Sports Krunch W/dkrom

1. CeeDee Lamb is usually mentioned in the same breath as Jerry Jeudy as a serious candidate to be the first WR taken off the board. However, the expectation is that Lamb will run in the 4.5s in the 40 yard dash. While I constantly, passionately stress that 40 time isn’t the end all, be all for WR’s, the NFL has a history of letting uber-talented receivers who post such a result slide much farther than they should. A notable recent example of that is Michael Thomas, who is now arguably the best WR in the NFL. Based on the tape alone, do you think Lamb is worthy of a top-10 selection? 2. The WR that’s likely to generate the most buzz in Indy is Henry Ruggs. Many believe he will break the record for fastest 40 time ever recorded at the Combine, which was recently set by John Ross three years ago. Ross ended up being the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft. Do you think Ruggs is a better prospect? If so, what makes him so and do you think his film alone should put him in the conversation along with Lamb and Jeu

We kick off our 2020 NFL Draft Coverage with a special interview with Nick Gauna, who was a placekicker on the 2015-16 University of Alabama National Championship football team!! He discussed how his inspiring journey led him to Tuscaloosa, his experience playing for Nick Saban, and shared his thoughts on the top prospects the Crimson Tide have in the 2020 NFL Draft

1. Initial thoughts on Super Bowl LIV Me:  -Opposite styles attract!    Hal: Both teams have good offensive lines, especially at OT…and good DL too 2. Truth/Exaggeration -The 49ers ground game will be even more difficult for the Chiefs to stop than that of the Titans -The Chiefs wide receivers against the Niners DB’s is the biggest mismatch in favor of the Chiefs -Jimmy Garoppolo will have to throw for at least 250+ yards and 2 TD’s for the Niners to win -The Chiefs will have to allow less than 150 rushing yards for them to win -The 49ers will start the game throwing it over the yard with the Chiefs anticipating the run -Andy Reid should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day REGARDLESS of Sunday’s outcome -A Niners win means that Kyle Shanahan’s father Mike will be enshrined in Canton within the next five years 3. David and Hal’s picks of the Modern Era Finalists for the Pro Football HOF Class of 2020 -Troy Polamalu, Steve Atwater, John Lynch, LeRoy Butler, Edgerrin James, Isaac Bruc

Ohio State WR KJ Hill was another player who made himself some money at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. I caught up with him after the final day of practice and he talked about why Brian Hartline, his position coach in college, is such a masterful teacher, discussed the strengths of his game aside from his superb route running skills, the advice his former Buckeye teammate and current star Redskins WR Terry McLaurin is giving him as he goes through the draft process...and more!!!

Texas WR Collin Johnson was another player that stood out to me at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. We spoke after practice and he discussed why he's running routes better than most 6-6 receivers, what makes the comeback route so difficult (he ran a great such route in practice that day), the amazing feeling he got from getting to conclude his college career in Mobile playing with fellow Longhorn Devin Duvernay...and MORE!!!

Wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden from Liberty University is one of the more inspiring stories of the 2020 NFL Draft. I spoke to him after one of the practices at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl to discuss his story and game. He talks about growing up in Chicago's impoverished Englewood neighborhood and the inspiration he takes from NBA star Derrick Rose (who also grew up in Englewood). We also discussed the parts of his game he felt he improved during the week in Mobile, his favorite NFL wide receivers and more!!!

Utah DB Terrell Burgess is one of the most versatile players in the 2020 NFL Draft. He can play all four secondary positions. I interviewed him at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl after practice and he discussed which position he's most comfortable at, what he's learned from watching similarly hybrid defensive backs like All Pro Tyrann Mathieu of the Chiefs...and MORE!!!

Baylor WR Denzel Mims was another big standout at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. I spoke to him after the second day of practice, and he discussed why his track background helps him play the wide receiver position, why his coach at Baylor, Matt Rhule (now the head coach of the Panthers) will be successful in the NFL, what makes him admire Saints All Pro WR Michael Thomas so much...and MORE!!!!!

Ohio State is a defensive line factory for the NFL and an underrated DL prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft is Davon Hamilton. I talked to him after practice at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl and we talked about what makes Buckeyes DL coach Larry Johnson such an effective teacher, what advice he's seeking from former Buckeye DL-mates Nick Bosa (2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year!) and Dre'Mont Jones...and MORE!!!

Freakish, athletic Alabama edge rusher Terrell Lewis is one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. I spoke to him after one of the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl practices, and we discussed what makes his game so unique, what it was like playing for such a legendary head coach like Nick Saban, the latest on his college teammate and friend Tua Tagovailoa...and MORE!!!!

LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry III was another one of the big winners at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. I caught up with him after practice and he talked about his versatility (he can play guard as well as center), what it was like playing with 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, why having Ed Orgeron, a former DL coach as his college head coach helped get him pro ready and more!!!

Houston OT Josh Jones was one of the star performers at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl, and he could very well end up a first-round pick as a result. In this interview, he describes his game, why going up against fellow Houston Cougar and current Buffalo Bill Ed Oliver (the 9th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft) in practice helped make him a better player, why he would be an asset to an NFL club on and off the field and more!!!

I was fortunate to run into North Carolina OT Charlie Heck at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. We talked about his father Andy (former guard for the Seahawks and Bears and current OL coach for the Chiefs), what he taught Charlie about football and life, what it would mean to his family if the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV, his thoughts on the big game and more!!!

In this deep and insanely talented 2020 WR draft class, Devin Duvernay is arguably one of the best possible options on Day 2. I spoke with him at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl and he talked about why he's much more than a "deep threat", who he credits for his 106 reception season in 2019 and more!!!!

Offensive weapon Antonio Gibson, who played running back AND wide receiver at Memphis, joined me at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. He discussed which of the two positions he thinks he plays the best, what NFL players he tries to model his game after, and more!!!!

One of the stars of the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl was Lenoir Rhyne safety/linebacker Kyle Dugger. I caught up with him there and he discussed what positions he played in college, why versatile, hybrid players like him are increasing in value, what NFL players he looks up to, and what aspects of his game he wanted to improve on during the week

I caught up with versatile Maryland DB Antoine Brooks at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl. We discussed why hybrid "position-less" defenders like him are now highly coveted by the NFL as opposed to years past, what his favorite position to play is, his thoughts on soon-to-be Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Troy Polamalu and more!!!!

Matt Lombardo, Giants beat reporter for the Newark Star-Ledger, joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl to talk about what awaits the New York Giants in 2020 and beyond. He discussed why history is an encouraging sign for new Giants head coach Joe Judge, why new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will be helpful to the development of Daniel Jones, and who the Giants should take with the 4th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft 

Matthew Fairburn, Bills beat reporter for The Athletic, joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl to talk about the Buffalo Bills and their promising future. He discussed the Bills plans in free agency and the draft, what QB Josh Allen must do to take another big step forward next season, and the potential of DT Ed Oliver contending for an All Pro selection in his second NFL season 

Former All Pro NFL safety Steve Atwater joined me at the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl for a fun-filled interview. He discussed why the NFL is valuing hybrid, “positionless” defensive players more than ever, his thoughts on Super Bowl LIV, and his chances on getting enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame