West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

Ep. 124 - The Sooners’ Starters are Beginning to Crystallize

In the opening take, Grant is begging for some interesting news to come out of fall practice. Then Lee joins to talk about seeing Jalen Redmond on the practice field in shells Monday night. What position is he going to play, and is even on track to be a contributor early in the season (3:30)? Switching over to the secondary where it looks like Brendan Radley-Hiles is now the next man up at Nickel and the starting 5 back there is looking more clear (13:30). Alex Grinch wants more competition at the safety positions (17:50). Tackling is still being emphasized -- in case you were worried about that (21:45) plus the defense is counting the number of times players strip at the ball in practice (23:00). Grant is being pessimistic about the defense, so Lee tries to layout what a reasonable person can hope to see from OU's defense in 2019 (25:10). Lee asked Alex Grinch how to get more interceptions (27:40). We try to formulate an "iron sharpens iron" theory that doesn't really go anywhere (32:50). Grinch gave us some nuggets recently that continue to make us excited to watch this new defensive line (40:40). Lee finishes up the defensive talk with a take on who'll eventually be playing the Nickel position (43:15). We're pretty confident in who's going to start on the offensive line (46:25). Jay Boulware said some nice things about Rhamondre Stevenson (51:30). Dusty Dvoracek had some nice news about true freshman wide receiver Jadon Haselwood (53:35). We're officially bored about any OU quarterback discussion so we talk a little about Tate Martell not winning the Miami job (57:00). We're getting pretty close to our massive college football preview show and Grant is super intrigued by the Big Ten (1:00:15). We finish up with some preseason NFL talk including Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones' debuts, how it's annoying to hear anything about the Dallas Cowboys, and a little "Hard Knocks" (1:04:55). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 123 - Every Play in Practice is a Turnover Drill

In the opening take, recent comments from Grant Calcaterra and CeeDee Lamb has Lee excited about the OU defense. Then Grant joins to talk briefly about the Sooners practicing at night (5:50) before bringing up all the things we know about Tre Norwood (7:25). Grant gets a chance to comment on the earlier soundbites from Calcaterra and Lamb, plus is it a good thing that this new scheme is so simple (17:00)? Guess what? DaShaun White claims the OU defense will never go back to how it was a season ago (23:25). The latest on Jalen Redmond and what he's up to at practice (25:20). Alex Grinch explained at Media Day why he's confident in his scheme (27:50). DaShaun White said something about the defensive line that hopefully translates to actual games (32:05). Lee has a new policy when it comes to "Bookie", plus Radley-Hiles explains the most positive part about having many returners in the secondary (34:20). Remember when Robert Barnes got run over in the Orange Bowl? Well, he addressed that this week (37:40). Apparently Chanse Sylvie interned at Walmart for a few weeks this summer and he's got an interesting career goal in mind (40:40). Jalen Hurts has been putting in a lot of extra work so far early in camp. Lee asked CeeDee Lamb how much Hurts leans on veteran players for advice (42:20)? Hey Spencer Rattler is out in camp. Will he end up being the backup QB by the end of August (44:35)? Moving to the offensive line. We got a chance to talk with Adrian Ealy the other night and he's pretty pumped that Creed Humphrey is back practicing (48:05). Trey Sermon said one of his teammates reminds him of a pretty darn good former NFL running back (54:40). The guys haven't talked about the "White Out" for Week 1. Grant is pumped (1:00:05). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 122 - Fall Camp Storylines and Quite the Take by Cowherd

In the opening take, Grant provides a preview of what he's looking for as fall practice arrives for the Sooners. Then Lee joins to answer some questions about OU's fall camp beginning with the Sooners' storyline that is most interesting (5:00). When's Lincoln Riley going to name Jalen Hurts the starting quarterback (14:30)? The guys talk about potential breakout candidates from the youngest members of the team (19:30). We know the defense could be bad again this season, but aside from that what else could derail the Sooners this year (28:50)? Is it possible to determine the weakest part of the Sooners' offense (33:10)? What's the one position OU CANNOT afford to get injured in fall camp (37:40)? Out of the presumed starters, who'd you be LEAST surprised to see lose their job in camp (41:50)? Selecting players who we personally hope have a great 2019 season (46:40). We finish up the show with the "Hot Take of the Week" segment featuring our old pal Colin Cowherd's most recent take on Baker Mayfield (50:30). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 121 - Uh... Yeah... Lincoln Riley is Definitely a Genius

Lee brings the "Hot Take of the Week" segment to his opening take. Then Grant joins to give his thoughts on Mac Engel's recent column that asks us all to pump the brakes anointing Lincoln Riley as a genius (9:00). A recruit said Alex Grinch told him the Sooners' defense doesn't have one person who could go to the NFL right now. Lincoln Riley addressed that quote at Media Days. We discuss (19:25). What is a realistic improvement that we could actually see from OU's defense in 2019 (30:30)? Some smart college football people are not very high on Texas this season. Could the Longhorns actually 08:16a down year in 2019 (37:10)? Pat Fitzgerald had some thoughts on college football's declining attendance. Grant has some Big Ten attendance experience and at some point we talk about Minnesota football and the Golden Gophers' random rivals (55:15). Baker Mayfield went on a date the day before the Rose Bowl and then moved in with his current wife three days later. What (1:08:15)?! Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 120 - Let’s Make the Best of a Boring Big 12 Media Days

In the opening take, Grant gives you the most important news out of Big 12 Football Media Days... just kidding. Nothing really happened in Arlington. Then Lee joins Grant from Jerry's World to talk about the most useful things we learned at media days (4:00). The Big 12 and national media didn't seem to know Jalen Hurts still has to win the OU quarterback job (7:20). Lee thought a player update was the most useful piece of info from the two days in Arlington (12:30). Sam Ehlinger and Tom Herman seemed to know exactly what to say about Baker Mayfield/Terry Bradshaw criticism and the "Horns Down" stuff is still not clear at all (15:30). We go over the preseason Big 12 Media Poll and give our picks (22:15). "Sports Illustrated" finally released their Top 100 players list and five Sooners made the cut. We don't have a whole lot of problems with the list, although the No. 3 ranked player makes both guys roll their eyes (37:30). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 119 - The Media Votes for Kenneth Murray (Hopefully They’re Right)

In the opening take, Lee is annoyed that only 2 quarterbacks will be in attendance at Big 12 Football Media Days next week. Then Grant joins to discuss the media's preseason All-Big 12 team selections, beginning with the media's decision to name Kenneth Murray the preseason Defensive Player of the Year (6:00). The guys go over their picks for the preseason All-Big 12 Defensive team beginning with the defensive line (27:00). The media left perhaps the best linebacker in the Big 12 off the preseason All-Big 12 team (39:55). Moving to the secondary where we begin with a player Grant would love to see on OU's defense (45:00). We briefly go over the media's offensive picks (57:15) before coming back to name our own Big 12 Defensive Player picks (59:00). Jason Kersey of "The Athletic" breaks a story about Kennedy Brooks as we're recording the episode (1:01:40). Lee asks Grant about his thoughts on the Big 12 Football Media Days attendees and determines the Big 12 is not going to be very good this year (1:05:55). Even though it happened almost a month ago, we decide to talk about the most recent Baker Mayfied/Sam Ehlinger thing (1:08:40). We finish up by discussing a recent "Bleacher Report" story about Florida State. Were we too hard on Willie Taggart last season (1:13:45)? Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 118 - Preseason All-Big 12 Offense Picks + Another Fiery Debate

In the opening take, Grant doesn't want to see college football free agency in the near future, but he's not sure what to do about the NCAA transfer rules. Then Lee joins to propose some ideas that would make the transfer rules more simple (8:00). **We apologize for Lee's audio quality starting at the 18:40 mark. His microphone malfunctioned without him realizing** Lee vents about the NCAA's "5-year clock" rule (23:10). The guys go over their Preseason All-Big 12 Offensive team beginning with a disagreement at quarterback (29:40). On to the running backs (37:00), then to the wide receivers (44:55), Grant Calcaterra seems to be the default All-Big 12 tight end (49:25), the guys weirdly pick a lot of the same offensive linemen for their preseason All-Big 12 team (50:40), and we finish up with kicker and kick returner (57:30) before selecting the preseason Big 12 offensive player of the year (1:02:20). Grant's got a hot date so we skip a couple of football topics to discuss Cake vs. Pie (1:04:20). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 117 - A Doctor’s Perspective of Jalen Redmond & Blood Clots

It takes Lee just a couple of weeks to talk about Brock Vandagriff again in the opening take. Then Grant joins to talk a little about the upcoming Big 12 Football Media Days (5:30). Sports Illustrated still hasn't come out with a Top 100 player list, so Grant found a different list of rankings to discuss (8:15). Grant gives his thoughtful take on Vandagriff committing to OU, followed by his emotional take. It's kinda weird because the guys talk about a recruit and recruiting for like 15 minutes (17:30). A doctor listens to the show and he sent the guys some thorough information about blood clots and what Jalen Redmond is potentially dealing with (33:30). Grant thinks West Virginia is going to be pretty terrible in 2019 and Lee is excited to see how WVU's new defensive coordinator fairs in the Big 12 (46:00). Lee brings up something outside of sports that we promise you'll have an opinion on. This is a fantastic summer topic (54:50). We try to decide if we're going to have a show next week and finish up with some random chit chat that includes the time Lee saw Nick Saban and Paul Finebaum arguing next to a bathroom (1:03:40). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 116 - Let’s Rank the Top Quarterbacks in College Football

No opening take today, so the guys begin the show by talking about last summer's "Sports Illustrated" Top 100 players list that looks even more ridiculous in hindsight (2:40). Transitioning to a more recent list as "Athlon Sports" ranked all 130 quarterback in college football. The guys give their top 10 QBs and tell you who is overrated, underrated, and just right (7:15). Les Miles and Pooka Williams are the two most interesting aspects of KU to Lee, while Grant is still disgusted by the Jayhawks' behavior a couple of seasons ago (35:15). Is this the season that all the Texas preseason hype is warranted (42:30)? Baker Mayfield will be in Norman this week. What questions should Lee ask him (51:15)? Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 115 - Are We Sure Jalen Hurts Will Be Good in 2019?

In the opening take, Lee kind of talks about recruiting. Kind of. Then Grant joins to talk about the first OU football game the guys ever went to (4:30). A message from a listener makes Lee change his mind about Jalen Redmond's future at OU (9:30). Are we sure Jalen Hurts is going to be good this season (19:00)? Are we sure Jalen Redmond's position is going to be Rush LB (32:00)? Are we sure the Big 12 won't be terrible in 2019 (40:20)? We look ahead to OU's Week 5 opponent Texas Tech. Grant doesn't think Tech's going to be very good this year, and there's solid evidence to back up that claim (48:40). Grant's incredibly high on Kyler Murray's rookie season, while Lee says pump the breaks (57:45). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9