NFL Spotlight w/ Ari Meirov

NFL Spotlight is back with another exciting Spotlight Guest. This week Ari Meirov welcomes Browns Defensive Coordinator Mike "Rudy" Rutenberg to the show. Rudy shares his story of how he became the man in charge of the Cleveland defense. He talks working for Joe Gibbs, his bond with Robert Saleh, and why he loves Quincy Williams.

00:00 - Cold open

00:26 - Show Introduction 

02:09 - Start of interview 

05:04 - Sleeping on Vinny Cerrato's Couch 

05:53 - Working with Joe Gibbs 

06:55 - Relentless Fight & Work Mentality 

08:24 - Madden's Advice & UCLA Move 

09:58 - Coaching Protocol & Staff Value 

10:50 - Maintaining a Steel Chin 

15:14 - Gus Bradley Precision & Detail 

16:46 - Country Music with Robert Saleh 

18:53 - Elite 2017 Jaguars Defense 

20:43 - Focusing on Lombardi Trophy 

21:45 - FanDuel / Browns QB Battle

26:14 - Richard Sherman Player Collaboration 

28:55 - Family Relocations and Sacrifices 

31:09 - Linebacker Room Brotherhood 

33:20 - Brotherhood with Jeff Ulbrich 

35:40 - Aaron Rodgers' Scout Team Resiliency 

37:48 - Arriving in Cleveland 

39:47 - High-Fiving on the Treadmill 

42:14 - Hall of Fame Connection 

43:53 - Jared Verse's Energy 

45:13 - Future Spotlight Nomination 

46:28 - Interview Wrap-up 

46:58 - Post-Interview Analysis 

48:58 - Show Wrap-up

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NFL Spotlight is dedicated to shining a light on those in the NFL that deserve a spotlight with top-notch insight and research from Ari Meirov.
Follow Ari on X: https://x.com/MySportsUpdate
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Ari Meirov's Spotlight Guest of The Week is the first media member we have had in ages - it is The Athletic's NFL Draft Analyst Dane Brugler. Dane shares how his journey to win a Super Bowl morphed into the most in-depth draft research work you can find in the business. He shares how "The Beast" came to be and why it isn't slowing down anytime soon.

00:00 - Cold Open

00:26 - Show Introduction

02:22 - Start of interview

04:13 - Northeast Ohio Roots & Choosing Football

07:39 - Mount Union Education

11:05 - Creating the First Draft Guide & Early Team Scouting Goals

13:49 - First NFL Combine Memories

15:49 - Choosing the Media Path Over Team Front Office Opportunities

19:56 - Inside the Patriots Front Office: Bill Belichick's Handwritten Lockout Note

22:46 - The Origins & Massive Evolution of "The Beast"

24:42 - Joining The Athletic & Ramping Up Advanced Draft Coverage

27:40 - Tracking 2,000+ Prospects

28:35 - Finding Diamonds in the Rough & The Draft's Human Element

30:47 - Uncovering Deep Player Backgrounds

35:31 - The Hardest Part of the Draft Cycle

38:30 - Networking on the Road: How Many Sources It Takes to Build the Guide

41:42 - Nationwide Billboards

44:01 - FanDuel Ad Break & Early 2027 First Overall Pick Odds

47:43 - Analyzing the Brendan Sorby Gambling & Supplemental Draft Decision

57:00 - Early 2027 Quarterback Projections: Setting the Over/Under Line

1:00:38 - Who deserves a spotlight?

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NFL Spotlight is dedicated to shining a light on those in the NFL that deserve a spotlight with top-notch insight and research from Ari Meirov.

Follow Ari on X: https://x.com/MySportsUpdate

Follow Ben on X: https://x.com/BenAllenSports

Follow The 33rd Team on X: https://x.com/The33rdTeamFB
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Meirov's NFL Spotlight Guest of the Week is riding high from a Super Bowl victory: it's the Seattle Seahawks Passing Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Jake Peetz! Jake shares his unorthodox path from working in college, the NBA and in new position groups he didn't know, to helping run a high-powered offense led by Sam Darnold.

00:00 - Cold Open

00:48 - Show Introduction

02:21 - Interview Begins: Super Bowl Ring Reflection

05:18 - Walking on at Nebraska & Bill Callahan's Mentorship

07:34 - Surprise NBA Phone Call

09:58 - Life with the Indiana Pacers & Managing NBA Personalities

12:05 - Unpaid Intern Grind & Training NBA Stars

14:51 - Breaking into NFL Scouting

17:20 - FanDuel Ad Break & NFC West Divisional Outlook

20:55 - Process & Accountability: Working for Nick Saban

22:44 - The Interview with Sean McVay

25:59 - The 2016 Raiders Playoff Run & Connor Cook's Historic Start

28:27 - Transitioning to Running Backs Coach with Christian McCaffrey

32:14 - McCaffrey’s Blockbuster Trade to SF

33:21 - 2022 Rams Adversity & Baker Mayfield

36:57 - The Dramatic Two-Minute Drive vs. Las Vegas

39:25 - Stafford's Prophecy & The 2023 Rams Playoff Push 4

42:50 - Joining Mike Macdonald's Staff with the Seattle Seahawks

45:44 - Roster Alignment


47:53 - Managing High-Stress Rivalries


51:18 - Balancing NFL Coaching with a Large Family

53:46 - Spotlighting Seattle Analytics Director Brian Eayrs

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-------------------------

NFL Spotlight is dedicated to shining a light on those in the NFL that deserve a spotlight with top-notch insight and research from Ari Meirov.
Follow Ari on X: https://x.com/MySportsUpdate
Follow Ben on X: https://x.com/BenAllenSports
Follow The 33rd Team on X: https://x.com/The33rdTeamFB
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cowboys Klayton Adams Shares His Journey To Becoming Dallas’ Offensive Coordinator

Ari Meirov’s NFL Spotlight Guest of the Week is Dallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Klayton Adams! Klayton shares how he went from playing at Boise State to learning how to coach from legends at the college and NFL level. He explains why offensive line coaches are often overlooked and discusses Javonte Williams + George Pickens’ huge seasons.

00:00 - Cold Open

02:44 - Interview Begins

03:27 - Frank Ross's Spotlight Shoutout

06:05 - Early Life & Journey to Boise State

07:51 - Journalism Major

08:41 - The 5-Foot Center Fake News on Google

09:50 - Climbing the College Coaching Ladder

13:34 - Deciding to Make the Jump to the NFL

15:29 - Leadership Development & Mentors

17:36 - Joining the Colts Staff in 2019

19:52 - FanDuel & NFC East Odds

22:26 - Walking Into a Loaded Colts Coaching Staff

26:25 - Reflecting on the 2019 Colorado Departure

27:38 - The Shocking Andrew Luck Retirement

30:05 - Career Progression

31:22 - Hired by Cardinals

33:45 - Rushing & Protection Core Principles

34:02 - Why Aren't There More O-Line Offensive Coordinators?

36:34 - Becoming the Dallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator

38:26 - Working & Preparing the Weekly Game Plan with Schottenheimer

42:24 - The Role & Impact of Non-Playcalling Coordinators

42:59 - Schottenheimer's High Praise for Year 2

45:32 - Staying Even-Keeled & Managing Increased Responsibilities

46:07 - Javonte Williams' Incredible Bounce-Back Season

47:40 - George Pickens 2025 Season

50:37 - Blocked by Cowboys for Eagles OC Opening

52:08 - Who Deserves a Spotlight?

It's soccer time on FanDuel.com and right now if you bet on a match, you can get bonus bets for every goal scored in that match!

21+ select states (for Kansas, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), 18+ D.C., KY, WY. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER, 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777, visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut. Visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org, call (800) 327-5050 in Massachusetts. Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY, text HOPENY in New York. Call 1-877-770-7867 in Louisiana.

-------------------------

NFL Spotlight is dedicated to shining a light on those in the NFL that deserve a spotlight with top-notch insight and research from Ari Meirov.

Follow Ari on X: https://x.com/MySportsUpdate

Follow Ben on X: https://x.com/BenAllenSports

Follow The 33rd Team on X: https://x.com/The33rdTeamFB
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Meirov is back with a new Spotlight Guest and this time it is Houston Texans Special Teams Coordinator Frank Ross. Frank walks us through his path to becoming an STC. Frank explains what it was like being hired by the Patriots, Colts and finally the Texans. (including being retained by multiple coaches). Plus, how a 21-year-old Frank did on Deal or No Deal.

00:00 - Cold open


02:14 - Frank Ross joins us


04:57 - Frank’s early football journey

07:58 - Deal or No Deal


12:15 - Hired by Patriots


14:54 - Who Wins AFC South / FanDuel


18:06 - Going between John Carroll & Patriots


21:18 - Pro Scout for Patriots


24:04 - Starting to work with special teams


26:00 - Hired by Colts & Josh McDaniels/Frank Reich

30:36 - Andrew Luck retirement


32:44 - Frank on upward trajectory with Colts


35:20 - Hired by Texans


37:53 - Hiring of DeMeco Ryans


40:36 - Why special teams gets overlooked


45:18 - VISIT COACHROSSCUTS.COM

47:58 - Who deserves spotlight? (Klayton Adams)

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It's soccer time on FanDuel.com and right now if you bet on a match, you can get bonus bets for every goal scored in that match!

-------------------------

NFL Spotlight is dedicated to shining a light on those in the NFL that deserve a spotlight with top-notch insight and research from Ari Meirov.

Follow Ari on X: https://x.com/MySportsUpdate

Follow Ben on X: https://x.com/BenAllenSports

Follow The 33rd Team on X: https://x.com/The33rdTeamFB
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices