REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
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REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
JuJu Watkins, Breaking Down the Brackets, Russell Wilson, NFL Draft Talk with @Casey_Ohman
The devastating ACL injury to USC's basketball sensation JuJu Watkins takes center stage as our panel examines the far-reaching impact on women's college basketball and USC's championship hopes. This crushing blow to one of the sport's brightest stars could sideline her for nearly a year, dramatically altering the tournament landscape.
We dive deep into March Madness with a comprehensive region-by-region breakdown of the men's tournament. The Duke Blue Devils emerge as our consensus championship favorite, with Cooper Flagg leading a squad that ranks top-five nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Our experts analyze surprising early exits, potential Sweet 16 upsets, and deliver their Final Four predictions with passionate debate about which teams have the right combination of coaching, talent, and tournament experience.
The conversation shifts to the NFL with Russell Wilson's surprising move to the New York Giants on a one-year deal worth up to $21 million. We compare Wilson's prospects to Justin Fields in New York, with our panel favoring Fields' youth, athleticism, and superior supporting cast with the Jets. The Chicago Bears' draft strategy at pick #10 generates spirited discussion, with running back and offensive line help identified as primary needs alongside analysis of Cam Ward's impressive pro day performance.
We wrap with NBA championship predictions favoring an Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Finals matchup, plus MLB World Series projections that still see the loaded Dodgers as the team to beat. For sports fans craving expert analysis across multiple leagues during this action-packed season, this episode delivers passionate, informed perspectives on today's biggest sports stories.
And welcome everybody to another episode of Real Talk. Doc, you doing all right today.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yes, I am man, and it's our pleasure to have Casey in Montana on, and he's a special guest because he's very knowledgeable especially about college basketball and his Bears. So welcome aboard, casey.
Speaker 3:Thank you very much. Thanks for having me on, guys.
Speaker 1:Of course, absolutely. So. We have to start with the unfortunate news that happened last night, uh, with juju. Seeing how she went down and she's out, and we know what these acls, how they can uh linger, and just knowing that now we're here in the tournament, it's going to be at least close to a year before she's fully 100 healthy. So, casey, what were your thoughts? Uh, start with you on on just the, the injury, and what does this mean for just USC women's?
Speaker 3:Very devastating. I mean, any time you see an injury to a star player is devastating, and it can't be more devastating than in the tournament. I mean, juju is one of, if not the biggest star in women's college basketball right now, and for it to happen not only to her but just to happen at the time that it did, it's, yeah, I said I, I feel for her, I I hope that she can recover quick from it and come back. But you know, yeah, it's, it's a tech blow for USC. You know, now all the odds are definitely stacked against them, especially with the potential matchup against UConn coming up in the Elite Eight. Yeah, you know, if they had Juju, you know they had a great chance to beat them. But now without her, you know it's an uphill climb. I mean, she's become a huge star, I mean just in LA sports. Altogether, she's put USC women's basketball on the map again. It's just really unfortunate to see her go down.
Speaker 1:Yeah, doc.
Speaker 2:Well, I echo what Kexie mentioned, especially out here in Los Angeles, man, because the college basketball on the women's side is thriving like no other the past few years with angel reese and kaylin clark, and even a little bit before then I was looking forward to seeing page becker as a uconn and, uh, juju watkins man. But it's one of those things where you can argue, casey and marlin, that she is the face of college basketball on the women's side. And you know, it's one of those things where a devastating injury, who says she's going to come back? You know, whole as the same player. You know, I'm old enough to remember, gentlemen, that this kind of thing in Cheryl Miller's career back in the early 80s, you know, and she was a superstar in and of herself back then with the McGee twins, same school. So God bless Juju Watkins and I hope that she recovers with modern technology real quick. In that regard she's a strong young woman and she's going to attack this.
Speaker 2:I feel sorry for the team as Casey alluded to, because they was a strong contender for the national championship. They haven't done that since the McGee twins and Cheryl Miller in the early 80s. So I think maybe Lisa Leslie won one at USC? I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure that they haven't won a natty since the early 80s, when Cheryl Miller was dominating the women's basketball. So yeah, it crushes the sports scene and all are basketball fans you know. So you know. God bless you.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, absolutely. So, all right, so we're going to go ahead and jump over to the men's side. Of course we had some great action. We had a lot of upsets. We'll go ahead and start this by the region. So we'll go ahead and go with South region. Of course we have Auburn and Michigan, that is coming up in Ole Miss and Michigan State. But looking at some of the upsets that we had in the South, doc, we'll start back with you. What are some of the games that shocked you? What did you think about the South region overall for these first couple rounds?
Speaker 2:Well, acc has been down all year with the exception of Duke, and I thought Louisville might handle some Creighton. I had Louisville starting out the gate and North Carolina did the business to get in the tournament, winning by almost 30. And here they are getting blasted by. You know, ole Miss, you know, and Ole Miss is okay in the SEC, but KC, I'm sure you'll agree that the ACC is. I mean, acc was down this year, but those two teams I was pulling for Davis at North Carolina in the South region, and Louisville, it's just disappointing.
Speaker 2:I really don't watch Creighton and the Big E's, but you expected Louisville just to name Nervous Purvis, ellison, scooterman and Rodney McCray, before then Darryl Griffith at Louisville, just to name, you know, nervous Purvis, ellison, you know Scooterman and Rodney McCray, before then Darrell Griffith. So I don't know what I was thinking, but a disappointment in the South region. But Tar Heels, they take the cap. I was really hoping that they'll make a little run here, given that they got Ray Davis the guard, you know. So, to answer your question, those are tremendous decisions and this is North Carolina, now Marlon.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:They might blow out my boy Davis, the coach, in a minute. You know, because you don't do that. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, casey.
Speaker 3:Yeah, the point you're making about the ACC. It obviously has been a big down year for them. I mean, the only teams you saw even have any kind of success more than mild was Louisville, clemson and Duke. And even North Carolina was still kind of the middle of the pack just with how their conference season went, and Louisville had a really strong finish to the season. I mean losing to Duke in the ACC championship.
Speaker 3:But they were one of the teams that when the seedings came out on Selection Sunday really strong finish to the season losing to Duke in the ACC championship. Yeah, they were one of the teams that when the seedings came out on Selection Sunday, they were one of the seeds that I was just scratching my head over. How can you put them at an eight seed, being with how they finished, which after the ACC tournament, they were 10th in the AP poll and then you're going to put them in the eight seed? So I was a little, but I guess that just kind of reflected how the selection committee saw them. You know just the ACC in general, just how down it was and yeah, for them to come out like they did against Creighton was definitely disappointing. I thought that would have been a much tighter game and North Carolina I was one of them that didn't think they deserved to get in.
Speaker 3:I thought that during the ACC tournament, when Cooper Flagg was ruled out for their semifinal game, I thought that pretty much made it a must-win for North Carolina. It's like, okay, they're star players now. Now there's no excuses, you guys should beat them. And the fact that they didn't. I know that they had a big comeback and almost beat them, but the fact that they didn't, in my opinion, that should have sealed their fate on getting into the tournament. So the fact that they did get in, I was like I mean wasn't that upset about it, but I thought I would have put them in West Virginia over them, just based on some of the other metrics. They had a better quad one record and just their record against the field in general was much better than North Carolina. I think West Virginia was 6-9 against the field whereas North Carolina was 2-10. There's a lot of disparity there.
Speaker 3:But then when they did get in, it's like, yeah, this team, they're good enough to win a couple games. I thought, especially after they played in the this team, they're good enough to win a couple games. And I thought, especially after they played in the first four, I thought they were going to make a run. I mean, they looked really good against San Diego State. I'm like, yeah, this team has the potential to get to the Sweet 16 and then get to that first-round matchup against Ole Miss. It's the same thing that we've seen from the team for the last three months. It's just they cannot put two good halves together in the same game. It's complete opposite inconsistencies, and you know they went home early because of it. That's right.
Speaker 2:That's fair. That's fair. Good response, casey. Yeah, so we did throw in there. Good job.
Speaker 1:Now on to the East. Casey, your Dukies are in here, so obviously they're looking great. Every single in the East, up until this point, every single team has one that's been favored, except for Mississippi State Baylor. They take care of that one, but other than that, the higher seed won in all of these. So, casey, we'll go ahead and kick it with you for one. How?
Speaker 3:are you feeling about Duke and what do you think about this Eastern division? I'm feeling really good about Duke. I definitely would say that they're playing better than anybody at the moment. Right now, going into the tournament, I think they were right there with Florida on kind of who was the favorite to win it all, but just based on how the first two games went, I think Duke right now is the heavy favorite to win it all, winning each game by an average of over 30 points. They've looked solid and they really haven't been tested.
Speaker 3:One team that's really, I wouldn't say, surprised me I kind of thought that they could make a good, legitimate run is BYU. I mean, this team is. They're deep and they're dangerous. You know they play in kind of an NBA-style offense and they can pick you apart multiple ways. So to see them in the C-16s it wasn't much of a surprise and I definitely think that they can beat Alabama on Thursday to get to the Elite Eight.
Speaker 3:Alabama's a team, too, that I don't trust Nate Oates, mainly because he doesn't focus on defense and that's a team that really struggles with consistency on defense. They win most of their games in shootouts and they can outscore anybody, but they also give up a ton of points. This game with BYU it's going to be a shootout. I definitely would say that it's going to be over 180 total. This could easily be a 95, 90 or higher game. It's going to be just an absolute slugfest. Just from the offensive side, duke obviously they are the heavy favorite, especially in the East region. They've got a rematch with Arizona coming up, which I think if Duke keeps playing like they've been playing play their game there's nobody that can beat them, in my opinion. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Doc, what do you think about East?
Speaker 2:Well, it's Duke region, it's Duke tournament to lose and I just don't see them losing it. Duke has shooters that can play inside. Cooper Flagg obviously is going to be the first pick of the draft. He's 6'9", he can play off the ball, he can bang, you know, go to the rim and he plays defense. But the Arizona game with Caleb Love, a transfer from North Carolina, gentlemen, you know he has, you know I wouldn't say he's a Duke killer, but he does have experience in playing Duke basketball when he was at Carolina. And Arizona's a funny team but when they play they're kind of dangerous.
Speaker 2:And you mentioned BYU Good reference there, casey, because I've seen BYU beat Arizona on our last second controversial referee call. But it's one of those things where BYU's tall, you know, and they got shooters. So I like that. And your reference to Alabama is spot on. They lead the nation in scoring and Marlon already knows this. My wife's people's from Alabama, so she's a Crimson Tide in football and basketball. A lot of LaFavia's sight on the true freshmen. But Sears has been up and down, you know the big boy, nelson in the middle. I like him. But Alabama has made, he's blew, some games this year and we're going deeper in the tournament now. So I do have them beaten by BYU, but I got them getting smoked by Duke.
Speaker 1:So there you go right there. Yeah, All right. All right, Doc, kicking it back with you. Obviously, we have the West region. We did have a 5-12 upset Colorado State and Memphis Another big upset too, with Drake taking care of business versus Missouri, Then one more, Kansas and Arkansas. What are your thoughts on the Western region and who are some standout teams that probably could come out the west?
Speaker 2:Well, this is interesting because I think you both agree that this has been one of the most entertaining matchups or regions in recent memory, especially the Florida-UConn game where UConn really had a chance to win, you know, and they drew up a player for their star player and he just didn't hit it. You can have your own opinion on how Coach Hurley conducted himself outside the game, but this was a great game, man, you know, and UConn should have beat them. I'm a Georgia guy so I really wasn't pulling for Florida, even though they loaded. But also the Maryland game. I think that kid did travel, but they didn't call it on the last second shot. It was one of those last-second buzzer beaters where the whistle got swallowed. So obviously, you know, on the other side they're saying, well, you should have called that, but give the kid credit, he's from Baltimore, he wanted the damn ball and he made the last-second shot for Maryland. Maryland's starting five, gentlemen, is big and long and they have no depth, but their first five is good.
Speaker 2:Arkansas and St John's this is the big one. I was pulling for St John's, new York City basketball and I told Adam Schein and you got to blame Patino for his loss keeping Lewis on the bench, even though it was three for 17 at the time, because you got to figure being a Big East player, big East player of the year. He's going to wake up and help his team win Defensively. You know, st John's was spot on, but not in this game. Arkansas's length and athleticism and guard play torched him, going to the rack and the shooting. You know that St John's vaunted defense all year. Now, granted, the Big East is down, fellas. But I expected more and I expected more out of Patino.
Speaker 2:I had St John's going to the Sweet 16, but when you don't play your Big East player of the year, you're bound to lose. So give Arkansas credit. They're healthy. They suffered a lot of losses because they were not healthy during the SEC season, brut, brutal conference. But you know these kids can play and Calipari got it going, you know. But ultimately Florida's going to come out of that thing. You know. Take it from there. Florida's point guard is NBA level. So there you go. On the West, your turn, Casey.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, great points all around, doc. The one big disappointment, obviously, as you're alluding to, was St John's. I had them going up against Florida in the Elite Eight and just their overall performance against Arkansas was definitely left a lot to be desired. The only one that really showed up for them was EG Ofer, I think that's how you pronounce his name. But they're big fans, yeah, big boy. Yeah, he kind of felt like he kept them in the game whereas nobody else could do much. And it was definitely.
Speaker 3:The story that they kind of ran into all year is that they can also be really inconsistent on offense and just run the defense to some wins. And when you're going up against a team that can match you size-wise and definitely can match you in physicality, that can be a big problem. And the fact that RJ Lewis struggled as much as he did, yeah, and then rode the bench for the last three minutes definitely a head-scratching moment. I don't know what the hell Patino was thinking in that time, because he's their bucket getter, he's their go-to guy in the last few minutes and you need a bucket, that's who you're going to get the ball to. But when he's not on the floor, what are you going to do. And yeah, arkansas, they look good and you said they struggled with a lot of injuries throughout the regular season and you know they're coming on strong now and Cal's got them playing well.
Speaker 3:And Florida is a team that I didn't see struggling in the first couple rounds. I mean, I definitely say that they did struggle. You know they got off to a big lead in the opening game against Norfolk State. Norfolk State they beat them in the second half. Basically they outscored them. They made the game at least interesting. Uconn Dan Hurley whether you like him or hate him, he is arguably the best coach in the country and he did a hell of a job, kind of mucking that game up and making it into a big East battle. And yeah, those four boys rattled but you know Walter Clayton came through in the clutch for him and got him in a position to move on.
Speaker 3:And yeah, I thought for sure. With a few minutes left I was like I totally think that UConn could win this game, which before the game, I didn't think that that was going to be anywhere near the case. I made a bet with my cousin. He's like oh, I think UConn can win this and I said no, uconn's going to lose by at least 20 to Florida.
Speaker 2:State yeah.
Speaker 3:I thought that exactly, especially with kind of the way that they finished their first-round game against Norfolk State. I'm like, yeah, they're going to come out firing on all cylinders. But man, especially the first half when I said, oh boy, I was way wrong on this one.
Speaker 3:It's definitely not how that's going to go at all, you know, but they managed to pull it out and yeah, I don't see them, or anybody but them, coming out of that region right now, maryland. Like you said, their third five is one of the more athletic starting fives in the country. You know they can match up with anybody, but they have no depth, you know. So if anybody gets in foul trouble they're really going to struggle. But especially when you go up against an athletic team like Florida, it's stuff like that's going to be hard to struggle, especially when you go up against an athletic team like Florida.
Speaker 1:Stuff like that's going to be hard to overcome, absolutely, absolutely Okay. All right, now, casey, sticking back with you. This is what the people want to see. One, two, three and four Houston, purdue and Kentucky Tennessee.
Speaker 3:Who's coming out. I'm riding with Kelvin Sampson here. He's gotten so close over the last few years and this is, I think, by far the best team that he's had at Houston. You know, not only can this team lock down the defense but they can score. You know they've got some great outside shooting. They're one of the better outside shooting teams in the country and once again they can lock in on the defensive end and shut you down, but then they can also blitz you on the offensive end and really score.
Speaker 3:I mean LJ Cryer and Milo Suzanne. You know he was a great transfer pickup for them, but those two are definitely one of the best backcourts in the country, who are definitely one of the best backcourts in the country, and Samson's got them playing at a level that he hasn't quite had yet at Houston, just mainly on the offensive end. And it's going to be a tough matchup for them with Purdue. They said it's going to be a physical game, but I said I just don't think that Purdue is going to have quite the depth to compete with them down the stretch. And then I think it's going to be between them and Tennessee in the Elite Eight and that's going to be an absolute defensive battle. It's going to be a slugfest. It's going to be a really low-scoring game. I think and yeah, I see Houston able they will get back to the Final Four for the first time since 2021.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, they should have won it all last year, gentlemen, but Jamal Shedd got hurt with the guard and he was out. You know, I like Samson. It seems like everybody's healthy and I just think that nobody in the Big 12 really tested this team during the regular season. I think the Kentucky-Tennessee thing in the Midwest is going to be a thing because Kentucky has athletes. But the first-year head coach, I just think Barnes, coach Barnes has sustained rolling in Tennessee. You know they got the guard player their length. In fact I got Tennessee in the final four even before this as a two. But as Casey alluded to Houston, you know they're loaded man. It's a Coach Sampson thing there. It might be a year but I do have Tennessee beating them in the Elite Eight.
Speaker 2:You mentioned Purdue, tennessee beating them in the Elite Eight. You mentioned Purdue. Purdue is riding the coattails of what they did last year with Big Edie. Edie's in the league now and I like the coach there. I love the coach at Purdue and you've got to give him major props for making it this far with his big man's in the league. As a rookie I really don't know Purdue as their guard and all that, but they're here. The disappointment for me Marlon and Casey is Clemson. They were 18-2 in the ACC. We alluded to that and they get shot, scoring 13.13 in the first half. Are you kidding me, my high?
Speaker 2:school team could have did that.
Speaker 3:You know, I mean yeah. That might have been one of the worst first-half performances in any basketball game I've ever seen. It was sickening to watch that half. It was like what the hell are you doing?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, brother. So there you go, fellas right there. Good job on that, marvin. I love it.
Speaker 1:All right, last question for you guys who's making it to the Final Four? What do you guys?
Speaker 2:got.
Speaker 3:Go ahead. Casey got all right. So my final four. I've got duke, florida and then houston and michigan state. So I got three, three of the one seeds in my my lone two seed, michigan state, I said auburn wow wow, auburnurn is a team that, just over the last month, is not playing their best basketball, that's right, I mean and I don't know how healthy Chad Baker-Mazzaro is going to be.
Speaker 3:You know, after suffering that hip injury that he did on Saturday, you know, without him that kind of hurts their rotation a little bit. And Jack Broom, he's come along better in the tournament but he's got to step up his game. He hasn't really been playing that well overall over the last five, six games and you know he hasn't been playing at that national player of the year level recently and he's going to need to do that in order for them to get to the Final Four. In my opinion and you know he hasn't been playing at that National Player of the Year level recently and he's going to need to do that in order for them to get to the Final Four. In my opinion, yeah, this Michigan State team is one that they just they will fight to the bitter end. And you know, izzo, he knows how to win, he knows how to get the most out of his team. And, yeah, I just I don't like the way that Auburn is playing right now. I think that Michigan State's got a little bit of an edge on them and I already mentioned about Duke. They are, said, the top team right now. You know everything you're talking about you either. Talk with Cooper Flagg. You know the kid can do it all. He's one of the best prospects that we've had in college basketball in quite a while. The kid is amazingly talented, but he is surrounded by so much talent as well.
Speaker 3:They said Duke can kill you in numerous ways offensively and they can lock you down defensively. They are the only team in the tournament that is top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. That's right. So Florida, for all the reasons I mentioned, I think they're just probably the most. They've got a team with the most depth and, obviously, most size. They're another one, too that can just run you off the court offensively. And then Houston too is. They can get it done on both ends as well, and that's a fair tip. I got between Duke and Florida, and then I got Duke cutting down the nets. They're going to raise banner number six for the first time in a decade, but this is a team that is loaded and stacked and they're going to keep riding that all the way to hoist the trophy.
Speaker 2:That's good, that's good. Casey, I agree with you on Duke, the kid Knip, whatever his name is, he's a shooter. Yeah, Knip, he's dangerous. Excuse me for butchering his name. I agree with you there on Duke, but remember Duke is doing all this, Marlon, without the leading rebounder. You know he's out, you know, and he's a defensive president.
Speaker 2:Yeah, malik Brown. So you've got to get Duke president on that. And the fact that you love Coach Izzo is not surprising, because Coach Izzo Casey is good. He's a great Hall of Famer. I just don't know too many players on the team that can step up like that and be on this level going down the stretch. But this reminds me of the Mateen Cleaves team back in the day, you know.
Speaker 1:So Coach Jizzle yeah.
Speaker 2:And Bruce Pearl. He has had some bothersome moments for my liking. It's just that I love Jani Bloom. So my final four is Auburn, duke, florida and Tennessee. And I say that with deference to Jani Broome, because I know Bruce Burrow in the past has been tripping in the big spot in the tournament. But Jani Broome, he reminds me of a young Marcus Johnson, when Marcus Johnson was at UCLA. I'm telling my age because I remember him with the Milwaukee Bucks, 6'8" smooth. Telling my age because I'm in with the Milwaukee Bucks 6'8" smooth, arguably the player of the year, if it's not for Cooper Flagg. But you know, and then you made reference to. So again, auburn Duke, florida, tennessee is my final four. And I got Duke playing Florida and Duke winning. But to get back to Tennessee, gentlemen, they're lame. You know I watch the SEC all year. Casey and Tennessee's no joke.
Speaker 2:They blasted Alabama at Alabama and we both have our things on NATOs. But, marlon, I'll tell you, being a Georgia fan, you just had to give it up to Florida. You got my Final Four there Florida and Duke in the final game. That Clayton kid, he'll be a lottery pick. He destroys UConn by himself scoring nine points late, back-to-back threes and a two or was it a free throw? I forget. So you gotta give him props there, and you know. So there you go right there, marnie, I love it.
Speaker 1:I love it. Alright, guys, so switching over to the NFL real quick. Some news broke today. Russell Wilson is now a New York Giant. One year, 10.5, guaranteed up to $21 million is what the deal is worth. So I'll just ask this who has a better season this year, russell Wilson or Justin Fields? Casey, I'll start with you being a Bears guy, or Justin Fields.
Speaker 3:Casey, I'll start with you being a Bears guy. My heart wants to ride with Justin Fields on this. I, you know, I've loved the kid ever since the Bears drafted him four years ago and I definitely think that the Bears you know, for lack of a better term ruined him. They did not give him any structure, they didn't coach him and they actually coached a lot of bad habits in him that I think he's still trying to break out of right now. I think he's got the better coaching with Aaron Glenn. He's definitely got some good pieces around him with the Jets. I think they're going to do a much better job designing an offense around him, something that he can thrive in and um, and if he can do that and if he can stay healthy, then I absolutely think that he can have a better season.
Speaker 3:Wilson is, he's getting up there in age and he's getting to the point too where he's just not able to do what he used to. He still tries to kind of be Superman, carry the team on his back, but that magic is gone. He really hasn't had it since he was in Seattle and I know Dave Hall is going to be good for trying to coach him up again. But just because of coaching and just because of the overall structure we have around him, I'm going to go with Fields. I don't see, really, wilson have much success with the Giants. I mean, that was a kind of a head-scratching move for me too, today signing him. I just wonder, like with the Giants, if they're really trying to be serious about winning. They're really not hitting this quarterback position with authority in the way that I think they should be competitive in the NFC East.
Speaker 3:I definitely think that it's going to be Justin Fields for sure. And I'm hoping it is just because the kid deserves it. I know how hard of a worker he is and I know the talent that he has and I'm hoping that he can break through. I'm really hoping for the kid.
Speaker 2:Yep, good response. I'm with Casey on that, marty, I think the Jets have more of a repertoire, if you will, for Justin Fields to succeed with a new coaching staff and a great defense. You know people forget Jets before Aaron Rodgers started tripping last year, the Jets were top five and top ten two years ago and last year they just fell off with all the turnovers Rodgers did. But you know Aaron Glenn is going to preach defense In fact he might draft defense and, that being said, I love the running back up there for the Jets the third year out of Ohio State, reese Hong. I like Gerd Wilson to help out Justin Fields and they've got pretty much a pretty good offensive line. Not all that, but it's better than the Giants. So yeah, I agree with Casey on that. I think him being 26, he can run. If there's problems because of the offensive line, he can run out of the pocket and escape. And Garrett Wilson is a stud, you know.
Speaker 2:And in fact I believe they played together at Ohio State when Wilson was maybe a freshman and Justin Fields was a junior. I forget, but they didn't know each other. So you got the connection there. And I already referenced the running back and they got another running back named Allen out of Wisconsin. So Justin Fields doesn't have to do it all. I can't even name the Giants running back. So I agree with Casey on that. Justin Fields would be more successful in the big city.
Speaker 1:Nice, all right. And then looking at your, your bears um, well, you guys got the 10th pick. Uh, you guys need some help, a little bit of help on the old line. You guys did great with the old line. Maybe get you guys a I don't know another tackle. Definitely need a running back edge rusher. Um, you know my guy, keenan allen, most likely maybe coming back get you another receiver. So where do you think you're going at 10, and are there any other guys in the draft that you're looking at as far as the positions that you guys need this year going forward?
Speaker 3:Well, a lot of the talk with how free agency is falling for the Bears is genty and just you know Ben Johnson is going to want to add a good dynamic running back for his offense. They have DeAndre Swift right now who is a good speed guy but he's not really a guy that's going to run in between the tackles. So you know a lot of the talk's been if Jandy's there at 10, then I don't see how the Bears pass up on him and I'd obviously be ecstatic with that pick if that's the case. But if he's not there, then I'm really hoping that they keep hammering the trenches. I mean, there's a lot of different ways that they could go with this.
Speaker 3:You know they could really look for their left tackle of the future. You know, with a guy like Kelvin Banks from Texas, he's definitely a prospect that they could be looking in that range If they want to attack the defensive side. Mason Graham, I don't think he's going to be there at 10, but if he is, hand that card in as quickly as you can. If he's there, throw him the board. There's definitely some Mambo from Missouri, another offensive tackle that could be there at 10. Yeah, definitely fits. You know what they're trying to do with trying to bolster that offensive line, you know, and there's some other ways that they could go too. I know one of the A Mox I saw today which I really liked is taking McKelvey Williams out of Georgia.
Speaker 2:Like that's a big pick too.
Speaker 3:I really like that one. Yeah, exactly, they need another guy opposite of Montez Sweat and they need more pass rushers for sure. Yeah. So I love the way that they attack the trenches and if Jenty's not there, I'd like to see him keep doing that. I'd really hope they spend their first couple picks and I wouldn't be opposed to them trading back either. No car, more picks to keep doing that, because if they can, if they can do that that's been obviously their big achilles heel over the last few years with the offensive line and if they can keep solidifying that with some great prospects where they can build the future and keep building around Caleb Williams, then that's going to be the way to go well.
Speaker 2:I agree with Casey on that, Marlon, if I will, because they attacked free agency with the interior offensive line positions and the Taylor Williams developed some bad habits going down the stretch, going back to his USC days. This is the league You've got to go through your progressions. You can't just make special plays and then turn the ball over. So I got some taking Armand Mimble out of Missouri that tend to tackle, to go with the free agent pickups that you acquired. Casey, you can go edge or you can go de-tackle the massive kid out of Michigan, but you need to protect the franchise and I trust Ben Johnson, Casey, to correct those mistakes and that fundamental footwork that Williams, under duress, developed and he kept doing it, you know. And so I think you're a playoff team with nine or ten wins.
Speaker 2:You started off 4-2. I got you taking Armand Mimble to answer Marlon's question, the kid out of Missouri, a fast riser. You can do good with the kid out of LSU too, Will Campbell. But I like Armand Mimble at tackle because you can slide Will Campbell at guard. I think he's a true guard in the league, but you already addressed that position. So Armond Mimble is my pick, Marlon, in.
Speaker 1:Casey, I love it I love it Okay.
Speaker 3:I love it Doc.
Speaker 1:And now, quick, quick, doc. I'm going to throw a couple things at you. So for one, I kind of want to hear what you thought about Cam Ward's pro day. Two the Browns just or at least a report came out and said that they're interested in trading back. So we'll see what happens with that, and also, too, with the Giants. With them getting Russell Wilson and already getting Jameis Whitson, do they then still sign Shador? So I'm curious what you think about those three topics.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree with you. I'll start from the last one. You got to go young, you know you got to go young. Jameis Winston is a walking turnover and the Giants fans are loyal. They're a big-time franchise, big-time fan base. You don't want to hang on your hopes for going forward with these older cats, you know. Jameis Winston is older, you know, and Russell Williams is older than Jameis. So, yeah, you got to attack Shadua Sanders, who's not ready to play, by the way, gentlemen. So redshirt him for a year, you know, let him learn the league. I don't know how much you can learn from Russell Wilson and Jameis Wilson, but let him learn and take it from there. You know, and I think G-Man will be doing a disservice to the fan base if they don't draft a youngster that can learn. And what was your other two brother?
Speaker 1:Yeah, the Browns, they said they were. Well, a report says they're interested in trading back, so that just could be very interesting when it comes to possible quarterback or something like that. I mean, they did get Kenny Pickett, but I'm curious to see where they're going to go with possibly wanting to trade back.
Speaker 2:No, I say stay where you're at, get to Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter. You need playmakers, the found base. This is another fan base that's loyal and they're really strong despite all the losing. You love the Browning's, the crying base. You love the Giants' fan base. Abdul Carter is the edge to go, opposite Myles Garrett, who I really thought was gone three weeks ago. He's out of there, that's what he said. But Abdu Carter is a once-in-a-generation. He's even faster than Michael Parsons in Dallas. You can make that argument. So if you don't want to go there, then Travis Hunter is sitting there. I say stay where you're at. You need players, you need playmakers, you need people that are five-star players. And I say stay there.
Speaker 1:So I got them taking that through Carter, stay where you're at what was your third brother and then Cam Ward's pro day. What did you think about that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, cam Ward. To me he hit it out of the box. You know, strong arm. I watched him out here on the West Coast. Casey beat Cal when Cal was up 25 points in Berkeley a cross-country trip and Ken Warren brought him back in one by one. That's just all they need to know. He got the wheels, he could motor. He doesn't have four or three speed but he's fast enough to move around in the pocket, strong arm, and he did all this in one year at the? U.
Speaker 2:And I love the pro day. You know they had him three-step drop. They had him three-step drop, they had him five-step drop. I think he did not do it at Miami because he was pretty much in the shotgun. So the scouts know that this guy is the real deal. He can be adjustable, you know, under the hands, under the center. So, yeah, I love this pro day man, I was all into it. He is the first quarterback and if you could make a case last year, he could make a case last year. He could have been the first pick last year at quarterback instead of Caleb Williams. But that quarterback class last year with the kid in Denver and then of course, caleb Williams and Jaden Daniels, cam Ward would have fit right in last year, so obviously this year he's obviously the first choice to answer your question.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Casey. Thoughts on Cam Ward.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think that he definitely solidified himself as the top pick in this draft with his pro day. I mean been watching him and following him ever since he was at Incarnate Ward and knew that he had potential then to make it in the league and then transfer into Washington State where he brought that program to a much better record than when he got there and then going to Miami and doing what he did there. Yeah, he's got all the tools to make it in the league and his pro day only solidified that Tennessee is right for the pick and taking him and I hope that they stay there and don't think about trading back, because he is their quarterback of the future if they don't screw it up, and he's got everything that you would want in a franchise quarterback and for sure he's going to be the number one pick and said all this his pro day did was answer all questions.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he's going to be the guy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it bothers me, gentlemen, that some of these coaches, staff and management overthink. You know you think about trading back. You earned the first pick, you earned the second pick. Why are you thinking about that? There's prime players right there, future playmakers for 10 years at least, especially Abdul Carter and Cam Ward. So it just bothers me. That's off the cost there. Tennessee needs that.
Speaker 3:Good point. You brought up some good points too. Everybody that's picking the top five. They need play makers. I don't know why you want to move off of taking some of these guys who are going to be play makers for you, like you said, for at least five years, if not 10 years or more. You need some of those position players and you can't afford to be trading back because you need to impact guys now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. And Marlon, I don't know if you heard this In case you might have that Stephon Diggs signed with the Patriots coming off a significant injury 69 million, 28 million guaranteed. What's your gentleman's take on that? Because I think it's a mistake. Diggs is a headache. He's coming out for injury. I know Drake May needs weapons, but why not draft a kid out of Arizona, mcmillan, who ran a 4-4-8 or 4-3-8. Why are you going to Diggs and give him a massive contract? He's going to be a salad cap hit now 69 million, 28 guaranteed. You know Stephon Diggs.
Speaker 2:You know, I just have to throw that in there.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'll go ahead and start first Casey. I think this was one of those where the Chargers were looking at him, but I don't think we were going to give him nowhere near the money that he got, especially coming off of an ACL injury, and he said that he's going to be ready by week one. Of course he can say that, but you don't want to rush something like that. So I at least know most of the teams out there had the same thought process as we did. We're not going to go out and give you three years what three years? 69 million. You said, doc, we're not going to give you that much money, knowing what you are on the sideline and what you've done in minnesota and buffalo and houston.
Speaker 1:I was your pretty much your one year due to make something happen and unfortunately you got hurt. But I'm not willing to take a risk on a guy that, hey, I know what you are in the past and I don't know if you can even be that person athletically on the field anymore after that injury. So I would have passed if we would have signed up for one year. Maybe I wouldn't even want to give him as much as Cooper cup got. But you know, maybe you know 10 million million, up to 13 million, something like that.
Speaker 3:I would give him that, but the Patriots have the money, so it doesn't surprise me that they were willing to do it. Casey, yeah, he's on the wrong side of 30, for one thing, and now coming off of a devastating ACL injury and the fact that you said, doc, he's kind of a headache, he's still lot to deal with now. He's already on his 14.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Just not a move. I saw the Patriots making more because not something I saw, not a player I want to see Braybill having to deal with in his first year there. Yeah, somebody that addresses a hole, that they need a weapon, but yeah, that's an awful lot of money to give somebody for all the reasons we mentioned coming off the injury I said and being on the wrong side of 30. Yeah, I don't think he's going to be able to produce like he did in Buffalo. I mean, those days are behind him, hoping that they can just at least get some production out of him. But yeah, that's that is an awful lot of money to be given to him at this point. Now for sure.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Yep.
Speaker 1:All right, two quick other topics for you, casey, and then we'll get out of here. So you're a Chicago Bulls fan? Are you ready to play in the play-in and win, just to have a date in Cleveland?
Speaker 3:Oh, that's a loaded question.
Speaker 2:Because, it would happen it would happen.
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely it would happen. It's the position that they've been in for the last four or five years. It's on the cusp of where they're always at. They're always right on the edge of the play and getting in, and usually when they do get in they're getting blown out and the season's over with.
Speaker 3:The Bulls have been a headache to watch for me for a while now. I was very gung-ho on Karnasovas taking over and Eversley. I thought they were going to rebuild this team, bringing in Billy Donovan, and we had a lot of good early picks, but some of the selections they made definitely haven't been for the better. Now Buzanulis that kid is amazing. I love seeing what he's been doing this year. He's definitely a bright young star. But I don't have a lot of hope for what the Bulls are going to do and I don't have a lot of hope for what the future is going to be for them either. My only hope is just that little tiny sliver that they can get that lottery pick to get Cooper Flake. But then again, if they do, they're probably going to screw him up too. That's just what they do. I mean, if somebody's going to screw them up, then why not have it be your own team, you know?
Speaker 2:yeah, but then that's just that's just gonna.
Speaker 3:That's just gonna piss me off twofold, because now not only are they screwing up one of my boys from duke, but now they're completely wasting a good talent absolutely yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, All right. And who do you have in the finals? Obviously, you know. You see what Cleveland's doing, you see where Boston's at and, of course, on the other side, you got OKC Denver's still there. You got to at least respect my Lakers. So what are you thinking about the finals prediction?
Speaker 3:I don't see anybody else coming out of the West but Oklahoma City. I mean they're head and shoulders above everybody else in the West right now. I mean they're going to get tested just because they're still a young team, they still have a lot to prove in the postseason. They don't have a lot of experience, but you know they're still the best by far. So I got them representing the West and then coming out of the East.
Speaker 3:I mean that's kind of a coin flip right now between Boston and Cleveland. Cleveland's obviously had the upper hand on them mostly throughout the regular season, so at this point I'm leaning towards the Cavs. I just think they have. They've showed more especially in the head-to-head matches, that they know how to get the upper hand on Boston, and thus I think that's what's going to propel them to represent the East, and I think this is the year that Oklahoma City can finally get that first championship. I think they can ride it. You know, she gilded Alexander and what she had on green. Well, all those boys are doing I I really like that with what I'm seeing from them, especially after, you know, a rougher, the exit in the playoffs last year. But they're coming back with a vengeance and I definitely think they have what it takes to get it all done this year.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what it takes to get it all done this year. Yeah, because Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein provide the size Marlon. Then you've got Dort and Allen and you've got Shea Gildress-Alexander They've got it all. Chet Holmgren came back at the right time I like to make him better 7-3,. He just got hurt, just silly injuries, but now he's healthy and Hartenstein provides the toughness, so that's a good point there. And Casey referenced Cleveland and that 22-point comeback on the road in the Boston Garden was a signature moment for that particular team because you know, mobley and Mitchell were tripping in the first half and they came back and won. So yeah, I got Cleveland OKC too. Good response, casey. Good job. Alright, casey, I got Cleveland OKC too. Good response, casey Good job.
Speaker 1:All right, casey. Last question I got for you Opening day is coming up. Well, depending on how you want to look at it, but opening day is coming up. So World Series predictions.
Speaker 3:What do you got? Well, right now it's still the Dodgers world and we're living in it. I don't see anybody knocking them off, especially on the NL side.
Speaker 3:I don't know, the AL I saw up until the Garrett Cole injury. I saw this going in the favor of the Yankees again. We were just going to get a rematch for what we saw last year in the World Series, but losing him for the season and obviously for part of next season was a huge blow for them. I don't know. I kind of have to think about who I'm going to take out of the AL for that.
Speaker 2:You remember?
Speaker 1:the 2001 Seattle Mariners. What's that you remember the 2001 Seattle Mariners. I sure do.
Speaker 3:As much as it pains me. Yes, I absolutely do. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that one hurt, that one hurt bad.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3:They're still going to be there. Boston, though, is going to give them a run for their money in the East. Yeah, but no matter who it is coming out of the AL, nobody's going to beat the Dodgers. They reloaded again in the offseason, and they just got way too much firepower for anybody to really compete with them on a consistent basis.
Speaker 2:And bear in mind baseball doesn't have a salary cap, so there's a lot of people that are actually mad at the big city out here that they can do what they do. But people forget that George Steinberg, when he was living, he did the same thing in the 70s, 80s and 90s. You know the same thing, I think Reggie Jackson he was with the Orioles and prior to that day, so the Dodgers. It pains me to say this, being a Braves fan, and Marlon, you're a Padres fan. Yeah, I completely concur with Casey. I got the Orioles, I got the O's, in spite of losing Burns. I think that roster is young. They're going to come after AL Baltimore Orioles.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they just need to figure out how to turn it on when it gets close to the postseason. They're another team. That's been great in the regular season the last couple years. But once it gets close to the postseason they really falter down the stretch. That's right, that's fair yeah, All right, Doc.
Speaker 1:that's all I got. You got anything else for us?
Speaker 2:No, I enjoy it every minute just with Casey and Montana. I love his Facebook family. He's a beautiful family, Casey. I don't always respond because I'm busy, but beautiful family on Facebook. Casey, it's been a pleasure. Thank you, brother.
Speaker 3:Thanks, doc. I really appreciate that. We'll chat it up with you guys. This has been a good treason. I really appreciate you guys having me on. Thank you very much, of course.
Speaker 1:No problem, enjoy opening a week and we'll catch you guys next week. Peace, peace.