← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Colin Cowherd Podcast - Broncos WILD Comeback Win, Chiefs BEST Team In The League, Ohtani GREATEST Athlete Ever, Cowboys CLOBBER Commanders
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- [00:00]
Podcast Host/Announcer
This is an I Heart podcast.
- [00:04]
Colin Cowherd
If you smoke or dip, I'm going to give you a few good reasons to try Zynn Zyn Nicotine Pouches first, it's America's number one nicotine pouch brand, and Zynn offers a robust rewards program. There's a lot of options for nicotine satisfaction, but there's only one Zyn. So if you go to zyn.com find that's z y n.com find to to find Zyn at a store near you. This product does contain nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. 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 CTCUV Warranty Supplement Toyota Certified.com or your Toyota dealer for details. Get almost anything you need delivered with UberEats. What do you mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A little escape? No. Delicious bowl of grapes? Yeah. An afternoon stroll? Sorry, no. A burrito bowl? Happily, yes. How about the clear skies? Can't deliver that. But French fries? Yeah. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. C app for details Today's episode brought to you by a scent that's made a legendary comeback. Degree Original Cool Rush. The OG is back and better than ever. Cool Rush isn't just a scent, it's a move kind of fragrance guys remember, Ask for by name and rave about online. It's bold. It's fresh all day. Sweat protection, cool, crisp vibe that made it legendary. So whether you're heading to the gym, the office, or just trying to stay fresh all day long, Cool Rush has your back. So if you haven't tried it yet, head to your local Walmart. Grab degree Cool Rush, the fan favorite scent from the world's number one antiperspirant brand. The volume. All right, I'm a football fan for a long time, since the 70s. I don't watch football without something to eat and drink. Trust me, it's a whole different different ball game when you're eating right now I got two things today from Uber Eats right now. When you buy one large extra most bestest pepperoni pizza from Little Caesars like this one, you get another one free. By the way, one of these has already been eaten by me and my wife 15 minutes ago. Yes, that's right. An extra extra most bestest pizza thrown in there. Extra cheese, extra pepperoni, all for the price of just one. And since Uber Eats is the official on demand food delivery partner of the NFL, you know all the game day deals keep coming all season long. Wings and tacos and subs and pizzas, chips and dips. Whatever, whatever it is, Uber Eats delivers right to your door. So when your team puts up the extra point, reward yourself with an extra pizza order. Little Caesars on Uber Eats today we did. Terms apply. See the app for details. Pizza pizza extra extra. Something's going on here. That was a wild late window on a day and made chili. It was raining and cool. It felt like the fall. What a wild late window. The Denver Broncos Final 5 possessions with Bo Nix. Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. Touchdown. Walk off field goal. So Bo Nicks not only did the New York Giants lead 19 nothing, they were totally dominating the game. Denver roars back for a 33:32 win over the New York Giants. I got to tell you, if I'm a Giants fan, I feel strangely great. Jackson dart on the what we perceived as the game winning drive plays with total confidence. I didn't like the pass interference call. Considering the consequences, I didn't love that call. You know, pass interference is such a nebulous hard call to begin with. But I got to be honest about Bo Nix. I said this last week and I said it the week before. John first two years in the league as a quarterback, if you can run, run, it'll buy a first downs. These defenses are sophisticated. This is not the Big ten, the SEC or the, you know, acc. The windows shrink. The coordinators are better. You have to pick up first downs with your legs. I thought today, especially in the second half, Sean Payton let Bo Nix run on crucial downs.
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John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean Colin, it looked really ugly. I mean there was a point in time. I mean they had to score 33 points in the fourth quarter to win the game. They didn't have a point. You know, I. There was a stat I saw going out of the first half that over the last, the course of the last three games that they would be dead last in third down conversion percentage. I mean they were atrocious. They were, they were just going three and out. They couldn't sustain any drives. He kept missing the big plays and then it just flipped. I mean the one thing you can't deny that he has, he's got some mental fortitude. And Sean Payton, what looked like was the game winning touchdown. They ran like a quarterback power, you know, and they just let him. If you remember a long time ago, the 49ers with Alex Smith played Sean Payton in a playoff game with the Saints. They did the same thing. And I, you know that quarterback. They should institute more stuff like that with Bo and their offense because they've been running these deep breaking routes. He's been missing them. Keep it shorter, short, intermediate, run the ball. I didn't think they ran the ball enough. I'm with you on the Giants. Like I won. Their quarterback just looks like he's kind of got a little something. I mean he looks Cam scatter Boo. Looks fantastic. Their past rushers all look good. Listen, it's not going well. They've lost two devastating games. This in the Cowboy, this is worse than the Cowboy game. But you know, I'd say big picture, you're okay. But this was, it looked for a second when Denver was getting shut out and even when they were down what, 26 to 8, you're like, well, the Chiefs are on the transcending up and Denver has just got some major offensive problems. The Chargers are kind of. Are the Chiefs just going to run away with this division and then it's the NFL and it flipped.
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Colin Cowherd
You know, I was thinking John desean because they really do, the Broncos. Between Evan Ingram, Mims Sutton, Franklin, they have long athletic and guys that can get over the top. And their offensive line is right now rated number one or two by pff. And I wonder if Sean has so much confidence in it. He's. He's really looking for big plays. And the truth is this is only like 20, 245 starts for Bo Nix. Okay. He's so. It's almost like he's coaching like he's got. Because Bo played so much college football, it's almost as if Sean has put a ton on his back. And because Sean loves. I mean Ingram's a stud physically. He doesn't even look like he looks like an NBA guy. And then Mims and Sutton, these are long, rangy athletes and they're all talented and so that they have the potential for big plays. But sometimes I think they should worry more about like five yards on first down. And a lot of it would be Bo Nicks packages because I mean again, when you watch him and you see it with Jackson Dart. These guys are born early in their career. They want to run. They know. They know how good the defense. I mean, Jackson Dart we thought scored the winning touchdown. They literally called a play for. They said, forget scatter. Boo. Bo Nix quarterback draw. So, I mean, clearly day ball trusts Jackson Dart to run. I mean, I just. When I watch Bo Nix, I see the skeptics, but he is an athlete.
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John Middlekauff
Yeah, I mean, I would run the ball more. J.K. dobbins, I thought looked really good. I mean, when they get on the edges with their offensive line, the young running back RJ Harvey looks good. How about Hunga? I mean, has to be one of the better off season pickups in the league. He made play after play today in the middle of the game to kind of keep it close.
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Colin Cowherd
Between George Pickens, Dallas acquisition, and Hufanga. Those are great talents, but they're. They're just great fits now. I mean, Hufunga was going to work anywhere. Pickens is going to be as good as his quarterback. And Dax absolutely on fire. You know what did open it up? Jackson Dart had one big mistake today. It was that interception. They were leading 26, 16, 540 in the fourth, and he. It was an ugly pick by him. It was actually a great catch.
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John Middlekauff
So, I mean, it was the old. It was the only way Denver get back in the game. They were going to need a turnover. They were down 28 or 26 to eight, you know. You know, with seven minutes left, the only way you could come back was a turnover and he gifted him one on their side of the field.
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Colin Cowherd
So we've seen Bo Nicks do this multiple times. I do think this is true, John. I think those 61 college starts coupled with Sean Payton's play calling, this is what we always talk about. Who, where you land in the NFL matters Bo Nix. A lot of college starts in a lot of harsh environments. At Oregon, at Washington, big, big games. All that college stuff I think is paid off. Bo Nix has been in a lot of close games, college and pro.
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John Middlekauff
I do wonder, you know, forever with Drew Brees, especially toward the latter end of his career, like pushing the ball down his field is, you know, shoulder started to go and Sean really wanted this athletic, physical guy in Taysom Hill and it didn't quite work out. Now he has Bo Nix who has the physical capability of pushing the ball down the field and throwing bombs. It feels like he's very inclined to throw a lot of go routes even though it's not working because he's Been dreaming about throwing go routes for a decade. Even though like you said with Sutton and some of their longer guys, I don't pretend to know more football than Peyton, but it just clearly is not working. I think some of the back shoulder throws, some just, you know, running the intermediate passing game, that's where their skill sets. Especially with the way Bo's playing. Because right now his inaccuracy on the long ball, he just can't hit him. I mean he's just way off. Even on the pass that they hit that ended up leading to the game winning field goal. I just think he kind of threw it up for two guys and I don't even know who he was throwing it to, but it worked. And like, I just think down the field he's not very accurate. More close and he had a lot of balls batted today. That's a little concern.
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Colin Cowherd
He did.
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John Middlekauff
I mean that's clearly a game plan thing with the defense. Put your hands up. He's not the tallest guy. Felt like he had like 10 balls batted. I know the numbers, probably like five. But there was a stretch in that game how many times on second or third down, ball would just hit the ground. You just have a wasted play.
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Colin Cowherd
But this, this league now, I mean, here's what it's exciting for me. I like good quarterback play. I watched Jordan love Jackson dart, Bo Nix all great on final drives today. And I, I think if you're the New York Giants, I just looked over my notes. I think you have to feel so good. I mean they call it arm and hammer. I think between dart and scatter. Boo. I like Dable more than you. I love their defensive front. It's, I mean one New York team is, is unwatchable. I've been saying this for two years. I said this about the Colts for two years. They just got to get quarterback, right? They've got players. I feel that way about the Giants when I watch today. The Giants have a lot of guys, a majority on the defensive side. But you know, they have a lot of these wide receiver guys. I mean they have a couple of big, I mean tight ends. These guys come out of nowhere. I mean they play it, you know, UTEP or UNLV. And I mean there's tight end, I mean there's six, five and a half, 250 pound guys. I mean McBride for Arizona, craft for Green Bay, you know, they don't go to huge schools and they just become stars.
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John Middlekauff
I'll defend Dave on this. He clearly was the guy pounding the table on dart. You Know that was the guy that he wanted. He went all in on him at this point in time and they're not going to end up winning many games. Will probably be a 5, 6 win team at best. To me you roll it back even if you got to give them like a fake one year extension. I'm not in firing my head coach. If I'm day ball who's an offensive guy, who's the quarterbacks guy. I got to give this a couple year window because then you're just doing what the Titans are doing and it's just complete train wreck. You actually have even though in losses a lot of positive momentum. Like you said look at the team you share the stadium with. I mean that's a, that's an unwatchable product. This is a real football team with these two young guys that it's just I would not get rid. I am, I'm a proponent of keeping Brian Dabel right now. I don't exactly know contractually what's he going to turn down like a one year extension. I want to get fired. I mean he's not going to be a head coach anywhere else to me. I got no problem bringing him back for another year based on what we're seeing right now.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I listen there, there is no question if you look at what like Shane Steichen has done to Daniel Jones. I mean we see it time and time again with these offensive head coaches. Do they. It's a different field. Bo Nicks wouldn't be doing this with a defensive coach. I like Demico Ryan's bonix wouldn't be doing this. I mean there is just a. It's almost like a language they talk with quarterback. So I think that's one of the. It's a heartbreaking loss for the New York Giants. But you can't watch Jackson dart and not see the energy, the confidence. You know another thing is he has a. And I've said this before, it happens all the time. He has a better arm as a pro than he did it in college. Like he makes throws now and you know, I mean they're young athletes, they work their ass off. But his arm is no problem. He. I have no problem. Jackson dart can sling it.
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John Middlekauff
But then I thought, I thought both those guys. The arm talent was pretty evident today. Especially in the second half of the game.
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Colin Cowherd
Okay, let's go to Green Bay 27 over Arizona 23. So again Jordan Love had a game winning drive. You know it's interesting. Green Bay can't really run. They're not getting a great push on the offensive line. Dobbs Kraft and Matthew golden have been good targets for them. Christian Watson's always hurt. I don't feel like Jacobs quite has the pop this year. He's had injuries. I don't feel they run it. So they're very bad on third down. They can't extend drives. But, and I, and I listen, one of my bets of the week is I took Arizona in the points. I picked 28, 24. Green Bay to win close. And it was 27, 23. It looked a lot like. I thought my take was Jacoby Brissette or Kyler Murray. Kyler's the better athlete. Jacoby's probably better from the pocket. So I think Arizona at home is tough. I thought they controlled most of the game. I think Trey McBride is a top three tight end in the sport. Green Bay one. You know, they're really young and I tend to like, almost to a fault apologize for young teams. I really like Green Bay. I thought the big win for Green Bay today was Micah Parsons had three sacks they got him. For games like today, you score late, you need a sack. And Bill Polian taught me this years ago. He said if you have a Pro bowl level quarterback, you not only need a left tackle, you need a pass rusher. You're going to lead 75% of your games with four minutes to go. That's where Dwight Freeney came in. Dwight Freeney closed. He was the Mariano Rivera to Peyton Manning for years. And that's what, that's what Mike is. Mike is the closer. And Green Bay, you know this. They haven't had that closer on that line for years.
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John Middlekauff
Yeah, totally. I mean, he was a man amongst boys, especially down the stretch, you know, bringing him in fresh. To me, this is a game when you're playing Jacobe who cannot move, which it's kind of undeniable. The Cardinals look better offensively with him at quarterback than they do with Kyler. They look way more efficient, but like he can't move. And if you're going to have one of the best passwords in the league and you're going to pay $200 million for a guy and give. He's got to dominate in this spot. And he did. You know, that was my beef early in the season against the Cowboys. Like you're spending all this money for this guy. He's got to take over games. You're treating him like one of the all time greats in the history of the league. And he, and he showed that today. His speed Coming around the edge, they couldn't touch him. But Quay Walker, all those guys like the packers are going to have to hang their hat on being an elite pass rushing team. Because offensively, if you went back to last year, they start slow like they did all last year. The majority. And this year he has 75 yards passing at halftime, it's like, who are you guys playing? This is on the Cardinals. Defensively, they're just the skill wise, they're just not that talented and they just can't. They couldn't generate yards. And I get it. Josh Jacobs is. I think he was sick. And you see that story yesterday. They were way late. They had like a six hour delay.
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Colin Cowherd
Yes.
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John Middlekauff
But it's like from a talent standpoint, they just look so slow and lethargic. And they've done this now for two straight years. I'm not as confident on them, big picture. Like, do I feel good about them just being in the NFC championship game? But like their talent, their speed on offense, like you said, I mean, they got multiple wide receivers, the tight end's good, the coaching staff's good, and the talent on defense up front is just. It should dominate an opponent like this. And they get Jared Goff, they get some opponents that, you know, not everyone's. Caleb Williams can run around like Jacoby can't move. So he's kind of a sitting duck back there.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah, he had at one point 14 straight completions. He was really comfortable.
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John Middlekauff
He's looked good two weeks in a row. Colin.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah, no, I. And I was thinking watching that game, I kind of felt like, you know, I know what Jacoby Brissette is, but what he really is is a big, strong kid who throws strikes down the field. He can see the field. How many of his completions were over the middle of the field? Kyler doesn't give you that. It's like Jalen Hurst. Today was great deep down the field, but you know, you're not going to move off kind of Murray for Brissette. But I, I do think when you watch Jacoby Brissette, it's. I can see that offensive coordinator saying, we really have an NFL big franchise sit in the pocket. NFL quarterback and it allows you to do more. Marvin Harrison, by the way, is playing better. I think he's. There's something there. He. Yeah, you know, listen, it's. It's tight ends and wide receivers. It's not always a hit. They're not all jsn. I mean, JSN now is so much better than he was. Ibuka is a rarity. Jsn now, year two, you're like, wow. But I think I don't want to rip Green Bay because I really do think Arizona's got players. I really do think they have six or seven elite players. They're very good at home. I just think Green Bay is a team that's not getting a push on the offensive line, so they don't extend drives and they're not very good early, so they often play from a hole. And I. I just think this is kind of what they are.
- [18:29]
John Middlekauff
Well, Arizona's 2 and 5, they could be 6 and 1. They literally could win every single game they play in. You know, this goes from the beginning of the year. They have lost some just devastating games. I was flipping around the volume and I. I was on the Packer Cardinal game and Vilma mentioned something that I think the coaches had said. Well, you know, Jacoby works with all the wide receivers after practice. And it was like, yes. What was that? What are they saying there? You know, I listen. They're not going to win many games. The coaching staff's in kind of peril now. They've already fined the coach 100 grand for something that I thought was pretty innocuous. I mean, stuff happens in high school football. This whole thing's going to get blown up. I think the Kyler Murray era is like unofficially over. Like, he's going to end up playing more this year whenever he's healthy. But this whole thing's over in this franchise. It's kind of sad because they've definitely kind of been close. They've had some talent, but it's just. It's just not working out. And they just can't win any of these games. And I think, listen, they, they went all in for Kyler, a 5 foot 9 athlete who just doesn't really rally the troops, clearly. And there's just something missing. And I think that you look at this game like they just lose a lot of these games for year after year. They're in so many games. The Jonathan Gannon, his record is not going to be very good, but I don't view him as like some completely over his head failure. Same all their games kind of look the Colin.
- [19:50]
Colin Cowherd
Nope. I can't tell you how many times I have bet Arizona to cover. You know, I was like my second favorite bet today. I was like, you know, Green Bay is going to go there. They're going to have a lot of fans. But there's, I mean, Arizona, Buddha, Baker and McBride and they have good receivers and their offensive lines. Okay. I just, I think my takeaway on this game is that's why you got Micah. He's your Mariano Rivera. He closed it. He just completely, you know, I mean, there's just. And the knock on Micah was always that he was a splasher player in Dallas. That was kind of the knock on him is that he could disappear for quarters. And he was real quiet in the first half. Right. And Jacoby Brett was really comfortable. Jacoby Brissett was. But when they needed him, he was great. Today's show, brought to you by our new presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bet the pennants on the line. Lights are brighter than ever. One swing can change everything, and you can be part of every pitch at Hard Rock Bet. New customers can place a $5 bet and if it hits you, not only get your winnings, but also 150 buc extra bonus bets. Plus, every day this week on Hard Rock Bet, you get a profit boost for a postseason baseball parlay. There's new promos every day. Boost your same game parlay or same game parlay max. So your bet pays extra winning. If you want to see what everybody else is betting on tonight, right? Top picks or parlays across any sport, the Hard Rock Bet app literally shows you. It's another reason to download the app takes 90 seconds just for the info tap discover and you can see trending picks and parlays at any time. So download the Hard Rock Bet app. Make your first apostle payable in bonus bets. Not a cash offer. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia. To play, terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1888. Admit it. In Indiana, if you or somebody you know has a problem wants help, call 1-800-9 with it. Gambling problem, call 1-800- Gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia.
- [21:54]
Podcast Host/Announcer
This is the story of the One. As head of maintenance at a concert hall, he knows the show must always go on. That's why he works behind the scenes, ensuring every light is working, the H Vac is humming, and his facility shines with Grainger's supplies and solutions for every challenge he faces.
- [22:12]
John Middlekauff
Plus 24.
- [22:13]
Podcast Host/Announcer
7 customer support. His venue never misses a beat. Call quickgranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
- [22:25]
Ed Helms
Hey, it's Ed Helms, and welcome back to snafu, my podcast about history's Greatest screw ups on our new season, we're bringing you a new Snafu every single episode.
- [22:35]
Colin Cowherd
32 lost nuclear weapons.
- [22:37]
John Middlekauff
You're like, wait, stop.
- [22:39]
Podcast Host/Announcer
What?
- [22:39]
Colin Cowherd
Ernie Shackleton sounds like a solid 70s.
- [22:42]
Ed Helms
Basketball player who still wore knee pads.
- [22:45]
Horror Podcast Narrator
Yes.
- [22:46]
Ed Helms
It's gonna be a whole lot of history, a whole lot of funny, and.
- [22:49]
John Middlekauff
A whole lot of guests.
- [22:51]
Ed Helms
The great Paul Scheer made me feel good. I'm like, oh wow, Angela and Jenna, I am so psyched you're here.
- [22:58]
Colin Cowherd
What was that like for you to soft launch into the show?
- [23:02]
Ed Helms
Sorry, Jenna, I'll be asking the questions today.
- [23:06]
John Middlekauff
I forgot whose podcast we were doing.
- [23:09]
Ed Helms
Nick Kroll. I hope this story is good enough to get you to toss that sandwich. So let's see how it goes. Listen to season four of SNAFU with Ed Helms on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [23:25]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
What's up everybody? This is Snax from the Trap Nerds podcast and we're bringing you the horror every week all October long.
- [23:31]
Horror Podcast Narrator
Kicking off this month, I'll be bringing you all my greatest fear inducing horror games from Resident Evil to Solid Hill. Me and Tony bringing backfireteam on Left 4 Dead 2 and we just gonna be going over some of the greats.
- [23:43]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
Also in October we'll be talking about our favorite horror and Halloween movies and figure out why black people always gotta die first.
- [23:50]
Horror Podcast Narrator
The Umbral reliquary invites any and all fool brave enough to peruse its many curiosities. But take heed, all sales are final. Weekly horror side quests written and narrated by yours truly with a full episode read and a comment. Very special.
- [24:09]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
And we will cap it off with Horror movie Battle Royale. Jason versus Freddy. Michael Myers versus the alien thing with the little tongue monster. October, we're doing it Halloween style. Listen to the Trap Nurse podcast from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [24:26]
Podcast Host/Announcer
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- [25:31]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. This game, it's really interesting. So Chicago Bears at home beat the Saints 26 to 14. Saints had four turnovers. Chicago led 20 to six at half. I mean, it's like Chicago hired the right coach. Their defense is playing top tier football. Their run game. Now with adding those three interior offensive linemen, John, they can run the football. They are clearly a run team. The passing game with Caleb was totally out of sync. Ben Johnson's facial expression, it's kind of retro. Resting, discouraged, like he just never, you know, you know, he knows he's on TV and so he's not eye rolling. But he looks exasperated sometimes with the passing game because there's looks that Caleb just either doesn't see or can't connect. I don't think Caleb is a naturally innately accurate thrower of the football. But the run game's real. They're playing poorly and winning in stretches. The defense has been outstanding. I mean, I think they came into the game with the most takeaways and they got four more turnovers. So I look at it and I think to myself, they're on a. What are they on, a four game winning streak? I mean, they're winning, they're playing imperfectly. The passing game has moments. Caleb has firepower, he has moments. But it's what we thought would be the horsepower. The jet fuel has actually been the liability. Their passing game, like, I think Roma, Dunze and Caleb had real connection in the first half and they just kind of felt like it just disappeared. It's very uneven to me.
- [27:10]
John Middlekauff
To me, he had so many stretches day where it's like that hero ball syndrome of him just running around sideline to sideline on pass plays. It's like, I, I can't imagine that's not how Ben Johnson wants to play, but what did he do? I was thinking about this today. Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson both being available in the same cycle, like that's a pretty good cycle. I mean, I don't think there was quite enough competition for both their services. You know, Ben Johnson's one of the better offensive coordinator candidates in recent memory. You could argue he's a better candidate at the time when he was available than Sean McVeigh was. At 31 years old than Kevin O' Connell was the one. I mean, this guy was the number one play caller by a mile.
- [27:51]
Colin Cowherd
He was given all the time, three years.
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John Middlekauff
And then here's where I give him a lot of credit. Like, Dennis Allen's proven he's a really good defensive coordinator and he gave him the game ball. You know, I don't know if you saw the highlights. Listen, I also think that Spencer Rattler tried to, like, show that I'm better than Caleb Williams, and he kind of crumbled in this game. I mean, made a couple passes that were like, made Caleb look like Elway, some of his decisions. But I'm with you. I. It's not even just the passing game. It's. Caleb did not look comfortable today in the pocket. He takes off. He's kind of got that older. You know, when Russell Wilson started kind of leaving his prime because he's running around, but there's no plays being made after he's scrambling around. It was a lot of just three 60s and running around. But if Swift's going to look like that and their defense going to play like that, they're going to be feisty. Now, can they beat. Do I trust them to beat the packers, the Lions and some of these games? I don't know if I go that far. You can't operate like that from a passing standpoint. I mean, I'm. I'm not trying to be negative because you win four games in a row, that's a big deal in Chicago. But you got to be a little concerned with the quarterback and the way he's playing. Really over the last couple of games. He wasn't that good last week against Washington, and they got lucky that Jaden fumbled the ball or they lose that game.
- [29:02]
Colin Cowherd
Here's the. Here's the upside. They did dominate time of possession. And again, so much like Detroit, they're creative. They pick up first downs. I mean, with Caleb, like 15 to 26, they're not asking him to do a lot, but they're dominating time of possession and they're running the football. When they went and got Drew Dahlman and Jonah Jackson and who was the other kid? Oh, Joe Tooney.
- [29:27]
John Middlekauff
Yeah.
- [29:27]
Colin Cowherd
You know, those were elite guys. And we talked about this. You don't play offensive linemen veterans in the preseason. So the first two or three weeks, you know, offensive line is all about chemistry and cohesion more than any single unit, maybe the secondary, but it's all about cohesion. Well, from about week three on, week four on, this has Been a really good offensive line. They're running the ball. They dominate time of possession. So my take out of this thing is, you know, they're winning and these are games they would have lost. And so for sure, when I watch a coach, there are limitations any coach has. And it's like Sean Payton, he's. He's doing what he can with Bo Nix, which is he second half, they're running more. They're often not very good early, but you can do only so much with what you have. But when I watch the Bears, I think this is a choppy, well coached team. Caleb's right now learning the position, but it's a whole new staff, new players. I do think he and Roma Dunze have a feel there is something there that I think it's good. Swift is a very good running back. I. I don't know. I think when you look at Chicago's history, beating a bad team at home, when your quarterback's uneven, you got to feel good about it driving home.
- [30:51]
John Middlekauff
Well, to me you're four and two, like you're in position. If you just kind of stay 500, you're going to be in the wild card mix. Here's the other thing. What's going to translate for Chicago late in the season, it's going to be cold. It's going to be defense and running the ball. I'm looking at their schedule. They got the Lions last game of the season at home. That's outside Green Bay at home. Outside you got the Browns at Green Bay, at Philadelphia. I mean, these are cold, inclement weather games. You're not going to throw probably in some of these windy situations. Rain, snow, sleet, who knows? You're not going to be throwing for 300 yards anyway. So if you get Swift, give you 100 plus yards. Ben Johnson's excellent with running backs. I mean, that was a huge thing that he hung his hat on in Detroit. And if Dennis Allen could get. Because they're missing DBs, that's the other thing. Like Jalen Johnson out for the season, he's like, you know, a borderline all pro level guy. So their DBs today were, I mean some of the passes were awful, but they were. Their DBs made a couple just incredible plays.
- [31:46]
Colin Cowherd
So yeah, Baird, 100%. Here's the other thing. Remember last year they scored 27 points in the first quarter all year. Once again this week they took a 13 nothing lead. So again, that is a huge step. John, last year they could not score in the first. So I think as of Now, I don't know what the number is. They scored 27 first quarter points last year. I'm not sure. I mean, I think they're now almost at 40 points for the year and we're a third through the season. So if you just look at run game, improved functionality, first quarter, improved defense, you can see the plan. When you watch them play, you can see the plan. And for the record, Caleb is better than last year. The other thing about Caleb that's interesting and I thought about this day with Spencer Rattler. For all the misgivings you and I may have or questions about Caleb, you ever notice this, John, he doesn't throw a lot of picks. He didn't at usc. He only threw six last year. In total chaos and dysfunction. He, he may drive you nuts, but he doesn't throw a lot of interceptions. He's just, he, he misses open guys, but he doesn't throw it to the other team much.
- [32:50]
John Middlekauff
And this gets back. I, I think hiring Ben Johnson, we said it for so many times with the Chargers, when they had these really good teams and they would hire Mike McCoy or Brandon Staley, they went chief. Finally you get Jim Harbaugh. It's like, okay, now you have a chance for the first time in Bears modern day history. Like, they spent huge money on a real guy that every other team would want. And it's, it's paying dividends right now because I'm with you. Like, you know, if anyone can just corral and fix some of these pocket deficiencies with Caleb. And I also just think it gets back to sometimes smaller guys, harder to see. So part of, like, why did Russell scramble around a lot? Because he probably couldn't see anything. He scrambled. He got outside the tackle box. He could see. Caleb does it too. And like you said, he's not doing as many hero balls across his body to the other team. That's a win in itself.
- [33:38]
Colin Cowherd
And now for our next segment, whiskey business. Yes, whiskey business. Brought to you by Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the Colin Coward podcast. So it wasn't one of the better games, but Kansas City beat Las Vegas 31 nothing. The Raiders were held to 95 total yards. And in the last month, the Chiefs are averaging 32 points a game. And I was sitting there this morning. I really believe the NFL's come down to four tiers. First tiers, Kansas City, it looks like the best team in the league. Then there's several teams, Tampa among them, Rams, Detroit, Philadelphia Colts, that appear to be really good, solid football teams. Maybe Denver's in there.
- [34:18]
John Middlekauff
Maybe not.
- [34:19]
Colin Cowherd
There's three awful teams, Titans, Jets, Dolphins, probably Cleveland. But then there's about 21 to 22. Jeff Short said this today on the Internet coin flips. And so we've got a great team, a small handful of good teams, a really small handful of awful, like bottom of the NBA level teams. And then most of these games are. It's a lot of coin flip stuff. I mean, maybe the Raiders are awful, but today's a great. Yeah. So today, this is the first time all year Kansas City had their top three receivers. Rice had seven catches, Worthy had three, JuJu three. I think I told you two weeks ago, keep your eye on Burchard Smith. That kid's going to end up being a really good player for them. Hollywood Brown. Now you look at their receiving core with Rice and Worthy and you're like, oh, it's one of the deeper wide receiving cores. I mean, I just. It was 42 to 17, time of possession. I mean, to me, Kansas City clearly looks like the best speed, the most depth, the best team hands down in the league. That's what my eyes tell me.
- [35:30]
John Middlekauff
I think one major difference this year in the way they look on offense they did last year. Hollywood Brown basically missed the entire season for him last season. He adds an element of just. I wouldn't say he's tyree kill by any means from a speed standpoint, but he is a faster receiver, but he can catch balls, intermediate, go over the middle. He makes a lot of plays for him. To me, you put him with juju. Now Rice is back. It's kind of opened everything up because Travis looks way better. Part of last year was like Travis looks really bad and looking back, clearly he's an older veteran player, but everything was so condensed because they had no threat outside. So now you add Hollywood Brown, who's completely healthy. Juju and Pat and Patrick have a good chemistry. Rice now back in the mix with Worthy. You can spread the field out and open the middle of the field for 87 to operate because to me, Travis over the last month, I don't want to say he looks like himself in his prime, but he definitely looks way better than the guy that I thought was kind of over the hill last year. And part of it is he's not quite fast enough just to take on two guys anymore. But if he can get one on one coverage and just work zones and what he does best, as he's doing right now, their offense feels much more balanced. And like you said, the Smith kid, I think from smu. They draft in the seventh round to go with Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Their offense just has a lot of pros like not guys like I want to replace this guy, I want to replace this guy. Maybe not like hall of Fame guys in their peak, but just a well rounded bunch. I mean their star left tackle has disappeared for a couple games, got some personal stuff going on. So whenever they get him back, interior of their offensive line is excellent. Their quarterback I thought's been playing well all season and today, I mean spags I don't quite understand what's up with the Raiders, but they, they, I mean they Patrick Mahomes had sunflower season hat on at the end of the third quarter which is pretty unheard of in the NFL.
- [37:16]
Colin Cowherd
Colin well AFC had their chances but the Ravens are one in five, the Bills have lost two straight and the Chargers now are just beat up. I listen, I'm going to tell you something. If you didn't watch the Chargers, Colts don't blame it on Justin Herbert. He's getting the hell kicked out of them and he is just sitting back there throwing darts. But I kind of look at Kansas City and it drives people crazy. But this league, for as long as I can remember, you can go Back to Eddie DeBartolo and Bill Walsh and Joe Montana. It's a leadership league if you're good at the top. I mean you go look at the New York Giants fall from grace. They lose Tom Coughlin, they lose Eli Manning. I don't think they were ever great at general manager but they were capable and it's just never been the same. It's just very hard John, to find. As you know, there's no other Andy Reid in the league and Brett Veach is one of the great mid round draft guys in the league and the Hunt family is mostly hands off. And then Mahomes is uniquely gifted and it just I always feel sort of like in college football like if you're Notre Dame or you're Georgia and you hire the wrong coach or Michigan or something like that, you know, one of those schools, it's easier to catch up. You know, it's easier once Lincoln Riley came to usc, their offensive recruiting got better, right? Like and they may not win this or that, but the offense got really good really fast because he knows what he's doing. USC is a big brand. It's easier for blue bloods if Alabama gets Caleb DeBoer. He struggles for a year. Nick Saban, it's Alabama. Like it's a huge Brand. And I kind of feel that with, like, Kansas City, it's like if they have a bad draft or they have injuries, they're just so smart. I mean, owner, gm, president, quarterback. Like, everybody's an A to an A plus. So I just. I think the last couple years, it's. They can't figure out the offensive line. I watch them the last four weeks to average 32 a game. I just. They look different than everybody else.
- [39:12]
John Middlekauff
Well, they have a huge advantage, the infrastructure. I mean, Andy Reid and Brett Veach have been there the entire time. Veach hasn't been the GM the whole time, but he's been with Andy from day one in Kansas City. Their offensive line coach, heck, has been there the entire time. Spags now has been there, what, five or six years. Travis Kelsey has been there since 2014. Chris Jones has been there since 2016. Patrick Mahomes. The standing and the standard, it's. It's pretty unheard of and unparalleled. I mean, it's got a little McCourty, Edelman, Gronk, Brady Belichick, Josh McDaniel. It's a huge advantage they have that no one else in the league has. Even Denver. Like, how long's this coaching staff and this crew really been together? Two and a half years. So the advantage they have over their competition. And listen, the Colts. Shane Steichen looks as good as any offense. If you had to give me who's the offensive coordinator of the year, as we sit here October 19, he 100% would get my vote. But, like, this is Daniel Jones first year there. You know, they got some new pieces, obviously got some new pieces on defense. They got some younger players that are contributing. Like you're telling me, in the second round, Colts against the Chiefs. Even if Kansas City has to go to the Colts, you'd feel great about Daniel Jones against Kansas City. Of course not. You know, so. And. And he is calling, I mean, today, Colin, he was like Andy. I think early on. One thing about Andy, he's kind of wired more like a Saban. Like he's not really there to run it up. You know, he'll call off the Dogs. I mean, they just. He's not into showing anyone up. He respects Pete Carroll. Like, that could have been a lot worse. There are some coaches in, in college in the NFL. They would have tried to score 50. That, that, that was. That that score doesn't indicate what I witnessed. That that game was JV versus varsity. Crosby got injured, he was knocked out. But. And I would say the same thing for Indy, relative to the Chargers defense, they. They did whatever they wanted. And that, that's the one thing Indy had. I don't know if their offense or, excuse me, their defense is good enough to stop Kansas City, but offensively, man, they got. I mean, the running back is playing as well as any player in the NFL. Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren, the tight end is fantastic. They got multiple wide receivers, Pierce Pittman, they, they are, they're impressive. Shane Steichen's having a year.
- [41:28]
Colin Cowherd
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- [41:47]
John Middlekauff
Limu Emu and Doug.
- [41:49]
Colin Cowherd
Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you need@liberty mutual.com. liberty, liberty, liberty. Liberty Savings Ferry Unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates.
- [42:16]
John Middlekauff
Excludes Massachusetts.
- [42:17]
Ed Helms
Hey, it's Ed Helms. And welcome back to snafu, my podcast about history's greatest screw ups. On our new season, we're bringing you a new snafu every single episode.
- [42:28]
Colin Cowherd
32 lock lost nuclear weapons.
- [42:30]
John Middlekauff
You're like, wait, stop.
- [42:32]
Podcast Host/Announcer
What?
- [42:32]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, Ernie Shackleton sounds like a solid.
- [42:35]
Ed Helms
70S basketball player who still wore knee pads.
- [42:38]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [42:39]
Ed Helms
It's gonna be a whole lot of history, a whole lot of funny, and.
- [42:42]
John Middlekauff
A whole lot of guests.
- [42:44]
Ed Helms
The great Paul Scheer made me feel good.
- [42:46]
Colin Cowherd
I'm like, oh, wow.
- [42:47]
Ed Helms
Angela and Jenna, I am so psyched you're here.
- [42:51]
Colin Cowherd
What was that like for you to soft launch into the show?
- [42:55]
Ed Helms
Sorry, Jenna, I'll be asking the questions today.
- [42:59]
John Middlekauff
I forgot whose podcast we were doing.
- [43:02]
Ed Helms
Nick Kroll. I hope this story is good enough to get you to toss that sandwich. So let's see how it goes. Listen to season four of SNAFU with Ed Helms on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [43:17]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
What's up, everybody? This is Snax from the Trap Nerds podcast. And we're bringing you the horror every week all October long.
- [43:24]
Horror Podcast Narrator
Kicking off this month, I'll be bringing you our greatest fear inducing horror games. From Resident Evil to Solid Hill. Me and Tony bringing back Fireteam on Left for Dead 2. And we just gonna be going over some of the greats.
- [43:35]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
Also in October, we'll be talking about our favorite horror and Halloween movies and figure out why black people always gotta die first.
- [43:43]
Horror Podcast Narrator
The Umbral reliquary invites any and all fooling brave enough to peruse its many curiosities. But take it all. Sales are final. Weekly horror side quests written and narrated by yours truly with a full episode read and a commentary special.
- [44:02]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
And we will cap it off with Horror movie Battle Royale. Jason versus Freddy, Michael Myers versus the Alien Thing with the Little Tongue Monster. October, we're doing it Halloween style. Listen to the Trap Nurse podcast from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [44:19]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Run a business and not thinking about radio, Think again. Cause more people are listening to the radio on iHeart today than they were 20 years ago. And only iHeart broadcast radio connects with more Americans than TV, digital, social, any other media, even twice as many teens than TikTok. And that reach means everything. Just think about the universal marketing formula. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for your business. Radio's here now more than ever. And iheart's leading the way. Think radio can help your business. Think iheart streaming, podcasting and radio where the reach is real. Let us show you@iheartadvertising.com that's iheartadvertising.com or call 844-844-Iheart one more time. Just call 844-844-iheart and get radio working for you.
- [45:31]
Colin Cowherd
So let's talk about the Dallas Cowboys. You know, they clobber Washington 4422. I mean, Dallas had almost 300 yards in the first half and they had a great dak, had a great. Dallas is so good this year. At the end of the first half, like they're so good. And Jaden Daniels got hurt, came back. Mario had an absolutely dreadful pick six to give Dallas a 4115 lead. But I will tell you right now, I'm of all the surprises in the league. So I picked New England to be the surprise team in the league. I feel good about it. I picked Denver and Kansas City to win that division and go to the playoffs. Chargers third. I feel pretty good about that. Feel pretty good about my stuff. I had no idea. I mean, I didn't think Dallas would be good defensively. They may be the best offensive team in the league. They're, they're situational they're unbelievable at the end of halfs. George Pickens outside of Hunga and probably including Hunga is the steel of the off season. I mean, a third round pick for that guy. They had CD Lamback today. I'm blown away by Dallas and Jaden Daniels doesn't look right. I don't think he's healthy. That was both of our concerns when he came into pro football. Could he stay healthy? I think Dak looks sensational. That offense is as fun to watch as any in the league. It is amazing what happens with CD and Pickens both. It just opens everything up for their tight end play. The running back Javante Williams looks like the Denver guy. So I mean Dallas is. I am. I don't say this very often. I am shocked about how good they are offensively.
- [47:10]
John Middlekauff
You could make the argument, and I'm not necessarily making it, but you could that that Brian Schottenheimer right now is the coach of the year. They trade Micah Parsons. Whatever. What was that two weeks before, a week before the start of the season? Yeah, he. Not a soul thought he should be the head coach. And every human being that follows football thought it was an embarrassment to name him the head coach. And then once he's named the head coach, they thought he'd be completely over his head. Well, offensively he's the offensive play caller and they are dominant. And then you, you get rid of Micah. To add Pickens, who is a pretty big personality who is going to shatter all of his personal highs. I mean, he's on pace for about 80 catches. I think his career high coming into the season was five touchdowns. He already got six. And it feels like on any given play he can score. I mean, he is, he's pretty dialed in now. I get it, he's a contract year. But those situations can be. Can be touch and go. CD comes back seamless. Just put them right back in. They hit the ground running. Offensively, they've looked like a juggernaut. Now listen, Washington, the Magic is out. I mean, they look the defensively, they look terrible. Jaden needs to protect himself more. He's getting crushed. Obviously they were missing wide receivers, but the Magic from last year is, is on empty right now. Colin and Dallas feels like they got a little bit of it. Now defensively, are they going to be good enough big picture to compete for a wild card? I don't know that. But we all have to admit Brian Schleidenheimer has done a remarkable job as the play caller in managing this situation, which I don't want to say senile quite yet, but Jerry's pretty out there now in his mid-80s. Not an easy situation for a first time head coach.
- [48:44]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, and I think it's all because of Dak. I think Dak is just one of those guys. You know, it's like everywhere Chris Paul in the NBA went, you know, the Clippers, if you go back to when he came into the league, you know, down in, was it New Orleans and then the Clippers and Wake Forest and everywhere Chris Paul went, they remember Phoenix. For years they had, you know, booker and they had, and they were terrible. And then Chris Paul got there in 16 points a game. And his IQ and his toughness and his distribution, it's like everywhere Chris Paul went, your basketball team got better and smarter. Like let's just be honest about Dak. He just, he's played so many snaps at Mississippi State. And Jerry, whether it's dez, Tyron Smith, Zeke, Zach Martin, it doesn't matter. Amari Cooper, if he's upright, they win double digit games. I mean, I think he's been sensational and I think it's just like anything else. I don't care if you're a dentist, a sportscaster, a quarterback, you just, you do something long enough, you don't have to think about it. And he did this a couple times today where clearly the first two people weren't open. You're watching his head, they're not open. And you can just. His sense of the pocket and pressure is so good. He just has, he doesn't get nervous. He's just, you know, and he's also a big guy. I mean Dak, to the average person in America, even among pro athletes, Dak is big, he's thick. You know, when guys get older, these pros, they've been in a pro weight room forever and they also eat. And so quarterbacks aren't cut. You know, quarterbacks, they've got pudding. Dak's a big human being and I just watch him when the pocket collapses. He's totally comfortable. You know, he's just a really, really good football player. And I don't think there's a lot of, I think he has really great tight ends. I will say Javante Williams, the running back has returned to that early Denver form. He's pretty damn explosive. He doesn't go down with one tackle.
- [50:43]
John Middlekauff
Listen, their defense, a major question mark. But the one reason I was just thinking like I can't totally write them off, the kicker they have is a major weapon. So this is not college football. A lot of your games are just going to be within the balance of a score. And if you get 20, 30, 40 seconds on the clock and you're down, you know, two, three points, that guy can hit from 70 yards. I think Burkhart, he, he blasted a 62 yard field goal today. He's like, that would have been good for 80. I mean, he's just, he is. I don't think we've ever seen anything quite like it. Now I get it. They. These kickers have access to the balls Monday through Saturday, but is that really making a 10 yard difference? It's remarkable whatever these guys are doing. And that guy is the cream of the crop right now because his, his ball doesn't even move in the air. It's just right down the middle. 65. You don't even think about it. How good are they like their red zone packages with Brian Schottenheimer guys wide open? Dak is, it's. It's been really, really impressive to watch. He's, you know, sometimes if you miss your window, I think sometimes in coaching, right, this, this sports pretty fickle an injury here. All of a sudden you go from a hot name to a negative name. Maybe, you know, he was somewhere in the middle. He maybe got a little too hot when he was young, but he kind of fell off the radar. Remember he got with Russell Wilson, he got fired there in Seattle and just. He kind of fell off the map. But clearly, like, this guy knows a little something about offensive football.
- [52:04]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I think their red zone packages are late. Half are really. It's like, I mean, honestly, it looks a little bit like Denver and a little bit like Kansas City. Like there's just when you get into a congested area and guys wide open, that, that's coaching. And I think, I think Dallas deserves a ton of credit. I, I want to talk about Ohtani before we leave and some college football. So the Eagles beat the Vikings 28 to 22. It was an interesting day because Jalen hurts was actually great down the field. You know, that's been the big knock. It's a. They can't run the football anymore. They literally cannot run the football. You know, Jalen has, has heard what people have said. He's a super competitive guy. Devonte Smith, A.J. brown, I mean, it was, it was big game hunting. And you know, Carson Wentz is Carson Wentz. You know, he's just. But Jalen in The end was 19 to 23. Perfect passer rating, 326 yards and anything over 10 yards. He was exceptional. You know, I've kind of come to terms with Philadelphia. It's always going to be a leaky faucet because Jalen has. There's some limitations, but there's so many ways to win in this league from a quarterback. There's the movers, there's the big guys. I mean, right now, Joe Burrow can't stay healthy. And we both love Joe Burrow like Jalen Hurts stays healthy. Jalen Hurts leads. Jalen Hurts is pretty damn good over the top. He's got that Russell Wilson thing in his prime. He's pretty damn good over the top. He runs. He's great on the tush push. And I've just kind of come to terms with. When they're healthy, they're not great at corner, but when they're healthy, a lot of their gummies are going to look like this. They're just going to have bad stretches. It will almost be like if the Dodgers didn't have as good a starting pitching, they would have bad stretches. If they face good pitching. Like they're. They're. He's not gifted enough in the pocket to get easy completions. It feels like everything kind of feels like work now. They can't run the ball anymore. But I thought this game today, the Vikings off a by at a tough place to play. Phillies a little beat up. I thought it was a pretty impressive win.
- [54:11]
John Middlekauff
Did any two play sum up? Jalen hurts more than at the end of the game, they ran a slant. I think it was like second and 10 and he throws it behind AJ Brown and you're just like, oh, my God, they're going to have to punt and the Minnesota is going to get. And then the next play, they run the double move, fake the slant, and he goes. Hits him in stride and you just went all game long. He hit devonte Smith on a deep bomb for a touchdown. Early in the game, he hit A.J. brown and. And then when. When it was all on the line, they put it in his hands and he came to really on second and third down. They trusted him enough. So I would say this. It was a good moment for the OC to just kind of get everyone. They're not going to be able to run the ball because their center's banged up, who's a little bit of an overrated player. But their. Their star guard Dickerson's out and their right guard situation has been in flux because they couldn't pay Beckton, he leaves. So last year, their interior offensive line, we know their tackles, they Said arguably the best offensive line in the league in Saquon. Let's face it, like, pretty motivated last year. Pretty big chip on his shoulder. Wins the Super Bowl. Doing a lot of commercials, living life now, you know, life's good and I totally understand it's. It's hard to be motivated at. He got to the pinnacle. He proved to the Giants they were wrong.
- [55:19]
Colin Cowherd
He does.
- [55:19]
John Middlekauff
He just. Maybe there's just a natural wear and tear on the tires we've seen now two years in a row. McCaffrey a couple years ago, Saquon. When you have this historic number of touches, usually it'll slower the next year. Everyone's beelining on you. But here's what you know about the Eagles and when Jalen's on, how many teams have Devontae Smith and A.J. brown? I mean, it's like, just get those guys the ball. You're unstoppable. I bet how he's up there in the. In the box always, like, just throw these guys the ball.
- [55:45]
Colin Cowherd
Throw.
- [55:45]
John Middlekauff
Go this thing, like go deep. Unlike Bo Nix, he. He has a lot of touch on deep breaking routes.
- [55:51]
Colin Cowherd
What's. What's amazing about Philadelphia's offense is last year they would just squish people with time of possession. They didn't have the ball. I mean, the Vikings had the ball. I mean, if you were casually watching this game in the red zone, every time you turn on, it felt like Minnesota had the ball. You know, Carson went.
- [56:07]
John Middlekauff
Carson was atrocious at parts of this game. There were guys wide open.
- [56:11]
Colin Cowherd
He was bad, he was bad. And again, you know, they wanted Sam Darnold. You and I know that they wanted Sam Darnold. I mean, the J.J. mcCarthy thing, he can't stay healthy. So I. It's. Minnesota has been well run since the 70s and they have like Buffalo now. Buffalo's had long stretches where they were really a mess. I mean, Jim Kelly years were great. The Josh Allen years are great, but they had a lot of lean years. They had lean decades. I mean, New England went 12 years, just beat them twice a year. Minnesota's been like Kansas City. They've been playoffs or borderline playoffs for most of my life. It's just when you get Mahomes, it changes everything. Minnesota is just waiting for that great quarterback they probably should have signed. It was hard. They gave up a fourth and a fifth to move up to get JJ McCarthy. I think they wanted to sign Sam Darnold, but Sam's like, you drafted a guy. I want to, I want to. I mean, Sam and His agent made the right call. But now you're trapped. You kind of have to play JJ And I think inside the building, they have real doubts about it.
- [57:13]
John Middlekauff
I, I think Brer talked about this last week. You kind of resurfaced. They, they had tried to go all in for Drake May. Did you talk about that last week on your show? Like they had, they had offered, I think their two first round picks and the four, the next year's number. Like they, they put an enormous package and the Patriots smartly just said no. But let's face it, like they do feel now and you have Kevin o', Connell, so you never know. Like you found Sam Darnold. Like they could find a purdy type, but they, they could have a little couple years of like being like the Colts right now because you're like, when Stephanie's not it, I mean he's on this is six team in six years.
- [57:48]
Colin Cowherd
Right?
- [57:48]
John Middlekauff
And let's face at this point in time, how could you have any faith in JJ McCarthy just to stay healthy, let alone be a good player? So you watch them, you go, they, their personnel is pretty good, their coaching's good. But if you don't have a quarterback, I mean there were guys even on the one that Hawkinson, they called a drop. I thought it was a catch, but I get the rule. He was wide open and Carson like does this like sidearm, like he's Chuck Knobloch. Just, just lobbing the ball and have catching the bread basket. What are you doing? Yeah, and that, that cost him and. But that's like Carson went to your quarterback. It's 20, 25. What are you going to do? JJ comes back next week or in two weeks. They got problems that stability at that position because you can watch at any moment the players around him. I mean Justin Jefferson spectacular. Honestly, the talent relative to the Eagles was pretty equal. The quarterback play, the gap was how he had to feel. Pretty good. I got rid of that guy for this guy. I won.
- [58:41]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. No question. I want to talk about this. The Rams beat the Jags 35 to 7. And if you watch that game, it was 21 nothing at half. You were watching a great organization, a great coach, a great quarterback and a great receiver. But it was really an organizational win they got in 24 hours before the game. The Jags, by the way, had more yards and more yards per play and lost 35 to 7. The Jags had a touchdown called back, multiple sacks. I mean, Trevor Lawrence got whacked more mistakes. I got to tell you, I watched The Rams, they are such a well run organization. They had a seventh round rookie have a touchdown. They had the other rookie, I think he's a second or third round Terence Ferguson, the tight end from Oregon suddenly they're deep at tight end. They're not flashy I mean cause Stafford's not going to give you any cheap yards on the outside like unlike a bonix or dart even young guys, you know Stafford athletically at this point is closer to Jacoby Brissette. He's going to sit in the pocket and I mean just let's be honest. Denver does not win the game without Bo Nix's legs and the Giants don't win without Jackson darts legs like Stafford is a great pocket passer but you know there's three or four times a year or a game you'd love Matt to just take off and pick up 14 yards because sometimes the defense creates pressure. They guess right. But I'm watching him today when he's on and he has bad halves. When Matt Stafford was dialed in today he and Devont in a weird way the Puka injury was great because Devonte Adams now he was the focus of the offense. This I guess take out Kansas City. I feel like McVeigh is the second best coach in the NFL.
- [60:27]
John Middlekauff
Yeah I mean I set my alarm this morning for 6:30 I hit snooze and by the time I opened my eyes and turned that thing on Devonte was just scoring his first touchdown was 14 not and they were off to the races. That thing was over. I mean the game was, the game was over before halftime. He is kind of an underrated MVP candidate right now Colin. He's got 17 touchdowns and two interceptions this year, this season and you know when Puka comes back he is going to be able to build a rapport. Like one thing with Devonte it's a little more of a timing right back shoulder throws like that's what he always hung his hat on with Aaron you saw today some of those over the shoulder, some of those in the red zone. If they develop like a serious rapport he already has it. With Puka that's pretty dangerous you know with the. Especially the way their defense, their front can just dominate the game, dominate. So it's like I, I was high on Jacksonville. I think they've been pretty impressive this year. That was pretty embarrassing. I didn't. They showed up 24 hours before they stay on the east coast and then.
- [61:24]
Colin Cowherd
Just they stayed, they practiced. The Rams practice at Camden Yards in Baltimore. They, they came over. I Mean, the first half was one of the smartest, most crisp, efficient first halfs by any team this year. I mean, the Rams just marched down the field, play action clever. A lot of double tight ends. It's at one point I think they had three tight ends on the field. They used all of them. Davis Allen, Terrence Ferguson, is it. Tyler Higby, Colby Parkinson, I mean, they used all their tight ends. I thought it was such a Chris, I thought it was an organizational win. It was. And you know, McVeigh tends to do this. He won't play as rookies early and the fans will complain about how come Terence Ferguson's not playing. But tight end is difficult, as you know, because tight ends don't have to block. You know, in the NFL you have to block. In college, you can kind of block. Now there are some programs like Michigan, Harbaugh makes his tight ends block. Utah, Kyle Whittingham makes his tight ends block. A lot of these guys don't. So, you know, they spread it out and they're just, they're like, they're like receivers that are a little bit slower, but bigger. But I, I watched the Rams in the first half and I'm like, this is an organizational win. They're such. Jacksonville is just, just kind of a little loose. And I think you saw one of the most efficient, well run organizations in the sport and one of the loosest organizations in the sport. And that's what I watched because Jacksonville had the yards, the yards per play and they just unraveled and lost 35 to 7.
- [62:59]
John Middlekauff
One thing, Colin, if you look the last couple years, right, these last two years, they won 10 and 10, right? So 20 games, he has thrown in 23 through 24 touchdowns. And last year he threw 20 touchdowns. And this year, like he's on pace for probably in the mid-30s. So if you're getting the guy with the way their defense is playing, I saw Schrager hyping up Chris Shula, who deserves a lot of credit. He's been excellent as a defensive coordinator. But if you're getting 35ish touchdowns out of Stafford, like, this isn't a 10 win team, it's a 12 or 13 win team. You know, with that defense and that potency. I mean, devonte Adams, he's just a pro, but he doesn't work with every quarterback. Like part of the reason him and Jimmy look so lost. Or even him and Derek Carr, like their accuracy, they're touching the red zone's not the same. You saw Stafford today. I mean, he can do that shit with his eyes closed. I mean, well, some of those pinpoint over the shoulder, over the DB like that, that is going to be a potent weap for them to go when Puka's healthy, that you like them in those big games, like down the stretch of the season.
- [63:58]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, Marvin Harrison and Devonte Adams and George Pickens are great. They don't necessarily separate. CD Lamb and Justin Jefferson separate. Rasheed Rice has the ability. He's. He separates.
- [64:11]
John Middlekauff
Devonte Smith separates, totally separates.
- [64:15]
Colin Cowherd
But George Pickens doesn't. He's just a great player. Remember Anquan Bolden, Just throw it up like Devonte. I think he did separate more probably four or five years ago. But what he is is strong, long. I mean, again, some of these receivers have kind of an NBA quality where big hands, really long, they're just strong. So devonte needs the right quarterback. George Pickens has never looked this consistently good. Well, Dak Prescott's a huge part of that equation because Dak knows where to throw it. So some guys separate. That's, you know, in the NBA they always say the great players can score without a screen. They get their own shot. And I've talked to GMs in the NBA that say it's not nearly as many people as you think can get their own shot. It's a lot of MJ's and Kobe's and you know, SGAs. But you know, Luca, most guys need a screen. Most guys need Clay Thomas.
- [65:10]
John Middlekauff
Clay Thompson, a Hall of Famer, couldn't get his own shot.
- [65:12]
Colin Cowherd
That's right. In the NFL, you think all these guys run four two eights? A lot of these guys don't separate. It's everybody plays zone, everybody can bracket. Justin Jefferson today had a catch up the sideline and just literally caught it. Looked trapped and just sprinted down the sideline. Just flew past pro athletes. You're like, jesus, this guy is fast. Like Eagle players just flying. He was trapped. He's ran right past everybody. But I think, I think Devonte, without Puka there today is like, okay, this is my offense. It was a really impressive organizational win. Well, we've all been there. Fall rolls around, you start digging through your closet for warmer clothes and nothing feels quite right anymore. Right. Those beat up pants from college? Yeah. It's time to retire them. Upgrade to rag and bones infused denim. I love their stuff. I've been wearing rag and bone for years. You used to have to choose between jeans that look great and jeans that actually lasted. But with rag and bone, you finally, get both. I got four pair built to move with. You hold their shape, develop character over time. Multiple F, slim, straight to relaxed or athletic. There's a style for every preference and occasion with Rag and Bone. Not your average jeans. They overdo it by design with premium denim and construction that makes them stand out but look and feel effortless. So premium materials, craftsmanship. These jeans are made to last, and not just for a season, but for years. I've got several pair. True investment pieces only get better the longer you wear them. Rag and Bone at their best. Two decades of denim expertise packed into a pair of jeans. You'll love them. Comfortable, sharp, built to last. Infused denim is your new go to wardrobe staple. Upgrade your denim with With Rag and Bone. Limited time, our listeners get 20% off their entire order with a code. Colin C O L I N. At rag and bone.com the code is Colin. 20% off rag-bone.com promo code column. When they ask where you heard about them, please support our show and let them know we sent you rag and bone.com code column. Love their stuff.
- [67:09]
John Middlekauff
And Doug, here we have the Limu.
- [67:12]
Colin Cowherd
Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us.
- [67:29]
John Middlekauff
Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty Liberty, Liberty.
- [67:34]
Colin Cowherd
Liberty Savings Ferry unwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates excludes Massachusetts.
- [67:38]
Ed Helms
Hey, it's Ed Helms. And welcome back to snafu, my podcast about history's greatest screw up. On our new season, we're bringing you a new snafu every single episode.
- [67:49]
Colin Cowherd
32 lost nuclear weapons.
- [67:51]
John Middlekauff
You're like, wait, stop.
- [67:52]
Podcast Host/Announcer
What?
- [67:53]
Colin Cowherd
Ernie Shackleton sounds like a solid 70s.
- [67:56]
Ed Helms
Basketball player who still wore knee pads.
- [67:58]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [67:59]
Ed Helms
It's gonna be a whole lot of history, a whole lot of funny, and.
- [68:03]
John Middlekauff
A whole lot of guests.
- [68:04]
Ed Helms
The great Paul Scheer made me feel good. I'm like, oh, wow, Angela and Jenna, I. I am so psyched you're here.
- [68:11]
Colin Cowherd
What was that like for you to soft launch into the show?
- [68:15]
Ed Helms
Sorry, Jenna. I'll be asking the questions today.
- [68:19]
John Middlekauff
I forgot whose podcast we were doing.
- [68:22]
Ed Helms
Nick Kroll. I hope this story is good enough to get you to toss that sandwich. So let's see how it goes. Listen to season four of SNAFU with Ed Helms on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [68:38]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
What's up, everybody? This is snacks from the Trap Nurse Podcast and we're bringing you the horror every week all October long.
- [68:45]
Horror Podcast Narrator
Kicking off this month I'll be bringing you all my greatest fear inducing horror games from Resident Evil to Solid Hill. Me and Tony bringing Backfire team on Left for Dead two and we just gonna be going over some of the greats.
- [68:56]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
Also in October we'll be talking about our favorite horror and Halloween movies and figure out why black people always gotta die first.
- [69:03]
Horror Podcast Narrator
The Umbral reliquary invites any and all foolish brave enough to peruse its many curiosities. But take heed. All sales are final. Weekly horror side quests written and narrated by yours truly with a full episode read and a commentary special.
- [69:23]
Snax from Trap Nerds Podcast
And we will cap it off with Horror Movie Battle Royale. Jason versus Freddy, Michael Myers versus the Alien Thing with the Little Tongue Monster. October we're doing it Halloween sty. Listen to the Traverse Podcast from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [69:39]
Podcast Host/Announcer
Run a business and not thinking about radio. Think again. Cause more people are listening to the radio and iHeart today than they were 20 years ago. And only iHeart broadcast radio connects with more Americans than TV, digital, social, any other media, even twice as many teens than TikTok. And that reach means every everything. Just think about the universal marketing formula. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for your business. Radio's here now more than ever and iheart's leading the way. Think radio can help your business. Think iheart streaming, podcasting and radio where the reach is real. Let us show you@iheartadvertising.com that's iheartadvertising.com or call 844-844 Iheart one more time. Just call 844-844-Iheart and get radio working for you.
- [70:44]
Colin Cowherd
One last NFL thought. Cleveland beats Miami. I think 31 to six. They bench to two is horrible. No touchdowns, three picks. Cleveland now is one in five. They no longer the jets are going to get the number one pick. It looks like Mendoza at Indiana, Dante Moore. Whoever they pick. Maybe Ty Simpson from Alabama. Cleveland's actually functional. Cleveland is well coached. Cleveland, I think that running back out of Ohio State had a hell of a day. Miles. Cleveland's a functional team. I think they traded Flacco away because they thought they'd win six games with Flacco. I really do. I think they thought God we beat Green Bay. We're Going to win five to six games here. We don't want to do that. Miami, they're not the jets or the Titans. Miami is a disaster. I mean to me I'd move everybody, the gm, the coach and Tua, I think somebody would buy to a dome team or something. I mean, do you think Tua has a market kid?
- [71:45]
John Middlekauff
No. I mean he makes way too much money. No, makes too much money. You know, part of their problem has always been like when weather changes, they, they struggle and it makes sense, right? I mean they, they live in 90 degrees, what 350 days a year. I mean it's pretty beautiful. Their coach today looked so uncomfortable on the sideline, like he was cold. If he represents that, what do you think the team everything about one thing is Cleveland's defense is really good. Good, like they are not a bad. You put their unit on like the Steelers, you'd have a Super bowl contender. You could combine their offense with that defense. But Miami, like we knew this offseason, they, they, they told us, right? And I, I honestly defended to a. In his comments last week about the people late, like it's not your job. Like it's not Seal Team 6's job to create the missions. They get told what to do do. It's the coach's job to set the discipline. So when you get all these players being late, that's, you know, even Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. Like they need the head coach or the GM to set the tone in the organization, then they can help voice it out. But like it starts with Mike McDaniel and really the, the GM, the type guys that you bring into your organization. So when you see these high level teams that win a lot, it's because the type human beings they bring into the locker and you bring. And you look at Miami like there's not really a rhyme or reason to anything they've done. And everyone's coming down on Tua, which he's not. He's having an atrocious season. But like it's, to me it's way above his head. Like he's just, he's a cog in this thing and he is a functional player. If he made $20 million, 100% someone. Problem is he's got this enormous contract. But I don't think unless they ate some of the money or, or, you know, I'm not saying he's not movable, but he's kind of like a Kyler Murray situation. The money's way too much.
- [73:36]
Colin Cowherd
I think they're going to draft Like a Ty Simpson with like the fifth pick. And then I think they're going to pay. What they're going to do is what Denver did with Bo Nix is like, we're just going to eat some dead cap. Can we get somebody to pay a little bit of it? I mean, Denver's been fine with all that dead cap. I mean, the dead cap's funny. If, if you remember all the people Denver flushed out, they didn't flush out the general manager. Sean Payton likes the general manager. He could have easily just said, I'm doing it. I mean, Denver, because they drafted well and they hit. You can. You're fine with that dead cap stuff. You just have to hit on like four or five draft picks. And Greer hasn't shown the ability to Miami to do that. But you know, it's funny, I want to transition to college. So, you know, I watched Ty Simpson this weekend. I watched Mendoza for Indiana. I think Dante Moore is good. I think there's three really good college quarterbacks. Nuss Meyer's okay. It's just not the guys we thought. Drew Allard, to me, isn't a first round quarterback. I don't feel it. I don't think he has the juice. Some of it was coaching. Cabe Klutnick is actually like Jackson. Daugherty can actually move. He's got a decent arm, he's talented. I don't know how I feel about him, but I was sitting there looking at the mock draft last Friday before I did the Herd. It's the same teams. It's all the same kind of teams. And I really do think I watched a lot of college football the last three weeks. Ohio State's the only great team. I think Indiana, Bama, and I'm going to say Notre Dame. So Notre Dame. I predicted they'd win by 10 and run the ball because I. And they did. I think Notre Dame's good. I don't think they're great, but I don't think any. I don't think Ohio State's great. I think Ohio State's defense is great. I think that. I think Carnell Tate, the receiver is a sensational player. Like the NFL. I think there's one really special team and then it's just a bunch of good. But I think I was watching Marcus Freeman and his agent texted me because I said, you have to pay Marcus Freeman, whatever the market. Bears, you can't let him go. Notre Dame is a better job to me than Penn State. But Marcus Freeman is what a college coach should be today Young, handsome, energetic recruiter, smart, just like player top. He's tough like his teams. But I, I'll be honest with you. I said years ago, Nebraska is done. And I think they are. I'm surprised at how good Notre Dame is. I think Notre Dame can go toe. I think Notre Dame is one of the few teams that can go toe to toe with Ohio State. I think they have the quarterback, I think they have the run game. I think they have the intelligence. It's not just that they beat usc, but I mean, they ran it will against usc. They looked really imp. Impressive. I mean, Marcus Freeman, do you stay at Notre Dame? Because I think he's. I don't think there's a job in college he would leave for. I think he stays forever at Notre Dame. But I watch him and I'm like, I listen to him, I watch him, I follow their recruiting. I think he's the next college guy to go pro.
- [76:49]
John Middlekauff
Yeah, to me, the only job I would leave I was him. Would be Ohio State's where he plays. You're not leaving Notre Dame for Penn State. I mean, you were just in the national championship game. They're going to make the playoffs again. Like they're going to run the table.
- [77:00]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [77:01]
John Middlekauff
And they are. They have probably the best running back combo in the league. I mean, how good that George Jeremiah Love is just. But, but the, the backup that had the big kickoff return is a stud, too.
- [77:11]
Colin Cowherd
Love may go in the first round. He's that good.
- [77:14]
John Middlekauff
I think he might go. If, if, if Ashton genti can go six, he can go in the top 10 for sure.
- [77:20]
Colin Cowherd
Sure.
- [77:20]
John Middlekauff
Here's the thing. At an academic power, you can build it. And Brian Kelly did this, you know, dominate the offensive line, dominate the running backs and dominate the defensive personnel. And that's how they're, they're, that's how they're built. And that translates especially now these playoff games are in the first round, which they're always going to have to play because they're probably not going to get a buy. Well, they're definitely not this year. Cold environment. Well, what translates there? Running the ball, playing defense. Yeah, I actually thought USC was pretty impressive. You know, I didn't expect them even to be that close as they were. And they had the lead at one point before the kid returned it to the house. But yeah, I mean, I think, I also think it's really, really difficult to judge these teams now. I mean, look at Georgia. Georgia couldn't stop Lane Kiffin for three quarters. Every single, every single drive. Touchdown Touchdown. Touchdown. The day and age of these dominant teams going back to Pete Carroll or Urban Meyer and Nick's. They're done. The transfer portal, even a good backup and you like the coach, you just leave. So I think we got to look at it a little bit differently. But that's what's fun about this. You now like Miami. You have no chance to win a national championship with Carson Beck as your starting quarterback. Right now. Can they win a playoff game? Is there talent? For sure. Are they going to win three straight playoff games with that guy playing quarterback? Did you see his comments after the game? He's pointing the finger at other people. People that's the type. Stuff like that's not flying at Georgia. That Kirby Smart would, that would not fly with Marcus Freeman. Saban would have had a conniption. I bet Mario's not happy about those comments. But you buy a guy, you pay him what, $7 million in free agency. Like he say whatever he wants. And that's where I think like the culture at Notre Dame, like they started owing to. But you know what? It turns out they lost two pretty good teams. It wasn't the end of the year. And that's what this playoff thing, it doesn't, you know, back not that many years ago, you lost one game and it was over. Now it's a little more fun and it's the, the regular season. I don't know. To you it still feels as powerful as ever.
- [79:13]
Colin Cowherd
No, I mean, I, I watch all the games. I, I, I never bought into that the sky is falling nonsense. The bottom line is the portal has really helped the rest of the country because it was lopsided. The SEC had backup corners that were better than everybody else's starters. Well, you know, Georgia and Bama. Now Bama's struggling to keep up in the nil. They don't have the money. I mean, they're begging their fans to chip in.
- [79:35]
John Middlekauff
One, one theory I have and I wrote this down yesterday. Vanderbilt, I mean, Brian Kelly, he has been passed now by Ole Miss and now Vanderbilt. Like Vanderbilt work them. That was a lopsided game. The score does not reflect what I watched. Nashville. Your daughter still live in Nashville? Yeah, booming city. I mean money is flowing there. Scottsdale, ASU just beat Texas Tech, who has a $28 million. These cities that are booming before you need a booster and you still do, right? If you're Texas Tech, you got this billionaire. If you're Oregon, you got this billionaire. But not all these universities are just going to have billionaires. Sometimes you're just going to need. Scottsdale has all these corporations moving here. So the athletic department might not have individuals. But what if I can go to corporations and get them to be part of the program? So it's like Carvana or Doordash or whoever in Nashville, all these hubs, you can start going to them. They're going to want to be involved in football. It's an advantage to be usc. These big cities, like how is some of these podunk places? It's going to be a little difficult. I'm watching. Well, yeah, the school in Nashville is going to have advantages that Baton Rouge in the nil.
- [80:40]
Colin Cowherd
That's right.
- [80:41]
John Middlekauff
Simply not going to have undeniable. So like Ohio State, little bit of an outlier some of these Big Ten schools, but some of these SEC schools, like watch out for Vanderbilt because they're going to have money flowing into their program. Yeah.
- [80:53]
Colin Cowherd
And I mean I made this prediction three years ago and it may have been offensive, but I said in these small southern towns, sometimes your number two booster is a car dealer. And there's nothing wrong with being a BMW dealer. I own a BMW. I love BMW. But that shouldn't be your second richest donor if you're a top eight college football program. It should be like, you know, I mean at Michigan they have multiple billionaires and venture capitalists and the Big Ten schools are bigger. They're just bigger universities and they flood the zone. So. And then they circle back to their program. So this is something I said three years ago. It's, it's, it's one of the things I thought that that would save the PAC12. It didn't, but I thought it was would is the explosion the nil because of all the Apple and Google Pac 12 Kids. But the truth is those aren't sports fans. They don't care about football. So a lot of those usc, UCLA grads, you know, they, they don't give back to the program.
- [81:49]
John Middlekauff
But the Big Ten, Andrew, Andrew Luck got $50 million from a guy like how many schools just have a guy that could just hand you $50 million?
- [81:55]
Colin Cowherd
Insane. By the way, Stanford beat Florida State.
- [81:58]
John Middlekauff
What a win.
- [82:00]
Colin Cowherd
It's crazy. Okay, I want to, I want to wrap with this. So I always thought the greatest athlete, not the most dominant. Serena is probably the most dominant or Michael Phelps in swimming is the most dominant. Usain Bolt. But the greatest athlete I thought I'd ever seen was a guy named Carl Lewis. So Carl Lewis was in track and field. He was a very unique personality. Not really appealing to the Masses, I guess. But in 1984 he goes to the LA Olympics and he wins 100 meter, the 200 meter, the long jump. I mean winning any of those is sensational. He wins all of them and he wins a 4 by 100, so he wins like 4 golds. Then he goes to Seoul in 88 and he mostly duplicates it. Then he goes to Barcelona in 92 and he mostly duplicates it. And forget the Pan Am Games or the Goodwill Games or the world championships in Tokyo and Helsinki and Stuttgart and Rome or wherever they are. Then he comes back to Atlanta in 96, starts in 84. I mean there was just like a 12 year period. It was Pan Am, Goodwill, World Championships, Olympics. He was dominant in everything. And then I'm watching Ohtani Friday and I'm like, Babe Ruth did not pitch and hit simultaneously. And remember the split finger fastball kind of came into baseball in the 70s or 80s with Bruce Suter. Remember Bruce Sutter? He pitched for the Cardinals and Cubs. He was a relief pitcher, he won a Cy Young and he was a, he was the first guy to throw a split finger fastball. Babe Ruth didn't face that stuff. Those guys in the 20s and 30s and 40s, 50s, they weren't facing split finger fastball. For Ohtani to walk into this sport to be a power hitter, to have that speed, to hit for average, to be a dominant ace, he may have one of the top five splitters in baseball. His fastball. He punches out Jackson churro in the first inning at 100. All of his off speed breaking stuff is above average. It's very good. Then he hits it out of the stadium. But I was sitting there watching and I'm like, think how good Reggie Jackson was. I mean Reggie Jackson was World Series MVP's iconic 550 plus home runs. Reggie Jackson was a terrible fielder, didn't run the bases, not a good teammate. I think Ohtani is the greatest athlete I've ever seen. I mean Michael Jordan wasn't a great passer. He wasn't a great deep ball shooter. He was a great, great offensive mid range player. Relentless and a great on ball defender. But I'm watching Ohtani and I'm like, he's a top, top eight pitcher. He, I mean he's a top base dealer when he wants to. I just, I sat there watching and I'm like, Jesus, to just be an elite pitcher. Hell, guys can't stay healthy. Snell, Glassnow, Dodgers, nobody can stay healthy. I just watching that game, I thought this is the greatest single athlete I've ever seen in any sport. That was my take on it.
- [84:57]
John Middlekauff
Well, it's definitely the greatest game that's ever been played. Ten strikeouts, three home runs in the nlcs. That's something. You see the kid in Little League that's going to be on all the travel teams that's 12 years old, you wouldn't even. You'd be hard pressed to find that in high school. I think LA this year had a couple guys that were drafted in the top 10, like high school players. I would be shocked because typically now that they focus on one, they're not playing both ways, Right? So if the guy's an elite pitcher, he's just pitching. If the guys in the lead hitter, he's just playing shortstop. I vividly remember when he first started playing for Anaheim because you had heard all this hype and the Giants tried to sign him coming out of Japan, I didn't realize how tall and fast he was. And I remember, like a ball that most power hitters do not make to second. He not only made it to second, he was there with ease and he went, holy yet. But you see that, guys, if Shohei Ohtani was born in Los Angeles or Dallas, Texas or something, he's probably a quarterback, right? Potentially. He's 6 foot 5, 210 pounds. He's definitely playing a lot of different sports growing up. Who knows, maybe basketball as well. I mean, maybe because he's athletically, he's an elite athlete. Yes, that's the. You know, you watch the Yankees, it's like all their players look the same. You watch the. I remember two years ago going to a spring training game with Maria and we. We had really good seats and I was like, I thought Mookie Betts is an outfielder and he's playing short and second base. I'm like, this is insane. It's like this guy, I thought he. I thought he played like right field and center field. He can play shortstop. And he had a play in the series that looks like Derek Jeter. It was like, so they're two best players. And I saw, you know, Matt Money Smith, He.
- [86:33]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [86:33]
John Middlekauff
Called Charger games when him and DJ came down. I played golf with him like last year, but I saw this clip that he posted. Posted interviewing Andrew Friedman, and he's like, what do you say to everyone saying, you just bought this team. And he's like, we play all these teams that have all these star players and I see none of them out early. You know, three o' clock in the afternoon, you come out and you watch the Dodgers, Mookie Bet, Shohei Otan, all of our star players, Freddie Freeman are doing extra work like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Tiger woods style. So it's like this isn't random. They're greatness. Obviously they have. Have freak talents. But like clearly from a team building standpoint, like really, they. They kind of got like a Patriot vibe going. Like they're all just. It's like this is a serious group now. Obviously sh. You know, because he didn't pitch that well this year. Now Grant, he was coming back off the injury, but he's got pitched like that and hit like that. It's like there's never been that. That home run. Listen, I'm a very. I'm a Giants fan at heart. That's a Barry Bonds level home run on the cream in the clear with Balco.
- [87:34]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [87:34]
John Middlekauff
I mean that's. That. That was. That. That was insane how far that ball. You can see it. Do you remember when Barry hit the ball against anaheim in the OH2 World Series? And I think Tim Salmon was in the. It was in the dugout and he mouthed, that's the farthest ball I've ever seen hit. Obviously, you know, Barry was kind of a mutant by then. The Dodgers faces in the dugout all kind of had that vibe. I know we've never seen a ball hit this far ever.
- [87:58]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's just, it's just remarkable to watch him. And you know, I've said this, I think the Dodgers are the best run organization in North America. Max Muncie, the. The A's cut him. I mean, Tommy Edmond was a.260 hitter in St. Louis. He was a good fielder. Cardinals were like, we don't want to pay him. He was the NLCS MVP. I mean, Glassnose always had good stuff. 6 7. But he can't stay healthy. So let me. There's no question they can roll. The Dodgers biggest advantage isn't just like, oh, Ohtani, because other teams could have paid for him. But great players want to play for the Dodgers because ohtani comes up I5 to the Dodgers. He has better people hitting in front of him and behind him. And the pressure isn't for him to go 4 for 4. Ohtani had a terrible series until that game Friday. He couldn't get. So I think it's like one of these things. There's a reason five star players want to go play for Ohio State or Georgia because you're surrounded by better players. Right. And it's like if you're a great like Freddie Freeman was playing for Atlanta, but it's like, look who's sitting in front of me, look who's hitting behind me. You get better pitches.
- [89:04]
John Middlekauff
Well, I would say this, you would say Ohtani and Mookie Betts, you know, Manny and Poppy were incredible power, but neither of them could run. I mean, it's gotta be. When you talk about all around game, the two most talented players that have ever played together, I mean, how do you beat that offensively and defensively? You've seen a lot of these duos, one, two, just mash. I bet. You know, Mantle and Garrig, if we go back the history of the sport, but we've never seen two guys that are this good on defense and one guy can pitch 10 strikeouts against the team that just won 97 games. It's not like he's playing a team that won 80 games. I mean, that team was. Weren't the Brewers a powerhouse? Didn't they go like a month without losing a game?
- [89:41]
Colin Cowherd
They swept the dodgers this year. 6, 6 nothing in the regular season. John Middlekoff former NFL Scout his pot is three and a half. We crushed. Let's go watch some football.
- [89:52]
John Middlekauff
See ya.
- [89:54]
Colin Cowherd
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- [90:43]
Podcast Host/Announcer
This is an Iheart podcast.