Hour 4: Callers

Summary

The Paul Finebaum Show — Hour 4: Callers (July 16, 2026)

Overview

This episode of The Paul Finebaum Show, hosted by Cole Cubelic (filling in for Paul), is dedicated to lively caller-led discussion and expert analysis as the SEC and broader college football community prepare for the upcoming season and SEC Media Days. The conversation covers Auburn’s playoff potential, the state of Alabama football (especially the quarterback situation), South Carolina's offensive line, Georgia’s identity, coaching comparisons, the impact of the transfer portal, NIL, and even the College Football Playoff's possible structural evolution inspired by soccer's global expansion.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Auburn’s Upset Potential & Playoff Hopes

(01:12–03:15)

• Caller Arthur makes a bold prediction: "I have a feeling Auburn’s going to go 11–2 and make the playoffs."
• Arthur credits Auburn’s bounce-back history, their coaching stability under Alex Gors, and the familiarity of portal transfers with his system.
• Arthur’s projected Auburn schedule: upset win over Georgia (after a bye week), losses at Tennessee and against Alabama.
• Cole’s Response: “There are pieces of it I could see… you have some advantages from a continuity perspective with all the guys being brought in from the portal by Alex Gors that have played in his system.” (02:26)
• Quote (Arthur, 03:23): "When Alabama and Auburn are both good, it’s a great day in the state of Alabama."

Memorable Moment:
Arthur’s passionate explanation of Auburn’s historical cycles and why he thinks this year is the year for a surprise run.

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2. South Carolina’s Offensive Line Depth & Portal Magic

(04:12–07:09)

• Double J (Taylor in SC) asks Cole to diagnose strengths and liabilities on South Carolina’s O-line.
• Cole’s Analysis: Greatest upside comes from transfer tackle Tcarrius Peake, a “big-time player” with “true OT size, frame, and big-time ability.”
• Cole mentions other key new faces—Carter Miller at center (“solid enough, big enough”), Dana Arnett at tackle (Ferris State).
• South Carolina’s strength is “doing more with less” via the portal: “They find these dudes that nobody’s heard about... and they all work out.” (06:06)
• Strategic note: New offense under Kendall Browns will require less power/mauling, focusing on space and quick distribution which should help the O-line.
• Growth and development in linemen like Josiah Thompson are possible as players mature.

Quote (Cole, 06:24):
“I’ve said it for a while: I think South Carolina does more with less through the portal than any team in the SEC.”

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3. Alabama’s Outlook: QB Battle, Kalen DeBoer vs. Saban, and Coaching Questions

(07:34–17:53)

Former Bama Bus Driver's Perspective

• Tiny, a former team bus driver: “Once we figure out who our quarterback’s going to be, Alabama’s going to be a hard team to deal with.”
• He’s frustrated by the pessimism and points out Kalen DeBoer’s strong early record: “Look at Saban's record and look at [DeBoer’s]... see who had the better record the first two years.” (08:22)
• Tiny credits DeBoer's turnaround jobs at Fresno and Washington.

Caller Ray: DeBoer vs. Saban

• Ray argues there’s “no comparison”—Saban inherited an NCAA-sanctioned disaster, while DeBoer took on a dynasty. "He turned that program around in two years and won a national championship out of that mess... The board has inherited a legitimate dynasty." (12:51)

Cole’s Nuanced Take

• Portal and NIL have changed the game and made DeBoer's start more difficult (“thirty-something kids that hit the portal” after Saban left).
• “Nick Saban didn’t have Portal and NIL to worry about ... you have to at least take that into consideration.” (13:51)

Bama’s Quarterback Dilemma

• Trey in Tuscaloosa presses Cole: Who should start? Mack or Keelan Russell?
• Cole sees pros and cons in both. Mobility may give Russell an edge if the O-line struggles; Mack may “give better command of the offense” if things are stable.
• Alabama may even utilize both (red zone/dual threats), depending on how the offense is gelling.

Notable Quote (Cole, 17:53): “It will depend largely upon the offensive line and the run game... If Keelan Russell wins the job and he’s leaps and bounds ahead of Austin Mack... is there much by design? Do they want him to carry the ball much more than four or five times in a game because they want to try to protect him?”

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4. Georgia’s “Blunt Force Trauma” Identity & Playoff Aspirations

(28:59–32:45)

• Eddie, a Georgia fan: “As far as your aspect of how Georgia is built to play football... it is definitely blunt force trauma.”
• Contrasts Georgia's clear identity to Alabama’s current rhythm struggles and uncertainty at key positions.
• Offers tongue-in-cheek quarterback rotation advice for Alabama: “Go with Mack on first down, go to Russell on second, third down to Williams, and fourth down, bring in that punter…”
• Specific call-outs to other callers and “legendary” show personalities, defending Kirby Smart’s playoff record and Georgia's halftime adjustment prowess.
• Critiques DeBoer for not matching Smart’s mid-game tactical adaptation: “Kaylin DeBoer doesn’t make adjustments.”

Quote (Eddie, 31:33):
“When Georgia comes to Tuscaloosa... we’re going to grab you by your little Saban necks and keep pimp slapping you, and there’s nothing you can do about it—because that’s the way our team is built.”

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5. Alabama’s Offensive Line: Coaching Upgrade?

(32:58–34:50)

• Joe in Alabama questions whether Alabama’s new OL coach is a true upgrade beyond his “rings.”
• Cole explains: Adrian Clem’s hire brings both NFL and collegiate experience, aided by supporting assistants who formerly played OL. It's about “mindset and demeanor” and more “modern” connection with players.
• “You’re putting more emphasis on it with more bodies and I think that’s significant.” (34:41)

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6. College Football Playoff, Soccer, and Structural Evolution

(37:36–40:35)

• Double J from Michigan offers a cross-sport comparison:
  • The U.S. soccer experience (MLS, USL, youth development challenges).
  • Advocates for CFB playoff growth inspired by World Cup: “Why not say if you win your conference, you get a double bye—take this thing to 24, let that first round be between those other power fours, and then… go through that typical knockout process from there.” (39:46)
  • Suggests rewarding conference strength and not punishing teams for tough scheduling, especially with SEC teams potentially missing 10-win marks in loaded schedules.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Arthur (03:23): "When Alabama and Auburn both are good, it's a great day in the state of Alabama."
• Cole (06:24): “I think South Carolina does more with less through the portal than any team in the SEC.”
• Tiny (08:22): “Look at Saban’s record and look at [DeBoer]'s... see who got the better record the first two years at Alabama.”
• Ray (12:51): “There’s no comparison—Saban inherited probably the worst situation Alabama football has ever seen... the board has inherited a legitimate dynasty and he ain’t done anything with it.”
• Cole (17:53): “It will depend largely upon the offensive line and the run game...”
• Eddie (31:33): “When Georgia comes to Tuscaloosa... we're going to grab you by your little Saban necks and keep pimp slapping you, and there’s nothing you can do about it...”
• Cole (34:41): “You’re putting more emphasis on [the O-line] with more bodies and I think that’s significant.”
• Double J (39:46): “Why not say if you win your conference, you get a double bye… take this thing to 24…”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:12 — Auburn Playoff Prediction & Analysis (Arthur)
• 04:12 — South Carolina Offensive Line Deep Dive (Double J)
• 07:34 — Alabama’s Quarterback Question & Coaching Evaluation (Tiny)
• 12:51 — Saban vs. DeBoer, Program Inheritance Debate (Ray)
• 15:51 — SEC Playoff Potentials & Middle Tier Depth (Trey/Cole)
• 17:53 — Alabama’s Quarterback Battle, Decision Factors (Cole)
• 28:59 — Georgia’s Identity, Bama Critique, and Coaching Debate (Eddie)
• 32:58 — Alabama’s O-Line Upgrade, Staff Mindset Discussion (Joe)
• 37:36 — Soccer’s Lessons for CFB Playoff Growth (Double J)

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Summary

This episode spotlights SEC fandom in its rawest form—callers with strong opinions, host expert analysis, and vibrant debates over coaching, strategy, history, and future paths for powerhouse programs like Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina. The quarterback unknowns at Alabama and the comparative coaching legacies of Saban and DeBoer are recurring motifs, as are the impacts of the transfer portal, NIL, and the ever-evolving chessboard of college football. The show closes with a thought-provoking parallel to soccer’s rise and the possible future of the College Football Playoff.

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Host: Cole Cubelic for Paul Finebaum
Featured Callers: Arthur, Tiny, Trey, Ray, Eddie, Double J, Joe
Primary Focus: SEC football analysis, fan predictions, transfer portal effects, coaching legacies, playoff future.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Paul Finebaum Show Intro/Host]

the pride, passion and pageantry of college football lives here. This is the Paul Feinbaum Show. Our four podcasts this Might be college football.

[Cole Kublick]

Welcome back into the Paul Fine Bomb Show. Cole Kublick with you filling in today. Be back tomorrow as well. Been a fun week hanging out with you guys. 855-242-7285. You want to be a part of the show? We teased Arthur on the other side, patient enough to wait through the break. Arthur, what's on your mind today?

[Arthur]

Hey, good afternoon, Cole.

[Cole Kublick]

Afternoon.

[Arthur]

Hey, crazy take here,

[Tiny]

but I have

[Arthur]

a feeling Auburn's going to go 11 and 2 and make the playoffs.

[Tiny]

Okay.

[Arthur]

I'm telling you right.

[Trey]

Well,

[Arthur]

it's Auburn has spurts from, you know, I've lived here in Alabama all my life and I've, I've watched Alabama and Auburn played football and one thing I've learned about Auburn is when they have a long term drought, they generally come back a very dangerous program and they've actually got a great coach in place and X's and O's coach and I think he's got a lot to prove and I think he's going to prove it this year. He's bringing in some great talent that is familiar with his program that he's bringing in from his old program. That's a big plus. He doesn't have to spend that time teaching these kids his system. So he's already got his system in play. He's got some great recruits coming in. I just see Auburn being one of those sneaky, dangerous programs this year.

[Cole Kublick]

There are pieces of it that I could see. Arthur, A lot's going to have to come together, but you have some advantages from a continuity perspective with all the guys that are being brought into the portal by Alex Gors that have played in his system, played in his scheme, been around him.

[Trey]

Yeah.

[Cole Kublick]

Know him as a coach.

[Arthur]

That's one of my main, yeah, that's one of my main reasons why I believe they're going to be a dangerous program this year. They play Tennessee. Correct. Are they on their schedule this year?

[Cole Kublick]

October 3rd, they play at Neyland. Yes.

[Arthur]

Okay. All right. Another crazy thing. I see them beating Georgia early in the season. I see them beating Georgia, dropping to Tennessee and dropping to Alabama and those are the two losses that I see on their schedule.

[Cole Kublick]

Be interesting. You get Georgia after a week off. So that, that's of assistance. Obviously. Two weeks to prepare.

[Arthur]

I just know this when Alabama and Auburn both are good, it's a great day in the state of Alabama. Have a good day, my guy.

[Cole Kublick]

Appreciate that, Arthur. Let's go to Tiny in Tuscaloosa on the Paul Finebaum Show. Welcome in Tiny.

[Arthur]

It's a great day in the state of Alabama.

[Cole Kublick]

Have a good day, my guy. Tiny.

[Caller (various callers)]

Appreciate that.

[Eddie]

Awesome.

[Cole Kublick]

Let's go to Tiny. Yeah, you gotta turn the radio down, bud. How you doing today? Doing well,

[Caller (various callers)]

thanks.

[Tiny]

Yes, sir.

[Cole Kublick]

All right, let's pause, let's pause. Tiny. Tiny. Hold a second. See if we can get his radio turned down and then we'll try to get him back on. We'll go to Taylor in South Carolina. What's on your mind today, Taylor?

[Double J]

Hey, so I'm big fan of you, man.

[Caller (various callers)]

I love seeing on the sidelines of Williams Price out there.

[Double J]

Always looking sharp, sir.

[Caller (various callers)]

Thank you.

[Double J]

I want to pick your brain on

[Caller (various callers)]

the Gamecocks O line. You're the O line expert. I feel like on the SEC network you have the best knowledge in that department.

[Double J]

Who do you think is the biggest

[Caller (various callers)]

liability and who do you think has the biggest upside on that O line?

[Cole Kublick]

Well, the biggest upside is to carry his peak. And he is a, he is a big time player. Now there are some micro holes in his game, sure, but he's a young man that I really like coming in. That's going to give you true offensive tackle size, frame and big time ability. And he's done it at a high level. He's played extremely well in the acc. I think he probably, if you're looking at upside, that's the guy you point to right there. That said, at the end of the day, he's the one we could be talking about. I, I don't know if Hank Purvis is going to give you as much at guard. I'm not going to say biggest liability. I don't really want to label any of the guys like that, but Carter Miller is a guy that I've watched play at Central Florida, Ulm and James Madison. Little shorter, stockier, but I think good enough, solid enough, big enough to be a decent center in the league. And Dana Arnett, another transfer tackle you're bringing in from Ferris State. I'm. I've actually watched his stuff. I don't really know at that level watching him exactly how it's going to translate, but here's what I'll say. Shane Beamer and his staff have found guys like this before and they've all worked out. Remember Gargiulo at center a couple of years ago, coming from the Ivy League, end up being a really good player for him. So they find these. I've said it for a while. I think South Carolina does more with us through the portal than any team in the sec. They find these dudes that nobody's heard about or washed up. Like remember Spencer Rattler came in and everybody's like no, he's just former five star. It's never going to figure it out. Ended up being pretty good. Ended up being pretty good for South Carolina. I thought you could have made an argument legitimately two years ago that the MVP of the football team was Joshua Simon at tight end. You got him from Western Kentucky and he was fantastic. So they get these guys that seemingly are slipping through the cracks in the portal somehow. So I think that group will be better than it's been. The offense will allow it to be better because there's not as much going to be required for them to just move people off the ball. Kendall Browns can find space, create space, quick ball distribution, quarterback runs, chuck the ball down the field. When you get the one on ones, he will make life easier on the offensive line. It's not like they can play D minus football and still be good. They got to get better. But I think they have the overall talent to get better as well.

[Double J]

Yeah, I agree.

[Caller (various callers)]

Call. And I really hope Josiah Thompson makes that next step, you know, for the Gamecocks. He's been a solid kid but just kind of fell off last year.

[Cole Kublick]

We'll see. Still plenty of time, a lot of ball left and I think, I think growth and development is something that can obviously happen later in guys careers. I think it's extremely possible. Appreciate the call. Taylor, thank you for being a part of the show today. 855-242-7285. Talking players you're excited to watch at different positions. I know Nick harbor probably falls into that category for a lot of people out of South Carolina. But let's try Tiny again in Tuscaloosa. Tiny, how you doing today?

[Tiny]

I'm doing all right. How you doing, Cole?

[Cole Kublick]

I'm great man. Thank you for hopping on with us.

[Tiny]

All right. I Was telling you guys, I'm an ex bus driver for the Alabama football team. I was the lead driver for 10 years.

[Cole Kublick]

Let's go.

[Tiny]

And I get tired of people talking about how bad Alabama is going to be this year. Once we figure out who our quarterback's going to be, Alabama's going to be a hard team to deal with, man.

[Cole Kublick]

I would agree with you there specifically. If you get really good quarterback play on top of that, then what

[Eddie]

if we get good?

[Caller (various callers)]

You said good quarterback play, so I'm saying we don't.

[Cole Kublick]

I don't think a lot of people talk about the potential of Alabama having good quarterback play because we don't know who that quarterback is. But whether it's Austin, Mack, Keelin, Russell, what if those guys ball?

[Tiny]

That's what I'm thinking, man. I think either whichever one it's gonna be, they gonna ball out, man. Because they tired of hearing the same thing in their ear about how bad Alabama is. And then people talking about get rid of Coach DeBoer. Then you look at the first two years when Saban was there. Coach DeBoer has a better record the first two years he's been at Alabama before Saban did. Look at Saban's record and look at his record the first two years at Alabama and see who got the better record.

[Cole Kublick]

Well, and you could probably say it's a little bit more difficult time to do it with them both starting out when they did, with how he's having to get it done, transfer portal, nil, things of that nature. So we went through all the. I mean, there's a laundry list of famous coaches in Alabama history. Nick Saban, Gene Stallings, Frank Wilson or Frank Thomas, excuse me, that won a national championship or SEC championship their third year with the program. And Caleb DeBoer going into year three now.

[Tiny]

Exactly. And then Coastal Board, everywhere he's been, he's took, you know, the teams elevated. And he started out at Fresno State. When he went to Washington, he took them to the national championship game. And I think he gonna do the same in Alabama. If we change and get somebody up from Coastal Board, who we gonna get better than? Coastal Board Right now, we discussed it

[Cole Kublick]

yesterday and there weren't a lot of good options that people could come up with. Tiny. I thought it was a best case scenario higher for Greg Byrne when he made it. And it's been, it's been proven because he was in the playoff last year.

[Tiny]

It's only one coach I think he could have got before he got close to board. And that was signeted but he wasn't thinking about signeting in.

[Cole Kublick]

So that would have been a tough sell at that point in time. Obviously would not be now, but I think at that point in time that'd be a tough sell if you were if you're gonna make it then, but some folks should be scratching their head on that one.

[Tiny]

All the culture that coached under Saban Signet is one of the coaches that coached under Saban. So he, you know, he's one of gonna end up being a pretty good coach, but he's just up there in age. That's all that is.

[Cole Kublick]

There you go. Well Tiny, thank you for the call my friend. I know a lot of Bama fans want to thank you for getting the team to all their destinations safely with all those wins over the years under Nick Saban. Appreciate your service to the Alabama football team. 8552-427285-85524-27285. You want to get in talk your team's schedule, players that we are most looking forward to watching at each position this upcoming season. One that might be a little bit more complicated will be wide receiver and quarterback will be pretty easy for a lot of people, but if you got past the obvious ones, is there somebody that's maybe waiting in the wings that you're excited to watch at quarterback? There's just a lot of big name wide receivers that are coming back in this league that I think people should be and are excited about. We'll discuss a few of them next right here on the Paul Finebaum Show.

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[Paul Finebaum Show Intro/Host]

you're listening to the Paul Feinbomb show podcast.

[Cole Kublick]

Back into the Paul Fine Bomb Show. Cole Cubic sitting for Paul Paul today. 855-242-728-5855, 2427285. You get in. Give us your topics, your discussion points on SEC football as we roll towards SEC media days that begins Monday in Tampa. Ray in Alabama wants to start us off in this segment. Welcome into the show, Ray.

[Caller (various callers)]

Hey, thanks for taking my call, man. I just want to talk about this Kaylin DeBoer next. Savings comparison, man, there's no comparison in my opinion. I mean, you look and see what, what Saban inherited out at Alabama was probably the worst situation that Alabama football has ever seen. That team was horrible, terrible. They were sanctioned by the sc, by the, they were sanctioned by the NCAA and they had suspensions all over the place. And he turned that, he turned that program around in two years and won a national championship out of that mess. But the board has inherited a legitimate dynasty and he ain't done anything with it. So you can't compare what he did to what Saban was Saban did because the board has talent all over the field and Saban didn't have anything to work with. That's my opinion. I'll hang up. Listen.

[Cole Kublick]

Okay, covered. Maybe it was a little bit more bare than some people believe when Kaylin DeBoer took over. Now, a lot of that was gone through the portal, remember, right after Saban left, I think there were, I don't know, were there 30 something kids that hit the portal. So that's a tough place to start. And then if your nil is not completely in order to be able to go and replenish some of that, that's going to make it more difficult to get that kind of talent in the draft. Wasn't as strong maybe the last two years as it was the prior four to six. So while I do think that there were some advantages that DeBoer had taken over a program that had been sturdy for a long time, Nick Saban obviously didn't have that advantage when he took over. Nick Saban didn't have Portal in Nil to worry about when he took over. Kaylin DeBoer did. And the ever changing landscape of college football that he had to try to manage and try to deal with, you have to at least take that into consideration. It's at least a part of it. 855-242-7285. Trey in Tuscaloosa. Welcome back into the show, Trey.

[Trey]

Hey man, I'M gonna tell you something. I've really enjoyed y' all this week. Y'. All. Y' all do a great job. I enjoy listening to you call y'. All. Your, your knowledge of what's going on is is second to none. So I just want to say I really enjoy listening to you and the call screeners. I have had a good time with them this week, but I want to Are you talking about who's going to win? I got two questions for you. Talking about who's going to win the SEC and get your opinion on it. I think that's probably between Texas and Georgia, but Cole, after that, I think. I think it's really up for grab of who places where in the sec. I mean, I think we have a lot of teams. When you talk about two through seven with the possibility of making a playoffs and he add that extra game, SEC game this year, I really think we're going to have some teams on the bubble and maybe outside looking in like we did last year. What's your opinion on that?

[Cole Kublick]

I have my pick to win the sec. I'm not going to reveal it now, Trey, because I'll reveal it next week in Tampa, but it's a team that you've mentioned and I do think that it's Texas, Georgia and then a slight dip. Now, is it a massive fall off the cliff before we start talking about some other teams that are going to be in contention? Be it Texas A and M, Alabama, Ole Miss? No, but I do think it's a little bit different and I think because the middle of the pack is a little bit stronger this year, we're going to look at this thing going one or two ways. Is there an Oklahoma who's going to extend and get to 10, 11 wins or are all those teams going to cannibalize themselves in the middle? And when I say that, I mean your Florida's, your Missouri's, your Auburns, your Tennessee's, and then maybe you categorize A and M, LSU or Alabama in there with some of those. Someone's going to extend, someone's going to Oklahoma and John Mateer are going to hit the gas and be tough to manage defensively again. And they're going to go past Trinidad Chambers, Kewan Lacey going to carry that offense. They're going to go past. Someone is not going to be sitting there as a 7, 8 win football team. They're going to get up there on that pedestal, on that plateau with Georgia and Texas, in my opinion, and maybe one of those two fall back and it's two other teams that extend up. But I do think when you look at the very bottom of the league, Trey, the depth is elite with what we're going to see in the SEC this year.

[Trey]

Totally agree. And that's the reason I think we're going to possibly have two or three teams right on the outside of that bubble looking, looking in. But this is my question, and that's question for you. Who do you think DeBoer starts for Alabama and who do you think should start at Alabama if they're different? What's your opinion on that quarterback situation and how tough of a. Of a situation is that going to be for DeBoer to make this year? What's your opinion on that? And I'll hang up and listen. Thank you for taking my car.

[Cole Kublick]

Thank you, Trey. I have a couple thoughts on it. The decision becomes increasingly difficult depending on how close the competition is. The closer it is, the harder it is because you essentially have two. Then you have to make decisions, of course, right out of the gate, who's the number one guy who goes first. Then you have to make the decision of how do you split the reps. And they have been speaking of deboer and Grub, a group that has given other reps early in the season to different quarterbacks. I talked to Jake Hayner who played, he's in the NFL now with the Saints. He was with the Bourne Grub at Fresno State, had a really nice college career. And he gave me a reference point that early in the season one time he kind of thought he was the starter. There were two quarterbacks playing and then all of a sudden they come out and they named the other guy the starter in like week three. And Haner was furious and he said, I didn't know it then, but I look back on it now and it lit this whole new fire under me. And I was in the facility, I was commanding things differently in the huddle at practice. And he said later they talked about it in the season and he said Grub just kind of laughs with him. And he was like, we knew you were the guy. He said, we just wanted to kind of fire you up a little bit more, see how you'd react to it. And it was exactly what we thought we would get, I think. And this is not a cop out. But I'm just giving you my opinion on it. Here's it will depend largely upon the offensive line in the run game if that group still struggles. And I think both of these quarterbacks, Austin Mack and Keelan Russell have some mobility. I think Keelan Russell's is better. I think he's twitchier. I think he may be a little more elusive. But I think when Austin Mack tucks the ball and goes like he can go, he can get away from you and you could add some Q, run in there with him and he could make it dangerous, similar to Ty Simpson. But Keelan Russell could give you an added dimension that would be very different. So if the O line struggles, if the backs still aren't seeing it a certain way, if that's not coming together, then yeah, that could be problematic. And I think that would probably lean you to say Keelan Russell is going to be the guy. Now, if that's going in. Austin Mack maybe gives you better command of the offense and he could do a better job getting you into the right thing, decision making. I could see it being him and then maybe two. Then you use it as well. We want to use Keelan Russell as an extra added weapon where he comes in red zone, short yardage, and he's a guy whose mobility we can utilize and it forces the defense to prepare for it throughout the week and takes away from some of their other prep. And then the playing time, I also think comes down to kind of what the offense is capable of doing. Like if it's. If Keelan Russell wins the job and he's leaps and bounds ahead of Austin Mack, how does that then affect his running of the football? Is there much by design? Do they want him to carry the ball much more than four or five times in a game because they want to try to protect him? If it's extremely close, do you go ahead and give the nod to Keelan Russell knowing, hey, we're just going to run him out of the gate because it doesn't matter and we want teams to have to defend it. We want to try to get good at it. We want people to make sure they know that's a part of our offense. And then if we have to go to Austin Mack, dial it back a little bit. At least we got everybody else on the same page. They've got their reps and now we're rolling. So I think there's a lot of other things that could sort of play into just who's the better quarterback or who outplays who in scrimmages as to how that thing's going to be decided. 855-242-7285. You want to get in, talk college football and the Paul Finebaum Shaw. We'll do more of it next right after this.

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[Paul Finebaum Show Intro/Host]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

[Cole Kublick]

Coming back from break like JYD here on the Paul Fine Bomb Show. Cole Kubik sitting for Paul today. Couple segments to go, which means more time to take calls from you. 855-242-728-5855, 2427285 Goodness for the Alabama quarterback, whoever it is, got a five star running back coming in that could give you quality reps. Could help. And I'm not going to say you want to lean on that because pass protection assignments, just understanding durability, you don't know what you're going to get there, but if you can get some assistance, occasional breaks for your starters, that helps. Be it Austin Mack or Keelan Russell. The good news with a quarterback battle is if it's close, you may immediately have depth. A lot of teams in the sec, a lot of teams in college football don't have quarterback depth that would love to. It's hard to keep quarterback depth this day and age because usually when you don't win the battle, you're out. Guys, I could tell you stories about backup quarterbacks in this league with the new red shirt rule that when the starters gotten hurt, they've literally looked at the head coach and said not going in. Not unless I know he's out for a couple of weeks. It's kind of stuff these coaches are dealing with right now. But you bring Ethan Fields in from Ole Miss race and Delgadi comes in from Cal Poly, Jackson Lloyd, Michael Carroll, Ty Haywood comes in from Michigan, who I really like. Javen James comes in at another tackle spot is going to push for time out of Mississippi State. Big long tackle, athletic can change direction. I'm a fan of his game. A little bit of a backbender, but he's got good length, Bama's got some numbers and I think that may have been what they needed more than anything else. Competition along the offensive line, guys who could push for time. Because I can tell you the worst spot that a coach is in is when he has a player who's underperforming and he just can't afford to go to the next guy. That's not me advocating to bench everybody that has a bad snap. I don't think all players need to be ripped out of the lineup in the middle of games. But when you have a player or players that are consistently underperforming and you can't just say, hey, number two guy, you're in, now's your time, that sends a bad message to your team. And sometimes that's the only option is to let him ride to keep going with them. 855-242-7285. You want to get into the Paul Finebaum show. Cole Kubik filling in for Paul today. 855-242-7-285. But you'll have Ryan Coleman Williams. If he can get past the drop situation that he had last year and get back to what we saw two years ago, he can be a legitimate playmaker in this league. And good news for him is he can take a little bit of the Jeremy Bernard role last year. Now listen, I don't care how talented he is, a lot of you aren't going to like this and I get it and I understand it and it's fine because top end talent, speed, change of direction, explosiveness, start, stop, time, whatever. I realize it's not close to Ryan Coleman. Williams ain't Jeremy Bernard. Jeremy Bernard is a legit dude in a lot of ways. He will be missed. Parker Brailsford will be missed. Those were reliable, dependable, expletive, expletive football players. But now maybe you take Ryan Williams and you say we can put you in the slot, we could put you outside, we can motion you, we can hand you the ball, we can throw it to you quick, we can work you downfield, lots here. Brooks another one that if you get him the ball quickly, he can turn an 8 yard gain into an 80 yard gain in a hurry. Rico Scott gives you a little bit of depth. Played some last year, so the playmakers are going to be there to be able to assist in whoever wins this quarterback battle. They just got to get a quarterback on page with the offense that has the understanding of how to make the decisions of what the offense asks for. And there's. There are intricacies within this offense that are a little bit different with how some others operate. Certain routes are read at different points in times, in different ways in this offense and you got to be on board with it. But once you get there, we've seen it go, we know it can go. We've seen it work in multiple spots. It worked last year with Ty Simpson. He had no run game and hardly any protection and he made it go at times. So Jalen Milro some, sometimes, not sometimes, but it can go. And I think the defense will offer more protection this year too. I think the defense is going to be strong. We talked about the Alabama defense a little bit yesterday with the experience on the back end, how that's going to allow Kane Womack to be more aggressive up front. And there are a couple of guys that I think are going to stand out this year. I expect QB Reese to have a good year at linebacker. London Simmons going to have a really nice year on that defensive line. Jer Latham, a really good defensive lineman. I like Kendrick Bingley Jones who you bring in from Mississippi State. He is a versatile interior defensive lineman. You can put him at nose, you can put him outside the guard. I've seen him rush outside the tackle at times. He's super athletic for a guy his size because he gives you a big enough body at over £300 to sort of live inside. But he's also athletic enough to move and do some different things. So especially in passing downs, he'll be real valuable, somebody who could really help you there. So I like what they have, I like what they've gotten. I don't like the linebacker depth, I don't like the defensive line depth. But potentially you develop a little bit there over time. And I love what you get from Devin Tompkins from USC. A little bit more of your four down traditional defensive end body. You're 65290ish, but he's thick enough to play down inside. He'll give them more versatility up front as well. I think they got more versatile on the defensive line. It's one thing Alabama did do this off season and a big part of the equation will be Yonze Pierre staying healthy because he can rush the quarterback. He can be a problem off the edge. Gotta be on the field, has to be on the field

[Eddie]

big.

[Cole Kublick]

Justin Hill, potentially a guy that can help them Rush the passer as well. 8, 5, 5, 2, 4, 2, 7, 2, 8, 5. You want to be part of the Paul Fine bomb show? Eddie in Georgia wants to top in. Welcome in, Eddie.

[Eddie]

Hey, Cole, Great to be on and I just want you to know it's been a good week. I enjoyed your conversation, your knowledge of the game, and I always. I love when you're on because I tend to agree with you. As you know from before. I'm a Georgia fan. So as far as your aspect of how Georgia is built to play football and the style in which we intend to play football, it is definitely blunt force trauma. And that's kind of what I've been telling people. And they don't really. I don't know if they really kind of grasp the difference in the different styles of football and how you can lean upon something, even though you might not know who's on the team and what's coming back. But when you have an identity, you can kind of lean on that. And then you have, let's just say Alabama. On the other hand, at the line of scrimmage, there are so many different checks and different things going on that it's hard to get a rhythm. And you got different units. Like the other day when you was talking about it, each group is, is their own unit. You got the leader of the offensive line, defensive lines, so on and so forth, but trying to get all that on the same page in real time when you got a game clock. And I think that that was a whole lot of what was going on in Alabama. First of all, let me, let me just clear it up. Alabama should definitely rotate quarterback. All right, Go with Mack on first down, go to Russell on second down, third down, go to Williams. And fourth down, bring in that punter if you're lucky and you can extend a couple of drives, you can bring in a holder, you might get three points like they did in the playoffs. I want to talk to Legend for a little bit because Legend, he tends to always talk about Kirby smarts, playoff record and things like that. Kirby's playoff record, he ain't lack of playoff victories. We won the SEC championship both of those years. We got a buy. And Indiana, the only team that kind of did good coming off of by as far as history. All right, Another thing, Legend, that blunt force trauma that Cole talks about, that's what I'm telling you. When Georgia comes to Tuscaloosa, that's what we're going to do. We're going to grab you by your little surrounding necks and we're just going to keep pimp slapping you and there's nothing you can do about it because that's the way our team is built and the way your team is built. Can they respond? I haven't seen it. I haven't seen your coaches make any adjustments.

[Arthur]

All right.

[Eddie]

Georgia had eight or nine games last year where Kirby was at halftime making adjustments that impacted the game. Kaylin DeBoer doesn't make adjustments. Cole, you've been nice to bash. Alabama is stuck with Caleb.

[Tiny]

All right.

[Eddie]

Honestly, you had Roman on the other day and he was nice as well because he almost went there and you almost went there earlier today when you was talking about the offensive line and different things. Roman was talking about the defense and as far as their scheme. But the truth of the matter is that's Kaylin Deborah's team and he's the person with the job. So I can respect you guys for not really commenting on that. But as far far as who they could get for the coaching job, coaches are the person that has gotten the opportunity to coach. All right? Until other people who are very knowledgeable get those opportunities, unfortunately they are not called coaches. They're called maybe what you are. But I want you to know that whenever you get the opportunity because you are well deserved, I am available in whatever capacity you may need me. Congratulations on the Alabama Broadcasting Award as always is gold dogs and I'm out here, Cole.

[Cole Kublick]

Appreciate it. Great call.

[Trey]

Thank you.

[Cole Kublick]

Eddie. 8552-427285-85524-27285. Want to continue taking your calls? Joe in Alabama wants to chime into the Paul Finebaum show. Welcome in, Joe.

[Caller (various callers)]

Hey, how's it going?

[Tiny]

Great.

[Caller (various callers)]

Listen, I know the new O line coach at Bama got to be an upgrade if for no other reason because last year was so bad. But people keep talking about the guys got a few rings and things, but I don't know that he actually got any coaching O line. And, and so I was wondering how basically my question basically is just how good of an O line coach is the guy or how again, how significant is the update maybe, is what I'm asking.

[Cole Kublick]

Okay, well, I think you've got somebody who has been around the offensive line and the collegiate level and the NFL level and has seen it up close with groups that have done it extremely well. You also have gone and hired two other assistant coaches that have played offensive line. They're going to be a part of your staff that can assist and have coached tight ends and offensive line that can be a part of your system and can help fit in. So it's more to me of not just the individual coach of getting Adrian Clem and bringing him in. It's the mindset and the demeanor and the attitude that I think Coach DeBoer is trying to instill in the entire building and bringing in multiple people that may have a little bit more of that they can relate a little bit to today's college football player, I think could be of great benefit.

[Caller (various callers)]

All right, that's great. So then now what I'm hearing and feel free to correct me is what I'm saying. So then this is a fairly significant upgrade in the O line. Coaching staff.

[Cole Kublick]

Staff. Yes. 100% across the board. Yeah. I mean, you're putting more emphasis on it with more bodies and I think that's significant.

[Double J]

Yes.

[Caller (various callers)]

Thank you for your time.

[Cole Kublick]

Absolutely. Thank you. Joe. 855-242-7285. Last chance to get in on today's show. 855-242-728 5 is going to be right after this break on the Paul Finebaum Show.

[Paul Finebaum Show Intro/Host]

Got a Sam's Cafe pizza.

[Commercial Announcer]

Order up.

[Cole Kublick]

You know the best part about this spicy Italian sausage? I voted for this topping. Yeah. Just another perk of being a member. Come join us, Sam's Club.

[Commercial Announcer]

You know, when you're locked in, focused and fearless, welcome to the wnba. Your vision narrows. You can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo, three

[Double J]

from beyond the logo, every.

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Did you see that moment? What records are going to be broken this season? All of it right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN all season long.

[Paul Finebaum Show Intro/Host]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

[Cole Kublick]

Back into the Paul Finebaum Show. Cole Kublick with you filling in for Paul this week, back tomorrow as well. Got a couple minutes to get a few more of Your calls in. 855-2427-285855-24272. 85 Talk SEC Football. We've run through a couple of schedules. We talked Texas A and M today. We talked Alabama today. Talk some Missouri today. Some players that we're excited to watch at different positions kind of using the all SEC team format of maybe guys that not everybody's going to be talking about at media days that we're excited to watch. We had Josh Pate early in the show. Great stuff with Josh. Just on where Ole Miss is, where LSU is villains in college football. We've talked about today. Texas Tech seems to be the most popular answer of who's the biggest villain in college football right now, I think we thought that was going to be Lane Kiffin this year. And then all of a sudden it's not Matt Moscana with us talking lsu, some of the holes that need to be filled on that team where that roster is realistically. Bill Connally talked World cup expansion and what that could mean for the College Football Playoff expanding and maybe what it could learn from what the World cup did this past season. And then Kevin Egan, a great interview, fun interview with Kevin, who covers MLS on Apple tv. Just on where the World cup is going to take soccer down the road in this country. And college football fandom may be following some of that lead. Double J is in. Michigan wants to chime in on the Paul Finebaum show. Welcome in Double J Cole.

[Double J]

Honestly, honor and a pleasure. I've been, you know, I live religiously, listen to the show here and have appreciated more than most. I would say with, with your being a breath of, a breath of fresh air here with, when it comes to, you know, soccer in the United States in particular. And I think there's a lot that can be taken from this particular World cup first and foremost. It stretched beyond, as you guys have touched on, the reach is well beyond, just way beyond the casual fan, if you will. As far as mls, you know, you're there in Birmingham, I believe, you know,

[Trey]

with, with the show.

[Double J]

And so obviously there's usl, right? There's, I wouldn't call them quite rival leagues, but you know, you have the Birmingham Legion at Legion Field for the, for, you know, I'm here way up north and we have DCFC who plays, you know, in the same league. And I would encourage, you know, those fans that are looking for that type of environment that, you know, only some MLS teams have, I am going to back a little bit out of frustration. I have a 16 year old that's in an MLS next team right now going through kind of that process. I have to drive him Colt to Illinois in the next 48 hours to get some eyes on him. For some scouting purposes. This country isn't designed yet. They're hitting that crossroads of do we want to develop and succeed or do we want to be profitable. And they're forgetting that those two can actually run parallel and cohesive with one another. And I'm a product of it. I played alongside Justin Miram, who was a 12 year MLS veteran, played for the Iraq national team as well. And so, you know, just being able to then articulate this into how it pertains to and ties into the college Football Playoff. I loved hearing that interview a little earlier this evening because I think that's the best way to look at it is we can't lose that $100 million game if, if you're Greg Sankey and most importantly, you want to reward these conferences for the strength that they have, not punish them. As we've talked about with Alabama potentially having four, you know, four losses or not being able to reach that Magic Number of 10, I would love to see us, why not say if you win your conference, you get a double buy, essentially take this thing to 24, let that first round be between, you know, those, those other power fours, if

[Trey]

you will,

[Double J]

and then essentially kind of go through that, that typical knockout process from there. But curious your thoughts, my friend. And lastly, I have a six month old now. That's why I haven't called into the program. And he appreciate the call.

[Cole Kublick]

Double J, we gotta roll call back tomorrow. We'll talk some more in the Paul Fine Bomb Show.

[Paul Finebaum Show Intro/Host]

You're listening to the Paul Finebaum show podcast.