April 25, 2025 • 40 mins
In the first hour of Friday’s show, Ian Furness talks to Rob Rang of Fox Sports about the Seahawks selection of Grey Zabel at #18 last night, then talks to Danny O’Neil from The Dang Apostrophe about the NFL Draft and Seahawks decision, then Ian’s son and left tackle at Whitworth University, Kiefer Furness joins to break down the Grey Zabel pick.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the NFL Draft, coming to you live from
the Virginia Mason Athletics Center. This is the twenty twenty
five NFL Draft and brought to you by cors Light,
by R and R Foundation specialist the Queen Anne beer Ho,
and by Fox thirteen. Now Day three at the NFL
Draft and your host Ian Ferness.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
It's actually day two of the drafts. I don't want
you guys to get caught up two at Day two,
day two of the draft, but we know what we're
getting the day, if I'll be honest with you, for
all of us, Jackson back to the Studolls kind of
feels like day three already. We've been doing this for
a while. We were here till about nine to twenty
last night. That's that, right, Jackson. But nine nine twenty
seven is when we signed off.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Jackson says, and they're done, and then he literally told
us in her ear, you're done. Yeah, remember making at
the very end. Hu Millin was like, actually, but before
we go, Jackson, I want your take on the grains
they will pick. And I'm like, Hugh, buddy, I'm back
at one o'clock, see you later.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
We're done. We're done. I gotta say that. We're also
streaming on Fox thirteen local on the streaming so if
you're at Fox thirteen Seele dot com, you can go
check that out and watch us there here the Virginia
Mason Athletic Center. Also, you know, tell your Alexis is Alexa, Alexaxlexaxa.
I always take Alexi. She's our cartgirl, Drew. It's awesome,
(01:13):
we love you, Alexis. Alexis, get me a Bodi's Offer
or a Miller Lite or in this case, Alexa. Listen
to ninety three three KJR dot com.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
You can listen to draft probably probably not too far
away from actually telling you, Alexa, go get me a beer,
and then Alexa will somehow.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Get you a beer.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Four.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You know what I'm far away from that, I'm not.
I'm not. What I'm hoping is you're sitting around today
and later on this afternoon, and you're out, maybe out
in your patio, your deck and join this great weather.
Maybe you've got something on TV. It might be the
baseball game, might be the draft on TV. But you
want to know what's going on with our team here locally,
the Seattle Seahawks, And that's why we're we're not carrying
(01:52):
baseball tonight, We're not carrying NBA playoffs. There's no Mariners
game on our station. We have draft and Seahawks centric
draft coverage and tell somewhere after nine o'clock tonight Jackson,
Luckily he'll be long gone by then. He's doing the
earlier shift. Today, he'll be Anderson Dowhurst telling us to
shut up and we're going home at that point. Back
with you tomorrow at nine a m. For rounds four
(02:12):
through seven. And the gentleman sitting with me right now
will be with me today one to three. Back with
me tonight, seven and nine. And I'll say, probably our
favorite show we do is Saturday morning, starting at nine o'clock.
That's when the real diehards get after it. Rounds four
through seven. Rob Rank, Fox Sports, How are you, sir?
Speaker 5 (02:31):
I'm doing very well.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Ian.
Speaker 6 (02:32):
It's great to be here with you talking about the
NFL Draft. I mean, I can't imagine a better situation,
and I mean not a bad view. No Lake washingtonill
behind us.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
You and I have been doing this for a long time,
going back to the Northwest College days when the facility
was over there, not even this place was just a
landfill at the time, so we've seen a lot over
the years. We'll get to Grey's Abel in a second.
We'll spend some time in the two o'clock hour talking
about rounds two and three today and what's there for Seattle.
Let's just recap round one real fast. Specifically, we'll start
(03:05):
with Seattle, then we'll kind of get the other storylines out.
Gray's Abel seems to check every box. He is a
position of need pick, but he's also probably at that
point the best position of need player, maybe at least
in the eyes of Schneider and their staffs. And maybe
you're kind of splitting hairs. There could have been some
debates about a couple other guys, but he's a versatile
offensive lineman that can play guard tackle in a pinch.
(03:28):
They may try him out at center, kind of a throwback.
There's some Steve Hutchinson comparisons along the way, massive comparisons.
We're talking about a Hall of Famer y. You've had
twenty four hour, not twenty four hours. You've had about
twenty hours or so to sit on it. Thoughts on grays.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
Abel, Well, I just thought that he was the perfect
schematic fit for what the Seahawks are looking to do.
You know, I think that as you said, I mean,
it's difficult to compare anybody to a Hall of Famer
like Steve Hutchinson.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
Hutchinson player with a different level of physicality than.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Just about any blocker I've ever seen, or excuse me
with with Grey's Abel. What I am just wild buy
is this the athletic ability we talked about a little
bit with Hugh Millen and yesterday's program. Thirty six and
a half inch vertical jump. I mean that's like a
wide receiver kind of a number. I mean, that's a
point guard kind of stuff. I mean, you just don't
(04:14):
see that from an interior offensive lineman. And you mentioned
the versatility and he played the four different outside positions
at North Dakota State. He goes to the Senior Bowl.
John Schneider referenced this during his you know, the post
first round conversation we had with him yesterday, that you know,
(04:34):
Zabel was basically stealing reps at the Senior Bowl. So
that just speaks to his competitiveness. It speaks to again
the versatility that he offers for a Seahawks club that
you know, unfortunately Seahawk fans know far too well that
this team has struggled in pass protection and in creating
movement at the line of scrimmage. Grey's Abel absolutely checks
those boxes.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
You had him listed as a center. Yep. Your old
friend Dan Brugler had him listed as a center as well.
I don't know how many others did, but you guys
both had him listed as a center, and I thought
that was interesting. When Schnada was asked about it last night,
he said, for those who missed the news conference, and
I can understand why. It was about nine o'clock last night,
but Shanada was asked about Zabel and what position, and
(05:14):
he said, and actually McDonald like McDonald said, he's going
to start out at guard. Yeah, I don't think he
was specific on the side, right. He just said he's
gonna start out at guard, and there's versatility there, but
there's a difference in the two guards left and right.
We'll talk about that a little bit later. But he
says he's gonna start out at his guard, but that
doesn't mean he's going to stay there. What is it
about his game that you think could kind of translate
to be a center.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
Well, one of the things that I look for at
the center position is I need a football player who
is incredibly intelligent, and that is one of the things
that really stood out was Zabel. Again just the position
of versatility, the fact that he was able to so
seamlessly switch from spot to spot. And then I, you know,
because again he did not play center during a game
(05:55):
at least.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
For North Dakota State.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
He talked about the fact that he had practiced there
at times, but I just really watched how he performed
at the center position at the Senior Bowl, and so
I thought that that was a position in which he
could be very successful. I do think that when you
look at the rest of the prospects in this draft class,
guard had some top heavy talent where his center was lacking,
and I just thought that Zabel was one of the
(06:18):
few players that had the ability to play both, and
so I viewed him as as an easy first round
caliber prospect and just thought that he could play either position.
So I wanted to kind of accentuate the positives with
Zabel and the fact that he could be a center,
he also could play at guard, and the fact that
so many people were just kind of I thought pigeonholing
(06:40):
him at the guard position rather than reflecting on his
positional versatility. That's one of the reasons why I listed
him at centers, because I just wanted to acknowledge the
fact that this again is the most versatile player or
versatile offensive lineman in this draft class, that he does
has a high degree of potential at the center position.
But as John Schneider and Mike mcgoll both pointed out,
(07:01):
and that you just pointed out, that he is gonna
come in, he's gonna play guard. I do believe that
he is better suited to the left guard position. We'll
be talking about what makes him better suit the left
guard as opposed to right guard specifically in Seattle's scheme
a little bit later. But again, I would be stunned
if when the Seahawks begin their season, if Gray's abel
isn't Seattle's starter at the left guard position.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
All right, So that was that Seattle's pick. Again, they
got four today. We'll get into really what they're gonna
do coming up at two o'clock today in our second
hour with Rob And that's this is where it's fun
with this. He comes loaded, and this is where you
kind of do your your your best work for us,
and we look forward to kind of going through the
different scenarios that could happen, including some trades. I really
got the impression last night Chatch Schneider just he gets
(07:42):
a little trigger happy, like he's getting a little antsy.
He didn't like the fact that there was talk about
moving up moving down, that type we're not moving up,
but moving down. Didn't come to fruition. That got Zabel.
But I wouldn't be surprised for those four picks. I
get a lot of if they see some guys and
we'll kind of talk about what they could do what
makes sense. All right, that's at two o'clock today, Dannie O'Neal.
In just a couple moments, our old friend is going
to join us from the Dang Apostrophe, a longtime Seahawk
(08:03):
beat writer and columnists here for the Times in Seattle.
Before we get to him, the biggest story yesterday was
what didn't happen with Shadoor Sanders. I don't think you
were surprised. I know, Hugh don't think was really surprised
it did it. He dropped out of the first round.
Probably won't last long today, right, I'm assuming he's gonna
go fairly early today.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
I think there's certainly a possibility he goes early. There
there's gonna be several teams picking in the in the
first five seven selections that that could use a quarterback,
Cleveland Brown's being certainly among them, the New York Jets
being another one. But at the same time, I know
some clubs out there that have Tyler Shook arrayed ahead
of Shador Sanders, and uh, you know the the you
(08:42):
know kind of sending some texts out to some folks. Uh,
you know, last night after the first round concluded, as
you said, there there was not a lot of surprise
among NFL teams that that Shudur Sanders went undrafted. Look,
I still believe that he is a starting caliber quarterback
in the NFL. I love the accuracy and the anticipation
with which he throws. But at the same time, there's
(09:04):
five a's I use in evaluating quarterbacks arm strength, accuracy, anticipation, athleticism,
and then attitude. And if you don't have the leadership
trades necessary at the quarterback position, then you are going
to drop. We've seen this happens. One of the reasons
why Aaron Rodgers felt all the way down all those
years ago. So again I think that there is a
(09:25):
possibility Shuture Centers is the first selection here in a
few hours. I also there's a possibility that you see
at least Tyler Shuck from Louisville go ahead of him,
perhaps even a Will Howard from Ohio State go ahead
of him. So to me, the Schador Sanders saga is
still very much in the forefront of this draft.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Cleveland has picks one in four in the second round.
Houston and Tennessee are in between them. They're not going
to take a quarterback. And then sitting there at number
five in the second round, thirty seventh overall, but the
fifth pick in the second round Pete Carroll in the
Las Vegas Raiders.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Yeah, yea, And again I could see that, I mean,
for a couple.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Of years exactly on Gino for a couple of years
and see what happens. Yeah, there you go. That feels
like it could take place as well. All right, we'll
take a break, we'll come back. Danny o'deal is going
to join us from the dang apostrophe. Especially we have
a special guest at one forty five that's going to
talk offensive line with us. We'll see what this dude's
all about if he's got something to say.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And then two o'clock headfirst into the second and third round.
Stay two of the draft with our guy, our draft expert,
our scout, Rob Rang right here on ninety three point
three k FM and the Fox streaming.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
It's time now for Danny O'Neal of The Dang Apostrophe,
the best Seattle sports writing you'll get out of New
York City, brought to you by Northwest Handling Systems from
Fort lifts to Pella jacks, conveyors, diloading dock equipment. We
sell random service all of your warehouse.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
He needs request.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Quote today at nWay Chess dot com or go for
two five two five five zero five hundreds. Now here's
he in with Danny o'neio.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Well, welcome, Dani o neil, back our one of our
Friday staples of the radio show. And Danny first and foremost,
how are you today? I'm doing very well. Ian.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
We are in the We're in about two week period
of time between when it's really cold in New York
and when it gets insufferably hot, so it's quite comfortable
right now.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, there it's the same here in Seattle. We got
you know exactly where we're at. We're on the shores
of Lake Washington, Virginia Mason Athletic Center. There's a bald
eagle flying guy and looking out on the water. I've
got my good friend Rob Rank sitting next to me
to chat with you as well today as we get
ready for Day two of the NFL Draft. So here
we go, my friend, and welcome to day two of
(11:39):
the draft. I bet you miss coming out here being
with us here at at the defensive meeting room on
the second floor of the vMac.
Speaker 7 (11:45):
I do, I legitimately do.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
It's a really fun time.
Speaker 7 (11:49):
If only because there were points at which Softy was
so loud you could hear him on the other station.
It's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Well, I can tell you this. The other station doesn't
even come here anymore. So that's he he you know what,
good for him. He chased him out, like literally chased
him out like just you know, we we give our
big dumb animal a hard time sometimes, but every now
and then he gets something accomplished for the better, the better,
the better, the goods.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
He was my west Man to Ron Burgundy.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yeah you did not Jess was working with with Danny.
It was not I could see. I'll be honest with you, Danny.
One of my favorite parts of that was seeing the
frustration in Jess's eyes back then when she worked across
the street was producing your show was soft. He was
being very loud. He loved it, Dude. I don't think
he knew. Honestly, I don't think he knew.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
Does he know anything? I agree with you.
Speaker 7 (12:42):
I don't think he has any understanding. And that's what
makes him beautiful, like a truly beautiful person, is he's
just being himself like. It's not like he was amping
it up like. No, he gets hopped up for the draft.
That's great.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Uh with uh So the Seahawks took their defensive lineman yesterday.
There's comparisons to hutch Robert, those legit comparisons to hutch
By the way, I struggle.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
With that personally.
Speaker 6 (13:07):
I just think, again, Steve Hutchinson was a physical player.
I mean, he was just there was a violence to
his game, and I don't see that consistently with great Zabel.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
But I don't want that to be perceived as a slight, tung,
crazy able.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
I think the Zabel is as about as athletic as
any interior offensive lineman I've certainly scouted this year and
in most years. But yeah, comparing, you know, somebody like
Steve Hutchinson to a rookie just feels, you know, very
much putting the carter ahead of the horse.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Yeah. That was the two thousand and one draft, Danny,
when Mike Holmgan took Corn Robinson ninth overall. Then a
guy named Hutchinson's seventeenth overall big man who was here
yesterday to remind us about making those picks. He knew
who's doing back then.
Speaker 7 (13:52):
He did. The other guy that was there and working
on that draft, though he left, I think shortly thereafter,
was John Schneider.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
He was he was.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
Still with the Seahawks at that point because I at
one point made a reference to a player the Packers
have picked that year, and he made the point in
me is like, yeah, that that wasn't on me. I
was actually with the Seahawks working on Corn and Steve Hutchinson,
Thanks very much.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
I like it.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Yeah, hutch and old one ends up going to the Hall.
That was actually a good draft. Kenny Lucas, He's having
a solid player for them, pork chop, wool Maack, Alex
Alex Who, Alex Banister who. If we just want to
put one thing away, that would be a certain rowdy
rad in the Green Bay. Sure put that aside for
(14:40):
a second. Softy brought that up to home on the
other day. You can imagine how that went, Uh Danny,
But yeah, that was pretty good.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
Did make a Pro Bowl as a special teamer. Gotta
give him his props.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
He just just.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Maybe not the person you want running.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
The out route.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Yeah. What's your favorite draft memory from covering these guys,
whether it be at Northwest College or over here?
Speaker 7 (15:01):
My favorite draft memory is Bruce Irvin, a player who
I've gotten a chance to cover a lot of guys
that I really liked. I don't think anybody's made me
laugh more than Bruce Irvin and Bruce Irvin's draft night.
He was asked because he was arrested. I think it
was after the combine, maybe right at the West Virginia
(15:21):
Pro Day, And the story of what he got arrested
for is actually very, very funny because he jumped up
and knocked a sign off of a Peter Pitt delivery
car and he was he was asked about said arrest
after being drafted, and Bruce's quote was, the good Lord
(15:42):
knew it was BS, which I think the first time
that shorthand has ever been attributed to our Lord, allmight.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
The good Lord it was.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
That sounds like that's such a that's such a great
Bruce Urban story.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
I mean, I guess I still can, uh you know,
just remember his big smile and you know, just the
passion and fun with which he played. I've got some
uh Danny O'Neill fun story, uh, you know, kind of
going back and Danny, you may remember this one. Uh
you know it was actually wasn't on draft day. It
was Senior Bowl week. And in all those years of
(16:27):
Danny covering uh the Seahawks so very very well out here,
there was one year that I saw him go to
the Senior Bowl and we decided to to meet up
and he's gonna pick me up. We were gonna go practice,
and I apologize for embarrassing you here. Danny was wearing
a little bit late, and you know, I almost thought
that maybe it was Danny O'Neill who was out there
(16:48):
jumping up and knocking off signs off of roaming cars
there because we were we wound up getting to practice
a little bit late that day, but it was still uh,
such great, great memories of our time together at the
Senior Bowl.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
It's just great to hear you voice, Danny.
Speaker 7 (17:01):
It's good to talk to you Rob. You've always been
one of my favorites. And Rob is being very kind
there because it wasn't uh, it wasn't just that I
was running a little bit late. It was the year
Tebow was coming out, and there was a massive amount
of interest in how Tim Tebow was going to take
snaps under center, which was something he had not done
at all. And we were late getting out to lad
(17:22):
People's Stadium, and I think I had missed budgeted at
the time how long it was going to take to
get there because it's a drive. And I think Tibo
put the first two snaps or two of the first
five snaps. I don't know, because we weren't there yet.
And I completely screwed Rob, whose entire purpose there was
to talk about how Tibo would take snaps under center,
(17:45):
which he failed to do, and Rob had to rely
on secondhand information.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Bad job by.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Moon, that's our I mean, I based on the uh,
the analysis I was getting from others who were there.
I was convinced that Tim Tebow was going to come
into the NFL and be an absolutely super stars. So
I will just blame you from here on out, Danny,
for why I was wrong on my evaluation at Tim
Tebow being headed to Kenton shortly after his weekend mobile.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Oh my gosh, Dabby O'Neil joining his dang apostrophe. Rob
rang here as well. It's day two or the Virginia
Mason Athletics Center. The wild thing about the drift. I'm
going to bring up this name because only because Holmgan
brought it up yesterday to me and wanted me to
remind everybody that he did not make this pick. That
was a guy but with the initials of tr first
named Tim, last name Ruskill, Aaron Curry goes number four
(18:29):
overall in two thousand and nine. I mean, what do
you remember? I'm gonna ask both of you guys, because Rob,
that was when I think you and I had first
met that the year before maybe, but Danie'll start with you.
What do you remember about the Aaron Curry pick the
most NFL ready player.
Speaker 7 (18:45):
Yeah, that was exactly what everybody said, and he was
someone who had coming out of Wake Forest was a
potential second or third round pick the year before, had
gone back to school, worked his tail off and become
was seen as the most NFL ready player. He's the
only guy that I've ever seen who pretty much from
(19:07):
his first games had a pretty much downhill trajectory. He
got significantly worse the more he played, and I think
in retrospect he just was not a very instinctive player,
and he played the strong side linebacker spot that he
played in Seattle's defense certainly didn't have the value to
(19:30):
warrant that pick, But man, it's so crazy. Although whenever
you start to think about, oh, who they should have
drafted other than that, it gets a little scary because
I've been told by a couple people that if Curry
for some reason was gone, the Seahawks were going to
take a guy named Aaron Maybe, who I think ended
(19:51):
up going ten overall coming out of Penn State, and
he was an even bigger bust than Curry. Was it?
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Robert chows the inexact science of this thing, right, It
really does.
Speaker 6 (20:02):
I mean, because that two thousand and nine draft was
was not a good one. I remember the as Danny
just said, and that was very much. The perception is
that Aaron Curry was perceived to be the relatively safe pick.
I remember texting with some Seahawk scouts shortly after they
made the pick, and the way they they described it was,
(20:23):
this was a vanilla popsicle. That it was as bland
as it could possibly get. And I always thought of
vanilla popsy who's ever had a vanilla popsicle? But it
just it kind of described. I guess in some ways
how Aaron Curry wound up playing he should have been safe,
and but yet it wound up not being that at all.
But I again, I remember that two thousand and nine class.
(20:44):
I think Jason Smith on offensive tackle was selected number
two overall. He wound up being a bigger bust than
Aaron Curry was. And you know, a credit to Aaron Curry.
I mean he's now a coach of course in the NFL.
I mean so it was coming coach, Yeah, yeah, exactly, Yeah,
he's I watched him coach here last couple but before
he left here. That guy works hard. Yeah, very impressive.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna throw this at yeah, that two
thousand and nine droft. This is why And I bring
this all up because John Schnyder came here in twenty ten.
If you're wondering why John Schneider was hired and they
needed to get a guy that this personnel guy in
a scout two thousand and nine, Aaron Curry second round pick,
pretty good, some guy named Max Hunger that worked out, okay.
Dean Butler was the third round pick. Mike Teal quarterback,
(21:24):
No Courtney Green dB, no Nick Reed, the outstanding pass rusher,
Danny from your friends at Oregon. He was gonna come
in here. Remember he was a pre season all pro
if I remember correctly, and then didn't do anything, had
one sack in his career. And Cameron Moore of the
tight end out of California. That was the two thousand
and nine draft. The year before, Lawrence Jackson, John Carlson,
(21:46):
Red Bryant okay, super player. But this is where it
got fun. Owen Schmidt remember him smashing his helmet across
his forehead, splitting his head open from West Virginia. And
then in a sixth round, who doesn't take a long
snapper in the sixth round, tim uscll uh Tyler Schmid
a lot of snapper Justin Fzette good player, and then
a kicker Brandon Katou. So two of the last three picks,
(22:08):
a long snapper and a kicker. Danny, do you remember
Holmgren after that he wouldn't even talk about it, like
he was so sideways. Yes he was.
Speaker 7 (22:16):
He was displeased with that. I believe his description of
the long snapper his last name was Schmid. I think
he was out of San Diego State. Holmgrid said, they
said he's got a back of a fifty year old
man after basically been ruled that he was going to
be ineligible to play, like he wasn't going to be
able to play going forward. I do feel I missed
out on an opportunity because that two thousand and eight season,
(22:39):
Holmgren's last year, they kept Brandon Katou on the roster,
the kicker that they chose out of Georgia the entire season, right,
and Holgrin wasn't going to play him because they had
Linda Maury who turned out to be a really good kicker,
and Ruskell wasn't going to cut him because he was
the kicker he believed in. And I really, in retrospect,
wished that he week. I would have asked Mike, Mike,
(23:02):
why do you have two kickers on the roster? I
think of all the things now, I might have eventually
gotten choked, or perhaps Mike Colgrig would have thought it
was funny because I was pointing out the infinity that
was going on at the top that point, and you
had a coach and a GM that were very much
not working in concert, or the GM who had was
(23:23):
feeling undermined by his coach.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
I think, is Mike here later, Jess, Is he here, Danny.
I'll do some show research and ask him. All right,
I'll do some show research. I'll say, hey, Mike, Danie
O'Neil wants to know. This isn't coming from me.
Speaker 7 (23:42):
You can ask you about this story. So I think
it's two thousand and eight, though it's possible it's two
thousand and seven. They had two road games set up
that year. They were going to play back to back
road games in the state of Florida, and when they
released the preliminary schedule, the NFL team will get a
look at a preliminary like not not final schedule, so
(24:05):
it's not completely out of the blue when the schedule
gets announced. So anyway, a dummy copy of the schedule
comes out and the NFL has scheduled those two road
games in Florida. One of them was at Tampa Bay,
and I think maybe the other one was Miami, and
they had scheduled them back to back, and Ruskell was
(24:27):
quite excited about this because he said, we can go
to Disney and train that week instead of flying back
they'll do, which a number of teams have now started.
And I don't know this for certain, but I've I've
been made to understand that perhaps a phone call was
made by the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks explaining
(24:47):
that if you do this and schedule these two games
in Florida back to back, I'm just saying, I'm not
going to be there when the King's practicing at Disney
in the in the in the week in between, wherever
the hell it was. And lo and behold, when the
schedule was released, the Seahawks were no hunger playing back
to back road kid into in Florida.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
A big man got his way.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
That's exactly right. You got the pelt from the wall.
You can make a call like that.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Yeah, when you're when you're gonna go to the Hall
of Fame, someday you get that it's Danie O'Neil dang apostrophe? Uh,
what'd you read on the we we brought my mind?
Talked about this in the last segment. The big story,
obviously is what what didn't happen with shud Or Sanders.
Every year there's the guy that I would say drops.
I don't know if that's even an accurate term, rob
because teams just that that's where teams have guys evaluated, right, right,
(25:36):
So it's not really dropping, it's just sometimes there's a
consensus or what have you. But what was your the
read on the on the Schadoor Sanders thing, Danny.
Speaker 7 (25:43):
Well, I actually think that it might turn out being
better for shed Or, especially because of the scrutiny that's
going to follow him because of his dad. I really
like Deon and and I think I think what Deon
does and what he's done at Colorado has brought a
lot of attention and really done some positive things for players.
(26:07):
But you do have a large number of people like
he is. Dion is a polarizing character, and there are
people that feel that are angry kind of at some
of the decisions that he's made. The attention he's attracted.
They resent how prominent he's been, and if Shador had
(26:28):
been in a position. Look, if you're drafted, really, if
you're drafted in the first round these days, there's an
expectation that you're going to play at some point your
rookie season and that you probably should be in a
position to start your second year, and if you're not,
if your skill set doesn't line up with that, it's
disaster for the player. I think Johnny Manziel is a
(26:49):
great example of this. I don't know if there's anything
that could have saved that guy's pro career, because it's
clear that he had some major not just behavioral issues,
but probably had a lot of things going on off
the field. But being drafted in the first round created
a no win scenario because there were expectations that were
(27:09):
there that didn't match his skills, like he wasn't he
wasn't going to be able to play up to that
regardless even if he was the most disappointed quarterback. So
I know that it's got to be disappointing for Shador.
I don't think it's a bad thing though, for a player.
If if you don't get drafted in the first round,
because I think you actually might end up being in
(27:31):
a situation that turns out to be more positive for
you with less pressure.
Speaker 6 (27:35):
Yeah, I'm fascinated by that as well. I mean, obviously
we've got to see where he winds up landing. But
I do agree with you in that this is a
player that has lived under the glare of the spotlight
his entire life, and I think that he could be
afforded a little bit of leeway here and then because
he is going to be drafted, you know, presumably here
(27:58):
early in the second round, then he may actually get that.
I'm curious, Danny, as we've uh you know, of course
you're in the New York area, so I'm kind of
curious just what's your what your read is on the
Jets and the Giants picks. I mean, Shador Sanders was
a guy that I thought I had tied in with
the New York Giants and had some had some help
with that some scouts I need to talk to that
(28:20):
kind of led me astray with with you know, one
of my projections here. But do you have any sense
of how just the folks in the Greater New York
community are feeling about the Giants selections of bab Dull
Carter number three overall and then trading back up for
the other quarterback I say, other Jackson Darts as well
(28:41):
as the Jets. Are they screaming Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets.
With the selection of armand Membo at number nine overall, well.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
There was very positive reaction to the Giants, and to
a lesser extent, everybody pretty much likes the Jets pick
because they've been so they're so angry at the offensive
and really feel that like, Okay, what we've learned is
that this is a team that's not a quarterback away.
You need to have a more complete offense here. So
(29:08):
people are generally encouraged by the Jets pick, but their
gay got over the Giants picks, and that's going to
happen when you make the move and you end up
getting a guy that's going to pressure the passer, an
elite edge rusher to pair with with the kid out
(29:30):
of Oregon that they've still got like feeling that that's
very steps up for their defense and takes another step
forward for their defense, and then they move in position
to get the quarterback or the guy that they can
have sort of mentored in the background behind Russell, and
I think that the people feel encouraged by the Jets.
(29:51):
I just think, man, there's so much pressure on that
GM and coach this year, and you're going to have
a situation where you've understand used a lot of draft
capital on a potential success or quarterback. I just I
think it's going to be a tough road for them
this season. I don't see Russell fitting in well. And
this is a sick part of me. There's a there's
(30:13):
a little bit of me that's looking forward to hearing
the Monday morning calls on w f A N after
a giant swaths about Russ because Giants. The New York
callers are so reasonable and so not proned over reaction,
but they really take things in stride out here. But
right now they're the momentum around New York is is
(30:35):
around the Giants is pretty palpable.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
There's no way Team Russ was happy with that pick.
But like, there's no way Team Russ was happy at all.
And Danny, let's just let's just make this promise. Now,
we'll play a couple of those uh uh on the
on the Fridays when you and I are having conversations
in the fall, just for if nothing else, for your
entertainment of mine as well. All right, I tell people
at the Dang Apostrophe.
Speaker 7 (30:56):
It is a weekly newsletter. You can sign up for
it by going to Danny O'Neil dot com. You enter
your email address. You get periodic emails for me. This week,
you got a couple of vacation photos, a snapshot from
from Vietnam Hollong Bay, which I almost there was a
there was a slight snag and leaving the country in customs,
I had to go talk to an angry immigration official
(31:17):
who was upset because I put the wrong day on
my exit visa.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
But I made it out.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
So if you go to Danie O'Neil dot com, enter
your email address, I will send you stuff. You don't
even have to pay me anything.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
Love it, Betty, we'll talk to you next week. Thank you,
my friend.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
Sounds great. Great to talk to you. I in great
to catch.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Up Rob, yep, take care of me.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
There you go. That's Daniel and Neal. Able to have
a special guest coming up next to break down the
Gray Zabel offensive line play. We'll see how this goes.
Don't miss it. Coming up dext Welcome to the NFL Draft.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Now back to the Virginia Mason Athletics Center and the
twenty twenty five NFL Draft and brought to you by
gors Light, by R and R Foundation specialist the Queen
Anne beer Ho, and by Fox thirteen on Sport Radio
ninety three point three kJ R.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Fam. You should also point out that we are actually
streaming on Fox thirteen local streaming app as well as
well as being here on the radio and all things. iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia,
the iHeartRadio Appy internests with you a the revirginiaised Athletics,
said Rob rangs with me Fox Sports dot Com as
well our scout and joining us right now. I needed
some insight, Rob, I needed some insight on an offensive
(32:26):
line play, and instead I was going to try to
find the best athlete in my family and my daughter's
busy teaching today, so I went to number two. It's
my son, Keifer, the former starting left tackle with Whitworth
for the last few years, Northwest Conference champion, who tells
me all the time when I tell him I'll criticize
something with the Seahawks and alignment, he tells me, quote,
you don't know what you're talking about. So let's see
(32:46):
if he knows what he's talking about, Rob, So we
do that. I'm looking forward to it, fella. How are you?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
I'm doing absolutely fantastic today.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
All right? Are you golfing today? Are you actually going
to class?
Speaker 4 (32:58):
I actually did have class today and I'm not going
so you know it could be better. But I'm excited
about the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
That's a stock. Okay, tell us about Gray's able. What
are your offensive lineman? I tell you it's your first
time to do an analysis on the radio.
Speaker 5 (33:09):
What is it?
Speaker 2 (33:10):
What do you see? Well?
Speaker 4 (33:12):
In my expert opinion, I would say that this is
truly one of the best picks the Seahawks have had
in the last few years. And I know he hasn't
played it or stepped on a Seahawks field yet, but
I am very confident in his ability to make us better.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Why what are you see in him?
Speaker 4 (33:30):
His footwork is phenomenal with the new wide zone scheme.
I truly believe that he is going to help this
team in every aspect that guard, even playing center reps
if he gets to it. But the way he can
move at his size, they say he's undersize just because
his arm length. But I mean he's six' six playing.
GUARD i truly think that he's gonna be a great
(33:50):
pick up for The.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Hawks is what is about going from tackle to guard
that is GONNA i, mean like you never see guys
really go from guard to. Tackle you see guys go
from tackle to. Guard he's gonna make that. TRANSITION i,
know you watch them tape of him playing. Tackle what
do you see in his game that allowed that you
think that that's gonna make him a good? Guard and what's?
That what's the hardest thing about that?
Speaker 4 (34:08):
Transition you, know the hardest thing is is when you get.
Inside you, know you got guys on both sides of.
You when you're playing a, tackle it almost feels like
you're a little more. Free you can kind of make
up your own moves on the outside and get a
little creative with with edge. Rushers but once you move,
INSIDE i think his explosiveness is going to really take
over being a tackle and going to. Guard is your
(34:31):
athleticism is really what makes you stand. OUT i think
when they're running those wide zone plays and the way
he's able to move and the flexibility that he has
is just going to do phenomenal things for The hawks.
ORGANIZATION i, think you, know being able to reach around
the tackles that may be a little slower in him
going against edge. Rushers usually he's gonna maybe even be
(34:52):
too fast at, times BUT i think he's gonna get adjusted,
quickly AND i know he's a very coachable.
Speaker 6 (34:57):
Guy, Yeah, keith for this is rob Rang i've been
hearing about you for for years, now And i'm excited,
to uh to hear your your thoughts on this, because.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
Uh WHILE i played at a very low level.
Speaker 6 (35:09):
At the high school, level you of course have actually
played at the college level along the offensive, line so
your perspective again is is really, Meaningful so thank. You
one of the things you just mentioned there With gray's
abel THAT i also saw on tape And i'm also intrigued,
by is just that he is so damn quick off
the lion of scrimmage that sometimes he gets to the
second level and it's almost like he has to you,
(35:30):
know he beats linebackers to the spot and then has
to find, it has to kind of relocate them because
he's just again so quick to that. Spot can you
just talk to us a little bit about your experience
when you are what as the as the play is,
called and you're in the huddle and you're getting up
there at the lion, scrimmage can you just talk, about,
(35:52):
uh just the steps that you're. Taking what are you
looking for and say the linebacker two to make sure
that you are hitting your, landmark so to.
Speaker 4 (36:00):
Speak, YEAH i mean it starts with the first. Level
you're talking through with YOUR i, mean as a, tackle
you're talking with your, guard even the. Center you're pointing,
out you know where your doubles are, going where you're working.
To you, know you don't care if the d lineman
know you're you're pointing it. Out you're letting them know
that you're coming at. HIM i think a big part
(36:21):
of his game is that you, know he can slow
down to just be with that double a little longer
if they need, to but and just keep a hand.
There but he's so quick that you rather you, know
beat a linebacker to a spot and have to slow,
down then you, know be racing to get. There so
it's a good problem to. Have But i'm really excited for,
HIM i think. IT i, Mean i've said it a million.
Times i'm so excited to have this guy on The seahawks.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Roster what the you have one? Concern what was? There
you said he had a little bit of a. Concern
what would that concern.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
BE i, MEAN I i don't really have too much
of a. Concern They they have said that he has shorter,
arms BUT i mean so Did Will campbell and he
went number for. Overall SO i think that either, way
it's they're both amazing. Players AND i think With, gray
LIKE i saw A steeler scout even said that he
(37:10):
was the most coachable player he's ever. Met SO i
think that no matter what they throw at, him that
he's gonna pick it up quickly and you'll just Find what.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
Do you think with the wide? Zone what is that that?
For just from an offensive line and? Standpoint is that
something guys like is? It is? It what you? Know
depending on Like seattle kind of a little more power
last year whatever they. Did what is it about the
wide zone that you think fits his? Game and also
say a guy Like Ken.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Walker, YEAH i would, say you, KNOW i was a
little undersized even at THE d three level for a,
tackle BUT i was a little more athletic and the
wide zone actually fits that. PERFECTLY i, mean you, Know
gray is one of those guys that's just so, quick so,
explosive and wide zone is absolutely perfect for. THAT i,
(37:55):
mean you're you're exploding out of your, Stands you're you're
you're getting to the, out you're reaching. Defenders it's something
that he's gonna strive at And i'm really excited for.
Him and then With Ken, walker, LIKE i, mean we've
seen how amazing he is to, run how fun it
is to watch him. Run he's so, explosive the cuts he.
MAKES i think with wide zone it gives him time
(38:17):
to be a little more patient and read it out
and then it's his.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
Decision you know what hole he really wants to.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
Hit SO i think with running, backs you, know they
learned to love it takes a second to get used to.
Him you, know you might see that a little bit at,
first but running backs learned to grow and start to branch.
Out when when wide zone's, introduced.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Reach, block what's? THAT i don't know what that? Is
are you surprised by?
Speaker 5 (38:38):
That i'm not.
Speaker 4 (38:40):
Surprised you, know you're a soccer, player, fellow so.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
Can a guy with short arms to make a reach
block that you keep talking? About what the? Hell what
are you? Doing what are you talking about?
Speaker 5 (38:52):
Here, yes he.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
CAN i believe he can because he's so. QUICK i
think all you gotta do is just take that first.
Step it's all about the first. Step once you have,
that which he already, has you can make that reach
block very. Easily you're you're basically getting to the outside
shoulder of the guy and cutting him. Off so they're running,
back can just run right outside. You it's that's the
most base, term but you know it's harder than it.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Sounds.
Speaker 6 (39:17):
Keith i'm, curious you, know just having worked with your
data all these, years and of course you know following
you as. WELL i just know that, you're of course
a local guy here and you can hear your enthusiasm
talking about The seahawks and Ken walk or the Third
SO i think that you're probably pretty familiar with The
seahawks in their areas of. Concern is there any positional,
(39:38):
groups maybe even individual players that are still available that
you might be excited for The seahawks to be. Selecting of,
course they've got four selections here in a couple of
hours they're going to be.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
Using, Yeah i'm not gonna say any specific players That
i'm really looking forward to. YOU i don't want to
jinx anything for, that BUT i know we do want
to look for another, receiver another safety is What's i've
been looking forward, to you, know with the addition Of
Cooper cup it's he's an amazing. ADDITION jsn kind of
(40:09):
stepping up into a bigger role this. Year i'm really
just looking forward for the picks to be made and
on whatever they go. With now that we have an interior,
Alignment i've truly been excited AND i know what They're
they know what they're.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Doing, robi he doesn't care about any position besides the offensive.
LINE i asked him about quarterbacks before and he says
he doesn't. Care so that's, uh that's that's that's my
that's an offensive. Linment. BUDDY i gotta go on late
to a, break but nice job on your radio. Debut
we'll talk when you go. GO i know you're gonna
find a golf course later, Anyway so have a good.
Day i'll talk to.
Speaker 4 (40:38):
You, yep love.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Too thank you. Guys there you. Go that's key for my.
Son good. Stuff WE'LL i talk about that on the other.
Side second, date what are The o's gonna? Do we'll
find out next
Welcome to the NFL Draft, coming to you live from
the Virginia Mason Athletics Center. This is the twenty twenty
five NFL Draft and brought to you by cors Light,
by R and R Foundation specialist the Queen Anne beer Ho,
and by Fox thirteen. Now Day three at the NFL
Draft and your host Ian Ferness.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
It's actually day two of the drafts. I don't want
you guys to get caught up two at Day two,
day two of the draft, but we know what we're
getting the day, if I'll be honest with you, for
all of us, Jackson back to the Studolls kind of
feels like day three already. We've been doing this for
a while. We were here till about nine to twenty
last night. That's that, right, Jackson. But nine nine twenty
seven is when we signed off.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Jackson says, and they're done, and then he literally told
us in her ear, you're done. Yeah, remember making at
the very end. Hu Millin was like, actually, but before
we go, Jackson, I want your take on the grains
they will pick. And I'm like, Hugh, buddy, I'm back
at one o'clock, see you later.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
We're done. We're done. I gotta say that. We're also
streaming on Fox thirteen local on the streaming so if
you're at Fox thirteen Seele dot com, you can go
check that out and watch us there here the Virginia
Mason Athletic Center. Also, you know, tell your Alexis is Alexa, Alexaxlexaxa.
I always take Alexi. She's our cartgirl, Drew. It's awesome,
(01:13):
we love you, Alexis. Alexis, get me a Bodi's Offer
or a Miller Lite or in this case, Alexa. Listen
to ninety three three KJR dot com.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
You can listen to draft probably probably not too far
away from actually telling you, Alexa, go get me a beer,
and then Alexa will somehow.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Get you a beer.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Four.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
You know what I'm far away from that, I'm not.
I'm not. What I'm hoping is you're sitting around today
and later on this afternoon, and you're out, maybe out
in your patio, your deck and join this great weather.
Maybe you've got something on TV. It might be the
baseball game, might be the draft on TV. But you
want to know what's going on with our team here locally,
the Seattle Seahawks, And that's why we're we're not carrying
(01:52):
baseball tonight, We're not carrying NBA playoffs. There's no Mariners
game on our station. We have draft and Seahawks centric
draft coverage and tell somewhere after nine o'clock tonight Jackson,
Luckily he'll be long gone by then. He's doing the
earlier shift. Today, he'll be Anderson Dowhurst telling us to
shut up and we're going home at that point. Back
with you tomorrow at nine a m. For rounds four
(02:12):
through seven. And the gentleman sitting with me right now
will be with me today one to three. Back with
me tonight, seven and nine. And I'll say, probably our
favorite show we do is Saturday morning, starting at nine o'clock.
That's when the real diehards get after it. Rounds four
through seven. Rob Rank, Fox Sports, How are you, sir?
Speaker 5 (02:31):
I'm doing very well.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
Ian.
Speaker 6 (02:32):
It's great to be here with you talking about the
NFL Draft. I mean, I can't imagine a better situation,
and I mean not a bad view. No Lake washingtonill
behind us.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
You and I have been doing this for a long time,
going back to the Northwest College days when the facility
was over there, not even this place was just a
landfill at the time, so we've seen a lot over
the years. We'll get to Grey's Abel in a second.
We'll spend some time in the two o'clock hour talking
about rounds two and three today and what's there for Seattle.
Let's just recap round one real fast. Specifically, we'll start
(03:05):
with Seattle, then we'll kind of get the other storylines out.
Gray's Abel seems to check every box. He is a
position of need pick, but he's also probably at that
point the best position of need player, maybe at least
in the eyes of Schneider and their staffs. And maybe
you're kind of splitting hairs. There could have been some
debates about a couple other guys, but he's a versatile
offensive lineman that can play guard tackle in a pinch.
(03:28):
They may try him out at center, kind of a throwback.
There's some Steve Hutchinson comparisons along the way, massive comparisons.
We're talking about a Hall of Famer y. You've had
twenty four hour, not twenty four hours. You've had about
twenty hours or so to sit on it. Thoughts on grays.
Speaker 6 (03:40):
Abel, Well, I just thought that he was the perfect
schematic fit for what the Seahawks are looking to do.
You know, I think that as you said, I mean,
it's difficult to compare anybody to a Hall of Famer
like Steve Hutchinson.
Speaker 5 (03:50):
Hutchinson player with a different level of physicality than.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Just about any blocker I've ever seen, or excuse me
with with Grey's Abel. What I am just wild buy
is this the athletic ability we talked about a little
bit with Hugh Millen and yesterday's program. Thirty six and
a half inch vertical jump. I mean that's like a
wide receiver kind of a number. I mean, that's a
point guard kind of stuff. I mean, you just don't
(04:14):
see that from an interior offensive lineman. And you mentioned
the versatility and he played the four different outside positions
at North Dakota State. He goes to the Senior Bowl.
John Schneider referenced this during his you know, the post
first round conversation we had with him yesterday, that you know,
(04:34):
Zabel was basically stealing reps at the Senior Bowl. So
that just speaks to his competitiveness. It speaks to again
the versatility that he offers for a Seahawks club that
you know, unfortunately Seahawk fans know far too well that
this team has struggled in pass protection and in creating
movement at the line of scrimmage. Grey's Abel absolutely checks
those boxes.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
You had him listed as a center. Yep. Your old
friend Dan Brugler had him listed as a center as well.
I don't know how many others did, but you guys
both had him listed as a center, and I thought
that was interesting. When Schnada was asked about it last night,
he said, for those who missed the news conference, and
I can understand why. It was about nine o'clock last night,
but Shanada was asked about Zabel and what position, and
(05:14):
he said, and actually McDonald like McDonald said, he's going
to start out at guard. Yeah, I don't think he
was specific on the side, right. He just said he's
gonna start out at guard, and there's versatility there, but
there's a difference in the two guards left and right.
We'll talk about that a little bit later. But he
says he's gonna start out at his guard, but that
doesn't mean he's going to stay there. What is it
about his game that you think could kind of translate
to be a center.
Speaker 6 (05:34):
Well, one of the things that I look for at
the center position is I need a football player who
is incredibly intelligent, and that is one of the things
that really stood out was Zabel. Again just the position
of versatility, the fact that he was able to so
seamlessly switch from spot to spot. And then I, you know,
because again he did not play center during a game
(05:55):
at least.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
For North Dakota State.
Speaker 6 (05:57):
He talked about the fact that he had practiced there
at times, but I just really watched how he performed
at the center position at the Senior Bowl, and so
I thought that that was a position in which he
could be very successful. I do think that when you
look at the rest of the prospects in this draft class,
guard had some top heavy talent where his center was lacking,
and I just thought that Zabel was one of the
(06:18):
few players that had the ability to play both, and
so I viewed him as as an easy first round
caliber prospect and just thought that he could play either position.
So I wanted to kind of accentuate the positives with
Zabel and the fact that he could be a center,
he also could play at guard, and the fact that
so many people were just kind of I thought pigeonholing
(06:40):
him at the guard position rather than reflecting on his
positional versatility. That's one of the reasons why I listed
him at centers, because I just wanted to acknowledge the
fact that this again is the most versatile player or
versatile offensive lineman in this draft class, that he does
has a high degree of potential at the center position.
But as John Schneider and Mike mcgoll both pointed out,
(07:01):
and that you just pointed out, that he is gonna
come in, he's gonna play guard. I do believe that
he is better suited to the left guard position. We'll
be talking about what makes him better suit the left
guard as opposed to right guard specifically in Seattle's scheme
a little bit later. But again, I would be stunned
if when the Seahawks begin their season, if Gray's abel
isn't Seattle's starter at the left guard position.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
All right, So that was that Seattle's pick. Again, they
got four today. We'll get into really what they're gonna
do coming up at two o'clock today in our second
hour with Rob And that's this is where it's fun
with this. He comes loaded, and this is where you
kind of do your your your best work for us,
and we look forward to kind of going through the
different scenarios that could happen, including some trades. I really
got the impression last night Chatch Schneider just he gets
(07:42):
a little trigger happy, like he's getting a little antsy.
He didn't like the fact that there was talk about
moving up moving down, that type we're not moving up,
but moving down. Didn't come to fruition. That got Zabel.
But I wouldn't be surprised for those four picks. I
get a lot of if they see some guys and
we'll kind of talk about what they could do what
makes sense. All right, that's at two o'clock today, Dannie O'Neal.
In just a couple moments, our old friend is going
to join us from the Dang Apostrophe, a longtime Seahawk
(08:03):
beat writer and columnists here for the Times in Seattle.
Before we get to him, the biggest story yesterday was
what didn't happen with Shadoor Sanders. I don't think you
were surprised. I know, Hugh don't think was really surprised
it did it. He dropped out of the first round.
Probably won't last long today, right, I'm assuming he's gonna
go fairly early today.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
I think there's certainly a possibility he goes early. There
there's gonna be several teams picking in the in the
first five seven selections that that could use a quarterback,
Cleveland Brown's being certainly among them, the New York Jets
being another one. But at the same time, I know
some clubs out there that have Tyler Shook arrayed ahead
of Shador Sanders, and uh, you know the the you
(08:42):
know kind of sending some texts out to some folks. Uh,
you know, last night after the first round concluded, as
you said, there there was not a lot of surprise
among NFL teams that that Shudur Sanders went undrafted. Look,
I still believe that he is a starting caliber quarterback
in the NFL. I love the accuracy and the anticipation
with which he throws. But at the same time, there's
(09:04):
five a's I use in evaluating quarterbacks arm strength, accuracy, anticipation, athleticism,
and then attitude. And if you don't have the leadership
trades necessary at the quarterback position, then you are going
to drop. We've seen this happens. One of the reasons
why Aaron Rodgers felt all the way down all those
years ago. So again I think that there is a
(09:25):
possibility Shuture Centers is the first selection here in a
few hours. I also there's a possibility that you see
at least Tyler Shuck from Louisville go ahead of him,
perhaps even a Will Howard from Ohio State go ahead
of him. So to me, the Schador Sanders saga is
still very much in the forefront of this draft.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Cleveland has picks one in four in the second round.
Houston and Tennessee are in between them. They're not going
to take a quarterback. And then sitting there at number
five in the second round, thirty seventh overall, but the
fifth pick in the second round Pete Carroll in the
Las Vegas Raiders.
Speaker 5 (09:59):
Yeah, yea, And again I could see that, I mean,
for a couple.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Of years exactly on Gino for a couple of years
and see what happens. Yeah, there you go. That feels
like it could take place as well. All right, we'll
take a break, we'll come back. Danny o'deal is going
to join us from the dang apostrophe. Especially we have
a special guest at one forty five that's going to
talk offensive line with us. We'll see what this dude's
all about if he's got something to say.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
And then two o'clock headfirst into the second and third round.
Stay two of the draft with our guy, our draft expert,
our scout, Rob Rang right here on ninety three point
three k FM and the Fox streaming.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
It's time now for Danny O'Neal of The Dang Apostrophe,
the best Seattle sports writing you'll get out of New
York City, brought to you by Northwest Handling Systems from
Fort lifts to Pella jacks, conveyors, diloading dock equipment. We
sell random service all of your warehouse.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
He needs request.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Quote today at nWay Chess dot com or go for
two five two five five zero five hundreds. Now here's
he in with Danny o'neio.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Well, welcome, Dani o neil, back our one of our
Friday staples of the radio show. And Danny first and foremost,
how are you today? I'm doing very well. Ian.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
We are in the We're in about two week period
of time between when it's really cold in New York
and when it gets insufferably hot, so it's quite comfortable
right now.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
Well, there it's the same here in Seattle. We got
you know exactly where we're at. We're on the shores
of Lake Washington, Virginia Mason Athletic Center. There's a bald
eagle flying guy and looking out on the water. I've
got my good friend Rob Rank sitting next to me
to chat with you as well today as we get
ready for Day two of the NFL Draft. So here
we go, my friend, and welcome to day two of
(11:39):
the draft. I bet you miss coming out here being
with us here at at the defensive meeting room on
the second floor of the vMac.
Speaker 7 (11:45):
I do, I legitimately do.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
It's a really fun time.
Speaker 7 (11:49):
If only because there were points at which Softy was
so loud you could hear him on the other station.
It's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Well, I can tell you this. The other station doesn't
even come here anymore. So that's he he you know what,
good for him. He chased him out, like literally chased
him out like just you know, we we give our
big dumb animal a hard time sometimes, but every now
and then he gets something accomplished for the better, the better,
the better, the goods.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
He was my west Man to Ron Burgundy.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Yeah you did not Jess was working with with Danny.
It was not I could see. I'll be honest with you, Danny.
One of my favorite parts of that was seeing the
frustration in Jess's eyes back then when she worked across
the street was producing your show was soft. He was
being very loud. He loved it, Dude. I don't think
he knew. Honestly, I don't think he knew.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
Does he know anything? I agree with you.
Speaker 7 (12:42):
I don't think he has any understanding. And that's what
makes him beautiful, like a truly beautiful person, is he's
just being himself like. It's not like he was amping
it up like. No, he gets hopped up for the draft.
That's great.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Uh with uh So the Seahawks took their defensive lineman yesterday.
There's comparisons to hutch Robert, those legit comparisons to hutch
By the way, I struggle.
Speaker 5 (13:06):
With that personally.
Speaker 6 (13:07):
I just think, again, Steve Hutchinson was a physical player.
I mean, he was just there was a violence to
his game, and I don't see that consistently with great Zabel.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
But I don't want that to be perceived as a slight, tung,
crazy able.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
I think the Zabel is as about as athletic as
any interior offensive lineman I've certainly scouted this year and
in most years. But yeah, comparing, you know, somebody like
Steve Hutchinson to a rookie just feels, you know, very
much putting the carter ahead of the horse.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Yeah. That was the two thousand and one draft, Danny,
when Mike Holmgan took Corn Robinson ninth overall. Then a
guy named Hutchinson's seventeenth overall big man who was here
yesterday to remind us about making those picks. He knew
who's doing back then.
Speaker 7 (13:52):
He did. The other guy that was there and working
on that draft, though he left, I think shortly thereafter,
was John Schneider.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
He was he was.
Speaker 7 (14:01):
Still with the Seahawks at that point because I at
one point made a reference to a player the Packers
have picked that year, and he made the point in
me is like, yeah, that that wasn't on me. I
was actually with the Seahawks working on Corn and Steve Hutchinson,
Thanks very much.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
I like it.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
Yeah, hutch and old one ends up going to the Hall.
That was actually a good draft. Kenny Lucas, He's having
a solid player for them, pork chop, wool Maack, Alex
Alex Who, Alex Banister who. If we just want to
put one thing away, that would be a certain rowdy
rad in the Green Bay. Sure put that aside for
(14:40):
a second. Softy brought that up to home on the
other day. You can imagine how that went, Uh Danny,
But yeah, that was pretty good.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
Did make a Pro Bowl as a special teamer. Gotta
give him his props.
Speaker 5 (14:52):
He just just.
Speaker 2 (14:52):
Maybe not the person you want running.
Speaker 7 (14:54):
The out route.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Yeah. What's your favorite draft memory from covering these guys,
whether it be at Northwest College or over here?
Speaker 7 (15:01):
My favorite draft memory is Bruce Irvin, a player who
I've gotten a chance to cover a lot of guys
that I really liked. I don't think anybody's made me
laugh more than Bruce Irvin and Bruce Irvin's draft night.
He was asked because he was arrested. I think it
was after the combine, maybe right at the West Virginia
(15:21):
Pro Day, And the story of what he got arrested
for is actually very, very funny because he jumped up
and knocked a sign off of a Peter Pitt delivery
car and he was he was asked about said arrest
after being drafted, and Bruce's quote was, the good Lord
(15:42):
knew it was BS, which I think the first time
that shorthand has ever been attributed to our Lord, allmight.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
The good Lord it was.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
That sounds like that's such a that's such a great
Bruce Urban story.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
I mean, I guess I still can, uh you know,
just remember his big smile and you know, just the
passion and fun with which he played. I've got some
uh Danny O'Neill fun story, uh, you know, kind of
going back and Danny, you may remember this one. Uh
you know it was actually wasn't on draft day. It
was Senior Bowl week. And in all those years of
(16:27):
Danny covering uh the Seahawks so very very well out here,
there was one year that I saw him go to
the Senior Bowl and we decided to to meet up
and he's gonna pick me up. We were gonna go practice,
and I apologize for embarrassing you here. Danny was wearing
a little bit late, and you know, I almost thought
that maybe it was Danny O'Neill who was out there
(16:48):
jumping up and knocking off signs off of roaming cars
there because we were we wound up getting to practice
a little bit late that day, but it was still uh,
such great, great memories of our time together at the
Senior Bowl.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
It's just great to hear you voice, Danny.
Speaker 7 (17:01):
It's good to talk to you Rob. You've always been
one of my favorites. And Rob is being very kind
there because it wasn't uh, it wasn't just that I
was running a little bit late. It was the year
Tebow was coming out, and there was a massive amount
of interest in how Tim Tebow was going to take
snaps under center, which was something he had not done
at all. And we were late getting out to lad
(17:22):
People's Stadium, and I think I had missed budgeted at
the time how long it was going to take to
get there because it's a drive. And I think Tibo
put the first two snaps or two of the first
five snaps. I don't know, because we weren't there yet.
And I completely screwed Rob, whose entire purpose there was
to talk about how Tibo would take snaps under center,
(17:45):
which he failed to do, and Rob had to rely
on secondhand information.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Bad job by.
Speaker 6 (17:49):
Moon, that's our I mean, I based on the uh,
the analysis I was getting from others who were there.
I was convinced that Tim Tebow was going to come
into the NFL and be an absolutely super stars. So
I will just blame you from here on out, Danny,
for why I was wrong on my evaluation at Tim
Tebow being headed to Kenton shortly after his weekend mobile.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Oh my gosh, Dabby O'Neil joining his dang apostrophe. Rob
rang here as well. It's day two or the Virginia
Mason Athletics Center. The wild thing about the drift. I'm
going to bring up this name because only because Holmgan
brought it up yesterday to me and wanted me to
remind everybody that he did not make this pick. That
was a guy but with the initials of tr first
named Tim, last name Ruskill, Aaron Curry goes number four
(18:29):
overall in two thousand and nine. I mean, what do
you remember? I'm gonna ask both of you guys, because Rob,
that was when I think you and I had first
met that the year before maybe, but Danie'll start with you.
What do you remember about the Aaron Curry pick the
most NFL ready player.
Speaker 7 (18:45):
Yeah, that was exactly what everybody said, and he was
someone who had coming out of Wake Forest was a
potential second or third round pick the year before, had
gone back to school, worked his tail off and become
was seen as the most NFL ready player. He's the
only guy that I've ever seen who pretty much from
(19:07):
his first games had a pretty much downhill trajectory. He
got significantly worse the more he played, and I think
in retrospect he just was not a very instinctive player,
and he played the strong side linebacker spot that he
played in Seattle's defense certainly didn't have the value to
(19:30):
warrant that pick, But man, it's so crazy. Although whenever
you start to think about, oh, who they should have
drafted other than that, it gets a little scary because
I've been told by a couple people that if Curry
for some reason was gone, the Seahawks were going to
take a guy named Aaron Maybe, who I think ended
(19:51):
up going ten overall coming out of Penn State, and
he was an even bigger bust than Curry. Was it?
Speaker 2 (19:59):
Robert chows the inexact science of this thing, right, It
really does.
Speaker 6 (20:02):
I mean, because that two thousand and nine draft was
was not a good one. I remember the as Danny
just said, and that was very much. The perception is
that Aaron Curry was perceived to be the relatively safe pick.
I remember texting with some Seahawk scouts shortly after they
made the pick, and the way they they described it was,
(20:23):
this was a vanilla popsicle. That it was as bland
as it could possibly get. And I always thought of
vanilla popsy who's ever had a vanilla popsicle? But it
just it kind of described. I guess in some ways
how Aaron Curry wound up playing he should have been safe,
and but yet it wound up not being that at all.
But I again, I remember that two thousand and nine class.
(20:44):
I think Jason Smith on offensive tackle was selected number
two overall. He wound up being a bigger bust than
Aaron Curry was. And you know, a credit to Aaron Curry.
I mean he's now a coach of course in the NFL.
I mean so it was coming coach, Yeah, yeah, exactly, Yeah,
he's I watched him coach here last couple but before
he left here. That guy works hard. Yeah, very impressive.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
Yeah yeah, I'm gonna throw this at yeah, that two
thousand and nine droft. This is why And I bring
this all up because John Schnyder came here in twenty ten.
If you're wondering why John Schneider was hired and they
needed to get a guy that this personnel guy in
a scout two thousand and nine, Aaron Curry second round pick,
pretty good, some guy named Max Hunger that worked out, okay.
Dean Butler was the third round pick. Mike Teal quarterback,
(21:24):
No Courtney Green dB, no Nick Reed, the outstanding pass rusher,
Danny from your friends at Oregon. He was gonna come
in here. Remember he was a pre season all pro
if I remember correctly, and then didn't do anything, had
one sack in his career. And Cameron Moore of the
tight end out of California. That was the two thousand
and nine draft. The year before, Lawrence Jackson, John Carlson,
(21:46):
Red Bryant okay, super player. But this is where it
got fun. Owen Schmidt remember him smashing his helmet across
his forehead, splitting his head open from West Virginia. And
then in a sixth round, who doesn't take a long
snapper in the sixth round, tim uscll uh Tyler Schmid
a lot of snapper Justin Fzette good player, and then
a kicker Brandon Katou. So two of the last three picks,
(22:08):
a long snapper and a kicker. Danny, do you remember
Holmgren after that he wouldn't even talk about it, like
he was so sideways. Yes he was.
Speaker 7 (22:16):
He was displeased with that. I believe his description of
the long snapper his last name was Schmid. I think
he was out of San Diego State. Holmgrid said, they
said he's got a back of a fifty year old
man after basically been ruled that he was going to
be ineligible to play, like he wasn't going to be
able to play going forward. I do feel I missed
out on an opportunity because that two thousand and eight season,
(22:39):
Holmgren's last year, they kept Brandon Katou on the roster,
the kicker that they chose out of Georgia the entire season, right,
and Holgrin wasn't going to play him because they had
Linda Maury who turned out to be a really good kicker,
and Ruskell wasn't going to cut him because he was
the kicker he believed in. And I really, in retrospect,
wished that he week. I would have asked Mike, Mike,
(23:02):
why do you have two kickers on the roster? I
think of all the things now, I might have eventually
gotten choked, or perhaps Mike Colgrig would have thought it
was funny because I was pointing out the infinity that
was going on at the top that point, and you
had a coach and a GM that were very much
not working in concert, or the GM who had was
(23:23):
feeling undermined by his coach.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
I think, is Mike here later, Jess, Is he here, Danny.
I'll do some show research and ask him. All right,
I'll do some show research. I'll say, hey, Mike, Danie
O'Neil wants to know. This isn't coming from me.
Speaker 7 (23:42):
You can ask you about this story. So I think
it's two thousand and eight, though it's possible it's two
thousand and seven. They had two road games set up
that year. They were going to play back to back
road games in the state of Florida, and when they
released the preliminary schedule, the NFL team will get a
look at a preliminary like not not final schedule, so
(24:05):
it's not completely out of the blue when the schedule
gets announced. So anyway, a dummy copy of the schedule
comes out and the NFL has scheduled those two road
games in Florida. One of them was at Tampa Bay,
and I think maybe the other one was Miami, and
they had scheduled them back to back, and Ruskell was
(24:27):
quite excited about this because he said, we can go
to Disney and train that week instead of flying back
they'll do, which a number of teams have now started.
And I don't know this for certain, but I've I've
been made to understand that perhaps a phone call was
made by the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks explaining
(24:47):
that if you do this and schedule these two games
in Florida back to back, I'm just saying, I'm not
going to be there when the King's practicing at Disney
in the in the in the week in between, wherever
the hell it was. And lo and behold, when the
schedule was released, the Seahawks were no hunger playing back
to back road kid into in Florida.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
A big man got his way.
Speaker 7 (25:11):
That's exactly right. You got the pelt from the wall.
You can make a call like that.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
Yeah, when you're when you're gonna go to the Hall
of Fame, someday you get that it's Danie O'Neil dang apostrophe? Uh,
what'd you read on the we we brought my mind?
Talked about this in the last segment. The big story,
obviously is what what didn't happen with shud Or Sanders.
Every year there's the guy that I would say drops.
I don't know if that's even an accurate term, rob
because teams just that that's where teams have guys evaluated, right, right,
(25:36):
So it's not really dropping, it's just sometimes there's a
consensus or what have you. But what was your the
read on the on the Schadoor Sanders thing, Danny.
Speaker 7 (25:43):
Well, I actually think that it might turn out being
better for shed Or, especially because of the scrutiny that's
going to follow him because of his dad. I really
like Deon and and I think I think what Deon
does and what he's done at Colorado has brought a
lot of attention and really done some positive things for players.
(26:07):
But you do have a large number of people like
he is. Dion is a polarizing character, and there are
people that feel that are angry kind of at some
of the decisions that he's made. The attention he's attracted.
They resent how prominent he's been, and if Shador had
(26:28):
been in a position. Look, if you're drafted, really, if
you're drafted in the first round these days, there's an
expectation that you're going to play at some point your
rookie season and that you probably should be in a
position to start your second year, and if you're not,
if your skill set doesn't line up with that, it's
disaster for the player. I think Johnny Manziel is a
(26:49):
great example of this. I don't know if there's anything
that could have saved that guy's pro career, because it's
clear that he had some major not just behavioral issues,
but probably had a lot of things going on off
the field. But being drafted in the first round created
a no win scenario because there were expectations that were
(27:09):
there that didn't match his skills, like he wasn't he
wasn't going to be able to play up to that
regardless even if he was the most disappointed quarterback. So
I know that it's got to be disappointing for Shador.
I don't think it's a bad thing though, for a player.
If if you don't get drafted in the first round,
because I think you actually might end up being in
(27:31):
a situation that turns out to be more positive for
you with less pressure.
Speaker 6 (27:35):
Yeah, I'm fascinated by that as well. I mean, obviously
we've got to see where he winds up landing. But
I do agree with you in that this is a
player that has lived under the glare of the spotlight
his entire life, and I think that he could be
afforded a little bit of leeway here and then because
he is going to be drafted, you know, presumably here
(27:58):
early in the second round, then he may actually get that.
I'm curious, Danny, as we've uh you know, of course
you're in the New York area, so I'm kind of
curious just what's your what your read is on the
Jets and the Giants picks. I mean, Shador Sanders was
a guy that I thought I had tied in with
the New York Giants and had some had some help
with that some scouts I need to talk to that
(28:20):
kind of led me astray with with you know, one
of my projections here. But do you have any sense
of how just the folks in the Greater New York
community are feeling about the Giants selections of bab Dull
Carter number three overall and then trading back up for
the other quarterback I say, other Jackson Darts as well
(28:41):
as the Jets. Are they screaming Jets, Jets, Jets, Jets.
With the selection of armand Membo at number nine overall, well.
Speaker 7 (28:48):
There was very positive reaction to the Giants, and to
a lesser extent, everybody pretty much likes the Jets pick
because they've been so they're so angry at the offensive
and really feel that like, Okay, what we've learned is
that this is a team that's not a quarterback away.
You need to have a more complete offense here. So
(29:08):
people are generally encouraged by the Jets pick, but their
gay got over the Giants picks, and that's going to
happen when you make the move and you end up
getting a guy that's going to pressure the passer, an
elite edge rusher to pair with with the kid out
(29:30):
of Oregon that they've still got like feeling that that's
very steps up for their defense and takes another step
forward for their defense, and then they move in position
to get the quarterback or the guy that they can
have sort of mentored in the background behind Russell, and
I think that the people feel encouraged by the Jets.
(29:51):
I just think, man, there's so much pressure on that
GM and coach this year, and you're going to have
a situation where you've understand used a lot of draft
capital on a potential success or quarterback. I just I
think it's going to be a tough road for them
this season. I don't see Russell fitting in well. And
this is a sick part of me. There's a there's
(30:13):
a little bit of me that's looking forward to hearing
the Monday morning calls on w f A N after
a giant swaths about Russ because Giants. The New York
callers are so reasonable and so not proned over reaction,
but they really take things in stride out here. But
right now they're the momentum around New York is is
(30:35):
around the Giants is pretty palpable.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
There's no way Team Russ was happy with that pick.
But like, there's no way Team Russ was happy at all.
And Danny, let's just let's just make this promise. Now,
we'll play a couple of those uh uh on the
on the Fridays when you and I are having conversations
in the fall, just for if nothing else, for your
entertainment of mine as well. All right, I tell people
at the Dang Apostrophe.
Speaker 7 (30:56):
It is a weekly newsletter. You can sign up for
it by going to Danny O'Neil dot com. You enter
your email address. You get periodic emails for me. This week,
you got a couple of vacation photos, a snapshot from
from Vietnam Hollong Bay, which I almost there was a
there was a slight snag and leaving the country in customs,
I had to go talk to an angry immigration official
(31:17):
who was upset because I put the wrong day on
my exit visa.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
But I made it out.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
So if you go to Danie O'Neil dot com, enter
your email address, I will send you stuff. You don't
even have to pay me anything.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
Love it, Betty, we'll talk to you next week. Thank you,
my friend.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
Sounds great. Great to talk to you. I in great
to catch.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
Up Rob, yep, take care of me.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
There you go. That's Daniel and Neal. Able to have
a special guest coming up next to break down the
Gray Zabel offensive line play. We'll see how this goes.
Don't miss it. Coming up dext Welcome to the NFL Draft.
Speaker 1 (31:45):
Now back to the Virginia Mason Athletics Center and the
twenty twenty five NFL Draft and brought to you by
gors Light, by R and R Foundation specialist the Queen
Anne beer Ho, and by Fox thirteen on Sport Radio
ninety three point three kJ R.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Fam. You should also point out that we are actually
streaming on Fox thirteen local streaming app as well as
well as being here on the radio and all things. iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia,
the iHeartRadio Appy internests with you a the revirginiaised Athletics,
said Rob rangs with me Fox Sports dot Com as
well our scout and joining us right now. I needed
some insight, Rob, I needed some insight on an offensive
(32:26):
line play, and instead I was going to try to
find the best athlete in my family and my daughter's
busy teaching today, so I went to number two. It's
my son, Keifer, the former starting left tackle with Whitworth
for the last few years, Northwest Conference champion, who tells
me all the time when I tell him I'll criticize
something with the Seahawks and alignment, he tells me, quote,
you don't know what you're talking about. So let's see
(32:46):
if he knows what he's talking about, Rob, So we
do that. I'm looking forward to it, fella. How are you?
Speaker 4 (32:51):
I'm doing absolutely fantastic today.
Speaker 2 (32:54):
All right? Are you golfing today? Are you actually going
to class?
Speaker 4 (32:58):
I actually did have class today and I'm not going
so you know it could be better. But I'm excited
about the Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
That's a stock. Okay, tell us about Gray's able. What
are your offensive lineman? I tell you it's your first
time to do an analysis on the radio.
Speaker 5 (33:09):
What is it?
Speaker 2 (33:10):
What do you see? Well?
Speaker 4 (33:12):
In my expert opinion, I would say that this is
truly one of the best picks the Seahawks have had
in the last few years. And I know he hasn't
played it or stepped on a Seahawks field yet, but
I am very confident in his ability to make us better.
Speaker 2 (33:27):
Why what are you see in him?
Speaker 4 (33:30):
His footwork is phenomenal with the new wide zone scheme.
I truly believe that he is going to help this
team in every aspect that guard, even playing center reps
if he gets to it. But the way he can
move at his size, they say he's undersize just because
his arm length. But I mean he's six' six playing.
GUARD i truly think that he's gonna be a great
(33:50):
pick up for The.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Hawks is what is about going from tackle to guard
that is GONNA i, mean like you never see guys
really go from guard to. Tackle you see guys go
from tackle to. Guard he's gonna make that. TRANSITION i,
know you watch them tape of him playing. Tackle what
do you see in his game that allowed that you
think that that's gonna make him a good? Guard and what's?
That what's the hardest thing about that?
Speaker 4 (34:08):
Transition you, know the hardest thing is is when you get.
Inside you, know you got guys on both sides of.
You when you're playing a, tackle it almost feels like
you're a little more. Free you can kind of make
up your own moves on the outside and get a
little creative with with edge. Rushers but once you move,
INSIDE i think his explosiveness is going to really take
over being a tackle and going to. Guard is your
(34:31):
athleticism is really what makes you stand. OUT i think
when they're running those wide zone plays and the way
he's able to move and the flexibility that he has
is just going to do phenomenal things for The hawks.
ORGANIZATION i, think you, know being able to reach around
the tackles that may be a little slower in him
going against edge. Rushers usually he's gonna maybe even be
(34:52):
too fast at, times BUT i think he's gonna get adjusted,
quickly AND i know he's a very coachable.
Speaker 6 (34:57):
Guy, Yeah, keith for this is rob Rang i've been
hearing about you for for years, now And i'm excited,
to uh to hear your your thoughts on this, because.
Speaker 5 (35:06):
Uh WHILE i played at a very low level.
Speaker 6 (35:09):
At the high school, level you of course have actually
played at the college level along the offensive, line so
your perspective again is is really, Meaningful so thank. You
one of the things you just mentioned there With gray's
abel THAT i also saw on tape And i'm also intrigued,
by is just that he is so damn quick off
the lion of scrimmage that sometimes he gets to the
second level and it's almost like he has to you,
(35:30):
know he beats linebackers to the spot and then has
to find, it has to kind of relocate them because
he's just again so quick to that. Spot can you
just talk to us a little bit about your experience
when you are what as the as the play is,
called and you're in the huddle and you're getting up
there at the lion, scrimmage can you just talk, about,
(35:52):
uh just the steps that you're. Taking what are you
looking for and say the linebacker two to make sure
that you are hitting your, landmark so to.
Speaker 4 (36:00):
Speak, YEAH i mean it starts with the first. Level
you're talking through with YOUR i, mean as a, tackle
you're talking with your, guard even the. Center you're pointing,
out you know where your doubles are, going where you're working.
To you, know you don't care if the d lineman
know you're you're pointing it. Out you're letting them know
that you're coming at. HIM i think a big part
(36:21):
of his game is that you, know he can slow
down to just be with that double a little longer
if they need, to but and just keep a hand.
There but he's so quick that you rather you, know
beat a linebacker to a spot and have to slow,
down then you, know be racing to get. There so
it's a good problem to. Have But i'm really excited for,
HIM i think. IT i, Mean i've said it a million.
Times i'm so excited to have this guy on The seahawks.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
Roster what the you have one? Concern what was? There
you said he had a little bit of a. Concern
what would that concern.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
BE i, MEAN I i don't really have too much
of a. Concern They they have said that he has shorter,
arms BUT i mean so Did Will campbell and he
went number for. Overall SO i think that either, way
it's they're both amazing. Players AND i think With, gray
LIKE i saw A steeler scout even said that he
(37:10):
was the most coachable player he's ever. Met SO i
think that no matter what they throw at, him that
he's gonna pick it up quickly and you'll just Find what.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
Do you think with the wide? Zone what is that that?
For just from an offensive line and? Standpoint is that
something guys like is? It is? It what you? Know
depending on Like seattle kind of a little more power
last year whatever they. Did what is it about the
wide zone that you think fits his? Game and also
say a guy Like Ken.
Speaker 4 (37:33):
Walker, YEAH i would, say you, KNOW i was a
little undersized even at THE d three level for a,
tackle BUT i was a little more athletic and the
wide zone actually fits that. PERFECTLY i, mean you, Know
gray is one of those guys that's just so, quick so,
explosive and wide zone is absolutely perfect for. THAT i,
(37:55):
mean you're you're exploding out of your, Stands you're you're
you're getting to the, out you're reaching. Defenders it's something
that he's gonna strive at And i'm really excited for.
Him and then With Ken, walker, LIKE i, mean we've
seen how amazing he is to, run how fun it
is to watch him. Run he's so, explosive the cuts he.
MAKES i think with wide zone it gives him time
(38:17):
to be a little more patient and read it out
and then it's his.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
Decision you know what hole he really wants to.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
Hit SO i think with running, backs you, know they
learned to love it takes a second to get used to.
Him you, know you might see that a little bit at,
first but running backs learned to grow and start to branch.
Out when when wide zone's, introduced.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Reach, block what's? THAT i don't know what that? Is
are you surprised by?
Speaker 5 (38:38):
That i'm not.
Speaker 4 (38:40):
Surprised you, know you're a soccer, player, fellow so.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
Can a guy with short arms to make a reach
block that you keep talking? About what the? Hell what
are you? Doing what are you talking about?
Speaker 5 (38:52):
Here, yes he.
Speaker 4 (38:54):
CAN i believe he can because he's so. QUICK i
think all you gotta do is just take that first.
Step it's all about the first. Step once you have,
that which he already, has you can make that reach
block very. Easily you're you're basically getting to the outside
shoulder of the guy and cutting him. Off so they're running,
back can just run right outside. You it's that's the
most base, term but you know it's harder than it.
Speaker 2 (39:15):
Sounds.
Speaker 6 (39:17):
Keith i'm, curious you, know just having worked with your
data all these, years and of course you know following
you as. WELL i just know that, you're of course
a local guy here and you can hear your enthusiasm
talking about The seahawks and Ken walk or the Third
SO i think that you're probably pretty familiar with The
seahawks in their areas of. Concern is there any positional,
(39:38):
groups maybe even individual players that are still available that
you might be excited for The seahawks to be. Selecting of,
course they've got four selections here in a couple of
hours they're going to be.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
Using, Yeah i'm not gonna say any specific players That
i'm really looking forward to. YOU i don't want to
jinx anything for, that BUT i know we do want
to look for another, receiver another safety is What's i've
been looking forward, to you, know with the addition Of
Cooper cup it's he's an amazing. ADDITION jsn kind of
(40:09):
stepping up into a bigger role this. Year i'm really
just looking forward for the picks to be made and
on whatever they go. With now that we have an interior,
Alignment i've truly been excited AND i know what They're
they know what they're.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
Doing, robi he doesn't care about any position besides the offensive.
LINE i asked him about quarterbacks before and he says
he doesn't. Care so that's, uh that's that's that's my
that's an offensive. Linment. BUDDY i gotta go on late
to a, break but nice job on your radio. Debut
we'll talk when you go. GO i know you're gonna
find a golf course later, Anyway so have a good.
Day i'll talk to.
Speaker 4 (40:38):
You, yep love.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Too thank you. Guys there you. Go that's key for my.
Son good. Stuff WE'LL i talk about that on the other.
Side second, date what are The o's gonna? Do we'll
find out next
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