The Stephen A. Smith Show: Detailed Summary

Episode Title: Stephen A's Take: Commanders' Jayden Daniels can become the first rookie QB to win a Super Bowl
Release Date: January 21, 2025
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Produced by: Stephen A. Smith and iHeartPodcasts

1. Preview of the National Championship Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame

Timestamp: [01:06] – [02:45]

Stephen A. Smith kicks off the episode by discussing the highly anticipated national championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame. Drawing from his extensive knowledge of college football, Smith provides a compelling analysis of both teams' strengths and weaknesses.

• Ohio State's Dominance: Smith emphasizes Ohio State's superior talent, stating, “Ohio State just have skilled individuals at practically every damn position” ([01:20]). He highlights the team's impressive roster, including standout players like Jeremiah Smith, whom he lauds as “the best receiver in football” ([01:25]). Smith underscores the financial advantage Ohio State holds with their $20 million NIL roster, noting that the return of 11 NFL-caliber players has solidified their position as the top team this season.

• Notre Dame's Challenge: Addressing Notre Dame's prospects, Smith asserts that their path to victory lies in heightened physicality: “They have to be incredibly physical. They have to be the more physical team” ([01:40]). He points out that Notre Dame’s offensive strategy depends heavily on running and accurate passing by Riley Lynn, cautioning against turnovers: “He's got to throw the football accurately and not kill himself by committing turnovers” ([01:55]).

• Predicted Outcome: Concluding this segment, Smith confidently predicts an Ohio State victory, emphasizing the near impossibility of Notre Dame triumphing without significant luck and flawless execution: “I just don't see them beating the Ohio State without an absolutely perfect game” ([02:30]).

2. Analysis of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens' Playoff Loss

Timestamp: [02:45] – [04:15]

Shifting focus to the NFL playoffs, Stephen A. delves into the Baltimore Ravens' recent defeat to the Buffalo Bills, with particular attention to quarterback Lamar Jackson's performance.

• Turnover Issues: Smith acknowledges Jackson's mistakes but defends his overall performance: “I can't put the weight of the loss to the Buffalo Bills on Lamar Jackson” ([03:00]). He critiques the turnovers, highlighting that while Jackson threw a bad interception, the team’s reliance on Jackson is a double-edged sword.

• Team Performance: Highlighting team dynamics, Smith points out Mark Andrews' critical errors: “Mark Andrews messed up not once, but twice” ([03:30]). He also critiques the Ravens' running strategy, suggesting a more balanced approach: “They accumulated 271 yards rushing in the regular season… but they still could have ran the ball more” ([03:45]).

• Potential for Redemption: Despite the losses, Smith remains cautiously optimistic about Jackson’s future, suggesting that with improved decision-making and support, the Ravens could bounce back.

3. Spotlight on Jaden Daniels: Washington Commanders’ Rookie Quarterback

Timestamp: [04:15] – [05:53]

In the final segment, Stephen A. shifts his attention to the Washington Commanders and their promising rookie quarterback, Jaden Daniels.

• Rookie Success: Smith is effusive in his praise for Daniels, highlighting his impressive statistics: “He's accumulated over 650 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions, completing 70 of his passes, 65 of his passes” ([04:30]). He emphasizes Daniels' composure and skill, dubbing him “the brother's the real deal” ([04:45]).

• Comparisons to NFL Stars: Drawing comparisons to established NFL quarterbacks, Smith confidently states, “Jaden Daniels might be Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen” ([05:10]). He underscores Daniels' resilience and potential to lead the Commanders to a Super Bowl victory, even against formidable defenses like Vic Fangio's: “If he beats Philadelphia with Vic Fangio's defense coming at him and he finds a way to pull this off, I think Jaden Daniels might win the Super Bowl” ([05:30]).

• Future Outlook: Concluding his analysis, Smith envisions a bright future for Daniels, suggesting that he could become one of the league's premier quarterbacks: “I think he could. I just want to say that” ([05:50]).

Conclusion

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Stephen A. provides in-depth analyses of major sports topics, showcasing his trademark blend of insight and candid commentary. From predicting Ohio State’s dominance in the national championship to dissecting Lamar Jackson's playoff performance and heralding the rise of rookie Jaden Daniels, Smith delivers a comprehensive overview that entertains, informs, and motivates his listeners.

Notable Quotes:

• “Ohio State just have skilled individuals at practically every damn position.” ([01:20])
• “They have to be incredibly physical. They have to be the more physical team.” ([01:40])
• “I can't put the weight of the loss to the Buffalo Bills on Lamar Jackson.” ([03:00])
• “Mark Andrews messed up not once, but twice.” ([03:30])
• “Jaden Daniels might be Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen.” ([05:10])
• “If he beats Philadelphia with Vic Fangio's defense coming at him and he finds a way to pull this off, I think Jaden Daniels might win the Super Bowl.” ([05:30])

Note: The episode primarily focuses on Stephen A. Smith's sports analyses, with other segments and advertisements from different podcasts occurring outside the main content.