PBR Teams Preview: Character, focus, desire fueling blue-collar Texas Rattlers
Can 2023 World Champion Rafael Jose de Brito and company muscle Texas to another electric run in Las Vegas?
PUEBLO, Colo. – When you’ve served as an instrumental part of an organization for, well, its entire 30 years of existence like PBR Co-Founder Cody Lambert has, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what fits your fancy.
Returning as Head Coach for the Texas Rattlers of the PBR Camping World Team Series Monday evening as the second season of 5-on-5 action begins, he’s zeroed in on what he’s looking for out of his guys in year two:
“There are absolutely traits that we look at. They’re not necessarily bull riding traits, but everyone is a pro that’s here and everyone learned how to ride at a different place. Everyone has a different path that brought them here, but the common traits that we look for are character, focus and desire,” Lambert said.
While the living legend may have a few things he looks for in the men within his organization, one word that comes to mind in describing one of last year’s hottest teams is “spontaneous.”
Lurking toward the bottom of the league’s standings for a better part of the first half of the season, the Rattlers drastically turned things around en route to racking up a league-record 10-consecutive wins heading into Las Vegas.
Ending the inaugural regular season campaign with a 16-12 record, the Rattlers went on to secure the No. 2 spot overall and accompanying first-round bye at the PBR Teams Championship. Eventually securing a third-place finish at the three-day showcase, the impressive come-from-behind run took a passenger seat to the Cinderella Story Nashville Stampede.
After beginning the season with a 4-10 record, that almost seems impossible, but speaks to both the parody of the league and top-end talent within the Texas organization.
Returning Rattlers Riders: Daniel Keeping, Cody Jesus, Joao Ricardo Vieira, Rafael Jose de Brito, Braidy Randolph, Brady Oleson, Brady Fielder
New Rattlers Riders: Creek Young, Dawson Gleaves, Alvaro Ariel
“Going into the season, the hardest decision is figuring out which guys don’t get to go or which guys don’t get to compete because I feel like we have some real depth.”
Rising superstar Daniel Keeping announced himself during the team’s heroic streak last season, going 11-for-16 for the Rattlers, and followed up his flashy showing by finishing his rookie Unleash The Beast season ranked No. 14, but went a surprising 0-for-7 during his first appearance at World Finals.
“He’s not the first guy who’s had a bad World Finals,” Lambert said.
“The vibe in the locker room is a little different and the Teams thing can get Daniel back on track. The ability to do that (ride bulls) is in Daniel and it’s always been in him, but the World Finals was something he’d never seen before in person. I forget about that sometimes.”