Best of The Herd

Summary

Best of The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Detailed Summary

Release Date: December 5, 2024

In this "Best of The Herd" episode, host Colin Cowherd, alongside sports analysts Greg Cosell and Anya Packer, delves deep into pressing sports topics, offering insightful commentary and robust debates. Skipping the usual advertisements and introductory segments, the episode focuses on the Los Angeles Lakers' trajectory, NFL quarterback performances, and the evolving landscape of college football coaching.

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1. The Los Angeles Lakers: A Deep Dive into Decline

Timestamp: [05:00]

Colin Cowherd and Greg Cosell kick off the episode with a critical analysis of the Los Angeles Lakers' recent performance. Highlighting the team's staggering 41-point loss, they attribute the downfall to a combination of poor roster choices and ineffective coaching strategies.

• Key Points:

  • Roster Weakness: The Lakers are struggling with a roster that relies heavily on aging stars like LeBron James, leading to diminished championship prospects.
  • Coaching Instability: Colin criticizes both Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham for their roles in the team's decline, suggesting that their leadership has failed to galvanize the squad.
  • Lowering Standards: Greg draws parallels between the Lakers and the Dallas Cowboys, noting a troubling trend of accepting mediocrity within these storied franchises.

• Notable Quote:

  • Colin Cowherd [05:25]: "It's the same team as Darvin Ham's first 22 games last season. The roster's not good and LeBron's getting older. They have no chance to win a championship. None."

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2. NFL Quarterbacks: Spotlight on Caleb Williams

Timestamp: [33:10]

Transitioning to the NFL, the discussion centers on quarterback Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears. Despite the team's subpar 4-8 record, Williams' individual performance stands out remarkably.

• Key Points:

  • Outstanding Stats: Caleb Williams boasts more 100+ passer rating games than Patrick Mahomes, a higher completion percentage than Trevor Lawrence, and averages more passing yards per game than both Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray.
  • Contextual Success: Greg emphasizes the importance of viewing Williams' stats within the context of a struggling team, arguing that his talent is often overshadowed by the Bears' overall performance.
  • Organizational Challenges: The Bears' dysfunctional coaching staff and inability to develop quarterbacks are cited as significant impediments to the team's success.

• Notable Quote:

  • Greg Cosell [33:10]: "He has more 100 plus passer rating games than Mahomes, better completion percentage than Trevor Lawrence, averaging more yards passing a game than Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray, and the same number of touchdown passes as Jalen Hurts with those weapons in that offensive line."

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3. College Football Coaching: Evaluating Ryan Day and the Coaching Landscape

Timestamp: [26:50]

The conversation shifts to college football, focusing on Ryan Day of Ohio State amidst a challenging season. Greg Cosell categorizes coaches into tiers, scrutinizing Day's placement within these groups.

• Key Points:

  • Coaching Categories: Coaches are divided into elite, capable, and questionable based on their performance and potential to win national championships.
  • Ryan Day's Performance: Despite past successes, Day's current record and recent losses place him in the "questionable" category. Greg questions whether Ohio State should retain him given the team's struggles.
  • Future Prospects: Anya Packer and Greg discuss whether Ryan Day can rebound and lead the team to future victories despite the current setbacks.

• Notable Quote:

  • Greg Cosell [26:50]: "Ryan Day never had a previous job. And so all I know is the information I have, which is he loses big games and he's lost four straight to Michigan."

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4. NFL Game Analysis: Packers vs. Lions Showdown

Timestamp: [40:06]

A significant segment is dedicated to previewing the upcoming Packers vs. Lions game, focusing on strategic matchups and quarterback performance nuances.

• Key Points:

  • Lions' Defensive Prowess: Aaron Glenn’s defensive strategies, especially the safety duo of Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph, are highlighted as key strengths against quarterback Jordan Love.
  • Packers' Offensive Strategy: Matt LaFleur’s offensive schemes and their effectiveness in utilizing young receiver Jordan Love are analyzed, anticipating a tactical battle on game day.
  • Quarterback Synergy: The chemistry between Sam Darnold and his receivers is examined, with particular attention to their timing and execution in critical plays.

• Notable Quote:

  • Anya Packer [40:06]: "Their defense against Love tonight that probably to me is a fascinating tactical matchup."

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5. Quarterback Performance Trends: Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson

Timestamp: [36:34]

Greg Cosell and Anya Packer dissect the performances of quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson, assessing their impact on respective teams.

• Sam Darnold:

  • Enhanced Precision: Darnold's improved decision-making and accuracy are commended, particularly his ability to execute complex plays under pressure.
  • Strategic Growth: Anya highlights Darnold’s adaptability in navigating defensive coverages, showcasing his maturation as a quarterback.

• Russell Wilson:

  • Adaptation in Pittsburgh: Wilson’s integration into the Steelers’ system is praised, noting his enhanced performance and strategic alignment with Sean Payton’s coaching.
  • Performance Metrics: Despite past inconsistencies, Wilson exhibits a renewed form, contributing positively to his team’s offensive dynamics.

• Notable Quote:

  • Anya Packer [36:34]: "He's making really, really good throws. He's seeing things clearly. He's understanding what he's looking at and he's delivering the football. He's playing right now at a really, really high level."

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6. Player Utilization and Team Dynamics: Kirk Cousins and Kyle Pitts

Timestamp: [37:28]

The discussion delves into the performance issues faced by Kirk Cousins and his limited utilization of star receiver Kyle Pitts, questioning the coaching decisions affecting team outcomes.

• Key Points:

  • Cousins' Recent Slump: Kirk Cousins' recent struggles, including six interceptions in the last three games, are scrutinized, raising concerns about his decision-making and performance under pressure.
  • Kyle Pitts' Role: Despite being a standout receiver, Pitts' minimal involvement in the Ravens' passing game is highlighted as a missed opportunity, questioning the offensive strategy.

• Notable Quote:

  • Greg Cosell [37:28]: "And I'm struggling to figure out why Kyle Pitts is not a meaningful part of the pass game. Yeah, I still, he had two targets last week and no catches."

---

7. Strategic Play Analysis: Sam Darnold’s Winning Drive

Timestamp: [36:34]

A deep technical analysis of a pivotal play by Sam Darnold showcases his strategic acumen and the importance of timing in executing successful drives.

• Key Points:

  • Play Design: The play involves an inside vertical route combined with a dig route, designed to exploit cover three defenses by targeting defensive gaps.
  • Execution Under Pressure: Darnold’s ability to maintain composure, adjust within the pocket, and deliver precise throws under defensive pressure is highlighted as exemplary quarterback behavior.
  • Tactical Importance: The analysis underscores the critical role of quarterback anticipation and timing in overcoming complex defensive schemes.

• Notable Quote:

  • Anya Packer [36:34]: "It's big time anticipation and timing throw. This is not an easy throw. Now we're going to see this from a different angle because I think it's really, really important to see this second angle."

---

8. Final Thoughts: Evaluating Team Records vs. Individual Performances

Timestamp: [33:48]

Closing the episode, Greg Cosell emphasizes the importance of not letting team records overshadow individual excellence, advocating for a more nuanced evaluation of player performances within their organizational contexts.

• Key Points:

  • Record vs. Context: The need to contextualize team records, especially when evaluating standout players like Caleb Williams, is reiterated.
  • Future Potential: There's optimism about individual players’ abilities to lead their teams to success despite current setbacks, provided they receive adequate support and organizational stability.

• Notable Quote:

  • Greg Cosell [33:48]: "Get away from the record. Something's working here. Is that what you see with Caleb?"

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Conclusion

"The Best of The Herd" episode offers a comprehensive analysis of current sports dynamics, highlighting the interplay between individual talent and organizational effectiveness. Greg Cosell and Anya Packer provide balanced perspectives, urging listeners to look beyond surface-level statistics and understand the underlying factors influencing team performances. Colin Cowherd adeptly steers the conversation towards meaningful insights, making this episode a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking depth and clarity in their sports discourse.

---

This summary captures all the critical discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, providing an engaging and informative overview for those who haven't tuned in.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Greg Cosell]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[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 correspondents 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.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hey, I'm Jack Please Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of black literature. Black lit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while running errands or at the end of a busy day. From thought provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Listen to Blacklit on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. ATT Connecting changes everything.

[Greg Cosell]

The forces shaping markets and the economy are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.

[Colin Cowherd]

So that's why we created the Big Take from Bloomberg Podcasts to give you the context you need to make sense of it all.

[Greg Cosell]

Every day in just 15 minutes, we dive into one global business story that matters.

[Colin Cowherd]

You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine.

[Jon Stewart]

A lot of this meme stock stuff.

[Greg Cosell]

Is, I think, embarrassing to the SEC. Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. 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 [e-mail] 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 Cowherd on Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It's a Thursday. Lions, packers tonight. Greg Cosell in one hour. Customary on Thursday, 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. Yes. One hour from now, Greg Cosell. We'll talk about tonight's game. Packers, Lions. We'll get to that in a second. Jmac. We. We witnessed something last night in Los Angeles. It was actually in Miami. For many people, the curtain is closing. The end is nigh. Here we go. All right, come on. So I want to start today. The Lakers got shelled last night, lost by 41 points. First it was Frank Vogel. Get him out of here. He's no good. Then it was Darvin Hamm. He's a bum. And now J.J. redick through his first 22 games. What do you know? It's the same team as Darvin Ham's first 22 games last season. In fact, offensive guy J.J. redick is averaging a point less. Why? Because there's two truths about this Laker franchise. The roster's not good and LeBron's getting older. And they have no chance to win a championship. None. Here's how far the standard has been lowered. And this is always how businesses die. The standard. I was talking to Jimmie Johnson about this a couple weeks ago. I asked him, do you like coaching college or pro better? He said college is more fun. In pro football. You have to constantly be on your assistant coaches because they have players. Unlike college, where players siphon through every three or four years. And the pros, you can have a linebacker for eight years, a tight end for nine years, a quarterback for 12 years. You have to stay on your assistants and coordinators. Don't be best friends, be bosses. And that's the truth. The standard is so low for the Lakers, they just keep letting it go lower. That their. Their point of pride now is that in 13 of the last 14 games against Denver, they've lost, but they've kept it close. That's a real thing in la. Hey, man, we lose to Denver and Jokic by this much. That's the standard. It's crazy. And how this is why the Lakers and the Cowboys They've lowered the standard. 12 wins. Dak's a B plus guy. That's the standard now in Dallas. So the Lakers and the Cowboys. Too many family members have a role in the organization. The star of the team, LeBron. And Dak is paid more than right now. He delivers. Sorry. It's true. You have very average rosters that are top, heavy on, top, all brand. No, Braun, that's the Cowboys and the Lakers. And it all comes down to a lowering of standards. It's why Jimmie Johnson had to bark constantly. I mean, Austin Reeves, stop. He should be a fifth starter. Will Dalton connect after that one big night? He's averaged 11 a game over the last two weeks. That's what he is. He shoots some threes. It's a nice player, it's fun. But he's probably a 4 to a 5 on a really good basketball team. Derrick White is better than both and he's a five or a four for the Celtics. They are winning titles going forward last year and moving forward. So it's just the lowering of standards. The Lakers are full of average athletes. They can't defend the three. That's what they are. Just got a bunch of average athletes. Last night was a complete embarrassment. But this year for the Cowboys has been a complete embarrassment. Too many family members have important roles in the franchise. The standards have been lowered. Like any regressing business, you just settle, you know, ain't on my belt. I have to. I'll just cut out another loop in my belt, you know, just. Yeah, I mean, I know I'm now a 42. Weights, not a 38, but you know, these pants still, you know, I can just unbutton the top button. They mostly fit. So last night it was, it was bad. And J.J. redick, the offensive guy whose team is now averaging less through 22 games than Darvin Ham, the defensive guys team did. Here's JJ after. I'm embarrassed. We're all embarrassed.

[Anya Packer]

That's not.

[Greg Cosell]

It's not a game that I thought we had the right fight, the right professionalism.

[Anya Packer]

You know.

[Greg Cosell]

Not sure what was lost in translation. There has to be some ownership on the court and I'll take all the ownership in the world. This is my team and I lead it and I'm embarrassed. Yeah, but what are you going to do? Average roster, aging LeBron. That's what it is. So I want to talk about Caleb Williams and I think Caleb's having a really good season. But because the team is 4 and 8, people are freaking out. And we do this, we get paralyzed on records. It's all about the records. But if you contextualize anything, and I'll do that later with Lincoln Riley, but contextualize four wins, take out the record for a second. If I said to you, going into this season for the Chicago Bears, through 12 games with an incompetent franchise, a coach so bad that for the first time ever, the Bears fired their head coach during this season. If I said, you know what? Through 12 games, Caleb Williams has as many passing touchdowns as Jalen Hurts. He's passing for more yards per game than Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray and has a higher completion percentage than Trevor Lawrence. You'd be kind of impressed, right? In the toughest division in football. If I said he has more passer rating games over 100 than Patrick Mahomes at this point. And oh, by the way, just set a rookie all time record for the most passes thrown without an interception. It's 212 and counting. How would you look at him then? Oh, by the way, he's on his second play caller. His coach just got fired. The offensive line has gone downhill from a year ago. He set a rookie Record. More 100 plus passer rating games than Mahomes, more yards a game than Herbert or Kyler Murray, as many passing touchdowns as Jalen Hurts with this mess of a franchise hovering around him. Oh, by the way, the last three losses, Vikings, Lions, packers, all going to be playoff teams by a total of seven points. He didn't give up the Hail Mary. And by the way, he's getting better. His last nine games, 12 touchdowns, one pick. So again, I used to say this all the time when Ann and I, you know, the kids are young, they're like 5 and 7 and 8 and 9. Kids are kids, right? And if we had like, you know, a bad day, the kids, something went wrong. I always said, would we have signed up for this? If you would have told me our biggest problem in 2017 is one of our kids got caught doing blank, would you have said that's our biggest problem? Y'all sign up now. Nobody thought this thing was going to be smooth. If you get out of the record, you know, the best division in football, they're losing. Close to Detroit, close to Green Bay, close to Minnesota. And here's another thing I like, I always say this when somebody leaves, don't just judge Jim Harbaugh's record, what he did at Michigan. What happened to the Niners when he left? They collapsed in the last couple days. Lincoln, Riley's Trojans, 6 and 6. There's a rumor that other schools are contacting him. USC did a nosedive this year without Caleb. It's not just where you go. It's what happened to the place you left. And through all of it, Caleb Williams, he's got a Dak Prescott quality, a Justin Herbert quality. Even through dysfunction, he'll go to the microphone and he always says the right thing. This is after Shane Waldron. He has a new play caller, Thomas Brown, after Shane Waldron was fired. Ample opportunities to bury people. And once again, he walks up to the podium and says the right thing. They're not going to reinvent the wheel. In a sense, you know, we're midseason and, you know, that's not a decision for me. I have to.

[Anya Packer]

Deal with what coach says.

[Greg Cosell]

I have to do with whatever decision he makes. I'm going to have to be fine with it. Will I be able to adapt? Yes, I will. We will be able to adapt whatever coach decision he makes. And then, you know, from there we have to go out there and execute and win games. Yeah. Thomas Brown's now the interim head coach. He won't be the head coach. But again, whenever you go through a bad day, it could be with your kids, it could be at work. Just ask yourself, would you have signed? If that's your worst day, would you have signed up for it? I said before the season started, I said, I think they're going to win seven games and finish in fourth place. It's going to be turbulent. I don't think Eber Fluss is the guy long term and the division is the best in football. But I think if you're truthful and honest, at the end of the year, you'll look up and go, we've got Our quarterback more 100/plus passer rating games than Mahomes, more passing yards a game than Herbert Kyler Murray, better completion percentage than Trevor Lawrence, as many passing touchdowns as Jalen hurts with those weapons in that offensive line. Yeah, I'd sign up for that. He's a block kicked here and a Hail Mary there and bad coaching there from being 8 and 4, not 4 and 8. Don't be paralyzed by the record. J. Mac, Greg Cosell in 50 minutes. A lot of positivity today. You know, that's the new me. I was thinking about something. We had Joel Clad on the show yesterday and as we've talked about, you know, a game, you know, it's an upset when it's Thursday and we're still talking about a Saturday college football game. But I want to try to center this whole Ryan Day thing. Oh, okay. Because there's a lot of talk. Good luck with that. Well, if they lose in the first playoff game, there are a lot of people in Columbus that think it's time for a new coach, and so I just want to offer something to think about. Next Greg Cosell in 50 minutes, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the I Heart Radio app Apple Card is.

[Colin Cowherd]

The perfect card for your holiday shopping. You can apply on your iPhone in minutes and start using it right away. You'll earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase, including products at Apple like a new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Ultra. Start holiday shopping for your friends and family today with Apple Card subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and more at applecard.com Jon Stewart is back.

[Jon Stewart]

At the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Years 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 correspondents 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 or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Cosell]

The forces shaping markets and the economy are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.

[Colin Cowherd]

So that's why we created the Big Take from Bloomberg Podcasts to give you the context you need to make sense of it all.

[Greg Cosell]

Every day in just 15 minutes, we dive into one global business story that matters.

[Colin Cowherd]

You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine.

[Jon Stewart]

A lot of this meme stock stuff.

[Greg Cosell]

Is, I think, embarrassing to the sec.

[Colin Cowherd]

Amanda Mull, who writes our Business Week Buying Power column.

[Greg Cosell]

Very few companies who go viral are, like, totally prepared for what that means.

[Colin Cowherd]

And Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter, Courts are not supposed to decide elections. Courts are not really supposed to play a big role in choosing our elected leaders. It's for the voters to decide.

[Greg Cosell]

Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

[Questlove]

Good people, what's up? It's Questo, Questlove and Team supreme, and I have been working hard to bring you some incredible episodes of Questlove supreme with guests you definitely don't want to miss. Now, one of the things I love about this Questlove supreme podcast is we got something for everybody, every type of music lover. We enjoy speaking to the people who are the face of some movements, some people you've seen on stage or TV or magazine covers. We also love speaking to the folks who were making it happen behind the scenes and they paved the way for those that followed, you know, keystones to the culture. This season we've had some amazing one on one conversations like I'm PayPal chatting up with hitmaker Sam Holland, Sugar Steve chatting with the legend Nick Lowe, and I've had pleasures of doing one on one conversations with Willow, Sonata, Maitreya, Kathleen, Hannah and the rza. These are conversations you won't hear anywhere else, so make sure you go back and you check those episodes out. All right? Listen to Questlove supreme on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

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.

[Greg Cosell]

Ryan Day said he has no plans to leave Ohio State. The disaster. Now they may have plans to move off Ryan Day. Not saying that's right. But there's if they lose first game of the playoff, it's going to get ugly. I don't think he's going to get fired, but it's going to get ugly. So let's just start with this premise that 5% of any industry is elite. After that, it's very good, good, capable, below average, awful. But about 5% is great. So now that Mac Brown is leaving North Carolina, there's only two coaches that have natties in college football, Kirby Smart and Dabo Sweeney. Now we've also lost Chris Peterson, Harbaugh, Urban Meyer, Saban. Those to me are elite. Elite coaches. They're all gone. So Kirby Smart and Dabble only coaches with natties. That's the first group. We know. They're great coaches. Then there's the second group that I believe can win over the course of time, a national championship. Kalyn DeBoer, Josh Hypel, Brian Kelly, Lane Kiffin, Dan Lading, Steve Sarkeesian. Don't live in the moment. Brian Kelly's a great coach. He won 10 straight 10 plus games seven years in a row until this Past year, like, get over it. Every coach, all coaches have bad seasons. So if you take out Dabo and Kirby, you go to the second group. People I think can win. Then there's the third group that maybe they can, but I'm not sure. Inexperienced, maybe. Let's go to the third group. And this is the group I think Ryan Day is in now. Mario Cristobal, better recruiter than coach James Franklin, doesn't beat good teams. Ryan Day, likewise Marcus Freeman, really young. Lincoln Riley feels like some pop. His teams lack a toughness and a grit. So I had Ryan Day and Lincoln riley in Group 2 until this year. I've got new information. I'm not living in the moment, but Lincoln Riley since Caleb left something, the recruiting is not as good, the staff needs work. So I had Ryan Day in the second category. And then I watched Michigan, Ohio State, and that's, as I said, as bad a loss as I've ever seen. Now, Joel Clack came on the show yesterday and defended Ryan Day. Although Buckeye fans may not agree, here was Joel's take. Ryan is a very good coach. I think that there's a mental block with Michigan right now, and this feels like something that when he gets over the hump, it's going to be big. I mean, Harbaugh didn't win over Urban Meyer and they stuck with him. You look at the history of college football and what you'll see is that most often, even the greatest coaches in the history of our sport have taken a while to win their championship. It took Osborne quite a while. It took Bowden quite a while. You know, it's very rare that you get these guys that win it right away, like Bob Stoops or Larry Coker. It's generally the opposite. Guys take a while. Urban Meyer took a while. Saban it took a while. So here's where I would disagree. Brian Kelly had an off season, but he's won everywhere. He's proven every place he goes, he wins. Ryan Day never had a previous job. And so all I know is the information I have, which is he loses big games and he's lost four straight to Michigan. And he looks like he gets out coached. I mean, they scored 10 points against Michigan. Arkansas State scored 18 points against Michigan. Michigan State, Arkansas State, whatever. State scored more than 10 points against Michigan. So it's. It's one of those things. Where is Ohio State satisfied? They're not in group one now. Natty, I don't know if you can put Ryan day in group two. Lane Sark. Guys, I think Kalen DeBoer are good enough? Kalen DeBoer got Washington to a national championship last year with maybe the 10th best roster in college football. 8th, 10th, 12th, something like that. So I think that's where you are. If he beats a Tennessee. So for Ryan Day, the playoff is inarguably huge. Because let's say he goes and beats a Josh Hyp, who I think is a great young coach. I think Josh H. Is good enough to win a Natty. He's the Tennessee coach. If he can beat Josh H And they both have great players and then he can beat, let's say an Alabama or whoever he plays after that Kalen DeBoer, then I think I'm good. Just going back and putting Ryan Day in the second category and agreeing with Joel Klatt. It's just Michigan's in his head thing, and that's happened before for coaches. But if they get one and done and Josh H. And Kalen DeBoer and coaches I know can win a tie, I really feel strongly Then the Buckeyes have to live with a Category 3 coach, one 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.

[Jon Stewart]

Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Cosell]

The forces shaping markets and the economy are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.

[Colin Cowherd]

So that's why we created the Big Take from Bloomberg Podcasts to give you the context you need to make sense of it all.

[Greg Cosell]

Every day in just 15 minutes, we dive into one global business story that matters.

[Colin Cowherd]

You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine.

[Jon Stewart]

A lot of this Meme stock stuff.

[Greg Cosell]

Is, I think, embarrassing to the sec.

[Colin Cowherd]

Amanda Mull, who writes our Business Week Buying Power column.

[Greg Cosell]

Very few companies who go viral are, like, totally prepared for what that means.

[Colin Cowherd]

And Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter Courts are not supposed to decide elections. Courts are not really supposed to play a big role in choosing our elected leaders. It's for the voters to decide.

[Greg Cosell]

Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

[Questlove]

Good people. What's up? It's Questo, Questlove and Team supreme and I have been working hard to bring you some incredible episodes of Questlove supreme with guests you definitely don't want to miss. Now, one of the things I love about this Questlove supreme podcast is we got something for everybody, every type of music lover. We enjoy speaking to the people who are the face of some movements, some people you've seen on stage or TV or magazine covers. But we also love speaking to the the folks who were making it happen behind the scenes and they paved the way for those that followed. You know, keystones to the culture. This season we've had some amazing one on one conversation like Unveil chatting up with hitmaker Sam Hollander, Sugar Steve chatting with the legend Nick Lowe, and I've had pleasures of doing one on one conversations with Willow Sonata, Maitreya, Kathleen Hanna and the rza. These are conversations you won't hear anywhere else, so make sure you go back and you check those episodes out. All right? Listen to Questlove supreme on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

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.

[Anya Packer]

Hey everyone, I'm Madison Packer, a pro.

[Greg Cosell]

Hockey veteran going on my 10th season in New York. And I'm Anya Packer, a former pro.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hockey player and now a full Madison packers stand.

[Anya Packer]

Anya and I met through hockey and.

[Greg Cosell]

Now we're married and moms to two awesome toddlers. And on our new podcast, Moms who.

[Colin Cowherd]

Puck, we're opening up about the chaos.

[Greg Cosell]

Of our daily lives.

[Colin Cowherd]

Between the juggle of being athletes, raising children and all the messiness in between.

[Greg Cosell]

We'Re also turning to fellow athletes and beyond to learn about their parenthood journeys.

[Anya Packer]

And collect valuable advice like FIFA World.

[Greg Cosell]

Cup winner Ashlyn Harris.

[Colin Cowherd]

I wish my village would have prepared me for how hard motherhood was going to be.

[Greg Cosell]

And peloton instructor and Ratchet Mom Club founder Kirsten Ferguson.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I remember going in there a hot mess.

[Greg Cosell]

So listen to Moms who Puck, a production of iHeart Women's Sports and Deep.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Greg Cosell]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Presented by Elf Beauty, founding partner of.

[Greg Cosell]

Iheart Women's Sports Greg Cosell. Thursdays we love him if you bet football, play fantasy football. Want to get smarter at football? 45 years NFL films. You know what, Listen, I It's really interesting about Christian McCaffrey. So when he came to the Niners he'd been banged up. This was a I compared it yesterday to getting an aging pitcher. Listen, can we get three big innings years out of him? We're not getting six. So I always thought if McCaffrey could get him a trophy, three years. But he came to the Niners banged up. What is remarkable though is that Kyle Shanahan has a losing record without him and I think Shanahan's an excellent coach. What it tells me is McCaffrey is a sensational all time talent. Are you surprised a little that just taking him out? They're a different franchise? It feels like Greg.

[Anya Packer]

I don't know if we have a large enough sample size, Colin, to say that for sure. I think what the film shows regarding when McCaffrey's not in is that they're limited in what they can do as far as the motions and the shifts and the formation variation. This is a very schemed up offense. When McCaffrey and Samuel are in the game together, they do a lot of things in terms of movement, pre snap, in terms of formations, things that cause a lot of questions for defenses, how they want to handle it and when he's not in. Even though Jordan Mason ran well for the first part of the season and gain yards maybe with second or third in the league and rushing, they can't do the same things in terms of the movement and the formation variation simply because McCaffrey is so good as a receiver and that's the other element to his game and it also allows Samuel to become a much better player. Samuel's not the same player because McCaffrey's not there because Samuel is a pure receiver. Colin and I think you would agree you would not talk about Samuel the way you talk about Justin Jefferson or Jamar Chase. He's not that kind of player. No, he's a schemed up player and they can't do the scheming that allows them to be what they are.

[Greg Cosell]

I'm really interested on this next reply by you. So in the last three games we know we both like Bo Nicks out of college and we both think Sean Payton's very smart, but in the last three games, they're averaging 36 a game. What is he giving him more to do? I'll tell you what, that seventh round Utah receiver they got, that kid can play some of this is just their receiving course may be a little tastier than people thought. What is the Bo Nicks Peyton relationship? What is the film saying over the last month?

[Anya Packer]

Well, you know, it's funny you asked me that because I think that the way he calls a game in certain situations, Sean Payton, that is, tells you everything you need to know about what he feels about Bo Nicks. Think about what he did with two third quarter plays from deep in their own territory out of the end zone, third and 11, and he throws the seam ball to Mims for a touchdown. And then second and long on, I think it might have been the next possession he throws. I think that's what we're looking at now, this boot pass to Sutton that tells you all you need to know. The confidence that Peyton has in his ability not only to make the throws but to make the right decisions. Because if you make the wrong decision in your end zone, you've got a problem. And by the way, both of those throws came against a coverage we call cover two Invert, where they're playing cover two, but they get to it a different way. But the thing that really stands out about Nix is he's driving the ball. And I don't think we thought when he came out of Oregon that he'd necessarily be that kind of power thrower. You're certainly not going to say he's Matthew Stafford, but he's made drive throws with velocity. He made a far hash sideline throw. This week he's made these kinds of throws. A couple of weeks ago we showed a play, a window throw between the numbers, between the hashes. He has really shown the ability to drive the football at the intermediate and intermediate and deeper levels. And I'm not sure we all thought that would be the case.

[Greg Cosell]

So Lamar against the NFC is unbeatable. And then all of a sudden against Philadelphia, he was very beatable. Is it schemes, is it personnel? But Philadelphia did. And not only does Lamar beat NFC teams, Greg, he often humiliates them. It's like they've never seen anything. Like it blew out the Lions last year. What did Philadelphia do?

[Anya Packer]

Well, you know, it's interesting because. And I never question coaches because they know way more than I do and they know their teams better than I do, obviously. I mean, I sit in my office and watch tape, but I'm not there all week during the process. So what really struck me was 64% of Derrick Henry's runs prior to the Eagles game this year had come out of either 21 or 22 personnel, meaning that Patrick Ricard was on the field. Okay. And the Eagles, they have really evolved into being a purely nickel defense about 90% of their defensive snaps since Cooper DeJean started playing. But surprisingly to me, they did not play anywhere near as much out of 21 and 22 personnel. The Ravens, that is, as they had prior to that game. So when they lined up in 12 personnel with likely and Andrews, the Eagles stayed in their nickel. And therefore to me, they kind of played into the Eagles hands. I thought that they would make the Eagles play in a way that they didn't really want to, and they didn't really do that, in my opinion anyway. So I'm sure Todd Monkin would have a different answer, but I just don't think they played, in a sense, Ravens football. And they allowed the Eagles to dictate the game on the defensive side of the ball.

[Greg Cosell]

So I'm going to throw. You may be surprised by this, but I've told everybody to take a deep breath and get away from the record with Caleb Williams. Don't look at 4, 8 because they've lost to the Vikings, Lions and Packers. You flip those and all of a sudden they're seven and five and those are like last play of the game and the Hail Mary. It's not his fault. He has more 100 plus passer rating games than Mahomes, better completion percentage than Trevor Lawrence, averaging more yards passing a game than Justin Herbert and Kyler Murray, and the same number of touchdown passes as Jalen Hurts. And that's with his second play caller, a dysfunctional head coach and an organization that can't develop quarterbacks. So my take is, folks, get away from the record. Something's working here. Is that what you see with Caleb?

[Anya Packer]

Yeah, he's played a lot better. You know, we talked earlier in the year that even basic concepts he was struggling with, he just didn't deliver the football. And now he is. And I mean, he's really gifted. Colin, you know, you're close to the usc. You've seen him for the two years he was the starter there and the ball comes out beautifully. He's clearly, and this is not an X and O point, but you can just see body language. He's more decisive. The ball's coming out now. It's a coach's job to nitpick. So there are a Couple of things that the film shows that he absolutely needs to work on to even get better. He has a tendency to climb or step up in the pocket when there's no pressure on him. So he creates some of his own pressure by doing that that he needs to work on. The other thing that he's getting better at, and this is good, is he used to leave the pocket by retreating backwards. You can't do that in the NFL. Maybe only Lamar Jackson can do that, but you can't do that. No one would teach you to retreat backwards. But he's throwing beautiful balls now. And what I really like is the innate mindset that he has to drive the ball into tight windows in the middle of the field. I'm not sure you can teach that. And he has shown the innate ability to do that.

[Greg Cosell]

So this next question. It's funny because for years and years I would say, Greg, you are wrong. Russell Wilson is amazing. And you were the only guy that would go. You'd go, I can't quite figure it out. It's almost like they're planned ad libs. I can't get my arms around him. But it's interesting. If you take out the Nat Hackett year, go to his last five in Seattle, go to this one in Pittsburgh and the Peyton year, his passer ratings around 100. He doesn't turn the ball over a lot, I feel like. Nope, in Pittsburgh, they didn't need a savior, they just needed an adult. And he. Have you changed your opinion? Do you look at him now and go, actually, this fits perfectly well.

[Anya Packer]

I think he's playing really well and I'm sure when you think back to since he became a starter, there have not been many plays outside of structure. He's playing from the pocket at a really high level and they're giving him a lot of no huddle and he's making a lot of the right checks and the right play calls. They play a lot out of two tight ends and three tight ends. And that really helps a quarterback pre snap because you know what, the defense is going to give you more when they're in their base defense than they are when they're in their nickel or dime. And he's making really, really good throws. He's seeing things clearly. He's understanding what he's looking at and he's delivering the football. He's playing right now at a really, really high level.

[Greg Cosell]

That's great. Yeah. And you know, it's funny, I've always thought that savior tag is a bunch of nonsense. Stafford didn't save the Rams. You know, they were already, they went to a Super bowl and Brady actually didn't save Tampa. They, they were a 500 team with 30 picks from Jameis. They had all sorts of talent. I think when you get into savior air, into the jets, rustled the Broncos. When you get into savior territory, that's trouble. And Russell, isn't that in Pittsburgh because it's a very well run organization. Now speaking of older quarterbacks, there was a pick last week by Kirk Cousins and I love Kirk, but I thought, oh my God, it looked like a major league baseball pitcher throwing an 83 mile an hour fastball. So overs zero touchdowns, six picks in his last three games. Is it possible? What does the film say, Greg? Is it time for Michael Penix?

[Anya Packer]

Yeah, you know, and I'm being totally honest, Colin. You know, I don't make this stuff up. Obviously I don't have a great answer. I mean he is, it's been so uncharacteristic of Kirk Cousins because say what you want. I know there are a lot of people that may not like him because he hasn't gotten to a championship game or a Super bowl, but over the last five, six, seven years he's been absolutely one of the best pure pocket passers in the NFL. That's his game. And he is making uncharacteristic reads and throws and I, I don't know why, but they're, they're really not good, some of these. And it's, it's obviously been very noticeable the last three games. Some of the throws he made against the Chargers this past week. I mean, I was just scratching my head. He, he never does that. So I, I, I don't know what the answer is. Look, they're still in it. I'd be surprised if they go to Michael Penck at this point. I think the belief would be that Kirk Cousins and they've got a tough game this week, by the way, but I think the belief would be that Kirk Cousins can snap out of this and come back to being Kirk Cousins. And again, not being in the building and not knowing what they do, I'm struggling to figure out why Kyle Pitts is not a meaningful part of the pass game. Yeah, I still, he had two targets last week and no catches.

[Greg Cosell]

I don't get that either at all. Okay, before we go to your play of the week, which I can't wait for Packers Lions tonight. You know, Jordan loves doing what he did last year. He's rocky in September and October and then he catches fire and so Jordan Love, like he was at the end of last year, he's on a heater again and he's going to Detroit. All of a sudden. Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love are clicking on these young receivers. What interests you? What matchup tonight are you interested in?

[Anya Packer]

Well, I think, you know, we always talk about the Lions offense. I think their defense really needs to be talked about. Aaron Glenn is patching together a defense that's lost really key players, and yet he stayed aggressive. They blitz a lot, they play man coverage. I think you could easily make the argument that they have the best safety duo in the NFL in Brian Branch and Kirby Joseph. I mean, Joseph has seven picks. I'm not sure anybody's aware of that. And Branch, he gives them tremendous flexibility. Collin, because Branch can line up and play man to man against wide receivers because he was a slot corner for them last year as a rookie. So he gives them tremendous flexibility and versatility in their coverage schemes. They can stay with the personnel they want to stay with because he can do that. So it's really their defense against Love tonight that probably to me is a fascinating tactical matchup.

[Greg Cosell]

So I thought one of the really interesting games. And Arizona has been in a lot of these because I really like their offensive personnel. McBride, Harrison's got seven touchdowns. Say what you want, he's inconsistent. Kyler, the running back, Connor, Minnesota. Arizona was fascinating because I thought Minnesota looked a little cooked. And then all of a sudden, here comes Sam Darnold with a drive down the field. He again. This year we get a lot less reckless and a lot more precision passing, especially in big spots. What did you make of Darnold's play against Arizona?

[Anya Packer]

Yeah, I mean, at halftime, if you looked on social media, you would have thought it was time for them to, you know, to whip out Joe Cap, you know, after the first half, but. And then of course, the second half, he came out and made some really good throws. I mean, this is, you know, in many ways, like the Lions, like the Rams, it's such a well schemed passing game. The spacing and the routes is really good. It really presents clean, defined reads for him. So the throws are evident and it's just really a matter of time in any game as long as he has time in the pocket. But he's also shown as, you know, he's a good athlete. But it's not running out of the pocket that I'm talking about. It's moving within the pocket. And I think he's doing that this year better than he Ever has. And actually that's a part of the big play, because the big play I want to show came from the winning touchdown drive last week against the Cardinals, who, by the way, are a difficult defense to play against. Not a lot of talent, but Jonathan Gannon does an unbelievable job with schematics in his defense. So let's go to this play. It was a play to Jordan Addison for 26 yards, and as I said, it was on the final drive and it really set everything up. And I think we want to start with the fact number one, which you don't see a lot in that Sam Darnold is under center and they play under center an awful lot and run regular play action. And it's a three by one set. So now we're going to get to the route concept, which is a very staple concept for them. It's what we call dagger. So you're going to get an inside vertical by Naylor and Addison. He's going to run the dig route underneath that. So that's what Dagger is. It's an inside vertical and a dig route underneath that vertical. Now what the Cards are going to end up playing here, even though it doesn't look like it now, and that's another part of this play is they're going to end up playing cover three. So what's cover three? It's three deep with four underneath defenders. That's what cover three is. And this is kind of base cover three. So as we focus on the two receivers as we start the play, you're going to see exactly how this plays out. You're going to see Naylor, he's going to run the inside vertical route. What that does is it attacks the safety who's got the deep middle third. Okay. So that lifts the safety and then you're going to have Addison and he's going to run, as we said, that in breaking route underneath Naylor, now what Darnold has to do here is he's got to beat that underneath hook defender with his throw. And this has to be a big time anticipation and timing throw. And there's the void that he needs to hit. It's actually going to be inside that underneath hook defender, not outside of him. And he throws the ball really early and sticks it right on him. This is not an easy throw. Now we're going to see this from a different angle because I think it's really, really important to see this second angle. So if we can take a look at that, it would be really good. Yep. So right now we're going to see this. There's Darnold. Now he's going to get pressured here and this is what I was talking about Colin. He's going to get pressure so he has to move and he has to move while he keeps his eyes downfield. He can't lose sight of the coverage. So what he does is he climbs the pocket, he moves very comfortably, resets his throwing platform. He's now ready to deliver. There is that underneath defender that he has to beat. Look at when he delivers this ball. He delivers this ball when Addison is literally on the numbers and he's going to throw it between the hashes. This is big time NFL quarterback and these are the kinds of throws that you have to be able to make in the NFL, particularly against defenses that play a lot of zone.

[Greg Cosell]

Great stuff. Greg Cosell 45 years, NFL Films as always Greg, appreciate it. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Now here's the kicker. The PayPal debit card earns you 5% cash back in a monthly category of your Choice. Up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. So groceries, health and beauty, gas, apparel, restaurants. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like DoorDash, Instacart, Sephora. This month, it's all about that apparel. I got a crazy schedule. I shop online a lot, snag a suit here or there, fresh gear. 5% cash back adds up fast and signing up is easy. Just Download the new PayPal app to sign up and you're ready to start earning cash back on your everyday purchases. Pay Smart. Earn Cash Back. Enjoy peace of mind with a PayPal debit card. Don't just pay PayPal terms apply. See PayPal app cash back Earned as points you can redeem for cash and other options. This card issued by the Bancorp and a pursuant to license by MasterCard International.

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[Greg Cosell]

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[Jon Stewart]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Greg Cosell]

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