The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1: Dolphins Gauntlet, Yips, Chase Daniel

Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick (iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network)
Featured Guest: Chase Daniel (ESPN NFL/College Football Analyst)

Overview

The first hour of this episode centers on pivotal moments facing the Miami Dolphins (and their head coach Mike McDaniel), “the yips” in sports—especially in football and golf—and quarterback analysis for several current NFL and college players. Dan Patrick brings NFL analyst and former QB Chase Daniel to break down the mechanics and mental challenges that top quarterbacks face, with lively debates among the show's regulars about what’s ailing teams like the Dolphins and Bears. The tone is candid, analytical, and often humorous.

Main Topics & Key Segments

1. Miami Dolphins: Crunch Time and McDaniel's Future

[03:08–08:14, 39:36–41:18]

• Tonight’s Divisional Challenge: Dolphins are 12.5-point underdogs vs. the Bills. With an 0–2 start and tough schedule ahead, this feels like a crossroads.

  • Dan Patrick: “You better clean up your mess tonight on the road, you're a 12 and a half point underdog... week three of the NFL season feels like a turning point.” [03:08]
  • Early season pattern of underachievement, questioning McDaniel's status as head coach if results don't improve.
  • Importance of "winning quirky"—McDaniel's personality is tolerated so long as the team is winning.

• Dolphins’ Upcoming Stretch: After Buffalo, Miami has a slate of "winnable" games; how many must they win to settle nerves in Miami?

• Players Only Meeting: Early, after a blowout loss; generally a bad omen.

  • Dan Patrick on players-only meetings: “You normally don't have a players only meeting after a blowout loss after week one. Like that's not a good sign.” [11:03]

• Chase Daniel’s Assessment: He doubts McDaniel will be fired immediately but sees “brutal” play and believes coaching is a big part. Still expects Miami to score tonight.

  • Chase Daniel: "When I watch Miami on film, it's rough and it's brutal, and a lot of it is coaching...the product you put out on the field is the coach's responsibility." [39:39, 41:18]

2. “The Yips”: Definition, Examples, & QB Implications

[08:14–10:30, 23:55–29:42]

• Debate on Identifying the Yips: Does Arch Manning of Texas have the “yips”? Are we seeing a golf/baseball mental block in football QBs? Should the yips even be talked about for QBs?

  • Seaton: “How can you tell somebody has the yips if you haven't really watched them play a ton of… without the yips?” [08:21]
  • Dan and Seaton discuss classic examples (Chuck Knobloch, Steve Sax, Mackey Sasser, Rick Ankiel, John Lester).

• Chase Daniel’s Take on Arch Manning:

  • Daniel avoids using “the yips” label, but notes clear, severe mechanical issues.
  • Chase Daniel: “I would just say instead of the yips, I'll say mechanically. There are a lot of things wrong with his throwing motion…his back foot has come up...his ball dies on him...He looks completely different than he did last year.” [24:41–26:59]
  • Notes Texas has become run-dominant to cover for Manning’s struggles; lots open, but Manning is missing throws.
  • Chase Daniel: “I don't think he's hurt, Dan. I really don't. I just think his motion and his throwing angle of his shoulder...everything's completely off.” [25:29]

• Broader QB Struggles:

  • Dan Patrick: “I haven't heard quarterbacks having the yips, but I'm guessing short arming the ball.” [24:21]

3. QB Spotlights: Detailed Analyses from Chase Daniel

[27:47–41:18]

a. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)

• Strong in first halves, struggles when trailing; physically talented, mentally inconsistent.
  • Chase Daniel: “With Caleb, it's always been in his mind, like physically, we know that talent is there... When he's not doing well, he tries to do too much.” [28:03]
  • Compares to rookie struggles of greats (Lawrence, Elway, Peyton Manning)—need patience.

b. Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)

• Daniel is high on Dak’s early-season form despite average statistical rankings.
  • Chase Daniel: "When Dak is healthy...the rating doesn't tell the story. When I look at his film...he's controlling the line of scrimmage...fitting in tight window throws when needed...he's not forcing the football down the field." [31:06]
  • Cites Brian Schottenheimer’s schematic improvements and Dak’s execution in two-minute drills.

c. Kansas City Chiefs & Patrick Mahomes

• Thin at WR, O-line issues, and Mahomes is running more than ideal.
  • Chase Daniel: “If they can be 3 and 3 after Ravens and Lions...then I think the Chiefs can still be the Chiefs.” [33:27]
  • If they make the playoffs, Daniel won’t count them out regardless of slow start.

d. Baker Mayfield

• Highly productive last two years, overlooked due to persona and career instability.
  • Chase Daniel: “He’s played like a top eight quarterback in the league…and I love that swagger…he’s the ultimate ‘I’m not going to do too much but I’m going to make plays when I need to.’” [36:02]

e. Justin Herbert & the Chargers

• Daniel likes their defensive improvements, praises coaching additions, and sees Herbert developing on and off the field.
  • Dan Patrick: “Would you take them over Buffalo or the Ravens right now head to head?” [37:53]
  • Chase Daniel: “I would take them over the Ravens because…how Justin Herbert is playing…he’s dating Madison Beer...all the money, he's got that, he's got the fit now." [38:01]
  • Thinks this is the year Herbert wins in the playoffs.

4. Organizational Signs of Trouble

[12:06–13:23, 51:32–52:42]

• Poll Question: Which is a worse sign: a players-only meeting or a coach publicly calling out effort?
  • Paulie: “Our practice habits are yet to reflect a championship caliber team.” [12:43, quoting coach Ben Johnson]
  • Concerns over Ben Johnson and the Bears already under fire, with unanswered questions about leadership, culture, and rookie quarterback patience.

5. MVP Race and MLB Musings

[46:03–51:27]

• Shohei Ohtani’s Dominance:

  • Dan and crew discuss the statistical outlier that is Ohtani, and what it would take for someone to best him in MVP voting.
  • Dan Patrick: “Ohtani's just got a head start on everybody just because there's still the fascination of he does something that nobody in the history of the sport has done.” [50:50]

• Play of the Day:

  • Manny Machado’s grand slam, his 14th, the most among active players. [45:56]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "You can be quirky and winning and we're fine with it. It's when you're quirky and you're not winning...I like him [McDaniel]. I think he's entertaining. I don't know if he's a head coach, but I do think he's got one of those bright offensive minds." – Dan Patrick [03:08]
• "I would just say instead of the yips, I'll say mechanically. There are a lot of things wrong with this throwing motion..." – Chase Daniel on Arch Manning [24:41]
• “Quarterback's boring... There’s going to be some games... we’re just going to have to throw hitch after hitch after hitch...that’s sort of the weekly minutia of playing quarterback.” – Drew Brees (as quoted by Chase Daniel) [29:42]
• “He’s not really wild...He’s the ultimate ‘I’m not going to do too much, but I’m going to make plays when I need to.’” – Chase Daniel on Baker Mayfield [36:02]
• “If they [Chiefs] can just get to 3 and 3…then the Chiefs can still be the Chiefs.” – Chase Daniel [33:27]
• "You normally don't have a players only meeting after a blowout loss after week one. Like that's not a good sign." – Dan Patrick [11:03]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dolphins set-up and McDaniel’s status: [03:08–08:14, 39:36–41:18]
• The yips and QB mechanics debate: [08:14–10:30, 23:55–29:42]
• Caleb Williams/Bears and coaching patience: [13:23–17:20, 28:03]
• Chase Daniel on Dak/Kansas City/Baker/Herbert: [31:06–39:27]
• Poll question: team dysfunction signs: [12:06–13:23, 51:32–52:42]
• MLB MVP race and Play of the Day: [46:03–51:27]

Final Thoughts

This was a content-rich episode blending in-depth quarterback analysis, big-picture NFL themes (coaching, team culture, rookie development), and robust, personality-driven banter about what actually signals trouble for a team. Chase Daniel brings unique insight as an ex-QB and film study expert, offering nuance on “the yips,” mechanics, and what separates solid play from stardom or dysfunction at the NFL and college level.