WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.399 I would live today out about at Tim Dolly Infinity. 2 00:00:03.439 --> 00:00:07.559 It's forty five ninety four South State Street. Happy Friday 3 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:10.199 to you. We've got a busy five o'clock hour coming up. 4 00:00:11.160 --> 00:00:13.359 I want to be clear, my heart is in Los Angeles, 5 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:15.000 but I don't know how many of you want to 6 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:17.280 talk baseball. All I know is that the Yankees and 7 00:00:17.320 --> 00:00:19.839 Dodgers will get rolling at six o' eight mountain time. 8 00:00:20.359 --> 00:00:22.320 And we have fifteen year olds that don't know what 9 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:24.320 it's like to see the Yankees win a World Series. 10 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:26.440 It's a crime that needs to be rectified, and I 11 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:30.559 hope it starts tonight. Who knows where our next conversation 12 00:00:30.600 --> 00:00:32.880 will go, because you never know on a Friday afternoon. 13 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:34.280 Chris Camraaddie stops by. 14 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:38.920 All right, forty fifth south, sixty degrees, probably too cold 15 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:41.560 for the too cold and too far for the gearless bike. 16 00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:49.079 Yes, yes, I was making dinner very early with my son, 17 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:54.039 and the kitchen is currently a heaping mess, but we 18 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:58.000 were out reveling in the sunshine earlier. We have to 19 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:01.000 soak it up. It is dwindle and it's going to 20 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:02.200 vanish before we know it. 21 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:06.000 You were making dinner earlier with your it's four thirty. 22 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:09.319 I started making it early. 23 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:13.079 Oh okay, I was gonna say early bird special. You're 24 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:13.599 not that old. 25 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:15.840 What does what does Leo do to help you make dinner? 26 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:17.680 He's not old enough to participate yet. 27 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:20.760 He screams, he whinds. 28 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:24.239 He has like a fake play knife that doesn't cut anything, 29 00:01:24.359 --> 00:01:28.200 so he gets frustrated when dad is cutting through things, 30 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:32.040 but he's not. Yeah, it's it's fun for a little while. 31 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:33.959 And for a little while, I mean in like two minutes. 32 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:35.480 Yeah, fair enough, fair enough? 33 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:35.879 All right? 34 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:39.079 Where to start today? Where to start today? Why don't 35 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:40.040 we do a little on. 36 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:41.760 The lads and then we'll move over to you a 37 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:47.239 little football first and foremost. So six uh six, six 38 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:51.840 games without a loss, six games undefeated into the postseason. Obviously, 39 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:55.200 that's good. I don't know that the forum is great, though, 40 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:59.640 so I think there's a little bit of excitement slash trepidation. 41 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:03.200 Is RSL starts their playoff journey coming up next Tuesday. 42 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:05.319 So just from a general standpoint, what do you make 43 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:07.640 of where we're at with the club prior to Game 44 00:02:07.680 --> 00:02:09.280 one against Minnesota next Tuesday. 45 00:02:10.280 --> 00:02:12.479 Yeah, still a work in progress, still trying to figure 46 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:16.199 out who they are. I think I'm very interested to 47 00:02:16.240 --> 00:02:21.039 see what eleven Pablo strolls out on Tuesday in the 48 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:25.039 cold and rain. I don't know if it's going to 49 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:28.400 be the same eleven that started against Vancouver last weekend. 50 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:31.479 I guess I will say the takeaway right now is 51 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:36.159 it's pretty insane that URSL center back depth is as 52 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:39.520 porous and thin as it is, regardless of the injuries. 53 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:41.919 The fact that they are where they are now with 54 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:46.199 the injuries and suspensions is not ideal. And then I'll 55 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:49.439 say my secondary take right now is man Diego Lunas 56 00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:52.319 had a hell of the year and it really will 57 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:55.879 potentially spur on this club that now that he's caught 58 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:59.199 fire the last few weeks, because offensively and in the attack, 59 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:01.680 there just isn't lot going right now other than him. 60 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:04.159 So he's been a very big loan price spar towards 61 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:04.919 the end of the season. 62 00:03:05.800 --> 00:03:09.759 So let's talk about the back line and you reference 63 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.039 we will not see the same eleven that we saw 64 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:15.280 against Vancouver, and we certainly will not because Philip Quintin 65 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:16.680 is out for at least a couple of weeks with 66 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:21.280 a bad hamstring. Brian Vera spits on people, so he's 67 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:25.479 not allowed to play soccer. Marcelo Silva is not fit body, 68 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:29.560 Hudalgo is hurt. Eric Holt I don't think is part 69 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:34.319 of the equation. So the solution ck last week after 70 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:37.639 Quinton goes down was a mecca and Nellie shout out, 71 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:42.039 Nate Bench moves to right back and Jermane Brown moves 72 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:44.680 centralized next to Glad with Katronos out left. 73 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:46.439 So a mecca. I think. 74 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:49.280 I read played sixteen games at right back last year 75 00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:52.719 and again shout out Nate Bench, he's capable of playing 76 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:57.120 multiple positions. Nelson came into a mecca spot next. 77 00:03:56.879 --> 00:03:57.479 To o Hada. 78 00:03:58.039 --> 00:03:59.800 Do you think that's what we'll see at least just 79 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.280 as the back line goes coming up on Tuesday? 80 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:03.680 I would think so. 81 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.520 Remember RSL scouted a Mecca as a right back before 82 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:12.000 he made the rightful transition to his central midfield position. 83 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:16.839 But right now, shout out events. The things are the 84 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:22.639 things right now at RSL are they're thin. Things aren't 85 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:27.439 great from a health standpoint and from an availability standpoint. 86 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:30.879 I mean, it's great that RSL has home field advantage 87 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:36.000 during this you know, three game ridiculous first round ordeal, whatever, 88 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:36.759 we're calling. 89 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:37.160 It these days. 90 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:41.959 But yeah, taking I think arguably your best defensive midfielder 91 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:44.560 and having to put him at right back because you're 92 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:47.879 so thin at center back is not ideal. I know 93 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:51.240 Javane Brown has played games at center back in the past, 94 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:53.759 but he hasn't played a bunch there with Rsel. 95 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:56.279 I think his only appearances outside. 96 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:58.800 Of you know, moving over the other night when he 97 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:01.839 was playing as Hoover has primarily been it right back. 98 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:06.040 So for a team that's been leaky quite a bit 99 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:10.480 throughout twenty twenty four, I would say that things are dire. 100 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:11.920 But who knows. 101 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:15.399 I mean, it's everybody rolls with the cliche and the 102 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:18.639 assumption that things tighten up in the postseason. You would 103 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:21.399 hope for ourself's sake that their defense tightens up as well. 104 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:28.839 So yesterday John Paul painted the picture of Brian Vera 105 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:30.319 as Draymond Green. 106 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:33.519 Oh. I was listening, so who is Jordan Poole? 107 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:35.959 So, but who is Jordan Poole? 108 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:39.639 Because ultimately I landed on Rubio Rubine because like, the 109 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:43.000 young good player is Diego, but he's better than Jordan Poole. 110 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:45.600 Like if it was nineteen, if it was two thousand 111 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:47.120 and five, it would be Jamie Watson. 112 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:49.480 But is there a Jordan Poole on the roster? 113 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:55.120 I can't come close to, you know, perfecting the performance 114 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:57.399 art that you and JP put on when you're in 115 00:05:57.480 --> 00:05:58.480 the same room together. 116 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:04.560 I guess Rubin is a good call because he was. 117 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:08.439 Here and now he's gone. But you could also, you know, 118 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:11.839 take a handful of players that were here and are 119 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:16.000 now gone. But the Draymond comp was very good. I mean, 120 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:20.000 if we're looking, if we're looking for that crosstop crossover, 121 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:24.079 you know, true sports radio hot take, JP provided it 122 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:24.560 for us, no. 123 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:27.879 Doubt he did. And Diego lunas Clayton Keller feels right, 124 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:28.360 doesn't it? 125 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:32.000 If I knew who Clayton Keller was, then yes. 126 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:35.079 Utah Hockey Club. He's what, he's like, the best player 127 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:37.360 for the hockey club. He scores goals, he gets assists like, 128 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:38.560 and he's young like diego. 129 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:44.680 Okay, forget forgive me, for I have not seen much, 130 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.319 if not any, of Utah Hockey Club so far. 131 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:50.759 I will not ask you about their penalty kills issues. 132 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:51.240 Your father. 133 00:06:51.360 --> 00:06:53.759 You don't have time for this, So let's move up 134 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:56.959 past the back four and hone in on what we 135 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.839 could see up front, where again, if Nelly shout out 136 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:03.800 and Nate bench goes to the right back position and 137 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:07.519 ultimately Nelson steps in there and Oheita, who's been great, 138 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:09.680 probably needs to be talked about more over the past 139 00:07:09.720 --> 00:07:13.000 little bit, is manning that spot. Last game, we saw 140 00:07:13.160 --> 00:07:16.680 Diego out wide right, which is rare, and Diego came 141 00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:18.639 on the show this week and basically said, well, wherever 142 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:21.519 he starts me, I'm going to be centralized because that's 143 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:24.120 the way he plays. To your point, he's probably in 144 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:27.399 the best form of any player right now. I understand 145 00:07:27.480 --> 00:07:30.199 why Crooks is central and he is a connector in 146 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:32.639 a way that maybe I don't fully get. But Diego 147 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:35.759 was out left and then Chiecho was up top. We 148 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:39.160 have Lachlin, we have Doninic, Mark Zukho. I think probably 149 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:41.839 will start and be outright, and my guess is Diego's 150 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:45.079 out left and Diego comes centralized and Chiecho stays up top. 151 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:45.920 That's my guess. 152 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:48.920 What do you think. I think it'll come down to 153 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:53.839 whether or not Pablo wants to start Crooks or Diego centrally. 154 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.240 I think Diego will. 155 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:59.959 Man his typical spot and he's right like he said 156 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:01.959 on your show earlier this week, he kind of has 157 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:04.000 carte blanche to kind of go where he wants as 158 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:06.480 long as he stays within the framework of what Pablo 159 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:07.079 needs from him. 160 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.120 Defensively as well. 161 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:11.800 It's going to boil down to what kind of game 162 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:14.600 plan Pablo wants from the start and what he wants 163 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:18.319 to plan for come substitution wise. But you also have 164 00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:20.959 to think of this as a series, like this is 165 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:23.680 not a one off, So if it was a one off, 166 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:25.079 maybe Pablo thinks differently. 167 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:28.639 Whether he goes Crooks or Diego Centrally, We'll wait and see. 168 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:32.200 But just because one starts in game one and Sandy 169 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:36.000 doesn't mean that that same player that starts Centrally in 170 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:39.759 game one will start game two in Minneapolis. So there's 171 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:42.679 lots of, you know, tweaks that will be necessary from 172 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:46.639 both sides. All I know is that, you know, Diego 173 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:49.320 Luna has to carry the load right now, and that's 174 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:52.799 asking a lot of a very young, talented player, and 175 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:56.720 they really really poorly need Chicho Rongo to get off 176 00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:58.440 the snide as soon as possible. 177 00:08:59.080 --> 00:09:01.320 Yeah, and that's that was going to be my next question. 178 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:03.919 I mean, how much of this and we occurred on 179 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:06.080 a little bit earlier. You know, it's you can say 180 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:09.240 what you want about Gomez, but when Andres was out 181 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:12.039 on that side, you know, those two formed a pretty 182 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:14.799 dangerous partnership. And you know a lot of people painted 183 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:17.000 Andres as someone who was only looking for his own 184 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:19.799 but there were several interchanges with he and chiz Jo 185 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:23.440 that led to opportunities. Look, Andres was responsible for twenty 186 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:24.960 two goals in twenty three games. 187 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:27.919 That's not nothing. And chi Cho hasn't been near as 188 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:29.360 effective since he's been around. 189 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:33.200 There's also the suspension, there's acclimating himself to new teammates. 190 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:34.720 What do you attribute the struggles. 191 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:38.919 To most, Well, you bring up Andres, Like I think 192 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.320 one thing that this team misses now is Andres is 193 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:43.399 a guy that could run away from people with the 194 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:45.679 ball at his feet, and RSL just doesn't really have 195 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:49.799 that anymore. They have very talented technical players, but Andris 196 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:53.440 had a component of his game and speed that I 197 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:56.120 don't think we've ever really seen any RSL player have 198 00:09:56.399 --> 00:10:00.120 at that level. Like he to combine his ability on 199 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.399 the ball and his nose for goal, plus the fact 200 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.320 that he was faster than everyone else on the field 201 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:06.879 that made him really hard to defend, and it basically 202 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:11.879 bent back lines to kind of shape themselves towards andres Wood, 203 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:14.080 which would then open things up for chie Sho. 204 00:10:14.200 --> 00:10:16.039 Centrally, I would say. 205 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:21.440 It's a plethora of everything. Basically, it's everything kind of 206 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.559 going wrong at one time. It's the suspension, it's unders leaving, 207 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:27.480 it's the injury, it's getting used to new teammates. It's 208 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:30.600 a striker being in his head. It's like it's hard 209 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:35.039 man like striker is. It's like the wide receiver position. 210 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:37.120 I mean, I'm going to go full John Paul, like 211 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:40.240 you are the guy who's asked to deliver, and you're 212 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:44.399 going to have a personality and you have the flair 213 00:10:44.519 --> 00:10:46.799 for the dramatic, and you are a guy that puts 214 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.840 butts in the seats, and when you don't, when you're 215 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:53.000 not delivering at the clip that you were, which was 216 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:56.759 at the time a historic rate. I mean, seventeen goals 217 00:10:56.840 --> 00:11:00.200 and whatever it was like eleven matches or what ever. 218 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:03.600 Trey's gonna text me and correct me, but it was absurd. Man, 219 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.240 Like we were thought like maybe ours will not only 220 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:09.480 have its new all time single season goal scorer, but 221 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:11.200 maybe they're gonna have a guy who's gonna score thirty 222 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:11.879 goals in a year. 223 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.159 Obviously that didn't happen. 224 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:17.480 But that being said, it's better to have a guy 225 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:21.840 who's waiting to bust, you know, that streak or that 226 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:24.559 cold streak, rather than not having him at all. So 227 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:26.799 I think the fact that he's a guy that's been 228 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:30.919 there before. He's you know, played in really meaningful games 229 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:33.440 with LAFC and MLS Cup playoffs. 230 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:36.919 He's done with RSL. All he needs to see is the. 231 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:38.879 Ball hit the back of the net, and things I 232 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:41.279 think would change dramatically for oursel. 233 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:45.480 As one of the esteemed winners of Utah Sports Rider 234 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.919 of the Year. I know you're all about the individual awards, 235 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:51.120 and so I want to move over into that category 236 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:54.240 real quick, Zicky Schmid. Now my last Coach of the 237 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:57.679 Year finalists, Chris Armis Colorado don't really get it. They've 238 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:00.559 been bad as of late, and the top the Tata 239 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:03.720 Martino story feels a little bit Phil jacksony to me 240 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:07.120 with Shack and Kobe, But you know whatever, Wilfrid Nancy 241 00:12:07.159 --> 00:12:09.480 Columbus Crew not going to tell you I've been smashing 242 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:13.559 Crew tape, but should should Pablo have been on this 243 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:15.840 list based off preseason expectations. 244 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:16.519 No. 245 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:19.759 I think if Arcel gets the top two seed out 246 00:12:19.799 --> 00:12:23.799 West and doesn't really kind of pitter to the end, 247 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:26.720 I think he's in the running. But this team was 248 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:28.919 pretty bad for a while, and I think they were 249 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:33.039 lucky that the West, as it usually does, cannibalized itself 250 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:37.399 and didn't allow anybody to really leap frog them. I 251 00:12:37.559 --> 00:12:40.440 think it's going to be Wilford Nancy. As a guy 252 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.120 who does Smash Crew tape, I think they are the 253 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:49.720 most aesthetically pleasing team to watch in MLS, and that's 254 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.559 saying something considering Miami has a. 255 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:52.159 Bunch of guys. 256 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:54.720 But I will correct you there is one correction needed. 257 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:57.000 I've never won the Utah Sportswriter of the Year. 258 00:12:57.000 --> 00:13:02.039 I've only been nominated, So erroneous, Ronnie, I won't stand 259 00:13:02.120 --> 00:13:05.480 for that. We need how do we get this? Because look, man, 260 00:13:05.799 --> 00:13:07.519 you need one of those trophies on your mantle. 261 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:11.080 I need to put it behind my you know, the 262 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:14.080 zoom background like all those people do for like interviews 263 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:14.480 and stuff. 264 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:15.080 Yeah, I'm with. 265 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:18.000 That's getting so bad by the way, like it's such 266 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.720 a thirst trap where it's like, oh, you have a 267 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:23.399 cool old school Nintendo and I'm like Tyson book and 268 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:26.960 there's your sports writer of the Year. Like it started 269 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:29.840 during COVID and now it's just like, do you really 270 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:32.559 listen to Wu Tang Jeff Passing or you just have 271 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:35.320 the record behind you, Like Jeff Passon's not smashing nineties 272 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:35.679 hip hop. 273 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.320 He just wants to look cool. It's ridiculous. 274 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:40.639 I think he might be. I think you might have 275 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.120 to get him on and ask him. 276 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:42.720 I think that. 277 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:45.480 I think if you're going to go as far as 278 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.440 to say like you are a Wu Tang, I don't 279 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:51.240 think you can just be a surface level Wu Tang 280 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:53.799 fan because you don't go out and find Wu Tang 281 00:13:53.840 --> 00:13:54.519 stuff anymore. 282 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:59.039 This is not nineteen ninety eight. You can't go to Spencer's. 283 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:01.600 Bookstore and find a you know, Wu Tang t shirt 284 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:04.320 or you know whatever like that stuff. 285 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:06.600 It's hard to come by. But yes, I'm with you, 286 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:08.840 it is. It is kind of exhausting. 287 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.799 Unfortunately for me, the background at my desk is just 288 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:14.759 a huge window, so it's just always backlit. So there's 289 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.879 a reason why I prefer not to get on video 290 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:17.440 for anybody. 291 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:20.080 My Zoom set up to the same. Jeff Passen doesn't 292 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:22.720 listen to Wu tang. He has like gin blossom vibes 293 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.360 like he's not you know, like right, I don't think 294 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:30.440 maybe yes, yes, slide underrated tune. 295 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:32.840 We can move on, all right, Chris. 296 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:36.159 Since you and I last spoke, University of Utah has 297 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:39.039 a new play caller, Andy Ludwig has stepped aside and 298 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:44.320 Mike but Jakeen is in. Obviously coach. Ludwig's entire resume 299 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.440 speaks for itself. But it's also two things can be true. 300 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.440 We're learning this as a society. 301 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:51.799 It's so fun. It's fine to say that it hasn't 302 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:53.559 been good enough, and it hasn't been good enough for 303 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:55.679 a while, not just a few weeks, if we're honest. 304 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:59.399 So, uh, your your take on the happenings up on 305 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:01.399 the hill, and wa think it looks like coming up tomorrow? 306 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:06.559 I was stunned, Honestly, I did not see this coming. 307 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:09.039 Like this is a guy who came back to Utah 308 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:12.440 and said he planned on, you know, making this his 309 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:14.840 last stop as an offensive coordinator. 310 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:17.919 It might have been now that he decided. 311 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:20.120 To resign, but I think there were interviews with Kyle 312 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.639 over the years that said, like Kyle said, like Andy's 313 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:25.000 gonna be my last OC as well, and there's a 314 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:28.679 reason why he brought him back. So I was stunned 315 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:32.120 to see that happen. I don't know how much a 316 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:35.799 guy like Andy leaving mid season changes anything for the better. 317 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:38.399 To be honest with you, like, based on all of 318 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:41.519 my conversations with really smart players over the years since 319 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:45.200 Andy came back, like everybody speaks glowingly of the guy, 320 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:49.039 like when Brittin Covey was out for extended period of 321 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:52.159 time with his knee, like he spent every game day 322 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:53.960 that he could up in the booth with Andy and 323 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:56.720 just raved about it. Cam did the same thing when 324 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:58.960 he would had to sit in red shirt like. 325 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.600 These are I don't know, it seems like a reach 326 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:04.919 to me, man, Like this seems like a very un 327 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:05.679 Kyle move. 328 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:10.240 I know for a long time that Kyle was trying 329 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:14.200 to find the right offensive play caller to coincide with 330 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.879 his beliefs on defense. I think there was nine and 331 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:20.159 eleven years at one point before Andy came. 332 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:21.200 Back, so this is not new. 333 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:23.519 You joke that there are fifteen year olds that have 334 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:26.120 never seen the Yankees worlds win a World Series. There 335 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.840 are fifteen year olds in this market that have never 336 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:30.080 seen Utah be bad until like last year too, So 337 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:32.360 it's like interesting that you think of there are kids 338 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.799 that have been raised on Utah football that are just 339 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:38.080 used to crazy mighty expectations that have been met. 340 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:40.639 Obviously, they were not met the last couple of years. 341 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:45.240 So I don't know what Andy leaving does for this 342 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.519 team in the short term, to be honest with you, 343 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:51.840 I really don't. You know, you can make the argument 344 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:55.039 that this team was not prepared for Cam to go 345 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:59.039 down again, and that is an absolute fair critique. And 346 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:01.600 if you look at the corequarterbacks that Andy and his 347 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:06.359 staff recruited over the years, it is not that impressive. 348 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:10.640 Nate Johnson, Brandon Rose, Peter Costelli. Two portal guys were 349 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:13.920 Charlie Brewer and Jake Bentley. So Brandon Rose is the 350 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:17.279 only one that we don't really have a definitive answer on. 351 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:20.759 Nate's gone. I don't know where Peter Costelli is. Charlie 352 00:17:20.799 --> 00:17:21.759 and Jake didn't work out. 353 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.160 Obviously. 354 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:25.359 He had Tyler and he had Cam, and when those 355 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:29.400 guys were healthy, Utah was among the best teams in 356 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.759 the Pac twelve and the country. 357 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.000 But yeah, I was stun to see it. 358 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:39.480 Spence, I don't know if Mike Bajakien makes Isaac Wilson 359 00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:43.240 a better quarterback in the final five games or whatever 360 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.640 they have in the regular season. 361 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:49.839 I really don't the ck truth bomb on a Friday, man. 362 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:55.160 So can we be as reductive? And folks these days 363 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:59.160 love the reductive statements. It tends to describe an entire 364 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:02.240 person of a group of people. Can we be as 365 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:07.559 reductive as saying simply it would be different if Cameron 366 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:09.960 Rising had been healthy last year in this year? 367 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:11.119 Can we be that reductive? 368 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:12.880 Oh? 369 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.720 I mean yeah, are we allowed to? I don't know. 370 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.960 I feel like this is a question. 371 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.799 Well, no, it's not a trap question, because it does 372 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.799 feel like like I could. 373 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.240 Honestly, the thing is, I do four hours of this 374 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:26.799 Monday through Friday, two to six live every day Mountain Time. 375 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:27.119 You know this. 376 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:30.519 But I feel like I could really crack the mic 377 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:33.599 and say, guys, if Cameron Rising was under center last 378 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:36.039 year and this year, everything would be different, and then 379 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:38.880 sign off. But I'd have three hours and fifty eight 380 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:41.720 minutes left right, Yeah, And I'm just tried to figure 381 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:44.400 out whether or not it is that simple, or are 382 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.839 there other fair critiques? 383 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:50.880 Well, if we're talking about this year specifically, and the 384 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:54.680 sample size was tremendously small, but you talk about a 385 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:57.960 quarter and a half against SUU where Cam looked every 386 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:00.839 bit of his old self and the offense was just 387 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:02.119 basically running riot. 388 00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:04.319 And then to me, maybe the bigger. 389 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:07.000 Deal was that first half against Baylor where the offense 390 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:10.759 looked really, really good and if Cam doesn't get shoved 391 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:15.200 into the gatorade station, like maybe they're up thirty five 392 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:16.839 to nothing at a half time or thirty four to 393 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.920 nothing at a half time. 394 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:21.039 And like it looked like it could be what it was. 395 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:25.400 But the nature of this sport man, like we talked 396 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:28.279 about this ad nauseum, the quarterback is the most important 397 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:29.160 position on the team. 398 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:32.680 So if you don't have an adequate Plan B or 399 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.440 Plan C for when. 400 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:36.920 The guy that you are writing with who always gets 401 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.920