Best of The Herd

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd (December 17, 2024)

The Herd with Colin Cowherd presents a comprehensive and engaging episode titled "Best of The Herd," released on December 17, 2024. Hosted by Colin Cowherd and produced by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, this episode delves deep into the current landscape of the NFL, providing insightful analysis, expert interviews, and lively discussions on some of the most pressing topics in sports. Below is a detailed summary structured into clear sections, capturing all key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

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1. The Herd Hierarchy: Ranking the Top NFL Teams

Colin Cowherd kicks off the episode with his renowned Herd Hierarchy segment, where he ranks the top NFL teams based on their performance, management, and overall potential. This segment provides listeners with a nuanced evaluation of each team's strengths and weaknesses, setting the stage for in-depth discussions.

Key Highlights:

• Philadelphia Eagles (#1): Despite organizational dysfunction, the Eagles boast a 10-game winning streak. Colin remarks, “The most dysfunctional great team in sports... they're loaded. This roster is stacked.” [20:44]

• Kansas City Chiefs (#2): Anchored by Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs remain a powerhouse. Colin notes, “Belichick's going to college. If you could give him one thing, it'd be to be careful about...” [22:14]

• Green Bay Packers (#3): Under Matt LaFleur’s leadership, the Packers have transformed into a power run team. Colin praises, “When they hold opponents under 25, they're 9 and 1.” [23:05]

• Buffalo Bills (#4): While Josh Allen excels, the Bills’ defense ranks 22nd, posing challenges. Colin observes, “They are fifth in takeaways, so they'll take the ball away.” [23:45]

• Los Angeles Rams (#5): Healthy and effective, the Rams have not allowed turnovers or sacks in recent games. Colin emphasizes, “They are hot and feeling it.” [24:30]

• Baltimore Ravens (#7): With a strong run offense and minimal losses, the Ravens remain formidable. Colin states, “It’s the best run offense in the league.” [22:50]

• Minnesota Vikings (#8): Facing quarterback dilemmas with Sam Darnold and potential moves to the Colts, the Vikings are in a transitional phase. Colin discusses, “Sam Darnold is only 27 years old. Somebody's going to get a very good quarterback in his prime.” [21:15]

• Others: Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears are also evaluated, with special attention to their recent performances and strategic decisions.

Notable Quotes:

• “The Chicago Bears are a broken franchise.” – Colin Cowherd [20:55]
• “Vrabel is the only answer.” – Colin Cowherd [21:10]

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2. In-Depth Interview with Eric Bieniemy: Insights from an NFL Coordinator

A significant portion of the episode features an exclusive interview with Eric Bieniemy, Offensive Coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. Eric brings a wealth of experience, having been a two-time Super Bowl champion and a former Heisman Trophy runner-up at Colorado.

Discussion Points:

• Coaching Philosophy and Andy Reid’s Influence:

  • Eric praises Andy Reid’s consistency and adaptability. “He’s not afraid of change. He wants to make sure that whatever needs to be done to win, that’s all that matters.” [36:25]
  • Emphasis on professionalism, accountability, and expert coaching staff.

• Patrick Mahomes’ Development:

  • Reflection on Mahomes’ growth under Reid’s tutelage. Eric shares, “Patrick takes absolutely nothing for granted. You just love him as a person and as a competitor.” [34:23]
  • Highlighting Mahomes’ unique skills and work ethic that set him apart.

• Sam Darnold and the Vikings’ Quarterback Situation:

  • Analysis of Sam Darnold’s potential move to the Indianapolis Colts. “There’s one exception. There’s one exception. The Indianapolis Colts.” [37:00]
  • Discussing the implications of Minnesota potentially letting Darnold go and how it affects their future prospects.
  • (Colin's Take) "I think Minnesota's going to let him go. I try to franchise him, but coaching in this league is not even." [38:00]

• Resurgence of Running Backs in the NFL:

  • Observing the cyclical nature of the NFL and the renewed emphasis on running games. “One thing that I've always known, you throw the ball, okay, to win. But you got to run it to win a championship.” [46:24]
  • Discussion on the impact of dynamic running backs like Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley.

• Challenges in Collegiate vs NFL Coaching:

  • Eric highlights the differences in coaching styles required in college football, especially regarding time constraints. “The only thing that, if anything, I disliked about the college game is the lack of time that we have to teach.” [41:01]
  • Emphasizing the importance of building the right culture around a franchise quarterback.

• Handling Defensive Players:

  • Recounting experiences against formidable defenders like Von Miller. “He was a beast. We tried. In fact, it was a funny story too.” [51:34]

Notable Quotes:

• “Andy Reid is probably the most consistent individual I know.” – Eric Bieniemy [36:25]
• “When you have all that and you combined it together, now you see the consistent winning performance.” – Eric Bieniemy [36:30]
• “It starts up top. It starts with everything.” – Eric Bieniemy [39:43]
• “Running the ball, it takes so much pressure off the quarter.” – Eric Bieniemy [46:57]

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3. Analysis of Team Dysfunction and Leadership

Colin and Eric delve into the critical issue of team dysfunction and the role of leadership in shaping a franchise’s success or failure.

Key Insights:

• Chicago Bears’ Organizational Issues:

  • Colin underscores the Bears as a "broken franchise" plagued by inconsistent management and weak coaching. “None of it works. Yeah, they got some decent players. The jets have all sorts of good players.” [20:55]
  • Eric concurs, emphasizing the need for strong, defiant leadership to turn the franchise around.

• Jim Harbaugh’s Coaching Impact on the Chargers:

  • Discussion on the Chargers’ decision to hire Harbaugh and the positive outcomes that followed. “They have not regretted a second of it.” [21:10]
  • Comparison to Chicago’s situation, highlighting the Chargers’ cohesive leadership as a model.

• Importance of Building Around a Quarterback:

  • Both hosts stress the necessity of surrounding a franchise quarterback with the right support system. “You want to make sure that you're building the organization, that program around him.” – Eric Bieniemy [39:02]
  • The significance of creating a culture that fosters a quarterback’s growth and success.

Notable Quotes:

• “The only way to fix it is to go to the Chargers... They finally just said, sometimes in life you just have to admit, I got to get out of the way.” – Colin Cowherd [21:10]
• “There's nobody else out there. There’s nobody else. No college guys, no lightweight coordinators. The job's too big.” – Colin Cowherd [21:15]

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4. The Resurgence of the Running Back Position

A significant highlight of the episode is the discussion on the renewed prominence of running backs in the NFL, a trend that had seemed to wane in previous years.

Discussion Points:

• Cyclic Nature of the NFL:

  • Eric explains how the NFL constantly evolves, leading to the resurgence of positions deemed less valuable. “This game has a way of being cyclical. Everything that you think was outdated, it seems to come right back.” [46:13]

• Impact of Physical Running Backs:

  • Emphasis on the strategic advantage of having a strong running game. “If you can run the ball, it takes so much pressure off the quarter.” [46:24]
  • Discussion on how running backs control the clock and limit opponents' opportunities.

• Defensive Adjustments:

  • Analysis of how defensive schemes adapting to perimeter play has inadvertently created opportunities for running games. “You have an opportunity to run it even more.” – Eric Bieniemy [48:13]

• Key Running Backs Performance:

  • Highlighting standout performers like Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, and emerging talents contributing to this trend. “You watch Philly do what they do. But this year has been fun watching all these guys do what they have done.” – Colin Cowherd [48:06]

Notable Quotes:

• “You throw the ball to win. You throw the ball to win football games, to score touchdowns. But you got to run it to win a championship.” – Eric Bieniemy [46:43]
• “The game is still one up front.” – Eric Bieniemy [46:43]

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5. Closing Remarks and Future Prospects

As the episode winds down, Colin and Eric reflect on the current state of the NFL and speculate on future developments, emphasizing the importance of strategic leadership and player development.

Key Points:

• Future of the Chicago Bears:

  • Colin remains skeptical about the Bears’ ability to turn around under current management. “I don't know if you can fix Chicago. Some things are unfixable.” [21:30]

• Potential Moves and Team Strategies:

  • Speculation on possible quarterback trades and their impact on team dynamics. “You're not going to get this good of a Sam Darnold because coaching is not even in this league.” [38:00]

• Eric’s Perspective on Coaching Opportunities:

  • Eric shares his resilience and forward-thinking approach towards coaching interviews and opportunities. “The only thing that you build upon is the positives.” [50:04]

Notable Quotes:

• “You got to pick and choose a side.” – Eric Bieniemy [44:58]
• “I don't think Minnesota is a Super Bowl team, but I do think... it's about building the right culture.” – Colin Cowherd [42:21]

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Conclusion

"Best of The Herd" offers listeners an in-depth look into the current NFL season, enriched by Eric Bieniemy’s expert insights and Colin Cowherd’s sharp analysis. From the complexities of team leadership and quarterback development to the strategic resurgence of running backs, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of the league’s evolving dynamics. Notable discussions on the Chicago Bears’ struggles, the transformative impact of coaching changes in the Chargers, and the potential futures of quarterbacks like Sam Darnold add layers of depth to the conversation. Overall, this episode serves as an invaluable resource for NFL enthusiasts seeking to understand the intricate interplay of talent, strategy, and management in professional football.

Notable Quotes Recap:

• “The Chicago Bears are a broken franchise.” – Colin Cowherd [20:55]
• “Andy Reid is probably the most consistent individual I know.” – Eric Bieniemy [36:25]
• “You got to run it to win a championship.” – Eric Bieniemy [46:43]

Listeners are encouraged to tune into future episodes of The Herd with Colin Cowherd for continued analysis and engaging sports discussions.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Doug Gottlieb]

Small business owners this one's for you. Chase for Business and iheart bring you a podcast series called the Unshakables. This one of a kind series will shine the spotlight on small business owners like you who faced a do or die moment that ultimately made their business what it is today. Learn [e-mail] business podcast Chase make More of what's Yours Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply JPMorgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC Copyright 2024.

[Lavar Arrington]

JPMorgan Chase hey what's up everybody? It's Lavar Arrington here from up on Game and I need you to listen for a moment, all right? And get serious. The hate in this country is getting out of control. It's at an all time high. It's going to take all of us to stop it. I mean think about it. We all on the same team in this country, right? Let's take a break from hate so our team can regroup. We need to take a timeout against hate. Visit Stand up to all hate.org to help and join me in calling for a timeout against hate by following at what's up with Hate or posting the.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Blue square emoji from the Delta Sky Club. Welcome back Ms. Klein to the Jet Bridge. Delta Airlines relies on 5G solutions from T Mobile for business to power operations and serve customers faster. Together we're putting 5G into the hands of ground staff so they can better assist on the go travelers with real time information throughout the airport. This is elevating customer experience. This is Delta Airlines with T Mobile for Business. Take your business further@t mobile.com now.

[Colin Cowherd]

What's on your list of popular game day foods? Tailgate, house party, game day gatherings, whatever. Include real flavor with the original Louisiana brand hot sauce sliders, the beer cheese with that hit of Louisiana peppers. There's a rich food tradition in Louisiana bringing bold peppery flavor with just the right amount of heat. Pigs in a blanket pigs not in a blanket. Spinach Artichoke dip Artichoke spinach Dip Wings are wingier than ever with the original Louisiana brand wing sauce. Perfect for self appointed flavor experts. The original Louisiana brand hot sauce. The game day flavor changer Flavor favors the bold. Available at a store near you. Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at foxsportsradio.com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a Tuesday. Lots to talk about. Live in Los Angeles, it's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now, the Herd Hierarchy Nick Wright today Eric B. Enemy in studio can't wait to talk to Eric B. Enemy. Mahomes, Andy Reid Belichick in college. Can't wait for that in a couple of hours. J. Mac I don't even want to talk about Raiders. Falcons. I'll bury that one. Why not? Eight people watched it, but I think what we watched last night, you could see it in the body language. It was visual. It was obvious. The Chicago Bears are a broken franchise. Yeah, okay, Vikings, we'll get to that in a bit. But this is a broken franchise. In Chicago, the ownership, bottom three, team president, young general manager, hit and miss. If he left, fine. If he stayed, okay, coaching staff, none of it works. None of it. Yeah, they got some decent players. The jets have all sorts of good players. They're 4 and 10. And Caleb Williams, who was privately concerned before the draft but didn't want to be a bad guy. This was his nightmare. They have no leadership, top down. And by the way, how do you fix it? Well, the only way to fix it go to the Chargers, who also had a really good young quarterback, had a handful of really, really good players and they went and stopped screwing around and finally paid big money for a coach. 15 year, $15 million a year. Jim Harbaugh. And they have not regretted a second of it. They had a bad culture. Why? Most notably, they had a coach, Brandon Staley, that was completely over his skis, just like the Bear staff. You can't blame Thomas Brown. I mean, he's had three different parking spots in the organization in four weeks. They keep moving him up the food chain. He's not ready for this stuff. He'll be fine. He'll have a nice career. There is only one answer to this. It's Mike Vrabel. That's it. There are no other answers. No more lightweights, no more coordinators. This lift is too big. Even with Vrabel, I'm not sure it can solve everything. But this is an organization and frankly, a city that's very, very political. And the only times in the history of Chicago sports or politics that you've ever had great success is with strong, defiant leadership. Look at the history of the city, sports. You had Theo Epstein. All right, Ed. Mike Ditka. All right, you start looking around from politics to sports. That's Chicago's answer. Vrabel's it. There's nobody else out there. There's nobody else. No college guys, no lightweight coordinators. The job's too big. And like the Chargers. The Chargers, at least. That's why I think this is a big lift. I'm not sure if Vrabel can solve it. The Chargers have always been good at quarterback. I mean, it was Dan Fouth who I grew up watching, Breeze, Rivers, Herbert. They've always been high octane, fun to watch. And it's not like the Spanos family. They had a reputation as being frugal. They weren't crazy, they weren't meddling. They were frugal. They no longer are. They finally just said, sometimes in life you just have to admit, I got to get out of the way. And the Spanos family said, you know what? We're giving it to Harbaugh. And Harbaugh is going to build a staff and he's going to call the D.C. the general manager. And they just got out of the way and it works. And that's the only way to do it. I think this is a much bigger lift, much, much bigger lift than the Chargers job. Like when they hired Harbaugh, we all kind of knew, oh, yeah, I go in 10, 11 games. They may make the playoffs and they're going to. Okay, we could feel that. But. But this one is. The division is really good with really good coaches. You could have had Cliff Kingsbury. You couldn't get out of the way. You could have had Harbaugh. Kevin Warren couldn't get out of the way. There is only one way to solve this thing. I mean, you won the Bryce Young trade and you're only one game better than Carolina. And it was the steel of the decade. So it's not. And it's just not a quarterback thing. And let me give you an example and I and for the television audience you'll understand this radio is a little harder to follow. But if you look at every division in football not named the AFC South, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Kansas City, Rams, Tampa, Detroit, Philly, Washington, I can argue all have either the best owner, the best front office or both. It's not just the quarterback and coach, although they are really important. It all starts upstairs. Bills owner, front office excellent. Lions front office excellent. Kansas City, all of the above. Washington flushed all the losers out. Have much better people in Rams, Stan Kroenke less need like it's just a scouting department. You can just keep blaming coaches. You can keep running around this organization is broken. Vrabel is the only answer. I feel bad for Caleb Williams, but this is what he was worried about privately out here in Los Angeles. My people connected to him said you're not going to be a bad guy but man, look at their history. They've never had a 4,000 yard passing quarterback. That's why I said the Chargers are a little bit. You can kind of look at the Chargers and go well look what they did. They got out of the way and got got Harbaugh. But the Chargers had never been this dysfunctional. They just lost a bunch of close games. They always developed quarterbacks. They had a bunch of good players and the ownership group was not meddling. I don't know if you can fix Chicago. Some things are unfixable. Vrabel's the only answer. Here's Caleb after It's been frustrating and encouraging. The frustrating part is is is obviously we were on a coming games now eight. Yeah.

[Lavar Arrington]

Eight game losing streak.

[Colin Cowherd]

And that's not like I've said before, it's new to me. I haven't experienced anything like this.

[Doug Gottlieb]

So their encouraging part is how much.

[Colin Cowherd]

We fight as a team. Okay so let's just talk about the Vikings again. Raiders, Falcons. I can't put that in the first segment. So Sam Darnold, Minnesota has a tough decision. I would franchise Sam Darnold, keep him around. But they brought Daniel Jones in. They drafted J.J. mcCarthy. It is likely that they're going to let Sam Darnold become, you know a free agent. And here's what's really interesting. I love Darnold. You know that first of all his success is a total indictment on the jets in Carolina. I mean Aaron Rodgers career since he went to New York, circled the toilet. Okay so Sam Darnold is only 27 years old. So somebody's going to get a very good quarterback in his prime. Big, strong, mobile. Playmaker. Playmaker. Coachable kid. Here's the thing, though. You're not gonna get this good of a Sam Darnold because, you know, I don't even have to tell you this. Coaching is not even in this league. I mean, it. The gap between a McVeigh and a Kevin O'Connell, Andy Reid, Sean Payton, offensively, and the rest of the league, or most of the rest of the league, is the Grand Canyon. All that said, you're not going to get Kevin O'Connell. You're not getting Justin Jefferson, you're not getting Jordan Addison. You're not. The O line is underrated. It. This is a perfect scenario for Sam. And I look around at all the teams that could get Sam Darnold and I'm like, there's one exception. There's one exception. The Indianapolis Colts. Anthony Richardson's had 14 starts. He completes 50% of his throws. It's a hard decision. Sometimes you just gotta say it's not working. The Colts roster like the Vikings. Above average. Colts have good receivers. Not Justin Jefferson, good receivers. They're o line, top 10 to 12 in the league. Their defense, go ask Bo Nixon. Sean Payton, their defense, had the game won. Jonathan Taylor had a goofy decision and fumbled away the game. But he's an excellent running back. There is one place where Sam Darnold can go and it's going to look closest to this. It's in the very winnable AFC South. It's not a great ownership division. Even in Indy, it is wonky and winnable and you'll get about 85%. You don't get a Justin Jefferson, you're not getting him. All right, that he is just different. But I. I'm watching this last night and I think they've got a very tough decision to make. But he's only 27 years old. Sam's got three to four years prime. That'll be the length of his contract. And I think Minnesota's going to let him go. I think I try to franchise him, but if they don't, coaching in this league is not even. But going from Kevin O'Connell to the colt Shane Steichen, that's as well as Sam Darnold can do. Michael Pittman, he played with him at usc. Good old line, nice roster. Sam Darnold, Colts. You would get the closest version of Vikings. Sam Darnold. I don't think Minnesota is a Super bowl team, but I do think, I do think what you're seeing between Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold is this rebirth of really talented quarterbacks. And it is an indictment of the Cleveland Browns. It is an indictment for both of them. With Carolina, it's an indictment of the jets ownership gming. Coaching is not close to equal in this league. So Darnold's going to either keep flourishing for the Vikings or potentially flourish for the Colts. And I, folks, if you watch Denver and the Colts, Bo Nix is right out of college, second half. That's an NFL franchise quarterback. Colts don't have one. Took a swing. Young kid, nice kid. Doesn't work. J. Mac, we got so many things going on today. So many things with. I think people have finally come to terms with TUA in Miami. No. For years, people pushed back when we, when we offered, when we suggested that TUA winning in January in the AFC was fool's gold. Little pushback on the TUA train this week. Howard, you know, I, I thought you were onto something with the Sam Darnold to the Colts. I like that. I was just looking. Million cap space. I kind of like that move. 50 million cap space.

[Eric Bieniemy]

You follow it up with Tua.

[Colin Cowherd]

The problem. You think Tua's the problem in Miami? Got like a million problems. I. I will just say I'm watching Minnesota last night and I'm watching this weekend. Colts have 50 million in cap space. They got the roster.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Denver was getting hammered at home, and Denver's a playoff team. They were getting unrest hammered at home with a Hall of Fame coach. One team just needs a quarterback because I looked at the six teams that'll go after Darnold today. It's five disasters and one I think they could turn in Minnesota very quickly. Okay. We got a lot of stuff going on, you know, Eric B. Enemy and Nick Wright today heard hierarchy top of the hour. Hey, it's getting close. I went shopping yesterday. I got my daughter's stuff all taken care of in this cold weather. Oh, my God. It was like an arctic blast out here in LA. You left the house, it was 60.

[Lavar Arrington]

Okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

This morning it was like 40. It was 52. Okay. I had gloves and a winter hat. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, it's Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich. We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in.

[Lavar Arrington]

The world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem.

[Colin Cowherd]

To have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out.

[Lavar Arrington]

We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up as they say.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio. Maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and.

[Lavar Arrington]

Rich live on Fox Sports radio and.

[Colin Cowherd]

The iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Small Business Owners this one's for you. Chase for Business and iheart bring you a podcast series called the Unshakables. This one of a kind series will shine the spotlight on small business owners like you who faced a do or die moment that ultimately made their business what it is today. Learn [e-mail] business podcast Chase Make More of what's Yours Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply JPMorgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC Copyright 2024 JPMorgan Chase from the Delta Sky Club welcome back Ms. Klein to the JetBridge. Delta Airlines relies on 5G solutions from T Mobile for business to power operations and serve customers faster. Together we're putting 5G into the hands of ground staff so they can better assist on the go travelers with real time information throughout the airport. This is elevating customer experience. This is Delta Air Lines with T Mobile for Business. Take your business further@t mobile.com now.

[Colin Cowherd]

What's on your list of popular game day foods? Probably multiple dishes with a bold flavor of the original Louisiana brand hot sauce. You can't beat the original with a 90 year history of great taste and quality. Tailgate, house party, game day gatherings, whatever. Include real flavor sliders with the original Louisiana brand hot sauce. The beer cheese with that hit of Louisiana peppers. There has to be original Louisiana brand hot sauce on your game day food list. It's the perfect everyday hot sauce that complements every meal. There's a rich food tradition in Louisiana bringing bold peppery flavor with just the right amount of heat. Pigs in a blanket. Pigs not in a blanket. Spinach Artichoke Dip Artichoke Spinach Dip Wings are wingier than ever with the Original Louisiana Brand Wing Sauce Perfect for self appointed flavor experts. The Original Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce the Game Day Flavor Changer Flavor Favors the Bold. Available at a store near you. I'm Colin Coward from The Herd Intuit QuickBooks wants you to achieve your dreams of starting your own business and working for yourself. And if you're a small business owner launching a company, then you'll want to check out Mind the Business Small business Success stories from iHeart's Ruby Studio and Inuit QuickBooks Season 1 and 2 are out now and Season 3 is launching Thursday, January 9th with new episodes coming out every other Thursday after that. So make sure you catch up and listen as hosts Austin Henkwitz and Jenice Torres talk to small business owners about how they've grown and maintained their businesses and tackled the hurdles and challenges that come with being your own boss. From tracking money in and out to cutting through day to day management with an all encompassing platform like Intuit QuickBooks, you don't want to miss these inspiring stories of small business journeys. Listen to Mind the Business small business success Stories on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lavar Arrington]

Hey, this is Levar Arrington here from up on Game and listen, I want to talk to you about something very serious for a minute, all right? Something personal to me and right now something that should be personal to you as well. In our country, the hate is at an all time high and it's like we're going backwards. The hate is winning. We can't allow that. All right? It's out of control. So many different people, so many different groups are facing too much hate and it's enough. It's time for it to stop. We need to stop, regroup, change the momentum as a team because that's what we are. Everyone in this country is on the same team, so let's act like it. And when a team can't get it together, what do you do? You call a timeout. And that's what we need to do. Call a timeout against hate. Let's think about what we say and do and when we see hate, when we see someone doing or saying those things we know are wrong and hateful, we need to call it out. Imma call it out. You need to do the same thing. Visit Stand up to all hate.org to help and join me in calling for a timeout against hate by following at what's up with Hate or posting the Blue Square emoji.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right. We do it every Tuesday, Nick. Right around the corner. It's the herd hierarchy. Here we go. Herd hierarchy. Time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams according to college. Number 10. Okay, I got to admit, I'm kind of proud. Denver Broncos, tied for number one scoring defense in the entire league. Lead the NFL in sacks. They did not play well and won. They got outplayed by the Colts. They won four straight games. Bo Nix is still in the growth period. But I said before the season, I did not buy they were a bad team. Sean Payton's one of the best coaches of my life. Bo Nix had 61 college starts. Mims, Cortland, Sutton, Patrick Surtan. They got real dudes. Denver at 10. Number nine, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I may have them low. I'm telling you, I wouldn't want to play this team. The Chargers hadn't allowed over 30 points in a game. Tampa went in, scored 40 easy. And I'm telling you, Baker Mayfield, now third in the NFL with 32 touchdown passes, be very concerned about facing a team that can win by shootouts or win ugly. And that's what they can do. You can't run on them yet. This roster can run on you. This is a weird team. Todd Bowles, who's a really wonderful guy and an excellent defensive coach, is proving he can get out of the way and let the offense be the offense. I got Tampa at nine, Number eight, Minnesota. Seven game winning streak. They are seven and one and one score games. I think a lot of the story here, beyond Darnold is Kevin O'Connell, who they call a tunnel. Sean McVeigh, I think Kevin O'Connell is superb. And their defense, Brian Flores, number two against the run, number three in takeaways. Brian Flores deserves another job. He does. Because I don't think their defensive personnel is nearly as good. Is their defensive production. I think it's fine. The production is great. I think Flores deserves another gig. Minnesota at eight. Number seven, the Ravens. Listen, they have five losses by a combined 22 points. A lot of it's been special teams. It's the best run offense in the league. I am rooting so hard for Lamar to do something in the playoffs because I don't buy this. This thing that he. That he's not a great pocket quarterback. He is. Now. I do think J. Mac touched on something yesterday. Derrick Henry's productions come down a bit. These are long seasons, running backs you're seeing. J.K. dobbins, Derrick Henry Montgomery with the Lions this is a rough sport. They're the last unprotected offensive player. I have the Ravens at seven. Number six. I'm going to move Detroit down to six, and I'm not sure they are six. They've given up 79 points in two weeks. And it's not because the coaching's bad. They're running out of players. The defense has one takeaway in the last four games. Everybody moves the ball on them. They have 18 players on the IR again. They can only win now in shootouts. I. I think Green Bay this morning is the better team. And I. Obviously, Detroit has beaten Green Bay, but I have the Lions at six. Number five, you do not want to play the Rams. They are now healthy. No turnovers, no sacks allowed in two games. This offensive line is winning games seven and two since the buy. Okay? And when Stafford's got a healthy Puka Nakua. 17 touchdowns, four picks. Kyron Williams, Stafford Havenstein, Cooper cup, puka nakua, Sean McVeigh. You don't want to face them. They are hot and feeling it. Number four, Buffalo. Listen, their defense is an issue. I know you're falling in love with Josh Allen, folks. Detroit went up and down the field. The Rams went up and down the field. Their defense ranks 22nd now. They're fifth in takeaways, so they'll take the ball away. And I love Josh Allen, too, but he's had like 900 yards in two games and they lost one of them. You're not winning in February with this defense. They got to get healthier. I think they're getting rap back. They're getting some of their back end back, but they are not good enough defensively. Number three, the Packers. They're hot, they're healthy, and they are now a power run team. That game in Seattle, they. They turned the lights out on that thing after two drives, eight and two, since the start of October. Now, both losses were to the Lions because the Lions have a better team, but they don't today. I love Green Bay. When they hold opponents under 25, they're 9 and 1. And I think Matt LaFleur is on a short list of one of the most underrated coaches in the league. Remember when he was at Tennessee, his reputation was he likes to lead with the run. He had Derrick Henry in Green Bay. This is his offense and his team. This is what Matt LaFleur knows. He is a run first. He's got a lot of Sean Mcvan, Shanahan. He likes the run game. Green Bay at three, number two. Listen, Mahomes, is banged up. This team is still 100 in games decided by a touchdown or less. They still have the best coach arguably ever. Mahomes probably sits this weekend against Houston and then he'll be fine. I do worry about offensive tackle. I just they're not going to be great at it. Just keep your eye on this team. They're getting Hollywood Brown back. I think the best of Kansas City will be the version in about, you know, 10 days when Patrick Mahomes returns. Number one, the most dysfunctional great team in sports. Philadelphia. A 10 game winning streak with their coach getting in fights with assistant coaches. I mean everything they do screams bad organization. And yet all they do is win. They fire super bowl winning coaches. I Philadelphia is wild. Is Nick Sirianni a good coach? Did you see that defensive line coach getting in his way? Would you do that with like Andy Reid? Would you do that with Sean Payton? I mean like Philadelphia breaks every rule in pro football. They fire winning coaches. They let go of Andy Reid. The coaches screaming at fans, drama in the locker room, players calling out the team on radio. And they win. And they're loaded. This roster is stacked. There's the herd hierarchy. I like Green Bay a lot. I know you're shaking your head at Green Bay, aren't you? Didn't Buffalo beat KC like I don't know, three weeks ago And Buffalo's defense now is worse. I think you're right on Green Bay.

[Eric Bieniemy]

I actually like this.

[Colin Cowherd]

Except for Casey at 2, there's no shot. I don't even know if I'd have them. Top seven. Oh, that's interesting. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Doug Gottlieb]

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[Colin Cowherd]

What's on your list of popular game day foods? Probably multiple dishes with the bold flavor of the original Louisiana brand hot sauce. You can't beat the original with a 90 year history of great taste and quality. Tailgate, house party, game day gatherings, whatever. Include real flavor sliders with the original Louisiana brand hot sauce. The beer cheese with that hit of Louisiana peppers. There has to be original Louisiana brand hot sauce on your game day food list. It's the perfect everyday hot sauce that complements every meal. There's a rich food tradition in Louisiana bringing bold peppery flavor with just the right amount of heat. Pigs in a blanket Pig's not in a blanket Spinach Artichoke dip Artichoke Spinach dip Wings are wingier than ever with the original Louisiana brand wing sauce. Perfect for self appointed flavor experts. The original Louisiana brand hot sauce. The game day Flavor Changer Flavor favors the bold. Available at a store near you. I'm Colin Coward from The Herd Intuit QuickBooks wants you to achieve your dreams of starting your own business and working for yourself. And if you're a small business owner launching a company, then you'll want to check out Mind the Business Small business Success stories from iHeart's Ruby Studio and Inuit QuickBooks Season 1 and 2 are out now and Season 3 is launching Thursday, January 9th with new episodes coming out every other Thursday after that. So make sure you catch up and listen as hosts Austin Henkwitz and Jenice Torres talk to small business owners about how they've grown and maintained their businesses and tackled the hurdles and challenges that come with being your own boss. From tracking money in and out to cutting through day to day management. With an all encompassing platform like Intuit QuickBooks, you don't want to miss these inspiring stories of small business journeys. Listen to Mind the Business Small business success stories on the Iheart app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lavar Arrington]

Hey, this is Lavar Arrington here from up on Game and listen, I want to talk to you about something very serious for a minute, all right? Something personal to me and right now something that should be personal to you as well. In our country, the hate is at an all time high and it's like we're going backwards. The hate is winning. We can't allow that, all right? It's out of control. So many different people, so many different groups are facing too much hate and it's enough. It's Time for it to stop. We need to stop, regroup, change the momentum as a team because that's what we are. Everyone in this country is on the same team. So let's act like it. And when a team can't get it together, what do you do? You call a timeout. And that's what we need to do. Call a timeout against hate. Let's think about what we say and do. And when we see hate, when we see someone doing or saying those things we know are wrong and hateful, we need to call it out. Imma call it out. You need to do the same thing. Visit Stand up to all hate.org to help and join me in calling for a timeout against hate by following at what's up with hate or posting the blue square emoji.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, Eric B. Enemy has had an amazing career up for the Heisman as a running back at Colorado. That was the last time Colorado was great, really truly great. Two time super bowl champ as a coordinator with Andy Reid. 10 full seasons with the Chiefs and he is in studio. He was at UCLA last year. So I got so many things. I want to start with the big picture on Momes. So he comes from, you know, Texas Tech. His dad was a major league player. Did they let you in on him before they drafted in? Had, had you heard in the building there was a young kid. Give me I'm and I'm trying to figure out the timeline because they had Matt Nagy was there and then Eric B. Enemy. And I'm trying to find figure out exactly when you were there. But take me through your kind of chronological order with Mahomes.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Okay. So first and foremost, coaching out there in Kansas City. We're in the Big 12 country, so seeing Texas Tech play every single weekend. And one thing, you know, we had a great staff. I mean we had Brett Veach on staff as a gl. Obviously he was under my man. Oh what was the original John Dorsey. He was under Dorsey. And so you know, we had a lot of guys, Chris Ballard and the talk of the town was always, you know, have you guys seen these throws that this kid has made? And we will watch the games. We got caught up in Big 12 football, obviously just watching what Pat was doing. And so we got enamored with him. We watched him grow as a player while we were coaching because everybody was a fan of football. And so just watching him and seeing all the things that he brought to the table, we all were kind of on kind of end on it. Chris Ballard was probably the Lead scout at the point.

[Colin Cowherd]

At that point in time, he's now the Colts gm. Exactly. He loved him.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Loved him. Absolutely loved him. I think everybody in the building fell in love with him. Now, did we think that we would have a chance of getting him? No. But it's amazing how things worked out and obviously it's been history being made right before your eyes. The kid is an unbelievable kid. He takes absolutely nothing for granted. And you just love him as a person and as a competitor when you.

[Colin Cowherd]

So let's go to the first camp with Mahomes.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

So you had the Alex Smith, who's a wonderful guy.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

And were there moments. Did you drive home after a practice or three? And was there a moment for you, an epiphany when you're like, oh, boy, this is different.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Let me say this. So with all due respect to Alex, okay, we love Alex. Alex was a great quarterback. Here's one thing Alex did. Alex provided a blueprint for Pat Mahomes to follow. Because first and foremost, Alex was a come early, stay late guy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

He was very professional. He was very diligent. Right. In everything that he did. He took the game serious. He studied. He was a film junkie. So those are some of the things that, you know as an example of seeing an older player do. It helped Patrick to grow. Now, watching Patrick, and don't get me wrong, every young quarterback has their struggles every now and then, but there were certain throws that you'll see in practice. You're like, oh, my goodness, did you see that? And we just sit there, go back.

[Colin Cowherd]

Look at the tape.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes. Like, wait a minute, did you see that throw? And so there will always be those moments. And then you just knew you had something special. And then he had that opportunity to start up against Denver. I want to say it was the last game of the season, that particular year, and he went out and he did his thing. And not to anybody's surprise, here we are, you know, years later, looking at him and still watching him excel at all the little things that a lot of people didn't think that he can do because he came from an air raid offense. Yeah. Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

So obviously Andy Reid is a great play caller and play designer. You've had, you've worked with a lot of good coaches. Bobby Ross. What. What is the secret sauce? If you were to take. If I said, eric, you get a head coaching job. Take one thing from Andy Reid. What is his. What's the structure, the foundational piece of Andy that makes him arguably the best coach ever.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Ever I think more than anything is probably the consistency. He's a consistent individual. The Andy Reid that you see today is the same Andy Reid that I played for in 1999. Really, the thing that I love about Coach Reed is that he's very stern. He expects you to be very professional. He expects all his coaches to be an expert at their positions. He expects his players to work hard. He expects them to be at their best when their best is needed. And there's always a culture of accountability. And when you have all that and you combined it together, now you see the consistent winning performance that just takes place throughout the course of the years. And so the thing that I love about Coach Reed is that he's provided that. And then on top of it, I got to add one more thing. He's not afraid of change. He's not afraid of old coaches are, you know, and that does not fear him. You know, he wants to make sure that whatever needs to be done, whatever we need to do to win, that's all that matters. And as you can obviously see, that's been a theme of this season. It doesn't matter what the score is. When it's all said and done with, you're being measured. It ain't about the numbers. It ain't about the stats. You're being measured by two alphabets, the W or the L. Yeah. And they found a way to be 13 and one right now. And everybody wants to talk about what they haven't done. But I'll say this. It's hard winning 13 games in the season, let alone being 131 at this particular point. And that's a credit to Coach Reed.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. So you looked at all these quarterbacks coming out. Jaden Daniels and Bo Nix and Caleb Williams and Michael Penix and J.J. mcCarthy. I thought Caleb was the most talented at UCLA, you know, the USC program. Well, you. This year, you faced. I think it was Miller Bond. No, no. The UNLV kid at the end. When you watch Caleb struggling in Chicago, how do they get it right? What's the first step?

[Eric Bieniemy]

Well, I think more than anything, it's about the culture and the atmosphere. So you want to make sure that the kid is in a right culture, meaning you have to build it around him. If you're going to draft a franchise quarterback, you got to make sure that. And I'm not trying to step on anybody's toes or place any judgment on anything. I think Ryan Polls has done a great job.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know Ryan.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes. Ryan is a very good friend, and I've known him for a number of years because we spent a number of years together in Kansas City. But you want to make sure that you're building that organization, that program around him.

[Colin Cowherd]

Everything benefits him.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Exactly. And everything always starts and ends up front. So you got to build it with those guys.

[Colin Cowherd]

And so Ibert Fluss was a defensive coach and that worried me.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yeah. And. And so I'm not into who's doing hiring and all the firing, but one thing I do know, anytime you're drafted a franchise quarterback, you got to surround it with the right people. You got to make sure the right people are in his ear. You got to do the things that he likes and feels comfortable with. And then you start branching out and developing him and teaching him other things along the way. And so yes, the kid is special. He's a dynamic football player. But it starts with a culture.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

And having this opportunity to coach in a number of AFC championship games and being on a Super bowl winning team, it starts and ends up top. It starts with everything.

[Colin Cowherd]

Families, beach to everybody, you know, and.

[Eric Bieniemy]

When you're in a first class organization and with first class people, you know, everything is done the right way, will there be mistakes made along the way? Sure. Yes, there will. But it always starts up top. And you want to surround your quarterback with the right people. That's going to help him to develop and grow.

[Colin Cowherd]

So Belichick's going to college. My take is he is building a pro model college. College athletic departments can be high maintenance. People are very parochial. They have their space. And Belichick's coming in with his NFL guys and he's like, yeah, I'm not going to volleyball matches. And my take is it's Bill's smart, but he's a pro coach and you're a pro coach and you went to ucla. If you could give him. What was the first shocking thing? What? What? And again, Kansas City's a well run pro football operation. The first thing, if you, if you could whisper one thing to Bill. Hey, be careful about blank. What would you say?

[Eric Bieniemy]

The only thing that, that if anything that I disliked or about the college game is the lack of time that we have to teach. And so I pride myself on being a teacher. And you know, there is a 20 hour rule. You only get so much time.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[Eric Bieniemy]

To deal with young men. And it's always have felt that it is our duty as coaches to make sure that if there's a player that's special enough, we. It's our responsibility of making sure we're providing this kid with all the necessary tools that's going to give him the best opportunity to play early in the NFL if he's talented enough.

[Colin Cowherd]

Eric B. Enemy for our radio audience. And here's the thing, that's why the NFL is. It's the great scheme league for coaches. College is the recruiting league. Yes, you can only do. You can only layer a college kid with so much. Yes, you only get 20 hours. So Belichick is not a recruiter. He's a scheme genius. And that's why Andy Reid in college would probably be exhausted by having to go to San Bernardino and look at a receiver instead of teaching them his plays. And so I feel he's going to be. Now, are you surprised because you're a former Colorado great, Are you surprised by Colorado has no money, like, they're like ucla, not a lot of dollars there for nil. Are you surprised at the success that he has had?

[Eric Bieniemy]

Dion not at all. I tell you what, knowing Rick George and knowing everything that Rick George wanted AD yes, exactly. Rick George is a great friend of mine, very close friend. He was there when we played in the national championships era. But him in prime time is. They hit it off, really. And yes, they hit it off and there's a nucleus, there's a bond. So I thought Rick, first of all, Deion did a heck of a job of selling his vision to Rick. But on top of that, you can see the vision coming through because Deion did a great job of basically helping those young men to go out there and be successful. But on top of that, just building a competitive program by building it with the right people. I thought he did a great job.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hey, Travis Hunter, I'd play him at corner as a former offensive coordinator in the NFL for years. Here's my concern. You can't be a part time receiver. It's a timing position.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

So what would you do? You're. You're a coordinator and you get Travis Hunter and he's like, hey coach, I want to do some offense and returning. But he's an elite sauce gardener level corner. How would you integrate him into some of the offense? I don't think he can be your number one receiver in your number one corner. Well, how. But if you had to, you only got him for half the practice.

[Eric Bieniemy]

What do you do? So first and foremost, congratulations to Travis Hunter on winning the Heisman Trophy.

[Colin Cowherd]

He is great.

[Eric Bieniemy]

The second Heisman Trophy winner in the history of Colorado football, so outstanding. Second of all, I have to answer this question biasly because and don't get me wrong. I think the kid is a tremendous athlete. I'm selfish. I'm on the offensive side of the ball. I want him to play receiver for me.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right. Right.

[Eric Bieniemy]

And so. But because I watch all the dynamic things that the kid does, he's a great. He makes dynamic catch. I would use him just like I would use any other player.

[Colin Cowherd]

Jet sweeps.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Jet sweeps certain routes. I mean, he, the kid is. He can run. He has an unbelievable hand and eye coordination. He can track the football. He can come out and in, in and out of his breaks. He transitions well. I mean, the kid is a great football player, and obviously he's one of the best because of the numbers that have shown. But on top of that, the trophy speaks for itself. But the kid is also a competitive kid. And don't get me wrong, I think the kid is a dynamic college football player.

[Colin Cowherd]

Can he be a great receiver?

[Eric Bieniemy]

I think the kid could be an outstanding receiver. And so. But you got to pick and choose a side, in my opinion. That's just my humble opinion.

[Colin Cowherd]

You got to take a side.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes. Because it takes away. It takes. Now, he could be a dynamic, great corner, just like you said. He does have those skills and ability to be the next.

[Colin Cowherd]

But you know what? Here's my takeaway on that area. It's an offensive league. A lot of bad teams, the jets have great corners, but if you have dual weapons like the Rams, it's, it's, it's an offensive league.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

A corner has limitations. Patrick Certain is unbelievable.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

But it's Sean Payton, the offense, the left tackle. I just think if I had. I think he's going to be a better corner than receiver, but I think receivers more valuable now than a great.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Corner because you can design and get him involved in the game early and often.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay.

[Eric Bieniemy]

And that's the beauty of it. Whereas he's having an opportunity to touch.

[Colin Cowherd]

The football 12, 15 times.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Great things can happen.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

And so you would implement him in your, in your, in your office early.

[Colin Cowherd]

So a year ago, people were lamenting that running backs, they're never going to get paid. You were a running back, and they're never going to get paid. And now here's Derrick Henry and you're watching Green Bay now, Josh Jacobs. That's a power run team. Detroit's a power run team. Baltimore's a power run team. The Rams with Kyron Williams.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

So why do you think in the last year, Saquon Barkley. It feels like Eric, there is a little bit of a pivot back to the Running back. Why?

[Eric Bieniemy]

Well, this game has a way of being cyclical. Everything that you think was outdated, it seems to come right back. One thing that I've always have known, you throw the ball, okay, to win. You throw the ball to win football games, to score touchdowns.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Eric Bieniemy]

But you got to run it to win a championship. When it's all said and done with, the game is still one up front. All right. Whether it's the old line or the defensive line, if you can run the ball, it takes so much pressure off the, off the quarter.

[Colin Cowherd]

Also, it eats clock.

[Eric Bieniemy]

It eats clock.

[Colin Cowherd]

You get into these close late games. That's what Josh Allen has never had until James Cook. He had leads.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Exactly.

[Colin Cowherd]

They couldn't eat the clock up because.

[Eric Bieniemy]

It becomes a game of possessions. And so if you're taking care of the football ball security, you're running the ball, it limits the opponent and so it limits the opponent's opportunities. But on top of that, it applies pressure to that team because now they feel forced to be perfect, to drive the ball the length of the field, to go out and put points on the board. But when it's all said and done with those teams that are doing a great job of running the ball, those are going to be teams that are going to be reckoned with come playoff time because they're hard to stop. And then you watch what they're doing up in Green Bay, I mean with that cold weather, you know, running the ball as efficiently as they are. I mean you're watching Philly do what they do. But it's it, this, this year has been fun watching all these guys do what they have done. And then if you look at it, it's about four or five other guys that are on the cusp of rushing over a thousand yards. You know, this year may be an all time high as far as, yeah, you know, thousand seven players right now.

[Colin Cowherd]

With 1,000 plus rushing yards. Last year, one player.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yeah, think about that.

[Colin Cowherd]

I also think about this. As the game got more perimeter based, safeties got smaller, so did linebackers.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I think the good coaches went timeout. We got 214 pound linebackers. Yes. And then the game, most of these running backs, low center of gravity guys, they're punishing running. But Kyron Williams, you can't get a hit on. So I think it's cyclical to your point. The safeties and linebackers got some smaller and rangier, but not as physical.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes. Because here's what happens. So once upon a time, defensive schemes were, were, were scheming Up Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on how to stop those guys. You think about all the receivers. So guys got naturally smaller. So you're primarily playing with your nickel personnel. So same thing with the Kansas City Chiefs. The evolution of Patrick Mahomes teams are lining up, trying to take away all the different receiving threats that you have on the perimeter, which leads for what, a light box. So now you have an opportunity to run it even more. So and you think about some of those guys that are running the ball as efficiently as they are. Look at the players that are playing quarterback as well. There's also guys out on the perimeter. So now it's like little checks and balances.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Because you have to be able to defend the run. But on top of that, now, now you get matchups on the perimeter where you get one on one battles where guys are going to have opportunities now to make more plays efficiently down the field by making a big throw off of play action passes.

[Colin Cowherd]

Eric B. Enemy is joining us. Before I let you go, you've had opportunities to be a coach. You've interviewed. I mean, it's a competitive world. Do you ever get frustrated? Some people have thrown out a racial component. How does that land for you when you interview? You don't get it. The media appears to be like, give this guy a chance. Is it hard on you and your family? How do you view it? How does it land for you?

[Eric Bieniemy]

I look at it as an opportunity to grow. I've had a number of opportunities to sit down with a number of teams and I've come away with a lot. Just sitting down, having that experience, talking to those particular teams. And the thing that you can do is I'm a competitor. The only thing that you do is go back to the drawing board, you know, and figure out, what can I do to make it better. You know, I grew up in a culture of being a resilient person. My mom have always taught me, hey, you know, you don't worry about the things you can't control. Worry about what's next and how you're going to control that particular moment. So when it's all said and done with, no, you don't think about the negative. The only thing that you build upon is the positives. What are some of the things that you can come away with after learning and going through this experience and how is it going to help you moving forward? So those are the things that I focus on and that's, that's what's important moving forward.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I got to ask you one More?

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

All your years as a coordinator, offensive coordinator, if I said to you, name the one defensive player you hated facing that, you would look at the film and think, okay, he's going to blow that. Because Chris Jones is one of those guys that other coordinators look at. He'll move up, he'll move all over the defensive line. Was there a guy in this league, you're doing this for 10 years and you, every time you faced him, you thought, oh, headache.

[Eric Bieniemy]

But there's probably a few of them. But one of them that stands up, it's a young Von Miller. Vaughn was a beast.

[Colin Cowherd]

First three, four years in the league, he was.

[Eric Bieniemy]

He was a beast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so he was in. He was in Denver.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

How did you block him?

[Eric Bieniemy]

We tried. In fact, it was a funny story too, because first of all, I have the utmost respect for Von. Yeah, you talking about a premier pass rusher that also did a great job of lining up and playing against the Rum in his heyday. And that's not to take away anything that he's doing now in Buffalo. But that young kid, he was so hard to block. You had the scheme around him. I remember we played him. It had to be either 2018 or 2019. He beats Mitch off the edge. Mitch probably is not going to like.

[Colin Cowherd]

Me saying Mitch was good, too.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes, Mitch was. And. And here's the thing. He probably was Vaughn's toughest matchup because Mitch was. Mitch was a smart. He was smart. He was very strategic with it. He did a great job of timing up his pass sets. But it was this one time he beats him. And so he's. He beats him around and Pat scrambles to his left and Pat throws the ball with his left hand and he completes it. And so in the heat of the moment now, you gotta understand, we're in a two minute situation where we're trying to go down and win the game. And so I'm sitting there and it's a lot of chaos over the headsets and I'm like, damn, did anybody see that? I'm talking to Coach Reed and Coach Reed's like, eb, you got to call the play. You know, he gives me the. You got to call the play. I said, did anybody see that damn throw that he just made? He was like, get the play out. Call the play. And so after I get the play called in, we're like, yeah, we saw it. It was unreal.

[Colin Cowherd]

And that was the play. Vaughn just beat his guy.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes, but you're talking about a great player in his heyday. I mean, unbelievable. Hard to stop.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

You know, hard to scheme around as well.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Eric Bien me. Pleasure to meet you.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Nice to meet you as well.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Thank you for this opportunity.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Doug Gottlieb]

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[Colin Cowherd]

You're all set.

[Doug Gottlieb]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Doug Gottlieb]

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[Doug Gottlieb]

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