Welcome to going deep, brandon Angelo at angelo
underscore fantasy.
At Matt W here.
And listen, If you haven't checked out, brandon
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w dot com,
and gave you a little bit on some
running backs that I think are worth looking
at heading into 20 25 in terms of
things that you be checking out about them
to see if their stocks gonna go up
or down. But this week,
on
going deep
talk a little bit about
what we define as a sleeper
and some guys that may wind up being
sleepers in terms of the various
archetypes the of sleepers that kind of exist
out there.
So, you know, 1 of those just to
get right into it is the sleeper archetype
of the guy who fell the draft because
half the Gm apparently or execs took them
off the draft board. That's according to greg
When the Patriots beat writer, we talked about
Siobhan Baker saying that he was apparently off
the draft boards of half the execs that
he spoke with.
So, you know, you and I have both
talked about how much we like Baker,
you know, fine route runner, certainly has had
some moments in camp where he's made some
big plays already. So what are your thoughts
on this whole idea of where he is
on draft boards, whether there was smoke, there's
fire with that smoke or or, you know,
overall, just, you know, kind of feeling about
what we should be watching out for with
him. Yeah. And it's kinda funny because I
heard the same thing that that the da
said.
And I was reading some of the articles
that we're surrounding that particular, you know, item,
the baker. And a lot them were like,
about his dad, which has kinda interesting.
So I thought that was really peculiar because,
you know, you, you and I both did
extensive work on on baker
archetype, what his makeup is, you know, what
really, plays extra receiver primarily, but he can
move inside and bump in the slot. There's
a lot of great things about his game
as a wide receiver, but
I didn't really saw any of that, like,
in in my deep dive of Baker,
I think his person personality is the more
can be seen as a as abrasive. If
you kinda listen to him speak about his
game and...
But that's kinda goes along with plaintiff position
at a high level, especially that position.
So I didn't see a flag with that,
but, yeah, I think it's interesting that that
Pod bernard said, like, you know, basically,
15, 16 teams,
like come off the draft.
But, yeah, I don't know. I I think
it's it's gonna be interesting to see how
well I think a guy like him if
they're were legitimate character concerns,
how he feels
about playing a complimentary role to start.
Like, what what is his character his ego
going to be when he's asked to learn
and grow? Because that's an offense too where
there's gonna be a lot of learning a
lot of growth in the patriot offense is
not an offense that's gonna hit the ground
running. No they don't really have any established
play makers besides reminders Stevenson. So that's gonna
be interesting to see who steps up in
that room,
and who gets some early career opportunity. I
I think polk is 1 of those guys
that I think can contribute pretty early on,
as the makeup too, and, you know, as
we talk about, you know, stock up stock
down. And
with all this his subscribers I have last
week. I said,
Polk might be kind of an... I'm on
Ra Saint Brown in a sense,
where he's 1 of those extension
extensions of the run game and he kinda
does the little things right that you kinda
just wanna get him the ball. So he
doesn't make very little mistakes.
Got Va
little less mistake free.
So that's gonna be interesting to see if
he's gonna be a guy that's gonna continue
to ascend and continue to make plays and
grow into a larger hole that Patriots offense.
Yeah. I mean, I think that if you
compare the 2 baker probably has more highs
and a higher ceiling than pulp does, for
sure.
And that he is a... I think he's
a more technically sound rot runner, but the
mistakes at the catch point
can be can be a bit of an
issue with him. And, you know, the touch
on the whole thing with the dad. It
is it is fast saying and it's it's
unusual to hear about this, but I have
certainly spoken with people who've told me in
the past that
there are...
There have been past issues with players where
their families have been such a problem,
like that they come up to the city
and cause a ru with the staff,
you know, when it comes to, like,
you know, maybe
something being an issue and they they try
and come in and talk to their to
their son or their or
nephew or whoever that players related to them
by, and they end up like being disruptive
to the day elite day to day of
the actual franchise
operation
because of what they're what they're doing. And
they're creating a distraction for the player
to where they're not it. It seems like
they're not getting to put in the level
of work that they're capable of putting in
because the family's creating such a distraction
overall and so much drama. And Right. You
know, I mean, it sounds crazy.
But there are a lot of people out
in this world who have, like narcissistic
parents.
Oh, hundred of you know, and those parents
can like, if they're not the
object of attention, you know, 3 65,
they can they can be really
problematic
for that,
you know, and they can cause a split
between that that
that kid and whatever it is that's important
to them because they they feel so much
insecurity
as pay parents or relatives that they feel
like that if they're not the absolute, it's...
That kid's not the extension of their needs,
then they may that kid's life hell.
So
it's...
You know, if that's what bakers going through,
that's an issue, but it may just be
the fear
of that being the possibility.
That's the other end of the spectrum is
that it could easily just be a fear
without really great
feel for what the truth is. You know?
In the same way that they could look
at Jimmy Smith and say, oh, he was
a horrible character concern because he smoked a
little pot to Medicate.
But then if he did the deeper dive,
you realized he was a great kid. And,
Yeah. A lot of teams took him off
their draft board, you, you know, And I'm
sure Patrick Mah dad was probably seen as
a negative.
Yeah. No Lamar Jackson's mom. Was seen as
a negative. You know? You know, and look
how they
Another 1. Yes. Oh, it's... You know, it's
just 1 of those... Just 1 of almost,
like, odd ones where like, a usually
never has that profile and impact me, the
bigger ones I think in sports are, like
La var ball. Right? Yeah.
With the but the ball brothers. But besides
that, it's like, it's it's really rare to
see that that plays that profound of an
impact. Yeah. In professional sports, but, you know,
I don't... I'm not thinking much of it,
especially with him, you know, he wasn't he's
a Ac. Right? This is not like he
was a first round pick, and if he's
not playing, you know, you're Bob Dad's, you
know, Marching into the front office and
and give something their robert crap. Like, that's
not good luck. I'll doing that England, but,
you. No kidding.
Yeah. But I'll But, no. I I think
I think dropped males.
Like, you know, he has high expectations for
the kid and and all the Rookie at
pacific because that's a pretty talented class that.
That he get... That he gets in his
first year as a head coach, but I
I think it'll be just fine. Yeah. I
kinda have think that guys like Greg Bed,
probably see the world in a certain way
or are I used to see in the
world in a certain way. And when there
are players that
don't fit their cultural biases
that they they end up probably making more
out of it than than need be.
And I don't know. Maybe that's unfair to
Greg,
but we've seen that before. You you know.
So we've seen guys go off on Colin
Cap Nick over things that were just silly
well before the whole knee thing, which personally
I thought was sealing was silly, but
especially with
you know, 3 veteran
3 kids who are veterans who who basically
would say to me,
nobody gives a fuck about this.
During the military, 2 Army, 1 marine, and
they were all and in laws of marine,
son Laws Marine, and they were all like,
nobody cares about this except some x
x veteran football fans who live for this
stuff and are violating some of our codes
of
conduct any way or the way they wear
flags and display things that really don't matter.
So I I don't know. I just a
little bit of that. I,
you know, it could turn into fire, but
right now, I just see to smoke. You
know? Yeah. So so wouldn't... So let's talk
about sleepers anyway, because Baker obviously is a
sleeper the character
part may have been what dropped him, I
guess,
and and change in leaving Alabama and having
a star elsewhere. But
how do you define the sleeper? You, you
know, because it's, you know, you you look
at people out there and it's like, I
joke. There's a lunch. There's, like, the lunch
room table crowd of people who, like, who
who... A lot of them are really good.
So I'm just making fun of you y'all,
like, Matt Harmon and I think as part
of the lunch room table. He's great. We
love him. He's, you, you know, he's my
friend, and I and I have mass amount
of respect from. But if I'm gonna poke
fun of them, I would say he's... He
fits the stereotype of the peak blind haircut,
beard oil
sponsorship, you know, craft beer, what I'm hearing
what I'm lifting... What I'm talking about podcast,
that everyone aspire to wanna be, or at
least it seems like a big part of
the population
wants to aspire to be. And I would
say a lot of those people are talking
about folks who are inside, like the the
15 round. You know, Dante wick. He's a
sleeper. You know,
you know? Yeah. And I go, Well, yeah.
I guess he is a sleeper, but to
me if to me, that's not a sleeper
if if, like,
if the people who only follow that crowd
of Fantasy analyst
can spell his name while and e created.
Hey A vincent round. Then it's a
qualification that that's
yourself. Oh man. I think honestly I think
for the it what kinda quan the sleepers
is someone the fan, like, even like, the
die are as of the fan base
have very little information about or just understand
who the player is. Yeah. Like, in the
past I'd say guys, like Philip Lindsey,
James Robinson,
you know, I don't know if you can
classify Poop and Cool I think most people
knew who he was. Right. At least like
in in the surf, you know, in the
fancy and Dia circle, you kinda knew who
he was. Yeah. Yeah. Give my tricky But
would you get a... But from the people
who want to, like,
who want to basically
mask their insecurity for not being sure that
they know enough. If you pick Poo and
In the sixteenth seventeenth eighteenth round last year.
Did you get people saying good pick? Or
did you get people saying,
who's that guide? Do you want my list
so that, you, you know, those people who
are trying funny?
I think you you got a combination of
both. Yeah. I... You know, and 1 of
my leaks just, you know, just it's it's
a vampire League. It's with a bunch of
my, you know, bunch of my friends mine,
my cousins husband's in it, and he's a
great dude. But all these dudes from, like,
the east and I'm, I'm a Midwestern.
And I picked Ko
Is red overdraft.
And someone commented they're like,
Is that a Pokemon character? Right. See what
I'm saying Yes.
Oh like, is that like a dave or
you ask jade. Are you genuinely ask if
that's a like
and so,
it's just like stuff like that. Kinda funny.
But, like, you know, guys, like, like I
said, like, James Robinson, like Joe Mc would
quantify,
you know, like, like, awesome an Ac. Right?
Some of those guys that are really under
the radar dudes, like, you know, out a
feeling,
like, like, those are true sleepers to where
their own team doesn't even know they're that
good yet. Until they... Until they get on
Sundays and improve it. Right? So I think
those are the guys, I think that are
that quote unquote are sleepers
that their own team, the, you're, you know,
you're own fan base
doesn't quite have the understanding of our level
of talent. Yeah. I mean, I think to
me, I would add parameters like,
probably Guys trap it after around
17.
Sure. You know, and a lot of leagues
don't go that deep. So there's that.
Guys that
guys that
we're not even sure
the team thinks that they would give them
a full workload
if they were to inherit the starting role.
Like Chai Williams last year was a perfect
example. I.
You know, he was a known commodity. He
went to not or dame. But then by
year 2, he was all, but kind of
a forgotten man and people were, like, well,
Zach Evans is is a hot name now.
We also have some other guys that might
spell with him.
You know, in that back field, I'm mean
Cam Acres is still considered the guy. So,
really, Ky Williams, You know, that kind thing.
I would think even guys like Jaiden and
Reed last year, were probably center set 17
Rookie who like,
the draft knicks new.
But there's, you know,
there's guys that people look at and go.
Yeah.
Maybe
maybe in a year or 2 it too
soon, you know, and then they end up
being something more. And then I think guys
who who wind up in that range who
can deliver at least 5 weeks of consecutive
strong production, like starter or flex caliber production.
Like, darius is slight into would be a
sleeper last year,
mainly because of how late he went or
D marcus Robinson,
how late they they a good 1. You
know, and you got 4 to 6 weeks
out of them that was, like, okay. That's...
I mean, darius late was wide receiver 16
for, like, a 5 week no. Jones, another
1. I think it was I was 2
years ago with Jones, and he had that
monster stretch. But I mean, yeah absolutely right.
There's... I think this year is gonna be
a ton of those guys and there there
might be some guys that
before 4 weren't sleepers, and now that qualify.
Right? Like, guys like were shot bait. Yeah.
Yeah. Guys who were kinda after spots and,
you know, we're we're we'll talk about him
later probably a little bit, but Michael Thomas.
Yes. Hey guys who were extremely relevant.
And now they're more border out of relevant.
Yeah.
And, you know, getting the right situation and
they they might be sleeper. And 1 that
I think that's not a sleeper per s,
but someone I think that
you know, you got a circle of every
single year as Bread cooks. Yes. Like Dallas
didn't really dig draft another a play maker.
Yeah. Outside of... You know, outside of having
Cd lam, it's,
you have Jake Ferguson.
You know, They're hoping
jail in To. They're hoping. You're you're hoping
for Jail and To,
you know, and you have kind of a,
you know, after that you kind of pod
core. Yeah. But, the Bread Cook is gonna
be... You know, he's gonna... That push for
100 plus targets. There's no 1... There's no...
And this is gonna be a pass first
tee. Yes. They don't have it was running
back besides Zeke Elliott,
you know,
you're not gonna rely on,
even the rest of their, you know, core
backs to to give you, you know, can
system production. So I think it's gonna be
through the air with that prescott gotten. 1
of the guys are gonna be a beneficiary
of that is gonna be Branded cooks who
seems to have a thousand yards every single
year. Yeah. And another 1 who is... Who's
a backup version of that who you just
say, listen. It's... If I'm drafting
eighteenth nineteenth third twentieth round.
And I don't take Noah Brown, and he's
there? Sure. Why am I not... Why am
I not doing that? Can are during the
rapport he's shown with Cj Str, the multiple
opportunities
to a path for opportunity because he can
play multiple roles.
And what he did with those opportunities when
he got it. So it's like, yeah. I
understand that you may be using up a
a roster spot for a reserve, but that's
a reserve I wanna have, because I know
the minute he gets plugged in. He's gonna
produce. Well, you're you're a hundred percent right.
Because I think simply, you know, what if
2 other 3 guys get hurt. Yeah. Right?
You know,
what if digs and Dow or, you know,
kyle 2 to 3. Hurt. Right Yeah.
This is gonna be a... This is a
very past heavy... It's a very past heavy
team. Yeah. And
know, Cj Str a year older. He's gonna
Outlet. He's getting him more. Yeah, I think
no... It's really funny because
my... 1 of my good friends he it's
called the proud fake cd.
You to be watching the games and, you
know, I I have Sunday ticket. I'd put
it lot on my computer.
And he'd be like, did fake Cd score
the touched touchdown or was it actually Cd
lab, like, I have no idea because they're
both the old 85 88. Yeah. So similar
build, So it's like, kinda hard, but but
I think no browns actually 1 of those
guys that.
If he wasn't on the sections,
he could be a company receiver on most
Nfl teams. Yeah. Like, he's is 1 of
those guys that is he's solid everything. He's
not elite anything
but he's good enough to see the field
the receiver sets on
a lot nfl teams. Yeah. I mean, Atlanta
really could have used him to be honest.
Like, when you think under percent. Yeah. A
team or Pittsburgh who's looking for that that
extra receiver.
Now. Yeah. I mean, you know, that's gonna
be fascinating. But let before we get to
Pittsburgh, let's stay in that in that A
north
and talk about Cincinnati. Because t higgins, so
certainly, you know,
that looks like they're gonna probably, at some
point, you know, next year, probably he'll be
gone. They're not gonna resign them. So maybe
they trade him
mid season. Maybe they'll try to do that.
And and the thought is you look at
you know, German burton, and he's probably... He's
probably the in crowds favorite sleeper. If we're
gonna side the. He's a sexy and deserved
so.
But then there's Andre Y.
I think that's how you say it. And
anna a Princeton,
And
1 of the things, you know, you always
get the... He worked with the trainer stories,
and those can get people too excited. But
I know that trainer.
Drew Lieberman. He's been on the Rs show
a number of times And Drew Lieberman is
the
foundation, his work with receivers and what he
define... How he defines techniques
is literally the the foundation
for what I filled up on this board
a few years ago to create my own...
To recreate my criteria and either Sure. Validate
or,
add to it
for how I evaluate receivers, and it really
changed
how I've done as an evaluator of the
position. I give a lot of credit to
him. And he's worked with guys like Brandon
and Ai.
He told me last year about Dante and
Wick. He was like, listen this guy can
be a starter in this league. I'm working
with him. Just give him a year or
2. He's gonna be a lot better than
where he's drafted. I really like him.
Work with Julian Ed, you know, guys like
that. And apparently,
An Y saw Drew Lieberman work and said,
I wanna work with him.
And and he worked with Drew and Drew
was like, he and Chase Brown because he
also wrote... He told Chase to come with
him.
And he said, Chase come down here and
work with Drew with me in Atlanta.
And he and they worked together and apparently,
in the athletic Drew talking about how,
you know, they they were 2 of the
fastest learners he's ever worked with and he
says and part of thing was that neither
really had much knowledge base of route running.
So that might have actually been working in
their favor because they didn't have any bad
habits
to undo. He said, but they've really
improved fast and on and Chase Brown. He
was, like, really, I'm gonna with him running
back. This guy's this guy's gonna be totally
lost. He said, but Brown works so hard.
And now he looks like a receiver and,
like, that, like, they're, you know, you're starting
to see things like that, and I think
with Y
as an outside presence with the speed we
know we has.
Could he be really the tipping point
for t higgins
get end ending up getting traded away mid
season if you combine him and Burton.
Yeah. I think it's gonna be interesting because...
You kinda brought up a good point with
Oc because I think
you look at his size his speed... Just
the athletic makeup, you know, and just the
raw he has and brings the table.
If t higgins is gone. Let's say he
is in mid season.
Who who else you have Charlie Charlie Jones
and, Yeah. You know, J Burton and Kw
las the second. Kw. Yeah. You don't have...
Like, you don't have a next a next
guy up. You don't have a you have
a second half.
I think E stevens can push for that.
And I also think too an interesting part
of what I hope that offense becomes
is without Tyler,
there is that slot position opens up.
And either they're gonna be moving,
Chase around much more, which I think would
would be beneficial.
Or
again like E cv
has kind of that big slot roll in
some packages and and really can just fight
is footing in the week. Because that's gonna
be a big 1. Right? Get them on,
you know, get them on safe these, blind
backers,
slot cores who are tick slower than him,
just create mismatch with the guy. So that's
gonna be something night you kinda watch. Because
J Burton could slide in rolls well. Right?
I I think German main bert... Huge main
burns guy I'm drafting and everything single draft.
Yeah. So I do think Tia has gone
next year.
I think your germ main burton is a
better version of what t against can bring
the table because more multi dimensional can bump
inside.
You know, better after the captain tea is
and, you know, has proven durable, which is
I think the biggest thing with T higgins
is is the lack of durability. Right? Is
he gonna be healthy for the playoffs?
And that's the question that you don't have
the answer for you again. Some years is
yes, Some years no.
But
that being said,
there is a significant opening.
If Tia higgins his mid season gets traded
and whatnot, you know, gets his deal.
Then there is significant targets open up in
that offense, because it's not just gonna be
martin chase with 220. You know, that's... I
it's gonna work. So there's gonna be a
second second and third option. But is it
gonna be
burden Io? You know, is it gonna be
burton Charlie Jones. I like Charlie, Jones too.
I liked him coming out of Purdue. I
thought he was a really interesting player that
could play in the slot, and I think
he might get up opportunity to be the
first guy up in that tyler boyd type
role. So he's definitely gonna... He quan as
the sleeper,
and and someone I'm keeping my eye as
well. No. I love it. So
just as a follow up, you brought up
tea higgins and injury, then I think of
Mike Williams and injury,
and they're both kind of big ball winning
guys at the boundary. Is there anything to
that to the person who might ask that
question and say, do I need to keep
an eye out for some of these old
time ball winners at the at the boundary
who don't have maybe complete route games
at the level that a primary would, that
I need to worry about them more. Oh,
man. That's a really good question. I think
the answer to that is Yeah. Because I
think, you know, the large you are, larger
frame human being you are. Right? The more
mass you tend to carry.
The more matthew tend to carry, the more
force produce. More force you produce the more
strain puts on your muscles tend to joints,
l, etcetera.
So
I think that's why the mis number of
small guys get hurt actually bigger guys are
more prone to injury,
than smaller guys are. In my opinion, is
just even talk about the soft tissue variety.
So
like, guys like Vodka Smith had much healthier
career so far than the Guy T higgins
who's very opposite prototype in terms of bill.
But, yeah, I I think you look at,
you know, past injuries the biggest predictor
of,
future injury. But I think you also look
at build,
how they move? Right? You know, are they
are they fluid movers or are they are
they chop or more abrupt and just things
like that, But I think it's hard to
just say
this body type means more injury, but I
think
larger frame
players,
especially at the rest of your position,
need to take
more air of their bodies
and need to take more steps in a
guy like, let's say
Smith, who's not outputting as much on
down to down basis. But also to...
So that's before, this comes with, you know,
the sports science and medical staff being the
4 front of operations of those guys. Right?
Those guys need volume restrictions on a on
a practice basis. Right?
You know, when you talk about daily allot
and you know, if you have a 90
minute practice and, you know, tea h you're
running a total of 3 miles and back
to back days, lots of recipe for disaster.
And that's why a lot of injuries happen
just simple over overuse of the, you know,
10 joints L been taking such a pounding
on a on a, day to day basis.
So... So I think that's a bigger 1
me. That's a great answer, and that what
that really tells you too is that maybe
what you'd... How you approach that from a
practical angle is
you want them to prove to you that
they figured it out that they figured out
how to take care of themselves because I
know I remember my buddy of the program,
Eric Stone or former contributor with Choke said
I'm waiting for Dk dk Med cap to
run out of his his l.
You know, basic to just, like, run right
out, you know, basically
separate his ham from his from his bone,
at some point du in his career, at
least early on. Because you thought wow this
guy's too big for his
his bridges is basically as an athlete. But
so far,
He's been pretty good. He's been pretty good
at Keeping. But he's been he's kind of
those freak Athletes man because he... You know,
he he's he talks about eating, like, skittles
and all his stuff and, like, he's his
diet is basically candy. It's crazy. But... But,
yeah, I mean, a lot of times like,
you gotta look at
previous injury, but also to,
like, build an archetype, like S juan Barclays,
for example.
Like, he was 1 when you when he
came in into his lead which just how
erratic he was as a mover. I mean,
absolutely spectacular guy,
Sean Mis, movement,
he he does a great segue on this
too in segment I should say. But with
sai Juan,
every... Nothing was really pre your gained. Like,
everything was
in the moment
and
spectacular like, the spin move, just the dead
leg, just the just a d the A
cell. Just the just the multi
dimensional cape capabilities the mover head. He had.
But also with danger into that when you're
230.
Yep. That's the biggest thing. Yeah. So
he's not making those cuts and and, you
know, at Jam gibbs weight. Yeah. Right. And
so that's kind of the difficult part is...
Yes. You can you can do that, but
there's
I'm constrained to that if you don't figure
out how to make those
movements,
more fluid more control,
but lack of control is a big 1
there too. But
but, yeah. I'm not gonna ramble on about
this, but
it's harder to definitely for for larger framed
athletes. It's definitely harder to stay healthy and
durable consistently just because of what your body's
being asked to do down to down. No.
Without a doubt. And I think that that's,
you know, I think that's worthwhile is that
there's something to it, but you kinda have
to take it on a case by case
basis
With these players and and go from there.
Well, let's stay in the nfc North and
talk about a smaller player.
A guy that at least when I watched
commitment. Because Calvin Austin to me
was in the same kind of physical
archetype as Wand dale Robinson.
But I thought was the better player. I
thought he was better against man to man
coverage. He was capable against man to demand
coverage. He could put him on the outside
and he could win contested plays.
And he was a little faster than 1
day 1. Someone 1 day it was pretty
fast,
pretty... And pretty quick too.
And Austin made a little bit of noise
early on this time 2 years ago, you
know, where they were like, wow. This guy
can really move and they really were taken
note of them, but he couldn't stay healthy.
And then last year, He had some moments
on the field where he made a couple
of big plays, but really didn't,
you know, didn't
establish a foothold. And part of that too
is that it was a
rotating cara.
It was a cara aerosol of quarterback
in aptitude. So
you know, could Calvin Austin
be the true sleeper in a receiving core
where
you know, Roman Wilson is considered the guide
that's gonna determine whether or not Pittsburgh gets
us start... Gets a veteran receiver this.
But to me,
you know,
is Kevin Austin moore that option.
What does that say, you know, where do
you look at Roman Wilson at this point
in his career? Yeah. And compare him to
Calvin, Austin
and why and do you feel that way
about Austin or do you feel differently about
them? It's interesting because I think An Awesome
similar gonna 2 2 at well.
Build, you know, obviously, speed,
explosive, just to building to kinda of win
the ball to at his size.
But the difference between Sean Mc
and arthur the Smith
is motion
and creativity.
Arthur Smith is not the most creative play
collar. Right? We've kind of figured that out.
Especially with this lack of usage of. Robinson.
That was a big 1.
But also too, like, if you kinda look
at
what Arthur Smith likes to do... Everything's kinda
predicated off the run. So, like, not Harris
and the company there
are gonna get a lot of looks in
the past game too.
If they
Arthur Smith took a page out of Sham
Bay playbook. They're in a
motion heck out of Calvin.
Utilized him
you know, kind of a that as that
movement z receiver, use across the field, really
hard to stay with a guy like that
as of capabilities and cable is after catch.
But that's gonna be something to, like, Arthur
it's gonna have to reinvent
himself in it. In a away.
He utilize Calvin Austin in in a sensor,
he can be a play maker for that
offense, because he absolutely can be an in
some situations.
Roman Wilson kind of your
dirty work receiver, I would say,
great blocker of physical,
reliable in a sense.
I don't think he's a world beater of
a talent.
Didn't it produce much at all at the
C level, but he's someone that Arthur Smith
might prefer
because he helps the run game as an
extension of the run game. Right? He he's
gonna be able to
you know, motion in and and pick up
a back. Right? Just things like that where
he can be on the field, And you
have to worry about the situations
because he's able to be serviceable
in the areas that are Smith likes to
play with it.
But I I mean, you know, if it's
me, I would much rather prefer
how an often I'm a play car, because
he just opens up so much from a,
like, a a dynamic standpoint. But I think,
Arthur Smith, you know, he he likes his
highlands type players.
Right? Yeah.
But I think he prefers that over, you
know, your your Cabo austin your 2 2
at wells. And that that makes sense. You
know, the only defense I could possibly supply
to,
Arthur Smith is that
Desmond Ritter was so crap fantastic as a
quarterback
that you kind of had nice. Let's pretty
at nice you know, you had to par
down your offense on a certain level
to make things simple
so that he didn't screw things up, which
means maybe he to fall on a sword
as a play collar and look really bad
because nothing was dynamic
because his quarterback couldn't handle that dynamic
adjustment ability to adjust and make plays without
making a lot of mistakes.
And maybe he felt saddle with ritter you,
you know, by year 2 and said, wow,
This isn't working, and we have nobody else
that we feel really strongly about. Let's just
keep it simple. But then you go back
to Tennessee,
And could you make the same argument with
the quarterback there to a lesser extent maybe
so. And the receiving court, take a look
it too. Wasn't
yeah. Was it all that good? Yeah. So,
you know, we'll see. This may be the
true test where we get to see for
sure whether or not It's Arthur Smith being
just the state dyed in the world conservative
of a of a play collar.
And scheme practitioner or whether or not he's,
like, no. Now that I've got some tools
to work with,
maybe we'll do a little bit more. But
But, yeah, I think it's a great analysis
because, yeah, It's true. I mean, Austin, Austin
to me,
it could be too 2 out well, But
maybe the other side of that equation could
be Doug Baldwin.
Maybe it could maybe it could eventually... He
could be a
middle class Doug Baldwin, Russell Wilson
in this. I think it's a bit of
a stretch if we, you know, at this
stage for that to happen. But when you're
trying to project what the the sealing outcome
could be.
There's some of that that's possible with his
skills paired with Russell Wilson. Yeah.
Especially
especially if they do get that next receiver.
And maybe that receiver Michael Thomas,
you know, if you think of a place
where he could be a good fit, Arthur
Smith wants to throw the ball target the
middle of the field. Michael Thomas is a
stud in the middle of the field. But
you can imagine now, again, we're stretching the
bounds of Arthur Smith's abilities here based on
what we've seen. But, you know, if you
did motion the Austin around, or you motion
him and Thomas around so that Thomas was
kind of the boundary,
the boundary threat in the red zone.
You allow Austin to be the play action
vertical threat up the boundary
on, you know, on the play action looks
and post routes. And then Thomas is more
inside more often, you get the run game
blocking that he's capable of. And then you
get the you get the tied in plus
dynamic
route guy who could win 1 on 1
from the slot that would really help Russell
Wilson have a guy that he hasn't had
since he was in Seattle
anywhere even close on par. Right. So do
you, you know, do you like the idea
of him there? Or do you think I
just invented a casting alternate to reality. And
my feelings won't be heard on that. We're
on. No. It's funny because I do think
they're gonna add somebody. Right. We've kinda seen
the smoke with Brand I if that ever
comes a. I don't know. But
I do think with George Pick,
and adding someone
larger bodied receiver. Right? We could play inside.
That makes it a lot harder for defenses
kia on pi. And he's the guy that
offense at receiver. Right?
So I think in that capacity, it makes
it easier for us, Wilson.
Makes it easier for George Pick to do
his thing, especially vertically. Yep. Right? It takes
pressure off him to be to make a
profound impact on the first and second left.
Because really he's a he's a vertical receiver
who has to
understand
the game within the game at the first
and second level that he just hasn't done
yet. Right? That's a learning curve for him.
Learning me from 1 of the best
middle the field or receivers in the past
decade.
I think isn't a bad thing for in
that offense. Yeah. So I think it's definitely
something that could happen. And it frees up
that fry moves a little more too. Yeah.
He could he could be it. He could...
Yeah. Yeah. Gonna say, he he could be
your... He could be a big time seam
threat.
You know, and it does a lot for...
It does a lot for that offense. I
thing to add someone like that,
who might be kind of at the, you
know, kind of at the
Apex plus of his career rate,
And
might just be more of a 1 trick
pony in this sense. Yeah. But a good...
It's a good trick.
I I think I think for that offense,
it makes sense to me.
You know, it's 1 of those interesting ones
where
I think he might wait for
a contender to have an injury or something
like that. So let's say like, mike Williams
goes down in in in New York and
the jets are hot and rogers needs another
target facets of that. He's someone I think
they would call on. Yeah.
Just teams like that, you know, the bang
make sense to if, you know, they wanna
move on from tea or tease her, they're
making a push and girl need to second
option over than Chase. Yeah. Sure.
But I think in in terms of, like,
the the near term, this steelers make a
lot of sense too. Would would Atlanta be
1 if the Atlanta got hot kirk proves
that he's healthy enough to keep rolling and
that he doesn't have the issues talked about,
and then he can stick it to the
saints twice a year.
Maybe. I I think, you know, in look
looking at that offense too, I think, you
know, Darn Moon is gonna... He he actually
signed for good of money too. Yeah. So
I think he's actually a viable second option.
I don't know. I I think, you know,
it could be 1 of those Leo Jones
so the Eagles type deals where it's like,
Yeah. You know, the end is... The end
is near, but he can he can make
c place for you the red zone and
in in it in situation, It just really
depends on how much he has left, you
know, and
in what his legs allow to do. Yeah.
Like, he's just been, you know, ever since
his initial injury. It just been it's been
downhill for the last what 4 years. So
played 1 games,
and in those 20 games,
I think he's caught 90 balls for a
hunt thousand yards and 4 touchdown, which is
good,
but it's 20 games in the past 4
years. Yeah.
Especially for he was because he was, you
know, was essentially, it was, you know, him
Antonio Brown o Julio,
you know, kind of at that Apex at
receiver.
Probably missing 1 or 2 there, but, you
know, those were kind of the guys,
you know, 5 years ago, 6 years ago.
But, yeah, It's interesting to see where he
goes. I think he does get signed somewhere,
mid season makes a little more sense,
but somewhere worth an injury or a team
just looking to, you know, add a better
make a push. The packers come to mind
to their they're kind of...
They don't really have any veterans
I mean, all the receivers are pretty young.
Romeo Do is probably the most
might be the most senior.
Yeah.
As his third. Maybe the most seasoned either.
Yeah which know 40 percent. Yeah.
But I think the team like that could
make sense to add a veteran presence to
the room, but
like you said this steelers, you know, they're
1 that does make sense in the interim.
I like be
it goes. I think
makes sense. And Yeah. We don't know if
we don't know how healthy Microwave was gonna
be. Right? Yeah. He's past prime.
You know, he coming off in a Ceo,
already he's battled
multiple injuries throughout his career.
So, you know, it's gonna be
who can, you, who can slot in that
type of role
in that offense that Rogers can trust right
away. Yeah. So we'll see. Well, let's wrap
this up with a few young guys here
that
we've kind of really just been talking about
young live receivers this whole time, but let's
go back to him after a little break
with Michael Thomas there. But Trey tucker with
the the Vegas,
know, with the raiders. Sure. Parker Washington second
year player out of penn state with Jaguar.
And Casey Washington, the Illinois product, the align
I guy with washed... With Atlanta who Drake
London says is lighting it up in camp.
Yeah. Parker Washington has established more rapport and
they feel he looks like a little bit
of a different player. And I thought he
had nice rapport with Yeah. With Trevor Lawrence
last year, and then Trey Tucker who looked
like he was coming on at points.
Well, Antonio appears says he looks like a
completely different player because he addressed his hands
and
tucker like,
Scott,
The other Cincinnati speeds to research. Tyler Scott.
Both those guys were in that tier for
me in last year's draft.
As guys that you're like,
speed, tough at the catch point, plenty of
y to go around, but they had the
fatal flaw of how they attack the football.
And, like, if they don't figure that out,
they're just promising athletes. If they figure it
out, they could be, like, legitimate fantasy asset
and the legitimate stars. Trey tucker
apparently addressed that, and they're like, he looks
like a totally different player, and he's pretty
much the favorite to be the number 3
option in that in that receiving court. So
Yeah. So, you know, I I think Tucker
1 that's most impressive to me
because when you have a fatal flaw like
that and you've addressed it so far, you're
already making that impression,
that's promising.
What are your thoughts on any of those
3 guys? Yeah. No. For sure. I I
think I've I've heard glow your interviews like
you have at... Like, you had on almost
on all 3 of those dudes. Tucker is
inch interesting because
the role is gonna be a question mark.
Right? Because you add Brock bowers the equation.
Yep. Right? And there's always... There... There's 2
big target and, obviously Myers and Atoms.
Already. Bowers gets added. So you're looking at
a fourth, you know, fourth gas.
Yeah. In a
Antonio Pierce run it down their throne Yeah.
You know. 2 tie ins, possibly oh. Yeah.
Exactly. Persona. So that be interesting to see,
you know, what?
What happens there and how it shakes out,
But I would be as surprised if he
starts and 3 or receiver resets.
For sure. Parker Wash is the 1 I
wanna look. Look at us.
Because I I liked what I saw last
year
after I think it was Kirk injury.
So
I think he might be the Odds on
starter
over Brian Thomas Junior.
I think he's more ready to play Brian
Thomas Junior And if he takes some... Tv
if he takes another step.
I mean, who's, you know, you have Kirk
and Ingram, and there's not really that third
option that's solidified.
Done do it for you?
No. You know what? I I think Gabe
Davis is gonna play a
a good third level all. But the inca
inconsistency I think it's gonna be there throughout
this whole career. Yep. Barker Washington can play
multiple positions. I think he could be a
he can be a as an extension of
the wrong game, kinda similar Robert Woods in
a way. I think that can kinda be
the, you know, the Walmart
archetype of of Parker Wash. To potentially. Which
is still pretty good. So I think that
somewhere
somewhere someone that can contribute in Jacksonville.
In Casey, send another Washington.
Ned Atlanta, I've heard really good things. And,
obviously, that only illinois office was very good
in college for him, but
they don't have an established third receiver.
So if he starts earning some playing time
towards, you know, down the stretch or, you
know, on Moody goes down at some point,
he could be someone that slots in there
and be a service player. Yeah. Comes. Who
do they got? Scotty miller Ray ray Mc
mcleod. That's it. After Darn. Yeah.
Not much. That's it. Yeah. So...
We'll see, but I think all 3 of
those guys are interesting. If I was to
put a priority
order,
Parker Wash and someone I'm I'm drafting and
everything. Yep. I just don't... You know, I
I think outside of Kirk and Ingram,
this is gonna be a wide open battle
for the the third target get in that
offense.
So he might be 1 the to definitely
take a deeper look at. I would agree
with that and with gotta remember, like, when
you look at
Parker, Washington and Gabriel Davis are kind of
like opposites in the same role like in
some research respects. Because
Trevor Lawrence does extraordinarily well when he has
talent around him to support it
is he buys time. What He can buy
time and he has the gun and the
Hoo
to to fit the ball
into tight windows and some of his some
of the plays that he made last year
in between the mistakes that caused his, like,
his stock to drop in the eyes of
the media.
Some of the plays he made were pretty
extraordinary.
There's a couple of plays that I've I've
watched left last year where I was, like,
that was the type of throw that those
are the types of throws that earned him
some of the buds that he had pre
drag. Oh, a hundred percent
Sure. And, you know, part of it too
was he had receiver drop balls, not run
great routes,
not be on the same page with him.
Gabriel Davis is the a guy
that, like you said, third level
beats the
beats the defense that climbs too far forward
on a mis direction play or climbs too
far up field,
when the quarterback under pressure and the quarterback
escapes and now Gabriel Davis is drifted behind.
That's how he wins.
But like you said, drop in the ball
is always gonna be an issue with him,
and he needs to be scheme open
too much. Whereas Parker, Washington can get skip
open and be that extension of the running
game as you mentioned, but he's great
against zone coverage.
He is a really savvy player who you
could see him becoming that security blanket,
off script,
with Trevor Lawrence because not only is he
great off script,
and and good at moving around and find
those open zones and getting yards after the
catch, but he is a contested catch monster.
Yep yep. And big 1. Yeah. So you
can drift him behind a second or third
level of the defense and still get them.
But he can also make those tough tight
window plays. Yeah. And get yards after to
catch with that. So even if he's the
third option technically. Maybe they force feed Brian
Thomas in there due to draft cap capital.
You know,
they put Parker, Washington in the slot or
alternate him with Christian Kirk.
Based on just, like, think of speed, flank
type of, like,
dimensions,
he could wind up being the second leading
second or third leading target get
on this roster
and wind up being the long term guy,
like the Hines ward
type of player
for Trevor Lawrence. Yeah. It's in the realm.
I I think and you kind of know
on that is there's not another Parker Washington
and Jacksonville right now. Yeah. Because he's the
contested catch guy that offers. It's like, he's
he's
that
archetype of player that it's gonna make the
the difficult plays look easy, and that's not
Brian Thomas Junior. No. That's that's the thing
is. I don't I don't really know where
Brian Thomas Street fits in this equation
because I I think the passing game revolves
around Christian Kirk.
Evan Ingram
is gonna be also a big part of
it. Right? He had you know, at over
a hundred targets, a hundred and 15 Another
truly best
reclamation project right there.
Love it. But he's a... You know, he's
a
he's developed into a pretty fantastic tied in
and and it his has now has some
same power on the Nfl. So that those
2 guys are, obviously in the you kinda
have the giant question mark. Who's gonna step
up me the third and my bed is
parker wash. Yeah. Well, my bet is is
that you should check out what Brandon has
to offer
angelo
underscore fantasy, On,
you know, Angelo analysis.
You could and find Matt W,
work, whoever that guy's talking in third person
is. We're talking about wide receivers. It just
kinda caught. That pretty a good transition. You
know, The good... Now is it A plus
transition yet. I'll give you that. See there
you go. So you, you know, it's summer,
I just had Covid, and, you know, I'm
talking in third and like a wide receiver.
But, you know, I'm getting into character. Next
week we'll probably look at running backs or
the next time we get together, and I'll
be a little more selfless, but
not
you can. You can check everything out at
matt w dot com.
And thanks again, everyone, for listening,
another great show from from Brandon, and thanks
again, folks. And
congratulations on. You know, it's a little personal,
but, you know, new parent, new parent again.
You know,
not new parent, but
apparent to a new... Seasoned veteran at this
point. Seasoned veteran. That's right. You know? So
we're gonna be worth... He is going to
become a master of zone cup fridge very.
Absolutely. We have no freaking choice of be
honest with you. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that's okay.
Well, we'll we'll see if we can give
some advice on zone blitz and our fires
zone tactics.
Problem.
But thanks again, folks, and happy fourth all.
Y'all.