Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Coaching Matters

Airdate: September 9, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Episode Theme: The Impact of Coaching on the Giants’ QB Dilemma and NFL Trends

Overview

This episode dives into the struggles of the New York Giants, focusing on quarterback controversies, the impact of coaching on young talent, and the franchise’s perpetual offensive line woes. Drawing lessons from the previous night’s NFL games, Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg debate when and how to deploy rookie QB Jackson Dart, the failings of Giants’ leadership, and the broader influence of coaching across the NFL. The hour is full of lively banter, listener calls, and the trio’s signature blend of inside knowledge and New York attitude.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of the Mets and a Legendary Bad At-Bat

[00:51–04:52]

• Don opens with disgust over the Mets’ loss, calling Francisco Alvarez’s final at-bat “the worst at bat in the history of baseball” ([01:19]).
  • "Same pitch five feet out of the strike zone. Same swing three times." – Don ([01:54])
• The hosts riff on at-bat futility and misery of NY fans, then pivot to Mets playoff hopes.
  • Discussion on whether the Mets can still squeak into the playoffs, factoring in the Padres and the Giants' tough schedule ([04:17–04:52]).

2. QB Development: Lessons from Vikings and Bears

[04:52–09:16]

• Don breaks down the Vikings’ fourth-quarter rally, crediting it to coaching, not just the quarterback:
  • "What you saw is a quarterback that isn’t really NFL ready yet ... But when you got a coach, he can make things happen." – Don ([05:07])
• The new Bears offense with Caleb Williams is also cited as an example of a quarterback benefitting from competent coaching.
• Emphasis that young QBs thrive or fail mostly due to the coaching/environment they're placed in:
  • "Most of the failed draft picks are because they were drafted by the wrong team." – Don ([08:18])
• Don challenges listeners to name a QB who overcame bad coaching as a rookie, calling it "very rare" ([09:16–09:25]).

3. Should the Giants Start Jackson Dart? The Coaching Conundrum

[09:16–18:07]

• Debate heats up over whether it’s the right time for rookie Jackson Dart to start at QB.
• Marcus Spears (via audio clip) makes the case for playing Dart now to inject energy ([10:12]).
• Rosenberg pushes back:
  • "You cannot have variables right now. It has to be the right time. ... That's how you ruin him." ([11:18])
• Don questions motivation, noting organizational self-preservation vs. actual development.
• The risks of starting Dart too early, especially with Dable potentially coaching for his job, are spelled out ([12:26–13:36]).

4. Giants’ Management and the Perils Facing Dart

[16:04–18:43]

• Extensive analysis on the behind-the-scenes politics: Will GM Joe Shane and Dable get a true shot, or will ownership’s impatience doom Dart’s development?
  • "If you start him, if you don't believe in Dable, why do you want him to get his hands all over him this season and possibly mess him up?" – Don ([12:26])
• Shane’s job is seen as more stable than Dable’s after the Barkley contract fiasco, but both remain under scrutiny ([18:43–19:31]).

5. Giants Sideline, McDaniel “Nerd” Critique, and Football Culture

[20:03–21:47]

• The sideline demeanor for both the Giants and Dolphins comes under scrutiny.
• Riff on Rex Ryan’s attack on Miami coach Mike McDaniel for his “nerd” persona, raising broader questions about the shifting culture in NFL coaching ([20:55–21:29]).
  • "These analytic guys, these non-player guys ... it's a quick way to lose the room when you start to lose." – Don ([21:06])

6. Style in Sports Broadcasting: A Humorous Interlude

[21:47–28:09]

• The team gets distracted by fashion choices of on-air talent (with Richard Jefferson as Exhibit A).
• The conversation devolves into who’s showing too much skin on TV and why sports broadcasters don’t “dress up” like they used to, with pointed banter about buttons and workplace double standards.
  • "If a woman showed up to work with that many buttons unbuttoned, a supervisor is pulling her aside..." – Allen ([23:00])

7. Listener Calls: Offensive Line, Ownership & Wilson’s Future

[28:09–35:17]

Jimmy from Connecticut’s Call

• Jimmy (birthday caller) laments 15+ years of Giants’ offensive line woes, despite first and second-round investments.
  • "It's not like you can be mad if they didn't address the issue ... but they can't make it work." – Don ([29:47])
• The crew agrees that repeated line problems signal deeper coaching/cultural rot.

Ted in the Truck’s Call

• Ted, a season-ticket holder, says Russ missed open WRs, wants Jameis Winston to play instead.
• Allen and Don agree Winston could be a better “placeholder” until Dart is ready; debate over whether the coaching or the QB is more to blame ([33:02–34:22]).

8. Russell Wilson: Washed or Victim of Dysfunction?

• The consensus is that Wilson and Winston are “placeholders,” but repeatedly switching QBs is not solution if the coaching and line are the issue.
  • "They're not a part of the future. I'm not damaging my young quarterback." – Don ([34:21])

9. Giants’ Coaching: The Post-Eli Era

[35:17–36:55]

• Revisiting the mistake of blaming Eli Manning for struggles that were systemic, not personal.

• Dable’s sideline demeanor and deteriorating control of the team mirrors problems of McAdoo, Judge, and Shermer before him.

  • "Coaching is so hard ... you start to lose and whatever your act is just immediately ... not cute anymore." – Allen ([36:00])

10. Why Coaching Matters More Than Ever

[43:09–45:17]

• Recap of how coaches like Kevin O'Connell (Vikings), despite not always having superior talent, win with game-planning and development.
  • O’Connell’s 27-10 record in one-possession games is highlighted as proof of tactical and motivational prowess ([43:09–43:44]).
  • "That is exactly the kind of coach you need when you're trying to rebuild with a young quarterback." – Rosenberg ([43:44])

11. Final Listener Calls: Ownership as the Root Problem

[44:36–46:15]

• Caller Mike from Orlando:
  • "Don’s right today. Don was right yesterday. Don was right all last year. It is—it's a coaching problem. It's an ownership problem." ([44:42])
• Don agrees: NFL parity means talent is not the only factor—coaching separates winners from losers, and the Giants’ struggles go back to persistent hiring mistakes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don (on Alvarez's at-bat):
  "Same pitch, five feet out of the strike zone. Same swing three times." ([01:54])
• Don (on coaching and the Giants):
  "Show me the time where a quarterback is able to overcome bad coaching ... a young quarterback. It's very rare." ([09:16])
• Rosenberg (on Dart starting):
  "You can't look at a guy that you traded into the first round to draft as your savior in Week Two. That's how you ruin him." ([11:18])
• Don (on QB risk management):
  "If you don't believe in Dable ... why do you want him to get his hands all over him this season and possibly mess him up?" ([12:26])
• Allen (fashion banter):
  "If a woman showed up to work with that many buttons unbuttoned, a supervisor is pulling her aside and saying, 'Hey, you gotta keep it together.'" ([23:00])
• Don (on Giants’ o-line):
  "It's not like you can be mad ... if they didn't address the issue ... they thought this would help. And even going back before this regime... they've addressed this offensive line and haven't been able to make it work." ([29:47])
• Don (on Russell Wilson):
  "They're not a part of the future. I'm not damaging my young quarterback that I have invested not only a first-round pick in, but also equity to move into the first round and have this kid get damaged. Not going to do it." ([34:21])
• Rosenberg (on coaching culture):
  "What we saw last night with the Vikings, what we saw last night in Chicago ... that's exactly the kind of coach you need when you're trying to rebuild with a young quarterback." ([43:44])
• Mike from Orlando:
  "You can't be bad at the beginning of every single year. You can't never find ways to make things work. Good coaches make things work. It's as simple as that." ([45:17])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Mets disaster & bad at-bats: [00:51–04:52]
• NFL coaching and QB development (Vikings/Bears): [04:52–09:16]
• Jackson Dart QB debate: [09:16–18:07]
• Giants management & job security: [16:04–19:31]
• Giants’ sideline, McDaniel “nerd” debate: [20:03–21:47]
• Sports broadcaster fashion riff: [21:47–28:09]
• Caller Jimmy—Giants o-line/ownership: [28:09–29:47]
• Caller Ted—the Winston alternative & Wilson critique: [31:50–34:22]
• QB carousel/organizational future: [34:22–36:55]
• Final thoughts on coaching, O’Connell’s brilliance: [43:09–45:17]
• Caller Mike—franchise frustration: [44:36–46:15]

Summary Takeaway

The hour captures the exasperation of Giants fans living through another season of stalls and poor leadership. The consensus is clear: fixing the quarterback situation means little without coherent coaching and a stable front office. While the pressure to play rookie Jackson Dart builds, the hosts caution against sacrificing his future for short-term fixes—or for a coaching staff in survival mode. The broader NFL lesson: Talent alone isn't enough; coaching, development, and stability are what separate playoff teams from perennial disappointments.