The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hour 3)

Episode Date: September 15, 2025
Main Topics: Quarterback injuries (Jayden Daniels, JJ McCarthy), Questions about Caleb Williams’ NFL fit, Thoughts on the Broncos & Bo Nix, Eagles’ run game, Burrow’s usage, NFL headlines, College football recap (USC, LSU), Guest: Mark Schlereth

Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd and his guest Mark Schlereth dive deep into the current quarterback injuries shaping the NFL landscape, scrutinize the early struggles of top draft picks like Caleb Williams and Bo Nix, and analyze problematic fits between star players and coaching philosophies. The show also covers the vulnerability of prominent college teams, the Eagles’ ground dominance, and delivers color commentary on NFL headline drama, including Miami’s struggles and spicy college coach press conferences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Is Caleb Williams a Fit for the Shanahan Coaching Tree?

Guest: Mark Schlereth
[02:34–05:09]

• Schlereth's NFL Concern: Mark highlights Williams’ college tendency to “turn down wide open throws to make something better happen,” cautioning that “boring is the way you win” in the NFL—executing structure over athletic improvisation.
• Scripted vs. Off-Script: Williams is effective when on the scripted plays (14-of-19 in the first half) but falters when forced into improvisation, finishing less efficiently overall.
• Learning to Punt: Mark stresses that punting is okay in the NFL—a mindset shift for athletes like Caleb, who are used to being praised for athletic heroics.
  • "When things break down as a quarterback, your reaction has to be from the neck up, not from the neck down." – Mark Schlereth [04:25]

2. Denver Broncos: Sloppy Play & Bo Nix's Progress

Guest: Mark Schlereth
[05:09–07:23]

• Broncos Fall to Colts: The supposed “elite” Denver defense got “pushed around” by Indianapolis’ offensive line, failing to generate a meaningful pass rush.
  • "They could not stop the run... That elite level defense got pushed around yesterday." – Mark Schlereth [06:42]
• Bo Nix’s Day: Improvement noted, but a costly interception and poor defensive performance raise red flags.
• Colts "Better Than People Think": Indy's roster and coaching impress, showcasing strong personnel (Taylor, Pittman, Pierce) and control at the line of scrimmage.

3. Dak Prescott’s Revival After Surgery

Guest: Mark Schlereth
[07:23–09:08]

• Dak Looks Reborn: Schlereth continues to applaud Prescott’s composure and performance post-surgery.
• Dallas’ Offensive Gameplan: Credit given to Brian Schottenheimer’s play-calling, especially mixing explicit threats (Pickens deep, Lamb on third downs).
• Defensive Caveat: Needs improvement—“can’t give up big play after big play” despite offensive fireworks.

4. Eagles' Running Game & Defensive Impact

Guest: Mark Schlereth
[09:08–12:40]

• Wear'em Down Philosophy: Teams with superior run games control tempo, protect their older defenses, and dominate second halves.
  • “Running the ball is getting in the red zone … and you say we’re going to run it down your throats anyway.” – Mark Schlereth [11:20]
• Contrast with Kansas City: Chiefs lack a true run game (“only Mahomes ran well”), putting more pressure on their defense and pass game in the fourth quarter.

5. Quarterbacks & Injury Risk: Burrow, Fields, McCarthy, Daniels

[12:40–15:01, 35:42–39:38]

• Quarterback Blame: Sacks are increasingly “quarterback-driven,” with holding onto the ball or system design (constant shotgun) contributing to injuries.
  • "Sacks have become more quarterback-driven statistics than they are an O-line-driven statistic." – Mark Schlereth [13:20]
• Burrow Frustration: Forced to carry offense from the shotgun; Schlereth criticizes Cincinnati for never “taking a load off” of their star QB.
• Injury Updates:
  • Jayden Daniels (Washington): Knee injury, “status up in the air.” Durability questions linger, matching pre-draft concerns about his slight build.
  • JJ McCarthy (Vikings): Out with an ankle injury; repeat history of getting hurt due to holding the ball too long.
  • General Take: GMs/coaches want QBs to win from the pocket — less risk attached, but sometimes even that’s not enough if the O-line fails (“this is on you,” referencing teams that don’t protect their quarterbacks).

6. Miami Dolphins Drama (& AFC East shakeup)

[21:44–24:43]

• Dolphins Collapse: 0-2 after key mistakes; Tua’s late interception and missed links with Tyreek Hill. Calls for “teardown to the studs.”
  • "Mike McDaniel looks like a government employee who lost his job in the Doge Cuts." – Colin Cowherd [23:13]
• Locker Room Friction: Tua voices frustration (“the whole operation was not up to standard” [23:49]).
• Patriots’ Big Win: Antonio Gibson’s special teams touchdown; belief solidifies that Buffalo wins the division, New England slides in as a wild card.

7. Jaguars & Trevor Lawrence Under Scrutiny

[24:43–26:15]

• Overblown Internet Panic: Missed throws, occasional rifts with OC Liam Cohen, and dropped touchdowns are amplifying whispers about Lawrence.
• Cowherd’s Reasoning: Reminds listeners not to “box score watch” or scapegoat Lawrence—he was a few plays from sealing the win.
  • “Let’s not overreact. People want to dump Trevor Lawrence after this… I’m sticking with this guy.” – Colin Cowherd [26:06]

8. Brian Kelly vs the Media (LSU-Florida Fallout)

[26:25–29:42]

• Classic Press Conference Blowup: Kelly bristles at questions after a win over Florida:
  • “You want us to win 70–0 against Florida to keep you happy? … You’re spoiled, you’re spoiled.” – Brian Kelly [26:43]
• SEC Reality: Cowherd and Schwab contextualize coach meltdowns; the SEC’s relentless pressure cooker environment pushes coaches (Kelly, Sarkisian) to the edge.
• Outlook: LSU not a dominant team, but still a “good football team.” Schlereth: SEC schedules are brutal and top-tier coaches have little patience for criticism during the grind.

9. College Football Surprises & Playoff Talk

[19:50–21:25, 30:56–31:27]

• USC’s Jordan Mayava Emerges: Big improvement; Lincoln Riley lauded for “cleaning up” the QB’s game.
• Schedule Questions: Cowherd and Schwab joke about USC’s schedule strength and underappreciation in national polls.
• Oklahoma’s Steadying Defense: Both USC and Oklahoma have stabilized under their respective “humming” offensive and defensive identities—possible playoff implications.

Memorable Quotes

• “When things break down as a quarterback, your reaction has to be from the neck up, not from the neck down.”
  – Mark Schlereth [04:25]
• “They could not stop the run… That elite level defense got pushed around yesterday.”
  – Mark Schlereth [06:42]
• “Mike McDaniel looks like a government employee who lost his job in the Doge Cuts.”
  – Colin Cowherd [23:13]
• “You want us to win 70–0 against Florida to keep you happy? … You’re spoiled.”
  – Brian Kelly [26:43]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:34 – Mark Schlereth on Caleb Williams' NFL transition
• 05:09 – Broncos postmortem & Bo Nix evaluation
• 07:23 – Dak Prescott’s return and the Cowboys offense
• 09:08 – Eagles’ ground game and its defensive impact
• 12:40 – QB injury risk and the ‘quarterback-driven sack’
• 19:50 – USC’s surprise QB and schedule outlook
• 21:44 – Miami Dolphins’ meltdown & AFC East implications
• 24:43 – Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence critique & overreaction
• 26:25 – Brian Kelly’s postgame outburst
• 30:56 – College football playoff potential: USC & Oklahoma
• 35:42 – Jayden Daniels & JJ McCarthy injury updates

Tone and Style

Opinionated, conversational, and occasionally humorous—typical of Cowherd’s analysis, with Schlereth offering player-centric, technical breakdowns and sprinkling in memorable “old-school” football mantras. Frequent sidebars and inside jokes keep the episode lively, especially when pivoting to college football or the latest in NFL drama.

This summary captures the episode’s football-rich insights, punchy commentary, and key storylines for listeners who missed the broadcast.