← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Colin Cowherd Podcast - Bears Beat Cowboys, Chargers Dominating AFC West, Daniel Jones Starts 3-0
01:06:15
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- [00:00]
John Middlekauff
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:04]
Colin Cowherd
The Toyota Certified Used Vehicle Sales Event is here. It is packed with great surprises. Choose from a wide selection of low mileage vehicles all backed by Toyota with warranties that begin on the date of purchase. Because when it comes to quality, the best new cars make the best used cars. So don't miss your chance. Find your certified Toyota today, but hurry. These Great offers end November 3rd. Toyota Certified used Vehicle Sales Event where every surprise is a great one. Inventory may vary by dealer, participating dealers only. Comprehensive and powertrain are limited warranties. See tcuv warranty supplementtoyotacertified.com or your Toyota dealer for details.
- [00:46]
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- [01:46]
John Middlekauff
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- [02:18]
Colin Cowherd
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- [03:01]
John Middlekauff
Now that's eating good in the neighborhood.
- [03:05]
Colin Cowherd
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- [03:56]
John Middlekauff
Foreign.
- [04:01]
Colin Cowherd
It'S time for our Sunday night pod. It's a wild day of crazy outcomes. Special teams, blocked kicks, returns for touchdowns. One of the weirder Sundays. Let's start with Bears 31, Cowboys 14. Let's spend a lot of time on this. So I felt for the first time John and I wrote it down here. I really felt it in that 19 play drive in the third quarter. I wrote down harmony. I really thought it was the first time out of the first drive that I thought Caleb and Ben, there was a certain harmony, like he wasn't rushing anything. Caleb made a couple of big time throws, capped it in the end zone. I think it was DJ Moore, but I did. Now the Cowboys again they won the field position game. Chicago did Dallas CD Lamb got hurt second quarter. They didn't have a lot of offense in the second half and I know Dallas isn't very good defensively but listen, half the teams in this league aren't going to be very good defensively going forward with injuries and personnel. I thought there was improvement. I thought Caleb, he dirted a couple of easy balls but I thought there was some harmony with Ben.
- [05:14]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean I, I think the story of the game is Ben Johnson versus Eber Fluss which would be like you know, a 20 year old playing a 5 year old and pick up basketball. It's not a fair fight. I mean eber flu is probably, I understand like you said, injuries, but I think eber flu is probably the worst defensive coordinator going. So I, I have a hard time. Listen, I give Caleb credit. He made that, that flea flicker is one of the more beautiful throws you will see all season long. It felt like it flew night, but I don't put much emphasis on. I mean they score touchdowns with guys wide open. Wide open touchdown. DJ Moore, wide open touchdown. And Rome. I think the first touchdown of the game was a dig just fell on the ground, you know. So it's just, I listen, I'm not trying to be negative on this. A win's a win. Cool moment for Ben getting his first win. But I truly believe that some guys in this league get recycled unfairly. And eber flu is a good example. He has no business being a defensive core. It's embarrassing. I mean no one, there's no one even around. So, so Caleb's hitting these guys. There was a stretch early in the second quarter where he missed a couple balls over the middle. I'm like, yes, but, but then he, he calmed down. I thought Ben Johnson for the first time this year had a rhythm in his play calling. That's what I felt like. Yes, it felt like Detroit, but he's facing heber flu. You know, you face Green Bay, Minnesota, the better defenses. It's not like that. So I have a hard time making a grand proclamation that Caleb's first fixed or anything. But you could only play who you're playing. And they shredded any hit guys that were wide open. More of a reflection to me on Eber flu than it is. Caleb is fixed.
- [06:47]
Colin Cowherd
But I, you know, one thing watching the Bears, I felt is they, they do have good offensive personnel. I mean, Jesus, Luther Burden, Roma Dunze, DJ Moore, Cole Comet, Colston, Loveland. Swift's a nice back. He's a, he's not a star, but he's a nice back. If you give Caleb reasonable protection, which he certainly had on the interior, they ran the ball better today. Here's the one thing is, is if they become like the 23rd best scoring team in the league, it's not going to be on the personnel or Ben. They've got good players.
- [07:20]
John Middlekauff
I agree there.
- [07:21]
Colin Cowherd
They have some really, really. Even their third string back is a capable player.
- [07:26]
John Middlekauff
I would agree with you there. I think two things can be true, right. Eber fluss and the Cowboys defensive personnel might be the worst in the league combination. And, and the Bears are not as bad as they have looked through two games. Offensive personnel standpoint. Listen, is Rome ever going to be Malik Neighbors or Jamar Chase? Probably not, but he's a really good player and he could be probably a really good two. We know D.J. moore is like a fringe, what, 1B2, so that they got two good receivers. Cole commit's good tight end, you know, and he's technically they drafted a guy just to plant him. So. I'm with you there. I'm fascinated to watch. Listen, sometimes, especially with a young player, a young person, however you could get confidence is important. So whether it's against the worst defense of the league, who cares, right? So if now it's time, can you build on this? Who do they play next week? The Raiders, who aren't very good.
- [08:15]
Colin Cowherd
Right, right.
- [08:16]
John Middlekauff
I mean, so that, that is something to, to keep an eye on. If they can build on it, then yeah, then maybe there is some, some life here. I, I just have a hard time extracting much from throwing it to guys that are wide open in the NFL because we know that's not the case. What, 15 to 16 of the games that you're going to play throughout the year, especially in that division, which is a good defensive division.
- [08:39]
Colin Cowherd
You know, it's. Once CD Lamb got banged up, I mean, you got Tolbert and Turpin and George Pickens and Javante Williams. Pretty good running back. But it is for sure. Listen, here's what you and I both felt coming into the Cowboy season. This is a bad coaching staff and I thought Today there was one point. It was, you know, it was a 14, 14 game, but it was 14, 3 first after the first quarter. And was it 1414 here? Do I make a mistake here? No, it was 2414. I think there was a point in the game when CD Lam went out and I thought, well, you know, they've got some pretty decent weapons. But one of the things that was pretty clear is that Dak was trying to throw the ball down the field and was getting pretty good protection, but he couldn't. And so once CD Lamb was out of the game, he was looking downfield. You'd see him multiple times. John Dak would be waiting and waiting to go downfield and he would dump it off. Is that if you take CD Lamb out, you can see the Cowboys have missed defensively and offensively they've missed on draft picks. They have a lot of C level players.
- [09:53]
John Middlekauff
Well, let's take the two teams, you know, coaching Staffs. You know, Ben Johnson obviously is one of the better offensive coordinators and offensive minds in the league. And even Brady said, Dennis Allen is one of the tougher defensive coordinators he faced as a player. And I don't think he's just thrown out there. We've seen him when he was with the Broncos with Peyton Manning. Excellent. And obviously when he was with Sean Payton, they had a couple years where the Saints defense was excellent. That's why he got the job when Sean basically took the year off. Right? So then you look, Brian Schottenheimer, hire zebra flu. Say what you want about Mike McCarthy, his new two defensive coordinators. The last couple, you know, stretch was Dan Quinn and then Mike Zimmer, right? I mean, those are. Obviously, Dan Quinn is one of the better coaches in the league, and Mike Zimmer's resume speaks for itself. So you go from those two guys to Eber Flutes, I can't get over. I had a buddy one time tell me he had. He was a longtime quarterback coach, and he became an offensive coordinator for, like, one of the worst teams in the league. And I said, I get the money, but can't this derail your career? He's no, he's like, actually, this changes my career. Because once you go, oh, that guy's an offensive coordinator, whether you have success or you don't, you just get in that mix. Right? Mike McCarthy, when he became the head coach of the Green Bay packers, hadn't been some dynamic offensive coordinator for years, but he was viewed as, like, that was the next step. And I think sometimes guys, you know, Iver Fluss becomes a head coach. Well, if he's not a head coach, he's then just a coordinator. You see this with Brandon Staley. Well, what if they're actually just position coaches, you know, and they get in this cycle and, you know, Ben Johnson gets to play him and was running circles around him today. I mean, the flea flicker is a good example where I know the flea flicker because the guy almost got tackled and he hits him and the guy's wide open. It's like, what is going on? These guys have no clue what they're doing. So listen, the coaching in this league, it's when you get good defensive coordinators, it really stands out. The Brian Flores, the Robert Salas, the Vic Fangios. When you get bad ones, it really stands out. And I think that was pretty evident in this game with Ben Johnson. And listen, I'm not trying to diminish Caleb Williams, but he was throwing to wide open guys, which is pretty unheard of. It happens on a play, but happened play after play after play. I mean, it was an unserious defensive performance.
- [12:06]
Colin Cowherd
All right. Rams, at one point, led 26 to 7 and lost 33 to 26 to Philadelphia. My first. I have two major takes here. First of all, the Rams didn't draft a corner. And that was one of the curious things. That was one of their primary needs was maybe a quarterback for the future. And it was a bad quarterback class. And cornerbacks, they didn't. And A.J. brown ate today. There was a lot of third downs. Devonte Smith and A.J. brown, Rams. And it wasn't like they were beaten badly. It wasn't like they were poorly coached like Dallas. They just don't have any playmakers in the back end. And then twice kicks get blocked. They didn't draft a center. Another position of need on that offensive line. They're not very good at center. They've got, you know, Shelton, who's been Shelton, Coleman, I think, who's been around forever, and a kid out of Arkansas. They drafted sixth or seventh round and two times, three times now against Philadelphia last year, remember in the playoff game, when the Rams are driving and Jalen Carter blows up, the final play blows up. They're like sixth, seventh round center, and then twice on field goals. It's a Jordan Davis blowing up their field goals. Two block, one for a touchdown. So they didn't address a lot of what they addressed in the off season. You know, Devonte Adams has been a good find. Lanneman, the interior linebacker, has been a good get. But they didn't draft a corner. And they, they, they have. They are below average at center. And if you play Philadelphia and you don't have people and you don't have an elite corner against AJ Or Devonte and you can't block Jalen Carter and Davis, you're in big trouble. And I just thought, you know, it was a remarkable game in the first half. It was a coaching mismatch, like McVeigh was doing whatever he wanted. But in the end, I think Philadelphia went in, Nick Ceriani made some adjustments, and they completely dominated the second half. I, I just think when they play Philadelphia, the interior of the Eagles defensive line just continues to dominate the ramp. Remember the fourth and one call the Rams made and the big guys blew that up as well. It's like four separate plays in two years, and the Eagles are two. And oh, in those games because of those moments.
- [14:26]
John Middlekauff
And even Greg Olson said, like, I wouldn't do that in this spot. Here in McVeigh was like, because I'm with you. The Rams showed up to kick their ass and they came out of the gate swinging. And it's at one point in time, I think it's 19 to 7 and a half. It felt more like 30 to 7 dead. And you know, the yardage that was up there was like 200 to 40 yards. I felt knowing that town a little bit like, I think this offensive coordinator is going to get fired. He's three games in. Listen, they're the defending champs, but this is not going to fly. And give them credit. They came out and they just started throwing it to 11. They said, you know what? And Greg also kept saying it, like, just target him. Remember in the first game he had one target, just throw the ball to 11. And they just started doing that. Some of it, it's not like Jalen is throwing these frozen ropes. Some of them are kind of floating in the air. AJ's attacking it, he's throwing the guy off him. It's one of the great turnarounds of Sirianni's career in a one game situation because I thought, this thing's weird. I mean, are, are they about to get blown out at home with people booing their offense? And I don't feel it gets a bad rap because they always boo. Well, I mean, that's. What are they supposed to do? I mean, what.
- [15:35]
Colin Cowherd
At halftime it was 115 yards rushing for the Rams, 34 for the Eagles. Rams had basically a hundred yards passing. Philadelphia had minus one. I mean, the game was 19 to seven at half and no question it should have been like 277 or 30 to 7. It was a complete mismatch. But again, you know, there was a moment.
- [15:58]
John Middlekauff
Stafford missed a couple passes down the stretch too.
- [16:00]
Colin Cowherd
There was also Puka dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone. It wasn't an easy catch, but he should have made was one of these games. When I look at Stafford, if he's out of rhythm and he missed a couple of passes, both in the red zone, you don't get anything out of the pocket. And I felt like he didn't have his best game. I thought in the second half he just was out of rhythm.
- [16:24]
John Middlekauff
One defining moment, that's kind of like a, you know, football in the weeds. But they mentioned on the broadcast too that Lane Johnson gets hurt, hurts his neck and it goes, that can't be good. And they put in the backup and the backup is just getting destroyed. I mean, they were putting Verse over there and they got no Shot well, then a couple series, they bench that guy and go to another backup, and he's dramatically better. And to me, that's kind of the defining attribute of this organization. They're pretty ruthless. Like, just because you're the quote, unquote backer, you're not getting it done. You'll blast two series, you're out of there. We'll throw in another guy. And that helped change the game because there was a moment where you went, well with Lane Johnson out. The physicality of the Rams, their front, with Verse, with Young, with Fisk, like, they're taking over this game. I mean, Jalen was. You know, sometimes he struggles a little bit. It feels like he's just out of rhythm. But today, he was under siege in that first half, getting destroyed. So, you know, I think it shouldn't be that complicated. Like, the Rams, they throw it to Puka Nukua all the time. Well, no shit. Like, how does it take you so long to throw to A.J. brown? Especially with Saquon? You know, the game plan was this. Force Jalen to stay within the pocket where he's not as comfortable, and corral Saquon Barkley. Well, if one thing Jalen is good at is throwing outside the numbers. Anyone in the league will tell you that. Obviously, on the move, throwing the ball down the field, but even in the pocket, throwing outside the numbers is something he's very comfortable doing. And clearly, they got two, you know, elite wide receivers. I mean, they probably have one of, if not the best 12 combination in the league. And it looked like it was broken, and then it wasn't. And then, like you said, I mean, Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, I mean, these guys are blue chipper. Did you see how fast Jordan Davis.
- [18:06]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, my God.
- [18:06]
John Middlekauff
I know he's lost weight, but on that field goal block, he was. At one point in time, he. It was taking, like, two steps to cover five yards. I'm like, I don't think people realize, even though he no longer weighs 350 and maybe weighs 325, the movement on this human being. And he's not even their star defensive tackle. That's Jalen Carter. So that was. That was a blue chip game all the way around. Like, I don't view the Rams that much differently. Like, I think, like, watching the Niners, like, I would say today, the Rams are a better team currently than the 49ers. But listen, I mean, at the end of the day, you got to find a way to win a game that you are controlling on the Road Eagles did not have life. They had no life.
- [18:47]
Colin Cowherd
The Eagles have a star in every unit. The Rams at corner, they really need work.
- [18:53]
John Middlekauff
But, Colin, most teams don't have, you know, Deion Sanders or Darrell Revis out there. So especially once AJ Gets going, you would think you would cheat a little bit and give him some help. I mean, they left him on an island, and AJ Was just throwing whoever was on him one on one, just over shoulder. They're just, you know, working another 5, 10, 20 yards down the field.
- [19:13]
Colin Cowherd
It's amazing what happens in these games. This Puka drops a touchdown in the fourth quarter, then they. They want to take a field goal to go up 29, 21, and it gets blocked, and it's like, oh, shit. And then Hertz hits Devonte Smith. 28, 26, they lead. But that touchdown, when it's dropped, then the field goal is blocked, and you're like, there's just two plays, and that's what the Eagles do. They just got a hand on the Puka on the. On the Puka. Drop just enough body on it, and then they block the kick. And so when you have these moments, Dallas had these a couple weeks ago when they played Philadelphia, you have these moments. And when you play Philadelphia and you have these moments, you have to make the plays because they've shown they're an uneven football team. They have really bad halves. It's not that rare for Jalen Hurts to have a really bad half. He had a bad half against the Rams in the playoff game. Like he has. This team is uneven. But when their horsepower revs up and they get momentum, I mean, Saquon's not even running. He hasn't been nearly as effective. But when they get going and they get that pass rush, and over the course of a game, their defensive front wears you out. And I felt like at the end of the game, the Rams had all these card tricks, and then it just came down to personnel, and the Eagles had better personnel.
- [20:37]
John Middlekauff
I also think when you have a guy like Saquon Barkley, that terrifies these defensive coordinators, that any moment can go 50 if you screw up a lane. They spent so much effort trying to corral him well, they got Jalen Hurts, who at any moment, they can just do that kind of keeper play, and then he can go. And you saw with Kyler Murray, when you have a guy, those guys want to throw it. Like, Dalen no longer wants to run it. But at any moment, when he has to, he can get you seven yards. So, like you said, yeah, he could be terrible, but at any moment, he could just gain them a momentum play with his own legs. Because you spend all your effort going on Saquon. Like, I don't think Saquon's numbers so far throughout the beginning of the year look great. Can you imagine the emphasis Monday through Saturday that the defensive coordinators are screaming at the units to stop him? So. And that's where Jalen and they always have that in their back pocket. And they've used it a couple times in the second half of just let him get to the edges. Because even when you walk, like when you watch Kyler, he looks like a wide receiver or something with the ball in his hands. Sometimes Jalen, when he's running, doesn't even look that fast, but he's just a smooth runner and he's. He's very natural in space. He had one run today for like eight, nine yards in the second half. That is just something they can kind of keep in their back pocket. And let's face it, they playing a lot of close games because their offense has kind of been anemic this year.
- [21:55]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, we're not going in any particular order here because the two big ones, Bears, Cowboys, Rams, Eagles, we've discussed. I'll go with the Chargers beating the Broncos 23 to 20. You know, it was Amario Hampton at his first touchdown. I One of the My takeaways in this game is that especially in the last several drives for both teams, Herbert's talent shines. And as I watch Bo Nix, because he had 61 college starts, John, he came into this league very close to his ceiling, and I think we've seen it. And as I watched him today, my takeaway is this is what he is where I think with Herbert, Harbaugh's taking him to another level. And then Caleb Williams. But I feel that with Trevor Lawrence, everybody's waiting for the next pop. And this is what Trevor Lawrence is. He's kind of a long strider, gets balls batted down despite his size, can miss some open things, sees the field. Okay, not exceptionally. And I watched Bo Nix today, and he had a big plate of Cortland Sutton, but again, he was wide open. It was a blown coverage by the Chargers, and he had a couple of really impressive scrambles. But I watched Herbert hit Keenan Allen on a huge play. And the moments of the game where you needed great athletes to make great plays, I kind of feel like what Bo Nicks is, this is it. And if you're waiting for a jump, you're not really going to get it. That was my takeaway watching this game today. That was this week's Sunday Night Football brought to you by Uber Eats. When football makes you hungry, get game day deals on Uber Eats. I do every week. The official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now.
- [23:42]
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- [24:43]
Colin Cowherd
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- [26:09]
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- [27:10]
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- [27:44]
John Middlekauff
Franklin had a drop too in the end zone that you know would have been a touchdown but there's no disputing the two guys. I mean to me Justin Herbert is. I mean Patrick Mahomes is going to play a little bit later tonight but he's been right there with Josh Allen. Lamar Jackson is the best quarterbacks in the league so far. Do you notice they are throwing deep bombs to Quinn Johnson multiple again.
- [28:03]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [28:04]
John Middlekauff
I mean telling uncork it and he missed them today on one but it at one point he going to hit him again. Yeah he made but they are throwing go routes and post routes to one and Herbert is letting it fly. I mean the play he made to Keenan Allen for the game tying touchdown was Josh Allen Mahomes I mean that's just. That's Bo Nicks doesn't have that in the back. I thought this was a kitchen sink game for Denver. Chargers played what Monday night on the road a late pushback because it was a seven o' clock kickoff. So what time whatever they get back to the office is 23 in the morning. You're all thrown off Monday shot because you played Tuesday. You barely slept. You're trying to get a game plan together. They are behind the eight ball. Denver coming off a bad loss you think would be motivated had extra time and when they're up 20 to 13 you're like, this is going to be a really impressive win for Peyton and their crew. Three quarters and not that terrible of a loss by the Chargers. Like, short week. You didn't even play that bad. You're missing Khalil Mack. It's not the end of the world. And they found a way to win. I mean, you called them, what, the greatest coach of all time?
- [29:11]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [29:11]
John Middlekauff
Well, he's in full control. He's beat every team in the division through three games. Their. Their defense is pretty dominant, but, I mean, it's amazing.
- [29:20]
Colin Cowherd
They had a blown coverage. The Cortland Sutton, but they went and drafted a couple corners in the fifth round. They have the stickiest secondary, I mean, because I think Denver's got some pretty quick young weapons. It's amazing. This was the worst defense in the league 20 games ago. The worst by a long shot. They are sticky. There's just not a lot open.
- [29:42]
John Middlekauff
What wasn't. I mean, it's probably, you know, toward the end of 2023, when they gave up, what, 60 or 70 points to the Raiders on that Thursday night game. Brandon Staley, the night he was fired, I wrote down as Derwin James, it's early the defensive player of the year. I mean, he's on that path. I mean, the way they talk about him, how versatile he is for him, that they're tackling, you know, looking back, like, Harbaugh's team, let's say with the 49ers, like, of course they tackled well. They had Dante Hitner, they had Patrick Willis, Navarro, Bowman. Right. This team's like, who are these guys, you know? You know, Derwin James and Khalil Mack. But who are some of these? And they are hitting like they're the most physical defense in the league. And Denver, technically, was that last year. And it feels like the Chargers have already, if not matched, surpassed them. And we know they got the better quarterback. Right. You could argue early in the season, like, Herbert's every bit as good as Patrick Mahomes, if not better. The way he's playing right now when you factor in the weapons. So you go, they got an elite quarterback. They got the best defense. We know they got an elite coach. Not just a coach, a coaching staff. How about. I was thinking about this the other day is we've been hard over the years, and rightfully so. Like, Belichick's coaching tree is atrocious. It's like the opposite of, like, Bill Walsh's underrated coaching tree. And it's like an organization is the Ravens, you know, Forever. Back in the day with Billock, all the defensive coordinators, and then with Harbaugh.
- [31:00]
Colin Cowherd
All the different guys, Jesse Mentor.
- [31:03]
John Middlekauff
Jesse Mentor is basically Mike McDonald 2.0. And Jim Harbaugh just took him from John. And look at it. This guy, they create such great defensive coordinators that in a day and age where we go, we got to have an offensive guy and you're the one beating that drum. You're like, well, this guy's so good, I might as well hire him to be my head coach. That's how good their guys are. I mean, let's face it, how's this guy not going to be a head coach at the end of this year? I mean, he's. He's basically just doing Mike McDonald again.
- [31:26]
Colin Cowherd
And we saw.
- [31:27]
John Middlekauff
Let's look how good Mike McDonald is. I mean, Seattle looks really good through three games.
- [31:31]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, no, it's. It was a gut check win. When you come out, you don't have the prep time. You don't play particularly well in the first half. Najee Harris, by the way, that thing, this thing has just not worked. He got the fourth of July fireworks, he had eye damage. Then he gets injured, now he's hurt. So it's like Hampton's actually had a little bit of a life. I mean, a little bit. So it feels like, you know, they're very lucky. They drafted Joe Alt, right? And everybody said receiver. And then Slater gets hurt and Joe Alt's been terrific. And then they bring in, you know, Najee Harris and Hampton sort of starts slow. The Najee Harris thing doesn't work. So. And then, you know, people kind of went, is Hampton like a first round running back? The truth is they. The guys they've drafted have worked. I mean, they've drafted guys and they have needed them and they have delivered.
- [32:24]
John Middlekauff
And sometimes you also need, I don't even want to say luck in a personnel move, but just something to work out in your favor. And listen, they broke up with Keenan Allen a year ago when they traded him and he was available and they brought him back. And that thing looks like an excellent pickup because Keenan Allen, I mean, through three weeks, making huge plays for him, their style. Now, technically, right now, they would have home games potentially. But if they had to go, if they end up the two or three seed and have to go on the road in the playoffs, translates, right? Play defense. Elite quarterback, run the ball. Playing low scoring, ugly games like that works in January. You know what we always said about, like, Mike McDaniels in the Tua situation, like this is not going to work in the playoffs when it gets cold. Harbaugh works in the playoffs when it gets cold. So I think their stuff is going to translate. Obviously, it comes down to health. I do think it's pretty important. And they also avoided disaster in that Khalil Mack, when he got injured that moment on Monday night, you thought that he snapped his arm or something. Well, it turns out he might just miss a month and be okay. And you see him on the sidelines, got the thing on. Maybe if he's able to come back and be Khalil Mack, that. Because I think that would have been a move. They could replace Slater because they had Altar. Like, you don't replace that physical presence. So you get him back to go with Derwin James and their overall defensive presence. I think whatever Harbaugh does with his quarterbacks, the mental psychology that he plays of, you know, some people think it's corny and hyperbolic or whatever, but he knows what he's doing. You know, he's. He's a little more intelligent when it comes to the motivation aspect. And I think he gets credit for. Because Herbert. I mean, Herbert looks like John Elway or something right now in his prime. How special is his. Isn't it crazy, looking back, that Tuatanga by Loa was drafted above Justin Herbert? That's. That's one that's going to age in time. Like, how did that happen? How did we sit in a draft room and put those two guys together and take this one over that one? Like, it's. It's pretty crazy now. It's easy to save money because even the Chargers, I think, kind of said that we probably would have taken two over them. But, like, when you watch the two of them several years later, like, this is a different stratosphere of player.
- [34:29]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. I mean, size matters. I said it this week on FS1. How's Bryce Young, Tua, Kyler Murray, Johnny Manziel? You know, you start looking at these guys. Russell Wilson, Size matters. Herbert. Six, five hose, big arm, physical player. I mean, it's just. I'm sorry. If he put on £15, it could be a tight end in the league. It matters his. He's just got so much horsepower.
- [34:56]
John Middlekauff
There was a play today, it was like third and nine with, you know, the. If the Cardinals get the first down, they could probably ice the game. What happens? Fred Warner tips the ball. Kyler's five, nine.
- [35:05]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [35:06]
John Middlekauff
And unlike Bryce, he's an elite athlete, so he can make these crazy plays. But you're Sitting in a pocket when you're 5, 9, 5, 10, it's much harder to see. I know we went through this stretch where it's like, we love these five, 10 quarterbacks. I like my guys to be 65 and run four sixes with huge arms. I'll take Justin Herbert. You can take a little guy.
- [35:25]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. Colts 41, Titans 20. Cam Ward had a bad pick six early. They asked him to throw once again 38 times on the road. Good luck. The Daniel Jones thing is fascinating. So J. Mac was joking last week. Is he the new Baker? And I'm like, well, he doesn't throw the ball as well as Baker and he's not as athletic as Darnold. He could be the next Geno. But I looked at some numbers today. He was 7 of 9 down the field, 10 plus today. I mean, Jonathan Taylor, you start looking at their personnel. Between Pierce, Warren Pittman, Josh Downs, Jonathan Taylor, they average seven yards of play. Daniel Jones is throwing the ball down the field. Is he 18 to 25, 230 yards. I mean, again, he's running the offense, John, at four penalties. It didn't have any turnovers. First of all, I think the roster is better than people give it credit for. I think they have really interesting offensive personnel. I mean, they've got, if your number three receiver is Josh Downs, pretty good number three receiver, considering you have an excellent tight end, a star running back. Remember, the Broncos got no real pass rush, and the Broncos get a pass rush on everybody. And they were pretty much stymied against the Colts. But I watched Daniel Jones today and you know, he's big, he moves. We talked about it. He's like a stronger, bigger Alex Smith. I sat and watched them today and I. And I think they're going to win this division because I think they have probably, probably have the best offensive coach. I think they're roster top to bottom. I don't know. I watched Daniel Jones today and he's making big throws down the field.
- [37:12]
John Middlekauff
I, I'd be stunned if they didn't win the division. He made several throws down the middle of the field. That hitting guys in stride. I can't imagine Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard when they see themselves in the hallway over the last couple of weeks or this guy, this guy was a lifeline for them. He was, you know, they were drowning, they were in trouble. They were going to get fired. Anthony Richardson was going to, you know, and some of these reports have come out that the owner forced them to take them. Like it didn't Even sound like they want to take them, but they pivoted and they got Daniel Jones, who looks like not only is he going to save their careers, but he's resurrecting ifs. I mean, he's going to get a contract extension.
- [37:48]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [37:48]
John Middlekauff
Like, do you, do you entertain, you know, if you are 1112 wins, giving him an extension in, in the season, like three years, $90 million or something, like with the personnel you have and the coach you have, it makes sense.
- [38:03]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. And you wouldn't get burned in that division again. No, I mean, because the Jags are tied to their quarterback, Houston's tied to theirs. Tennessee for three years is tied to theirs. You're not facing Herbert and Mahomes. Josh Allen, you're facing, you know, solid quarterback play. So my takeaway, I just, I know Chris Ballard, I like him. And I said this last week. Chris had talked, you know, they scrimmaged against the packers and the Ravens, you know, in, in preseason. And his takeaway was, we can play with these teams. Our personnel matches up. We. Are we as good? I don't know. But he felt like watching it. He was like, you know, we've got guys, we've got dudes, I think in that division, you know, we've said this. Baker Mayfield, in the division he's in. He is Josh Allen in that division. He's. He's got three straight game winning drives. So it does matter. And I think Daniel Jones, he's young, he's big, he's strong, nice weapons. I don't know, I just watch him. And I think Daniel Jones would not have happened, John, 10, 15 years ago in this league, but there's so many good offensive coaches that you have this ability on your third and fourth team to pop and resurrect your career.
- [39:14]
John Middlekauff
Well, we talked about it earlier with Schottenheimer and Eberfluss. I think the Colts are kind of the opposite. They pivoted off Gus Bradley and they got Lou Amaruno, who like three years ago was viewed as one of the best defensive coordinators. And guess what? The Browns are cheap. Or, you know, the Brown family is with the Bengals. So they let a lot of guys go and this, you know, in college, you and me could run a program if we had by far the best roster. It's going to be hard for us if you and I were coaching the team to not be really good. That's not the way the pros work. We see a lot of talented teams lose a lot of games. You need good players and you need Good coaching. So they got Luanne Maruno and Shane Steichen, and now they got just a funk. I would say he's more than functional right now. When Alex Smith resurrected his career with, with Harbaugh and then even early on with Andy, he was not the player that he became at the end when they pivoted to Patrick Mahomes. He was a lot better then. And then he went to Washington before he got injured. Alex was playing at a high level. Daniel Jones kind of went from really, really crappy the last couple of years to the guy we're watching right now is just playing really well. Like, he. Because of the conference he's in, he's. But it's like he's having a Pro bowl, like, season, distributing the ball. They have a bunch of playmakers. They have good coaching staff. They can run the ball. Their defense is good. Houston's in shambles. I mean, C.J. stroud's going the wrong way. Not all his fault. O line sucks. Running game sucks.
- [40:35]
Colin Cowherd
They're not doing anything well. They can't. They can't run, run the ball at all.
- [40:39]
John Middlekauff
They're good on defense. That's it. They're good on defense, and their offense is basically a negative. And you watch Jacksonville, they just kind of seem like, meh. So I think the Colts are in the driver's seat as long as they keep Daniel Jones healthy. And they deserve credit for making this move. I said the moment they made the move, I'd be stunned if this guy doesn't start. And I think when I was on your the Fox show, I said that this guy could, you know, resurrect his career because just we've seen it so it happened so recently. Quarterback with some skills, get with, gets with a offensive mind. Right in Baker, Sam Darnold, now Daniel Jones. We've seen a lot of these guys, you know, because of the impatience of the modern NFL, which I do think is fair. Like, you're not just going to keep rolling a guy out if it doesn't work, but that doesn't mean a guy can't go somewhere else. It's having people believe in you is powerful. And I can imagine it was probably pretty clear to Daniel Jones, like, God, I not only these guys believe in me, but I think we could be like, I could be a good player here and clearly working.
- [41:40]
Colin Cowherd
Steelers 21, New England 14. I had probably the toughest three beats of the year. New England beat themselves. Five turnovers, bad decisions, multiple penalties. Aaron made a couple of nice throws, one to Metcalf they and another to Calvin Austin again like you struggled to give the Bears credit. It's hard for me to give the Steelers credit in this way. Same New England beat themselves. It was funny. Vrabel's looks very patient on the sidelines. He doesn't show his disgust. I mean he knows he has a young team. He has a young quarterback. Yeah, I just, I watched this game and my takeaway was Jesus. The Steelers just made fewer mistakes. They made enough plays. I like Drake May and I think I said this last week and the week before like he needs another 15 starts. He just makes too many mistakes. I mean he, he threw a red zone pick that was completely inexcusable. It was. I mean it was as bad as a red zone pick. And by the way, the Cowboys, Milton and Dak through interceptions in the end zone. It was worse. Where are you on Drake May?
- [42:59]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean his numbers actually didn't look terrible but if you watch the game, the red zone pick, I'd put that in. Jordan loves in interception as the picks of the day. Yeah, his fumble was awful. I mean they had four fumbles. They lost all four of them. The Steelers were my favorite bet of the week. And I'm with you. I was shocked how close the game was. You get five turnovers and you don't win if you're a good team by 20 plus points. Their offense doesn't do much in Pittsburgh. It's not a well oiled machine.
- [43:30]
Colin Cowherd
They can't run the ball consistently.
- [43:33]
John Middlekauff
No. And Aaron, some of his big play so far this year just kind of throw it up like that's not really an offense. They have no sustained drives. Defensively to me they look pretty putrid. I mean this was why I kind of bet on them being a solid team is I thought they were going to be maybe not top two or three defense but definitely a top ten defense. I just don't think their defense looks very good now. They made some plays today. They caused you know, a fumble at the goal line. The pick, Drake threw it right to him. They easily could have lost this game. I mean they. I'm out on Pittsburgh. I don't think they're very good right now.
- [44:05]
Colin Cowherd
Same.
- [44:06]
John Middlekauff
And I think one concerning part is we have seen guys invested in Miles Garrett. They gave him a bunch of money. Miles Garrett is a freak. He's one of the most talented guys in the league. You know Max Crosby. Every team in the league would line up to get Max Crosby. I think there is some concern. I know he fell on a fumble but I think TJ does look his age a little bit and they just gave him $100 million because I thought their defense was just going to be flying around hitting people and you watch them, they just, they don't really get to the quarterback. I don't know. I would be pretty concerned, especially as the AFC opens wide up. The Texans think burrows out. The Bengals are done. It should actually. The Broncos are currently 1 and 2, but if you're a Steeler fan, you've watched you go, I don't feel great about my team even though we're two and one.
- [44:55]
Colin Cowherd
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- [47:39]
Colin Cowherd
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- [50:38]
Colin Cowherd
You know I wrote all my notes down here and Aaron by the way had a bad pick. But I mean just, I mean it was 14 nothing Pittsburgh early and you know I wrote down doesn't feel dominating. It just they're going to struggle to put teams away. And I also think one of the problems is, and I've talked about this a lot John, if you can't run the football, what happens is in the second half your defense is on the field for too many snaps. Like today the Bears ran the football. Well the defense for the Bears in the fourth quarter was getting a pass rush. Guys were had great energy and a lot of it was because they Chicago ran the ball especially in the third quarter and you can extend drives and Pittsburgh again, they score but they don't. It's not like you feel really good about this team on third down. So I mean listen, you are what your record is but I of any game today I felt New England gave the game away, had like four different opportunities in the second half to win and either fumbles or penalties killed each one.
- [51:44]
John Middlekauff
Well the other thing not being able to run the ball. They play in a division where it gets really cold. They play in a cold weather place. Right. So you're going to have to run the ball and play defense. When I'm looking at their schedule, you know, starting about mid November, home against the Bengals at the Bears, home against the Bills at the Ravens at the Browns, home against the Ravens, these games are not going to be San Francisco 70 degrees. I mean it's going to be really Cold. He's not going to be able to just sling it around. He's an older quarterback, so. One thing that's pretty clear is these older guys, once the weather turns harder for them to stay loose, they, they. I think Rogers already looks his age.
- [52:21]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [52:21]
John Middlekauff
What's he going to look like when it's 30 degrees and windy at Baltimore or in Pittsburgh when it's freezing cold? We saw Roethlisberger at the end when it got cold. It's. It's hard. You don't look as limber.
- [52:32]
Colin Cowherd
You really.
- [52:33]
John Middlekauff
I mean, listen, that's to me would be really concerning for me if our defense and we can't run the ball. What happens when the weather turns?
- [52:38]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, I thought Matt Stafford today a little bit. There were times you're like, boy, Matt. Matt looked off and like, well, he.
- [52:45]
John Middlekauff
Got hit and they started saying he started kind of touching his back.
- [52:47]
Colin Cowherd
You went, oh, yep. There's a couple of games that aren't worth a ton of time. Seattle 44, Saints 13. What's remarkable is Seattle had 38 to six at half and only had the ball seven minutes. I don't remember ever watching a pro football game where the first half felt like I was watching a pro football team against the college team. I mean, New Orleans was awful. Special teams, defense, offense. I don't know if Seattle, I mean, if you took the national champions in college football and said if you took last year's Ohio State team, would they trail 38 to 6? It was. I'm serious. New Orleans is right now as bad as the team can get.
- [53:34]
John Middlekauff
I don't.
- [53:35]
Colin Cowherd
And again, I pick Seattle in the playoffs. You know, they've really figured out how to use Darnold. It's really effective. It's a lot of pitch and catch. They've. They don't put him in bad spots. They're not impatient like they, they, they. John Snyder, they went and got Sam Darnold and they had a game plan on how to use him. And it's really effective. He's not going to put up the numbers in Minnesota, but this defense, this run game, like, as I watch Seattle, my take is that's an organization, you know, Seattle John has been better run than people think. They've, They've been a really. They draft well, they develop well. They've generally been. They've kind of done a pretty good job to remain in their division. They're always competitive. I watch Seattle right now. I mean, they blew Pittsburgh out. In Pittsburgh, if Darnold doesn't hit, he Created his own fumble. They're in the red zone to beat San Francisco. I think Seattle is really good right now.
- [54:35]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean, this is what we talk about with quarterback and offensive coordinator cohesion. You know, they get Kubiak, who knew him, and it fits, he fits in the Shanahan offense. And I think it was either the first or I think it was their first touchdown that he threw to jsn. It's like he's a good athlete. Get him on the move and they, they ran him out. Because in this offense, you know, you saw Mac Jones today, doesn't move that well. And it kind of limits what the 49ers can do on offense. Because a huge part of the Shanahan offense, which Kubiak might as well be a Shanahan cousin, is the boot action, getting your quarterback on the move. And Sam has a big arm. I'm with you. I think Mike McDonald is a stud. I mean, I think he is big time. And this division right now, all three teams are two and one and the Niners are three and. Oh, I mean, I think all these teams are. All four of the teams are feisty. You know, I think the Rams, when they're on with Stafford, are the best. Obviously. The Niners are just well coached now with. With Sala in the defense. And when Purdy comes back, I think Seattle's high end, they have a bunch of young, explosive players. And if the Cardinals, I mean, they might end up being the worst team in the division. They are not that bad. I mean, you know, Kyler's a bizarre player because he's like. I don't know if he's good, but he's definitely not bad and he can make enough plays. He's tough to play because he's so fast. He actually has pretty good touch on his throws. Like he's not, you know, you know, you watch Caleb sometimes, like, ah, there's a little. Because he throws so hard. Kyler has great. I don't know if it's the baseball in him. This division's tough. I mean, to me it's wide open. I wouldn't even say the Cardinals are out of it. But, you know, I think Seattle and the Rams, who technically have, you know, two and one versus the Niners, three and. Oh, by no means. I mean, this is, this is going to come down to the wire. They're all going to beat up on each other. I do think Seattle home fields kind of awoke this year. It feels, you know, the Niners went up there and won, but that Place was loud and rocking. I think they kind of got their swag back. Listen, I think Sam Darnold, if you can get Sam Darnold for a cheaper price than Geno Smith and flip Geno for a third round pick, I think it was kind of a no brainer move, especially get a little younger. I think the one thing you see with Geno, and I bet Sam has some of this too, is Geno's 35, 36 years old, older player, 34. He doesn't play well against good teams. He does so forever. When he was against Seattle for those couple years stretch when the Niners were really good, he was terrible against them. Yeah, you watched him against the Chargers. He's completely overwhelmed. Watching the day against Washington, they felt kind of overwhelmed. Where Sam like, listen, he's a decade younger, seven, eight years younger.
- [57:15]
Colin Cowherd
And he was always a better athlete.
- [57:16]
John Middlekauff
There to work with.
- [57:17]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, he was always a better athlete.
- [57:18]
John Middlekauff
Moves much better. They both have huge arms and he's just playing at a higher level. So I think it was a relatively easy move for him and it's definitely going to pay off long term.
- [57:28]
Colin Cowherd
It wasn't a very fun game to watch. San Francisco, the niners beat Arizona 16 to 15. Nick Bosa got banged up. Arizona for a long spell dominated time of possession. You know, it's one of those games where again I, I don't have a strong take because Mac Jones played. You're very limited what you can do with Mac Jones. I mean again when he is stationary and has time to throw, he can be really good. You know, today there's limitations on what you can do. Of course there was that safety which gave, you know, in the end zone where, you know, Arizona I thought was going to pull this thing out. I don't know what it is exactly with the injuries with San Francisco. I mean, it's a perpetual issue. I don't know. You know, and again, I think they've missed on enough draft picks. I think they've gotten old. And one of my predictions was this year is I like San Francisco. But two things can be true. They're old, brittle and expensive at key spots. They're already banged up. I mean, what do you think they look like? I mean the win today. But what do you think they look like in six to eight weeks?
- [58:35]
John Middlekauff
I would say this. They've hit on some young players. Ricky Pierce, all today was a man amongst boys like Ricky Pierce, like Marvin Harrison so far is a whiff. Yeah, like that's if they get a redo, they would Go Malik. Neighbors over Marvin Harrison, Ricky Piersol in like a three game stretch. Looks like a number one wide receiver. Mikel Williams, the dude they drafted from Georgia was making big time plays. D winners who replaced Dre Greenlaw looks like he's going hand in hand right there with Fred flying around hitting people. So they've hit on some young guys. The problem is Kittle's missing, Purdy's been out. Now granted, Mac Jones, you win two games as a backup quarterback. I've said this last week. You win one game, you earn your salary. You win two, you're underpaid. Mac Jones immediately two games win, led up on a game winning drive. He's underpaid but he's already banged up. Lipping around Bosa in like the first couple drives. Hurts his knee out for the game. I saw that they are going to get test tomorrow. They don't believe it. To be an acl, that would be devastating. Trent looked old. He is old. I mean, you know, Kittle's been missing so yeah, they are just. They're pretty dependent on their high end guys if they're going to compete at the highest level with the Eagles, with the Rams, which any with any team in the afc. But for the most part they don't play in these teams inside the ramps. They play a lot of bad teams on their schedule. So this is why I picked them to make the playoffs. Now can they go far in the playoffs? Not if they're not healthy, but they can have a successful season. And today coaching, I mean Robert Sala has been incredible through three games. Their defense is flying around.
- [60:09]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, and last year it was funny. If Bosa got banged up last year it felt like a major personnel issue and yet this year it doesn't. So that's just, it's just like, it's just like Jim Harbaugh last year you're like, oh, outside of Derwin James, Khalil Mack, Chargers just don't have enough dudes. Why are they all great now? Like so much of it's coaching in this league and I do think we're seeing a slight pivot back to respectability of defensive coaches. Sala, Mike McDonald, Jesse Minter, Brian Flores. Like I think you and I have talked a lot this year about some great defensive coaches. I mean Todd Bowles deserves credit. The jets were inept. They scored three touchdowns in 11 minutes. That game was awful. And then Baker. But I mean Todd Bowles deserves credit. Like there's no ego, very chill. But I, you know what I think is really Interesting. I would get. If I ran the Dolphins, I would get out from under Chris Greer, the gm, and I would get out from under to his contract. I do what I had to do. If I had to cut him half, I had to trade him, I would. I never quite know what to do with Kyler Murray because unlike Tua, he's actually very elusive and highly athletic. I think he has a better arm, although it's not a great arm. I think there are times he just can't see downfield. I don't know what you do with Kyler Murray. What do you do?
- [61:38]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, I think you're kind of stuck. I actually thought he played pretty decent today. I mean, he just makes so many plays with his legs.
- [61:44]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, God, there is a ton today.
- [61:47]
John Middlekauff
There's just a ceiling with him. Like, he's never like, Jalen can drive you nuts, but he makes enough throws. If AJ and Devonte are rolling from the pocket, outside the numbers, you know, Kyler's very hit or miss that way. Most of his explosive plays, it feels like as a thrower, come from on the move, which of course he's probably one of, if not the best athletes in the entire league. Like, if you told me Kyler just like quit quarterback tomorrow and learned how to play corner, I'd be like, I bet he could be a really good nickel corner. You know, he's. Guys like Mac Jones couldn't start on defense for a high school team. So I think that. I think the Cardinals are pretty well coached. They're tough. You know, I thought it just. He just got limitations. But what do you do? This is. I had this thought watching the Thursday night game with Tua is. I think it's so easy. And we saw all these backup quarterbacks. You know, it's been like this forever with Dak and the Purdies and the Cousins. I think it's easy to say, hey, you know, for that second tier guys, of course, if you got the elite guy, you just ride him to the wheels fall off for 15 years. But if you got that next tier of guys where it's like, could we do better than Brock Purdy? Could we do better than Dak? Sure, you probably could if you can find Justin Herbert somewhere. Because all I heard all offseason, I was probably guilty of this too, is like, oh, look at these quarterbacks in college. I've been flipping around the last couple of weeks and I'm not seeing a college, so. Because unlike. And I say this all the time, like basketball, for example, when you see these Guys coming out of high school, they are going to be a lock top 10 pick, right? As long as they're healthy. When you start hearing about Gilbert Arenas, the son or Marcus Spears son or whoever these guys, whether they be maybe they have incredible college or college years and go number one overall, but worst case scenario, go shitty Ron Harper's kid and go two or three, right? But in football, hype doesn't mean anything once you start playing the games. All I heard, DJ Lagway. Dj, DJ Lagway stinks. Yeah, Arch Manning, maybe he's injured or whatever, but no one could draft him in the first round.
- [63:44]
Colin Cowherd
Right now I'm not sure he's a draftable period right now.
- [63:48]
John Middlekauff
Well, no, he's not. But you just go around the country, all these guys that you hear, and then there'll be a couple that kind of come out of nowhere, but it's hard to replace to let alone Kyler Murray, like, who are you replacing them with? You don't have any options. So I, I've actually kind of come around of like, I get it now. I wouldn't want to be in position to pay him, but like, I do. And I think they're always paid too much. It's like, who are you negotiating against for Tua, you couldn't offer him three years, 100 million, he's going to hate it out.
- [64:17]
Colin Cowherd
Like the day they signed him, I said, you're going to regret this. This is a bad contract.
- [64:22]
John Middlekauff
Same thing with Kyler Murray. It's like, what. Remember when they rushed into it after three years, like, why are we doing this? Like, how is the agent taking you guys to school? But I do understand just writing it out for a couple years because who do you have to replace them now? I do think you get to a point where you get in a situation like Anthony Richardson, you're like, this is not, we can't play like this, right? But when you get Kyler Murray, who could they find available that could come in and beat Kyler Murray out? Even Sam Darnold, let's say now he got $50 million, but let's just say in a world a year or two ago, they could have got him for $10 million. Are we sure Sam Darnold in a training camp situation where Kyler already knows the offense could beat him out? No, there's not. Especially if it's just like truly an open competition, there's no guarantee. And you're like, why are we going to waste $10 million on a competition with someone that probably won't beat him out where we could use those resources. Other places. I think you find yourself in a bad spot because the reality is there are five, six guys max who can play this position at the highest level. I thought CJ Stroud was one of those guys. I watch him now. I'm like, see a top 15 quarterback.
- [65:29]
Colin Cowherd
He has regressed. I mean, it, it is bad. I want to talk like Kyler, for.
- [65:34]
John Middlekauff
Example, is way better than him. Oh, right now I would take Kyler in a heartbeat over CJ Stroud, no question. So, so it shows you like that guy. Six to like probably 15 at the, @ the lowest. They're so predicated on who they're playing with, who, who's coaching them, the scheme that they're running, who they're playing like. They are very fickle. Like, you watch Brock Purdy for a stretch, you're like, God, this guy's playing in an elite level. And then you watch him on his bad games. Their floor is a lot lower. Like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson. Their floor is pretty freaking high, Herbert. Now his floor is pretty freaking high. Bo Nick's. His floor is low. Yeah, you watch him on his off stage, you're like, whoa. Even Cam Ward. I'm rooting for the guy, but I'm watching him like he's got a ways to go.
- [66:15]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I want to talk some college football. I saw a stat this weekend. Listen, Clemson's not very good. They didn't want to do the transfer portal and it feels like they need about six more good players. But, you know, and I like Dabo Sweeney. I think he's stubborn. I think Mike Krzyzewski for about two years was stubborn with one and done. Bobby Knight was forever. And it was the end of Bobby Knight's career. I think Dabo has to go into the transfer portal and you don't have to get 13, 15, 18 guys. You could need eight, but they just don't look talented enough. I think USC is better than people think. So I'm going to the Trojans Illinois game. They're a seven point favorite. Illinois got smoked. I watched 12 hours of college football yesterday. 12 hours I sat in front of a TV forever. Nebraska, the stat I saw that was funny. Nebraska's lost 29 straight games to ranked opponents, which doesn't even sound right. But I also stayed up till 1:30 in the morning watching USC.
- [67:11]
John Middlekauff
You watched the whole game?
- [67:13]
Colin Cowherd
I went. I fell asleep at about six minutes to go. Fell asleep. Then I woke up the next morning and watched YouTube at the end.
- [67:19]
John Middlekauff
I'm two hours ahead of you. And I made it through about half a quarter and I was asleep. So you're a better man than me.
- [67:24]
Colin Cowherd
Well, I took a huge nap in the afternoon pre so I, I got up super early and then 11 in the morning which is like nine year time. I took a 45 minute nap. So I stayed up and I watched it. If you're doubting Lincoln Riley's coaching, Jaden Mayava has actually been the most impressive quarterback I've seen. Now I think Bryce Underwood at Michigan's got a fricking hose. I mean, I mean he throws with velocity. That is just intense. It jumps. It's like Josh Allen, it jumps off the TV screen. It's intense. So I think Bryce is more talented obviously. But I'm watching usc. It's the first time since Pete Carroll, they are big up front defensively, they got NFL guys, they get huge pass rush, they're bad on the corners. So they're not. They're going to be a team that's going to get into a shootout and lose probably to Oregon. They're not going to be able to contain them. But I watched that Jaden Mava last year. He was immature, he was wild. That kid has been so coached up. I looked at him and I'm like, nobody is. I saw this year he was ranked like the 16th best college quarterback by some college service. I'm like, I've watched Cade Plubnick and Drew Aller. I mean Dante Moore of Oregon's impressive.
- [68:42]
John Middlekauff
There's another guy that he looks good.
- [68:44]
Colin Cowherd
He can spin it like that kid can spin it. But I, I think USD is going to beat Illinois. They got smoked by Indiana. What is your interpretation? Like I've said before, I think nil saves Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley. Nobody can spend $20 million a year on players and then buy out the coach. $80 million. Brian Kelly is going to be fine. Lincoln's going to stay for years. But I will say watching the running back room where they went and got a couple of transfers, watching this quarterback who I think is way better than the nation's, talking about watching their size, USC looks like a playoff team to me.
- [69:24]
John Middlekauff
I was on a couple text threads yesterday and one theme and you've been on this. I think as this NIL era keeps expanding and obviously the prices, I mean you and I hear about some of them behind the scenes, like these numbers aren't being made up. They are outrageous. The Big Ten has benefited the most from it. Yeah, because, and I'd say top to bottom I'm watching Rutgers, Iowa. I bet these programs have boosters because their enrollments are so Maryland's four. No. Like they have the money backing them, let alone Oregon, Ohio State. Well, what does USC have? You know, Texas Tech, who I loved Utah. Maybe I just under. I didn't take Texas Tech seriously because they've never been good on defense. Well, guess what? They have a billionaire who bought a bunch of defensive linemen and they dominated Utah.
- [70:10]
Colin Cowherd
And Utah's got the best offensive line they've ever had, two first round picks.
- [70:14]
John Middlekauff
But you know what money can do. It can buy you, you know, pass rushers and run stuffers. And they, they dominated the front. So to me, the Nil era, it has never been more evident. Does Clemson have the money that Oregon and USC have no chance. How could they? So I wonder if there's a financial standpoint of. And the one thing I would say for Dabo, and I would say this, if this year looks where it's headed with Mike Tomlin, sometimes, like, you can only be in a place so long, eventually. Bill Walsh, you say it's 10 years. These guys are defying it. Maybe he's 15, 20. I saw Dabo, you know, he felt bad for him. Like how he was saying how much it hurt him. He's been there 23 years and as assistant head coach, why not go to Florida and just get a new start, get people that appreciate you, get, you know, new boosters, have a new world. Like, maybe it's just time for a change, you know? And it does feel like he's holding on till the bitter end where it's like, clearly not working. I mean, Colin, they could easily be on four. They were losing Detroit and I don't know if it was a hurricane or just your average southern storm, but delayed the game. They were getting killed this first quarter against Syracuse, Syracuse was kicking their ass.
- [71:22]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, it was 24 to 7. And in the first quarter, I'm like, I looked at a mock draft. I'm like, they have two of the top seven defensive players. It's like they were getting rolled by Syracuse.
- [71:32]
John Middlekauff
Well, the other thing is, I think Saban said this a while back is, you know, nil's great, but when you pay the wrong guys, you're in trouble. K club Nick is just not very good. And regression, I don't know. I mean, he played well in that, in that playoff game against Texas, throwing some of those go routes where they hit some touchdowns to make that game kind of close. He has looked atrocious. And the one Thing we know now that college football with nil and money has become a little more like pro football if you do pay the wrong quarterback. I'd say the same thing for Nebraska. Like, I watched Dylan Raiola and I don't really see it. I just don't really see it. I don't see, you know, like, is John Mattier the number one overall pick? Probably not. But is he damn good in college? And he's changing Oklahoma. Hell yeah.
- [72:12]
Colin Cowherd
No, he looks like that guy is. Yeah.
- [72:15]
John Middlekauff
So you look around college football and you go like the kid at Oregon more. He was thrust in for Chip. Right. Clearly wasn't ready. Their team wasn't as good offensively and everyone's like, oh, this guy sucks. No, he's an 18 year old. He's got some physical skills. UCLA's talent around him is not great. He kind of got. He almost got like a Sam Darnold. Baker Mayfield got to go away, sit for a second. Now he's on a team, loaded, really talented. The Cal quarterback who had an awful game, but he's a good player. He, he went to Oregon in the spring, graduated in Hawaii early. A high school kid realized there's no chance I'm playing here, transfers to Cal. He's a guy that's going to get multiple million dollar offer this offseason to go play at lsu, Florida State, and more like Oregon. I think a lot of people are sleeping on them. I think a lot of people thought USC was underrated because last year, their record, while it was terrible, didn't they lose like, like eight of their. Five of their losses were 14 games or whatever.
- [73:15]
Colin Cowherd
They beat LSU, Texas A and M and they lost to Penn State in overtime. Like they beat teams. And when they lost outside of the Notre Dame game, where they just were a mess outside Minnesota, Maryland, they had some devastating fourth quarter, all those games with seven minutes to go. So I just, I watched them, I watched their speed, I watched their size. And I'm like, I don't know this quarterback. I have been so underwhelmed. Dante Moore's impressed me, Jaden, my office impressed me. And it's a nuss. Meyer is really hit and miss. He was not good this past weekend. So I don't know, I think to your point, you and I had said this, and I know it's offensive to some people, but in the south, those are smaller schools and the car dealer can be the first or second biggest booster. We're talking about venture capital money. At Michigan, we're talking. That's what you're getting at USC guys are writing $20 million checks. They get $30 million annual bonuses. It's just a different world.
- [74:19]
John Middlekauff
I'm, I'm stunned. I wanted to hate Signetti last year, him getting in the playoffs, then embarrassing himself. And I was kind of, you know, rooting for Illinois. They beat the living. You know what at Illinois, I mean.
- [74:32]
Colin Cowherd
That win 63 to 3 to 10.
- [74:34]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, yeah. So you could, you could have taken Illinois plus 52 and you would have lost. I mean that in Illinois over the last couple of years with Dick. That's a real team. Yeah, I listen Indiana, maybe they're better this year. They get the Cal transfer Mendoza, who's had a really good game against them. Maybe this Signetti guy actually is better than I thought because. And this is what we talk about the Big Ten. Like they got. They're buying players like Indiana. Indiana football is. This is Lee Corso in the 70s. It's 20, 25 now. Are they as good as Penn State, Oregon, USC and Ohio State? Probably not. But I take them a little more seriously after that game to Illinois. I know that because I, I took Illinois in that game. But that it's what they. To win 63 to 10, 63 against Belema. That was, that was the most impressive performance. I thought over the weekend that I.
- [75:26]
Colin Cowherd
Saw John Middelkoff three and out is his podcast. Former NFL scout, as always, buddy. Good, good work the Volume. Everybody loves a good MVP story. And the story of Wasabi technology is. Is one of the best. Wasabi is purpose built to free businesses from skyrocketing storage costs, unpredictable egress fees from old and top heavy legacy providers. You know, the big guys. So Wasabi is the world's hottest cloud storage company, becoming the go to provider for pros and collegiate sports teams and leagues around the world. And here's why. Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage. Wasabi Air to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cybercrime, data deletion, ransomware, protection from all that stuff. Wasabi has taken the lead in driving innovation in data storage. Eliminating overhead where it matters to delivering results you can count on and it's not going to break the bank. In fact, Wasabi is up to 80% less than the other guys and doesn't charge a cent for businesses to access their own data. So Wasabi is another championship story. Check them out free@wasabi.com, wasabi.com, wasabi Hot Cloud Storage. Proud partner of the Volume Podcast Network.
- [76:45]
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- [77:44]
John Middlekauff
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- [79:13]
Colin Cowherd
But now the best mobile network in the US is T Mobile.
- [79:17]
John Middlekauff
T Mobile's network has the most advanced.
- [79:19]
Colin Cowherd
5G with more towers and their signal reaches further than ever. So you can text and insta talk.
- [79:25]
John Middlekauff
And say, you won't believe where I am.
- [79:29]
Colin Cowherd
T Mobile has the best mobile Network in the US based on analysis by Ooklev Speed Test Intelligence Data 1H 2025.
- [79:35]
John Middlekauff
CT Mobile.com Network this is an iHeart podcast.