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- [00:00]
Colin Cowherd
Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One Bank Guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See CapitalOne.com Bank Capital One NA Member FDIC. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carry and timely redemption required. Cart has no cash access and expires in six months Experiencing the News each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up First. Subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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@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. Oh, it just became a very, very interesting Thursday in the Herd. We love breaking news on this Greg Cosell one hour from now to talk about the NFL playoffs. But J. Mac a story and I guess you and I aren't surprised. I Have some questions how it would turn out. But you know, Jerry Jones was on that show Landman and everybody was marveling at what a showman he was and who's the ultimate showman as a football coach. Not bad. You know, I'm only on episode six, so no spoilers for Landman. I don't want to know what happens yet, but this news, I, I don't know what to do with it, man. Let's not keep people waiting and holding their breath. Edwarder, respected journalist, says regarding Deion Sanders. Edwarder says I'm being told he would certainly accept that if Jerry Jones offered the next cowboy coaching head coaching gig to him and that those around Jerry are encouraging him to pursue it and that Jones is enamored with the idea. Well, it would be interesting and splashy. And they're two showmen and I think Jerry and Deion have a lot in common. They're performers, they'll take risks and if you criticize them, they'll come on your show and talk about it. They don't shy away from risk. They welcome the spotlight. But Dallas is also two things today. Not very good and boring. So this falls in line with Jerry Jones personality, which is he likes to be seen as the man who discovered something. He loved getting Tony Romo at a discount. He was undrafted. He loved getting Dak Prescott at a discount. Right. Fourth rounder. And Deion Sanders, who we don't think of as the best coaching candidate. You'd probably. There's a little bit of discovery here and I think Jerry loves that. Jerry's DNA was an oil catter. Let's dig and see what we got down there. And Jerry in the NFL is a little bit like that. Let's see what we've got here with undrafted Tony Romo and Deion Sanders as a head coach and Dak Prescott as a fourth rounder. So I'm, I don't know if Deion Sanders, Prime Time would be a great coach. Let's just be honest about his college football experience. He went 13 and 12 in two years with arguably the best college quarterback and without an argument. The Heisman Trophy winner who played both sides of the ball and in a bad conference, the big 12. It wasn't in the SEC. He wasn't. He, he wasn't even in the big 10 of the ACC. Is it, is it a big 12 went 13 and 12 and he up blown out a lot. And I, I will sell this. Say this Prime Time can sell primetime and by proxy he'll sell Dallas. But salesmanship is huge in College football. That's 75% of the game. Nick Saban was old, but he was young in the recruiting trail. He had energy and juice and swag, and Dion's got a lot of that. But the Cowboys have no camp room and they're not going to trade Dakota. So how does he make them better? And my rule has always been, whenever you make a coaching move, what do your rivals say? What do you think the Philadelphia Eagles are saying this morning about this story? They're saying, well, Jerry likes the spotlight, so he'll get the spotlight. They're not saying, oh, damn, Vrabel is going to change that culture. Or last year, oh, boy, Jim Harbaugh wins everywhere and really fast. And he's coming from Michigan. He knows all those college players. There's no fear in the Philadelphia Eagles executive suite or locker room today with Deion Sanders. He's a showman who was a 500 coach in a bad conference in college. Now he took over a bad job. He was good for the sport. I was rooting for him. I think he's fun. But is Jerry going to win the spotlight, sacrificing, perhaps winning games? So Joel Klatt was on the show yesterday who played at Colorado, who hopes he stays prime time at Colorado, and he doesn't think necessarily the NFL is a great fit. I don't believe that Dallas is somehow a better destination. In fact, I view it opposite, and I view this by this is not a Colorado and Dallas thing. This is also just an NFL versus college football. If you find the right fit in college football, where you're comfortable and, and you can win even in the Big 12, you're going to make a lot more money in the long run and have a lot more power in the long run than going to the NFL. Because even if the NFL can pay you more, maybe, maybe per year, that's going to be a short Runway and you have very little to no power. I don't think Dallas's issue was a coaching problem. I think it's a roster problem. It's really top heavy with a wildly overpaid quarterback and one great playmaker. And the Cowboys ended up, believe it or not, being too good to get a great draft pick in a really, really okay draft. It's not a bad draft, but there's about seven to eight special players and Dallas actually McCarthy coached him up too well and they don't have one of those top picks. And it's not a draft. And in my opinion, unless you could get the receiver t Mac from Arizona or a Mason Graham or Carter, the edge rusher from Penn State. I'm not moving up for anybody else. I don't even. I don't even think I'm moving up for these quarterbacks. And, you know, Jerry's not getting rid of his quarterback. So what do you think the Eagles are saying today? Cause I got news for you. Once Jim Harbaugh was coming to the Chargers, I can guarantee that people in Kansas City were like, damn, Herbert finally got a coach. And I can guarantee you in Buffalo, with Mike Vrabel going to New England, you know what they're saying in Buffalo? Oh, he'll get that puppy turned around real fast. We got ourselves. We got ourselves a ball coach. I think Philly's saying, well, Jerry likes the spotlight. He's on Landman and he's got Dion, so he'll get that. Not saying he's gonna fail, but there's some guarantees in the job search. I thought Vrabel was one of them this year and Harbaugh was one last year. I don't know what you get here. Okay, so it's interesting. You would think as the Kansas City Chiefs try to do something nobody's done in the NFL. Three straight super bowl wins, they would, they would be kind of intimidating, but kind of daunting. But Sean Payton just said yesterday that when they went into the playoffs, they were actually more concerned about Buffalo and that if they could get past Buffalo, they like their chances against the Chiefs. We're not looking backwards, we're looking ahead. And it starts with the division, you know, and there's a lot of confidence in this team.
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Joy Taylor
If we could get past that game.
- [10:09]
Colin Cowherd
The next game we had to play, we felt real good about. And that next game was going to be Kansas City. So I think actually Kansas City proves two things and, and it's actually instructive for other teams. It's instructive and they prove two things. One, you don't have to be great at everything to win back to back Super Bowls. Kansas City's receiving corps the last two years, a lot of Hammond Eggers. It's just a lot of guys now. Now Reed and Mahomes take a D plus group and make it a C plus group. So it's not terrible, but. But you don't have to be great at everything. The one. But if you're terrible at anything, Joe Burrows O lines, you're not winning Super Bowls. The one time Mahomes didn't have his starting offensive tackles in the super bowl. Super Bowl 55. He got rolled, he got humiliated. The coaching is too good. In the NFL you do not have to be great at everything. You can't be terrible at at anything. I mean, there were years Brady didn't have a great run game, but James White was one of the best pass catching running backs in the league. So they may not have had a superstar running back, but their backs could catch and block and protect. And so that's the first thing. You do not have to be great at everything to win Super Bowls. Can't be terrible at anything. And the second thing is you really only have to be elite at about four or five things. Head coach, quarterback. You got to have a dominant defensive person up front somewhere. Edge, Chris Jones, Aaron Donald. Got to have a dominant defensive lineman. You have to have an above average offensive line and some reliable playmaker. It can be Saquon Barkley, it can be Gronk and Julian Edelman. It could be a tight end, a slot receiver. You have to have a third down go to Guy for the quarterback. They're not all going to be as good as Jamar Chase, but Puka Nukua, Saquon Barkley, you know, Travis Kelsey, you got to have one of those. So the Colts and the Seahawks, by the way, I think have excellent rosters, but they're not great at key positions. And so Kansas City fools you into thinking this is not a great team. They're great where you need to be in the NFL. So they're very instructive. They don't intimidate you. But if you go back and look at New England, they are Kansas City, great coach, great quarterback, always above average offensive lines, always had somebody that could get after the quarterback. They often led the NFL in hurries. And there was one reliable playmaker often too. It was James White at a receiver spot out of the backfield. It was Gronk for a couple years. It was Randy Moss. It was often Welker or Edelman. There was always one guy Tom knew he had on third down and that is Travis Kelsey. So, you know, it's like, it's like the restaurant menu. Not everything has to be great. Get stuff off it that's terrible. And you got to be good at two or three things, in and out. Don't like their fries, burgers and shakes. They crush. So I think a lot of people look at Kansas City and doubt them, but they're a very instructive team. Taking that baton from New England. So Deion Sanders to the Dallas Cowboys. J. Mac, your initial reaction? Prime Time wants It. If it's offered. Jerry is enamored with it and may offer it. Do you think it comes to fruition? I mean, you got to respect Ed Werder. He's been doing this, covering the team for a long time. I just have a hard time seeing Dion doing this. Is it you talked about, Is it a good job? Is the Dallas. Well, if you look at the Jackson State to Colorado, Dallas Cowboys, that's a very noteworthy ascension. Yeah. Yeah. So it is a great job. Now, if you're coaching, if you're Sark or Ryan Day, if Ryan Day won the Natty. I look at the Dallas Cowboys and think, I'm going to wait until I get a rookie quarterback on a rookie deal or I get a Justin Herbert or a C.J. stroud. So, again, what is your job if you go from Jackson State? Because, I mean, Dion was just broadcasting and speaking and he was great at it. It was great broadcaster and a good public speaker and all that stuff. Jackson State, Colorado, Dallas Cowboys, you take that job. I mean, if I was. If I was him, I would take that job. I'll be honest here. You know, Michael Irvin, we talked to him during the break when he's on the show, and he's just, like, upset that we're saying this is not a good job. Straight up honesty. Colin, Jacksonville calls you and says, we want you to be our head coach. We got Trevor Lawrence, your show. Colin, Jerry Jones calls you and says, hey, come on down, Colin, we want you as the coach. No, no, no. Because from a football perspective, you can win with Jacksonville much sooner than Dallas. But I think Deion Sanders now, because he's had some modicum of success at Colorado Views, this is more than just a football job. It is brand enabling. It, it, it. By the way, let's say he goes there and he's okay, he could walk into another great TV gig. He could maybe say, you know what? I want to be a part owner somewhere. I want to do a little upstairs stuff. I mean, it would give him more options. We always felt this with Colorado. There's a pretty low ceiling and a pretty low floor. Like Colorado is. Can be really bad and rarely great. I mean, I couldn't tell you the last time they were great. He put them back on the map. Basically. He put them on the map, but he didn't put them on the best part of the map. But maybe that's not what he wants. Maybe he wants the branding. I don't know what Dion wants. Does he want the branding or does he want to win Super Bowls. What do the Eagles think today? Are they terrified? I don't think they're the least bit worried and that's always been my rule on it. What do your rivals think when you hire somebody? The Kansas City Chiefs are a dynasty and they looked at Harbaugh and Herbert and thought, oh boy, wish he would have taken that Jacksonville job because Harbaugh wins immediately everywhere. And even this year, Chargers match that with Kansas City pretty, pretty well. If you're Washington, I don't even think you're quaking in your boots. You got Jaden Daniels. If you're Washington, you didn't want Vrabel going to Dallas. There you go. You didn't want that. You didn't want Harbaugh going to Dallas. You didn't necessarily want Belichick going to Dallas. You can live with prime time. And again, we're not saying he can't coach, but we're saying it's unproven and what his strength is. Showmanship doesn't matter in the NFL. In college, players select you in the NFL, you select them. It doesn't matter. I mean, Belichick's grumpy. Who? It doesn't matter. It has no I mean many of the great coaches have been rough around the edges, have not been showman, have been gruff. Tom Coughlin, he won in college, but he was okay in college. Tom Coughlin was a great. He's a Hall of Fame coach in the NFL. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Omaha Steaks is America's original butcher and has been bringing people together with the world's best steak experience for more than 100 years of family owned experience. From handcrafted steaks to hearty roasts, family style sides and quick, convenient comfort meals, Omaha Steaks delivers everything you crave to reset and relax after the holidays. And now during their end of season sale, you can taste the difference and get 50% off site wide@omahasteaks.com plus our listeners get an extra 20 bucks off with a promo code heard at checkout. Omaha Steaks offers unrivaled quality and variety and every bite is backed by their 100% guarantee. They also carry mouthwatering burgers, chicken, pork, seafood, dessert and easy to prepare comfort food. Bring home the world's best steak experience with omaha steaks. Visit omaha steaks.com for 50% off site wide during their end of season sale and for an extra 20 bucks off with a promo code heard at checkout. That's 50% off@omahastakes.com and for an extra $20 off with a promo code herd at checkout. Hi, it's Colin JLab Audio is changing the audio game for good, producing some of the best earbuds and headphones designed for everyday life without breaking the bank. And they are made in the same location as some of the other popular earbuds on the market that are triple the price. Don't overpay for quality headphones and earbuds. I don't for those looking to conquer their fitness goals in 2025, JLab recommends the JBuds Sport ANC4, offering a secure fit and super long battery life for those tough workouts. For small ears, check out the JBuds Mini, so small they fit on your keychain so you're never without headphones. And if you're looking to zone out with a podcast or get in the zone at the office, check out their active noise canceling headphones. It's a true luxury feel. Discover your perfect pair of headphones just like I did and upgrade your audio game today. Look for the JLAB Blue Box at retailers everywhere or visit jlab.com banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One Bank Guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply see CapitalOne.com Bank Capital One NA Member FDIC. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. You're now entering the no Bull Zone sponsored by credible Great Rates. None of the bull. Greg Cosell 40 minutes from now if Fantasy Football Betting Football Getting smarter at football. We've been using him for 10 years on this show. Greg Cosell topping next hour on a Thursday to break down all the NFL games. So Big Ben Roethlisberger. He has a podcast and if you're a Steeler fan, it's great. He's got a little studio somewhere, it looks like in his basement of his house. He's very good and so there's, there's discussions right now. The Steelers have acknowledged they don't know if they have the right quarterback in their organization right now. My take is old Russell and young Justin. That's not it. How many quarterbacks in the history of the NFL have scrapped for five years and then become stars? Justin Fields has talent. He's not going to be a star quarterback. Struggle to see the field got hurt picks, inaccuracy. He's a talented kid, but he's probably a great backup or a spot starter occasionally. So there's a rumor now and Aaron Rodgers may not be the solution long term. I would argue as a real argument outside of Sam Darnold he'd be the best fit in Pittsburgh. Big Ben doesn't think it'd work is.
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Joy Taylor
They'Re going to play anymore. I mean there's a rumors of him coming to Pittsburgh which I don't think is a good move for the Steelers.
- [21:50]
Colin Cowherd
I don't think that's what you want. I don't think you want a guy.
- [21:52]
Joy Taylor
For one like a one year band aid for the. Just because it's, it's. Do you think if you think that you are just a quarterback away then.
- [22:02]
Colin Cowherd
You go try and find a quarterback.
- [22:04]
Joy Taylor
That you think can take you over the top?
- [22:06]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, and I think fairly J Mac I people I've talked to see Aaron as middle of the pack in the NFL right now at best 13th, 4th, 12th, 13th best at worst 16th, 17th. I, I would take Baker Mayfield today over and Sam Darnold over Aaron but Aaron had a good, mostly good last seven, eight weeks and I do think for Pittsburgh it would be a decent fit. He's a grown up, he could learn the playbook quickly. But the Steelers have been, you know, putting band aids on for six years. I think they have to rip it off. I, I would trade T.J. watt, George Pickens, two first round picks if your scouting department said Shador Sanders is the guy because I think Cam Ward's going to go number one. I think shoulder Sam Sanders you could get at number five, six or seven. But the Steelers, what's interesting is they're in the same predicament they were in 2022 where they need a quarterback and it's a lousy quarterback draft and they settled for Kenny Pickett. And I said at the time, I reported at the time I had Talked to an NFL general manager with super bowl rings who said he's a third rounder. I talked to another general manager who had been to a Super bowl, had not won one, and he said he's a mid to late third rounder, but they had to reach. So, you know, the most proactive franchise in the NFL for quarterbacks is indisputably Green Bay. They draft them and sit them for years. You know, these guys. Pittsburgh has not drafted an elite quarterback since Big Ben, and that was 21 years ago. So. And there's a reason the packers have not had a quarterback shortage for three decades. They draft, hold, develop, and then star. So I. The truth is, I don't know if Aaron's the answer, but he may be the solution for a year. But I think the Steelers, they treat quarterback a little like a New Year's resolution. They're all gung ho about it, you know, but by like late February, you're no longer going to the gym. And by late November, the Steelers aren't really a viable team. It sounds good. There's a lot of hope and optimism, but you're not going to the gym by late February. You don't even drive by anymore. I would trade T.J. watt, George Pickens, two first rounders and go get Chadur Sanders if you think he's a starting quarterback. Nobody that I talked to in the league thought Kenny Pickett was a starter, backup, you know, homegrown kid. But proactive is the. Is the way to do it. I mean, remember Kansas City moved up, gave away picks. They had a Pro bowl quarterback in Alex Smith and you know, Joe Flacco. Joe Flacco made a lot of money and won a lot of games in Baltimore and they went and got Lamar Jackson. So I think you got to take a big swing on this thing if you want to go find the next Big Ben. And Big Ben was a good prospect out of Miami of Ohio. People knew Big Ben could play big, strong, mobile, and he delivered. Got him to Super Bowls. But I don't. You say whatever you want about Aaron to me. There's two teams in this league, primarily the Steelers, that are a quarterback away. Well, three, the Colts, the Seahawks and the Steelers, if you got the right quarterback, they're pretty interesting teams. But there is no recent history to make me believe Pittsburgh would get aggressive. Seattle Colts kind of think they would. Pittsburgh, I don't want more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on Demand whenever you'd like. Hey, 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 the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem 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. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. 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 Rich live on Fox Sports radio and 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. Hi, it's Colin. JLab audio is changing the audio game for good, producing some of the best earbuds and headphones designed for everyday life without breaking the bank. And they are made in the same location as some of the other popular earbuds on the market that are triple the price. Don't overpay for quality headphones and earbuds. I don't. For those looking to conquer their fitness goals in 2025, JLab recommends the JBuds Sport ANC4, offering a secure fit and super long battery life. For those tough workouts for small ears, check out the JBuds Mini. So small they fit on your keychain so you're never without headphones. And if you're looking to zone out with a podcast or get in the zone at the office, check out their active noise canceling headphones. It's a true luxury feel. Discover your perfect pair of headphones just like I did and upgrade your audio game today. Look for the JLab Blue Box at retailers everywhere or visit jlab.com Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com bank capital1na member FDIC. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up First. Subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. With that, let's go to Greg Cosell, 45 years NFL Films so let's start with one of my favorite guys and we had said after the Detroit debacle that if he didn't play well against the Rams that he was costing himself a lot of money. I still think he has a market. I think it's probably more of a Baker Mayfield $35 million a year market and not the big boy market. But just talk Darnold for a second. What happened specifically to Sam Darnold last couple of weeks?
- [29:34]
Joy Taylor
Well, I think there are two different things based on each game. I think against the Lions he clearly missed throws that he had made all season with poor ball location. There were throws to be made that he missed. His O line in that game was not particularly good either, but there were throws to be made that he missed. The Rams game was a little different. He missed a few for sure, but that was a game in which his offensive line and I know I mentioned this to you last week, that I thought that could well be a deciding factor in the game. It was the Rams four man pass rush versus the Vikings O line, which is not a very good pass protecting O line was really the major factor in the game. And then what started to happen, which happens with a lot of quarterbacks, is the cumulative effect of pressure really got to Darnold and he started to play very fast. He started to be really uncomfortable. Now keep in mind One of the things during the season that made him really good was that he stayed in the pocket. He waited. He made a lot of what we call late in the down throws where there were people around him. So he had a lot of success doing that during the season. But over the course of the game against the Rams, just the, the effect of the pressure, he succumbed to it and he just was a really uncomfortable player. You and I both know the narrative people are saying, hey, that's the real Sam Darnold. I don't get into that. Colin, as you know, I can only tell you what the tape shows. Now. Teams have to decide what he is, depending on who coaches him. We'll see about the Minnesota Vikings. Obviously they drafted a quarterback with the 11th pick in the draft. You know, I don't know the owners, I don't know what they're going to do. My immediate response would be, I'd probably be surprised if they signed him to a lot of money because they probably say to Kevin O'Connell, hey, you're a really good coach. You draft a quarterback with the 11th pick. It's your job to make him a good quarterback.
- [31:25]
Colin Cowherd
Yep. All right, let's get into Rams at Philadelphia. We'll start with the Eagles. What did the tape say about the Philadelphia offense, which I thought was pretty bad on third down, the Philly offense against Green Bay, it just felt. Philly felt out of sorts to me. What did the tape say?
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Joy Taylor
Well, I think Philly Collin has a defined identity right now as to what they are and who they are. And if they don't have to step outside that identity, they don't. And the reason they more often than not don't have to is because of their defense. So they're a run first football team. And that run game includes Jalen Hurts, which makes them a little more difficult than your average team to defend. And it starts with Barkley. That's who they are now. They started the game with a lot of quick rhythm, timing throws by Jalen Hurts. He was six for six and then he got a little uncomfortable. He missed some things, didn't see some things. And I think they felt the way their defense was playing that they could win the game playing their way so they didn't have to go beyond that. I think the question many have is if they get into a game and whether it's this week or if they advance, whether it would be against the Lions, if they advance, how would they have to play or how would they play if they had to have Jalen hurts drop back 40 or 45 times. The very odd thing about Jalen hurts is he has succeeded doing this in the past and he hasn't over much of this season and even going back to the last six, seven games last season. So it's really hard to understand why. I think they have some real advantages on the perimeter with Brown and Smith versus the sort of outside cornerback triumvit of the Rams, which is Witherspoon. It's Williams and Durant and I would expect them to take some shots on the perimeter and Jalen throws a really good deep ball outside the numbers. So I'm kind of waiting to see when they're going to do that. But because of their defense, they don't really have to step outside of how they really play well.
- [33:24]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. I think the Rams offense is going to struggle against Philadelphia. They played perfect last week. That won't happen again. It's a short week of preparation. Kyron Williams is banged up. They're very Puka Nakua centric. You could double him. The Eagles have good corners. How? What does the tape sell? You know, listen, I saw the Rams offense against the Bills this year and against the Vikings and if you only watch two games, you think it's the greatest show on turf. But they can be very inconsistent and very slow starting. And now warm weather team goes to cold weather against a really, really talented secondary. Rams offense, Phillies defense. What do you think?
- [33:59]
Joy Taylor
Well, to me it's not the secondary as much perhaps as the defensive front. I think the Rams O line can be very up and down in terms of pass protection. I think there's some individuals who can be beaten one on one. I think the Eagles can do that with Jalen Carter and a very overlooked player named Milton Williams who's had a phenomenal year at the other D tackle position when they're in their pass rush group. So, you know, I think that the Rams are an interesting offense because it really does start with the run game. I mean, a lot of people might not be aware and you are. I know, Colin, that Kyron Williams had 316 carries this year and missed the last game of the season. So I mean they're really a run first football team. Their passing game. You know, the one thing about Stafford though, if he's hot, if he's comfortable, and that's the key thing, if he's comfortable, he can make great throws anytime. But I just think that that Eagles D line could be a deciding factor in this game against against the Rams O line.
- [34:56]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, so let's get into Houston at Kansas City before we do Justin Herbert, like Darnold took a lot of heat. And my take's always been with Justin Herbert is its steps right? Like, like bad coach, bad coach, great coach. You're not going to win the Super Bowl. He didn't play particularly well. I pointed out that Brett Favre once had six picks in a playoff game, Dan Fouts five, and Joe Montana got benched in a playoff game. What did the tape say on Herbert?
- [35:25]
Joy Taylor
Yeah, you know, those, that those are narrative questions and which I don't, you know, really, that doesn't mean a lot to me. I know everybody wants to discuss that. You know, I think you have to understand one thing. You have to put in the context of who the Chargers are on offense. Another team that's run first. They play with a converted D end who's a fullback now. That's what they do. That's how they start their offense. They could not run the ball at all. So now they're stuck having to throw the ball with one quality wide receiver, no really strong receiving, tight ends. And it was a game in which the interior of their O line got manhandled. And even their two tackles, Slater, who's very good, and the rookie altogether, they did not do well against Hunter and Anderson. So they were just kind of physically beaten up front and they had to play, to use a cliche, they had to play kind of left handed because they don't really want to drop back and throw that often the way they had to in that game. So, you know, did Herbert miss some throws? Sure he did. But, you know, they got out of the way they were. They're comfortable playing. And you know, sometimes that happens in playoff games with young teams with new coaches that have to go through a learning process.
- [36:35]
Colin Cowherd
All right, now let's get into the Texans, Chiefs, Texans offensive approach, the stuff that worked against the Chargers, good defense. How will it match up against Spags? Chris Jones, you know, now he's getting healthier, right? What will they look like? C.J. stroud in the offense and mixing against the Chiefs defense?
- [36:54]
Joy Taylor
Yeah, they played the Chiefs Week 16. Chris Jones, as I recall, did not play in that game. You know, I think that in an ideal world, the way the Texans would like to play is they'd like to have the run game be a starting point, work the play action pass game off of it, have CJ Stroud be very rhythmic and timing based, which he was last week, and therefore he looked pretty comfortable for most of that game. That's the way they would like to play, then they can work Collins on the outside. And there are some really good matchups there because no corner in this league has played more pressed man than Trent McDuffie, who's now pretty exclusively an outside corner, does not play in the slot hardly at all over the last number of weeks. So that's the way they'd like to play now. If their defense can keep the game together, they can continue to play that way. That's the way they played last week against the Chargers because Mixon did not have he only had six carries in the first half for 15 yards. But because of their defense and because of the game flow, they were able to give him the ball in the second half, where I believe he had 19 carries. And I think in the fourth quarter, 18 of their 21 plays were called runs. So this is the way they would like to play, but that becomes a function of their defense. Colin and you know, it's always hard to assess Patrick Mahomes because he's such a great player and when the playoffs come, we see him raise his game to an incredibly high level. But all we have is the season. And the Chiefs were not an explosive offense during the season, but they've also had a lot of time off and players are going to be refreshed and healthy.
- [38:24]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, I found this to be true off a buy extra time. Andy Reid's the best coach in the NFL, and so I think they take a mediocre receiving core and they make it better. All right, let's go, Baltimore. Buffalo, the marquee game of the weekend. Listen, you know the Baltimore defense, if you, as you noted two, three weeks ago, and you've said this several times, Baltimore's defense was an issue pre Thanksgiving. It's gotten better post Thanksgiving. Yeah, when you look at, I think Buffalo's really got nice pieces. I think this is by far and away their most complete offense. Which Josh Allen will they have to be Josh Allen Reliant, or do you think they can work on the margins here and move the ball without being Josh Allen centric against the Ravens?
- [39:06]
Joy Taylor
Well, I think the big question is can they run the football? They clearly felt they could come out and grind away at the Denver Broncos defense because they lined up in the first half. They like to play with six offensive linemen, which they do quite a bit more than any team in the league this year. James Cook had 13 carries in the first half. Nine of them came on first down. Colin they clearly felt they could physically beat the Broncos. I'm not sure that that is going to be the case against this Ravens defensive front. They got a lot of big people at defensive tackle, a lot of guys whose weight begins with the number three. And those guys are hard to move and they were one of the best run defense teams in the league. So the question, and we don't know the answer, that's the great thing about this weekend is there's so many unanswerables. The question is, do the Bills game plan with the idea that, hey, we can line up and run the ball, we can put big people out there and have success, or is this going to be a tough go and this has to be a little more of a Josh Allen centric game. And by that, I don't mean put on the Superman cape, I mean just have to throw the ball more on early downs as more of a foundation of their offense as opposed to the run game. And I think that that's a question you really don't know the answer to until we see the game on Sunday evening. By the way, it's supposed to be bitter, bitter cold.
- [40:26]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Which Lamar doesn't necessarily love that. But I do think the Buffalo Bills, on multiple occasions this year, their defense has been susceptible to occasionally getting pushed around. So that's why the odds, that's why the wise guys, that's why Vegas guys like Baltimore this weekend. So you tell me, Lamar and Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers is still not practicing. It didn't matter last week. How do they match up against Buffalo's defense?
- [40:55]
Joy Taylor
Well, it's funny you say that. They only played eight snaps last week with three wide receivers on the field and I'm sure that was a function of Flowers being out. That's a really hard defense to defend. Maybe the toughest, excuse me, the toughest offense, maybe the toughest offense to defend in the league with what Lamar adds to the run game. I mean, look, they came out against the Steelers and they pretty much said not only do you have to stop Derrick Henry, but you have to stop Lamar in the run game. So it wasn't just the threat of Lamar. They said, we're going to run him and you have to stop him. So their run game is so multidimensional in everything they do and they've got big people up front. And then the way Lamar is throwing the ball this year, he's thrown it better than he ever has. His ball placement has been more precise than it ever has. This is a really difficult offense to defend. And you know, again, I'm not predicting games, but I'm really curious. Again, it's an unanswerable to see how the Bills can handle it. I mean, Ed Oliver is a really good player, but he's 280 pounds. So I'm curious to see how this all plays out. And I think we'll find out pretty early because I think, I think you'll see the same kind of thing from Baltimore with Lamar being a factor in the run game early to see how the Bills tactically are going to defend that.
- [42:09]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, so now we get to Commanders. Big underdogs at Detroit. I said it this week, this game for the Lions is kind of instructive. Think about this for a second. So Jared Goff is a pocket guy, but if Detroit wins this game, they'll have to face a mobile Jalen Hurts. And if they got to the Super Bowl, a mobile Lamar, a mobile Mahomes, a mobile Josh Allen. So in a way, if Jaden Daniels is a bit of a gift to play because on their roster they don't practice against mobile quarterbacks. That's not what they do. And this is an opportunity to face a team that you're clearly better than. We don't know if they're better than Philly, Buffalo, Baltimore, Kansas City. So I like Detroit in this game, but I mean, I watched Jaden Daniels, I don't remember maybe Andrew Locke, a rookie quarterback that was this good late in game situationally. What does the film say?
- [43:07]
Joy Taylor
Yeah, and I think he just has a really good feel for movement. You know, we've talked for years and I'm not making a direct comparison, so I don't want people to think I am. But we always talk about Patrick Mahomes and just his spatial awareness, just the way he kind of feels things and sees things without actually having to look at them. Daniels has a little bit of that to his game and it's the movement element that's so difficult. And it's not just the design runs, which they call design runs, obviously for Daniels, but just when he moves out of the pocket and the impact it has on the defense. I remember having a conversation with a very well respected defensive coordinator a few years ago talking about mobile quarterbacks. And he said the problem is, is you literally have to practice two defenses all week long. You have to practice a defense for the first two, two and a half seconds of a play, which is within the structure of the play, and then you have to practice what you do defensively after two and a half seconds when the play becomes something totally different.
- [44:06]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [44:06]
Joy Taylor
And he said that's really really difficult to do. And you know, that's the, that's why mobile quarterbacks are becoming more and more a factor in the league. And they're so difficult to defend. So in many cases, those guys don't have to be pristine from the pocket because they can just make plays that break down defenses. And that's what, that's what Daniels can do. And those kinds of plays, Colin, become more critical, more sort of high leverage is the term people use in the fourth quarter of games.
- [44:35]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, the. Let's go to the. Let's go to the big play of the week with Jaden Daniels because we know the Lions, we know what they do. They're going to move the ball to some degree. The wild card his really in this game is can the Commanders keep up because we know Detroit's dropping 25, 26, 27, 28 points, right?
- [44:55]
Joy Taylor
Yeah. And this play is a great example of just what I'm talking about. It was from the game last week against the Bucks and the Bucs. As we go to the play, the Bucs did what a lot of teams are going to do against Jaden Daniels. They're going to try to do late coverage rotation to confuse him. That's what teams do with young quarterbacks. They show you one thing and then they give you something else. So what you're going to see here is you're going to see Jaden Daniels. Okay, this was actually a second and long play. So what is he looking at initially? Right now he's looking at a single high safety. Okay, and what is he looking at from a front perspective? He's looking at a pressure front. There are six up front. So right now he might be thinking, hey, I'm going to get some pressure. There's a single high safety. I've got to be aware of that. Those are all alerts. But what's going to happen here is there's going to be a safety rotation. They're going to sink the safety to the boundary and expand the safety to the field and they're eventually going to get to cover two because one of those linebackers that's on the ball is going to drop out as what we call the middle hole defender in cover two. So that's what you're going to get here. You're going to get a change late coverage rotation, all designed to make Jaden Daniels have to think through the play once he takes the snap of the ball instead of feeling comfortable. So what's going to happen now is he's going to get really quick inside pressure. So he's going to have to move. There's no way here he can stay in the pocket. He's going to have to move and he moves to his right. So this is where the second part of the play comes in. The flat defender and the hook defender in cover two. What do they do? They abandon their coverage areas of responsibility to react to Jaden Daniels because they see him running right at them. So what then happens? They abandon their responsibility. Diami Brown is going to run across her essentially right behind them. They are now out of their coverage. It becomes an easy pitch and catch throw for 30 yards. This is just what we were talking about. The fact that there's a second part of the play that you now have to defend after you think you've done such a really good job with your late location, your attempt to try to confuse him. You know, everything works great until he leaves the pocket and then everything becomes different. And a play that you felt good about is now a 30 yard gain for Jaden Daniel. That's what you're dealing with.
- [47:22]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, that's why they're in the playoffs. Greg Gosack, great seeing you. 45 years NFL Films thank you very much. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food no matter what I'm craving, from two for one Pizza to buy one get one Wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week. All season long, I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details. Experiencing the news each day can feel like a journey with up first from NPR, though it doesn't have to be. Welcome to 15 Easy Minutes of breaking news, clarity on international and national affairs, and a casual tone that you can take in with breakfast. Begin your day informed, ready and refreshed. Begin your day with Up First subscribe to Up first from NPR on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headlines, headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, everybody? Adnan Vir here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers. Jason Demers here. And after playing 700 NHL games, I.
- [49:15]
Joy Taylor
Got a lot of dirty laundry to air out.
- [49:17]
Colin Cowherd
Hey, I got a lot to say here, too, okay? Each week we'll get together, chat with the sport that we love.
- [49:21]
Joy Taylor
Tons of guests are going to join in, too.
- [49:23]
Colin Cowherd
But we're not just going to be talking hockey, folks.
- [49:25]
Joy Taylor
We're talking movies, we're talking tv, food.
- [49:27]
Colin Cowherd
And Adnan's favorite wrestling.
- [49:29]
Joy Taylor
It's all on le Table.
- [49:31]
Colin Cowherd
Listen to NHL Unscripted with Virk and demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.