 0:04:09.800 --> 0:04:11.640 this is a time when a lot is blurry. And 0:04:11.680 --> 0:04:13.920 as soon as you use that word blurry, I said, 0:04:14.160 --> 0:04:17.520 I know exactly where we're going this episode thematically that 0:04:17.560 --> 0:04:22.640 will resonate with the youth of today, and that is 0:04:22.720 --> 0:04:28.520 leaning into Puddle of MUD's blurry, which doesn't really have 0:04:28.800 --> 0:04:30.680 to do with the focus as far as I can 0:04:30.720 --> 0:04:32.840 tell of college football team. 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:36.320 No, but no. Nonetheless, we will. 0:04:36.160 --> 0:04:37.880 Talk about Puddle of Mud a little bit later because 0:04:37.880 --> 0:04:39.920 we each research puddle of mud. Why I don't know. 0:04:40.000 --> 0:04:42.680 I honestly have no clue why would we would research 0:04:42.720 --> 0:04:45.760 puddle of mud. But especially of the teams that have 0:04:46.120 --> 0:04:49.160 just had that already completed at the time of recording 0:04:49.440 --> 0:04:51.920 their spring games or whatever they call that sort of 0:04:51.960 --> 0:04:55.560 you know, the Garnet and Gold game whatever, there's still 0:04:55.600 --> 0:05:01.680 a lot that is quite and we are going to 0:05:02.480 --> 0:05:07.600 look at the open questions and haziness of a lot 0:05:07.640 --> 0:05:10.200 of these teams they head into summer workouts and eventually 0:05:10.200 --> 0:05:13.839 fall camp. The way that you wove that all together 0:05:14.040 --> 0:05:16.960 was really thank you work of art, Dan, Thank you, 0:05:17.040 --> 0:05:21.560 thank you. And again it's puddle of mud, not puddle. No, 0:05:21.880 --> 0:05:27.039 not not that, not mud puddle, No, not ud puddle. Well, 0:05:27.040 --> 0:05:29.000 thank you for laying that out there. We hope everyone 0:05:29.080 --> 0:05:31.599 is excited for this show. I know we are and 0:05:31.800 --> 0:05:34.440 on top of it. As we go through and discuss 0:05:34.480 --> 0:05:36.960 a bunch of teams that had spring action, we are 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:40.600 also going to bring on Sam Khan of the Athletic Yes, 0:05:41.120 --> 0:05:45.120 a self proclaimed texpert, he is a senior writer. He 0:05:45.200 --> 0:05:48.800 covers all things Texas football and recruiting. Sam's going to 0:05:48.839 --> 0:05:50.880 stop by and give us a little bit more wisdom 0:05:50.920 --> 0:05:52.279 as it relates to Texas A and M. 0:05:52.360 --> 0:05:54.760 Texas A and M one of those teams, really one 0:05:54.760 --> 0:05:57.800 of those storylines we go into the twenty twenty two season, 0:05:58.160 --> 0:06:01.760 maybe just on the weight of their recruiting. G ass alone, 0:06:01.800 --> 0:06:05.240 the class that they reeled in was historic in nature, 0:06:05.839 --> 0:06:09.200 and we're hopeful, I think, just as college football fans, 0:06:09.200 --> 0:06:12.240 as people who cover the sport from afar that Jimbo 0:06:12.279 --> 0:06:14.200 Fisher can get things going. Maybe he can get a 0:06:14.240 --> 0:06:16.919 little bit more offense going downfield. We'll find out what 0:06:17.040 --> 0:06:19.880 Sam saw in that spring game. And if A and 0:06:20.040 --> 0:06:22.760 M is legit or if it's a bunch of bluster 0:06:22.839 --> 0:06:26.080 about nothing, I would argue, and I think you would 0:06:26.120 --> 0:06:30.919 agree that Texas A and M situation and place in 0:06:31.000 --> 0:06:33.920 the sport is wholly unique, wholly unique. 0:06:33.920 --> 0:06:36.400 Why do you say that Texas A and M and 0:06:36.400 --> 0:06:39.800 will get into it with Sam? I promise that they 0:06:40.440 --> 0:06:49.279 behave spend, recruit carry themselves higher, fill a stadium like 0:06:49.880 --> 0:06:57.680 expand like a traditional national power without the results. And 0:06:57.760 --> 0:06:59.800 I don't say that. I know people think, oh Dan, 0:07:00.000 --> 0:07:01.240 here's Dan hating on A and M. 0:07:01.279 --> 0:07:01.520 Again. 0:07:01.560 --> 0:07:05.680 We get a lot of comments like that, and I sure, 0:07:05.920 --> 0:07:10.040 but it's not true, it's unique, right. It's a lot 0:07:10.080 --> 0:07:14.320 of these schools that have whether it's Alabama, Ohio State, LSU, 0:07:14.720 --> 0:07:20.000 that they have somewhat recently set a standard to set 0:07:20.040 --> 0:07:23.559 expectations at a certain level, fair or not. Whereas Texas 0:07:23.600 --> 0:07:27.160 A and M is setting a standard that they have 0:07:27.400 --> 0:07:33.800 yet to meet, which is fascinating. And I think it's 0:07:33.840 --> 0:07:36.200 only great if Texas A and M is a dominant 0:07:36.400 --> 0:07:40.040 college football team moving forward. Because it's new, and that's it. 0:07:40.160 --> 0:07:41.880 I hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold 0:07:41.920 --> 0:07:43.600 on a new power. Continue when we get to the 0:07:43.640 --> 0:07:46.120 Sam interview, Does this mean that we're switching the motif 0:07:46.160 --> 0:07:48.880 of the show from puddle of MUD's blurry to want 0:07:48.880 --> 0:07:52.280 to be by the Spice Girls. No, I want to 0:07:52.480 --> 0:07:56.120 escape and move past the idea that I don't like 0:07:56.160 --> 0:07:57.960 Texas A and M. I've been to College Station, I've 0:07:57.960 --> 0:07:59.400 been to a game of Kyle Field. I had a 0:07:59.400 --> 0:08:02.400 great time there. And again, a new power in the 0:08:02.480 --> 0:08:07.800 sports is novelty, and I'm pro novelty. So I'm just 0:08:07.840 --> 0:08:10.120 curious to talk to Sam and I think he has 0:08:10.480 --> 0:08:13.800 been around the program recently and curious to hear him 0:08:13.840 --> 0:08:16.880 way in on what he sees and hears Dan, what 0:08:16.920 --> 0:08:22.880 team do you want to start out with first? Well, 0:08:22.920 --> 0:08:26.360 you took some and I took some. Let's talk about 0:08:26.360 --> 0:08:29.640 one of those powers. Let's talk about a team that 0:08:29.720 --> 0:08:34.199 played in the playoff last year, which, considering the storyline 0:08:34.200 --> 0:08:36.080 around their coach, considering the story of their line around 0:08:36.120 --> 0:08:38.160 some of the emerging talent on the team, with the 0:08:38.240 --> 0:08:40.679 upcoming draft, seems to hold at the top. 0:08:40.920 --> 0:08:43.160 I think we should talk about Michigan to start things off. 0:08:43.559 --> 0:08:46.920 How about that, Abe? Oh? 0:08:47.040 --> 0:08:49.680 Interesting, No, we can go to Cincinnati next. We'll start 0:08:49.679 --> 0:08:52.560 with the playoff teams that are on our list. Michigan 0:08:52.679 --> 0:08:56.080 is a fascinating case study. Josh Gattis leaves from Miami, 0:08:57.480 --> 0:09:00.199 I would saying Mike McEntyre Mike McDonald goes back back 0:09:00.280 --> 0:09:03.000 to the NFL to the Ravens from from WinCE from 0:09:03.000 --> 0:09:06.839 which from where he came originally. So they're replacing two 0:09:07.080 --> 0:09:11.040 full time coordinators, one of which will be Matt Weiss. 0:09:11.120 --> 0:09:14.000 Is Matt Weiss, who is a promotion from quarterbacks coach 0:09:14.520 --> 0:09:17.319 as a new offensive coordinator. Co offensive coordinator was shown 0:09:17.400 --> 0:09:20.599 more and then the new defensive coordinator comes in from Vanderbilt, 0:09:20.600 --> 0:09:24.400 also via the Ravens in Jesse minter. It's been a 0:09:24.400 --> 0:09:28.800 fascinating offseason. Jim Harbaugh, a legit finalist for the Vikings 0:09:28.880 --> 0:09:32.120 job who did not get the Vikings job seemed to 0:09:32.400 --> 0:09:36.920 badly and dearly want the Vikings job, is now back 0:09:37.000 --> 0:09:40.400 to being dedicated and loyal as the Michigan head coach 0:09:40.559 --> 0:09:42.960 after deeply wanting the Vikings head. 0:09:42.800 --> 0:09:45.440 Go here, and here's what's interesting about that. Here's what's 0:09:45.440 --> 0:09:48.040 interesting about that. Yeah, because we had said for a 0:09:48.040 --> 0:09:51.920 while it seemed as if Horball was building towards this 0:09:52.080 --> 0:09:55.360 move to the NFL to the extent where it came 0:09:55.400 --> 0:10:01.120 out that he was telling recruits the entertaining it. Yeah, 0:10:01.160 --> 0:10:04.079 and then the Vikings thing comes up. It appears he's 0:10:04.080 --> 0:10:08.040 a finalist. Almost the second that the interview's over, he 0:10:08.120 --> 0:10:10.200 starts talking about how he's going back to college. It 0:10:10.280 --> 0:10:14.160 was a one time thing, right, Are we too believe 0:10:14.200 --> 0:10:17.600 that it's a one time thing, because and look, I'm 0:10:17.600 --> 0:10:19.880 not trying to throw cold water on Jim Harbaugh going 0:10:19.920 --> 0:10:22.080 back to Michigan, building this thing up, getting back to 0:10:22.120 --> 0:10:24.360 the Big Ten championship of the playoff, nothing like that. 0:10:24.440 --> 0:10:28.360 I'm excited at that mere notion that he is staying 0:10:28.960 --> 0:10:31.120 and he's not another coach leaving for another job. I 0:10:31.160 --> 0:10:35.679 love that, right, But there's a track record with this 0:10:35.720 --> 0:10:37.679 guy that he gets nancy after he's been in a 0:10:37.720 --> 0:10:41.080 place for too long. Prior to this Michigan gig, what 0:10:41.160 --> 0:10:44.760 was it year four years that that was his longest 0:10:44.760 --> 0:10:49.240 stint at any one institution, any one team. So I 0:10:49.280 --> 0:10:52.280 don't know if I'm fully buying in that Jim Harbaugh 0:10:52.320 --> 0:10:55.440 is now suddenly a Michigan lifer. I am buying in 0:10:55.480 --> 0:10:59.520 on this being a good thing for college football in Michigan. Yep, 0:10:59.600 --> 0:11:01.840 in terms of what's in focus, what's not in focus, 0:11:01.960 --> 0:11:06.120 Having a good InFocus head coaching situation, it's a net 0:11:06.120 --> 0:11:10.960 positive for the sport. Yes, yes, no, it absolutely is. 0:11:11.000 --> 0:11:14.679 And so Michigan is fascinating because for so long it 0:11:14.840 --> 0:11:18.200 was a sort of ground and pounds strength to the 0:11:18.280 --> 0:11:22.360 offense with okay but not amazing quarterbacks at the best, 0:11:22.400 --> 0:11:26.080 at Michigan's best. Before last year, offensively, it was a 0:11:26.080 --> 0:11:28.400 lot of success on the ground and playing that sort 0:11:28.400 --> 0:11:31.400 of like mashing game, controlling the clock, everything like that, 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:34.600 and then dominating on defense with that Don Brown attacking defense. 0:11:34.640 --> 0:11:38.319 And now things have shifted schematically on defense and too 0:11:38.360 --> 0:11:41.000 much success last year, of course, punctuated by the Big 0:11:41.040 --> 0:11:45.240 Ten championship game and the Ohio State win. I think 0:11:45.280 --> 0:11:47.640 Michigan's fascinating. I think right now, when you look at 0:11:47.679 --> 0:11:51.200 the strengths of the team, it's hard not to say, 0:11:51.280 --> 0:11:54.880 given the change on defense, especially upfront with Aiden Hutchinson 0:11:54.920 --> 0:11:58.440 and David o'jabo on their ways to the NFL, the 0:11:58.480 --> 0:12:01.600 strength of the mission team right now, if we're to 0:12:01.640 --> 0:12:06.240 believe that there should be somewhat seamless transitions at coordinator spots, 0:12:06.920 --> 0:12:10.640 it's probably the emerging talent at skill positions on offense 0:12:10.960 --> 0:12:13.960 right the guys who came on in different spots, Donovan 0:12:14.040 --> 0:12:16.679 Edwards andrel Anthony on offense. I don't know if they 0:12:16.679 --> 0:12:21.600 have an obvious powerback replacement for Hassan Haskins, but Caate 0:12:21.679 --> 0:12:24.680 McNamara certainly good enough to get this team over the 0:12:24.679 --> 0:12:28.080 Ohio State and Iowa humps to the playoff. May not 0:12:28.280 --> 0:12:31.800 have showed out against Georgia, but there's not too many 0:12:31.840 --> 0:12:35.040 guys who really showed out against the twenty twenty one 0:12:35.080 --> 0:12:39.240 Georgia defense, so I can excuse some of that. But 0:12:39.320 --> 0:12:41.920 if there is anything that Michigan was lacking last year, 0:12:42.000 --> 0:12:44.840 it was the depth of talent level to compete with 0:12:44.880 --> 0:12:49.040 the best of the sport. Now with offensive bodies emerging, 0:12:49.120 --> 0:12:51.240 there's a new freshman who performed well in the spring game, 0:12:51.320 --> 0:12:54.000 Darius Clemens, a bigger receiver. The tight end group looks 0:12:54.160 --> 0:12:57.360 very very good. Offensive line will see but I feel 0:12:57.400 --> 0:13:01.040 decent about them, and there is talent on defense. There's 0:13:01.040 --> 0:13:03.920 for sure talent on defense, especially young talent in that secondary. 0:13:04.559 --> 0:13:07.040 We'll see how the guys are who are replacing that 0:13:07.360 --> 0:13:13.240 unbelievable tandem at defensive end. But if you're a Michigan fan, 0:13:13.800 --> 0:13:16.439 knowing that Ohio State will improve this year from some 0:13:16.840 --> 0:13:19.880 of the depths to which they fell on certain areas 0:13:19.880 --> 0:13:24.200 on certain saturdays last year, I still think if you 0:13:24.240 --> 0:13:27.920 are a believer in Harbaugh's renewed focus, which I'm not 0:13:28.040 --> 0:13:30.240 fully there yet, but I can understand why Michigan people 0:13:30.280 --> 0:13:34.600 would be because you know, moved on whatever. This has 0:13:34.679 --> 0:13:37.000 to be seen as a ten plus win program right now, 0:13:37.120 --> 0:13:39.720 and so that the snapshot of them in spring, especially 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:43.960 with more options on offense in terms of speed, in 0:13:44.040 --> 0:13:48.559 terms of talent than they've probably had since Harbaugh arrived, 0:13:48.920 --> 0:13:52.040 you probably have getting Ronnie Bell back at receiver. I 0:13:52.160 --> 0:13:55.000 just I think you gotta be pretty damn excited if 0:13:55.000 --> 0:13:58.439 you're a Michigan fan right now. I think that's fair. Yeah, 0:13:58.520 --> 0:14:01.720 I mean gosh, to have the kind of season that 0:14:01.760 --> 0:14:04.680 they had, to know that you got your coach back. 0:14:04.880 --> 0:14:08.480 Of course, there's turnover in some key spots. That's pretty 0:14:08.520 --> 0:14:11.000 much the case for all the big programs. But you know, 0:14:11.040 --> 0:14:12.400 to finally get over that hump, I think is a 0:14:12.440 --> 0:14:15.560 pretty big deal. So if you're a Michigan fan, if 0:14:15.559 --> 0:14:17.880 you're somebody just a college football fan and maybe doesn't 0:14:17.880 --> 0:14:20.720 have a dog in the fight, I think what you're 0:14:20.720 --> 0:14:23.400 hoping for is that getting over the hump now propels 0:14:23.440 --> 0:14:27.080 them forward and leads to greater heights. I know that 0:14:27.200 --> 0:14:29.360 was always at least the theory for Notre Dame. I 0:14:29.360 --> 0:14:33.720 don't know if that truly happened, but we'll see. For Michigan. 0:14:33.960 --> 0:14:36.440 I'm excited to see what twenty two it's holds in store. 0:14:37.000 --> 0:14:39.320 The big thing is star power for me. For Michigan, 0:14:39.520 --> 0:14:41.640 it's the star power of the ad rushers and even 0:14:41.720 --> 0:14:43.560 just in the back end with Dax Hill and how 0:14:43.600 --> 0:14:46.480 all over the place he was. I'm extremely confident that 0:14:46.520 --> 0:14:48.640 they will have very good players. But that's not good 0:14:48.720 --> 0:14:51.480 enough right now, given that Michigan is in the present 0:14:51.520 --> 0:14:55.240 tense a playoff program, So it's the star power thing. 0:14:55.400 --> 0:14:58.440 Are they developing those guys to take over games at 0:14:58.480 --> 0:15:01.920 various position groups? Why don't we do Cincinnati? 0:15:01.960 --> 0:15:04.840 Since that's why I love you were talking about playoff program, 0:15:04.960 --> 0:15:09.560 Another playoff program. Yeah, the Cincinnati Bearcats. Cincinnati Bearcats in 0:15:09.920 --> 0:15:15.120 an interesting spot now, especially given the turnover on that roster, 0:15:15.440 --> 0:15:18.080 especially on defense. One of the things that jumped out 0:15:18.080 --> 0:15:19.720 to me just in doing some of the research on 0:15:19.760 --> 0:15:25.000 these guys. They opened the year at Arkansas. Yeah, great, 0:15:25.640 --> 0:15:29.280 which is a great opening week matchup. Maybe not for 0:15:29.360 --> 0:15:34.240 a team that's replacing quarterback what to all Americans their 0:15:34.240 --> 0:15:40.200 defensive backfield, my Jay Sanders along the line, They're going 0:15:40.240 --> 0:15:42.000 to have their work cut out for them for sure 0:15:42.440 --> 0:15:45.120 this coming season. And I think that was sort of 0:15:45.120 --> 0:15:48.480 by takeaway. If we are trying to frame this conversation 0:15:48.600 --> 0:15:52.400 in terms of what's in focus and what's blurry, really, 0:15:52.440 --> 0:15:56.200 for me, what's most in focus, thank you, thank you, 0:15:56.240 --> 0:16:00.000 thank of course, always what's most in focus is actually 0:16:00.120 --> 0:16:03.240 the blurry stuff. Interesting. I don't know if we've got 0:16:03.280 --> 0:16:06.520 any real hard answers to any of these questions, let 0:16:06.520 --> 0:16:11.800 me start there. Okay, first and foremost, des Ritter is 0:16:11.880 --> 0:16:13.560 going to be a draft pick. We talked to Nate 0:16:13.600 --> 0:16:15.720 Tice about it. Nate Tice seems to like des Ritter 0:16:15.800 --> 0:16:17.800 an awful lot. Des Ridder was there for a while. 0:16:17.840 --> 0:16:21.880 He was a successful quarterback, but now he's gone, which 0:16:21.920 --> 0:16:25.840 means that they've got to replace that position. It seems 0:16:25.880 --> 0:16:30.080 as if the job is Evan Prater's to look Okay, 0:16:30.760 --> 0:16:35.160 Evan Prater only through eleven passes last season, two touchdowns, 0:16:35.720 --> 0:16:39.120 but eleven passes five to eleven in total. So des 0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:42.120 Ritter walks out, you're gonna turn it over one way 0:16:42.280 --> 0:16:43.960 or another to somebody who doesn't have a whole lot 0:16:43.960 --> 0:16:46.760 of experience. Seems like it's going to be Praterer. Could 0:16:46.800 --> 0:16:50.040 also be Ben Bryant. But if I'm putting money on anybody, 0:16:50.120 --> 0:16:52.200 I think I'm putting that money on Evan Prater right now. 0:16:53.040 --> 0:16:55.760 Look fine, in the spring game, you know, not really 0:16:55.800 --> 0:16:57.920 anything to report back one way or the other. But 0:16:58.120 --> 0:17:02.920 it seems as if it's probably his job to lose offensively. 0:17:03.000 --> 0:17:08.320 Though offensively outside of you know, a couple moments at 0:17:08.400 --> 0:17:11.320 running back where there were long runs outside of I 0:17:11.359 --> 0:17:15.280 think a nice showing at tight end. The offense to me, 0:17:15.400 --> 0:17:18.359 remains a huge point of contention going into the season 0:17:18.400 --> 0:17:21.840 because they lose des Ritter, because it lose Jerome fort right, 0:17:21.920 --> 0:17:24.760 there's just a loot to replace there. And especially when 0:17:24.760 --> 0:17:26.720 you've got a week one game against team Mike Arkansas, 0:17:26.720 --> 0:17:29.760 which we know is going to be loaded. That's a problem. 0:17:30.280 --> 0:17:32.040 That's a problem that looks like a big fat l 0:17:32.119 --> 0:17:35.679 to me. On top of that, what goes on on 0:17:35.800 --> 0:17:38.679 defense is actually a little bit more troubling. So not 0:17:38.720 --> 0:17:41.320 only are you losing what could be a first round 0:17:41.320 --> 0:17:44.240 talent and des Ridder, you're also losing Sauce Gardner. 0:17:44.320 --> 0:17:46.240 Did you see, by the way, Bruce Feldman what he 0:17:46.400 --> 0:17:50.920 talked about, uh with Sauce Gardner and his opposing coaches 0:17:51.880 --> 0:17:57.000 evaluate draft prospects. He said, and I quote this is 0:17:57.040 --> 0:18:00.080 an opposing coach about Sauce Gardner. We just decided to 0:18:00.080 --> 0:18:02.959 put some slaptick receiver on that side of the field 0:18:03.000 --> 0:18:05.440 because we knew we weren't even gonna go near him, 0:18:05.640 --> 0:18:08.920 so we just threw that side of the field away offensively. 0:18:09.160 --> 0:18:11.959 It's a pretty great compliment. It's a great compliment. It 0:18:12.000 --> 0:18:14.840 really is a great compliment. And one of the things 0:18:14.840 --> 0:18:18.480 that made Sauce Gardeners so unique is his size. Sis 0:18:18.520 --> 0:18:22.040 a bigger cornerback, He's like six'. Three you just don't. 0:18:21.800 --> 0:18:26.960 Have that kind of flexibility generally if you're bigger, bodied 0:18:27.119 --> 0:18:30.160 and his ability to move like that at the cornerback 0:18:30.200 --> 0:18:32.359 spot is gonna make him a commodity on draft. Day 0:18:32.359 --> 0:18:34.520 it just. Is and certainly in the college game he 0:18:34.640 --> 0:18:39.880 was as the coach, eluded you could throw to him really. 0:18:39.920 --> 0:18:41.600 Good so not only do you Lose Sauce, gardener but 0:18:41.680 --> 0:18:44.920 you also Lose Kobe bryant in the. Secondary, now for their, 0:18:44.960 --> 0:18:49.040 part there were guys that stepped. Up Ur Kwan BUSH i, 0:18:49.080 --> 0:18:53.120 believe a senior stepped up IN i think impressive enough 0:18:53.119 --> 0:18:57.239 capacity in the spring game On Sauce gardener's side of the, 0:18:57.280 --> 0:19:01.840 Field Kobe bryant's side of the. Field Justin, harris a younger, 0:19:01.840 --> 0:19:04.639 Guy Todd, bumfiss also stepped. Up so it seems as 0:19:04.680 --> 0:19:07.840 if they have, guys and we know That Luke fickle 0:19:07.920 --> 0:19:11.560 has done a lot to build depth In, cincinnati so 0:19:11.640 --> 0:19:14.800 it's not like the cupboard is curably. Bare but to 0:19:14.880 --> 0:19:17.800 have those two guys walk out the door, too again 0:19:17.800 --> 0:19:20.119 a pair of All americans in the defensive backfield to 0:19:20.160 --> 0:19:21.959 walk out the, door there's going to be a bit 0:19:21.960 --> 0:19:23.760 of a learning. Curve and then on top of, it 0:19:23.800 --> 0:19:27.920 you've Got sanders walking out the door along your defensive. 0:19:27.960 --> 0:19:29.960 Line the pass rush is going to suffer a little. 0:19:29.960 --> 0:19:32.560 Bit mm. Hmm it's just going to suffer a little. 0:19:32.560 --> 0:19:35.600 Bit SO i think with all that being, said the 0:19:35.680 --> 0:19:38.520 takeaway on The cincinnati side was that the defense actually 0:19:38.520 --> 0:19:40.800 played pretty well in the spring, game for whatever that's. Worth, 0:19:41.520 --> 0:19:46.159 right looked, okay seemed. PROMISING i think there's room to, 0:19:46.240 --> 0:19:50.000 grow certainly with some of these new offensive, players be 0:19:50.080 --> 0:19:53.960 it at tight, end skill positions or. Otherwise quarterback's going 0:19:54.040 --> 0:19:56.480 to remain blurry until we actually see the live bullets. 0:19:56.480 --> 0:20:04.240 Flying thank, you thank. You and the only real takeaway 0:20:04.359 --> 0:20:08.359 outside of all of those really blurry things is that 0:20:08.400 --> 0:20:11.400 they've got a transfer kicker Named Ryan coe From delaware 0:20:11.600 --> 0:20:13.439 who is six three to two twenty and hit a 0:20:13.440 --> 0:20:17.080 forty eight yardfield. Goal hey that's. Good six, three two, 0:20:17.160 --> 0:20:19.280 Twenty so he's Like Sauce gardener sized at. 0:20:19.359 --> 0:20:21.080 Kicker, yeah and he looked. 0:20:21.119 --> 0:20:24.440 Ok keckle And Luke fickel had some nice things to 0:20:24.440 --> 0:20:27.520 say about him about the tough positions he could find himself. 0:20:27.560 --> 0:20:29.040 In it's good to have a guy like that at 0:20:29.040 --> 0:20:32.399 the kicker. Spot but you, know as with all Things spring, 0:20:32.440 --> 0:20:35.639 games it's tough to really gauge because it's inner squad. 0:20:35.680 --> 0:20:39.800 Scrimmage but the, questions at least in The cincinnati, SIDE 0:20:40.280 --> 0:20:42.160 i don't know if we're any closer to answering, them 0:20:42.160 --> 0:20:44.480 but at least we started to get the first part 0:20:44.480 --> 0:20:47.920 of that answer, through you, know early part of. 0:20:47.960 --> 0:20:50.560 Spring here the good news For cincinnati and this is 0:20:50.600 --> 0:20:52.240 not a part of. Spring what sort of a part of? 0:20:52.240 --> 0:20:55.520 Spring is the full list of teams in The american 0:20:55.600 --> 0:20:59.520 who appear to be kind of scary in twenty twenty. 0:20:59.520 --> 0:21:03.080 Two there it. Is there's the. List there's the full, 0:21:03.119 --> 0:21:06.240 list the full of teams that are threatening at this, 0:21:06.400 --> 0:21:11.000 point obviously threatening to Supplant cincinnati atop The. American so, 0:21:11.520 --> 0:21:13.679 yes you can obviously lose To houston and lose the, 0:21:13.720 --> 0:21:16.920 conference But cincinnati is recruited and has coached in such 0:21:16.960 --> 0:21:20.320 a way where they're in a good. Spot lost their offensive, coordinator, 0:21:20.400 --> 0:21:24.560 Right Mike denbrock TO. Lsu but, Yeah Evan prater well, 0:21:24.560 --> 0:21:26.600 REGARDED i think four star kid coming out of high, 0:21:26.600 --> 0:21:30.520 school big tall, guy so hopefully the falloff is minimal on. 0:21:30.600 --> 0:21:34.920 Offense give, me give me like three and a half 0:21:34.960 --> 0:21:38.960 four minutes on The arizona. Schools that's it and a. 0:21:38.960 --> 0:21:42.320 HALF i want to go deep on TO tyroa, McMillan 0:21:42.560 --> 0:21:45.720 probably like the best receiver on a likely terrible. 0:21:45.800 --> 0:21:48.720 Team, well you said you watched the HIGHLIGHTS i did 0:21:48.800 --> 0:21:53.280 from THE asu game and it weren't. Great, Yeah, like 0:21:53.440 --> 0:21:55.600 just give me the rundown on the stage BECAUSE i 0:21:55.640 --> 0:21:56.960 care about The Territorial, cup. 0:21:57.400 --> 0:22:00.000 Dude arizona is so much more interesting Than Arizona. State 0:22:00.440 --> 0:22:03.679 SO asu is in a tough. Place they started a 0:22:03.720 --> 0:22:06.040