Hour 4: Stewart Mandel Joins the Show

Summary

The Paul Finebaum Show – Hour 4: Stuart Mandel Joins the Show
Date: July 15, 2026 | Hosted by: Cole Cubelic (in for Paul Finebaum)

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Episode Overview

This hour of the show focuses on preseason hype, expectations, and leadership in college football, with a special guest appearance by Stuart Mandel of The Athletic. Cole Cubelic, filling in for Paul, guides probing discussions about teams getting too much or too little attention as the season approaches, with special consideration of SEC heavyweights, under-the-radar players, and the evolving nature of team leadership.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Caller Spotlight: Sheila from Auburn on Incentives and Local Loyalty

• [01:09] Sheila (Caller) gives a passionate plea for Auburn and Lee County to step up in incentivizing football events so that fans and players stay loyal to their home state, rather than spending money in Atlanta.
  • “If you don't get it together, we're going to run all football players for city council and mayor. War Dam Eagle.”
    (01:42 - Sheila)

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2. Main Segment: Preseason Hype with Stuart Mandel

a. Is LSU Overhyped, Underhyped, or Just Right?

• [03:19] Mandel: Hype is justified given Lane Kiffin’s hiring and a star-studded transfer class, but expectations for immediate title contention might be unrealistic.
  • “When you spend as much money as they have both on their coaching staff and their roster, there should be hype.”
    (03:19 - Mandel)

b. Who’s Under the Radar in the SEC?

• Oklahoma: Despite offensive struggles last year, they made the Playoff. With a healthy John Matier and solid defense under Venables, expectations might be too low.
  • “They were kind of lucky to be there…But that doesn’t mean they're going to have a reckoning this year.”
    (04:14 - Mandel)

c. Georgia’s Current Perception

• Georgia isn’t as hyped as in previous years—no longer considered head-and-shoulders above everyone else due to the portal and NIL leveling the field.
  • “They always…will always be compared to what they were in 2021 and 2022…they look mortal.”
    (05:32 - Mandel)

d. Is Texas Overhyped?

• Too much blanket assumption that Arch Manning will be the next great quarterback; talent is upgraded, but expectations might be outsized.
  • “If he had a different last name, people would say, ‘Hey, he has a chance to be like an all-conference quarterback this year and everybody would be happy about that.’ But because it’s Arch Manning…”
    (06:42 - Mandel)

e. Who Did/Didn’t Live Up to Hype?

• Last year’s disappointing QBs: Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, Lenore Sellers.
  • “So many quarterbacks that were being thrown around at this time last year did end up disappointing...Lenore Sellers...was probably...very overhyped going into last season. He will be underhyped this season.”
    (08:05 - Mandel)

f. Beyond the SEC: Hype Check on National Programs

• Ohio State: Always overhyped, but usually live up to it.
• Oregon: Concerns about major staff turnover even after retaining Dante Moore.
  • “The thing that concerns me…Dan Lanning lost both of his coordinators…”
    (09:21 - Mandel)
• Indiana: Still ranked unusually high based on last year’s title run, Mandel is wary of continued overvaluation.

g. Player Recognitions: Who’s Underrated?

• Mark Fletcher (Miami): Huge impact but under-discussed due to conference bias.

• Gary Mensah (Miami): High-profile transfer with Heisman potential, rarely mentioned among top QBs.

  • “If things come together, he could win the Heisman. But he’s not mentioned...the same breath as Dante Moore, C.J. Carr, Arch Manning, obviously Julian Sayin.”
    (11:11 - Mandel)

• Malachi Toney: Also at Miami—versatile, explosive but not often discussed as a Heisman candidate.

  • “One of the most explosive players in college football, can hurt you in so many different ways...”
    (12:33 - Kubeck)

h. Big 12 Overlooked Team: BYU

• Mandel makes BYU his Big 12 preseason favorite, highlighting running back LJ Martin and quarterback Barrett Bachmeyer.

  • “BYU is going to be really good…They have been really good the last couple years. LJ Martin…definitely All American caliber.”
    (13:04 - Mandel)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the hype around Arch Manning:
  “If he had a different last name, people would say...he has a chance to be an all-conference QB...But it’s because it’s Arch Manning.” (06:42 Mandel)
• On how NIL and Portal have changed CFB:
  “...the portal have kind of flattened the sport.” (05:32 Mandel)
• On Georgia’s expectations:
  “...the last two Kirby Smart teams have been kind of underwhelming. Of course they won the SEC, but they look mortal.” (05:32 Mandel)
• On coaching transitions and hype:
  “It’s a huge changeover...most coaches have struggled in year one.” (03:19 Mandel)
• On leadership in college football:
  “Leadership on these teams is more important than ever. It’s also harder to find than ever because it moves.”
  (14:59 - Kubeck)

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Extended Segment: Modern Leadership in CFB Teams

• [14:59+] Cole Cubelic reflects on how team leadership has changed due to transfer portal and new roster turnover. Leadership is now more distributed across positions rather than concentrated in traditional linebacker or quarterback roles.

• He discusses practical challenges (spring vs. fall development) and how offenses and defenses now communicate differently (green dot, position-based leadership).

• Emphasis on continuity, comfort, and maturity as keys for developing cohesive teams amid high player churn.

  • “The more comfortable you are, the more your coach can put on you…” (20:59 Kubeck)
  • “That leadership is not come into our program, sit and watch, observe as to how it’s going to be done. Then you get plugged in.” (21:41 Kubeck)

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Later Call-In and Depth Analysis

• [34:05+] Dan (Caller) discusses LSU’s poor run blocking last year and coaching changes. Cole confirms the importance of commitment to the run game in both practice and game, and praises returning OL coach James Craig and Lane Kiffin’s dedication to running the ball.
  • “You can’t sit there and tell me that a group can’t run block when you never commit to giving them the chance…” (35:54 Kubeck)
• Depth Concerns at Alabama: Cole points out depth issues are now present across elite teams, not just Alabama—staying healthy is a bigger concern than ever as team drop-off gets steeper from 1st to 2nd string due to roster movement.

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Closing Thoughts

• Cole closes by challenging the common logic of offseason narratives: Should teams only be judged by how they finished last year? Why does late-season success get dismissed, while late-season letdowns are held against teams?
  • “We just don’t take the last few games to project maybe what someone’s going to be going into the next season—it’s confusing to me.” (33:30 Kubeck)

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Important Timestamps

• [03:19] — Mandel on LSU hype level
• [04:14] — Underhyped SEC teams, Oklahoma’s expectations
• [05:32] — Georgia under the radar, impact of NIL/portal
• [06:42] — Arch Manning and expectations at Texas
• [08:05] — Last year’s over-/underhyped QBs
• [09:21] — Mandel on Oregon, Indiana, and Big Ten
• [11:11] — Most underrated players (Fletcher, Mensah, Toney)
• [13:04] — BYU as Big 12 sleeper
• [14:59-24:50] — Extended commentary on modern leadership and team development
• [34:05] — Caller Dan on LSU OL, commitment to run game
• [36:34] — Lane Kiffin & running the football philosophy

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Summary Takeaway:
This episode expertly dissects preseason narratives, exposing hype, spotlighting overlooked teams and stars, and unpacking how NIL and the transfer portal have changed both expectations and team dynamics. With Stuart Mandel’s national perspective and Cole Cubelic’s on-the-ground analysis, listeners gain a smart, insider overview of hype, depth, and leadership in 2026 college football.

Transcript

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[Cole Kubeck]

Welcome to the wnba.

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Your vision narrows. You can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo.

[Sheila (Caller)]

Three from beyond the logo, every.

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[Sheila (Caller)]

You bet.

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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 Producer/Announcer]

Pride, passion and pageantry of college football lives here. This is the Paul Feinbaum show, our for podcast.

[Cole Kubeck]

This might be college football. Back into the Paul Fine Bomb show. Cole Cubic sitting in for Paul today. Glad you're with us. One more hour to go. Get the Stuart Mandel talk hype heading into this season in just a few moments. 855-242-7285. Sheila has patient on hold. Want to get to her first, then we'll get to Stuart Mandel. Sheila, welcome into the show today.

[Sheila (Caller)]

Thank you. Ice cold in the house. We like it. We like it. We like it. Hey, you're dead on again. Right back to rugged. Hey, Auburn, City of Lee county, check this out. You got to play. You got to get in the game. Why, Cole? Why do I have to keep going? You remember we went to all those SEC championships? You remember when we went to Atlanta all the time. Why are we doing that? They can pay. They need to put into the pot because they get the what? They get the retail tax dollars. I'm all about it. Ask the county. Lee County. You hear me ask that? That's where they sit. So they can give what? Incentives. Why are we leaving our home state of Alabama, not to be confused with the University of Alabama, our home state of Auburn, city of Lee county. Why? Because they're not offering incentives. Atlanta is city of. They are offering. They want it all. I would be. I would rather spend all my money there. They're gonna like, well, we don't have enough room nights. You know what? I drive down there two hours from Birmingham. Stop the noise. Stop the noise. I'd rather drive two hours to Birmingham, from Birmingham to Auburn than two doggone hours the dog on Atlanta. Stop the noise. Auburn city. Look, if you don't get it together, we're going to run all football players for city council and mayor. War Dam. Eagle. Cole, I'm out more Eagle.

[Cole Kubeck]

Sheila, I appreciate the call. 855-242-7285. You'll be able to get in after Stuart Mandel of the Athletic joins us now and we talk preseason hype. Who may be getting the most. His mailbag had some questions about that most recently. And Stuart, I appreciate you being on the show. I'm going to start with a specific topic for you as it pertains to hype LSU as we sit here today. Too much, not enough. Just right. Where are you with the Bayou Bengals and the hype surrounding that team as we near SEC media days?

[Stuart Mandel]

Yeah, well, I think the hype is understandable, both because of getting Lane Kiffin, but also that all star transfer class he's brought in. I do wonder if it's a little unrealistic to expect a new coach who's completely turned over the roster to contend for the national championship in year one. We have not. You know, Chris Signetti was the shining example of being able to do that. But for the most part, most coaches have struggled in year one. It's a huge changeover. So. But you know, specifically, I guess I'm okay with the hype there. I mean, when you spend as much money as they have both on their coaching staff and their roster, there should be hype.

[Cole Kubeck]

Absolutely. Is there a team in the SEC you feel like should be getting more hype right now that is maybe a little bit behind in the hype train as we near kickoff?

[Stuart Mandel]

Well, I think, you know, it's. It's crazy to say this about a team that had such a great season last year, but I think a lot of people are assuming that Oklahoma, which really struggled on offense and had so many close games, will fall back out of the picture. And maybe they will. But this is a team that made the playoff last year with that very limited offense and I think with a healthy John Matier and with some of the pieces they put around him, I think it's reasonable, expect him to be a lot better. And we know they'll be good on defense. Right. That's Brett Venables thing. So they were, you know, by the time they got into the playoff last year, I think a lot of people felt like they were kind of lucky to be there. I was kind of one of them. But you couldn't argue with the resume. But that doesn't mean they're going to like have a reckoning this year. It could go in the other direction.

[Cole Kubeck]

Where do you feel like Georgia is right now with how people view that football team Personally, Stuart, I think they're flying more so under the radar than they should be. And the only reasoning I get from anybody is look how the season ended last year, which unless you want a national championship, almost feel like any team could say that. But that usually doesn't equate to just automatically not being as good the following year. How do you view Kirby Spart's team from a hype perspective right now?

[Stuart Mandel]

Yeah, they're probably not getting as much hype as they have in the past. But I think for Kirby Smart, the reality is they always, Georgia will always be compared to what they were in 21, 2021 and 2022. And I don't think they're at that level. I don't think anybody's at that level in this era where Nil and the portal have kind of flattened the sport. And so if you're somebody who just assumed Georgia would dominate forever like they did, frankly, even into the next season until the SEC championship, then the last two Kirby Smart teams have been kind of underwhelming. Of course they won the sec, they keep winning the sec, but they look mortal. And I look at their team for this year, you know, there's a lot of the same concerns are still there, especially about the lack of a pass rush last season. But maybe this is, I mean, I know this is how Kirby prefers it there. Everybody expecting them to go out and win every single game. I mean, chances are at SEC media days next week Texas will be picked to win the conference, not them. And I'm sure he will put that up on the bulletin board.

[Cole Kubeck]

Is Texas overhyped right now in your mind?

[Stuart Mandel]

Yeah, they fall under the category of overhyped to me now. They, no question Sark upgraded their talent level, especially at the skill positions they have. They have two great running backs coming in. They obviously got Cam Coleman who extremely talented even if he's been inconsistent though. But there's this just blanket assumption that Arch Manning will, well, now he'll play like the number one pick. I do think he'll be better. But you know, if you watched him over the course of last season, it wasn't those moments where he looked like the number one pick were the minority. I think if the expectations were a little bit lower, if he had a different last name, people would say, hey, he has a chance to be like an all conference quarterback this year and everybody would be happy about that. But it's because it's Arsh Manning. Like if he's not the, you know, by far best quarterback in college football, then people are going to think it's a disappointment.

[Cole Kubeck]

Visiting with Stuart Mandel the Athletic his mailbag up now@the athletic.com on preseason hype maybe a little bit too much for who, not enough for other teams. When you go back to last year, you mentioned Arch Manning. I'm with you. I don't Know, Stu, if he was going to be able to live up to some of the hype regardless of what he did, who else fell into that category of maybe surpassing hype? Not living up to the hype that sticks out to you from where we were one year ago today?

[Stuart Mandel]

Well, the thing last year was we saw so many of the. And we're into this season now, right? Preseason watch lists and whatnot. And so many of the quarterbacks that were being thrown around at this time last year did end up disappointing, you know, and I'm thinking of guys like Kate Klupnick at Clemson and Garrett Nussmeier and a few others Drew Allergies who obviously got hurt. And then another one was Lenora Sellers. But the difference is he's back and he has a chance to kind of redeem himself. And I do think South Carolina will be better than they were last year. And I think there's no question he's still a really talented guy. Things went in the wrong direction last year, so he was probably. I don't probably. He was very overhyped going into last season. He will be under hyped this season. Let's see if this kind of South Carolina thing right under Shane Beamer. When the expectations are high, they disappoint. When the expectations are low, they rise up.

[Cole Kubeck]

Absolutely. We're visiting with Stuart Mandel talking hype heading into the season, what it could be, what it might be. What about outside the SEC team like in Ohio State, are they overhyped? A team like Miami, are they overhyped? Underhyped? The national championship contenders, Oregon, who's out there, the teams you think can extend, make playoff runs? Who's maybe getting too much respect? Maybe he needs to be getting more respect.

[Stuart Mandel]

Well, Ohio State's always going to be overhyped, but nine times out of 10, they live up to it. So it's hard for me to come down. I'm a little worried about Oregon, not in a big way, but they kind of were the team that everybody jumped on as the number one team for this year as soon as last year ended, mostly because Dante Moore came back and yes, that was a really big deal for them to get Dante Moore back. The thing that concerns me with them a little bit that gets overlooked is Dan Lanning lost both of his coordinators. Tasha Lupo is now the head coach at Cal. Will Stein, obviously at Kentucky. And we don't know. We don't know if the replacements will be able to keep it up. So if you're looking for cause for concern there at the top of the Big Ten. And then, of course, obviously, Indiana's still getting a lot of attention off of last year, but I don't see a lot of, like, I see these early rankings, and they're like fifth or sixth, which historically is a big deal for Indiana, but not for the reigning 16. 0 national champion. I think people are once again talking themselves into them taking a step back.

[Cole Kubeck]

Absolutely. What about individual players? Is there a guy out there that you just keep kind of asking yourself, why are we not talking about this kid more? I think it's probably easy for us to go look at some that are a little overhyped, but I have a couple players out there that I sometimes just wonder, are we ever going to get on board with this guy? Like, I think about Will Echols, a defensive lineman at Ole Miss. I just. And I've asked Pete Golding about it. He's like, I don't know, man.

[Sheila (Caller)]

Just.

[Cole Kubeck]

People aren't ever going to get on board with him being a good football player. I guess. Like, it's just. I don't know why they can't find a way. And that's a team that made a playoff run last year. I think if you went to Vanderbilt, obviously, Diego Pavia got a lot of hype, but Cedric Alexander, no one knows who he is, what team even plays for. I think he's going to be one of the better players in the nation this year because he'll get a little bit more run. Who are some guys that you feel like if you could poke and prod a normal fan, say, y' all need to be talking about this guy a little bit more or these guys a little bit more.

[Stuart Mandel]

I guess I would have thought maybe coming off of the run to the national title game last year, that Mark Fletcher at Miami would be one of the stars of the sport because he was definitely like, when Miami got hot last year, it was because they started just feeding him. And that happened throughout the playoff. But he's not. He's not getting that kind of recognition here in the preseason. I think if he were in the Big Ten or sec, he absolutely would. But just. It's the reality. The ACC is kind of off the radar. And I'll stick in the ACC and say that Gary Mensah is a big name. I'll stick at Miami, actually, with my saying Gary Mensah is a big name mostly because everybody knows him as the guy that got the $4 million contract at Duke and then the guy who Duke sued when he tried to go to Miami. He's very talented. He led, you know, as a redshirt freshman, had a great season at Tulane and then he had a rough start last year at Duke and I think fell off the radar. But by the end of the season had a great year and now he's going to be playing with by far the best supporting cast he's ever had. The Malachi Toney, a couple other great receivers. Obviously the line that we playing in front of him, you know, I look at it and say if I think things could come together, he could win the Heisman. But he's not mentioned, I don't think usually in the same breath as Dante Moore, C.J. carr, Arch Manning, obviously Julian saying those guys.

[Cole Kubeck]

I'm with you, Malachi. Tony, one of the most explosive players in college football can hurt you in so many different ways. Can line up at quarterback, can take a screen, can get a deep ball. And he is not, I don't feel like discussed Stu, with a lot of these guys towards the top of the list as far as Heisman contenders, best players in college football, most exciting players. But I do believe he is that any other players that you feel like people need to know about, any other teams you feel like deserve a little bit of extra respect. Before we run here today, talking hype heading into the 2026 season.

[Stuart Mandel]

Well, I feel like the Big 12 always gets overlooked or the team everybody talks about from the Big 12 now is always Texas Tech. But BYU is going to be really good. I think they have been really good the last couple years. LJ Martin, they're running back, definitely All American caliber, has been for a couple years. Barrett Bachmeyer was their freshman quarterback last year who came in and played very well for freshmen who should take a big step forward. They're my Big 12 preseason favorite. Texas Tech obviously has that big hole now at quarterback. You know, you could be seeing BYU in the playoff this year.

[Cole Kubeck]

Stu, great stuff, man. Thanks for hopping on with us. Folks. Can find your work at the Athletic@SL Mandel via Twitter. Appreciate the time. Fun conversation on where the attention is going and maybe where it should be heading into 2026. Let's do it again soon.

[Stuart Mandel]

Thank you.

[Cole Kubeck]

Stuart Mandel with the Athletic joining us on the phones right here on the Paul Finebaum Show. Cole Kubrick sitting in for Paul today. We're going to get Back to your calls. 855-242-7285. You want to be a part of the show? Now's the time. Can talk certain SEC schedules. You think a player overhyped underhyped? Who should that be? In an interesting conversation that we had on my morning show today about leadership on college football teams, I'll share that with you and get to your calls. 855-242-7285. All that and more next on the Paul Feinbaum Show.

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[Paul Finebaum Show Producer/Announcer]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

[Cole Kubeck]

Back into the Paul Fine Bomb Show. Cole Kublick with you filling in for Paul this week. 8552-4272-8585-5242, 7285. We talked depth and college football teams a little bit earlier in the show and it brought me back to a conversation Greg McElroy and I had on our radio show this morning. McElroy and Kubelek in the morning on WJOX in Birmingham, jocks fm.com 7 to 10am Central if you would like to try and tune in, listen to some college football each and every day. Leadership on these teams is more important than ever. It's also harder to find than ever because it moves. A lot of times leadership is developed and it used to be where certain positions were almost granted said leaderships on team. And what got us talking about this was how many linebackers are going to be attending SEC media days with their teams. And it's surprising because we just don't hear about that position quite as often as we used to. It doesn't feel like we have the d' Amico Ryan's, the Dwayne Ruds, the Tokio Spikes at those positions like we once did the Brandon Spikes at Florida. We don't have those guys to talk about and be dominant like we once did. It felt like that used to be. I mean, listen, the leadership is still there. Remember Buki Watson and Jed Johnson and Mississippi State a couple of years ago? Like, do I think Aaron Carter provides that for Tennessee this year? Absolutely. Not saying it can't be, but there doesn't feel like we have as many Roquan Smiths on these teams as we Once did, you know, you look back at what Al Wilson was for Tennessee, they were going to win a national championship the next year. But the leadership he brought to that team, what he did, the productivity he had at that inside linebacker position. And Greg brought up a great point that it's almost more by position than it is by side of the football. Because think about now, defenses never huddle anymore. And it used to be when you're that inside linebacker, you, number one, you had to be the organizer. You set the huddle, you get the guys in. You had to command attention right away. Then you had to be a communicator, get the call from the sideline. You had to distribute that to everybody. Then you had to recommunicate that to the other linebackers, the safeties, the corners, the defensive line. Then you had to make checks off of that guy. Goes in motion. You have to change responsibilities there. Everybody's going fast, everybody's multiple, everybody's trying to hide in disguise. Formations, motions, hybrid players lining up at different places. You don't want people to know what your formation is going to be. Defenses don't huddle anymore. Now you also have the green dot, so you have the communication device in helmet. The coaches can either select one player on their defense and just give the play to have what his responsibility is, or you can communicate that in different ways to which that player either can give that to the secondary, he can give it to the other linebackers. But most positions are taught now to look over and get their specific assignment from the sideline. You think about quarterback, center, they used to always kind of go hand in hand. We asked these coaches in TV meetings that I'm in. You hear it on defense. Well, this guy, he's. He's our guy there with the linebackers. But you got this guy over here with the secondary who really takes command there. And this guy on the D line is the one that we lean on to do that. It really is almost by position now, and it's changed. And I think a lot of that is because it's not forged as much in an individual program. Because here comes God from the portal. Here comes maybe freshman that's going to have to play some snaps from us. He's not ready for that part of it yet. And offensively, center, quarterback, it used to be that quarterback could lean down there, ask his center, how do we need to handle this? Should we stay in this? I mean, Ben Lear did that for me. I did that for him. You know, Greg said he did that with William Vallejos. When he was playing quarterback at Alabama. But we don't have a lot of guys under center anymore and you got a lot of guys going fast, so you don't really have time to have that communication like you once did. So now the center might be the leader of the offensive line, but you need a guy with the receivers. Tight ends have become a much bigger part of offenses. They've taken on some of that leadership role. And I think there's a couple reasons for that. One, there are a lot of tight ends that are former quarterbacks. Big Dawson, Knox, Priest Corn at Ole Miss, Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt last year. I feel like every week I'm in a TV meeting and we're talking about a tight end on a roster. I used to be a quarterback. Tennessee had one last year, played quarterback coming out of high school. So it's different. That leadership is not come into our program, sit and watch, observe as to how it's going to be done. Then you get plugged in. Now you take over not just the playing time, but that leadership portion as well. And it goes to why we don't know as much how we try to figure teams out once the season begins. Because the leadership is what helps the continuity. The continuity is what helps the level of comfort. The level of comfort is what allows you to play fast. And the more comfortable you are, the more your coach can put on you. Now, that could be amount of plays, responsibility within a place, amount of communication, how many times you motion, how many times you shift, how many different formations you line up in, how fast you go, how slow you have to go. If you have to huddle, if you don't have to huddle, all of that comes into play. So the more complex you can be, even let's just say running five different plays, how many ways can you run them? How many formations can you run those plays out of? How many motions can we attach to those? How many shifts can we attach to those? And then how many options inside those plays can we give you that you're still going to be comfortable with? And will you make the right decision? We give you inside zone, you're going to know how to pull it and throw it. You know how to quickly check the outside zone. Hell, let's just start over. Are you going to know how to go left or right? That's a real thing. So when we talk about leadership and we hear about leadership and we talk continuity and chemistry and togetherness on a football team, this is why it's important. These are parts of why it's changed and why it's so different. And you have to lean on, I think, more players now to maybe do a little bit less from a leadership perspective. And it doesn't mean that some of these teams don't have super alphas. It doesn't mean the teams don't have guys that the rest of the team can't jump on their back and they'll carry them. And we've seen Lenore Sellers carry South Carolina a couple of times. You don't think Xavier Atkins can command attention on the defensive side of the football at Auburn? Of course he can. But it was an interesting conversation as to just how certain parts of it are different than they once were. And it goes to the figuring out portion of what your team is and what they're going to be able to be. And that's the most important part of it because nobody cares about what they are. Week one, it's all what we can be by the end of the season. Now, you still want to be good enough to win that game week one, but you want to know one, what do we need to go improve? And two, are we capable of improving that? And that means physically, can we get the job done? Mentally, emotionally, can we handle what the coaches are about to put on us? If those answers are no, after you play a game or two or three, you got problems. You got real problems. And maturity allows a lot of that. But with the leadership moving from one roster to the next, guys having to play a little bit faster when they're younger maybe, plain and simple, guys be unhappy with their playing time when they are forced into those roles. They're not ready mentally and emotionally to be able to go do it because they've been pouting over to the side about he's getting 50,000 more than me, he's playing 15 more snaps than me. Instead of the acceptance of what this is my job on this team. I'm going to do it to the best of my ability until I'm asked to do something else. These are all things these coaches are battling right now, trying to figure out ways to improve upon it, make it simpler, make it easier and fast track the leadership and the continuity of their football teams before they get into fall camp. Because as you heard me state earlier in the show, there is not enough time in fall camp to truly be acclimated for week one. There just isn't. There's not enough reps. You get as close as you can, you do as much as you're allowed. But that game's still going to be a hybrid practice, maybe the first three, first four. Hell, some teams were totally different week eight than they were week five. Still improving, still finding a way to get better. But you got to be mature to be able to do that. That's why these coaches are willing to take a guy from the Sunbelt or the Mountain west that's played 610 reps or go out to Cal Poly and get a center who's played 800 reps snaps in his career and say we'd rather have that guy in there right now because we know we can put this on him and we can rely on him to be able to accomplish this right now. There's no ifs, ands, buts about what we can put on him now physically. Can he handle it? We'll find out. We'll put him in a good spot, but just don't know. 855-242-7285. You want to be a part of the Paul Finebaum Show? We'll get your calls in right after this.

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[Paul Finebaum Show Producer/Announcer]

You're listening to the Paul Fine Bomb show podcast.

[Cole Kubeck]

Again to the Paul Fine Bomb Show. Cole Kublick sitting in with you today, not Chris 855-242-7285. Couple segments to go. Discuss SEC football as we are knocking on the door of SEC media days. We'll be in Tampa next week. Covers live coming to you on the SEC Network. And obviously Paul will be there doing his show in Tampa as well. Heard from Mike Griffith, Dog Nation today. A little bit about the Georgia Bulldog disrespect. Talk to Stuart Mandel. His mailbag up now at the Athletic on respect, disrespect, hype. Preseason too much, not enough. Who's there? Roman Harper joined us to talk SEC defenses, units that he's excited to watch. Wants to see Jesse Simonton talked ACC media days as well. That will go today and tomorrow in Charlotte. You want to be a part of the show, though. Talk ACC football, SEC football, national championship contenders. You can do so. 855-24-27285. Lot of Alabama talk today and the level of satisfaction with Kaylin DeBoer, where the program is, maybe where it's going, where it's headed. Broke the schedule down, looked at that roster, and when we talk leadership, I think it's one of the things you have to look at this Alabama team and ask, where does it come from? A few key positions will be new. Obviously quarterback, Keelan Russell, Austin Mack, who wins that job. I don't think it's as easy as some people do saying, hey, Keelan Russell gets this job. Keep in mind, Austin Mack was originally recruited to Washington by Kaylin DeBoer and his staff. He's been in this offense. He knows it. And if you hear Kaylin DeBoer talk about Austin Mack, how he handles himself, what he is around the building, the facility, you'll understand that he is not to be counted out in this quarterback race. Which one of those guys could take the reins and maybe provide some of that leadership. Now racing Delgati comes in at center, played a boatload of football. Still new to Alabama, new to this roster, new to the guys he's going to be playing with. With a new starting quarterback now, there will be ways that I think you can ease the load there a little bit. Lots here. Brooks, Ryan, Coleman, Williams, you got some targets that you can use, move. Ryan Grub will try to get them in positions where they can catch the football quickly and help go make plays, hopefully then loosen up the run game just a little bit. And I think you bring in a tight end from Oklahoma State that is going to bring a different edge, bring some of the personality that's been needed at the line of scrimmage for that Alabama offense. But defense is where I think a lot of it comes from and we're used to this program having it at that inside linebacker position. Whether it's been Reggie Ragland, Rolando McClain, Cornelius Bennett, there's a litany laundry list of guys like Dwayne Rudd that we could talk about. Demiko Ryan's we could talk about. They've had one seemingly forever that has called the defense, ran the defense, been the alpha on that side of the football. Reuben Foster, whoever you want to call out, they just always been there. CJ Mosley, can it be QB Reese for that team this year? I think physically he can absolutely be that guy. And he's been in the system, been in the scheme, knows that he's probably ready to take that step and he's got A dad that played football in the SEC at the line of scrimmage, so probably help him with some of that. But Bray Hubbard back on the back end. Keon Sab back on the back end. Dijon Lee's ABM Brown. Two corners, gonna be back. Red Morgan at that husky position, gonna be back. A lot of the communication that needs to happen that can allow for things to be more complicated can happen from the back end. That'll equal a lot of freelancing, a lot of guys moving around, a lot of guys doing different things. And Kane Wommack is going to be able to free up the guys up front. Maybe they slant more, maybe they stunt more, couple more twists here and there. Maybe they can overload one side because they know they have the brain capacity on the back end of that defense to be able to cover things up, allow for those things to happen. Now you got some guys that can play up front. Don't get me wrong. Yonze Pierre, when he's healthy, he can get after the quarterback. It can happen. 855-242-7285. You want to get into the Paul Finebaum Show. Got a couple segments left for you to do it. I think London Simmons has a breakout year for Alabama. Great length, big wingspan, uses his hands well. Jamari and Lathan, heavy handed defensive lineman, can sort of move in and out a little bit. Versatility that he offers up front. I don't know where the depth is that might be the key for Alabama this year in general is just depth. I think they're going to have to stay healthy. I think they need to stay healthy at running back. I think they need to stay healthy at receiver. Now quarterback, you might actually have some depth because I think it's going to be a tight race. Maybe both guys will be capable of playing linebacker. Got to stay healthy. D line, got to stay healthy. It's important for all these teams because the depth is never going to be where it was, heck, even five years ago, much less 10, 15, 20 years ago. But this is a team that I think may end up being very different from their ones to their twos at a couple of spots where staying healthy at those places is going to be critical. If Alabama is going to get back to the College Football Playoff, which I think they're starting, 11 on both sides, they're absolutely capable of doing it. But some of that's going to go back to that leadership that we talked about. Who takes the reins? Can the center drive the offensive line? Can the quarterback drive the offense? Can the linebackers drive the defense. Are they going to have to do they need to do they get enough around them to where it doesn't have to be as much on their plate as maybe it has been in other seasons? We don't know that. We'll find out. 855-242-7285. One more segment to go right after this on the Paul Feinbaum Show.

[Paul Finebaum Show Producer/Announcer]

You're listening to the Paul Feinbaum show podcast.

[Cole Kubeck]

Get into the Paul Feinbaum Show. Cole Kubik sitting in for Paul today. Last segment. And we have two more days to go. I'll be in the rest of the week for Paul. 8552-4272-8585-5242, 7285 ACC Media Days happening today and tomorrow in Charlotte. SEC Media Days gets underway Monday from Tampa. First time that the event has been held there in the Sunshine State. Excited to get down to Tampa and get around players, coaches, other members of the media, talk some SEC football. Last thought for today and you can still get in. Anything you want to share, you Want to discuss? 855-242-7285 is something that I have heard referenced to multiple teams the same way that I'm confused about, and that is when talking about Georgia going into this season. We did it with Mike Griffith a little bit earlier when talking about Alabama this upcoming season, whether it was Stuart Mandel, Mike Griffith, Roman Harper. Something that a lot of people continue to use with these teams is when you talk about the expectation maybe being lower than it should be. Well, look how they finished last year. I think a lot of that is because how they finished last year. Outside of the national champion, who are, who are we talking about? We feel great about how they finished last year. That was in the playoff. Now, outside of that, maybe we could find some teams in bowl games that had good performances. But what do we always hear about teams that look good in bowl games? Well, it's an exhibition. Well, it was meaningless. Well, it didn't matter. Well, half the roster opted out. Most of the guys were leaving to go train for the draft. The Portal guys were already gone. So is there only one way to gain good faith going into another season and that is to win the national championship? Some people may counter that and say, well, just don't get blown out in your last game. Okay, that's fair. But I hear a lot of people saying we love Miami because their last game was close. I love Ole Miss this year because, man, they played it close in the last one that they lost. You like Them because what they accomplished as a team ensure Alabama's last game a bit of a letdown. It's not like Georgia got walked off the field. One of the sloppiest games that I've seen under Kirby Smart. And by the way, Ole Miss made some amazing plays both on offense and defense in that game. And special teams, which we don't really spend a ton of time talking about. 855-242-7285. So I just wonder how can it be? We don't like what teams are going to be going into the next season because of how they finish the season. Yet when certain teams finish the season well, we dismiss that and we can't talk about that being of benefit when they go into the next season. We just don't take the last few games to project maybe what someone's going to be going into the next season confusing to me. I need some clarity on that. Maybe Dan and Birmingham can provide it. Welcome into the show, Dan.

[Dan (Caller)]

Hey, how are you? I don't. I don't think I can. But one thing I want to talk to you about because I called you after the South Carolina game last year, the LSU game. Well, I think you did. I was there and you did the game, and LSU's run was just abysmal. And I think you said that y' all talked with Kelly and that they decided that week they need to do some drills or whatever. Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel for LSU's run blocking this year?

[Cole Kubeck]

I do, and you're right. We. We had conversations. There was an emphasis from Brian Kelly on the run game going into that week, and they went back to some things that had not been done since spring football. The shoots are like, inexcusable. Yeah, the shoots are like the big metal crossbars that you see it all.

[Dan (Caller)]

Sure.

[Cole Kubeck]

They had not gone. He said, we. He said, cole, you'll love this. We got the shoots out. We got back on the sleds. And I didn't think about it. And Jordan Rogers asked me before the game, when we were down, walking on the field, he goes, when do you think they brought those back from? And I said, man, I didn't think to ask that because I was just thinking, you know, the last few weeks, and I said, coach, just to clarify. And he said, oh, we hadn't done those things since spring ball and I would be on board with you.

[Dan (Caller)]

I don't know what's worse.

[Cole Kubeck]

Yeah, how, how. How does that not happen since spring ball?

[Dan (Caller)]

I don't know. What's worse? Not doing that or him actually conceding that to you?

[Cole Kubeck]

Totally fair response.

[Dan (Caller)]

Because you remember that South Carolina game about the emphasis. The first play of the game was a running play and South Carolina's defensive line just completely blew it up.

[Cole Kubeck]

Yes.

[Dan (Caller)]

And so I don't know if it was all Brad Davis or, or what, but hopefully we've got a better offensive line coach this year.

[Cole Kubeck]

James Craig is back there. He's good. James Craig was there.

[Sheila (Caller)]

Okay.

[Cole Kubeck]

In 2019. He's a real deal. He is a great coach. He is a great offensive line coach. He is. He is hard nosed and I think he'll have that group looking better. But also just keep in mind the scheme is going to help a lot. This is Lane Kiffin. No matter how much they throw it, no matter how much they spread it out, no matter how fast they go, he wants to run the football first. And here's the thing about Lane, he will be dedicated to it. And there are a lot of people, Dan, that wanted to get on that offensive line last year. The year I get it and they deserve the criticism. But you can't sit there and tell me that a group can't run block when you never commit to giving them the chance to run blocking games.

[Dan (Caller)]

Oh yeah. Oh, it was a disaster last year. It was an utter disaster last year. But it just baffled me how that offensive line running was never improved any throughout the season. They did. LSU only scored 13 points on Western Kentucky.

[Cole Kubeck]

I had that game too. I was, I was there for that one, Dan.

[Dan (Caller)]

Oh man. All right. So I appreciate it.

[Cole Kubeck]

Yeah. If you're an LSU fan, you don't want to see me in town. But nonetheless I don't, I don't think that, I don't think they'll get me too much this year because the football team going to be pretty good and Lane Kiffin obviously has made a lot of noise, is going to continue to make a lot of noise. There's going to be a lot of attention on that LSU football team. 855-242-7-2-85. You want to get in? Here's the thing. Let's go back. I remember Nick Saban when they first Lane Kiffin came in and they began to go a little bit more RPO ish. And there were Alabama fans at the time that were frustrated because Alabama was struggling with 4 minute offense late in games. 4 minute offense. We need to run the clock, you need to believe the clock. You've got a one, maybe 10 point lead, two score lead. You're just trying to get out of there with a win. And Alabama had trouble doing this in a couple consecutive games. And they would just badger him with questions after the game. Why, why, why? Why can't you do this? And I remember the one press conference, because I think we had him two weeks later, and he just threw up his hands and he said, listen, you guys, you don't understand that we get out in practice and we go run the ball and the quarterback pulls the ball and throw it. Pull the ball and throw it, Pull the ball and throw it. After a certain amount of time, our offensive line gets it in their heads like, hey, man, we're not going to run it. So it doesn't really matter what we do. And if you don't train it, practice it, and then even more important, if you don't go out there and actually do it when it comes crunch time and it's got to get done, but you've never truly committed to it and done it, you can't just, oh, here we go. Let's go be ground and pound. If every team can do that, then they would just do it at will all across every season, every game, whenever it mattered the most. We would have no issues on short yardage. There would be no third and two problems. People would just, let's go ground and pound. You hear the people just run it. There is no just run it. It's not that easy or else everybody would just run the ball. It's hard, man. You got to practice it, you got to work it. We'll talk more about it tomorrow. Looking forward to being back with you guys again right here on the Paul Feinbaum Show.

[Paul Finebaum Show Producer/Announcer]

You're listening to the Paul Finebaum Show Podcast.