 What's up everybody and welcome to the latest edition of Falcus and Focus. I'm Scott Baer, Tori McElhaney, and the heat-seeking missile to my left is Troy Anderson. He's had that nickname picked up for a minute. I have, yeah, and I was very proud of it too. It was mostly after watching you catch that long punt return the other day. I was like, oh my gosh, that dude was shot out of a cannon. But nonetheless, to go over the man's whole resume would take the entire podcast. But trust me, he won a lot of state titles at Beaverhead County. Beaverhead County High School, the pride of Beaverhead County High School. State titles in track, in basketball, in football. But my favorite among all those things is that you were the valedictorian of your high school. So the question in that is, did you have to give a speech at graduation? And what was it? And what was it and was it good? Um, I don't know if it was good. I did have to give one. But I mean, I guess we only graduated. Maybe I shouldn't tell this, but I think I only graduated with like 88 kids or something. I graduated with 90. Like, I think it was anywhere from like 90 to 95. And I was in the top 10 percent, but I was not number one. Unfortunately. Do you think the other 88 kids were like inspired by what you said? No, I don't think so. I think they were just trying to, trying to get out of there as, as was I exactly. He's like, all right, time it. It's going to be exactly five minutes. Now we actually have a bunch of questions about your childhood in Montana, growing up outside of just outside of Dylan. And essentially we've done our research, but we still have so many questions because I want to know, now Scott has told me this, your family lived in a home that was from the 1890s. Is that correct? I guess, yeah, like when I was early, when you like younger and then you're feeling like we built a house. Crazy, crazy old house. It was like, I don't know, it was the greatest hide and go seat house. But yeah, then we, that we moved out of it, which is to my, I guess it was kind of a bummer. Yeah, you didn't have anywhere to hide anymore. Yeah. Exactly. I mean, like five levels high between you and your sister must have been pretty intense. Like those hide and seat games were. Oh yeah. You like get friends over there and it's like, you may never get found. You're lost. That's the other side of it. So what is Dylan Montana like? I come from San Diego. I'm a city slicker. Tori is not. I'm not. No, I'm actually my hometown is Chickamauga, Georgia. We had one red light, one red light, which I feel like it's probably similar to. It is. We have two. Wow. Two. Y'all beating us. But one of them turns off at like 10 p.m. I feel like technically though, like because like Chickamauga city limits is so small, like there are other red lights like around us, obviously. But in the city, it's one. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's a, yeah. I mean, kind of similar. It's a small town that I don't even know everybody. You go into the two grocery stores and stop and talk to everybody. Yeah. So I mean, it was a super fun place to grow up. And yeah, man, I love it there. Now your family owns a cattle ranch. About how many cattle are we talking? I mean, like 700 or so. That is a great mini cow. Yeah. That's, and I was reading, I should shout it out, an excellent feature story on you from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. It was massive. And I think you were a sophomore in college, something like that. And just had a lot of great details. And it sounds like it wasn't like your parents made you get up at five AM before school and then go to school and then come back. So when you were asked to like work on the ranch, it was during the summer on a weekend, like what does that typically entail? I mean, it kind of depends on the time of year. Like if it's in the summer, you're, you're either hanging. So I would either cut the hay or rake or bale or we'd go up to like our summer place and move our cattle to different, different pastures and stuff. Or just like sorting cows and, you know, vaccinating kind of all the, all the super fun stuff, super fun stuff. Some of it, some of it is fun, but some of it's a little bit monotonous and you're out in cold weather sometimes. But yeah, I mean, it was, it was an awesome upbringing. And, you know, I appreciate my parents for everything that they've supported me and provided for, for my sister and I. So it was great. So technically you are a cowboy. Yeah. Can you, can you ride a horse? Like, do you have a horse? Is that when you talk about moving cattle, like I think of like actual like cowboys on horses, like actually moving the cattle. Yeah. So we do it a little bit more efficiently. We just have four wheelers. Oh, that makes way more sense. That's way better. Yeah. You don't have to, you don't have to saddle or feed a four wheeler. Just a little gas, a little gas here and there. And yeah, a little bit quicker. I love that. But you, do you have horses? Do y'all have horses? No, we don't anymore. We used to have some in my sisterhood rodeo, but I, I think I didn't like, like riding horses because she liked it. Oh, okay. That makes sense. Yeah. Who's just the younger brother thing. You know, I also wanted to ask, cause you, her name's Holly, right? Your sister, and she's a couple of years older than you. What are some things that y'all would get into when y'all are younger? Cause it seems like y'all have a good relationship now that y'all are older, but was it like that when y'all are younger too? Yeah. I mean, growing up out of town, it's like, all right, we'd get mad at each other, but once you realize you're mad at each other, but you have no one else hanging out with because your friends are in town and you can't ride your bike 10 miles when you're 10 years old. So yeah, we hung out a lot and I mean, really close to this day, but I don't know. I mean riding bikes and just playing on hay bales and we had like, we had cats around and like farm like old barn cats and stuff. Cats everywhere. Hurting cats. It was, it was fun. I love that. Now, getting into kind of like what, I don't know, like what are some of your like favorite memories of, of kind of growing up in, I don't know, in this environment of, cause it's not an, it's not an environment that I think a lot of people grow up in, in terms of like a living on a working farm and like living or ranch or, I don't know exactly what y'all call it, but like living and seeing your parents kind of operating this really big operation. What was that kind of like as you were growing up? Man, I don't know. I guess around Dylan, that's kind of the norm. Right. I was like, oh, it's cool. Like be outside doing something different every day. It's not like you're, you're sitting at a desk, punching in numbers and doing, you know, monotonous task every day of the year. There's seasons and it changes, which I think is, I mean, I know that's why my parents like it. My dad, I like it. It's just kind of, you never know what you're going to wake up and do. And that's kind of similar to football. It's like, you never know who you're going to play and what kind of style they're going to, going to bring or what plays are going to run that day. Yeah. And I mean, it was, it was awesome just kind of being outdoors and being with animals and doing kind of challenging fun stuff. Nice. I have one more question on this topic. I read that your dad said that you're, I might even mispronounce this, that you're good driving a swather. Oh yeah. I had to look it up on the internet because I wasn't quite sure. And it is, everybody do it. It's like a massive, I don't know how you could be good driving that thing. First of all, can you explain to? Yeah, I know because I definitely don't know what a swather is. What it is. And is it hard to drive? Okay, I'll get to it if it's hard to drive. So we, it just like cuts the hay. So we have like, we like have alfalfa and you'll cut it and then you let it dry and rake it. And then you get like the big round bales. So I just assume like the first process is cutting it with a swather. Is the swather the one where it like has the wings? Or am I thinking of something else? It's just like a big long thing with a bunch of blades. Yeah, it's just like it cuts the flames. Okay, okay. I gotcha. And puts it down. And as to driving it. Yeah. So we used to have one that you'd actually have to drive, but technology is awesome. And they have these things called satellites that now you just push a couple buttons and then it drives itself. Get out of town. It's like going from the horse to the ATV. Like there's just a natural evolution of things, right? Technology, man. It really helps us all out. Yeah. It's hard to mess it up when you're not actually doing it. That is true. But I'll take the credit if you can give it. It's like, thanks dad. Appreciate it. In addition to your very long athletic resume, your football resume includes playing. Let's see if I can get them all right. Running back, quarterback. Linebacker. Linebacker. Am I missing it? Question is there a position that you haven't played that you wanted to? Um, I don't think I want to play offensive line or corner. Right. It's really tough, but they're really tough. You might be fast enough for it there, state champ, but... I don't know. I think I took a snap at every other position though in college. Wow. I read one of the assistant coaches there said his true love is playing linebacker. Is that true? Yeah. I mean, I think I always wanted to play defense and it was kind of play offense out of necessity. But I mean, defense and playing linebacker is more fun in my opinion. Interesting. Also, another quote that we found. Well, it was interesting because you said quote that you weren't good enough to play in college. Like that was something that we found like online and it's like, that is so funny to kind of, when you're younger, for you to say that now to be where you are now. Do you, did you really feel that way when you were going into college? I don't even, I don't think no. I don't remember saying it. Um, yeah, I don't, I don't know, I guess for that. But it's like, you always have like some self-doubt when you're going into a new situation, but it was like you're confident you can work through it and in your abilities. Just, and what's been really cool. So we, we get to interact with fans a lot. And the amount of emails, social media interaction from people from Montana is fricking overwhelming. Yeah, it's really impressive. It is. What's the experience kind of like to know that like you've got a whole Montana state slash the state of Montana fan base like following you pulling for you. They seem very supportive of everything that you're doing. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's awesome. I think I've said it like Montana has a million people and that, I mean, it's not that many for the size of this fourth biggest state. I mean, only has a million people. Um, so you kind of know everybody. Like you've met them or you met somebody that knows somebody. Um, yeah. And it's, it's been awesome to kind of, to feel that support and have people reach out. I mean, it means a lot. I think, you know, Montana supports other Montanans when it's like when you see a, well, like when growing up, if we saw something about Montana and like the national news, we thought it was awesome. It didn't matter if it was good or bad. It's like, wow, we're on the news. Yeah. Oh, we made it. So it's, it's been, it's been a lot of fun so far. That's so great. It was funny too, because I was talking to, so when we were up in Seattle, the, um, there was a group of about I think 75 girls from Montana high schools that came out to Seattle and they play flag football. And it was funny because I can't remember who I was talking to. I think it was one of their coaches. When you walked up and you were kind of talking to some of the girls, they're like, it's like the Beatles. They're like, they all know him. They all think he's really cool. And I was like, that's so sweet, but it really did kind of feel that way on that day. Did it feel that way for you? Was it kind of like, Hey guys? Yeah, I don't know. You didn't know what to say. It's cool though. It's cool the event that they, I mean that they got, they got started up there. Go ahead. Now you go. Now that you live out here, this your first time living out of state, kind of like, what's the experience like getting to know Atlanta and getting to know Atlanta fans who have been really supportive of you as well? Yeah. I mean, it's been great. Obviously, I mean, the games are fun and we play an incredible stadium. Yeah. I mean, it gets, it gets loud and raucous in there. And it's, I mean, I feel the support for sure. Hopefully we can continue to win games and win over even more people. But yeah, it's been, it's been awesome. It was interesting because I feel like I see your family at a lot of events that the Falcons are doing, whether that be when I believe they were at, they came to training camp, they come to a lot of games. Is that like, I don't know, do they fly in like all the time? Just like direct flight to Atlanta always? So, I mean, they've made it to, I mean, they made it to the first three games and then they were at the San Francisco game. Yeah. I mean, which it's not a short trip. Right. I think there's, there's one direct flight from Montana to Atlanta. So, yeah, I mean, it's been awesome to be able to see them and just kind of share this experience with them. Going back to, I've seen a video of this and I need to know if this is like how it really was at night, but the night that you were drafted, there's a video and it looks like the moment that you were drafted and it's like you and your family are just kind of like standing there and like a lot of, and it's like, you can just see the like happiness and joy on your faces, but it's funny because the juxtaposition of that is like, so many people have these big old parties and it's loud and there are so many people, but for you guys, it really felt like it was a very like important like family moment. Is that kind of how it was that night or was this kind of just a video that I saw? I mean, yeah, it was kind of just a cool moment that it's like, I don't know. I'm not a super like flashy person and I had got the call a few minutes before. So, like we had already hugged and stuff. Like people were talking like they're like telling my mom like, you didn't even give them a hug or anything. It's like, no, I did. I was like, no, mom, we're good. So, but yeah, I mean, it was a, it was a cool moment just to kind of share with close family and friends. I think Frank Bush, when he was talking to Tori, right? Yeah, he told me he was like, when he came to your pro day, he was like, it was something where I, I felt his speed. He was talking about like your overall speed as a player and I thought that was such a interesting quote. When you, do you remember like your pro day and meeting Frank Bush and kind of what your initial thoughts were of, hey, this is a team that's kind of interested in me and maybe this is something that could work out? Yeah. I mean, I got to talk with, walk with him at the pro day and then it was just like, all right, try not to mess this up. That sounds like something Frank Bush would say. Don't mess it up, bro. Yeah. So, I mean, it was, it was fun though to kind of connect with him and he ran some of the drills and so, yeah, I just tried to do my best and apparently I did all right for him. And now it's time for the rapid fire segment coming up at the end of every podcast. Everybody gets the same questions. Okay. And there's five in a row here. Yeah. Okay. And yeah, I'm gonna start. Ready? Yeah. Are you ready? Yeah. No choice. Yeah. Come on, man. Okay. First question, your favorite play of your career? Favorite, man. Like NFL here? It doesn't have to be. Any, anyone, any football, it could be, it could be your NFL career or it could be at any point in time in your football playing days. I know I just made the pot a lot bigger. I know. I can't even think. I don't know. Maybe I had like a fourth and one stop my senior year in college in like our semifinal game, which was I guess the first one that kind of came to my mind. Like it. And then your, I guess I'll switch it up like your short NFL career up to this point since you are just still in your first year, but. Yeah. I'd say the blocked punt. Yeah. I feel like there's only one answer. Yeah, there's only one answer here. Yeah, pretty sweet. Yeah, came in clean and quick. What is a TV show that you're binging right now? Man, I always watch like big bank theory. Yeah, it's, it's pretty good. But then I guess the, the new game of thrones. Okay. I just finished it last night. Oh my gosh. I won't spoil anything for anyone. Right. Yeah, don't spoil it. But oh man, it's quite something. Question for you. I'm a big Yellowstone fan. Do you get that a lot? Like people being like, this is actually how Montana is. Oh, I get it all the time. All the time. I know. I was actually, I think in the mall of Georgia and I saw like Yellowstone ranch shirts. I was like, what are we doing? It's like, why are we selling these in Georgia? But I mean, I will buy one. So do people from Montana like that show or like kind of closet? Don't really like it very much. It kind of depends. It's a little out there. It's very, like it's, it's good TV. Oh, it's fantastic TV. Like great entertainment, but nothing like what goes on. Well, I think that's the thing is like, I think that's an important thing to say in this platform. Yeah. Well, it's like, you know, everybody talks about the crown, like how it's, you know, it's portraying the royal family and it's like a dramatic ties. What's the word? Dramatized. Dramatized version of like a certain lifestyle. And it's like, I feel like Yellowstone's pretty like, it's very drama oriented. I feel like families aren't just out there like, I mean, there was a point in season two where they led a bunch of cattle into like a bar of their rival. Like that probably doesn't happen. I would assume. Yeah, probably not. I mean, you never know. Some of the, some of the small towns, some crazy stuff that goes on. But next question, your favorite just meal in general, whether it's a home cooked meal or like at a restaurant? I mean, grew up on a cat or an inch, go to the steak. I feel like you have to. Scott told me I wasn't allowed to ask like, what part of the cow you like to eat after you kill them? You don't have to answer it. All right. It's probably the fillet. Let's see. The falcon that you hang out with the most? Another rookie linebacker, Nate Lammon. I told you. Okay, so we, it's funny because we ask that question to everybody and it's like, we try and like say who we think it's going to be. And I was like, I'm pretty sure he's going to say Nate Lammon. Oh yeah. Because Richie was definitely going to say Darren. Yeah. AK was definitely going to say Derek Tangelo. No doubt about it. I bet you, I bet he was Nate. Oh yeah. Yeah. Now for the last one, your biggest pet peeve as a person. Man, I feel like I, I know I have some. I just can't even like. Right. It's one of those things. Oh man. What do I not like? So we had Avery Williams on not too long ago. He was the episode before you and he had the weirdest one. He was talking about how he doesn't like when people say Salmon instead of Salmon. That's actually a pretty good one. I know. We were like that. Like mispronounced words. Yeah. I don't know. Yeah. I mean like poor Grant. I don't even know. Right. Well, we're going to come back to him. We're going to have like a whole story about this. Like we're going to find it out. Right. Tweet it out. Okay. We're going to enjoy some time to think about it. I'll let you know. Yeah. I'll let you know. And we're definitely going to figure this thing out. Well Troy, thank you so much for taking the time. Thank you everybody for downloading and listening. Please subscribe, rate and review to the Balkans Podcast Network and we will talk to you again next week. Bye bye.