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00:00:01
Running Full Speed Ahead Featuring Sarah Kelliher
74 Plays3 years ago
G'day Everyone! Welcome to our 2nd installment in our Draft Preview! This week we are joined by Pack-a-Day Legend Sarah Kelliher! On this episode we take a look at the current state of the Running Backs on roster and at who we think would be a good pick up in the draft for the Packers.
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:00:26
Speaker
G'day everyone. Welcome to the Outback Packers podcast. The podcast with two men from all the way across the world have a yard talking Packers football and the green and gold. I'm Nick Gregory with my co-host Joe Pearson. As always, today joined by Packaday legend, Sarah Kelleher. How are you Sarah?
00:00:42
Speaker
I'm good. Thanks for having me. I shared with you before we started recording that we always record pack a day late at night. It's dark right now. I'm recording. It's 4.15 where I'm at. It's nice and sunny, have lots of energy. The day is young, so it's great to be here. Nick, we had you on our show over the summer, so just have loved watching you and Joe start this podcast and tune in when I can. Thanks for having me. I'm excited.
00:01:09
Speaker
And it's great. Like you like Nick said, it's great to have you on. You were one of the first ones he wanted to get on to kind of reciprocate the whole pack a day thing. So I made it a point you were like, on number one, on our list for guests. It just didn't seem to happen for a bit because of our wonky.
00:01:30
Speaker
record schedule, but we're glad to have you now and look forward to talking running backs. I think that's what this episode is. I got to go behind the scenes, guys.
Recording Mishap
00:01:41
Speaker
This is take two of the whole thing because me, I forgot to hit the record button, so we're kind of redoing a bunch of stuff after a good solid 15 minutes of just sitting here talking.
00:01:52
Speaker
Hey, it was early, right? I mean, it would have been bad if we got all the way to the end and you're like, I didn't record anything. I don't know if I would have said that to anybody if I would have done that one. I just would have DM'd you a couple weeks from now and been like, hey, is that episode ever coming out? What's going on?
00:02:12
Speaker
I would have made something up at that point. I don't know if I would have found an old pack a day podcast and start flipping words out or whatever. The file got deleted and then it got deleted in the deleted folder and it's just gone. But now we're moving and things are great. So I look forward to redoing the whole conversation.
Running Backs Uncertainty
00:02:37
Speaker
So yeah, kind of like we talked about the first time.
00:02:42
Speaker
We're kind of, with this draft cycle, you know, we're kind of going into the draft a little bit earlier than we thought we would be going, you know, into the season. And I just want to kind of cover, you know, all of our bases as far as what we have on the team. There's a few questions as far as, you know, will Aaron Jones be coming back at such a steep price and salary cap? What's happening with AJ Dillon and, you know,
00:03:04
Speaker
to fill the shoes of that kind of running back three and maybe eventually kind of replace one of these first two guys. I mean, how do you guys feel about the team? Well, like you said, you know, there are question marks. And like I said before, I realized I didn't hit the record button. You know, Aaron Jones has quite the salary cap hit. I think they could save 20 million just by releasing him.
00:03:30
Speaker
And with them already in the hole by 36 million, that would free up a ton of space right there. I don't want to get rid of him. I really love Aaron Jones. He's a great guy.
00:03:44
Speaker
He's a special talent. If our listeners doesn't remember the episode, go back and listen to when we had CD on. And he even said that had the Packers used him like he should have been used, he could be Hall of Fame worthy right now. So he's a special talent, but sometimes the bill comes due at some point.
00:04:09
Speaker
And that's what we're kind of fighting with right now. If they can find, you know, maybe if they can do like they did with AJ Hawk a few years ago, where they, you know, cut them to save the money and then bring them right back with a reworked deal to make sure he's there for however long he wants to be there. That'd be great. But, you know, I, I also have a question mark on AJ Dylan, just because I don't think he's turned into what they kind of hoped he would turn into now, whether that's because they haven't been using them right.
00:04:39
Speaker
whether he's just not picking things up like they thought he would. So I could see him being used as trade fodder in the draft just to move around a little bit. But I could also see him staying put. And I got to rep the Iowa guy. So Tyler Goodson is a lock for the 53 for me.
00:05:03
Speaker
Yeah, those are all great points. And I think the one thing that keeps coming to mind for me is the fact that there's so much uncertainty with the Packers future right now. And if Rogers is going to retire, or if they're going to trade them, and they're going to move on, and they say it's time to begin the love era, even if it's expensive, they're probably going to want to have consistency in the running back room. And AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones are
00:05:30
Speaker
Consistent for the Packers. I mean, this was the strongest position group on offense for them this year If they're gonna bring in Jordan love and say it's time then, you know, obviously he's a young quarterback He's gonna be a new starter They're gonna want to make sure that the backfield is strong and that you know If all else fails that they can rely on them to get the job done but
00:05:50
Speaker
It is, it's hard to, you know, look at the cap and look at things and say, wow, you know, there, there is a big dent there. And, you know, with AJ Dillon, I think Joe, you made a great point, um, that if anything, he's just been inconsistent. Um, there are stretches where he plays really well. And then I think the biggest thing for him is turnovers. He fumbles the ball a lot or he just, you know, gets stuffed then at the goal line. And it seems to, I don't know if it's a mental thing and he can't move past it and he has to fight through it, but you know, that, that can't happen. So.
00:06:19
Speaker
I am really interested to see what happens. I think, you know, draft, as far as the draft, it's probably not their top priority, but it might be something in the back of their mind where if a certain guy falls, they're like, hey, maybe now's the time. Let's let them sit behind these two, learn, really see how we do things in our room. And then when we do move on, we have a guy that knows the system and has had some veteran coaching and maybe can be a guy for the Packers in the future.
00:06:48
Speaker
Sure. I think I really echo a lot of things that you guys are saying there. Um, yeah, it's, you know, it's, it's, it's kind of a shame that, you know, with picking AJ Dylan so high that he hasn't really, you know, like you said, Sarah, he hasn't been super consistent. And, you know, he's the guy that kind of shouldn't be that, you know, he's kind of like your vegetable eater, you know, he's the guy who keeps things moving and, you know, keeps things just happening on the offense. And he gets, yeah, he really hasn't been that. And obviously part of that,
00:07:18
Speaker
offensive line, which we'll talk about in the later episodes and stuff. But, you know, at the end of the day, he doesn't deliver kind of what we wanted. And on the other side, Aaron Jones is like, you know, what a fantastic talent and fantastic personality. But as far as injuries, yeah, you know, that's kind of what put him out of the games a lot of the time at the end of the season. And, you know, I guess like from this draft, I don't think you're looking for something to directly supplant either of those guys, but kind of
00:07:48
Speaker
you know, yeah, kind of compliment them or get ready for the departure appointment because I think this time next year we won't have both of them on the roster. So I think that's kind of what you would be like getting ready for. Where are you guys at with the
Draft Prospects for Running Backs
00:08:02
Speaker
full back? I mean, you know, this is a position that was kind of supposed to be a bit more of a big deal for this team with Matt LaFleur and he kind of hasn't been. I mean, we didn't really have one on the roster and you know, Deguara is kind of supposed to be that role, but
00:08:16
Speaker
Are there any kind of, you know, full back types that you're excited about in this class or, you know, do you think this is going to be something that packers will look and figure out this year? I'm going to be honest. I really didn't look at any full backs just because if they pick up one, it'll probably be as a UDFA. I don't see them drafting one.
00:08:37
Speaker
But I could see in the Madler floor system where they try to pick up a hybrid tight end type. You know, I don't know if you guys can tell, but I have my Danny Vitaly jersey on. And that would be the type of guy that I could see where he was a tight end, but he could do the full back tight end type thing. The thing that they were kind of hoping Josiah Daguaro could do.
00:09:01
Speaker
Now Daguaro did great in part of his job, where he was, he was blocking very well, but he couldn't, he wasn't getting the attention and the other part, which is the pass catching and stuff like that. So I really don't
00:09:18
Speaker
You know, I get what you're saying with the fullback position and the type of system that's being run because you take a look at the 49ers and what they have and you take a look at, oh, what's the other big, there's only like two or three teams that have fullbacks on their roster and they all seem to run some version of the Shanahan system.
00:09:40
Speaker
So I mean, I get what you're saying with that, but I don't see them doing anything major with it. Like I said, it's either going to be somebody that they pick up off the street as a UDFA, or it's going to be that hybrid tight end, full back type guy, or HVAC, or whatever you want to call them.
00:09:59
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I don't really see them, you know, looking for a fullback in the draft, if anything, you know, yeah, it'll probably be an undrafted rookie or UDFA. And as far as Daguaro, I think that, you know, Mercedes Lewis time is obviously coming to an end soon, whether it's this year, which is terrible. I mean, that hurts because I've been saying I hope Mercedes plays until he's like 50.
00:10:25
Speaker
That would be amazing. And I mean, even saying it, I could feel like a little pain in my chest, my heart cracked a little bit. But I really think, you know, and based on some of the things I've seen that they see,
00:10:35
Speaker
Daguaro moving into more of that role once Mercedes Lewis leaves. He's already started it. He's a great blocker. Joe mentioned that. And I think they'll probably try to involve him more there. And this season really kind of on that side of the ball, I thought was really a breakout year for him. A lot of just great blocks set up a lot of good plays. And so if they're going to get somebody, they're probably going to look for more of a true passing tight end and not necessarily one that can play the hybrid role.
00:11:04
Speaker
That's how I feel, but I feel much better about Daguaro this year than I did last year. Yes, I can say that. I mean, he was putting on some great blocking games, but like I said, with what they had hoped he could be with the hybrid type, he really kind of blocked. But if you look at it, he's been the best third round pick we've had since, what, Morgan Burnett?
00:11:31
Speaker
Yeah, unfortunately. He sort of broke the curse, I think. I mean, he's still around, so that's something. For now. Fingers crossed. So, I'm ready to get into this draft if you guys are. There's a few kind of bases I want to cover. You know, I think the best way to go about this is who's your guy that you think could be drafted on day one, a guy you could think could be drafted on day two, and then day three, obviously.
00:12:01
Speaker
And also, I just want to ask, who is your guy in the class? Who's the guy who's maybe not necessarily the best one in the class, but someone who you're just really rooting for and really would love to see just on the packet? Do you want to start, Sarah?
00:12:14
Speaker
Sure. Starting with who I think is the best running back in the class and who I'll probably see go on day one is Robinson from Texas. He's just an absolute beast. I know doing research, he's pretty much in the top two of everyone's running back draft projections.
00:12:34
Speaker
over 1500 yards on the season, 18 touchdowns. That's crazy. And on top of that, he had a crazy amount of broken tackles, which is pretty impressive as well. So I'd see him going really early in day one, probably the first one off the board for this group. And then as far as who's my guy in the class, I'm going to
00:12:56
Speaker
this is a totally biased answer, and I'm going to explain it. But it's Isaiah Bowser, probably somebody that not many people have heard of. But he's the UCF running back, you know, I'm a UCF alum graduated from there a few years ago. But he's somebody that I don't think you know, he's obviously going to go in the early rounds probably last day kind of guy or he could even be somebody that's an undrafted and signed later. But he's as we were talking about one of those bigger running backs, he's definitely
00:13:25
Speaker
a bruiser. He knocks people over, you know, a lot of touchdowns, you know, right at the end where they need to. And he's also a pretty decent pass catcher. So he's somebody like we were talking about, you know, maybe is a good fit for the Packers to come in during camp and just say, Hey, let's see what he's got. So personally, that's just, you know, I have a soft spot for him because of that. And I've seen him play and I think, you know, he could be a sleeper pick. This was like me a few years ago. And
00:13:49
Speaker
I was telling everyone that the Packers needed to draft Gabe Davis and nobody listened and now he's like amazing on the bills. So I don't know if it's going to be that much of a success story because I really feel like that was my claim to fame, but that's definitely my guy that I'm rooting for.
00:14:07
Speaker
I hear you. Iowa doesn't have a running back coming out this year. So, you know, otherwise he'd be like tops on my list right now. Strange enough, I have heard of Isaiah Bowers.
00:14:20
Speaker
or Bowser, but I couldn't find anything on him. So I couldn't really, you know, the places that I was going for videos, I couldn't find anything on him. So I was like, okay, well, you know, I'm just going to bypass him because I like to look at him before I read through other people's scouting reports on him. So I was like, okay, well, you know,
00:14:39
Speaker
maybe there's nothing there, maybe whatever. So, but, um, and, uh, you know, I'm going to screw up pronouncing his first name, but is it Bajon Robinson? You know, I know he's the top guy for everybody, but you know,
00:14:57
Speaker
There's always the stigma about taking a running back in the first round. With the way running backs are used anymore, they wear down quick and all that stuff. So is it worth using a first round pick on? I know everybody has him listed there. Nick, I know you have the other guy that I was thinking possibly could be a first rounder listed.
00:15:20
Speaker
which is that Gibbs from Alabama, you know, he looked really good. You know, I just I'm going to read you my notes here and just what I saw on him. You know, he had good size. He had pretty good wiggle to him. I mean, he was he was pretty slippery.
00:15:38
Speaker
He's not a, with that being said, he wasn't really a broken tackle machine. You know, he could do that, but he was more of the shifty guy that's going to shoot you out of your shoes than, you know, break the tackle. You know, he did have the kick return experience. Every video that I watched on him had him return at least one or two kicks, which for Alabama, that's weird because, you know, with as dominant as they are, they return very few kicks anyway.
00:16:06
Speaker
I thought it was really weird because everything that I watched the commentators were always comparing him to Alvin Kamara and if you're getting that kind of comp then you know you must be doing something right because Kamara came out of pretty much I mean he had some behind him when he was drafted but you know he was kind of taken what was he was a second round pick second or third round pick so you know
00:16:31
Speaker
to be kind of compared to him is pretty good, in my opinion. He was a good pass catcher, but he might struggle in pass protection a little bit. And that could just be size thing. That could just be, you know, dealing with a quarterback that can get out of the pocket better. Who knows what that is. But, you know, I think it's going to be a toss-up between him and Robinson out of Texas on who's going to be the first one off the board.
00:17:01
Speaker
Uh, but if anybody's followed my Twitter for like the last two days or three days, I have been on this guy for ever since I watched him. Everybody that I know that I have talked draft with, I messaged and said, this is my guy. Now I'm going to apologize. Cause I kept calling him the wrong last name for like a good 12 hours out of one day.
00:17:25
Speaker
but it's Taijae Spears out of Tulane. This kid is amazing and I know he's blowing up the senior bowl practices, but he's a tough runner. He has really good speed. He's slippery, good wiggle. You have to square him up to take him down. You're not going to arm tackle this guy. You have to hit him to take him.
00:17:50
Speaker
I, it seemed like a couple of the videos that I watched on him, he did fuck off up the ball a few times. So, you know, ball security may be a little bit of an issue, but he's got good balance and he's very, he's a very patient runner.
00:18:06
Speaker
And I made sure to write this down because it really kind of stuck in my head that he reminded me a lot of James Starks. So if we can get another guy like that on the team, that would be amazing. And in a way, I think he could be a better James Starks, but his running style and all that just put James Starks in my mind.
00:18:30
Speaker
That's my guy. I have another one listed, but I'll save him for a minute because I've been talking long enough and let you guys talk about what, but I will bring this other guy up in a minute because it kind of goes along what Sarah was saying about Robinson out of Texas.
00:18:45
Speaker
I will say though, Joe, I have been personally victimized by Spears because he put on a clinic against UCF this year, like a 60 yard touchdown return and he hurtled his own teammate to take it to the end zone and he rushed for like 200 yards and yeah, I did in the back of my mind. I'm like, is this guy?
00:19:06
Speaker
See somebody that the backers could get? Because this is great for the backers, not so much UCF. But yeah, I think he's going to be a steal in some of the later rounds. Or I could see him being a guy. There's still this just perception of, oh, he went to Tulane. It's not one of the power five schools. Maybe it's not going to work out. And he'll fall, and he'll fall. And then somebody will end up really lucky and get their hands on him.
00:19:33
Speaker
Now that you mentioned it, I one of the games I watched was yeah, I'm sure it was really good that game. So there are lots of highlights. But he I mean, just it seems like every time I turn around, he's making some kind of splash play at the.
00:19:47
Speaker
senior bowl practices. So I think he's really going to move up the draft boards and now whether that's going to put him, you know, move him from like an seventh round undrafted to, you know, fifth round, sixth round, whatever, he's still going to move up the draft boards. And I'm really looking forward to see what he can do at the combine just to see what his speed is going to be. You know, I don't always put my stock in the combine, but I always want to see at least the 40 to put to rest in my mind that he's going to have the speed to be able to
00:20:16
Speaker
be that guy in the league. I've done it with a lot of other guys. Xavier Rhodes was one going way back that I said, this guy has all the talent in the world, but if he can't, he doesn't have the foot speed for it. He's not going to make it with the NFL guys. And he was kind of one of those wobblers there. But so I look forward to see what he runs, at least for the 40 and see what he can do there. And if he puts up, let's say even a four, four 40, I could see him going as early as
00:20:47
Speaker
at least the late second round. What do you got Nick? Who's your guy so far? So yeah, I mean look, I think we can all agree that Bijon Robinson is definitely the best back in this class and you know as silly as it is to kind of you know use up a day one
00:21:09
Speaker
it would be so good to watch him on the packers because he's such like a silly and I'd be like that really just like guilty pleasure like he's just so explosive so dynamic he's like one of those players who is like a genuine threat to actually take a mini ball to the house on with any given moment and yeah he's really like the kind of complete package and he's even he's a fantastic blocker you know even as a college player um you know yeah you kind of come without the guys I want to talk about like Jimmy Gibbs I think he's really fantastic
00:21:37
Speaker
Someone like Tank Bixby on the second day, I think would be really interesting for the Packers. Um, he's kind of like, you know, uh, almost like, like he's a bit of a, more like a top heavy kind of running back, but he's like still quite powerful. Um, very like, yeah, you know, a very kind of consistent chain river kind of guy. Um, my guy in this whole draft, um, you probably tell him because he's written in capital letters with four exclamation points is Hunter Litkey.
00:22:06
Speaker
He's actually a fallback. I was holding back because I thought maybe one of you guys might have wanted to talk about him, but it's technically a fallback, but another NDSU prospect. I'm obviously wearing a Christian Watson jersey. One of those guys I have in my packers is just absolutely drooling over, salivating. The floor just can't be put away from the computer screen because this guy is so
00:22:31
Speaker
It's actually like a Packers type, you know, he's really like what you imagine deciding right to be like in your head, but I actually realized he's like one of the, he was like a key contributor thing. He had like 13 touchdowns this past year. He can do everything and he's a special teams monster. So, you know, if you, if you draft him purely just as like utility guy and special teams guy, I mean, that's easily worth like a six round pick on his own. And for all the upside and athleticism that he brings, we'll see at the combine. I think he's the guy that,
00:23:01
Speaker
you know, if it was me, I'll take him in the fifth round, you know, just secure him because I think he's going to be, he's going to be a steal for any team that gets it because he, if one of those guys, you know, kind of like, not, maybe not as talented as you check, because that's a tough comparison, but you know, it's like, Oh man, which we just had that guy on that team because he really is like so talented.
Fullbacks' Role and Candidates
00:23:20
Speaker
Yeah, that's my guy. Have you talked to Ross? Ross Huggler, because he's such a big NDSU guy, I'm sure that he's hammering the same name as you. Yeah, from the end of it. Let's call him out right now, because I did DM him at some point, and I never heard back from him. So let's call him out on this. Ross, you better be listening right now. I DM'd you, so get back to me, because you need to talk to this kid about NDSU players.
00:23:48
Speaker
Yeah, Ross is one of the guys that kind of was like, because I knew about him and I was excited to give him closer into him, but you know how Ross gets when he finds one player from NDSU and he's just like fixated, you know, in like last year, besides what's in like Court of Olson and some of the other guys, and I know he's Trey Lance, you know, supporter and that kind of thing. So yeah, I definitely know what you're talking about because he's a big guy, a kind of a key fan as well.
00:24:16
Speaker
Yeah, I just think it'll be so good. It'd be nice to have like, you know, a real full back that actually does a lot and yet can still offer a lot in the passing game too. Kind of like, you know, those few games of Danny Batali that we got before we kind of faded away again. Yeah, what other names do you guys want to talk about?
00:24:33
Speaker
Well, I just want to touch the fullback thing. I know I said a little bit earlier, but I understand where you're coming from and wanting that guy on the team and all that stuff. But any more in the NFL, like I said earlier, you've got only maybe two or three teams that are valuing the fullback position.
00:24:51
Speaker
So, I mean, it wouldn't be hard to pick him up as an undrafted free agent. You wouldn't think, because all these other teams are pretty much giving up on the fullback position. So, I didn't look at him because I didn't really take a look at fullbacks. But, you know, I get it. And it's also going to depend on, like Sarah kind of said earlier, it's also going to depend on
00:25:16
Speaker
what the situation with the Packers is, you know, because we know how Aaron Rodgers is with the running game. If he's still on the team, then you got to realize, or you got to think, okay, well, maybe the running game is not going to be what we kind of hope it is. So that fullback position is.
00:25:34
Speaker
definitely going to be checked out the window. But if it's a Jordan love takeover, you know, I could see the running back or the running game being more prevalent. So then you would need the fullback a little bit more because I know the floor has got to be chomping at the bit to want that running or that fullback.
00:25:53
Speaker
because the system he's always run has had multiple tight ends, a full back, and you're playing old school ball with the running back game. But that's all I got to say about that one.
00:26:09
Speaker
As for other guys, I'm going to bring this one up real quick because I've said the Spears and this guy are my like 1A and 1B of my draft crushes. And it's another one that I'm probably going to butcher the hell out of his last name. So, you know, I apologize if he ever hears this at some point.
00:26:30
Speaker
Um, but it's the kid out of Pitt, Israel, Abin Konda. Isn't that what I said it was? Abby Konda, Kanda, something like that. Sorry. Yeah, something like that. But this is the one that I said that everything that Sarah was saying about Robinson out of Texas kind of fits with him.
00:26:52
Speaker
He's not really that pile driver, but he's not afraid of contact. He's got good, but not like top notch speed to him. Good balance, good vision. He's definitely hard to bring down, but this was just his last year's stats. He had 1431 yards. He averaged six point or six yards of carry.
00:27:15
Speaker
He had 20 touchdowns and then just one game against Virginia Tech, he had 320 yards and six touchdowns. So, you know, I could say, you know, and it's Virginia Tech. I mean, I know they're not a top notch school like they used to be, but it's not like they were playing Podunk, a college, community college out of, you know, Montana or whatever.
00:27:41
Speaker
and they at least are the same division. Actually, I think Virginia Tech's a little bit a higher division than what Pitt is, but this kid still put up 320 yards and six touchdowns. I just, I loved what I saw on the field with him. I think if I were to put a comparison to him, it wouldn't be probably character-wise, because I don't know what he is out off the field,
00:28:11
Speaker
but I put a Jamal Williams comp to him because that's the type of runner that I saw out of him. So I was really impressed with him and I could see him being a fourth or fifth round type guy. And I love pit running backs. I loved John Connor a few years ago, too. Yeah, I think somebody that we haven't mentioned yet that I'm not sure that they're as far as like pure running back and the talent there and the ability, you know, to be able to
00:28:41
Speaker
bust their tackles, break tackles and all of that. But it's somebody that's just incredibly fast. And I think when the combine comes and they run their 40 and people see the number are going to go, holy crap. And that maybe it'll boost his stock a little bit. But that's Devon Acne from Texas A&M. He's just incredibly fast.
00:29:03
Speaker
Every, and as far as special teams as well could be a guy that, you know, with that speed, maybe they incorporate there as well. So, you know, it doesn't have the pure, as I would describe AJ Dillon strength, but is somebody that is super speedy. Um, and I think that when that 40 time comes in, it's going to turn a lot of heads. He's the one that's a little on the smaller side, isn't he? He's like five, six, one 85 or something like that.
00:29:28
Speaker
Yeah, he is smaller. Yeah, he's only 185, but I think that the time is going to attract the eyeballs and that he might be, people might just talk about him a lot because of that. They'll just say, oh, he's so fast. And, you know, and that's just kind of a flashy stat that people get excited about during draft season. So just wanted to bring it up. Most definitely. And I, I kind of watched him too, but the minute I saw five, six 185, I was like,
00:29:53
Speaker
I don't know. Cause that's a little bit smaller than Aaron Jones. And Jones has a little bit of injury concerns with the hits that he takes, but yeah, he's definitely fast. He's definitely got abilities. So he, you know, I could see him being a late round flyer, but like you said, with the speed, he could go a little bit higher. Too bad Al Davis wasn't still alive. He'd probably take him in the first round.
00:30:19
Speaker
Now there is one name I'd love to bring up that I've been seeing some Packer people mocking to the Packers. And I only bring them up because I wasn't impressed with them as much. And that's at Shawn Tucker out of Syracuse.
00:30:37
Speaker
I don't know what it was about him, but I wasn't too keen on him. He didn't look like he had top notch speed. He was an all right receiver, but he had some concentration drops, which can be worked on. That's nothing. But the one main thing that drove me nuts with him trying to watch his film was instead of being straightforward or take the corner or whatever, he was always running towards the sideline.
00:31:07
Speaker
You're not going to get yards if you're just going to run towards the sideline. I understand. I felt like I was back in high school because that seemed like how our football coaches taught our guys was, well, if you break loose, just run to the sideline. And I just, with that kind of mentality, I don't know if he's going to produce well
Draft Day Strategies
00:31:27
Speaker
in the NFL. Now, I could be completely wrong. They don't pay me to be an NFL scout.
00:31:31
Speaker
You know, I'm just some schmoe sitting on the couch watching cut-up videos, but I did see him being mocked to the Packers a lot, and I did see him getting talked about, and I just, that's a hard pass for me. Let somebody else deal with him. I think it's, like, in this class, there's not very many, like, complete facts that I found. You know, they kind of... Yeah. There's, like, some guys who are great runners, but even, you know, kind of like you brought up Ty J. Spears in Israel, they kind of, they're not really,
00:32:01
Speaker
They're very experienced, catching the ball, for example. They're not like guys, you know? So in the India's past, we had someone like Antonio Gibson, who was a very complete guy on round three or round four. And yeah, there's not many of those guys here. And one of the guys I want to bring up, speaking of smaller backs, this guy is tiny. That's deuce-born out of Kansas State. He's 5'6", 175.
00:32:28
Speaker
you know, how to search that up. Like even Darren Sproles coming out was like 186. So it's a tough sell if he doesn't put on any weight before the combine, but he's just one of those guys who had a very illustrious college career and he knows how to play the position. He's very instinctual running the ball. He kind of can do everything, but it's just, you know, the size concern. He struggled, he's a willing pass protector, but he struggled doing it because it's so small. I mean, some of these guys, he has a full foot underneath, you know, like,
00:32:58
Speaker
It would be hard to envision a full-time transition, but as that kind of third guy, you can just come in and just run well and do some nice things to kind of fit in the offense. I think with some schemed-up touches, I think he could be really good for a team. But yeah, he's even smaller than Darren Sproul's most coming in, which is a tough sell for the NFL team.
00:33:24
Speaker
Yeah, I well what's funny is I that was the first guy that I watched because that was the first video that I could that pulled up when I was doing anything was him and I could see it but then like Nick said
00:33:40
Speaker
That size is killer. And the way some of these defenses are going, they're getting bigger and faster. And if the body can't hold up, these guys aren't going to survive long in the league. And now things have changed. Darren Sproles, you know, is an obvious one that, you know, he played in the league for a long time as a smaller guy.
00:34:04
Speaker
But really, when you think about it, how many others have? They're few and far between. And I have no problems with them. I mean, if they can come in and they can handle it, or if they can put on the weight and not lose any of the ability, then that's great. I mean, I guess...
00:34:25
Speaker
Oh, he was with the Jaguars for the long time out of UCLA. Maurice Jones drew. Yeah. He was a bowling ball. He was short, but he was this big guy. And there's one that I actually watched videos on up until I realized that he doesn't come out for the draft until next year. And that's the kid from Michigan, Coram.
00:34:51
Speaker
Yeah, he reminded me. He reminded when I looked at him, it was like, OK, well, didn't Maurice Jones Drew have a kid that didn't take his name or something because they were built the same and he was amazing. He could be a guy that I could see breaking that mold because he didn't look very big either. I mean, height wise, but he was stocky.
00:35:14
Speaker
Yeah, so he has a Jay Dillon under thighs for sure. Definitely. I think one of the notes that I wrote down before I finally crossed him out because I was like, Dan, this guy doesn't come out until next year was legs look like tree trunks. Yeah. So, but I mean, I did do my diligence on a lot of other guys, but
00:35:39
Speaker
You know, I think I mentioned all my top ones so far. So if you guys got anybody else you want to talk about. Sarah? No, I'm good. I've covered all mine as well. So I'll give you the floor. Yeah, you know, I think this running back class is its date. But you know, it's kind of like there's a very defined kind of like third tier. I mean, like, you know, kind of almost middle class. I mean, yeah, like I said before, there's very few of these kind of really complete guys. I mean,
00:36:09
Speaker
Zach Chabonnet is kind of a guy that's like very well rounded, but you know, not really great at anything. Um, you know, it's kind of interesting, you know, because, you know, if they do want that kind of third guy or if they just roll with Tyler Goodson, it'll be interesting to see how they kind of approach that. I mean, some of these guys, I'm not sure like physically how they translate to the NFL. I mean, um, you know, like I mentioned earlier, Tank Bigsby, he's a guy that I really liked watching in college, but you know,
00:36:37
Speaker
We kind of joke about having the bubble butt and the big thighs and that kind of thing. But those make a really big difference in the NFL because that's where all of your play strengths come from. And if someone is, if you're being held by alignment, you need the power of your legs to kind of drive. And if you don't have that and you're easily knocked over, people will figure that out really quickly and they'll target that. And that's kind of why it took a little while for Derek Henry to kind of get things going because he had to very,
00:37:06
Speaker
potentially focus on getting his pad level quite low. And if you're not, you know, a natural runner in that kind of style and you're very upright, it's very difficult to kind of make it in this league on a consistent basis because you, you know, if you're, if you're a taller guy, especially you're a big target. So yeah, I, I think if you're really hungry for running back in this class, uh, yeah, it's trying to be either get it quick or you get it at the very end.
00:37:30
Speaker
I just don't see much value on day two for the kind of offering that's available.
00:37:37
Speaker
But yeah, you know, either way, I think this is an offense that is starved for playmakers and kind of that dynamism. And that is why I would like someone to be John Robinson on the team. But yeah, you know, it's like, we'll say, right. I mean, as long as they take steps to kind of actively improve run back position and this kind of have some sort of plan for what happens if one of these guys apart next year, I think, you know, the position will be fine.
00:38:06
Speaker
Well, I found one more that I forgot to mention because I kind of mentioned him earlier when I was talking about the Dillon trade, you know, possibly being trade fodder. This guy, I'm surprised isn't getting talked about a little bit more, but I can see it why, well, I can kind of see why he's not because he's getting overshadowed, but it's the other Texas running back, Roshan Johnson. And he's kind of in the Dillon mold, but he seemed to be a little bit more athletic
00:38:34
Speaker
than AJ is. I mean, he's pretty much everything they wanted. He was a solid pass catcher, straightforward runner.
00:38:42
Speaker
He was definitely hard to take down and he did a lot of the, he did a lot of the lead back stuff for Robinson. So I think that really covered what, I think that's what they really hoped Dylan would be, would be that kind of full back running back combination so they could play what they call on the formation now where they have the two running backs out there. The pony package. Yeah. The pony package.
00:39:11
Speaker
I think this guy could probably be a little bit better than Dylan, but, you know, it's really going to be interesting. And I know what we got. As of recording, we've got what, two weeks until the Super Bowl and then it's another, what, two or three weeks after that before the actual season starts. So it's going to be an interesting couple of weeks to see what happens. Absolutely.
00:39:39
Speaker
I'm really excited for the combiners at the end of the month as well. It'll be quite a, you know, like the, the, the, the, the, the physicality aspect doesn't matter until it does, you know, it's kind of more about like the threshold. So really interesting to see where these guys will kind of fit. You know, it's like someone like, um, Jimmy Gibbs is rumored to be like a legit four three kind of back. So that'd be like really interesting to kind of see that. Yeah.
00:40:06
Speaker
been trying to keep my eye on all the bowl, what do they call it? I know the ones seeing your bowl and the triangle bowl. And then there's like the NFL PA bowl and all these other ones for these prospects to shine in. And I've been trying to follow up as much of them as I can just to see what's going on. So.
00:40:27
Speaker
And it looks like some guys are having really good, some of the smaller school guys are having really good days at practice, but it'll be fun to see what happens when the actual game goes. Get some gameplay out of them. Yeah, absolutely. Cool. I'm all good to finish up here for you guys now. Already, I think we can move.
Hypothetical Scenarios
00:40:52
Speaker
Before we finish though, actually, is there anything that you want to talk about that you're personally working on, Sarah, or any kind of projects that you want to promote?
00:41:01
Speaker
Uh, no, I'm not working on anything right now. Just, just on packet a, um, as it is, but I, I always, if I'm a guest on a podcast, I like to come prepared with one question that's fun to end the show. So I want to ask both of you this question. So you have a million dollars on the line. Like you could win a million dollars and you either have to score a touchdown or prevent a touchdown. Which one are you doing? Oh,
00:41:29
Speaker
I'm not getting the million dollars. I'm too old and broke down right now to get the million dollars. To bet on yourself. If you had to bet on yourself, what would you pick? I really got to prevent taking a touchdown. At the very worst, you know, you can just find someone and just hold them, and it's a penalty. You reset it down. No worries.
00:41:50
Speaker
That was my exact answer. That was literally exactly what I do. I'm like, there's no way I could score. I'd either get tackled immediately or completely locked down. So I'll do my best to just wave my arms everywhere and hope for the best. That would be about the only thing is I'd have to like jump on them and just hold them there.
00:42:11
Speaker
But like I said, I'm getting too broke down to even do that anymore. I mean, theoretically, I suppose I could play dead and hope the guy, like, ignores me and starts walking off and I just kind of skewed in for the touchdown. I do like that A and Hutchinson did, and while we were 15, they can just hide, hide on the sideline and then see as the play starts running.
00:42:33
Speaker
Yeah, that'd be about all I could do. But I think if I were to have to bet on myself or anything, it'd probably be the stop because all I would do is just like latch onto a leg and not let go. Yeah. I feel like you have to be very confident in your athletic abilities if you say you're going to score a touchdown. If it was 20 years ago and I don't know, 100 pounds ago, I'd probably be able to do it.
00:43:00
Speaker
I'm getting too old and broke down to be doing that shit. Thanks for making me think of this stuff, Sarah. Oh my gosh, no, that wasn't my intention.
00:43:13
Speaker
That was an awesome question, actually. Thank you for that. Len, good luck. I know you're having Dusty on the show. I mean, he's just the worst. No, I'm kidding. You'll have fun with Dusty. Oh, man. I love you. Did you see all that Twitter drama that was going? Well, I called it drama just to keep it pushing. My phone was blowing up. So we have a lot of guests coming on. If you're the bar, it was set pretty high. Oh, well, thanks.
Podcast Conclusion
00:43:43
Speaker
But, you know, I know Nick's got a pretty good ending for us, so, or our normal outro. But we have a lot of guest plan coming on. We're gonna be pushing out new episodes every Wednesday. I'm not exactly sure when this one's coming out right now. I'd have to look at the calendar, but sometime. Thanks for having me. It was a lot of fun. Yeah. As always, guys, you can find us at
00:44:12
Speaker
As always, you'll find us on Twitter. I'm Sarah at sarahkeller04, myself at NicholasGIGR, Joe at iowa underscore joe86, and the podcast at our bag underscore Packers. Until next time, see you later.