See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack

Episode: David Pollack & Jesse Palmer Break Down DJ Lagway, Arch Manning & John Mateer

Date: September 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, host David Pollack is joined by analyst Brent Rollins and special guest Jesse Palmer for an in-depth breakdown of some of the hottest topics in college football today. The trio explores the current states of high-profile programs and quarterbacks: Clemson’s recent slide under Dabo Swinney, the developmental challenges facing Florida’s DJ Lagway, Texas’ Arch Manning, and Oklahoma’s emerging star John Mateer. The team delivers candid, knowledgeable analysis highlighted by Palmer’s signature honesty and directness, focusing on both performance and the evolving pressures unique to today’s college game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

"Podium Kings" Segment – Coaching Hot Takes & Dabo Swinney’s Mindset

[03:24–05:21]

• The segment kicks off with lighthearted commentary on recent coach podium moments, including a dig at Georgia and coach Kirby Smart’s competitive nature.
• Focus shifts to Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, currently expressing frustration with mounting criticism—especially over the team’s start.

Notable Quotes:

• David Pollack:
  “If you know Dabo, he tries not to swear. I love Dabo Swinney... But if I was him, being berated about losing all the time, I'd want to point to those 10-win seasons and national championships.” [05:42]
• Pollack highlights that Dabo’s defensiveness is showing, suggesting he would help himself and the team by being more matter-of-fact about shortcomings in press conferences: “I’d love to see him just take it head-on: We didn't do good enough, we need to do this. I didn't do good enough, I need to do this.” [07:33]

[09:00–13:00]

• Discussion of Dabo’s shifting personality, potentially verging on “grumpy old man” territory, and the challenges of sustaining motivation and accountability years into a successful tenure.

• The impact of losing fiery, demanding assistants like Brent Venables in maintaining high standards at Clemson is debated.

• Co-host (possibly Wes): “What fans want to see above all else—they want to know their head coach is in control, that the outside world isn't getting to them.” [13:53]

• Pollack underscores that Dabo’s success raised expectations, making current struggles more glaring.

Team & Quarterback Evaluation with Jesse Palmer

Clemson’s Trajectory & Dabo’s Reaction to Pressure

[15:13–20:43]

• Palmer enters with classic banter about his “bougie” food taste, then pivots to Clemson.
• Palmer remains optimistic about Clemson, reaffirming Dabo’s established credibility and accomplishments in context: “Still got into the playoffs, still won the conference. Just look at that roster. It's hard to move Clemson all the way over and quit on them.” [17:25]

Alabama’s Resurgence and QB Ty Simpson

[21:33–24:19]

• Palmer addresses Alabama’s upward trajectory; their best players are starting to play like stars, especially Ty Simpson at quarterback.
• Palmer analyzes how early struggles (e.g., dropped balls, inconsistent protection) are being corrected as the “stars play like stars.”
• Praise for Ty Simpson: “Ball’s not hitting the ground... He’s playing fast, eyes in the right place, accurate, good decisions under duress.” [22:30]
• Suggests Alabama’s remaining schedule, particularly the game against Georgia, will define their true potential.

DJ Lagway’s Developmental Struggles at Florida

[24:25–27:23]

• Palmer, himself a former Florida QB, offers insights into true sophomore DJ Lagway’s recent turnover-filled performances.
  • Emphasizes youthful errors and the mental leap required when the weight of expectations changes: “I think he’s pressing… There’s just so many throws into double and triple coverage in that LSU game... I feel like that game really snowballed on him.” [25:15]
• Pollack is concerned by decision-making more than accuracy: “Four or five were a clean pocket, we’re not pressured, and it's decision-making. When it's decision-making, man, I can't live with that.” [26:23]
• Palmer argues Lagway is under new pressure—now expected to be the guy, not merely the promising future.

The Arch Manning Conundrum at Texas

[29:10–32:07]

• Palmer candidly reviews Arch Manning’s inconsistency despite immense hype and resources:
  • “Mechanics have been pretty poor up to this point... There are times when his eyes are in the wrong place, and when his mechanism can't catch up, he stays open, sidearms everything.” [30:05]
  • Names NIL—a factor new to players now—as a major new pressure: “Now, you also have to justify your NIL deal… $6.8 million or something reportedly, driving Lamborghinis in Austin.” [31:45]
• Palmer notes that this isn’t about feeling sorry for young QBs, but the context does add complexity.

Comparing Development Paths: John Mateer and Other Portal QBs

[32:55–36:43]

• Palmer observes that second-year QBs (like Lagway, Manning) are struggling, but portal guys (like Oklahoma’s John Mateer) are thriving—mainly when there’s system continuity.
  • “When I’m looking at… right now John Mateer is the best player in the country. It’s way too early, three games in… but he’s playing so fast. You can tell he’s been in that system three years.” [34:27]
  • Draws analogy to Stetson Bennett at Georgia under Todd Monken—a quarterback who fully mastered his scheme.
• Both Pollack and Palmer enthusiastically agree they'd take John Mateer as the No. 1 pick in college football right now.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Clemson’s New Reality:
  “This is what happens, man. You win—he's got a different perspective than a lot of people, and so you're going to get criticized and this kind of stuff is going to happen.”
  — David Pollack [07:12]

• On Quarterback Pressures Nowadays:
  “You gotta start showing people why (you're worth the money) now… should we feel sorry for him? No. But I didn’t have to deal with that kind of pressure, social media, back in the day.”
  — Jesse Palmer [31:50]

• On John Mateer at Oklahoma:
  “Right now John Mateer is the best player in the country… There’s a different speed and different confidence and conviction level he’s playing at.”
  — Jesse Palmer [34:27]

• On Bama QB Ty Simpson:
  “Ty Simpson… ball’s not hitting the ground. He’s just so dialed in.”
  — Jesse Palmer [22:30]

• On Second-Year QB Struggles:
  “Year two for quarterbacks… that’s generally when quarterbacks make their biggest leap. And that’s been frustrating [not seeing it].”
  — Jesse Palmer [33:22]

Key Timestamps

• 03:24 – "Podium Kings" segment: coaches’ podium antics, Dabo’s defensiveness
• 07:30 – Pollack on coach press conference psychology, accountability
• 13:00 – Dabo’s changing demeanor; program evolution at Clemson
• 15:13 – Jesse Palmer on Clemson’s expectations vs. recent reality
• 21:33 – Alabama’s bounce-back; Ty Simpson’s emergence
• 24:25 – Florida’s DJ Lagway’s struggles dissected
• 29:10 – Arch Manning’s development, NIL pressures
• 32:55 – John Mateer’s rapid rise at Oklahoma, portal QB trends
• 36:12 – Pollack and Palmer agree: Mateer is their current #1 overall pick

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is relentlessly honest, colorful, and loaded with football insights from former players and top analysts. Pollack and Palmer's rapport is evident, mixing locker-room humor with tough critiques.

Main Takeaways:

• College coaching requires constant adaptation—Dabo Swinney and others must evolve in both tactics and messaging.
• The new pressures of NIL, along with social media, dramatically change the landscape for high-profile quarterbacks.
• QB development isn’t linear; experience with the right system, as seen with John Mateer, often trumps hype or talent alone.
• Alabama and Clemson are both at crossroads, but neither program is to be written off easily.
• Palmer and Pollack are bullish on John Mateer’s potential to be the most impactful player in the country.

This breakdown offers a thorough snapshot of the episode’s substantive content, capturing the expertise, candor, and humor of the hosts and guest for any college football fan who missed the show.