Our 3rd Annual All-Old School Team!
Say hello to the players who make football the greatest sport there is.
We love real football around here. Until the owners completely siphon blocking and tackling out of the sport, this will remain a sport of attrition.
It’s not for everybody. And that’s OK. Football players remain our greatest form of modern-day gladiators.
So, for the third year, we introduce our All-Old School Team at Go Long. Here are the first and second Old School squads, icymi. Podcast co-hosts Bob McGinn and Jim Monos also share their selections below. McGinn has covered the NFL since 1979, while Monos worked in the personnel departments of the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills.
Who’s the throwback you love watching on Sundays? Let us know in the comments.
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TYLER DUNNE
BAKER MAYFIELD, QB, TAMPA BAY
He’s the Comeback Player of the Year this side of Damar Hamlin, and it’s not close. Let’s not forget this was a quarterback on the brink of obscurity, Cleveland to Carolina to L.A. to a Tampa Bay team low on options post-Tom Brady. Nothing was handed to Mayfield in training camp — he needed to beat out Kyle Trask for the job. Maybe this humbling experience all brought the QB back to his gritty college days as a walk-on. Back against the wall, he’s playing the best football of his career with 3,315 yards, 24 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Mock the NFC South all you want. Mayfield’s winning games his way — with clutch plays late. Intangibles matter at this position. Teammates know he’ll play through any pain. The legend Andy Janovich put it best, of course: “The thing about Baker is he won’t say shit to anyone about anything. You could cut his dick off and he wouldn’t f—king say shit.” Amen, Andy.
KALIF RAYMOND, WR, DETROIT
Speaking of careers on the brink, it wasn’t too long ago that Kalif Raymond was doubting himself in the NFL. To the extreme. Last summer, the receiver opened up to Go Long. Raymond was in a bad, bad place with the New York Jets through his muffed punts. He found a “mental foundation” and, now, embodies everything Dan Campbell demands out of his players: tough, fearless. Arguably nobody on the roster has maximized every ounce of their talent like the kid sending 800 emails to colleges for one chance. Three years of finding players like Raymond explains why the Lions have a legitimate chance to reach the Super Bowl.
WILL ANDERSON, EDGE, HOUSTON
This sure seemed like a terrible trade in the moment, didn’t it? After drafting quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans mortgaged a ton for the No. 3 overall pick — No. 12 and No. 33 overall in 2023, a 2024 first-round selection and a 2024 third-round pick. (They also got back the 105th pick.) It’ll be hard for Anderson’s play to justify that much capital. But as a rookie, he has absolutely hinted at being the nasty game-wrecker defenses have been hunting for since football’s inception. Take into consideration the fact that next year’s draft class isn’t teeming with pass rushers and the aggressiveness makes a little more sense. “That dude has a motor like no other, bro,” said Texans tight end Brevin Jordan after Anderson wrecked the Broncos for two sacks, four QB hits and a pass breakup. “He’s a freak, bro.”
KENNY MOORE, CB, INDIANAPOLIS
Just drove back from Cincinnati earlier today. Will have a story on Jake Browning and this resurgent bunch live Friday AM. While chatting with Mike Hilton — an Old School alum — I asked the Bengals missile of a slot corner who he enjoys watching. Without hesitation, he brought up Indy’s Moore and Buffalo’s Taron Johnson. Longtime readers will recall Moore’s rise. From Valdosta State to today, he has earned every inch. No scouting page even existed for Moore out of high school. He wasn’t one of the 56 defensive backs drafted in his class, either. The 5-foot-9 corner who’d watch clips of the “Honey Badger” before games is unafraid to throw his body into the biggest backs and receivers. With 85 tackles, three interceptions and 1.5 sacks, he’s a major reason why the Colts — a team widely picked to finish last — have a chance to win their division. “I wanted to be one of those fearless guys,” Moore told us then. “I don’t care what I am on the sheet. I want to play bigger than what I am. Having that hunger changed my game.”
ISIAH PACHECO, RB, KANSAS CITY
He runs like his life depends on it. Every carry, Isiah Pacheco is a 5-foot-10, 216-pound weapon. Older readers no doubt have flashbacks to their favorite running back in the 70s and 80s watching the Chiefs’ lead man. There’s no gentle regard for his own safety, his own long-term health. He’s determined to inflict pain and doesn’t care about absorbing any himself. Basically, he’s the exact opposite of George Pickens picking and choosing when to play hard. Kansas City will be eager to get Pacheco back on the field — he’s the jolt of energy that unit needs and he could quickly get this offense back on track himself. They don’t win the Super Bowl without him last season.
BOB McGINN
AKAYLEB EVANS, CB, MINNESOTA
Antoine Winfield was my kind of cornerback. Not only wasn’t he afraid to tackle, he went out of his way to tackle. All 5-8 ½, 180 pounds of him. Playing for the Bills and Vikings from 2009-’12, he’s the toughest corner that I’ve ever seen. Now Evans, the Vikings’ fourth-round draft choice from Missouri (after four years at Tulsa) in 2022, is trying to carve out a career for himself at Winfield’s old spot. Evans (6-2, 198) might be too physical for his own good. His rookie season was shortened by seven games because of multiple concussions. A starter this year, he has been tattooing ballcarriers of all shapes and sizes while learning the intricacies of coverage. His three forced fumbles attest to the damage he has done throwing his body around. Evans possesses good speed (4.48) for his height and scored 27 on the Wonderlic, the second-best score among the top 25 corners in his draft class. The Vikings’ rebuilt secondary could use Evans to develop the way Winfield did a generation ago.
LUKE GOEDEKE, T, TAMPA BAY
His background is similar to mine. He played in high school for the Vikings of Valders, the small rural school in eastern Wisconsin that was a member of the Olympian Conference that I covered as a youth sportswriter in the 1970s. Nobody wanted him so he was happy to walk on as a tight end at DIII Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Eventually he matriculated to Central Michigan, where he started at right tackle for two years (2019, ’21) after sitting out all ’20 with a meniscus tear. The Bucs drafted him as a guard, and he blocked for Tom Brady as the starting left guard in Games 1-7 as a rookie. Given his substandard arm length (32 ¼ inches), scouts thought guard would be his best position. Surprisingly, he has played every snap through 14 games at right tackle, and his level of play has perked up substantially. He’s smart (Wonderlic of 31), strong and nasty. With his heavy hands and aggressive temperament, he has been an obstacle for all his opponents.
CARL GRANDERSON, DE, NEW ORLEANS
Despite posting 35 ½ sacks for the Wyoming Cowboys, he wasn’t drafted in 2019. So immediately after that draft disappointment he signed with the Saints, and five seasons in he has continued his steady upward track in New Orleans. In his first four years, he played right end as part of the D-line wave. A full-fledged starter for the first time this year, he has played 80 percent of the defensive snaps and come through with 7 ½ sacks, 18 quarterback hits and 65 tackles. His long arms (34 inches) attracted the attention of scouts five years ago. Every time I see him, he’s chasing quarterbacks all over the field. “He was third- or fourth-round as a player,” an AFC personnel man said in spring 2019. Granderson certainly has proven that scout right.
TREY SMITH, G, KANSAS CITY
As good as left guard Joe Thuney and center Creed Humphrey are, I’m sorry but whenever the Chiefs play I can’t keep my eyes off their right guard. That’s Smith, a bully if there ever was one. In pro football, that qualifies as a term of endearment. Not only is Smith massive (6-5 ½, 321), he also goes for the throat on an every-play basis. I can’t imagine many defensive tackles enter a meeting with Kansas City without a degree of hesitation. He’s played virtually every snap since joining the Chiefs as a sixth-round choice in 2021. The reason he dropped that far was purely medical. He missed five games of Tennessee’s season in 2019 with blood clots in his lungs, and then was restricted in practice in 2019-’20 because of them. So far, so good. One personnel guy compared him before that draft to ex-Ravens strong man Kelechi Osemele. “He will step on your soul,” said another scout. Thus far, he has stomped on a bunch of defensive players.
ANDREW VAN GINKEL, EDGE, MIAMI
One of my first exposures to Van Ginkel came in mid-November 2017 at Camp Randall Stadium when he delivered a blow to Michigan’s Brandon Peters that knocked the quarterback from the game with a concussion. He impressed me then for Wisconsin and now in his fifth season for the Dolphins. His beginnings were humble, and his inspired level of play probably stems from it. A prep quarterback in Hull, Iowa, he had no offers. After spending one year on partial scholarship at South Dakota, he spent two seasons there and another in junior college before surfacing in Madison where he started only as a fifth-year senior. Some teams pegged him as an inside linebacker. The Dolphins saw him outside, drafting him in the fifth round. Whether it’s starting (39 games) or coming off the bench (31 games), Van Ginkel produces. His career stat line — 15 ½ sacks, 52 quarterback hits, nine turnover plays, 236 tackles — will attest to that. With 4.59 speed he can turn the corner on the rush, pursue in earnest and excel on special teams.
JIM MONOS
MONTEZ SWEAT, DE, CHICAGO
Be nice to see him in the postseason, but Chicago did not waste time locking up their difference-maker upfront. Easy lesson when scouting: When you see someone who looks different than everyone else and he plays with passion do not overthink it. His explosion and length cause immediate stress for any offensive tackle. Nasty player that commands attention.
TREY HENDRICKSON, DE, CINCINNATI
Everyone who loves football and/or nice weather should attend a Pro Day at Florida Atlantic University. Hendrickson was the clear alpha when I was fortunate enough to be at his and he continues his dominance rushing the quarterback from college to the NFL. Consistent power, speed and effort will wear down even the elite pass protectors.
KYREN WILLIAMS, RB, LOS ANGELES
Not big enough, not fast enough blah blah blah. With scouting Combine times in the mid-4.6s, Williams was a fifth-round selection. What track does not measure are instincts and toughness and Williams has been a consistent producer taking pressure off Stafford and a key to the Rams being a threat to make the playoffs. Williams ranks fourth in the league with 953 rushing yards.
BRADLEY CHUBB, DE, MIAMI
The Dolphins offense gets all the love, as they should, but the defense needs to show up to beat the elite. His 9.5 sacks are good, but what is even better is he has six forced fumbles which leads the NFL. Giving the ball back to this offense is how you can win a Super Bowl and Chubb is playing at a high level.
SAM LAPORTA, TE, DETROIT
The Iowa Tight End factory continues with another mismatch nightmare in LaPorta. The route quickness is rare combined with suction hands enabling him to quickly get upfield gaining yards after the catch. Complete player and necessary for their success on offense.
Jake Browning and the Bengals are still dreaming.
Our story from Cincinnati, icymi:
If you love football — the essence of the sport — you’ll love “The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football.” Email me at golongtd@gmail.com if you’d like to buy a signed copy.
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