West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

Ep. 55 - Roll the Dice on Rodney

In the opening take, Lee tries to make everybody a little money by pointing out an underrated fact about Rodney Anderson. Then Grant joins to chat briefly about the best running backs in college football (6:30). Lincoln Riley has a new contract and Kyler Murray took BP with the Athletics last week (9:10). Picking up where we left off last week, the guys turn their attention to OU's October 20th matchup against TCU (12:15). Next up the Sooners are back home to face Kansas State on October 27th (21:25). Next up OU travels to Lubbock to face a Texas Tech team who returns almost everybody on a defense that was pretty bad in 2017 (28:40). Can OSU recruit better? The Cowboys AD seems to think Mike Gundy is not getting enough good players (35:35). Bedlam is scheduled for November 10th and OU should be facing an OSU team who's having a down season (40:00). The Pokes' new defensive coordinator had some okay years at Duke and also had some horrible years at Duke (45:30). OU hosts KU November 17th and Grant lays into the Jayhawks football program (50:10). The Sooners complete the regular season November 23rd in Morgantown against Will Grier and West Virginia. The Mountaineers could have one of the worst defenses in the nation (53:55). A listener who's had a recent chat with Shane Beamer wants to know what kind of impact the new coach will have on OU's special teams(1:02:15)? Moving on to the "Hot Take of the Week" segment Colin Cowherd says he's right about Baker Mayfield not winning the Browns starting QB job (1:11:50). Mayfield sent a tweet to Cowherd this week (1:20:10). The "Hot Take" segment continues with NFL reporter Albert Breer providing his thoughts on Todd Haley's quotes about Mayfield (1:23:30). | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 54 - Kyler’s Quest to be ”The Guy” at OU

In the opening take, Grant wraps his arms around the Kyler Murray era and welcomes us to the beginning of the 2018 football season. Then Lee joins for a random discussion about former Sooners WR Cameron Kenney before jumping into all of the details surrounding Kyler Murray getting drafted by the A's (8:40). Lincoln Riley hints that Murray's football future may go on longer than we think (12:50). Lee uses his past experiences covering Kyler Murray to explain why he's not concerned about Murray's football focus in 2018 (15:00). Grant explains why it's actually a good thing longterm if Murray only plays football for the 2018 season and then moves on, plus the guys breakdown Austin Kendall's situation moving forward (23:15). The guys bring up Jay Hayes flipping to UGA back in April and it sounds like Chanse Sylvie's chances of playing this fall are not good (30:00). Incoming freshman DT Michael Thompson tweets that he'll miss 2018 with a torn ACL and the guys disagree on the potential impact of this injury (38:00). Grant provides a summer update on all the guys who are not on campus yet (42:15). Taking an early game-by-game look at each OU matchup this season beginning with a potentially nightmare Week 1 contest against FAU (44:00). Talking early kickoff times and other FOX games in Week 1(58:40). Moving on to the Week 2 matchup against Chip Kelly and UCLA (1:02:55). Talking the big time revenge game at Iowa State in Week 3 (1:09:00). Is this the toughest 3-4 game opening season schedule OU has faced in recent memory? (1:14:40). Grant already knows what's going to happen Week 4 against Army (1:17:40). Baylor is going to be much better this season and could be unbeaten when OU faces the Bears on Sept. 29th (1:22:20). We finish up with a look at OU's Week 6 game at the Cotton Bowl against Texas (1:27:20). | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 53 - Who’s Gonna Start in 2018? Updated.

In the opening take, Lee explains that Dimitri Flowers is already getting some publicity in New York. Then Grant joins to rant about the OU-Florida 2009 BCS National Championship Game (6:20). Lincoln Riley had some interesting things to say on Adam Schefter's podcast this week including thoughts on Baker Mayfield, Orlando Brown, and the NFL (16:30). Hue Jackson reiterated over the weekend that Tyrod Taylor is the Browns starting quarterback (30:30). The Broncos were never going to draft Mayfield and Lee thinks John Elway has finally proven he doesn't know what he's doing at the QB position (36:15). Lee thinks NFL offenses are behind college football and it's clear that taking snaps under center is not as important as it used to be (41:45). The guys update their predictions for who will start on offense for OU in Week 1 (46:00). Moving on to the defense and once again we have fireworks when discussing who's going to start on the DL (55:00). | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 52 - Mayfield’s Moment: The Browns Get it Right at No. 1

In the opening take, Grant explains why the Browns got it right with Baker Mayfield. Then Lee joins to add on to the Mayfield talk beginning with his initial thoughts on Mayfield going No. 1 (8:00). In the "Hot Take of the Week" Colin Cowherd is not fond of the Browns decision with the No. 1 pick (10:30). We found out earlier this week the Patriots were willing to trade up as far as No. 2 to get Mayfield (15:40). Grant takes Cowherd to task for being a hypocrite when it comes to this Darnold/Mayfield discussion (18:00). Lee thinks the Jets could be a rough landing spot for Darnold because NY's offensive coordinator is very inexperienced (26:30). We've learned the NFL seems to like Mayfield more than the media (31:30). Since Mayfield sat for a year at OU, should he sit for a year in Cleveland as well (36:30)? Is it possible the Browns selected Mayfield at No. 1 for all the wrong reasons (39:20)? Being a "winner" in college doesn't mean anything (45:50). Believe it or not, the Browns do not have the worst odds to win the Super Bowl (51:10). Going over all the other Sooners who were drafted and picked up as UDFAs (56:00). We finish up by answering listener questions from Facebook dealing with Mike Stoops and the College Football Playoff (1:04:30). | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 51 - Baker Mayfield vs. The Field

In the opening take, Lee explains why he's cooled on Baker Mayfield in the last week. Then Grant joins to help us critique a couple of head scratching takes from NFL expert Greg Cosell's pre-draft assessment of Mayfield (12:45). Grant looks up what people were saying about Peyton Manning before he was drafted and shockingly a decent amount of the same things are being said about Baker Mayfield (20:50). Then the guys provide their own pre-draft assessment of Mayfield including his strengths, weaknesses, and how he can transition from college to the pros (25:20). We both think Mayfield is the best QB in the class, but how do we feel about the rest of the top players? Deciding if we "Like", "Don't Like", or are "Unclear" about Sam Darnold (41:30), Josh Rosen (46:40), Josh Allen (49:00), Lamar Jackson (52:40), and Mason Rudolph (59:50). The "Hot Take of the Week" comes courtesy of the new ESPN show "Get Up" and it leads into a discussion of Baker Mayfield's chances of being the Number 1 pick in the draft (1:01:50). The guys both think Mayfield will be drafted by the Jets at No 3 (1:10:40). Of all the teams who could get Mayfield, which one is the best fit? (1:14:40) Grant opines on where some of the other OU players could get drafted this weekend (1:18:00). Finally, Lee repeats his Saquon Barkley hot take (1:20:10). | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 50 - Betting Big on ”Bookie”

In the opening take, Grant explains why Sooners fans may want to begin getting used to the number "1". Then Lee joins to talk all things Spring Game beginning with just how many people were at the game? (8:45) It was a huge weekend for big time commitments including a pair of 5-star WRs. (12:00) The guys disagree on the history of tall OU WRs. (18:25) Recapping the rest of the guys who committed to OU over the weekend. (23:40) A lot of former players were hanging around Norman Saturday on what turned out to be the worst weather day ever. (26:40) The guys finally start talking about the actual spring game and Lee wants to discuss an offensive lineman who caught his eye immediately. (32:30) Nobody really stood out to Grant on the offensive side and the guys disagree on the effectiveness of Kennedy Brooks. (39:15) Is there a legitimate QB competition between Kyler Murray and Austin Kendall? (47:45) Going over some other guys who caught our eye on offense. (53:40) The guys are on the same page when it comes to the defense and let's be honest, Bookie looks really good. (55:45) Hitting on multiple players on defense beginning with Ronnie Perkins. (1:03:05) Tyreece Lott (1:05:05) all the JACK linebackers (1:06:20) Linebacker depth all of a sudden doesn't look all that bad.(1:09:55) Outside of Bookie it was tough to get a read on the secondary. (1:11:30) Finally, Grant was very happy at some of the defensive formations he saw on Saturday. (1:13:30) | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 49 - Sifting Through Spring Game Storylines

In the opening take, Lee tackles all the praise and hype surrounding "Bookie" Radley-Hiles. Then Grant joins to take a quick look back at some of the best wide receivers in OU history (4:50). New details have emerged on the Spring Game including honoray captains and a true game format! (8:30) Going over both rosters and deciding which team is better -- it's incredibly difficult. (17:30) Which team should be favored to win? (26:00) What's the most interesting storyline surrounding this entire event? (31:10) Give us a surprise break out player who will also play well during the 2018 season? (33:00) On the flip side, who's a guy who will play well -- but fade and not be much of an impact in the fall? (35:50) The guys pick a winner of the Spring Game and Grant expands on what he'll be watching for closely on Saturday (39:20) The Pro Football Focus guys love Baker Mayfield almost as much as we do (45:30) Where's Mayfield going to be drafted as of now? (55:00) And before we go, it's time to poke holes in Colin Cowherd's latest take on Baker Mayfield (59:45). | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 48 - Should Trace Adkins Be Such a Polarizing Topic?

In the opening take, Grant voices his displeasure with the events surrounding the Sooners upcoming spring game. Then Lee joins to talk about the latest happenings around spring practice. After a week of reflection, is the Trace Adkins concert a bad idea? Plus do you care about the Wonderlic test? (episode details still to come) | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9

Ep. 47 - What About Bob (Diaco)?

In the opening take, Lee explains why he's taking a positive approach to the recent hiring of Bob Diaco. Then Grant joins in for a way too long discussion about the NCAA Tournament and whether or not Texas Tech missed a bunch of layups against Villanova (5:20). If you're not interested in any of that, the guys finally get to the Spring Game schedule of events which includes a concert this year. Plus there's a debate on how much the average OU fan really cares about recruiting (13:30). The topic shifts to spring practice (22:10) and Grant gets to chime in on new defensive analyst Bob Diaco (24:00). Is Diaco a possible future replacement for Mike Stoops? (30:40) Sliding over to OU basketball where a pair of guys have transferred. What's going on? (44:20) Grant wants to guess who might transfer next (48:00). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9 | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25

Ep. 46 - Here’s Why It’s Lazy to Compare Mayfield to Manziel

In the opening take, Grant explains how it felt to finally watch the 2nd half and Overtime of the Rose Bowl on TV. Then Lee joins to answer a listener question comparing Baker Mayfield to Johnny Manziel (9:00). The guys go over Manziel's off the field issues compared to Mayfield's issues (11:00), will the Jets draft Mayfield with the 3rd pick? (23:40) Should we be concerned with Mayfield's ability to handle failure in the NFL? (28:40) Was Mayfield's 2nd half performance against Georgia a telling sign that he'll struggle in the NFL, or was it a fluke? (33:00) Who are some QBs in the NFL known for talking trash while also having a lot of success? (39:25) Then the conversation shifts to OU basketball's early exit in the NCAA Tournament and the news that Trae Young is headed to the NBA. (43:30) Finally, nearly 3 months later, the guys go over every single OU offensive play from Overtime of the Rose Bowl (in extreme detail) -- aided by commentary from TCU coach Gary Patterson. (54:40) | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Email the show: westofeverest@gmail.com | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonNews9 | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25