Hour 3 - Eric Bieniemy

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3 featuring Eric Bieniemy

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Introduction to Eric Bieniemy

In the December 17, 2024 episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd welcomes Eric Bieniemy, a renowned figure in the NFL with an impressive career spanning from his days as a two-time Super Bowl champion coordinator with Andy Reid to his recent stint at UCLA. Bieniemy brings a wealth of experience and unique insights into the world of professional football, particularly focusing on the development of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the strategic underpinnings of successful NFL coaching.

Patrick Mahomes’ Development and Recruitment

Cowherd initiates the conversation by delving into Mahomes' journey from Texas Tech to becoming one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks. He inquires about the recruitment process and whether Mahomes' potential was recognized early on.

Eric Bieniemy [04:05]: "We watched Mahomes grow as a player while we were coaching because everybody was a fan of football. Just watching him and seeing all the things that he brought to the table, we all were kind of on board with it."

Bieniemy reflects on the Kansas City Chiefs' scouting and coaching staff's admiration for Mahomes' exceptional throws and natural talent. He emphasizes that while Mahomes' potential was evident, the Chiefs never quite anticipated the monumental success he would achieve.

Andy Reid’s Coaching Philosophy

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Andy Reid's coaching strategies and what makes him an exemplary coach in the NFL. Cowherd probes Bieniemy for insights into Reid's "secret sauce."

Eric Bieniemy [07:37]: "What I love about Coach Reid is that he's very stern. He expects you to be very professional... There's always a culture of accountability."

Bieniemy highlights Reid’s consistency, professional demeanor, and his unwavering demand for excellence from both players and coaches. He credits Reid’s ability to adapt and embrace change as pivotal to the Chiefs' sustained success.

Building a Winning Culture

The conversation shifts to the importance of organizational culture in nurturing talent, especially in developing a franchise quarterback. Bieniemy underscores the necessity of surrounding a quarterback with the right support system and fostering an environment that prioritizes his growth.

Eric Bieniemy [09:59]: "You have to build the Organization, that program around him. Everything starts and ends up front."

He stresses that creating a top-tier culture begins with leadership and extends throughout the entire organization, ensuring that the quarterback receives the necessary tools and mentorship to excel both on and off the field.

Current NFL Trends: The Resurgence of the Running Back

Addressing the evolving dynamics of the NFL, Bieniemy and Cowherd discuss the recent resurgence of the running back position. They analyze the cyclical nature of football strategies and the renewed emphasis on the ground game.

Eric Bieniemy [23:09]: "This game has a way of being cyclical... You throw the ball to win, but you have to run it to win a championship."

Bieniemy explains that a balanced offense, which effectively integrates both passing and running games, not only diversifies play-calling but also puts strategic pressure on opposing defenses. This balance is crucial for sustained success, especially in playoff scenarios.

Challenges in Coaching and Player Development

Bieniemy touches upon the challenges faced when coaching quarterbacks from diverse offensive backgrounds, such as those transitioning from college systems like the air raid offense to the NFL’s multifaceted strategies. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability and tailored coaching to harness a quarterback’s full potential.

Eric Bieniemy [10:53]: "Having this opportunity to coach in a number of AFC championship games... it starts with everything."

He advocates for a holistic approach to coaching, where continuous development and a supportive culture are paramount in transforming talented players into elite professionals.

Handling Criticism and Maintaining Resilience

Towards the end of the interview, Bieniemy addresses the personal and professional challenges that come with being a high-profile coach. He discusses how he navigates criticism, particularly regarding racial components in coaching opportunities, and maintains resilience.

Eric Bieniemy [26:49]: "I focus on building upon the positives... That's what's important moving forward."

His perspective centers on leveraging feedback constructively, focusing on personal growth, and maintaining a forward-thinking mindset to overcome obstacles and enhance his coaching efficacy.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a reflection on Bieniemy's journey and his unwavering dedication to the sport. His insights provide a comprehensive look into the strategic elements that drive success in the NFL, the importance of leadership and culture, and the continual evolution of football tactics.

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Notable Quotes:

• Eric Bieniemy [04:05]: "We watched Mahomes grow as a player while we were coaching because everybody was a fan of football."
• Eric Bieniemy [07:37]: "He's not afraid of change. Whatever needs to be done to win, that's all that matters."
• Eric Bieniemy [09:59]: "You have to build the Organization, that program around him. Everything starts and ends up front."
• Eric Bieniemy [23:09]: "This game has a way of being cyclical... You throw the ball to win, but you have to run it to win a championship."
• Eric Bieniemy [26:49]: "I focus on building upon the positives... That's what's important moving forward."

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Final Thoughts

Eric Bieniemy's conversation on The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers an in-depth exploration of elite coaching strategies, player development, and the intricate balance of modern NFL gameplay. His experiences and philosophies not only shed light on the success of players like Patrick Mahomes but also provide valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and adaptability in professional sports.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Doug Gottlieb]

Small business owners this one's for you. Chase for Business and iheart bring you a podcast series called the Unshakables. This one of a kind series will shine the spotlight on small business owners like you who faced a do or die moment that ultimately made their business what it is today. Learn [e-mail] business podcast Chase make More of what's Yours Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply JPMorgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC Copyright 2024 JPMorgan Chase Income this is Doug Gottlieb from All Ball with Doug Gottlieb. Listen, I'm gonna get serious for a minute. The hate in our country is getting out of control. In fact, it's sadly at an all time high. But it's gonna take all of us to stop it. I mean, we're all on the same team in this country. So let's take a break from our hate so our team can regroup. We need to take a timeout against hate. Visit standuptoallhate.org to help and join me in calling for timeout against hate by following or posting the blue square emoji. From hobby farmers to weekend gardeners and everyone in between, tractor supply trusts 5G solutions from T Mobile for Business to make shopping more personal. Together we're connecting over 2,200 stores with 5G business Internet and powering AI so team members can match shoppers with products faster.

[Colin Cowherd]

You're all set.

[Doug Gottlieb]

This is enriching customer experience. This is Tractor Supply with T Mobile for Business. Take your business further@t mobile.com now.

[Colin Cowherd]

What's on your list of popular game day foods? Tailgate, house party, game day gatherings, whatever. Include real flavor with the original Louisiana brand hot sauce sliders, the beer cheese with that hit of Louisiana peppers. There's a rich food tradition in Louisiana bringing bold peppery flavor with just the right amount of heat. Pigs in a blanket. Pigs not in a blanket. Spinach artichoke Dip Artichoke Spinach Dip Wings are wingier than ever with the original Louisiana brand wing sauce. Perfect for self appointed flavor experts. The original Louisiana brand hot sauce. The game day flavor changer Flavor favors the bold. Available at a store near you. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Now let's get this party started.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Time he had a Colts gm. Exactly.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Let me say this. So with all due respect to Alex, Okay. We love Alex. Alex was a great quarterback. Here's one thing Alex did. Alex provided a blueprint for Pat Mahomes to follow. Because first and foremost, Alex was a come early, stay late guy. Yeah, he was very professional. He was very diligent in everything that he did. He took the game serious. He studied. He was a film junkie. So those are some of the things that, you know as an example of seeing an older player do. It helped Patrick to grow. Now, watching Patrick, and don't get me wrong, every young quarterback has their struggles every now and then. But there were certain throws that you'll see in practice. Like, oh, my goodness, did you see that? And we just sit there, go back.

[Colin Cowherd]

Look at the tape.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

I think more than anything is probably the consistency. He's a consistent individual. The Andy Reid that you see today is the same Andy Reid that I played for in 1999. Really the thing that I love about Coach Reid is that he's very stern. He expects you to be very professional. He expects all his coaches to be an expert at their positions. He expects his players to work hard. He expects them to be at their best when their best is needed. And there's always a culture of accountability. And when you have all that and you combined it together, now you see the consistent winning performance that just takes place throughout the course of the years. And so the thing that I love about Coach Reed is that he's provided that. And then on top of that, I got to add one more thing. He's not afraid of change. He's not afraid of. A lot of coaches are, you know, and that does not fear him. You know, he wants to make sure that whatever needs to be done, whatever we need to do to win, that's all that matters. And then you can obviously see that's been a theme of this season. It doesn't matter what the score is. When it's all said and done with, you're being measured. It ain't about the numbers. It ain't about the stats. You're being measured by two alphabets, the W or the L. Yeah. And they found a way to be 13 and 1 right now, and everybody wants to talk about what they haven't done. But I'll say this. It's hard winning 13 games in a season, let alone being 13 and one at this particular point. And that's a credit to Coach Reed.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

You know Ryan.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Him, everything benefits him.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

So Ebert Fluss was a defensive coach and that worried me.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Families, beach, to everybody, you know, and.

[Eric Bieniemy]

When you're in the first class organization and with first class people, you know, everything is done the right way. Will there be mistakes made along the way?

[Colin Cowherd]

Sure.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes, they will.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

But it always starts up top. And you want to surround your quarterback with the right people that's going to help him to develop and grow.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

The only thing that if anything that I disliked or about the college game is the lack of time that we have to teach. And so I pride myself on being a teacher. And you know, there is a 20 hour rule. You only get so much time to deal with young men. And I always have felt that it is our duty as coaches to make sure that if there's a player that's special enough, it's our responsibility of making sure we're providing this kid with all the necessary tools that's going to give him the best opportunity to play early in the NFL if he's talented enough.

[Colin Cowherd]

Want more Heard the herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Within the iHeartRadio app search heard to.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich.

[LeVar Arrington]

On Fox Sports Radio.

[Colin Cowherd]

You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in.

[LeVar Arrington]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[LeVar Arrington]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth because be sure to check out Covino and Rich live.

[LeVar Arrington]

On Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Doug Gottlieb]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[LeVar Arrington]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Dion not at all. I tell you what, knowing Rick George and knowing everything that Rick George wanted AD yes, exactly. Rick George is a great friend of mine, very close friend. He was there when we played in the national championships era. But him in primetime, they hit it off.

[Colin Cowherd]

Really.

[Eric Bieniemy]

And yes, they hit it off and there's a nucleus, there's a bond. So I thought Rick, first of all, Deion did a heck of a job of selling his vision to Rick. But on top of that, you can see the vision coming through because Deion did a great job of basically helping those young men to go out there and be successful. But on top of that, just building a competitive program by building it with the right people. I thought he did a great job.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

What do you do? So, first and foremost, congratulations to Travis Hunter on winning the Heisman Trophy. Is great. The second Heisman Trophy winner in the history of Colorado football, so outstanding. Second of all, I had to answer this question biasly because. And don't get me wrong, I think the kid is a tremendous athlete. I'm selfish. I'm on the offensive side, the ball. I want him to play receiver for me.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Jet sweeps.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Can he be a great receiver in the league?

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

You got to take a side.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

The football 12, 15 times.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Great things can happen.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Well, this game has a way of being cyclical. Everything that you think was outdated, it seems to come right back. One thing that I've always have known, you throw the ball, okay, to win. You throw the ball to win football games, to score touchdowns. Right. But you got to run it to win a championship. When it's all said and done with, the game is still one up front. All right. Whether it's the old line or the defensive line, if you can run the ball, it takes so much pressure off the, off the quarter.

[Colin Cowherd]

Also, it eats clock.

[Eric Bieniemy]

It eats clock.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Exactly.

[Colin Cowherd]

They couldn't eat the clock up because.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, you know, thousand players right now with a thousand plus rushing yards. Last year, one player.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yeah, think about that.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I think the good coaches went timeout. We got 214 pound linebackers. Yes. And then the game, most of these running backs, low center of gravity guys, they're punishing Running, but Kyron Williams, you can't get a hit on.

[Eric Bieniemy]

You can't.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I think it's s to your point, the safeties and linebackers got smaller and rangier, but not as physical.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I got to ask you one more.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yes, sir.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

He was a beast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so he was in.

[Eric Bieniemy]

He was in Denver.

[Colin Cowherd]

Denver, yes. How did you block him?

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Me saying it was good too.

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Eric Bieniemy]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Eric Bieniemy]

You know, hard to scheme around as well.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Eric Bien Me. Pleasure to meet you.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Nice to meet you as well.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Thank you for this opportunity.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, of course. We'll take a break. Herdline News around the corner Live in la, it's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of.

[Doug Gottlieb]

The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Small business Owners this one's for you. Chase for Business and iheart bring you a podcast series called the Unshakables. This one of a kind series will shine the spotlight on small business owners like you who faced a do or die moment that ultimately made their business what it is today. Learn [e-mail] business podcast Chase make More of what's Yours Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply JPMorgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC Copyright 2024 JPMorgan Chase Income from the Delta Sky Club welcome back Ms. Klein to the JetBridge. Delta Air Lines relies on 5G solutions from T Mobile for business to power operations and serve customers faster. Together we're putting 5G into the hands of ground staff so they can better assist on the go travelers with real time information throughout the airport. This is elevating customer experience. This is Delta Air Lines with T Mobile for Business. Take your business further@t mobile.com now what's.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[LeVar Arrington]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Nick Wright, Eric B. Enemy and now J. Mac with the news.

[Eric Bieniemy]

No, no, no, turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.

[Nick Wright]

Patrick Mahomes, the bionic quarterback, Colin, he got banged up in that win over the Browns. They're calling it an ankle injury. He got sandwiched between a couple defenders. Mahomes spoke yesterday about his potential of playing in week 16.

[Eric Bieniemy]

At the end of the day, I'm not going to put our team in a, a bad position. So if I feel like I can play and go out there and win a football game, I'll play. And if, if I don't feel like that's the best case scenario, I'll, I'll let guys like Carson play. I mean, he's a guy that's won in this league as well. So it's just about pushing it this week, seeing where I'm at and making the best decision.

[Colin Cowherd]

We have a little bit of room.

[Eric Bieniemy]

To, to kind of spare, but at the end of the day, we're trying to win. We're trying to win the football game. And I'm, I'm a competitor. I want to go out there and play. So I'll push myself to get to the best place possible over these next few days, and we'll be able to make a decision then.

[Nick Wright]

Sounds like he's playing. And the line is dropping down to Texans minus one and a half at kc.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't trust Houston. Come on. I, I, I think they're the most good teams I have a feel for. I don't even know. Is Houston good?

[Nick Wright]

That's a good question.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't even know what they are. Oh, seriously. I, I don't even know.

[Nick Wright]

Three, Three turnovers from TUA really flipped that game, actually.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Fumble too.

[Nick Wright]

So four. I don't, Yeah, I, I just, I, I gotta stop my Chiefs bashing. You know, I'm sure the guys are sick of it, but it would be nice to see someone else go under center for a game. Save Mahomes for the Christmas game against the Steel. We need my homes on Christmas. No, you can't tune into Carson Wentz on Christmas Day.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Nick Wright]

That's not.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I mean, Netflix is, is. You can put Logan Paul. Logan Paul could play quarterback.

[Nick Wright]

Oh, geez.

[Colin Cowherd]

Do you see that story today?

[Nick Wright]

No, what happened?

[Colin Cowherd]

Didn't you guys see that? The LOGAN Paul Conor McGregor fight? I'm not gonna. Is that real or is that boxing match? I'm not gonna watch it. There's just no way. Netflix. I, I gave you my Tyson money and I came away thinking that felt a little sketchy. I can't do it. You can burn me once. You're not burning me twice. I'm not watching Conor McGr. I'll watch the highlights. There's no way Conor McGregor is going to go into it and try to box. Logan Paul would knock him out. He's way, way bigger.

[Nick Wright]

So that I totally forgot that it, it is like, you know, one of these streaming services. All in on the Chiefs. Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes. And now if you don't have Mahomes on, I, I, I'm. You think he plays or sits against Houston?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think he plays. First of all, the, the kid is.

[Nick Wright]

He's tough.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean, he'll get hurt in game and he's dog cussing Andy Reid like he wants to play. And also the injury. When I watch the injury, he has that twice a year. I mean, the bottom line is he puts himself in these pretzel positions and he gets whacked. And he's always available to play. You got to give the guy credit. His body heals. It's that dad bod.

[Nick Wright]

The dad bod. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's not built like a violin. He's got a little. He got a little gravy and a little fun there. And it's his body. Some guy. I mean, Jared Goff never gets. I mean, there's just certain guys in this league, they get hit and they, they play.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And other guys like Carson Wentz, Mahomes backup. Historically, he missed a lot of time.

[Nick Wright]

Next story is the Raiders continue their quest to stink for Shadour. I guess that's the thing. They lost their 10th straight last night. Kind of got close there at the end. Vegas having a shot with a Hail Mary that was intercepted. Antonio Pierce spoke about the losing streak after the game.

[Eric Bieniemy]

We've seen the league this year where it goes both ways. And hell, we need a break, right? We need a little prayer. Guys are all in. Listen, man, just. We're not winning. What else tell y'all, you know, I mean, we're not winning. Do I want to win? Hell, yeah, I want to win. Don't want to keep sitting there looking the same thing we're looking at every week. And I had the same discussion with y'all. No, we got guys that's battling. No matter next man up, right? You can poke armor and do all this stuff, but these guys are not budging. I'm not budging. We'll keep chopping wood. At some point, the damn thing will break and go our way.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Do you think he retains his job?

[Nick Wright]

What does Shador Sanders think?

[Colin Cowherd]

That's.

[Nick Wright]

That's what you need to ask.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean, they play. I'll say this. They were down to the final play last night. They play hard.

[Nick Wright]

I mean, how much of that was just a Falcons ineptitude? Come on. Who can't make a save?

[Colin Cowherd]

All I know is every week, Kansas City, Atlanta, every week, I watch them. They're in the game to the last couple series.

[Nick Wright]

For the record, the Raiders starting quarterback was Desmond Ritter.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Nick Wright]

And they're starting running back with someone named Sincere McCormack or something. I've never heard of that guy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Before last week. And it's like they're actively trying to lose games.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, no, they're not. They're not tanking. They're playing who they think.

[Eric Bieniemy]

This is.

[Colin Cowherd]

Just.

[Nick Wright]

This is no different than an NBA tank, where you look at the roster in March and you're like, who are these guys playing for?

[Colin Cowherd]

For the Pelicans. The NBA does that. It's hard to tank in hockey and football because you get your block knocked off.

[Nick Wright]

Software soft tank for the Raiders. Come on.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I think they.

[Nick Wright]

I mean, Brock Bowers is trying his butt off, but other than that, like, they don't have anybody. And you need that number one pick. You got to get Shador. I do think we're headed toward another Eli Manning situation at the top. Eli Manning or John Elwood, if the Giants get it. There are a lot of smart people that are saying, hey, Shador does not want to play for the Giant. You don't want to go to New York. Dion's gone on record saying, I'm going to work behind the scenes. So that's gonna be fun. I can't wait for January. That's gonna be fun. Drama next month, and we'll close out with the New York Football jets, who are on the hunt for a new coach and a new GM and hopefully a new quarterback. Yesterday, the team announced they had completed an interview with former Falcons GM Thomas Dimitrov.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Did I say that right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. Woody Johnson hired the 33rd team. I guess that's a website in support of, to try to vet candidates.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I know him pretty well. He's a sharp guy.

[Nick Wright]

You do?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. He's the one that took the big gamble. Thomas took the big gamble, and he went and got Julio Jones and gave up all those picks, and people were like, whoa. And then Julio became arguably the best receiver in a decade.

[Nick Wright]

He was awesome.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, he was in his prime. Julio Jones was. It was like Randy Moss, like, he was the best player.

[Nick Wright]

Unbelievable. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

I just like that he took a big swing on that. Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Did any postseason success to speak of or no. From I I don't know the answer.

[Colin Cowherd]

I, I don't.

[Nick Wright]

Listen, I'm going to be honest, as a Jets fan, I'm just stepping back from the process. I'm not like in it, in the weeds finding out because it's, it's. Nothing's going to be done anytime soon.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right?

[Nick Wright]

This is just cursory interviews. Maybe. I mean, I, I would be willing to, to talk to them.

[Colin Cowherd]

I said this earlier. Of the three broken franchises, Bears have the best quarterback. Giants have the best history. The jets, now that they have a left tackle for the future, they have the best players.

[Nick Wright]

Let me ask you, why are the, why are the Cleveland Browns not a broken franchise? They need to be in there.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, they made the playoffs a few years ago and they've got a great coach and an excellent GM and the best pass rusher in the sport.

[Nick Wright]

Ownership is terrible.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, no, I don't like the ownership, but I think they've got players.

[Nick Wright]

What about the Jaguars? How are they not broken? They're drafting in the top five for like the third time in five years.

[Colin Cowherd]

They're close. You know, they're not broken, but they're. There's a tear, it's torn.

[Nick Wright]

It's not a broke, it's not fully ruptured. Just a tear in the meniscus.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right, right, right. J. Mac with the news.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by.

[Colin Cowherd]

The herd lie news. Yeah, we got Eric B. Enemy, Nick Wright. Stop by today. No, it is, it is. I posed this question. If you're Mike Vrabel. The jets have the best players. The Giants have the best history and game day revenue. They got a lot of money and the Bears have the best quarterback. And I've always lived by a rule. I, I've lived by this forever. Money's important. I'm not, I'm not saying it's not, but if you watch the NFL, I did this earlier today when I showed. If you look at the teams in first place, take out the AFC south, take that out. That's a weird division. I don't like the owners in that division. I don't like any of them. If you take out that division, the first place team and often the second, it's not about just the best quarterback Buffalo's got in that division. The best front office, AFC North, Steelers, Ravens, best front office, AFC west right now, best front office, best ownership. Chiefs, Philadelphia. Now with Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie in Washington, I think Adam Peters is a rising star as a general manager of Washington, Tampa. I know The Glazer family very well. Non meddling good people. Jason Light, the GM I've been telling you is one of the best personnel guys in the league. Detroit don't love the ownership, love the front office Brad Holmes and Stan Kroenke and the Rams they draft well. Dude, that, that defense is all draft picks outside of safety it's good they got players people just you do you. So that's why I said with Joe Douglas and Robert Sala you may not think Sal is a head coach. Joe Douglas missed on a quarterback in a Covid year. So did John lynch and the Niners. The COVID year was a was a curveball to the league.

[Nick Wright]

So did the Bears with Fields. I mean that was.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no, I mean it was the year Scooter everybody up. Take out that basically Joe Douglas built this roster. It is a good, good roster.

[Nick Wright]

Small breaking news According to Jeremy Fowler at the other place, the Tennessee Titans are making a switch at quarterback.

[Eric Bieniemy]

Oh.

[Nick Wright]

Mason Rudolph is the logical candidate to step in for Will Levis. We last week both of us said Will Levis. We'll probably give him a shot next year.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no.

[Nick Wright]

How many times have they benched him this year? Is this three? Well, definitely.

[Colin Cowherd]

So this is official if you're going to Mason Rudolph they're in the market.

[Nick Wright]

For and and now listen. Jalen Milroe could get in play for the Titans in the top 10 because Callahan's gonna want a quarterback. He's an offensive guy. He worked with Joe Burrow at Cincinnati.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. So the Raiders Giants will draft a quarterback officially at 6. The Titans will pursue a quarterback.

[Nick Wright]

You're gonna have to kick the tires and you can't take yours there. I like yours. You can't take it. Six.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no. I would take Mill Rover. I don't know if Milro is going to make it, but I'm physically, I think he's a much better Anthony Richardson and now you need to be much, much better. I'm partnering with PayPal. The holiday season is here and I'm going to save big with cash back offers in the PayPal app. It's easy. I browse deals from my favorite brands, save offers in the app and use PayPal checkout online. Really, really easy. Whether I'm buying gifts for my family or treating myself to something nice, I'm earning cash back and you can too. Don't just pay PayPal check offers in the app for details and exclusions, cashback earned as points redeemable for cash and other options, see PayPal rewards terms from.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Hobby farmers to weekend gardeners and everyone in between, tractor supply trusts 5G solutions from T Mobile for Business to make shopping more personal. Together, we're connecting over 2,200 stores with 5G business Internet and powering AI so team members can match shoppers with products faster.

[Colin Cowherd]

You're all set.

[Doug Gottlieb]

This is enriching customer experience. This is Tractor Supply with T Mobile for Business. Take your business further@t mobile.com now.

[Eric Bieniemy]

The.

[Colin Cowherd]

Flavor, the tradition and the spirit of Carne Asada lives on at Del Taco.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Join the Asada today with Del Taco's new limited time half pound chipotle Carne Asada Steak Burrito. Packed with sweet, spicy and smoky flavor.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Doug Gottlieb]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Loaded fries and street tacos starting at just $2.99 only. At Del Taco, we've all got a thing, an obsession. For some of us, it's vintage fashion. Our cars, anything we can collect, they all live under one roof. EBay. It's where closets get filled with statement pieces and vintage finds, where must have sneakers wait for you. And designer handbags are the real deal on ebay. Doors open to stacks of the rarest trading cards and a garage stocked with all the car parts you need for any DIY job. EBay's home to whatever thing you're into that keeps you up at night. Ebay Things People Love this is Doug.

[Doug Gottlieb]

Gottlieb from All Ball with Doug Gottlieb. Listen, I'm gonna get serious for a minute. The hate in our country is getting out of control. In fact, it's sadly at an all time high. But it's gonna take all of us to stop it. I mean, we're all on the same team in this country. So let's take a break from our hate so our team can regroup. We need to take a timeout against hate. Visit stand uptoallhate.org to help and join me in calling for timeout against hate by following at what's up with Hate or posting the blue square emoji.