Wes & Walker Hour 3: The Importance of the Draft

0:00Many people believe buying a home requires a large down payment and years of saving, but that's not always the case. Across the country, there are programs designed to help first-time home buyers take the next step toward home ownership. Some of these programs offer down payment assistance or grant funding that may help cover part of the upfront cost of purchasing a home. Grants are especially helpful because they generally do not have to be repaid. There are also organizations that provide home buyer education, financial counseling, and guidance to help individuals understand the home buying process before they begin. The goal is simple. To help more families become informed and prepared for home ownership, if owning a home is something you've been thinking about, start by visiting tools for homeownership.com. This message is brought to you by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling's Paving the Way Forward Initiative. To the West and Walker Show.

1:02He's off to the side. He's like floating to the media. Did you guys know about this point, Garn? Did you guys know that we don't need to invest in why I'd receive it? He's off to the side, not at the podium because he wants to let you know what he found out so badly. It's West. Yeah, and I mean, just in retrospect now with the way that this team is looking to office, it's looking to definitely has not aged well. And Walker. What's up, Fitty? I was not prepared for the... Oh, is our point, God? We don't have to spend money. Only on Sports Radio 92.7 FM WFNZ. But now you do. Now you do. We got one more hour to go on West and Walker Sports Radio 92.7 WFNZ. Now I don't have to lie to you. I mean it when I say West and Walker. That's right.

2:03He's on his own show. West Bryant joins us, usually, been hopping on with us at two when he's out and about in the college football world. He'll be on the sidelines and Dallas this weekend bringing you coverage for SMU Boston College 12 o'clock kick on the CW. So go check out your boy, West Bryant, host of your favorite radio show, West and Walker right here on 92.7 FM. West, how are you doing, my man? Oh, way too much. Say it one more time. We didn't have you. We didn't have you slid all the way up here, man. What's going on with you? All right, you got me now. You got me now. Yep, yep, all good. What you got? I'm excited to get a food review. The connection is a little walkie. Maybe we call back here in a second. Flatter, why don't you bring him down and then maybe we can try to reach back out to him

3:05because I do think the connection is a little walkie there. We'll try to figure that out here on West and Walker, West calling in. He'll be working SMU Boston College. And the question that I do want to explore with him is whether he still believes in the Mustangs considering their 10 point victory over Missouri state. West, do you have me now loud and clear? West, can you hear me? Can you hear me? Yeah, we got you. It's not. There's a lot of stuff going on, man. I think we're good now. I'll dive into it and then we'll learn if we have this connection correct as we move on. My question to you, being on the sidelines at SMU this weekend, they have a 10 point win this weekend over Missouri state. It's not exactly a game where you have the most confidence in them heading forward, but this is also a squad that has Kevin Jennings played a lot of college football. People thought that they might be the second best team in the ACC. At least it was possible.

4:05How much belief do you have? I think the Mustangs right now. Yeah, I think tomorrow is going to be a good opportunity for them to start to show it. I mean, Boston College offensively, they ranked near the bottom of the league in several categories. So, you know, them coming close with Virginia Tech, we're going to see how real that was. You know, as far as Boston College, did they take something from that and are they now, you know, a new football team and are they going to come in with a renewed bigger? So to speak, but with SMU, yeah, man, it's disappointing. You don't want to see Kevin Jennings playing into the fourth quarter. That's what they had to do against a Missouri state. And we just talked about in the coaches meetings, the turnovers, the penalties, some of the things that have plagued them this year, the big plays that they've given up on defense. Defensively, they are ranked pretty high in a lot of categories, but they've given up a lot of explosive plays to get offensive. So for Boston College, do they smell blood in the water and are they smelling themselves after their performance that they had against Virginia Tech?

5:05So I think tomorrow's one of those games that you would look at on the schedule and be like, oh, you know, I don't think this will be a very good game. And then you could look up and it could be more competitive than you think. I you cover the ACC. So perhaps this was already on your mind heading into the season. But the more I look at SMU, the more I look at it advantage they might have because of the schedule, right? Like I like Virginia. That will be the game they have after Boston College, but even still, I wouldn't call Virginia top three to five team in the ACC Cal Syracuse for Genie Tech and Wake Forest Notre Dame. That stretch right there, I guess we'll figure out a lot about SMU. That's a tough three game stretch. But in the meantime, West, like I feel like they had an opportunity to knock off Louisville. They get beat by 10. They could have been what? Eight and oh, heading into that three game stretch. Feels like they really squandered something. A Missouri State didn't give us a whole lot of reason to buy back in. Do you feel like they'll run the table until they face Virginia Tech November 6th? Or do you think there's another upset in there? No, this, you know, this is a Virginia, I mean, this is an SMU team that, you know, it's

6:09kind of weak to weak with them because you just are not sure what you're going to get. And that was the whole premise with where I put them in my preseason pole to where you want to think that this is a team capable of being a top three team. You want to think that this is a team capable of coming back to Charlotte, which they are, like I said, you watch some of these games. And as I just said, you're sitting there in the fourth quarter playing against Missouri State Kevin Jennings is in there playing and you're turning the ball over throwing pick sixes. Defense given a big play. So it's like, how much can I really trust these guys? And that's been my biggest hang up with SMU is just how much can I trust what you guys are about? So I'm not sure with SMU. I'm not. If I had the bet to what I say, I think they run the table until they get to that game. No, I don't. I think that SMU's a team that they take you on a rollercoaster ride, man. They really do. It feels like they've done that a couple of times over the last few years. And maybe this is just another season of that happening. It's Wes Bryant joining us. Wes and Walker sports radio 92 7 WFNZ.

7:11He's not in studio because it'll be on the sidelines for SMU Boston College this weekend on the CW kickoff is set for 12 o'clock. Want to bring you to the conversation we had of the campus Kona? Kona. There you go. I knew it. All right. I knew you would be. I just needed a pause for you. So North Carolina, they play Notre Dame. Wes, what is a successful weekend for North Carolina against the fighting Irish? I think that it's tricky because North Carolina's had so many games over the years that you thought, oh, this team's going to come in and run right over them. I know you look up in the fourth quarter and it's a dominant game. I think the key for Carolina is, are you within striking distance at halftime and going into the fourth quarter, do the fans still have a glimmer of hope that maybe you can pull off the upset? You know, Notre Dame's a really good team, but again, they did only beat Michigan State 27 to 10. And so I get it that their rivals, but I think for North Carolina, you know, hopefully

8:13Abu Jai'at is back and they'll have their full allotment of weapons. It's just with Carolina that passing attack is what just really scares you because they're going to need to be balanced. And if there's anything that Notre Dame brings to the table, you know that defense is going to be top tier and especially in the secondary. This is about, you know, Notre Dame over the last few years, especially on the Marcus Freyman. You know, that defense, that's one of those groups that it's close to NFL football as you're going to get at the college level because we know they have a lot of guys that get drafted. It's going to be tough to get completions. It's going to be tough to get first down against this Notre Dame defense. And so with Billy Edwards and House Ferratic, he's looked at the thing that worries you the most is him having a tough time on this Notre Dame defense because up front, they're going to get after you. This offensive line is going to be tested. I think they're going to have a tough time running the ball. It's going to come down to Billy Edwards. Can he soften up that defense and hit some throws that makes Notre Dame, you know, on their heels just a little bit?

9:15Can they do that? So I think that's what will be successful. Can you have a solid offensive output? Can this game be competitive going into the fourth quarter? And it doesn't have to be a three point game on seven point game. Is it a ten point game? Is it a 14 point game going into the fourth quarter where you say, okay, we've been playing good enough today. If we score here, this is a one score game. Wes Bryant joining us on his own show, follow him on Twitter, by the way, at Wes Bryant underscore 72. If you do follow him on Twitter, you can see the three thoughts he has heading into the ACC weekend. I want to ask you about Virginia Tech Pittsburgh tonight, going to be a fun one because you're right. When you say in your first point here, Wes, this is going to be James Franklin's first big game as Virginia Tech's head coach. There are two and a half point favorite. It's funny. You also write in that point, will we see the ghosts of Penn State's past, which I think is a good one, considering the history surrounding James Franklin. Well, it's funny because I don't against Pittsburgh. It doesn't exactly scream Penn State Ohio State top 10 matchup.

10:17It doesn't exactly scream Penn State Michigan top 10 matchup, but I think you're right. If you can't beat Pittsburgh or you can't have a good showing against the Panthers, it doesn't done me their season is over by any stretch, but I'm with you, man. If you lay an egg against the Panthers, then I think it's even worse than some of the ghosts that surrounded you up in Penn State. Yeah, because the thing that's the narrative with James Franklin, right, is that he can't win the big game. Now, granted, Pittsburgh doesn't have a number in front of their name, but this is a 4-0 team that a lot of people include in myself, fancy as a top four to five team in this league. You have Mason Heinzschule, who's the only quarterback in ACC history to have six plus touchdown passes in multiple games in a season. So this looks like a Pittsburgh team that should be ranked perhaps in the opinion of some, will they be ranked as the season goes forward? But right now, just on the surface, this looks like a high-power pit team that's coming

11:18in with a lot to prove they're both undefeated. Pittsburgh has looked strong this season. So for James Franklin and getting this game at home, at Virginia Tech, you are a Virginia Tech fan, saying to yourself, okay, yeah, this isn't necessarily a ranked matchup, but this is a big game with the undefeated ACC team with a lot of implications as far as going to Charlotte is concerned. So you would like for Virginia Tech to come out and take care of business because if he doesn't, it just plays into the narrative when you hire them. They're going to be a contingent of fans, they say, oh, this is why Penn State got rid of him because he can't win big games. So yeah, even though this might not necessarily have the numbers attached as far as rankings are concerned, but this is going to be a game to where Virginia Tech fans are sent to themselves undefeated ACC squad that has looked the part so far. Can you guys take care of them, especially at home? I mean, I think maybe you get a little bit of grace if it's at Pittsburgh, but you're at home, you know the environment was going to get the 10 minutes of pregame.

12:21We're going to get the five extra minutes of them thing of Metallica when it's done and all that stuff. So this is the environment for you to come out showing proof. And if you can't take advantage of that and look to part yourself, then yeah, they're going to be some Virginia Tech fans that are going to say, man, is this guy truly the real deal because he couldn't win big games at his last spot? Is that game bigger than NC State Louisville? Yes, I would say so just because of the fact that, you know, you like both of these teams, both of my four and oh, both has looked strong, you know, at certain points this season. So yes, this weekend, I would definitely say when you talk about teams that have an opportunity to come to Charlotte because you went in this game and you're five and oh, yeah, for this definitely lands you into that group of teams that you're looking at as potential ACC championship game participant. Okay, we were about to talk about some of the college football players in the local area that has surprised us the most this season. I want to bring you in on that conversation.

13:23You did have high hopes for geolopez. Geolopez is absolutely ball and right now. I hear he's second in the ACC QB power rankings. That's correct, right? We got him behind you. He's okay. Yes, he is. Is there a player that sticks out to you when I ask you the most surprising player in the local area? It can be positive or negative who you will surprise? I would say, man, let me think here because it's a loaded one. I would go, I would, it may feel like low hanging fruit, but I would say Nate Shepherd, just in the fact of, I know he came off in 1100 yard freshman season, but I don't know that we expected him to be leading the country in several rushing categories at this point in the year and people talking about him as the proverbial dark horse, high sun and candidate. So the pace in which he's on, we talked about it before. He may not get there, but he's on a 2,000 yard pace potentially. So I would say I didn't expect this type of season coming from Nate Shepherd right

14:25now. If we go outside the ACC, one guy I thought about riding down here was Lenora sellers just because of how bad it looks. I understand it wasn't a great season, but offensive line got better and they looked pretty damn good against bad competition the first two weeks, but we saw what happened with South Carolina against bad competition last year. Where does Lenora sellers rank on the surprise meter for West Brie? Yeah, I got to say welcome there. You're negativity, man. It's coming strong this year because you take the surprise and you make a negative like surprise. You know, we will take that. You know, I'm probably a couple of ugly interceptions. Surprise. Yeah, like that. I think of surprise. I think a good thing. Hey, here's a PlayStation 5. You didn't know I was going to buy you. Yeah, probably has a lot to do with our, I don't know, man. It just has to do with our outlooks on life. I apologize to people for being too pessimistic. I think as far as I think as far as surprise players goes with Lenora sellers, yeah, man, I'm not completely throwing off. I can't say that I thought that he was going to come out and be this highs and the contender

15:27this year because you know how I feel about him from a passing standpoint. I never thought he was going to come out and burn up the world and those regards, but just what God to be starting as long as he had. I know he's in a new system, but just to turn over the mistakes that he's making, it still feels like that this offense is very much a work in progress and from everything that you heard from the off season, that would be a little bit of a surprise because I did expect South Carolina's offense to at least be a little bit better and a little bit more explosive than what they've been. And like we said, just for the fact that, I mean, his legs should be on a milk carton right now because you know, you would have thought you've seen a hundred yard plus game from him or some, some big runs as well. And we haven't even seen that. Okay. I promise I'll look at the positivity. Let's look at the story in the ACC this year. Miami looks amazing. They're beating up on teams. They'll expect that and they're following through with it. Clemson is negative, but I would look at the biggest positive story in the ACC. Is it clear in a way, wake for us in GL Lopez?

16:29Is there anybody that comes close to them or do we just got to go with your alma mater? Yeah, I think so, but just for the sake of the people. So they once they're always, you know, talking about a team and a third. I think that when you look at the Duke Blue Devils and what they've been doing, you know, Mani Diaz, he talked about it and he said how people had written them off. They thought that last year was as good as it was going to get. You know, myself included, I'm not going to say I thought that last year was as good as it would get there, but I didn't expect the team to come out and look as strong as they have, winning some of the games that they have, including on the road. So I think that, you know, Duke would certainly be in there, but of course, wake for us and what they've been able to do because you can't really argue with it. This was a team that people picked preseason to finish. Next to last, if you looked at a lot of preseason lists, it was Stanford, then wake for us. People just thought that, oh, this team's going to come back down to Earth. This team, you know, I don't know if I tweeted out, you know, a month or so ago, I don't know a season where wake is predicted to do good.

17:29Even when they do get the pre-precious, how many nine and four teams? I mean, really, think about it. How many nine and four teams get predicted to finish near the bottom of their conference the next season? It doesn't happen. No, it doesn't happen. We both clocked it like that. It's just the wake for us by us, man. It is what it is. That's what they do. And even when they do good, people still don't want to look at wake as a serious contender. They think that that upset was just from happening. That's why I'm so glad that they played Miami the way that they did the week before because people would have said, oh, Louisville was looking over him. Oh, it was a trap game. They said, no, it wasn't a trap with the way that they played against Miami. It wasn't that. We just walked in Louisville's trap and took over that trap. Where did two change? Where did JJ Jansen who likes quoting that, I believe, as well? Yeah, JJ and two change. I think I think I can I can I say something real quick, though. Yeah, you can, man. What's up? I am so excited right now about what I could be about the part taken because there's a bull out in front of this thing that is made of metal that is a smoker and it is actively

18:34cooking and smoking right now. You remember I said I wanted to smell that when I came up to the place that I was going to eat it. There's a bull metal board that is smoking. I would imagine a delectable meat right now. So this place looks like it's going to be a winner. The videos will be up. I will be giving a review on it because I think I'm about to be in for a real treat. I can smell the mesquite on your clothes right now, man. I'm ready for it. I'm excited. I don't even care if I walk out smelling like it. I don't care. All right. I hope you do. I think that's the sign of a good barbecue joint. No doubt. You can see the pictures on your Twitter profile at West Bryant underscore 72. You can find them easily on Instagram as well. West Bryant, host of the Western Walker Show Sports Radio 92 7 WFNZ. Check them out on the CW. He'll be on the sidelines for SMU Boston College tomorrow kickoff starts at 12 o'clock. West appreciate the time. Enjoy the food. You know, down about it, man. I appreciate you guys. Thanks.

19:34Good stuff from West. Of course, you would expect nothing else. You can see the video on the website. WFNZ dot com anywhere you get your podcasts just search West and Walker. We'll be back in just a moment. Two more segments to go. Sports radio 92 7 FM. Many people believe buying a home requires a large down payment and years of saving, but that's not always the case across the country. There are programs designed to help first time home buyers take the next steps toward home ownership. Some of these programs offer down payment assistance or grant funding that may help cover part of the upfront cost of purchasing a home. Grants are especially helpful because they generally do not have to be repaid. There are also organizations that provide home buyer education, financial counseling, and guidance to help individuals understand the home buying process before they begin. The goal is simple. To help more families become informed and prepared for home ownership, if owning a home is something you've been thinking about, start by visiting tools for home ownership dot com. The message is brought to you by the National Foundation for Credit Council leads

20:37Paving the Way Forward Initiative. Kitchen and bathroom professionals know what goes behind the tile matters. That's why Trade Pros trust Fiber cement, Party Backerboard to keep tile firmly in place, resist cracking, and help block moisture. This is an over 40 million kitchens and bathrooms Party Backerboard. What the best build on? Shop now at participating home depot, lows, and floor into core stores. For more information, visit Jameshardy.com slashhardybacker. Westered Walker Sports Radio, the smooth jazz push of Westered Walker on 92.7 FM. Appreciate everybody hopping on with us in the midday. Kyle Bailey coming up in just a moment. He'll be alongside Smoke Club. They'll be with you from three to six PM right here on Sports Radio 92.7 WFNZ.

21:42Here's an opportunity for you to win some tickets. All you have to do is text Chase. Okay. I've been spelling it for you this week. I'm going to giving mood C H A S E text chase to when a family four pack of tickets to the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 11th. The race starts at three PM. It's a playoff race people. So it's exciting stuff. Text Chase to 704 570 96 10 one more time. Text Chase to 704 570 96 10 and you can have a chance to win a family four pack of tickets to the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 11th. The race does start at three PM. I think we'll be out there broadcasting a couple of shows on Westered Walker. I believe Kyle will be out there if I'm allowed to speak for him and the station as well. I think we'll be there Thursday Friday, Speedway Club as usual. I have some plans and in work. So we'll see if we can follow through on those plans. I don't want to over promise and under deliver.

22:43So I just will promise nothing. And therefore you guys won't be disappointed when possibly nothing happens. That's the way that you play this thing. That's what at least I think the less you try, the less you fail. And that's what you should take. You know, it's just the thing that you should take away from this show. I want to talk more Cleveland Browns. Oh boy. Everybody, everybody prepare yourself. Take a deep breath. All right. You would just want to replay the first segment. No, I'm good. I want to talk about the actual football stuff. I do because Cleveland, they're three and one to start the season. And you look at the talent accumulation, especially through the NFL draft. You got to give them a tip of the cap. They have been excellent. Andrew Berry has done an excellent job of drafting in really the last two years. It's this rookie class that's getting a lot of fanfare. They deserve all of it. But really the last couple of years, it's been wildly impressive. And it was your door, Sanders who was stealing a lot of the storyline last year.

23:45But it's fun. And Mason Graham was an amazing. I thought he was a solid player in his rookie season. He got off to a tremendous start. He absolutely whooped Luke Fortner. And it looked like he was on his way to pro ball status and or all pro status with the way that he was getting after the quarterback from the interior. He left this game with a knee injury. It's really unfortunate. But Mason Graham looks like the real deal as a football player. He was their first round pick last season. Carson Schwestinger who was number 11 on Walker's top 10 list heading into that. Sure he was. Yep. We'll believe that. He was the defense of rookie of the year. And so clearly that's a hit. One shot, Judkins. We'll see. Looks good. Had a good game last night. Yeah. I think I think blocking very similar to Chuba. I think you'll look at their offensive line. That's more the issue behind why they're not running the ball well. But we'll see. Yeah. Judkins looks pretty good. Harold Fanon looks awesome. And those are your first four picks from the 2025 draft. So that's you have Dylan Gabriel who was in there in that third round.

24:45Dylan Samson fourth should do our Sanders fifth. But the first four picks of the 2025 draft. Excellent for the Cleveland Browns. Now you look at the top five picks in the 2026 draft Spencer Fano starting Casey Concepcion. I love him. You may have heard Denzel Boston, probably playing better than the guy that I loved in the first round, but both have been very good. A manual McNeill Warren was a second round selection kind of toyed around with him as a possible first round target for Carolina. Didn't really feel like the type of safety that we wanted after signing Maryg having ransom in the fold to more so of a heavy hitter, which is an awesome safety who's good and coverage. But either way, McNeill Warren looked pretty good at times last night. They also have Austin Barber who's starting and getting a lot of praise for the way that he's playing on the offensive line. Those are your first five picks in the 2026 draft class. Flounder not only are they playing their starting and they're playing impact football right out of the gate.

25:46So Cleveland has five guys, four on offense, one on defense, and they're all playing significant snaps on the three and one football team in that division. You go back to 20, 25 as it just mentioned. You have two defensive guys that are stalwarts for that team and then you have two offensive guys that are stalwarts for your offensive skill group. Harold Fanon just had two tuts against Carolina last year. I think what I'm looking at is a team as much as I've clowned to Cleveland in the past for a bunch of different reasons. You can't help but give them all the credit in the world for really turning things around in a quick time. You look at I think this team moving forward, they've got all of these guys that look like potential pro bowlers. And I think what's interesting about Cleveland is this is just the tried and true way of getting out of the mud where Cleveland has been stuck for so long and even with capable quarterback

26:49play as of this point, right? Kirk Herbstreet is right when I go back to that first segment. Kirk Herbstreet is right in that Deshaun Watson does look more comfortable playing football right now. I wouldn't say that he's been amazing. He missed some bad throws last night, but he's playing well enough to win. I think Todd Munkin is doing an excellent job with that offense. They're starting to move the ball a little bit. You can trust that defense a little more so, but drafting is the tried and true way to turn around the franchise. And then I look at our opponent on Sunday night and I look at the draft class that they had in 2023 where they had an all time hitter just like Cleveland provided this past season, right? This past off season. You look at 2023. Here's what their first four picks look like. Jumir Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam Laporta, Brian Branch, four picks in the top two rounds. Every one of them, I mean, at least a double, if not a triple or home run.

27:52Those guys have been excellent, even with some of the injuries that you have to consider. When does Carolina get that kind of draft class? I think you see Carolina doing a nice job of slowly building, slowly building, slowly building. You have some hits here and there. Looks like team back is ahead after winning offense of rookie of the year. Lee Hunter looks good. I think we should be talking more about Lee Hunter and his impact, by the way, kind of a quieter off season was behind Cam Jackson on the depth chart with some of those early releases. I do think Lee Hunter is getting a lot of love from the nerds that are evaluating rookies right now. He can give him love. Maybe he's a big time hit. Scorton gets hurt, but he looks like a hit, whatever. I'm looking for my 2017 New Orleans draft hit where you just knock it out of the park and you get two rookies of the year, offense and defense Detroit 2023 Cleveland 2025 and maybe even a little bit 2024. It is not only a tall task, flounder, it's the tallest task.

28:54I'm asking Dan Morgan to almost do the impossible, but then you look at a few other teams that have done this in the last 10 years and you're saying, is that moment going to happen for us to where we really turn it around from a non-playoff team? We're under 500 all the time. Even when we get to the postseason, we're still under 500. We spend a lot of money in free agency. That helps us get over the quote unquote hump. But really, if you want to talk about a consistent 11 win football squad, a team that people will be talking about as a real Super Bowl contender or a real playoff contender that might even win a game when they get to the postseason. Flounder, I think it looks a lot like that if you want to turn things around quickly, just hitting on three, four draft picks in a row. Yeah, that's the best way I think to build when it comes to the NFL. We've seen teams in the past that have done that because when you go back and look at some of these super teams that have been put together. Now it's way too early to tell on Los Angeles and what the Rams are ultimately going to turn

29:58out to be. But we've seen it in Philly where they said, hey, we've assembled the greatest team ever and what ended up happening? Complete failure. So I do think that building through the draft is the best way to go hitting on those gods. Now, what I would say for the Panthers, I don't know that the ship has yet sailed. It's 2024 is gone. That ship is way out to sea already. But 2025, I don't know if you can get, I'm not thinking that you're going to get four hits from that draft class, which I think is the number that you look at and you say you feel really say four guys that are legitimate contributors for your team. And maybe that's the goal and not to stop you with the momentum. I think if we set up camp there for a moment, it, look, I understand what we're asking here. It's everything. But is it just four hits or is it four borderline stars that you're getting from these guys, right? Like these are the draft classes that we're talking about way too early to say that about

30:58the Browns 2025 or 2026 class. Excuse me. But is that, is that a rational ask for this Panthers regime to say, hey, at some point, we got to have a draft class that looks like any of these teams. But this is the way that chronic losers like Detroit, it gets out of the mud, right? Cleveland, chronic losing football team. They've had a couple playoff appearances. It's not as bad in the last 10 years as it was the previous however far you want to go back. But this is how you start to build some momentum. Caroline is not even close to having experienced the dismay in the pain that Detroit fans did for a while or Cleveland fans did for a while. But we have a long stretch of being under 500. So to pick up on your point, is it fair to ask for just like solid contributors or are we really asking for more than that saying, no, man, we actually kind of need some dudes with multiple pro bowl appearances under their belt. Well, the thing that I would say is that I don't know that you necessarily need four

32:00of those guys from the same draft class. I think you could span that out over a few draft classes. It also helps that you've went out and paid some significant guys that you are hoping are going to be guys for you for the foreseeable future. Devon Lloyd, you're hoping that somebody that's going to be a pro bowl or all pro type player for most of the time that he's here. Jalen Phillips, you're banking on with the money that you paid him him eventually getting to that level and sometimes soon. And I mean, you did the same thing on the interior of the offensive line. Now it's not working nearly as well. I will say Robert Hunt not looking anywhere close to a pro bowl level guy at this. Point, but Damien Lewis, that's been another guy that you've hit on, but you need some of these draft classes. My thing is, can you get a draft class that you can actually pound your chest about and brag about as a Panther fan? Okay. This is a class we feel really good about. When was the last time that you could do that?

33:01I it's it's not recently here. You could look up the draft classes. I'll look it up here. No, you're good. But the thing is is that. With 2025, you've got Teterola McMillan, which you feel really, really good about. You've got Nick Scorton that, you know, prior to the injury, you felt really, really good about. I don't believe that he's a guy that's going to be affected long term by that injury. I think I'll come back, he'll pick up kind of right where he left off and build off of that. Now can you get princely to hit? We have said that a lot since he's been drafted. I think we're going to we're we're finding out right now slowly, but maybe he does end up breaking out as the season goes along. Well, I mean, I actually think he's been playing, I mean, pretty well given what his role is supposed to be, but like he's not a perfect all around football player. He was drafted to rush the passer. That's what he's doing.

34:02And we're asking more from him now because Nick Scorton isn't playing because Pat Jones was injured. The first couple of games. We'll see how he settles into an overall role. We'll see how a varrow deploy sim as time moves on, but you're right. Do you hit it out of the park with princely? You can't say that you hit a home run with what princely is providing you, even if he does have a decent amount of pressures. Well, yeah. And so then you're looking at in 25. I don't know. I don't know if HN is going to be really anything. I don't I don't feel super confident in that right now could surprise us, but I think you look at ransom and Mitchell Evans. If you're looking for four guys from that class that can be contributors. One of those two would have to step up. So even with that being said, I think you can normally say that that's a successful draft. I wouldn't want to take credit away from Dan Morgan and company for hitting on a couple of guys like that. I think you bring up the Devon Lloyd signing. I think that's a good signing to bring up because the math, if I'm not mistaken, that

35:04matches up with, I think, a modern way of building your football team because if you were to draft the linebacker really high, those guys that get drafted in the top 10 or the top 15 at linebacker, they make a lot of money. It's the same argument against drafting Jeremiah Love in the top three because he's guaranteed all of this money where usually you can save a little dough at that position. Same thing with linebacker. If you want to invest in that position, then just go get the dude that's already proven, which is what they did in Devon Lloyd instead of drafting a guy in the top 10 who might be really good and they're making the same money, but there's so much more risk with drafting that linebacker that they so desperately needed in the top 10 top 15. So there are still things I think that you should commend that front office for doing that's really bright. Like I think we're in good hands with Dan Morgan and Brant Tillis as of now and Eric Eager. I really like those guys running things over there. You discuss Mitchell Evans and like we're kind of questioning whether Trevor H.

36:07Ann can be the head. You look at some of these other classes that I'm discussing that are like among the best over the last 10 years. You know, all of those other players, they're monsters that they're, they're immediate above average starters and pro ball slash all pro level players. And I think it's fair when we bring in some text messages. I'm trying to find the one that I wanted to read here. We did have somebody write in the Lions picks. They were all top two round picks. So it's apples and oranges. That was a great point that I also thought as well because it's the same thing with the Cleveland draft that you just broke down. They had multiple picks in the first and second round. They did. They nailed them. True. And they and they had a third round pick in Austin Barber and they had in last year's draft, a third round pick in Harold Fanon. So the question is, is if Dan Morgan had multiple first, if he had two first round picks and two second round picks in a draft, would he be able to identify the right talent

37:09and nail all of those picks, the way that we feel that they've done to this point, you're right. I think the Lions, you feel a lot more justified with what you're seeing because that was the 23 class. Four years in those guys are pretty good. And I don't think they're going anywhere anytime soon. The Browns guys, we need to learn a little bit more, but they're off to pretty decent starts. What you're hoping for. So if that scenario was to pop up for Dan Morgan, which you, the thing I will say is that if you are a fan of the Carolina Panthers, you should not want that. You know who usually has multiple first round picks in an NFL draft, bad football teams. If you look at it, this upcoming year, the Jets, three first round picks, how's that organization working out? Not well. So I think that's something that you probably want to avoid. Sure. But I mean, yeah, why at the least this is what needs to happen.

38:12You need Dan Morgan to hit on those top draft picks because that's your best chance to find all pro pro ball caliber guys. And right now, I mean, he, I would say he's hit in 2025. I feel pretty good about where that group is at. Lee Hunter is off to a pretty good start for Carolina. We've talked about how the first round offensive lineman tackles in specific. You have some struggles along the way historically and then eventually find themselves on the right track. So if that happens with Monroe Freelink, then that's four hits right there. And you're feeling pretty good about those four guys moving forward. You asked where is the Panthers draft class that comes anything close to resembling what Detroit Cleveland or New Orleans did all those years ago. I mean, look, I mean it when I say comes close to resembling maybe a little bit of what

39:13those classes were 2017 is what I go to. It was CMC Curtis Samuel Taylor Motten and all those guys were top two round picks. And after that, it's Deshawn Hall, Cornelder, Alex Armagh, I love me some Alex Armagh. And Harrison Bucker, but we know what happened there. He didn't play for us. So the first three picks, those are all good football players. All of them still in the league. All of them Curtis, as long as he's healthy can produce at a decent level, but it's not even really I'm not even trying to present this as a Dan Morgan brand till his criticism piece. It I said this with team act last year. I want a team act to come out and just show you that he's a bona fide stud from the rip that he's just going to go out there like these top 10 receivers can and show you I'm a 1000 yard guy actually right now. We're actually not going to have to wait and develop and hey, everybody be patient. No, I'm actually just going to show you I'm that dude right now. Are we going to get that from Monroe Freeling tougher?

40:14I think it tackle as we've gone through the numbers quite a bit over the last few years. Nick Scorton showed you that you should be very confident in him developing, but then he gets hurt. Some of this is just bad luck, man. It's what the draft is sometimes guys falling dudes that you really want it. Some of it's bad luck, but you would hope that we would get some good luck here soon to really overwhelmingly hit. I don't think you can use that phrase. I don't think you can say GM X Scott fitterer, whether it's Marty Herney for the second time, whether it's Dan Morgan at this point, they overwhelmingly hit on this year's draft class. And maybe that's still to come, but I don't think you can say that as of right now in Dan Morgan's young tenure. We move on. We tell you what's on tap coming up next sports radio. 927 WFNZ. Have you ever thought about the difference between paying rent and owning a home? When you rent, your monthly payment helps cover the cost of living there, but it usually doesn't build anything for your future. Home ownership is different. Each payment you make on a home may help build equity, which is the value you own in the

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42:16What the best build on? shop now at participating Home Depot, Lowe's, and Florida Core Stores. For more information, visit JamesHearty.com slash heartybacker. Final segment on No Rules Friday. We'll tell you what's on tap. Western Walker Sports Radio 92 7 WFNZ presented by Twin Peaks. Twin Peaks has locations in Concord and Care Winds Exit 90. Come in from me from scratch food plus all the signature 29 degree draft beers. We have a college football game discussed it with West earlier in the show. Virginia Tech hosting the Pittsburgh Panthers. The winner of this game moves to 5 and 0. The loser of this game has their first blemish on the season.

43:18Flowdy, this game opened with the Hokies being a 5 and a half point favorite. It's now down to 2 and a half for the Hokies at home. That feels more correct. I think 5 and a half. That's that's a big opening line. It is indeed. Who do you think wins tonight's match up between the Hokies and the Panthers? Seven o'clock ESPN. Man, yeah, this is this is God is going to be such a good game, man. I'm so ready for this one. I'm going to go at home with Virginia Tech. I'm just hoping can we can we get a great battle between Grunkamire who's off to a good start to the season and base an I'm sure who's off to a really good start to the season. If we get a I think there could be points in this one. I'll go Virginia Tech. 35 31 over Pittsburgh. Okay, so pretty high scoring a fair Pittsburgh. You look at their strength of schedule. They haven't had a big win this year.

44:18They did beat Miami Ohio to start. They beat UCF 12 seven. That was a tight one against Central Florida down pouring rain. So that's why the offense didn't look great. Sarah Q's 27 13 bucknell 59 nothing. So this is I mean, they've played a lot of schools that have not been very good at football. But this is the problem. We felt like Pittsburgh was going to be a impressive football program with Mason Heinschle proving a lot of stuff. I don't know what to do with this one because it's not like Virginia Tech has the most daunting strength to schedule either. They beat Boston College by touchdown. They won against Maryland by nine points. It was kind of close, I guess, against ODU and then Virginia Tech was able to separate them. So I'm not really first half. They did a nice job putting that one away. I think Pittsburgh wins this game. I believe in Mason Heinschle. Oh, okay. I think it's going to be tough. I think there's a reason that there's some money coming in on the Panthers with all the apologies in the world to Kyle. If it helps, I'm pulling for Virginia Tech. I want to see the Hokies get this one.

45:18Are you though? I am. I promise. I know what you're thinking. I hope that there's a certain somebody at home not listening because she wouldn't like that. That's what I'm that was exactly what I was thinking. No, I thought about it. And I. Hey. Good looking out, man. I do appreciate that. I got some love for Virginia Tech. Hopefully she's not listening. I do think Pittsburgh is going to win this game though. I think the offense is going to be tough to stop. Okay. Another game on tap tonight. Before we get to the Carolina Panthers side of things this weekend. Not tonight. I should say excuse me, but we can't take a look at the MLB playoffs that will be taking place Saturday. So now you have the divisional series all wrapped up. They're ready to go. Cleveland hosting the Chicago White Sox. Of course, I'll be paying attention to Chicago and game one of the LDS locked in. Petrippin locked in also at four o'clock right after that game on Fox. The Dodgers will be hosting the Atlanta Braves. The Braves were able to get that victory over the Phillies last night. So Atlanta, they move on.

46:20Dodgers hosting Atlanta. What was your thought? Yeah, I'd look. I mean, the Braves last night. Great performance. Exactly what you were looking for in a closeout game against the Phillies. Now what's an unbelievable stat is that the Phillies have not had won a closeout game in a series on the. I think it's on the road in 36 years or something like that. So this is not like the most out of left field result. But the Braves great job. This is what they said. Great job winning that wild card matchup against your rival. Here's your reward. The back to back world series champs. Tampa Bay hosting the New York Yankees 630 on Saturday. Very intrigued. The winner of that series probably goes to the world series. And then Milwaukee hosting San Diego after San Diego beat the Chicago Cubs. The Brewers West Bryant's Brewers. Yes. That's exactly what I was going to say. You got to make sure he is all officially on the bandwagon.

47:22He made a flounder like guarantee that they will be in the world series. What could go wrong for the Milwaukee Brewers? Still one of my favorite logos and sports is the M.B. With the baseball in the middle making the glove. The Milwaukee Brewers logo. It's fantastic. Carolina. Here we go. Blackout hosting the Detroit Lions Bank of America Stadium Sunday night football. Have you seen the spread on this one? I would imagine I have not. I've not seen this. Good. Guess it. What you got? Oh. So I mean look, it's the NFL. It's never going to be very rarely unless you're a bad bad football team. It's not going to be double digits, but I will say Vegas loves them some lions. I'm going to go. Lions. Four and a half. Nice job. Close to it. Detroit is favored by three and a half. Okay. Open up with Detroit being a three point favorite. It moved to Detroit being a three and a half point favorite. I think Detroit wins this football game.

48:23I think you're going to see some points on the board. I think Detroit ends up with 33 points. And I think Carolina is going to end up with 27. 33 27 the Detroit Lions come out on top. Don't like it. Hope I'm wrong. That's the vibe that I'm getting from this one. Carolina moves to one and three. Again, I hope I'm wrong. What you got? Yeah, look, the Lions defense in a roundabout way. They stink. They're really not that good. They've allowed a lot of yards. I mean, guys, Geno Smith carved this team up. Last weekend. So this is a gettable secondary. I do think Jalen Coker will play. I think he will have a relatively big game for a guy that is. Dealing with some sort of. What is a quad injury at this point? Say who's the player again? Say what? Oh, Coker. Yes, he's dealing with the quad injury. Quad injury. Had the had the ankle at the back. I think he's going to have a good time. Quad injury had the had the ankle at one time too. So he's dealing with a lot. Still think he's going to put on a good performance.

49:24Scoring won't be the issue for the Panthers in this one. It's the fact that you've got an elite offense on the other side of you. I'm I'm I will admit a little scared of them against your gifs. Now what I will say is if you are picking the Panthers in this game, your counter could be well, how scared were you about Pajan Robinson and look how they shut him down. Problem is Jarrett golfing Cooper Cooper rush. No, not in any way shape or form. That wide receiving core very successful. You doubted James and Williams. He's going for over a hundred in this game. Guaranteed. I think the Lions do win. I will go 30 to 28. Oh, man, that's a tough one. Oh, two points. Disappointing. Oh, that's brutal. But a late drive for the for the Lions. We've seen it before, man. People are disappointed. Trust me, you are not more disappointed than I am in myself. I apologize.

50:24Not only because I picked the Lions to win, but I had a friend slash family member of the show, not an Edward say seat. You decided to sleep on the couch and pick Virginia tech over the air. And Monroe Lara says, buddy, you're in for it when you get home. I don't know why I decided to say that. That was stupid. I made a stupid decision. I had one more segment to go. I decided to dive in front of the bus. What has been scratching my head is that earlier in the week, you did the right thing. You said, I'm not seeing where everybody has Virginia tech rank that high. You were down on you said Virginia should be ahead of them. Well, and what's his ACC ranking? I'm sticking with it. I'm picking Pittsburgh to win this game. But you say you've got love for Virginia tech. I know you should not have love for Virginia tech. You're right. I apologize to Olivia and I apologize to the panther. I'm not going to say that. I'm going to Olivia and I apologize to the panthers fans. That'll do it for Western Walker. Keep it right here for the Kyle Bailey show alongside smoke. Ludwig will see if they panther up sports rate in 92 7 WFNZ.