The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2:

Biggest Challenge for Caleb Williams, Shedeur Sanders as 3rd String QB, and NFL Insights with Greg Cosell
August 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd focuses on the realities facing young NFL quarterbacks, including the steep learning curve for Caleb Williams, the reasons behind Shedeur Sanders being placed as the Cleveland Browns’ third-string QB, and detailed film analysis with veteran NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell. Colin dives into why coaching choices matter deeply for QB success, debates about Baker Mayfield’s outlook in Tampa, and examines the Texans’ roster-building. The hour is packed with rich football-focused conversation, film study breakdowns, and spirited analysis from both Colin and his guests—including John Middlekauff and Greg Cosell.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Pork Chops, Not Overthinking, and Greg Cosell’s Film Analysis

• [03:19] Colin warms up with a metaphor about not overthinking choices, transitioning to football: “Not out think the room. Well, that. And that's Greg Cosell. He doesn't out think the film. 46 years at NFL films…”
• Greg Cosell joins the show, bringing decades of film analysis expertise (04:16).

Browns QB Battle: Why Is Shedeur Sanders Third String?

[04:16-07:35]

• Discussion centers on Cleveland Browns’ decision to make Shedeur Sanders the third-string QB.
• Cosell breaks down how coaching philosophy and scheme compatibility shape QB evaluations:
  • Dylan Gabriel is “stylistically similar to Tua Tagovailoa…a rhythm player, a timing player…hits his back foot and the ball comes out.”
  • Shedeur Sanders is not as rhythmic; “he tends to drift a little in the pocket. He tends to retreat in the pocket.”
  • Sanders’ experience at Colorado included “a ton of tunnel screens, a ton of easy throws,” so he’ll need to show better pocket navigation.
  • “Sanders got hurt and missed some time in practice, and that's not going to help him.” — Greg Cosell (06:22)

“The whole league told you [Shedeur Sanders] is a fifth-round quarterback and the Browns are telling you…he’s a third-string quarterback.”—Colin Cowherd (46:22)

Cosell also notes that no team keeps four QBs, making camp performance even more crucial.

How Coaches Think About QBs

[07:03-07:35]

• Importance of ‘scheme adaptability’: “Coaches work 16 hours a day…They want all this executed, and when it's not executed, then it becomes a problem.”—Greg Cosell

Analyzing Brock Purdy’s Decline Against Playoff Teams

[07:35-09:46]

• Purdy’s record: “One in six against playoff teams…The wide receiving core is in complete shambles.”
• Cosell’s film review: Purdy is a “really good quarterback...not Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes…but a high-level post snap operator…really, really good timing and anticipation thrower…it’s innate to him.”
• Failing team context: “How many quarterbacks…are really great when their team’s not very good?...Purdy’s a really good quarterback. He’s just not a dynamic athlete who’s necessarily going to make those kind of special plays on his own. But as a pocket quarterback, he's pretty high level.”
  — Greg Cosell (08:29-09:46)

Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson’s Offensive System

[09:46-11:37]

• Colin questions what Ben Johnson is doing to help Caleb Williams improve.
• Cosell: “The main part for Caleb Williams…is everything from the huddle until the ball is snapped.”
  • Emphasizes the challenge of handling shifts, motions, and multiple play calls — “that part of quarterbacking is the bigger deal.”
• Williams’ arm talent and athleticism are not the issue; pre-snap efficiency is the main hurdle.

“Ben Johnson will set you up beautifully with defined and clean reads and throws. And Caleb Williams throws it as well as anybody…But it’s really from the point of the huddle until the ball is snapped, that’s going to be the main part that he has to become efficient at.”
— Greg Cosell (10:26-11:37)

Offensive Coaches & Young Quarterback Development

[11:37-13:43]

• Colin: Offensive coaches “help quarterbacks, especially young quarterbacks.”
• Jackson Dart’s progression after three years with Lane Kiffin noted; preseason film shows coaches worked to keep things simple and boost his confidence.
• “They tried to make it easy for him so he could make confident throws, which he did ... but obviously when the regular season starts...things get different.”—Greg Cosell

Aaron Rodgers and Team Fit: Bad Choice with the Steelers?

[13:43-15:38]

• Colin critiques potential fit for Rodgers in Pittsburgh, comparing it to last year’s Jets.
• Cosell: Rodgers “throws the ball super well… To me the bigger issue is how you mesh…what you want to do as an offensive coordinator…with the fact that Aaron Rodgers is so good at the line of scrimmage and likes to change things based on what he sees.”
• Emphasis that coaching style and play-calling autonomy are critical for veteran QBs.

Rams’ Boom-or-Bust Potential & The Stafford Factor

[15:38-17:56]

• Colin: “If Matt Stafford doesn’t play, this is the only team in the league that could win the Super Bowl or finish 4 and 13.”
• Cosell: “They don’t have a great offensive roster ... and Stafford has just always been so good. ... But yeah, you’re right, offensively they do not have great players throughout that offense. And Stafford’s injury ... that’s a tough deal as you get older.”

Sam Darnold in Seattle—System Dependency

[17:56-19:47]

• Darnold’s success with Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) discussed.
• Cosell: Seattle’s logic in signing Darnold—run similar system as Minnesota to maximize play-action strength.
• “There's less reading involved in the play-action game, particularly when you're under center...Most quarterbacks need a particular style, a particular philosophy to be effective.”—Greg Cosell

Debate: Is Shedeur Sanders Overvalued?

[43:46-46:22]

• Colin recaps: Browns took Gabriel before Sanders and gave Sanders 3rd-string status; calls out fans who may want to blame the NFL or Browns for not giving Sanders a fair shot.
• He’s direct: “Let’s be honest. The entire NFL told you he’s a fifth-round pick and the Browns are telling you he’s a third-string quarterback. He was overvalued. I’m guilty as charged.”

"I mean, if Shedeur could be the starter. Are you kidding me? ... They would love, they would love for Shedeur as a fifth round pick to be a starting quarterback. There's no, there's no advantage to the Browns burying him."
—Colin Cowherd (46:22)

• John Middlekauff: “Didn’t Stefanski tell you what he thought about Shedeur when he had the chance to take him in the third round and he took another quarterback?...He clearly likes Dylan Gabriel. I mean, that's not debatable.” (50:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Greg Cosell, on scheme fit and coaching mindset:

“Coaches work 16 hours a day and they're putting in their scheme…They want all this executed, and when it's not executed, then it becomes a problem.” (07:03)

Greg Cosell, on Brock Purdy:

“Purdy is a high level post snap operator … as a pocket quarterback, he's pretty high level.” (08:29-09:46)

Greg Cosell, on Caleb Williams:

“The main part for Caleb Williams…is everything from the huddle until the ball is snapped ... That’s going to be the main part that he has to become efficient at.” (11:37)

Colin, on Shedeur Sanders:

“Let’s be honest. The entire NFL told you he’s a fifth-round pick and the Browns are telling you he’s a third-string quarterback. He was overvalued. I’m guilty as charged.” (46:22)

Greg Cosell, on Darnold:

“Most quarterbacks need a particular style, a particular philosophy to be effective. There’s very few transcendent quarterbacks you can just say let’s do anything and they’ll be great.” (19:47)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Browns QB battle & Shedeur vs Gabriel: 04:16-07:35
• Scheme adaptability / coach thinking: 07:03-07:35
• Brock Purdy, YAC & offensive support: 07:35-09:46
• Caleb Williams’ greatest challenge: 09:46-11:37
• Jackson Dart, the value of offensive coaches: 12:01-13:43
• Aaron Rodgers team fit: 13:43-15:38
• Rams’ season outcome volatility: 15:38-17:56
• Sam Darnold in Seattle and why fit matters: 17:56-19:47
• Summary and re-evaluation (Shedeur): 43:46-46:22, 50:18

Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is candid, football-nerdy, and occasionally self-deprecating—Colin admits to occasionally overhyping quarterbacks ("I’m guilty as charged.").
• Greg Cosell brings clear, technical precision from his decades of tape study, focusing on traits, habits, and the critical importance of “scheme fit.”
• Colin and John maintain a lively, conversational tone, blending stats, film, and market realities with a bit of wit and skepticism about fan-driven narratives.
• The overall message: Quarterback success in the NFL is about more than arm talent; system fit, coaching style, and play-to-play execution matter deeply, and the market’s collective judgment isn’t often wrong.