← Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
Zone 1150 - TexAgs Live
TexAgs Live - Matt Hayes + Gabe DeArmond : 08.11.26
00:45:48
USA TODAY senior writer Matt Hayes gives his thoughts on the future of the College Football Playoff + Missouri insider Gabe DeArmond previews the Tigers' 2026 season!
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- [00:00]
A
And we're back. It is Texas Live. We are presented by David Gardner's Jewelers, Lalo Insurance studio hour number three of the program, continuing our college football chat. Our next guest, I saw him in Tampa, work in the room. Didn't get a chance to talk with him, but I did see a clip recently of him pretty bullish on Texas A and M and Mike Elkos. So let's go to the Puppies catering and bartending hotline, joined by Matt Hayes of USA Today. Talk all things college football. Matt, how are you, buddy?
- [00:23]
B
Good morning, fellas. How you doing?
- [00:25]
A
Doing great, man. Thanks for joining us. So let's start off with why you're bullish on Mike Elko. What is it about what Coach Elko has done here in two seasons at A and M that has you high on him?
- [00:36]
B
So first off, I've been bullish on Mike Elko since He was a D.C. at Notre Dame. Every time I talk to him, you get an idea of who he is. He's obviously a terrific ball coach. He's obviously a smart evaluator of talent and developer of talent. And we could talk all we want about, you know, this is Marcel Reed's third year and he's primed for a big season and the receivers look good and, you know, yeah, they're replacing four offensive linemen, but you kind of feel like they're in a groove right now with how they're developing guys. At the end of the day, I start looking at programs. I've started looking at programs a lot differently over the last few years. I think you've college football has always been a coach centric sport. It's now moving toward the NFL where it's a more player centric sport. But you've got to have the guy at the top that not only knows what he's doing, knows how to recruit, knows how to develop. But here's the key. A guy that has to be able to reach players in a way that coaches never had to before. They're walking a fine line every day, these coaches. You've got to be a guy that can not only get guys to your program, develop guys to your program, retain guys in your program. You've got to be able to deal with multiple different factions within a locker room, different personalities, different ideas of where they are within their four year, five year journey. Now you're dealing with young guys that are coming in, making a lot of money, more than veterans there that are starting for you. There's jealousy in locker rooms. There's, there's A lot of different things going on, a lot of different dynamics going on in the locker room. You've got to have a coach that can not only see that and read that and embrace that, but you got to be able to coach well within that and make sure your staff also is in sync within that. And I mean, all the way back to Duke, Mike knows what he's doing. He's a hell of a coach. And to me, I think that's where I start with Texas A and M and the foundation of why I like them and why I will like them every year until he proves otherwise, that it's not happening, that he can't reach kids because he's proven it over and over and over that he knows how to reach these kids in a very strange and surreal environment we're in right now.
- [03:02]
A
Matt, I want to follow that up with your thoughts on Marcel Reed because, look, I recognize some of the questions people have about him, but I do feel like he is really scrutinized by for what happened at the end of the year. Where are you on Marcel Reed and his potential room for growth here in year three? At the starter?
- [03:18]
B
Yeah, I mean, it's hard not to scrutinize him and I think he'd probably be the first person to admit that he didn't play that well. So I see it as quarterbacks especially, they, they reach their, the top of their game, their ceiling, if you want to call it. At least in college football, it's different. Clearly in the NFL, some reach it differently, some reach it, you know, after, in year two when all the coaches say that's the biggest jump that most quarterbacks make, some reach it in year three. And he really wasn't a full time starter in year one. So you can, you could conceivably say, all right, this is year two, this is the full second year, so let's see what we got. I just think there's so much to like about him. The way he throws the ball with velocity, the way he can put defense in conflict with the run game. And he's also like a hard runner. He's not just some kind of scat runner. They'll run over people. I just think there's a lot to like about him and I think he's going to be more accurate this year because again, you're talking about now a third year guy, a guy that has seen just about everything he could see in college football.
- [04:26]
A
What are your questions about A and M beyond the tough schedule? When you look at their roster, when you look at what's ahead. What are your big questions?
- [04:34]
B
Yeah, I mean, I think it's offensive line. I don't know how it couldn't be. And I think the more that we look at football now in this day and age where it's become such a vertical pass league, a vertical pass sport really, in both college football and the NFL. Although there's a little bit of a turn now in the NFL to go back to the run game. And I think college is trying to turn back to that as well. But it all starts up front, man. It's the offensive line. Like if you're struggling in the offensive line, if you can't move people, especially in that league, you're going to have problems. And I think you've got to go back against where I said to at the very beginning at the top is I think you've got to trust in the guy that's putting together that roster, the guy who knows what he's doing and knows how to reach guys and develop guys and get them to play at an elite level. You got to trust him that he's going to have an offensive line that could put you in position to win big games.
- [05:29]
A
Well, Matt, I think one of the things that I saw about Marcel at the end of the last year is that I don't think the offensive line was as good at the end of the year. A and M had a problem running the ball. A and M had a problem protecting him against South Carolina, against Texas and against Miami. I know those defenses were very good, but how much does that play into how Marcel played at the end of the year? The way that the offensive line played
- [05:54]
B
and they were dinged up a little bit. I mean, I mean, so I, I think like I, I say this all the time, it's not just the quarterback, it's a three pronged thing. You got to protect, you've got to throw on time with anticipation and receivers got to get open, got to get separation. And then the most important thing at all, catch the ball. It's the most undervalued thing in all of football. Catch the ball. And, and that's a problem. That's been a problem too. So look, if one of those things goes wrong, the offensive line, quarterback and the receiver, more than likely it's either going to be an incomplete pass or much worse. So I think everything's got to go right in those plays. And that's a lot to have to happen in a matter of four and a half seconds or five seconds. So. Yeah, and then you start talking about the level of competition was clearly stronger and the defensive lines, the front sevens were clearly stronger. So there's a lot that goes into that. It's not just simply, well, Marcel played poorly. There's a lot more that goes into that.
- [06:53]
A
Matt, Texas has enormous expectations this year. Where are you on Texas?
- [06:58]
B
Love them. I mean, I. Look, I think you had a guy like Coleman to that receiver room. You put Arch in his second season with Sark, you know, as a starter. I mean, he's been with Sark now for a while, but his second season as a starter. I love what they've done on the lines of scrimmage. I think Texas is going to be a dangerous team, and I know that's kind of like the thought out there. But Sark, I think Sark feels it and he knows it. It's going to be a fun November, I can tell you that. A very, very fun November. Because I think those two teams in that game, that could be for a lot. A lot.
- [07:38]
A
Lane Kiffin's finally got the resources. Well, I mean, he had pretty good resources at Ole Miss, but he's definitely got different resources available to him at L. Is this a one year fix or do you think it's going to take a couple years?
- [07:49]
B
You know, it's funny, I just talked to a scout who was at one of their practices yesterday. He says they're going to be good. And he said, you know, you don't know how, how, how. What will happen during the season with. If different injuries happen or, you know, what happens when adversity strikes. He said, but they're really good. They're really good on the lines of scrimmage and Sam Levitt looks really good. So, yeah, I mean, look, it's going to be a wild ride no matter what, because you're not spending the kind of money that LSU spent not only to fire Brian Kelly and hire Lane Kiffin, but to build that roster and to commit to what they're doing football and not think, all right, we got to get to the playoff. I'm just, I'm not sure 8 and 4 is good enough. I'm not sure 9 and 3 is good enough. And 10 and 2 might be a little bit disappointing to these guys right now. So, yeah, there's going to be a lot of pressure on this program.
- [08:42]
A
Talking to Matt Hayes here on Tex Ags Live. All right, Oklahoma, a team that I feel like is kind of lumped in with A and M and where their expectations are quarterback questions as well. Defense should be strong Oklahoma's got another playoff running in them.
- [08:57]
B
I love John Mattier. I love his attitude, I love his moxie. Looks like a linebacker now. Wanted to get stronger because he wanted to be able to absorb hits. He took a lot of hits last year, not only in pass pro but also in the run game. He's very fearless with his body and I think he realized, look, I can't do that like I did when I was at Washington State. This is a different animal right now. So he got bigger to absorb some of those blows. I think he's got to stay healthy. They've got to be able to protect him. When they protect him, he's accurate and he makes plays. You may look, look at that at the playoff game. They're up 17, seven. They're driving. He missed that deep ball because he was forced out of the pocket. Had to throw it on the run. He hits that deep ball, it's 24, 7. That game is over, boys over. They advance and he's missed it. And the next thing you know, Alabama comes back and here we go. Yeah, I think Oklahoma certainly could have another playoff run in them. I also think now it's going to be all right. Now everybody knows what Oklahoma is. Now everybody knows how to defend John Mateer. Let's see what they can do and how they can adjust.
- [10:09]
A
I'm having a hard time with a lot of these SEC teams. So when these questions come with A and M, I think, yeah, those are fair questions. But also this team's got these questions and this team's got these questions. Alabama, another one of those that I know. They got a new offensive line coach. They got a brand new offensive line, they got a brand new quarterback. Caleb DeBoer is a pretty darn good coach. He's done it before. But I don't know where to really put my finger on the pulse of Alabama this year.
- [10:33]
B
Look, I've been saying it all off season. My first response with Alabama is, I'm not seeing it. I'm just not seeing it, man. And it's look, you did what they did last year with a guy who was what, 11th overall pick in the draft or 13th overall pick in the draft at the most important position on the field. Now you're talking about a brand new quarterback. Whoever it is, they both, they've combined for like 40 passes in college football, all in mop up duty. And you got an offensive line that's certainly iffy. You've got a run game that's been the worst, that was the worst run game. At Alabama in three plus decades. So what are we looking at right now with Alabama? I think it's very easy for people to say, yeah, Alabama will be in the playoffs just because we all think it's Alabama. I mean, this team has lost eight games the last two years. Eight. Eight games. So I think at some point we've got to look at that and say, okay, they are who they are. I think Kalen was a terrific coach prior to Alabama. He got to Alabama and I think the talent level in the rest of his conference went up. And he's in a difficult situation of obviously following Nick Saban. But I use this analogy all the time, guys, and I don't know how others can't see this. Kurt Signetti walked into the worst program in the history of college football. Worst, absolute worst, 127 his next 29 games. Caleb DeBoer walked into arguably the best program in history of college football, went 20 and 8. So you can say, well, some of those saving players left and he wasn't a full compliment. And he had to recruit his own guys and he had to work and you got to give him time. Well, then what do you say about Kurt Signetti walking into the armpit of college football and winning 27 to 29 games? You can argue it's not the same level of competition and the Big Ten and the level of competition he faces down the line. That argument that we throw out all the time, I'm not buying it. I'm just not buying it anymore. At some point you got to realize they are what they are.
- [12:46]
A
Matt. Ole miss was 20 seconds away from playing in a National championship game. Does Pete Golding's Cinderella story continue this year or do they step back into reality?
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B
Think about that, man. They were one play away. We were basically one play away from Indiana Ole Miss. The National Championship game, just mind boggling. If that doesn't scream nil, I don't know what does, man. I don't know what does. And the change that we've seen in the last five years, you know what, they've got a very difficult schedule. You know, you've got, you've got a new offensive coordinator to work with, Trinidad Chandler and the what Charlie Wise Jr. Did. You know, the funny thing is, is you always hear people say, well, it's laying Kiffin's offense. It's not Lane Kiffin's offense, it's Charlie Weiss junior's offense. And I think what he did not only to get Trinidad Chambers to Oxford, he recruited Trinidad Chambers to Oxford, got him there, not only to get him there, but to develop him and get him ready. When Austin Simmons got hurt and then for him to play at a high level, I think we all finally saw that in the playoff. When you saw what the Ole Miss offense could do when Lane wasn't even around. Even Lane admitted that, like if you don't think it's his offense, just watch that team in the playoffs. So I think that's certainly an issue. Like how do they, how do they adjust in a new system? It'll be a similar system but still different guy, different play caller, different ideas. And then not only that, I don't think they, defensively they're not the same as they were last year. They don't have those impact dynamic guys off the edge on defense. So that'll be interesting to see what happens as well.
- [14:19]
A
Matt, what'd you make of that report yesterday that ESPN had floated the idea of a 20 team playoff model with the play in games? And what do you think of. I've almost checked out because we're here at fall camp of all this off the field stuff, but it did catch my attention yesterday.
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B
I'm so tired of the playoff talk. Seriously, I'm just so tired of it. Man. You have the best playoff right now. 12 teams is the best playoff right now. I think they should stay right where they are. I think once you get beyond 12, even 16, I think you're going to water down and I think you're going to have games that shouldn't be there if they were just smart and stayed at 12. Okay. And you're not giving the group five, the group highest group of five champion, an automatic bid. There are no automatic Bids. It's the 12 best teams. If there's a Group of 5 team that's ranked within the top 12, they're in. If not, you're out. Because if you simply have that last year and it's the best 12 teams, all right, then you've got Texas in the playoff and you've got Notre Dame in the playoffs. Then you've got Texas at Ole Miss in one game and Notre Dame at Oregon in the other game in the first round. Then what do those games look like? So I don't, I don't buy this whole idea that you're going to worry about getting sued. Antitrust, any antitrust issue because you're, you're not blocking out the group of five. If they're good enough to play, they'll be selected in it. And I think we're too right now sold on this idea of, well, you know, there's got to be an automatic quality. No, there doesn't. There doesn't have to be an automatic qualifier for the Group 5, right? Get the 12 best teams, period. And I think if you get the 12 best teams, then you have a chance to have a really good product. If you continue to fool around with, you know, conference champions are automatically in a group of five and then you start adjusting from that like you do every single year with this thing. They, for some reason you can't these guys can't see into the future of what possibly could happen and what pitfalls there possibly are. So they just, just on the fly, just go 12 best and you'll have your best playoff period.
- [16:22]
A
Matt, last thing for you. Do you think the Big Ten wins another national championship this year?
- [16:27]
B
I mean, I think you got Oregon that can do it. You've got Ohio State that clearly can do it. I think I'm looking at Indiana. I don't know why you bet against Indiana at this point considering what Sig's done in those first 29 games. I don't know how you bet against them, but I think, look, there's a lot going on. I think there's some worthy SEC teams. Not only that, Miami with Darien Menza. That's going to be fun to watch too. I think it's wide open.
- [16:54]
A
Matt, that was fun, man. Thanks for your few minutes and we'll talk to you here in the future.
- [16:58]
B
Okay, fellas, thank you.
- [17:00]
A
Matt Hayes, USA Today on the Bupes catering and bartending hotline. We'll hit a break come back open segment followed by a little Mizzou talk. Still got we haven't talked to Mizzou inside in a while so we'll find out what things, how things are tracking for them. If you have tickets to the Oklahoma football game and want to spend the weekend with other Aggies, check out the association of Former Students, all while receiving access to a special pre game event and more. What you need to do is take a look at the traveling Aggies Oklahoma Football Weekend November 20th through the 22nd. You can join Aggies in Oklahoma to watch the Aggies football team beat the hell out of Oklahoma. The travel package includes hotel accommodations at the Omni Oklahoma City and a private welcome reception, access to the official traveling Aggies pregame event, a traveling Aggies souvenir and Aggie game day transportation. Please note that the round trip transportation, Oklahoma City and game tickets are not included in this travel package. Don't miss a chance to Travel with fellow Aggies for marquee football weekend. For a marquee football weekend. To learn more about the Oklahoma Football Weekend, visit TX aggiesklahoma. That is TX aggiesklahoma. It is the association of Former Students.
- [18:08]
C
Don't miss a single play a single game.
- [18:10]
D
I dare ya.
- [18:11]
C
You can hear every Aggie football game on the zone 11:50am and 93.7 FM.
- [18:19]
A
So Matthew Coughlin's gonna drop it like it's hot. This is a chance for him to shine the last couple segments left in his run here at Texags, and he's done a great job this summer, so we appreciate his time. He's at the Angry Elephant News and Social Center. All right, Coughlin, what do you want to chat about?
- [18:37]
E
Well, Sports Illustrated made an article. It was basically predicting too deep for each position for A and M. And there's a couple ones that I wanted to talk about that were specifically of note. So starting with tight end starter Micah Riley and number two, Houston Thomas.
- [18:58]
A
That's a really good one. I don't know. Michael Riley is a captain. He's healthy. He should absolutely be in the mix. I don't know if you can fully say the too deep because I think it's going to be dependent on what they need. Right. So Houston Thomas, I think of him as more of a receiver threat. I think of Michael Riley can be a receiver threat. And Richie Anderson. I don't know if I disagree, but I don't agree. Right. Like, I still think we're going to learn more about that position in the first couple of games. But yeah, I would agree with Michael Rielly at this point or Richie Anderson being the starter. I'd agree with that.
- [19:37]
E
I also had some people in the chat talking about goal line situations and bringing in Armstrong as like a fullback. Just plowing people out of the way to make room for a running back. I could see that happening. Offensive line, they have all four transfers starting the season as the starters.
- [19:56]
A
I mean, I think that's a safe guess. I wouldn't say a safe bet. Safe guess. I know Billy yesterday talked about Blake Ivy. Really, you know, making some noise. I wouldn't be surprised if the transfers start the season as your starters, but Lamar Rodgers is going to be in the mix. Blake Ivey is going to be in the mix. Robert, Robbie Bourdon will probably be in the mix. So. But I based on what Billy said in Luchador, I wouldn't be surprised if Blake Ivy gets his say on that.
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E
So you think the group that starts if no injuries happen, that that group might not be that what finishes the season.
- [20:34]
A
Well, I don't know. I think, you know, as the season goes on. Going back to my comment earlier about data points, you'll see what works best. Right. Like you want to start your season with your best group, but you, as guys develop, maybe that best group changes, you know? So like, if one of these younger players just needs a little bit of seasoning but isn't ready to be the guy, who's to say he won't be ready to go by week five, six, seven.
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E
Yeah. Cornerbacks is interesting one. They have Julio Humphrey opposite of Des Ricks.
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A
I'm going to say Ricky Gibson there opposite Des Ricks, but I mean, Julio played all spring, played really well spring. And depending on how healthy and good Ricky feels when the season starts, I mean, you know, would I be surprised by that? No, I wouldn't be surprised by it. I guess. I think my, my hunch would be Ricky Gibson, though. Yeah.
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E
I also think they could first three games be rotating, seeing what fits best. They also interestingly have Tafiq Byard as the number three corner.
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A
I think Tafik can play in multiple spots everywhere.
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E
Yeah.
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A
Yeah.
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E
And then they have.
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A
I mean, I've heard him more as safety.
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C
Yeah.
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A
At a corner, but I think he can play multiple spots.
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C
Who wrote this?
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A
USA Today.
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E
This was Sports Illustrated.
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B
Okay. I don't know.
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E
Jordan Shaw, nickel. Bryce Anderson Nickel too.
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A
Probably hedged my best with Jordan Shaw today.
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E
Yeah, I would too. And then quick note because I. I saw this, but we're talking about Indiana football. This is in Indiana. Women's golf star for Texas A and M. Luis Rowe won the golf week Hoosier amateur with a 13 stroke victory and was the lone golfer to shoot under par for the tournament.
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A
13 stroke victory.
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E
13 stroke victory.
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A
Gotta get Garrett Chadwell in studio to talk about that. How about that?
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E
It's the most impressive golf round I've seen.
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A
Yeah. What are some comments out there? What are the people saying so we can chew on before we hit a break and talk some Missouri football?
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E
I have a great text. It was about how Billy said that Marcel needed to improve on against zone coverage and that A and M is going to implement more zone coverage on defense. That practicing against an elite secondary like A and M hopes to be that iron sharpens iron will make Marcel a better passer against zone.
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A
Well, it's interesting that you say that because on ESPN they had this article discussing what? Well, not just SEC, but what college football coordinators and assistant coaches are saying confidently. Excuse me, not confidently. They're saying off the record about different quarterbacks in the sec. And the insider intel on Marcel was. And there's a little blurb from it. The people that have been able to stop the run and play zone defense, he's had a hard time against, which is 100% the facts of what happened at the end of the year. Another SEC defensive coordinator, excuse me, another SEC defensive coordinator added, he still thinks he's a true quarterback and we want him to like keep thinking that way. He doesn't really want to run, but when he does, he. It's the scariest part. And I don't know if that's a Marcel thing or if that was how he was coached to say. I mean, remember before last season, when was the last time a quarterback started 12 games for a and M? It's a great question.
- [24:09]
B
It's.
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A
I got an answer for you. It's 2020, Kellen Mond. Right? Like that's the last time.
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E
Was 2020 a full season.
- [24:17]
A
It was the nine game SEC season, you know, including they went nine and one for the eight game SEC season and. Excuse me, nine and one. Nine game SEC season and the Orange Bowl. That being said, it's the last time, okay. After that you had Haynes King go down, you had Calzada, you had Haynes King and Max Johnson go down and Conner, and then you had Connor go down and then you had Marcel. So like this has been a theme. Was a theme. Not is a theme. Was a theme for A and M. So I don't know how much of that, hey, we got to be selective with our running. And then sometimes when you try to be a pocket passer because, you know, you don't want to run overrun, you may stay there a little bit longer. I do believe that this year they're going to run Marceau a bit more
- [25:03]
E
and move in the pocket. They talked about.
- [25:05]
A
Yeah, and also just design runs like, you know, let him beat you. I think that that'll certainly happen. But he does need to be better against his own defense. He absolutely does. And I know he spent a lot of the off season working on those skills and trying to fire the ball off a little cleaner and better. I think that could be if, if he can put it all together for, for the 12 games. Because I think he did put it all together for a big portion of the season. But if he puts it all together for the entire season, then this team is going to be right back in the mix in November talking about a playoff berth. They were in the mix in Coach Elko's first year of an SEC championship game. They obviously finished poorly. They were in the mix last year at 11 and 1. They. I mean, it's just the timing of the loss like that timing of the loss kind of against Texas kind of a put them in a. In a worse spot when it came to the playoff committee. And obviously there were other teams that won tiebreakers in the 11 and 1, which is why Alabama got to go to the SEC championship game. Could have been A and M. But if they have been in the mix for the SEC championship game entering that last week, every season, the two seasons that Coach Elko's been here, then, you know, why not? Yeah.
- [26:16]
E
And you want to play your best football at the end of the year. And this one was interesting. So A and M obviously having a plethora of receivers. Do they go more to four receiver sets?
- [26:29]
A
I know Billy talked a little bit about that yesterday too, on Luchador. That's possible, right? I think it'll cut. They won't have to use the tight end as much in that scenario if they want to spread out the field. And you know, but I. Something tells me Holman Wiggins is going to use the tight ends more than we saw. I mean, I think the last two years we've seen tight ends used early and it kind of fizzled out. I wouldn't be surprised, but he may not have to. When you've got. I mean, they are legit deep at wide receiver and trusted deep. Right. Last year at this point, ABR was a maybe. Like we heard good things about him, but he hadn't done it yet. Terry Bussey was still a maybe. Terry Bussey is much more established and obviously this offseason he's been killing it. ABR is absolutely established. Mario Craver, we thought he'd be really good. He didn't exceed Billy's expectations. He exceeded my expectations. I did not expect him to be on path to 1,000 yards in the first seven games of the year. And that's what he was. All right, we'll hit a break. We'll talk a little Missouri. On the other side, when it comes to advice from a financial matter, Independence Matters and at Paragon Financial Advisors, they're going to take care of you. They're an Aggie owned and operated independent, independent fee only fiduciary firm. That means the recommendations are not influenced by commissions, proprietary products or sales quotas. So whether you're managing family wealth or growing a successful business, their team helps clients make informed financial decisions with comprehensive planning and disciplined investment management. And for many business owners, that means developing strategies not only to grow the business, but also prepare for one of the biggest financial events of their life, the eventual sale or transition of that business. Visit paragon-adv.com to learn how to get independent advice and make sure that they prepare you for what is next. It is Paragon Financial Advisors, Agyon Independent, serving clients nationwide. Give it to me.
- [28:17]
C
Give it to me. The Louis Polina show.
- [28:19]
A
It's awesome.
- [28:20]
C
He's all gas and no breaks. Listen in weekdays, limited to two on the zone.
- [28:27]
A
Hi, we're back here on Tech Sacs Live. We're presented by David Garner's Jewelers Rollo Insurance Studio. Let's talk a little Missouri football. They're an interesting team because I think Eli Drinkowicz has done a phenomenal job with them. I don't know how I feel about them this year. I mean, obviously the injury to Ahmaud Hardy, the unfortunate situation he went through, a new quarterback, just a lot of changes. So let's get an insider's perspective. Gabe Dearman, who's a mizzou Insider for powermizzou.com joining us here on the Bubbies Catering and Bartending Hotline. Gabe, what's up, man?
- [28:56]
D
Not much. How you guys doing?
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A
Great, man. Thanks for joining us. So you're an insider. Tell me what you think. Like, are my. I don't know what. Honestly, I say this about Mizzou and I could probably say to about 14 teams in the SEC. I don't know what to expect out of Mizzou this year. Where are you on them?
- [29:13]
D
The same. I mean, whatever. I can go to practice every day. I can talk to whoever I want to. But like we see 20 minutes of practice, it's stretching drills. So we don't know how these guys look. Right. You look at Austin Simmons. If you want to see the guy that was a five star out of high school, has a rocket arm. Lane Kiffin picked him to be the starter. You can see that. If you want to see the guy who threw, has six touchdowns and five picks and lost his job to Trinidad Chambliss after he got hurt. You can see that. We don't know. We don't know when Ahmad Hardy is going to play. They have one and a half starters back on defense. Like there's 54 new guys on campus. I have abs. I can draw Missouri a path to being in playoff contention and I can draw them a path to 5 and 7.
- [29:57]
A
But drink for the most Part has been so consistent at Mizzou. What is it about Drink that has brought this level of consistency? Even though they haven't reached the destination that they want to, they have still been in the upper tier of SEC teams.
- [30:11]
D
Yeah, he's recruited at a level no Missouri coach has ever recruited at. I mean, he did it his first three years. You know, he was 17 and 19 after three years. And Missouri fans were still all in on him because they said, look at the guys he's bringing in. We haven't had guys like that. And it proved to be true. You know, Drink's biggest problem was he had his top 10 year a year too early. He finished eighth in the country when it was a 14 playoff in the last year. If he'd done that one year later, I think he probably gets a little more national credit than he does. But he's just brought a level of talent in here, whether it's high school or the portal that Missouri hasn't really ever been in on before.
- [30:50]
A
Talk to me about Ahmad Hardy. Everybody knows that what he was involved in this off season and also the, you know, around the first or. I think it was right before SEC media days, it came out that, you know, hey, he. He feels good. So when we say feels good, and I know you don't know his future, is that. Is this a guy named May Face later on in the season, or is this. Is everything still tbd?
- [31:10]
D
It's very much up in the air. I mean, Eli Drinkwood has said since day one, like, there's not really a chart for this. Right. Coming back from your running back being shot in the leg. This is not a common deal. So we'll see. He hasn't practiced yet. He has been cleared medically for a return to football activity, whatever that means. Right. That could mean a million different things. He's. He's been rehabbing. He's posting videos on Instagram of him riding his horses around, but he hasn't been on the practice field. I will be shocked if we see him week one. The truth is, Missouri shouldn't need him in the first three weeks. September 26th at Mississippi State is kind of the benchmark for me where. Okay, you. If you're gonna have it, you'd really like him back by then. But I. They're not saying it all right now. Drinkwood said into this week he might have another update.
- [32:06]
A
So how does the running game look minus Ahmad Hardy, because they ran the ball effectively without him last year.
- [32:13]
D
Yeah, I mean, Jamal Roberts, I think, would start for. I Don't know half this league, right. He had 850 yards and I think seven touchdowns as a backup. And he was actually their third down back because he's a better receiver and blocker than Ahmad Hardy. That said, like, you don't lose your best player, a first team All American, and get better. I think the problem is, even if Jamal Roberts can replace everything Ahmad Hardy gave you, and that's certainly a huge question, well, then who replaces what Jamal Roberts gave you? Right, because those two guys combined for right, about 2500 rushing yards last year. So their, their backup right now would be a kid named Zeishon Edwards, who came in from Houston Christian. He ran for about 1100 yards last year. But you know, Houston Christian, last I looked, is not playing five of the top 11 teams in the country.
- [33:02]
A
Gabe, I want to go back to the A and M games the last couple of years. A couple of years ago.
- [33:06]
D
Missouri fans don't.
- [33:07]
A
Well, I know, and here's the interesting part. That first game, Elko's first game against Missouri, I think a player two goes different. It feels completely different, right, that, that first touchdown pass that was called back and whatnot. I even think last year's game, A&M1, was by 17 points, 21 points. Whatever it was at points of that game, I felt like Missouri was a player too, from making that a different game. So how close do you think those two teams are based on what you've seen on the field? I know what the scores say, but just watching the games.
- [33:41]
D
Well, I don't know that the gap between the teams is huge. The gap on the days Missouri has played A and M has been huge. Like there is Missouri fans. Anybody who follows Missouri can't say anything about Texas A. And Mike, he has flat out dominated him two years in a row. I mean, you know, and I understand the argument, hey, there's a bad pass interference call. If I don't love the. If you change one play in the first quarter, you don't get beat. 41 7, you know, I mean, maybe it's not 41 7, but it was very obvious who the better team was on that day. Now, was that a bad. I think that Missouri team was better than that, but they, they certainly weren't on that day. And that's like, I think that's the one Missouri fans really have circled this year. Right? I mean, yeah, you've got Georgia on the schedule, you've got Texas, you've got Oklahoma and that animal miss but like, I, I, Missouri, frankly, should be fairly embarrassed by what A M has done to them the last two years. So I. I would think that's one they have circled on the schedule and say, you know, we. We gotta show this maybe isn't the program we are.
- [34:47]
C
So.
- [34:47]
A
I know you spoke about Austin Simmons earlier. I'm fascinated by him because of what we heard about him a year ago now. I haven't been to practice. I don't know how he looks. But what is. What do we think Austin Simmons is at his best, and what do we think he is? Typically?
- [35:05]
D
He is. I have not. I've been doing this for almost 25 years. I'm not sure I've covered a guy where the gap between what he could be is so big. Right. I mean, he's a guy that has every physical tool to be an NFL quarterback. There's no question. He came to college at 16. Like, he's just kind of really getting to what should be the prime of his career. But he's played like 120 snaps and he has six touchdowns and five interceptions. I mean, those, you know, you can't ignore those numbers. So we probably won't know until probably mid October. I mean, Missouri last week in September, plays Mississippi State, then Florida, then A and M, I think is the order those games go in. Maybe A and M, then Florida, I can't remember. But those three games, like, we're going to know by the midway point of the season what he is. But right now, like I said, you can see anything you want to see. And Missouri fans are obviously leaning into the positive. Hey, Lane Kiffin picked this guy to be a starter and. And everybody loves him. And he drink. What's is said. He's got the most arm talent of any guy that Eli has coached, but there's a lot of guys who can throw the ball hard and far right that don't turn it on on Saturday. So we got to see what happens in the month of September. And it's really the entire thing about this Missouri team. If he hits his ceiling of what everybody thought he could be, like I said, I can give you away. Missouri is, you know, sitting there at 8 and 2, whatever, going into the last couple of weeks of the season with a chance if he is not that, if he's turning the ball over, if Missouri has to turn somewhere else, like, I can pretty easily see this being a team that's fighting to make a bowl game.
- [36:48]
A
Gabe, let's talk defense. I know you said, what'd you say, two starters coming back, Whatever the number was defensively, I Found that defense to be excellent last year for the most part. Just talk to me about that defense. And with so many new pieces, can you really figure out what kind of defense they'll be?
- [37:06]
D
Yeah, I think it was. I mean, last year was one of the best defenses in school history. I could argue it's maybe the best defense they've had in the modern era. I don't think you get to compare it to like 1960 when they gave up like 32 points all year. I think that the game's a little bit different. But I mean, look, Corey Batoon came in here two years ago, and when LSU hired Blake Baker away, everyone was saying, well, how can Missouri ever replace Blake Baker? He's this high rising, fast rising assistant, blah, blah, blah, highest paid assistant the country. And Cory Batoon has been better statistically in every single category in his two years. Now my question, plenty of holes to fill. Linebackers, fine. Safety, I think they'll be okay. They lost Zion Young, who was the second round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens, and Damon Wilson transferred to Miami off the edge. I mean, what Missouri defensively has kind of been known for the last 20 years is pass rushers. You go way back. Alton Smith kind of started it. And then, then they had a long line of Michael, Sam, Coney, Ely, Marcus Golden, Shane Ray, you know, and going through Zion and Damon Wilson last year, the hope is that Dara Smith, another Georgia transfer, can, can kind of step into that role of guys who have their third or fourth year in the program really kind of broken out and become stars. But that's the position that I look at and say if Missouri hasn't replaced that well enough, this defense definitely takes a big step back.
- [38:35]
A
I know that drink's not on any kind of hot seat, but like, is he in college football? 2. Two bad years can get you fired. Is that a no? No.
- [38:46]
D
I mean, he could go, he go 1 in 11 this year and he's coming back, right? I, you know, he was it. Nobody knows for sure except him if he had the opportunity to actually take any of the jobs. But like, he was in the mix at lsu, Florida, Auburn, Penn State, Michigan. Like he was on those lists, on the short list. And Missouri signed him to an extension. He's making.
- [39:13]
B
I don't know.
- [39:13]
D
11 million a year has a clause in it. Every year you win eight games in the regular season, you get extended another year. So Missouri is all in on him. The fans absolutely, absolutely love him. He's the most powerful guy on campus. Now look, 5 and 75 and 7. Then we'll talk again in a couple of years. But there's short of legal trouble. There is, and I would say NCAA trouble, but there's no rules anymore, so you can't break those. But short of legal trouble, there's nothing that costs him his job after this year.
- [39:42]
A
Gave something that struck me about him in Tampa. I believe it was the Sunday before he was supposed to talk. He's just walking around the hotel with his family like just a normal guy. And I'm not saying that, you know, there aren't other SEC coaches that are like that, but he just seemed like such a relatable, normal dude off camera.
- [40:00]
D
Yeah, he's. Look, we've all covered coaches that, like, if you see him in public, you kind of turn the other way because they're football robots and they can't have human conversations. Eli's. Eli's a good guy to talk to. Off the record, he's very normal. I think he would be phenomenal on tv. He could host fein bomb show if he wanted to, you know, and I think he can walk around like that because, frankly, not very many people would look at Eli Drinkwitz and go, hey, I bet that's an SEC head football coach, right? Like, he probably doesn't get harassed a whole lot on the street outside of Columbia, Missouri.
- [40:35]
A
Gabe, last thing for you. Let's navigate the schedule. Everybody in the SEC this year's got something to complain about with his nine games, it just changes that one game changes at all. So kind of navigate the schedule. Best case, middle case, worst case for Mizzou.
- [40:50]
D
Well, it's so interesting because that's been the thing for Missouri the last couple years, right? Everybody said they have an easy schedule, and it wasn't easy. But for the sec, it was pretty easy. They dodged a lot of the. The. The top dogs that they don't do that this year. You know, I think the key game in the whole thing is at Mississippi State, the SEC opener. If you lose that one, then all of a sudden you're going, how do we get to six? And everybody says, well, you should lose at Mississippi State.
- [41:15]
A
But forget.
- [41:16]
D
It's like they took Texas and Tennessee to overtime last year in Starkville, right? And that's what this league is, is you don't go on the road and just say, yeah, no problem. We got this one. But they have to beat Mississippi State, they have to beat Kentucky, they have to beat Arkansas, because after that they've got Florida and five top 10 teams, you know, to. To get to eight and four, Missouri has to beat a team that's ranked in the top 10 in the preseason. And that's now not all those teams are going to live up to that. Right? Somebody's taking backwards. Somebody that's ranked in the top 10 won't finish there. But it is clearly the most challenging schedule I think Missouri's probably had in 45 years.
- [41:59]
A
Gabe, this has been great, man. Appreciate your time. Let's do it when the game rolls around. We'll get you back that week. All right, sounds good.
- [42:06]
D
Thanks a lot, man.
- [42:06]
A
Thank you, Gab Armanpower mizzou.com All right, we'll hit a break, come back with a final short segment before we get you ready for the Wednesday show. You're listening to Tech SAGS Live, presented by David Gardner's jewelers.
- [42:18]
C
Listen to the Zone on the Zone app. Thanks to Loyalty Plumbing, the pros at Loyalty Plumbing are ready to serve you 247 for big emergencies or small.
- [42:27]
A
You guys agree? Like when we talk to these insiders, you can talk yourself into A and M demolishing that team and also talk yourself into, man, this might be a harder game than I thought. Doesn't matter who I talk to. Like in the same conversation I'm like, oh man, that's right. The backup was it Jamal Roberts, he did pretty good against A and M. And so you know, oh, and Eli Drinkowicz, I mean, yeah, he's gotten destroyed by Elko, but like every team we talk to, I can make an argument that they can beat you and A and M should destroy them. Nick, where are you on this when
- [43:02]
F
it comes to Missouri? I mean I listen to everything Gabe there had to say. But I guess when it comes to Missouri, I'm just, I've never been as a fan too intimidated by them. Even when A M has had to go on the road there, not too worried about it but like definitely for other and who knows, maybe Roberts or sorry, Ahmad Hardy comes back, you know, looks good and runs good and he plays well up to the point where A and M has to play and then my attitude will probably change. But they just seem kind of like a. We were talking about this earlier. Matthew kind of seem like a one dimensional team by the numbers and what they're getting back, like they can run the football well and that might be their, their strong suit. But I guess to your original question, do insiders change my perspective? Sometimes.
- [43:52]
A
Sometimes in the moment. Right. Like, and then he talks about all the defenders that have gone on either to the NFL or transferred to other Spots. And I'm like, good luck. Good luck with that passing game or at least A and M passing game against that defense. Good luck with Marcel's speed, because it is true. Like that defensive front last year from Missouri was. Was excellent. Kof, where are you on all this?
- [44:14]
E
I kind of agree with Nick. Kind of. Not really, but sometimes Mizzou. I feel pretty confident about, though. And you talk about their defense and what do you say, like one and a half starters are coming back and a team that's not proven as a passing game, if you get up early, then you feel pretty confident going through the rest of the game.
- [44:35]
A
Yeah, look, A and M took care of business last year, but that game at times felt close. And I think that's just the one
- [44:42]
F
thing we all disagree. I remember watching that game, and I was. And you were. You were there, right?
- [44:46]
A
Yeah, I was there.
- [44:46]
F
You were there. So you had a different feel. But for me watching, I didn't feel that way.
- [44:50]
A
Google this real quick. Google the box score and go by the play by play. We only got like 30 seconds. You're on the clock and this is your last real assignment. Confidence. So you better get this right away. He's. I just want to know what the score was before the Dalton Brooks. You may not be able to find this fake punt because I feel like it was maybe a 10 point game and you were going to be punting to them, getting the ball in the third quarter.
- [45:12]
F
It was 14 nothing at halftime.
- [45:14]
A
Yep.
- [45:15]
F
It was 24 seven going into the fourth quarter.
- [45:19]
A
But do we have that fake punt, whatever the score was at that point? Because I feel like that, like, gave you the breathing room again. Because I think Missouri started making a run and then that fake punt happened.
- [45:30]
F
And thank Goodness I was 21.7.
- [45:32]
E
Yeah, 21.
- [45:33]
A
Okay. If you were punting, they had just scored. Made it 21 14. These are all hypotheticals. And we kicked the field goal. They kicked the field in the moment. I felt like, oh, no, what am I gonna do? And then Coach Elko did the Coach Elko thing, which is dominate. All right, we'll see you guys tomorrow. I don't got anything else.
- [45:50]
G
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