The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Richard Sherman Podcast

Episode: Rod Woodson on Steelers Football, 2000 Ravens Defense, 71 INTs & NFL DB Play Today

Date: March 16, 2026 | Guest: Rod Woodson

Episode Overview

This episode of the Richard Sherman Podcast, part of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, delivers an all-access, football-nerd’s dream conversation between two legendary NFL defensive backs: Richard Sherman and Hall of Famer Rod Woodson. The two break down the art of playing defensive back, share war stories from iconic defenses (Steelers, Ravens, Legion of Boom), and reflect on the evolution of NFL defensive play in an era tilted toward offense. From deep dives on technique, coaching, and football IQ to raw stories about great hits and locker room leadership, this is a masterclass in defensive football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rod Woodson’s Early NFL Experience and Growth

• Rod’s “Welcome to the NFL” Moment:
  • Fumbles first kick return, leading to a loss, learning quickly about NFL speed and competitiveness.
  • "I just thought I was fast… but, man, all these dudes can run. Everybody can run." (04:32)
• Learning from OGs:
  • Mentorship from Steelers legends like Donnie Shell, John Starwood, with Rod paired up with Donnie on road trips.
  • Adjustment period required, but benefited from exposure to coaching greats like Tony Dungy and Dick LeBeau.
• Adapting to Corner After College Safety:
  • Struggles early at corner; pivotal coaching moment with Rod Russ teaches him to simplify formation reading:
    • “‘How many eligible receivers?’ I said, five. He said, ‘They can get in five formations.’ …And after that, I went to seven straight Pro Bowls.” (08:15)
• Coaching & Self-Belief:
  • Importance of having coaches who allow players to grow, learn from mistakes, and play to strengths.

2. Football IQ, Technique, and Defensive Philosophy

• Sherman’s Path:
  • Converted from receiver to defensive back, leveraging knowledge of route trees and offensive concepts.
    • "I know the route tree, I know where everybody's supposed to be… I'm super smart with that, right?" (12:05)
• Player Individuality in Coaching:
  • Woodson: “Every player is different. Some guys got tight hips… some guys can back pedal, some guys can’t. Great coaches allow players to be themselves inside of their system, as long as they don’t go rogue.” (13:35)
• Evolution of Technique:
  • The importance of playing in a comfortable stance rather than adhering strictly to college basics.
    • Sherman describes Pete Carroll’s stance philosophy: "If you can’t stand in that stance for two hours, then that’s not your stance." (16:27)
    • Rod: "That's a real good point right there. I never heard of it said like that." (17:22)
• Press vs. Zone, Soft Squat, and DB Creativity:
  • Both discuss mixing looks (disguising Cover 2, playing “up and outside,” baiting quarterbacks) and making split-second adjustments.
    • Memorable moment: Woodson breaking down his technique disguising Cover 2, bailing three steps, then stopping to make the QB wonder (23:39).
• Defensive Adjustments and Autonomy:
  • Sharing stories where defenses made calls on the fly, improvising coverage during big games.
    • Sherman: “They trusted us. We would do things on the fly and then talk about it in the meeting the next day.” (21:59)

3. The Legendary Defenses: Ravens, Steelers, Legion of Boom

• 2000 Ravens Defense:
  • Rod recounts the journey from a 6–10 team to champions, with Ray Lewis and a loaded D-line.
  • “We didn’t worry about the run game… I mean, we had five games. We didn’t score a touchdown on offense… and we won three of them.” (29:49)
  • Giants Super Bowl: “I said, man, these dudes can’t beat us. If they get across the 50-yard line, we quit.” (29:46)
• Defensive Mindset & Swagger:
  • Both discuss the confidence, “swag,” and accountability that great defenses hold as their standard.
    • Rod on the Steelers: “We blitzed everybody.” (35:02)
    • Sherman: “In the Super Bowl, Demarius Thomas and Eric Decker tapped out on a long drive. I called them everything in the book… Y'all are not built to beat us." (34:13)
• The Culture of Accountability:
  • Leaders in the locker room set the tone, self-policing is essential:
    • “Every time we come to work and we cross that white line, it’s about work.” (52:07)
    • “You have to be a baller to play on that Steeler team or that Ravens team. You gotta have that mindset.” (47:06)

4. Adversity & Comeback Stories

• Woodson’s 1995 ACL Tear and Comeback:
  • Details rehabbing the whole year, returning to play 18 Super Bowl snaps after just 19 weeks—unprecedented in that era.
  • “Bill Cowher… gave me that green light. He left the light at the end of the tunnel for me and I got to play in the Super Bowl.” (36:30)

5. The Modern NFL: Rule Changes, Technique Losses & DB Evolution

• Safety-First League:
  • "Quarterbacks are protected in the pocket, out of the pocket. …Receivers are protected over the middle. …They already caught the ball." (43:24)
• Fundamental Decline:
  • Woodson laments the loss of fundamentals: “Nobody backpedals anymore. …The game has changed.” (43:24)
• Coaching Youth:
  • Less OG wisdom shared; young players and young coaches, less seasoning.
• Impact on Interceptions:
  • Sherman notes leading the decade with 41 picks (reg.+playoffs), but “no one’s getting 71” in today’s era.
    • Woodson: “You see good players come through…but they’re not gonna have 8, 9, 10. They don’t even want to play 10 years.” (43:24)

6. Debates: Zone vs. Man, Training, and the Art of Defensive Back Play

• Zone vs. Man:
  • Both refute the notion that all great corners must play man:
    • “Not anybody in the league that's playing straight man… it's because the rest of the defense can't. Great defensive backs can do it all. The great players can do both.” (54:44–56:29)
• Priorities for Great DBs:
  • Woodson: “What I’m a fan of is ballers. …My mindset was always: interception first, PBU second, tackle if he catch it.” (56:31)
• On-Field Drills & Ball Skills:
  • Mutual respect for “point of contact” drills; agreement that PBUs are great, but “game changers get picks.” (58:22)

7. Current Players & Team Assessments

• Top DBs Today:
  • Woodson likes Patrick Surtain II, Tariq Woolen, Christian Gonzalez, and Derek Stingley, with special credit to the Houston Texans young, hard-hitting DB group.
  • "Them dudes remind me of you guys [Legion of Boom] because they were knocking cats out. This is Legion of Boom 2.0." (61:12)
• Traits in a Modern DB:
  • Toughness/grit; football intelligence beyond the box (creativity within scheme); ball skills.
    • “The great ones don’t live in that [defensive] box. …Getting the football for your team matters.” (63:25)

8. NFL Business & Breaking News: Max Crosby & Ravens Free Agency

• Maxx Crosby’s Short-Lived Raven Stint:
  • Woodson and Sherman react to the failed physical, strategic pivot to signing Trey Hendrickson.
    • “They saw how things unfolded in free agency… and got a comparable player, kept draft picks. That’s a home run.” (73:53)
  • Woodson: “Crosby got that dog in him… But, at the end of the day, they keep their picks.” (75:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Coaching & Growth:
  • “Every player is different… Great coaches allow players to be themselves inside of their system as long as they don't go rogue, right?” — Rod Woodson (13:35)
• On Defensive Autonomy:
  • “We would do things on the fly and then talk about it in the meeting the next day… Coach'll live with our decision-making.” — Richard Sherman (21:59)
• On Legendary Defenses:
  • “We didn’t worry about the run game… we had five games [that offense] didn’t score a touchdown and we won three of them.” — Rod Woodson (29:49)
• On Big Hits:
  • “Cam [Chancellor] hit him, I felt it on tv. That hit was one of the most vicious hits I’ve seen.” — Rod Woodson (31:11)
• On Creating Turnovers:
  • “Game changers get picks.” — Rod Woodson (58:24)
• On DB Priorities:
  • “Interception, first; PBU, second; tackle, if he catch it.” — Rod Woodson (56:31)
• On Modern DBs:
  • “Houston Texans… remind me of you guys because they were knocking cats out. This is Legion of Boom 2.0.” — Rod Woodson (61:12)
• On the Brotherhood of Defense:
  • “All the great defenses over the generations all had a certain trait… we about that business.” — Rod Woodson (50:18)
• On Zone vs. Man Debate:
  • “Great defensive backs can do it all… even in a zone call, there’s a concept of man somewhere on that zone call.” — Rod Woodson (54:44)
• On Lockeroom Standard:
  • “There’s an accountability… that’s inherent. There’s no disrespect. It’s always love… we have the same goal in mind.” — Richard Sherman (50:18)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Highlight | |-----------|------------------| | 03:07 | Rod Woodson recounts his "welcome to the NFL" game and early mistakes | | 06:28 | The mental side: overcoming self-doubt, importance of coaches Tony Dungy, Rod Russ | | 11:22 | Sherman’s learning curve, applying WR intelligence to DB play, and adapting technique | | 14:43 | The freedom to play to your strengths; flexibility coaches gave Woodson, Sherman | | 23:39 | Woodson describes disguising coverage and manipulating QBs/WRs in Coverage 2 | | 26:56 | Comparing all-time great defenses: '85 Bears, '00 Ravens, Legion of Boom, and more | | 34:13 | Super Bowl XLVIII: Sherman’s insider story on outlasting Denver’s record-breaking offense | | 36:30 | 1995 ACL tear and comeback: Woodson’s rehab for the Super Bowl | | 43:24 | The impact of rule changes, culture shift, and decline of fundamentals at DB | | 50:18 | Locker room leadership, standards, and the "about that business" mentality | | 54:44 | Sherman and Woodson tackle the zone vs. man myth in cornerback evaluation | | 62:43 | Woodson builds his "perfect modern DB" (toughness, football IQ, ball skills) | | 70:37 | Maxx Crosby-Ravens saga and Ravens’ alternative moves in free agency | | 75:54 | Woodson on the importance of draft picks and closing thoughts |

Conclusion / Tone

This conversation is layered in mutual respect, technical mastery, and infectious competitive swagger. Both men speak plainly, sometimes colorfully, with strong opinions and deep insight; the tone remains candid but reverential—two icons celebrating not only their own journeys but the enduring greatness, demanding standards, and legacy of shutdown, game-changing NFL defenses.

For listeners: This episode is a goldmine of perspective on what makes defenses truly great in the NFL—past, present, and future. Whether you played, coached, or just love the game, you’ll come away sharper for having heard two of football’s smartest DBs share their secrets and stories.