December 21, 2023 • 52 mins
Colin looks at the latest violations given to Michigan by the NCAA and if this will finally push Jim Harbaugh back to the NFL. He looks at Justin Fields' career and why he hasn't made the big jump we've seen from other star QBs. He ranks the top 10 players going to the huge matchup between the Ravens and 49ers. Plus, Greg Cosell from NFL Films joins the show to diagnose the issues the Eagles have had during their 3 game losing streak.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to
noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at
Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day
on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
All Right, here we go. It is a Thursday, live
in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be
and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us
part of your day. One hour from now. If you
bet football, fantasy football, just want to get smarter at football.
Greg Cosell stops by Seamack has a lot going on.
(00:50):
The NCAA is after Harball. Poor Jim Harbaugh again. You know,
I went to dinner last night with a couple of
football guys. There's a lot happening with Harbaugh. Was all
over dinner.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yeah, it sounds like the Chargers. You don't want to
say Locke this early in the process, but they are
desperate to get him Colony, harbor or busts for the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, there's not a big coaching group. It's like he's
at the top. So I did confirm last night and
yesterday afternoon that the Chargers are very interested in Jim Harbaugh.
He's at the top of the wish list. My hunch
is he would rather stay at Michigan, but a lot
of things will change, and this is one of the
things that will change. The NC DOUBLEA. And they did
(01:31):
it on signing day. Oh how petty of the NC DOUBLEA.
It's how they roll. The NCAA charging Harbaugh in Michigan
with a level one violation for providing false and misleading
information during the COVID season. I mean, governments were giving
us false and misleading information. Michigan football, can't. They also
(01:54):
say there was some impermissible contact. Would recruits four level
to violations? Oh really, you mean the same kind of
recruits you can buy out of high school now? So
this is classic NCBLEA, classic pettiness. Jim Harbaugh, for the record,
he's gonna be fine. If the NCAA comes down to harshly,
(02:16):
too punitively, he'll just leave. And then Michigan's then holding
the bag. And you say, so what, but the great
college football coaches demand that you surrender some of your
power to them. Saban did it, Dabo's done it, Harbaugh
does it. If you don't relinquish some power, you can't
(02:37):
get him or they leave. And that's the reality of it.
Saban was the first to really flex. Harbaugh's done it
as well. He doesn't already have a boss. And that's
why Michigan football's good. And by the way, the last
two years in college football, the ratings have gone up
due to Michigan Football's emergings and Dion Sanders, the SEC
(02:59):
can congratulations in the South. They were hurting the sport.
The sport was on a six and seven year ratings
decline and then Harbaugh and Dion Sanders changed it. All
these allegations just cracked me up. Misleading information during COVID,
the COVID football season in the NFL and college was
(03:23):
a circus. Universities were taking loans from banks, they couldn't
pay bills, governments providing misleading information. We were all making
stuff up. Nobody knew what was right and wrong, even hospitals.
The other one is advanced scouting concerns with Connor Stallions. Yeah,
scouting's legal, just not too much of it. The Jim
(03:45):
Harbaugh critics. He's gonna win, right. He wasn't on the
field for six games this year. They were six to zero,
five blowout wins. He gonna be fine. He's gonna go
to the NFL. He's gonna get twenty million a year.
To me, the NC DOUBLEA should spend their time reforming
the NIL it's a bit of a mess now, reforming
(04:07):
as best they can the transfer portal. They've done a
pretty good job. They're more needed and reforming the NC
Double A rule book. Misinformation during the COVID season, I mean, honestly,
sort of the New York Times, hospitals, governments, that's your
(04:28):
level one violation. Well, the advanced scouting, Yeah, they beat
Ohio State three years in that year they stopped advanced scouting.
They beat them again, pushed them around the field two
hundred yards rushing in the second half. So every sanction
by the NC Double A against Michigan, I think the
NC Double A petty as always wants us to think
(04:49):
Harba's done it and it's been sketchy. No, it just
enlightens how misguided and petty the NC Double A is
and how it's completely out of time. If you're banging
on any program for the COVID years. I mean, Belichick
told people he didn't even he just gave up that year,
like they Michigan Harbaugh. If they had all this great information,
(05:13):
why is it the only bad year Harbaugh has ever
had at Michigan. Teams gave up, they made stuff up,
they went to banks. Everybody was just bailing water. Hospitals were,
governments were, the sport was, media had layoffs, the country
was in turmoil. That's your big gat some misinformation during
COVID petty as usual. So it's that time of the
(05:38):
year again. No, not to unwrap presents, uh and drink
agnog No. No, it's the time of the year when
everybody in the NFL asked themselves do we have the
right coach and do we have the right quarterback? Some
teams absolutely do, the Rams, Baltimore, the Chiefs, right coach,
(06:00):
right quarterback. Other teams think they do, and we're pretty
sure they do, but we're not sure with one of
them Dallas, Buffalo, Houston. We like them both, but they're young, right,
the coach and the quarterback. In Chicago, they probably don't
have either. Justin Fields was asked yesterday about his future
(06:22):
with the Bears and what he's proved.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
What do you think from a personal level that you
have shown the Bears in your thirt season. You know, improvement.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
They know everybody knows who I am in the building.
So you know, like I said, I control what I
can control, and I said.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Okay, Well he has improved. He tells no lies. In
year one, he completed fifty nine percent of his throws.
In year two he completed sixty. In year three sixty
one from two and eight to three and twelve to
three and seven touchdown to interception ratios better so is
his passer rating. But this year it's eighty five six.
(07:06):
Last year it was eighty five to two. He has
slightly improved. But Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts exploded
as they grew. They were tech stocks. This is like
a four to oh one k. We keep getting promised, Hey,
just wait, someday you'll be rich. People don't have time
to wait. Every quarterback who's special in this league showed
(07:31):
us something by year three. Mahomes, Lamar Burrow, Herbert Allen,
Dak Russell, Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, every one of them. The
returns on the investment to this point aren't there, and
the improvement's gradual, and people can say, well, the organization
has poor ownership and the wrong coach. Kyler Murray says,
(07:53):
hold my beer. First three years he's been a pro
bowler twice. Year three let him to the playoffs. Arizona's
arguably the worst run team in the league. Matt Stafford
was hurt in year two. Year three in the NFL,
he led the beleaguered Lions to the playoffs. Both Kyler
(08:14):
Murray and Matt Stafford are the word I use often overcomers. Well,
O Colin, there's been injuries. Mm hmm, same with Tua.
Year three, he led the NFL in passer rating. Bad coach,
bad owner, bad cultures, some injuries, bad old line. Joe
(08:36):
Burrow had the lowest rated offensive line and got his
team to the Super Bowl. Justin Herbert as a rookie
had the lowest rated offensive line thirty second in the
NFL and set rookie passing records. The O line for
the Bears just isn't that bad. Their tackles are pretty good.
They've got a number one receiver and a number one
tight end. Their defense in the last six weeks is
(08:59):
really good, really solid. Facts are okay, even have a
number two running back. Don't have to love the coach,
but that do you love Cliff Kingsbury? Kyler still took
it in a better division of the playoffs. Did you
like Detroit? Matt Stafford year three? That roster, that coach,
he took him to the playoffs. He hasn't shown the
(09:20):
ability to pop. Don't think the coach is perfect. Don't
think the GM's elite, or the team president or the
poor ownership. I'm not blaming it at all on Justin Fields.
But the great ones overcome. They don't have to have
everything lined up. I mean Matt Stafford this year, he'll
(09:41):
play tonight, has a chance. Right now, they're in the playoffs.
Cooper Cup's not healthy, His most reliable receiver is a
fifth round rookie. Their offensive line is in flux. Their
best player of the right tackle, Rob Havenstein's older and
miss games. The defense has one star past his prime
and kids, and they're on a heater. But he's got McVeigh.
(10:04):
He does congrats, he's got that one thing. Like a
really good coach. I like Justin Fields. I think he's
worth a second round pick. I think he'd be great
in Atlanta. But when I hear improvement, I got to
see a little tech stock I got. I gotta see
more than passer rating at ninety eighty eight to eighty
(10:24):
eight point seven. It's that time of the season. Everybody
that doesn't have a great coach and a great quarterback, Rams, Baltimore, Buffalo,
they think Kansas City. Not many. There's about six that
are absolute and six week and argue over. But these
are the discussions you have to have. And at this
point top to bottom with the Bears, I'd blow it
(10:47):
up and start over. Ibra Flues had a good second
half defensive coach sometimes looks over his skis. I'd probably
blow it up and start over. J Mact Greg Cosell.
In forty five minutes Rams, I have this feeling eventually
they can't be a playoff team right like they don't
have enough great players in their prime. But what you
(11:08):
watch tonight with the Rams is a team that has
two things right quarterback, coach and in this league, unlike Chicago,
you win a lot of games, a lot of close,
a lot of slim margin games because you just outperformed
people on the final two drives of the game.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I'm hopeful, like you in the desert, a lot of
Saints money the last twenty four hours now three and
a half.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Not great.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Can I ask you Justin Field's question real quick? So
you know you look at top thirty two quarterbacks in
the league, I'm looking at some advanced stats. Who would
you say you feel more confident in going forward? Sam
Howell or Justin Fields?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Justin Fields is a better talent.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Sam Howell has had a better season according to some
advanced stats. Gardner Minshew or Justin Fields.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Gardner Minshew's probably the most underrated quarterback in the league.
I would take Fields, but Minshew, if you look at
his career college and pro, is a more mobile Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
And just one more, Derek Carr or Justin.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Field, Justin Fields is why do you ask.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
That advanced that's say, Derek Carr is better than Fields
this year in every single category. I mean, listen, it's
not we.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Don't like it, and we don't like Derek Carr's coach.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
And this isn't the counting stats of yards and touchdowns,
and this is like they're digging in deep and looking
at a lot of stuff opponent. All that stuff not
pretty for Field?
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Do you?
Speaker 3 (12:23):
And I still am not We're not ready to bail
on No.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
I think he deserves a second chance with an offensive
coach and with a fresh start, maybe closer to home.
I'm for that. I think Atlanta's the place.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I'm with you. I think Atlanta. I think, I mean
Seattle's a tough one. I do think Seattle's a quarterback
away from making that leap. I don't know if Fields
is a guy, but I know Geno Smith's not the guy.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Right, YEA fair? I agree. I have a great parlay
for you this weekend thanks to Draft Kings Sportsbook. New
users use the code HERD that's me at r d
you when you download the app, and that takes under
two minutes. Here's my parlay pick of the week via
Draft Kings Sportsbook. And we had a very good week
last week. I'm gonna take the Jaguars plus one. Getting
(13:03):
point at the Bucks, Tampa Bay has been a good story.
Jacksonville's a better team. I get a quarterback edge off
an ugly loss. Cowboys plus one and a half at
the Dolphins. Miami struggled with physical teams. Dallas didn't look
like it against Buffalo, They'll be ready to be physical,
and I'll take the Broncos at home minus six and
a half. Again off an ugly, disappointing loss, They'll circle
(13:26):
the wagons and beat a Patriots team that is pretty lifeless.
If you want to take the Herd parlay, checkout Draft
Kings Sportsbook sign up quick New users use the code
HERD when you download the app ATRD.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
Twenty one plus in most eligible states, but age varies
by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Gambling problem called one eight
hundred gambler in New York call eight seven seven eight
hope and wire text hope and Y four six seven
three six nine. See show notes for full details.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
You're now entering Noble Zone sponsored by Credible Great Rates.
None of the bull. So yesterday, by the way, I
was a big dan college football. It was a signing
day and Dion Sanders ended up with the number one
transfer class. Now it matters. You know, there's a lot
of good players out there. It used to be you
(14:14):
got high schoolers maybe a transfer a year. Now teams
will get twelve transfers and twelve high schoolers, so it
does matter. Say what you want about last year in Colorado.
They were better than they were the previous year when
they were the worst program in college football. And so
Dion had a very good day. I spent the night
last night hanging out and having a beer with a
Chip Kelly, ucla football coach, very unorthodox, out of the
(14:35):
box thinker like Chip a lot, very smart guy like Harbaugh.
He's an out of the box thinker. Like Dion, He's
an out of the box thinker. I would love to
see all three make the playoff next year, the twelve
team playoff. Don't know if they will, but I'd love
to see it. And there is a group of fans
and media and critics and coaches, by the way, that
(14:57):
think Deon Sanders is quote too showy, everything wrong with
college football. He's over the top. But I've always felt
like college football has never been the Vatican. I mean, essentially,
what it is is fifty five to sixty year old
men selling kids on dreams and hype. Very few of
them are ever realized. That's what it is. Carl salesman
(15:18):
with a whistle and a playbook. It's a lot of
it selling hype that never materializes. It's also an incredibly
mobile sport because the college football doesn't have a pension.
NFL guys would stay a coordinator or a position coach
would stay for the same franchise for twenty years. The
pensions are great. The player pensions aren't as good as
the coaching pensions in the NFL, but college doesn't have that.
(15:40):
So grad assistants want to be position coaches. Position coaches
want to be coordinators, and coordinators want to be head coaches.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
And it's just a.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Constant mobile freeway. Everybody looking for the next exit and
the best exit. And so I don't worry about the
transfer portal. College football's ratings and attendants run a seven
year slide and then d un arrived and with the
help of Michigan have gone up. And college football has
dozens of problems. Here's one of them. The number one problem.
It's an eight billion dollar a year industry and has
(16:11):
no CEO. Nonsense. It's just insane, eight billion dollar industry.
Who's the boss? We don't have one, that's the problem. Secondly,
there's no schedule maker. It's every man for themselves, just absurd.
Number three, the NIL is totally uneven. Some schools don't
(16:34):
have any money. Some schools are buying high school players.
It's completely uneven. I don't have a problem players getting paid.
Be nice if it was reasonable. It's like at free
agency year round. Even the NFL has free agency limits
and a cap. College has neither. And also, the Pac
twelve just had its greatest year and it dissolved. So
(16:54):
college football has got a million problems. I watched college
basketball die over the last twenty five years. I used
to watch as much college basketball as NBA twenty five
years ago. Do Kentucky UNLV, syrahcuse the Big East. I
used to watch as much college as pro not even
close ninety ten. Now I watch college basketball for two
and a half three weeks March. I see the ratings.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
So do you do?
Speaker 1 (17:18):
We want college football to die. It needs out of
the box thinking. And by the way, Dion Sanders is
not the problem with college football. He's one of the
key elements to propel it. Big personality, Chip Kelly's, Jim Harbaughs,
Dion Sanders, out of the box thinking. I don't need
natties from any of them, but I like the thinking
(17:40):
and their actions from all of them.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays
in neon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
Hey, I'm Doug Gottlieb. The podcast is called All Ball.
We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's
more about the stories about what made these people love
their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way.
We talked to coaches, we talk to players, We tell
you stories. You download it, you listen to it.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I think you like it.
Speaker 6 (18:14):
Listen to All Ball with Doug Gottlieb on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Celebrate the Holidays with the Gift of Football on Fox
on Sunday, It's an NFL doubleheader featuring a showdown between
title contenders because Dak leads the Cowboys against Tua and
the Dolphins. Then on Christmas Day, the Giants take on
Jalen Hurts and the Eagle all on Fox.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
You know, you and I we're off Monday for Christmas,
and there's a lot of games on and nobody's watching
us anyway. So we're off for Christmas, and you and
I don't get a weekend where we just get a
watch and bet football and we don't have to have
a take on Monday. So are you excited for that?
Are you getting all fired because it's I mean Monday,
we get Ravens Niners, which is amazing, But you and
I I don't really get that. We have to have takes.
(19:02):
We take notes all weekend, and this weekend is the
only spot in the football season where we're just kind
of gonna watch the games and hang out and have
a cocktail.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
So I don't know, are you gonna take notes like
usual on Sunday for the two twelve.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
No, I'm gonna watch Monday because Monday's NBA and NFL Christmas,
and those are the games we'll talk about.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Two sholl Miami Dallas. If Dallas loses that, I think
that's a significant talking point in Miami. I think they're
closer than you think to being a legit contender. I
know you have doubts, but keep an eye on that
Miami team.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Last night I was thinking about this. You have premonitions,
You're like, I think Buffalo is now becoming better than
the fascinating Bills we fell in love with two years
ago that couldn't deliver. I think this is the better version.
I have a feeling Buffalo is gonna end up in
the super Bowl. Interesting, I really do. I think I
(19:51):
always thought they were Wait wait, I'm sorry super Bowl. Yeah,
it's perfect. You know how sometimes after a team gets
to the super Bowl, you look back and you say
to yourself, oh God, I should have seen it coming, right,
You've done that before. You're like, how did I not
see that? If you look at Baltimore a Buffalo season,
just just think about this. On the Bills, if they
(20:13):
get to the super Bowl, you'll look back and go.
Mahomes had his worst year because he was breaking in
new receivers, Burrow got hurt, Baltimore fell apart physically, and
Jackson disappointed Jacksonville, and you'll go, oh, why didn't I
see it? I think Buffalo's getting to the super Bowl? Wow?
And so, and you're gonna look back and you're gonna
go how and you're gonna go Sean Payton, Russell Wilson
(20:36):
caught fire too late Chargers, Jacksonville disappointed, Burrow hurt, Mahomes
and Andy were good, but they could never overcome They're
they're not as good on the old line and the receivers.
And then Baltimore we like them, but they just lost
another piece.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Yeah that Keithon Mitchell lost like one.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
More injury away from being in a problem area.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
So we talked about betting the Bills and I got
some futures last week. But I don't actually think those
are going to hit like AFC.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
I think they're going to be in the super Bowl.
I had a premonition. I honestly last night. I thought,
every time the super Bowl happens, you look back, you do,
I do, we all do, and we go, oh how
I didn't see that coming. It's the year for them.
Mahomes down, Burrow hurt, Baltimore's good, but they're falling apart.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
I need to look at it. But I think Miami
Buffalo play one more time. Yeah in Miami hold on
and it could be Buffalo needs that win to get
in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, and Miami will be at home. But you know,
maybe for number one seed. Josh Allen has dominated nobody
like Miami. Well, they cannot stop him in the red zone.
They don't have the personnel.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Let's see if Fanngio's defense keeps getting healthy and the
offensive line. But I would say I would see Miami
more now than Buffalo.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Wow. Disagreement, total absolute. Do not trust this speedboat the
Tanning Salon of the NFL stuff.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Did you see the video of McDaniel. By the way,
there's a video that's circulating.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
That guy is awesome. McDaniel or McDermott, who you got.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Well, they're both more than capable Nun's offense. So I
lean there, let's not make McDermott into a bum. He's
he got Tyrod Taylor pre Josh Allen to the Super
to the playoffs and oh, by the way, he's no McDaniel.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Let's just cut it off, right.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Come on, Yale guy, forty line, Yale guy. This is
not the IVY League. It's football.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Come on, Colin, don't say stuff like that. Listen, this
is a guy who in the day, I'll tell you
I'm all in anybody in the city.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Hey, everybody, you just do you hear Ryan Fitzpatrick best
quarterback ever he went to Harvard.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
I'd be totally different. I want my coach smart. I
don't want him defensive minded like McDermott.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
I've worked with some IVY League people and yeah, and
that's exactly what I said.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
That's fired.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Wow, Eastern Washington, the Harvard, the Yale God. Did you
know watch Gilbour Girls joking Dallas joke? No, I just
I just think we're gonna look back and we're gonna say, Oh,
Burrow was hurt. Lamar's team fell apart, Mahomes had all
these kids, Trevor Lawrence stepped back, Herbert didn't have the
(23:18):
right coach. C. J. Stroud wasn't ready. Titans were a mess.
All the barriers are falling for Buffalo, and they finally
in the last month have developed a run game. When
you beat Dallas like that, only two teams in the
league have gone up against Dallas and humiliated them physically,
San Francisco and Buffalo my new super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Hold on, Colin. That was a perfect spot.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Can we take this? Is this taped?
Speaker 3 (23:46):
We're live?
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Yeah, Alex, is this taped? Buffalo? San Francisco?
Speaker 3 (23:50):
I'm in So just remember Dallas was coming off three
straight home games, had to go outdoors against a desperate Buffalo.
It was a perfect spot.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Don't read too much in the fall because you're a
each guy. You're falling into Miami. Me let me say
something about December and January. It's cold. Miami's shown no
ability to go in crappy weather, play physical teams and win.
Buffalo lives for that, brags about it, embraces it. It's
their DNA. I'm telling you Bill's Niners. I don't even
(24:19):
need to watch the games. Oh all right, the Super
Bowl numbers.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Buffalo in the AFC right now are which one?
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Is it? So what?
Speaker 3 (24:28):
They're not even in the playoffs. I know now they
could go there that they're ninth and they need help. Man,
they need help to get in.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
We all need help.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
No, no, no, they need other guys to lose, meaning
they're not like automatic that Miami game. Okay, damn it.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
They need help. We all need help, we all need it. Well,
I'm just listen. Anybody can say, hey, I like the
Niners and I like the Favorites. If I told you
pick a team not in the playoffs to shop people
and win multiple playoff games, nobody would deny Buffalo's it
(25:08):
without a doubt. Okay, so it's not a it's not
and they just crush Dallas.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
But non playoff teams currently are Houston with case Keenum, Buffalo,
Pittsburgh with Mason Rudolph, Denver Raiders with Aidan O'Connell, Come on,
those options are total crap and look at the Saints
to come on, Dennis Allen Falcons with Taylor Heinike Packers
with your boy Georgian.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Let those team him boldens my Buffalo argument. There's one
team not in the playoffs that we all look at
and go, yeah, I don't want no part of them,
cold weather Buffalo. As we head into January.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Miami wins this weekend, Baltimore loses all of a sudden
number one seed up for grabs, Miami could could get
home field in the AFS.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
You think Buffalo is going to struggle to go in
January to Miami and win.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Not be sure to catch live editions of the Herd
weekdays and Noon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Greg Cosel joining us now live as he does Customer
early on Thursdays. So we're gonna look in the rear
view mirror a little before we look ahead, because there's
some really interesting Cowboys, Dolphins, Ravens, Niners rams I want
to talk about later. They played the Saints tonight, so
let's look back. I had said the last two weeks
(26:18):
with James cooking a run game is the first time
I really look at Buffalo and think that's what a
Super Bowl team looks like. The quarterback. It reminds me
of those big Ben Steeler teams. Early on. He wouldn't
throw thirty times, it was twenty. It was nineteen. Run game.
It was Jerome Bettis, I think initially, and later it
(26:40):
was Le'vian Bell. But the more they relied on Ben,
the Super Bowls dried up. It was a defensive, culture, toughness,
run game with a six to six giant who could
make three or throw transformational plays. I don't know what
the film says, but that Buffalo team, to me, could
make a long run and they're not even in the playoffs. Greg,
But what's the what's the film say?
Speaker 7 (27:03):
Well, I got to tell you it was one of
the most fun films I've watched, because you have to
think of it this way, Colin. When you put together
a run game, when coaches sit down and decide how
they want to run the football and a given week
against an opponent, what they look at is the defensive fronts.
What runs work best against the predominant tendency defensive front
(27:23):
to their opponent. We know football is a physical game.
That's just the nature of it. So of course you
have to block people, but it goes way beyond that.
And I thought that they took some of their staple runs,
for instance, a run called tackle trap in which they
pulled the tackle. Usually it's Dion Dawkins the left tackle.
Sometimes it's Bround the right tackle. They pull them across
the formation. That's a staple run. But they did such
(27:45):
a good job of attacking the defensive front alignments of
the Cowboys. The Cowboys line up very often what we
call an over front, meaning it shifted. The front is
shifted to the strength of the offensive side of the
ball to where the tight end is. Yes, that's what
an overfront is. And they did a great job attacking that,
running to the weakness of that front, and they had great,
(28:07):
great success. So this was a tactical game, Colin, as
much as it was. Hey, they just lined up and
they beat them up, which they did on occasion, but
it was far more tactical.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
So we had said going into the weekend, the two
teams we liked were the Bills over Dallas and the
Lions over Denver. I thought it was a tough matchup.
Jared Goff coming off an embarrassing performance goes home in
the Dome. This is a very fast, twitchy Lions offense.
Get you get them on a fast track, They're a handful.
(28:37):
It was a much worse matchup than I envisioned. What
did Detroit do that was so overwhelmingly positive?
Speaker 7 (28:46):
I think the Lions in many ways do a lot
of the same things on a weekly basis. You know,
their past game foundations are reduced splits, motion, great with spacing,
They worked between the numbers with their out concepts. They
use play action more than any team in the NFL,
and they put golf under center to run play action,
which is tougher for defense to deal with because it
(29:09):
creates conflict for players that have run pass responsibilities. And
they just executed really, really well. They ran some route
concepts that just put defenders in such conflict that they
weren't sure how to play them. And now that they
have a run game and they have two backs who
are totally different, I mean, what Gibbs gives this offense
(29:29):
is really especially. He is an explosive player and while
he may not be a quote unquote feature back, within
the context of what they do and how he's deployed,
he really gives them a lot of juice. And you're
seeing Jamison Williams now slowly become more involved in their
past game. And he's another guy with explosive trade. So
as long as they can protect and Jared Goff is
(29:52):
relatively comfortable in the pocket, this is a very difficult
pass game to defend.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Yeah, the rookie tight end Gibbs, Amaran Saint Brown william
Now is emerging. It's a lot and Jared's always thrown
one of the prettier balls in the league.
Speaker 7 (30:05):
So oh for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Yeah, you know we were saying earlier Georgia was really
good this year, but because of personnel losses the last
two years in the draft, they're not quite as good.
And we can we can talk about Philadelphia all we want.
They lost their best guard, their two best linebackers, a
top person in the secondary, a top defensive lineman, a
great offensive coordinator. Isn't part of Philly's issue. They're good,
(30:27):
but they lost. If you want have taken a non
playoff team and take all they lost and put all
those coaches and players on that non playoff team they lost,
a they could have, they would create a playoff team
like isn't part of Phillies' issues. They just lost great
coaches and players. They're not the same team.
Speaker 7 (30:45):
I mean, I'm sure you know you could argue that's
a part of it. But the tape, I think tells
you a lot. I think when you watch their offensive
tape in particular, you're seeing that Jalen Hurts right now
is just not seeing things the way he needs to
see things. The process isn't as sharp as it was
a year ago. We know he can do it, We've
seen him do it, but for whatever reason this year
(31:06):
and we don't know the answer to this, but he's
just not seeing it the right way. I mean, I
could show you watching the tape route concepts that are
basic that every team runs in the league, and he's
just not reading them correctly, and therefore the ball is
not coming out. There are throws that are there every
single week that he's simply not making. And I think
when your quarterback is struggling to execute basic concepts, it
(31:28):
really hurts your offense. And defensively, they simply cannot rush
the quarterback. Last week, on that ten play final drive
by the Seahawks, there were ten plays they rushed, with
four every snap, they didn't get near lock and they
played a lot of man coverage. That was a change
that was made with a new play caller. I guess
we don't want to say new coordinator the new play caller,
(31:50):
but they played a lot more man and they don't
really have players in the secondary at this moment in
time that can play man at a high level. So
they're not rushing the cour back. They're struggling to cover it.
It's a team right now that doing some of the
basic things they're not doing very well.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Okay, let's talk about this weekend. Let's start with the
Cowboys who are humiliated going to Miami Ite. I think
Dallas will have a very intense week of practice. I
think they'll establish physicality and beat Miami. But I want
to ask you about Tua when you look at defenses,
because the Cowboys can be hyper aggressive at times and
(32:29):
it can backfire, Yes, but how is Tua done against
defenses like Dallas that have a pass rush and can
be very aggressive on the back end. How does he
match up? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (32:40):
I think the key thing is the back end, because
when they're playing well on offense the Dolphins, that is,
the ball gets out, so I'm not suggesting there'll be
no pass rush and it won't be a factor at all,
But he doesn't take deep drops. He hits the back foot,
the ball gets out, Okay, So it's really more about
being aggressive from a coverage effective on the back end.
(33:01):
And the player I think they're going to go after
is Duran Bland. Now, Bland is really good. He's a
squatter and he's a sitter and he plays their pass rush.
So the large majority of his interceptions have come when
he's been able to do that. But we'll see how
they can play on the back end. I think you're
going to see double moves against Bland because this pass
(33:23):
game is really it's quick, it's rhythmic, and the ball
gets out. Now, obviously we're speaking about normal down in
distant situations. There's a run game element to Miami as
well that's very, very good, and you need to get them.
You can say this about any team, but it's particularly
the case with Miami column you need to get them
in long yardage where the pass rush then becomes a
(33:46):
factor because in normal down in distant situations it's coverage
before pass rush. You must be able to take away
those first window throws.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
So Miami's defense since week five, they're getting vic Fans
defense is getting a real pass rush. They have a
very productive sack total. Dak will face some pressure. How
does Dak line up against Fangio's defense and most notably
the pressure they're creating the last six seven weeks.
Speaker 7 (34:15):
Yeah, they will create pressure where I think they've improved dramatically.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Man.
Speaker 7 (34:21):
I haven't heard this talked about much, but I love
watching it on film. Is Jalen Ramsey Because Jayalen Ramsey.
People think of him. They probably remember him back in
the day in Jacksonville when he had great one on
one man to man matchups with DeAndre Hopkins. People remember
those things. They might think of him playing a lot
of slot when he was with the Rams. But he
is one of the absolute best zone corners in the NFL.
(34:44):
I mean he just his understanding of route concepts and
how to play them and how not to put himself
in conflict as a zone corner. I think since he's
been there, a lot has changed in a positive way
for the Dolphins and their defense has improved dramatically. Very
curious because Ramsey is one of those guys that believes
he can do anything. If he's not allowedbying Vic Fangio
(35:07):
all this week to say, put me on CD Lamb.
I don't care where he lines up, put me on
cdee Lamb. Now, I don't know if that will happen.
I think it could at times. I think a really
important player for Dallas this week if they're to have success,
is the tight end Jake Ferguson, who, for whatever reason,
they did not throw the ball to last week until
the second half.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Okay, let's go now to Ravens in the Bay Area
against San Francisco. Now, Lamar has owned NFC teams, and
my theory's always been if you don't see him regularly,
he is an avalanche. You just now that said, the
Niners do have the sort of twitchy, athletic linebackers that
they should be better than, like Detroit was perhaps against him. Yeah,
(35:52):
so let's talk about Lamar and the Niners defense. They're
uniquely athletic at linebacker. I do think that that helps
against Lamar.
Speaker 7 (36:03):
Yeah, I mean, I think we have to remember one thing.
You know, It's funny, for years we talked about Lamar
and hey, he's not a great passer and all that,
but you know, his impact on their run game cannot
be overstated. I mean he dictates the way defenses have
to play from an alignment standpoint or responsibility standpoint. He
forces defenders Colin to play almost against their natural instincts
(36:25):
of reacting quickly. Now, as a passer, will he leave
some throws on the field at times because he's not
truly a natural anticipation thrower. Sure, but with Jackson there's
a sliding scale because of his high level movement ability.
And keep one thing in mind, you hear all this.
You hear this all the time when coaches say we
want to keep someone in the pocket. They even say
(36:46):
that about Mahomes. Not because they think these guys can't
throw from the pocket. It's because they practice predictability. And
when a quarterback like Lamar goes three four seconds and
now he starts to move, the dictability of what you've
practiced all week, where you have you think you have
answers defensively, that all goes away. So, yes, they have
(37:08):
fast players, and I'm not saying Lamar is gonna eat
them up, but he's a very difficult player to defend.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
So the Ravens defense, first of all, they went and
grabbed a linebacker from the Bears, and he's you know,
he's an remarkable player, and so they're they're just a
better defense. Some of their injuries are on offense. Their
their defense is pretty stout. Uh. They create a consistent
pass rush. Ravens football has been physical since Forever brought
(37:35):
pretty against this defense. Has he faced anything similar to it?
What do you expect?
Speaker 4 (37:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Well what?
Speaker 7 (37:42):
Look? I think to me, the key to this defense
is is Kyle Hamilton and the two linebackers Queen and Smith.
I think those are the keys to the defense in
the way they're in which they're deployed, the way, but
what they do as well as any team in the
league is show you pressure fronts which you have to
account for, and then late rotation to coverage. Okay, now,
(38:02):
for a lot of quarterbacks, that's a problem. Rock Purdy,
this is one of his best traits. He has shown
just a remarkable ability to handle late rotation and still
play within the structure of what he's seen. People may
remember the thirty five yard completion last week to George Kittle.
That was a great example of that. I know it
was against the Cards, but tactically the Cards did a
(38:26):
lot of what the Ravens do on that particular play.
So this is a really interesting matchup to me as
far as the disguise, the rotation, what the Ravens do,
and how it's handled by Purdy and the Niners offense.
And one of the players worth mentioning who's having the
best year of his career, hands down, is to Daveon Clowney.
(38:47):
He has become a true edge pass rusher, which quite frankly,
he was not prior to this year.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Yeah, that's a great point, Chase Young Clowney. They got
a lot of size and dudes up front. Okay, in
the offseason, I said it's a coach quarterback league. You
can't convince me the Rams are a five win team.
That's what Vegas thought. I said, they're going to win
eight or nine if Stafford's upright, Higbee Cooper Cup. I
didn't know Pooka Nakua was going to be this but
(39:14):
their old lines got a good right tackle, workable left tackle.
I'm like, they're not going to be a disaster of
Stafford's healthy. Well, they're better than I thought. They're on
a heater. I just I think McVeagh is brilliant. Before
we get to a big play. Just your overwhelming, your
overreaching thoughts on the team playing tonight, the Rams, your
thoughts what the film says on them.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
Yeah, I think they've run the ball extremely well. I
think McVeigh has understood what Kyron Williams is. He's not
a great back, but they get him on the perimeter.
They run more of what we call duo than they
ever ran before. But in the past game. I love
what they do a ton of motion. The second highest
motion team in the league behind the Dolphins. I love
what they do with stacks and bunches. They sort of
(39:59):
wor to the game and figure out how you're going
to defend all their bunch looks, and then they attack it.
McVeigh is a master at that. And you know, and
I know you agree with this, Colin, but Matthew Stafford
is just an elite thrower of football. There's a lot
of games in this league and and you know, he's
not really fool. He'll throw a bad one here and there,
you know, but that's because he's an aggressive thrower. But
(40:21):
for the most part, you know, this is a really,
really well schemed offense with a really good trigger man.
And you know, we're going to get to the play.
We're seeing highlights now from the Commander's game a week ago,
and we'll get to the play right now because it's
a touchdown from the Commander's game last week, which came
early in the fourth quarter, by the way, So if
we can get to the play, we're looking at it
(40:42):
actually right now. So let's see, you know, how we
break this down. Stafford's in the guns third down, by
the way, So Stafford's in the gun. And as I said,
bunch is what you're seeing here to the wide side
of the field. They had done this a lot during
the game, and they knew how it was going to
be played. What did the commanders do? First of all,
there's from Marcus Robinson, he's the point man in the bunch.
But what did the commanders do? They played what we
(41:03):
call four over three bocks. It's a zone concept where
they're matching routes as they develop. Okay, so it's not
pure man. What they want to get here is Robinson
on that safety on the route that he's going to run.
You'll take a wide receiver run a safety every time,
So you've got to control that corner. If you're going
to run a corner route, and how do they do
(41:24):
that with Cooper Cup. Now he's going to release vertically
and attack that corner. It's the corner's responsibility in this
coverage to play outside. So you see that Cup eats
up the corner, and now what do you have. You
have Robinson, a wide receiver running a vertical route against
a safety. That's exactly what you want. And he's going
(41:45):
to run a corner route. And now with the defensive
corner sitting low playing Cup, there's no one who can
do this and who can cover this, And it's just
beautifully designed. They had set this up all game long, because,
as I said, they did this in the ear in
the fourth quarter, after probably being in Trip's bunch, oh
I don't know nine ten times in the game and
(42:06):
seeing exactly how the commanders would play it. That, to
me is what McVeigh is so good at. Shanahan's so
good at. They play a four quarter game, they see
how you play, and then they attack it.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
Yeah, and DeMarcus Robinson suddenly has become a very important
piece with Nakua Higbee Cup. It's amazing everybody's contributing to
this really interesting football team they play tonight. Greg is
always happy holidays, great seeing.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
You be sure to catch live editions of the Herd
weekdays and noon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 1 (42:35):
So the Ravens are eleven and three, they go to
the Bay Area, the Niners are eleven and three, and
yet the Niners are five and a half point favorite.
It's Kyle Hamilton, who's having a very very good year
at safety for the Ravens, says, what's the deal with that?
Speaker 4 (42:50):
The eleven and threes are not created equal right now
in terms of the forty nine ers versus us, and
we feel a little disrespected by that. I feel like
we are the best team in the league and got
an opportunity in front of the country show it.
Speaker 3 (43:04):
So.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
John Harbaugh is a great underdog coach. I expect a
very close game. But we do this before the biggest
game of the weekend maybe four or five times a year.
We go and say here are the top ten players. Now.
I think the Niners should be favored. I think it's
going to be twenty eight to twenty four San Francisco.
I would take the points in Baltimore, but they are
(43:26):
banged up. They just lost Mitchell, another very very twitchy
athlete on offense. So if we listed the top ten players,
here's how I would list him in this game. Now
it will come off well, I'll just list the players.
So the best player I would say is Christian McCaffrey.
Leads the NFL six games over one hundred yard rushing.
(43:48):
I mean, he's going to have twenty total touchdowns. I
think he's one of the best running backs in league history,
up there with Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. He's having a
remarkable year. I think McCaffrey would be IMBP. So he
is the best player in this game. I would say
the second best player is the best left tackle maybe
in a decade, Trent Williams, who's not allowed to sack
(44:10):
since Week thirteen of last year. When he's healthy, they win.
You know, the great left tackles Tyron Smith of the
Cowboys and Trent Williams. They will make great pass rushers.
They'll engulf them. So there are very few people on
the planet that have his scythe in his feet. He's
the second best player in this game. Third best player
to me is Lamar Jackson, on pace to become the
(44:31):
first quarterback with thirty seven hundred passing yards and nine
hundred rushing yards. He's just having a great year. And
by the way, when I say he's third, you know
these top three private players McCaffrey, Trent Williams, and Lamar
Jackson are top players in the league at their positions, right,
So like it's inches not feet, then it gets really
(44:52):
really close. Number four, I think the NFL's best chess
piece is Deebo Samuel. He's one of two players in
the entire league with five plus receiving touchdowns and five
plus rushing touchdowns. The other is McCaffrey. So I just
think he is just too big for corners, a two
faster linebackers. I think he's a chess piece and he
has the perfect coach. He starts running and gets steam.
(45:17):
None of those dvs won a piece of that. Just
he's like a tight end, but thicker and faster. I
think the number five player is Nick Bosa, who second
most pressures in the NFL behind Micah Parsons. When he's healthy,
he's just like TJ. Watt Miles Garrett. Just you're not
gonna block him, you know, you just you got about
(45:38):
a second and a half to have an edge on him,
and then it's it's over. Number six is the best
linebacker in the game. Fred Warner, who is the highest
graded linebacker according to PFF insane range. I almost wonder
sometimes you can put him on offense and have and
do something in Kyle's system. He's just an insane athlete.
Has four interceptions, so there's there's nobody else on the
(46:01):
planet quite like him. Number seven Rokwan Smith, to me,
is the second best linebacker in the NFL. He has
transformed this defense ten plus pressures, five plus pass breakups.
Just a great player, Hall of Fame talent. Georgia Bulldog
great with the Bears that the Bears had to get
offensive help for justin Field, so they moved off him.
And at the time, I'm like, that's a lot of
(46:21):
money to play a linebacker. But he and Fred Warner
are the two linebackers in the NFL. You should just pay.
Number eight George Kittle, who's the highest grated tight end
in football this year, blocks physical red zone after the catch,
Hall of Fame talent. I don't think there's any denying
that Kittle's great. Number nine brought perty he's having a
(46:45):
great year. He is not Lamar is a talent, but
he is having leads the NFL in a passer rating
at one nineteen. He is a good player. Some would argue, great,
I'm not there. This is not a knock. These are
the two best teams in the league. You got like
twelve Hall of famers in this game. This is not
a knock on brock Purty. I don't see him as
a Hall of Fame talent. Number ten was tough. I
(47:06):
went with Kyle Hamilton or Brandon Auk and I went
with IU gover Kyle Hamilton because he touches the ball,
so people will take a receiver over a safety in
a draft. I think Kyle's having a great year, and
Kyle's arguably the best safety in football. He's eleven, but
I uke second straight thousand yard season, not as consistent
as Kyle Hamilton. He can disappear a little bit because
they have so many weapons. But I mean to tell
(47:27):
you how good these teams are. Kyle Hamilton's by eleven,
and I think he's probably the best safety in football.
And so Kyle's great. But again, if you're asking me
to take a safety or a receiver, I'd probably take.
Now you look at that and you think oh, it's
a blowout. But again, eleven would be Kyle Hamilton. If
Mark Edwards was healthy, he would be in my top six.
(47:49):
The tight end for and Mark Andrews, he would be
top six. I think he's the only guy with Kittle
and Travis Kelcey in that class, right, I.
Speaker 3 (47:58):
Had to jump in here. Don't freak out. Okay, I
just got a text. Did Cowherd put McCaffrey in the
same sentence as Barry Sanders and Walter Payton?
Speaker 1 (48:08):
Better receiver than but better receiver than both? That kind
of matters in twenty twenty three. Gosh, I don't know
if you so.
Speaker 3 (48:15):
You also on the list of the top players in
a football game. I'm gonna start with this. What is
the most important position in football? Just answer that, don't
go anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (48:24):
Quarterback?
Speaker 3 (48:25):
Okay, how on earth do you have a quarterback, brock Party,
who's leading every quarterback in every category behind two linebackers.
Come on, man, that's off brand for you. You gotta
put a quarterback ahead of linebackers. Warner's awesome, ro Quatson,
it's very good. If one of them is out for
the game, line's barely budgeing. Brock Purty, all of a
sudden hurt. You gotta go to Sam Darnold, Ravens are favored.
(48:48):
Get Purty up the list. Colin the disrespect here, I
see that smirk. I know what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
I'm not doing this. I'm not ranking position important. These
are the top ten players. It's actually a compliment to
put brock Purty over Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton's the best safety
in the game, a high school All American, a college
All American, a first round pick.
Speaker 3 (49:10):
Says, I don't care when he did it, Notre Dame.
Speaker 1 (49:11):
Well does brock Purty second season if he doesn't lose
any games and his numbers are off the charts. He
actually does. When Deebo doesn't play, he doesn't have the
when he doesn't have the the All Star cast, and
he's missing occasionally debot, he loses.
Speaker 3 (49:26):
So we said that, I'm kind of sort of done
with the Jets. If the forty nine ers send me
a brock Purty jersey, send me one. I will wear
it on the air the week they're going to the
super Bowl, not two weeks, but the week leading up
to the Super Bowl. I'll wear it on the air
one day.
Speaker 1 (49:39):
Permission. Sure, all right, that's not seahawk tattoo going. I'm
just saying, you see, as a criticism, this game has
put that list up again. Yeah, barring injuries. Barring injuries.
McCaffrey's a Hall of Famer, Trent Williams a Hall of Famer,
Lamar will get a lot of vote. Sol Depot Bosa
(50:02):
is a Hall of Famer, Warner's a Hall of Famer,
ro kwand Smith a Hall of Famer, Kittles a Hall
of Famer. Yeah, and Kyle. Now I'm not saying I'm
not saying they are. Now, I'm saying, barring injuries, those
are Hall of Fame players. So to have those guys
ahead of Iowa States brought purty is not a criticism.
I don't think it's a Hall of Fame talent. I
(50:23):
think Kyle Hamilton, they don't put a lot of safeties
in the Hall of Fame. If Kyle plays for the
next ten years like this year, he's a Hall of Famer.
Speaker 3 (50:29):
I would put Za Flowers ahead of Kyle.
Speaker 1 (50:33):
No. Eleven was Hamilton, twelve was a Flower.
Speaker 3 (50:36):
Okay, do you remember You probably don't, but do you
remember the discussion we had about Deebo Samuel. Remember I
said he was it top five or top ten, I
don't remember, but it was like you were just like, oh,
he's not there.
Speaker 1 (50:48):
He did remember early in his career he had an injury.
Speaker 3 (50:52):
He had some injuries, you know, because he's tough as
hell and goes over the middle and yack them. Deebo
Samuel is so good. I don't want to hear this
like he's not a top five receiver. You're starting now.
Speaker 1 (51:01):
I say he's the best chess piece. He's not like
everybody else. I always use the late Aaron Hernandez when
Belichick had him, Gronk was the better tight end, Randy
was the better receiver, Tom was the best player. Aaron
Hernandez was the league's best chess piece. They could move
him all over the offense. Deebo's the league's best chess piece.
(51:25):
And with this coach would what would a defensive coach
do with him? I'm not sure, but when you give
arguably the best guy with a canvas the best chess piece,
you know, Shanahan like Deebo is a hand. Like when
you if you're a defensive coordinator, you can figure out
ways to defend a great tight end. You look at
Deebo and you're like, the hell do I do with that?
(51:45):
How do I defend that?
Speaker 3 (51:46):
Listen, you talk about the favorite players in the league.
Debo's in my top ten. I mean he is a
bad bad boy. Like love him. I mean he runs
over to remember he called Bradbury trash leading up to
the Eagles game. Bradbury is lit up. I see it,
like the dude knows football. He's this toy ninerty. How
can you now love them?
Speaker 1 (52:04):
They're fun? Who says I don't
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to
noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at
Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day
on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
All Right, here we go. It is a Thursday, live
in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be
and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us
part of your day. One hour from now. If you
bet football, fantasy football, just want to get smarter at football.
Greg Cosell stops by Seamack has a lot going on.
(00:50):
The NCAA is after Harball. Poor Jim Harbaugh again. You know,
I went to dinner last night with a couple of
football guys. There's a lot happening with Harbaugh. Was all
over dinner.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Yeah, it sounds like the Chargers. You don't want to
say Locke this early in the process, but they are
desperate to get him Colony, harbor or busts for the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, there's not a big coaching group. It's like he's
at the top. So I did confirm last night and
yesterday afternoon that the Chargers are very interested in Jim Harbaugh.
He's at the top of the wish list. My hunch
is he would rather stay at Michigan, but a lot
of things will change, and this is one of the
things that will change. The NC DOUBLEA. And they did
(01:31):
it on signing day. Oh how petty of the NC DOUBLEA.
It's how they roll. The NCAA charging Harbaugh in Michigan
with a level one violation for providing false and misleading
information during the COVID season. I mean, governments were giving
us false and misleading information. Michigan football, can't. They also
(01:54):
say there was some impermissible contact. Would recruits four level
to violations? Oh really, you mean the same kind of
recruits you can buy out of high school now? So
this is classic NCBLEA, classic pettiness. Jim Harbaugh, for the record,
he's gonna be fine. If the NCAA comes down to harshly,
(02:16):
too punitively, he'll just leave. And then Michigan's then holding
the bag. And you say, so what, but the great
college football coaches demand that you surrender some of your
power to them. Saban did it, Dabo's done it, Harbaugh
does it. If you don't relinquish some power, you can't
(02:37):
get him or they leave. And that's the reality of it.
Saban was the first to really flex. Harbaugh's done it
as well. He doesn't already have a boss. And that's
why Michigan football's good. And by the way, the last
two years in college football, the ratings have gone up
due to Michigan Football's emergings and Dion Sanders, the SEC
(02:59):
can congratulations in the South. They were hurting the sport.
The sport was on a six and seven year ratings
decline and then Harbaugh and Dion Sanders changed it. All
these allegations just cracked me up. Misleading information during COVID,
the COVID football season in the NFL and college was
(03:23):
a circus. Universities were taking loans from banks, they couldn't
pay bills, governments providing misleading information. We were all making
stuff up. Nobody knew what was right and wrong, even hospitals.
The other one is advanced scouting concerns with Connor Stallions. Yeah,
scouting's legal, just not too much of it. The Jim
(03:45):
Harbaugh critics. He's gonna win, right. He wasn't on the
field for six games this year. They were six to zero,
five blowout wins. He gonna be fine. He's gonna go
to the NFL. He's gonna get twenty million a year.
To me, the NC DOUBLEA should spend their time reforming
the NIL it's a bit of a mess now, reforming
(04:07):
as best they can the transfer portal. They've done a
pretty good job. They're more needed and reforming the NC
Double A rule book. Misinformation during the COVID season, I mean, honestly,
sort of the New York Times, hospitals, governments, that's your
(04:28):
level one violation. Well, the advanced scouting, Yeah, they beat
Ohio State three years in that year they stopped advanced scouting.
They beat them again, pushed them around the field two
hundred yards rushing in the second half. So every sanction
by the NC Double A against Michigan, I think the
NC Double A petty as always wants us to think
(04:49):
Harba's done it and it's been sketchy. No, it just
enlightens how misguided and petty the NC Double A is
and how it's completely out of time. If you're banging
on any program for the COVID years. I mean, Belichick
told people he didn't even he just gave up that year,
like they Michigan Harbaugh. If they had all this great information,
(05:13):
why is it the only bad year Harbaugh has ever
had at Michigan. Teams gave up, they made stuff up,
they went to banks. Everybody was just bailing water. Hospitals were,
governments were, the sport was, media had layoffs, the country
was in turmoil. That's your big gat some misinformation during
COVID petty as usual. So it's that time of the
(05:38):
year again. No, not to unwrap presents, uh and drink
agnog No. No, it's the time of the year when
everybody in the NFL asked themselves do we have the
right coach and do we have the right quarterback? Some
teams absolutely do, the Rams, Baltimore, the Chiefs, right coach,
(06:00):
right quarterback. Other teams think they do, and we're pretty
sure they do, but we're not sure with one of
them Dallas, Buffalo, Houston. We like them both, but they're young, right,
the coach and the quarterback. In Chicago, they probably don't
have either. Justin Fields was asked yesterday about his future
(06:22):
with the Bears and what he's proved.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
What do you think from a personal level that you
have shown the Bears in your thirt season. You know, improvement.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
They know everybody knows who I am in the building.
So you know, like I said, I control what I
can control, and I said.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Okay, Well he has improved. He tells no lies. In
year one, he completed fifty nine percent of his throws.
In year two he completed sixty. In year three sixty
one from two and eight to three and twelve to
three and seven touchdown to interception ratios better so is
his passer rating. But this year it's eighty five six.
(07:06):
Last year it was eighty five to two. He has
slightly improved. But Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts exploded
as they grew. They were tech stocks. This is like
a four to oh one k. We keep getting promised, Hey,
just wait, someday you'll be rich. People don't have time
to wait. Every quarterback who's special in this league showed
(07:31):
us something by year three. Mahomes, Lamar Burrow, Herbert Allen,
Dak Russell, Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, every one of them. The
returns on the investment to this point aren't there, and
the improvement's gradual, and people can say, well, the organization
has poor ownership and the wrong coach. Kyler Murray says,
(07:53):
hold my beer. First three years he's been a pro
bowler twice. Year three let him to the playoffs. Arizona's
arguably the worst run team in the league. Matt Stafford
was hurt in year two. Year three in the NFL,
he led the beleaguered Lions to the playoffs. Both Kyler
(08:14):
Murray and Matt Stafford are the word I use often overcomers. Well,
O Colin, there's been injuries. Mm hmm, same with Tua.
Year three, he led the NFL in passer rating. Bad coach,
bad owner, bad cultures, some injuries, bad old line. Joe
(08:36):
Burrow had the lowest rated offensive line and got his
team to the Super Bowl. Justin Herbert as a rookie
had the lowest rated offensive line thirty second in the
NFL and set rookie passing records. The O line for
the Bears just isn't that bad. Their tackles are pretty good.
They've got a number one receiver and a number one
tight end. Their defense in the last six weeks is
(08:59):
really good, really solid. Facts are okay, even have a
number two running back. Don't have to love the coach,
but that do you love Cliff Kingsbury? Kyler still took
it in a better division of the playoffs. Did you
like Detroit? Matt Stafford year three? That roster, that coach,
he took him to the playoffs. He hasn't shown the
(09:20):
ability to pop. Don't think the coach is perfect. Don't
think the GM's elite, or the team president or the
poor ownership. I'm not blaming it at all on Justin Fields.
But the great ones overcome. They don't have to have
everything lined up. I mean Matt Stafford this year, he'll
(09:41):
play tonight, has a chance. Right now, they're in the playoffs.
Cooper Cup's not healthy, His most reliable receiver is a
fifth round rookie. Their offensive line is in flux. Their
best player of the right tackle, Rob Havenstein's older and
miss games. The defense has one star past his prime
and kids, and they're on a heater. But he's got McVeigh.
(10:04):
He does congrats, he's got that one thing. Like a
really good coach. I like Justin Fields. I think he's
worth a second round pick. I think he'd be great
in Atlanta. But when I hear improvement, I got to
see a little tech stock I got. I gotta see
more than passer rating at ninety eighty eight to eighty
(10:24):
eight point seven. It's that time of the season. Everybody
that doesn't have a great coach and a great quarterback, Rams, Baltimore, Buffalo,
they think Kansas City. Not many. There's about six that
are absolute and six week and argue over. But these
are the discussions you have to have. And at this
point top to bottom with the Bears, I'd blow it
(10:47):
up and start over. Ibra Flues had a good second
half defensive coach sometimes looks over his skis. I'd probably
blow it up and start over. J Mact Greg Cosell.
In forty five minutes Rams, I have this feeling eventually
they can't be a playoff team right like they don't
have enough great players in their prime. But what you
(11:08):
watch tonight with the Rams is a team that has
two things right quarterback, coach and in this league, unlike Chicago,
you win a lot of games, a lot of close,
a lot of slim margin games because you just outperformed
people on the final two drives of the game.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
I'm hopeful, like you in the desert, a lot of
Saints money the last twenty four hours now three and
a half.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Not great.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Can I ask you Justin Field's question real quick? So
you know you look at top thirty two quarterbacks in
the league, I'm looking at some advanced stats. Who would
you say you feel more confident in going forward? Sam
Howell or Justin Fields?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Justin Fields is a better talent.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
Sam Howell has had a better season according to some
advanced stats. Gardner Minshew or Justin Fields.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Gardner Minshew's probably the most underrated quarterback in the league.
I would take Fields, but Minshew, if you look at
his career college and pro, is a more mobile Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
And just one more, Derek Carr or Justin.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Field, Justin Fields is why do you ask.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
That advanced that's say, Derek Carr is better than Fields
this year in every single category. I mean, listen, it's
not we.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Don't like it, and we don't like Derek Carr's coach.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
And this isn't the counting stats of yards and touchdowns,
and this is like they're digging in deep and looking
at a lot of stuff opponent. All that stuff not
pretty for Field?
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Do you?
Speaker 3 (12:23):
And I still am not We're not ready to bail
on No.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
I think he deserves a second chance with an offensive
coach and with a fresh start, maybe closer to home.
I'm for that. I think Atlanta's the place.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
I'm with you. I think Atlanta. I think, I mean
Seattle's a tough one. I do think Seattle's a quarterback
away from making that leap. I don't know if Fields
is a guy, but I know Geno Smith's not the guy.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Right, YEA fair? I agree. I have a great parlay
for you this weekend thanks to Draft Kings Sportsbook. New
users use the code HERD that's me at r d
you when you download the app, and that takes under
two minutes. Here's my parlay pick of the week via
Draft Kings Sportsbook. And we had a very good week
last week. I'm gonna take the Jaguars plus one. Getting
(13:03):
point at the Bucks, Tampa Bay has been a good story.
Jacksonville's a better team. I get a quarterback edge off
an ugly loss. Cowboys plus one and a half at
the Dolphins. Miami struggled with physical teams. Dallas didn't look
like it against Buffalo, They'll be ready to be physical,
and I'll take the Broncos at home minus six and
a half. Again off an ugly, disappointing loss, They'll circle
(13:26):
the wagons and beat a Patriots team that is pretty lifeless.
If you want to take the Herd parlay, checkout Draft
Kings Sportsbook sign up quick New users use the code
HERD when you download the app ATRD.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
Twenty one plus in most eligible states, but age varies
by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Gambling problem called one eight
hundred gambler in New York call eight seven seven eight
hope and wire text hope and Y four six seven
three six nine. See show notes for full details.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
You're now entering Noble Zone sponsored by Credible Great Rates.
None of the bull. So yesterday, by the way, I
was a big dan college football. It was a signing
day and Dion Sanders ended up with the number one
transfer class. Now it matters. You know, there's a lot
of good players out there. It used to be you
(14:14):
got high schoolers maybe a transfer a year. Now teams
will get twelve transfers and twelve high schoolers, so it
does matter. Say what you want about last year in Colorado.
They were better than they were the previous year when
they were the worst program in college football. And so
Dion had a very good day. I spent the night
last night hanging out and having a beer with a
Chip Kelly, ucla football coach, very unorthodox, out of the
(14:35):
box thinker like Chip a lot, very smart guy like Harbaugh.
He's an out of the box thinker. Like Dion, He's
an out of the box thinker. I would love to
see all three make the playoff next year, the twelve
team playoff. Don't know if they will, but I'd love
to see it. And there is a group of fans
and media and critics and coaches, by the way, that
(14:57):
think Deon Sanders is quote too showy, everything wrong with
college football. He's over the top. But I've always felt
like college football has never been the Vatican. I mean, essentially,
what it is is fifty five to sixty year old
men selling kids on dreams and hype. Very few of
them are ever realized. That's what it is. Carl salesman
(15:18):
with a whistle and a playbook. It's a lot of
it selling hype that never materializes. It's also an incredibly
mobile sport because the college football doesn't have a pension.
NFL guys would stay a coordinator or a position coach
would stay for the same franchise for twenty years. The
pensions are great. The player pensions aren't as good as
the coaching pensions in the NFL, but college doesn't have that.
(15:40):
So grad assistants want to be position coaches. Position coaches
want to be coordinators, and coordinators want to be head coaches.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
And it's just a.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
Constant mobile freeway. Everybody looking for the next exit and
the best exit. And so I don't worry about the
transfer portal. College football's ratings and attendants run a seven
year slide and then d un arrived and with the
help of Michigan have gone up. And college football has
dozens of problems. Here's one of them. The number one problem.
It's an eight billion dollar a year industry and has
(16:11):
no CEO. Nonsense. It's just insane, eight billion dollar industry.
Who's the boss? We don't have one, that's the problem. Secondly,
there's no schedule maker. It's every man for themselves, just absurd.
Number three, the NIL is totally uneven. Some schools don't
(16:34):
have any money. Some schools are buying high school players.
It's completely uneven. I don't have a problem players getting paid.
Be nice if it was reasonable. It's like at free
agency year round. Even the NFL has free agency limits
and a cap. College has neither. And also, the Pac
twelve just had its greatest year and it dissolved. So
(16:54):
college football has got a million problems. I watched college
basketball die over the last twenty five years. I used
to watch as much college basketball as NBA twenty five
years ago. Do Kentucky UNLV, syrahcuse the Big East. I
used to watch as much college as pro not even
close ninety ten. Now I watch college basketball for two
and a half three weeks March. I see the ratings.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
So do you do?
Speaker 1 (17:18):
We want college football to die. It needs out of
the box thinking. And by the way, Dion Sanders is
not the problem with college football. He's one of the
key elements to propel it. Big personality, Chip Kelly's, Jim Harbaughs,
Dion Sanders, out of the box thinking. I don't need
natties from any of them, but I like the thinking
(17:40):
and their actions from all of them.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays
in neon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
Hey, I'm Doug Gottlieb. The podcast is called All Ball.
We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's
more about the stories about what made these people love
their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way.
We talked to coaches, we talk to players, We tell
you stories. You download it, you listen to it.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
I think you like it.
Speaker 6 (18:14):
Listen to All Ball with Doug Gottlieb on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Celebrate the Holidays with the Gift of Football on Fox
on Sunday, It's an NFL doubleheader featuring a showdown between
title contenders because Dak leads the Cowboys against Tua and
the Dolphins. Then on Christmas Day, the Giants take on
Jalen Hurts and the Eagle all on Fox.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
You know, you and I we're off Monday for Christmas,
and there's a lot of games on and nobody's watching
us anyway. So we're off for Christmas, and you and
I don't get a weekend where we just get a
watch and bet football and we don't have to have
a take on Monday. So are you excited for that?
Are you getting all fired because it's I mean Monday,
we get Ravens Niners, which is amazing, But you and
I I don't really get that. We have to have takes.
(19:02):
We take notes all weekend, and this weekend is the
only spot in the football season where we're just kind
of gonna watch the games and hang out and have
a cocktail.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
So I don't know, are you gonna take notes like
usual on Sunday for the two twelve.
Speaker 1 (19:13):
No, I'm gonna watch Monday because Monday's NBA and NFL Christmas,
and those are the games we'll talk about.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Two sholl Miami Dallas. If Dallas loses that, I think
that's a significant talking point in Miami. I think they're
closer than you think to being a legit contender. I
know you have doubts, but keep an eye on that
Miami team.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Last night I was thinking about this. You have premonitions,
You're like, I think Buffalo is now becoming better than
the fascinating Bills we fell in love with two years
ago that couldn't deliver. I think this is the better version.
I have a feeling Buffalo is gonna end up in
the super Bowl. Interesting, I really do. I think I
(19:51):
always thought they were Wait wait, I'm sorry super Bowl. Yeah,
it's perfect. You know how sometimes after a team gets
to the super Bowl, you look back and you say
to yourself, oh God, I should have seen it coming, right,
You've done that before. You're like, how did I not
see that? If you look at Baltimore a Buffalo season,
just just think about this. On the Bills, if they
(20:13):
get to the super Bowl, you'll look back and go.
Mahomes had his worst year because he was breaking in
new receivers, Burrow got hurt, Baltimore fell apart physically, and
Jackson disappointed Jacksonville, and you'll go, oh, why didn't I
see it? I think Buffalo's getting to the super Bowl? Wow?
And so, and you're gonna look back and you're gonna
go how and you're gonna go Sean Payton, Russell Wilson
(20:36):
caught fire too late Chargers, Jacksonville disappointed, Burrow hurt, Mahomes
and Andy were good, but they could never overcome They're
they're not as good on the old line and the receivers.
And then Baltimore we like them, but they just lost
another piece.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Yeah that Keithon Mitchell lost like one.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
More injury away from being in a problem area.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
So we talked about betting the Bills and I got
some futures last week. But I don't actually think those
are going to hit like AFC.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
I think they're going to be in the super Bowl.
I had a premonition. I honestly last night. I thought,
every time the super Bowl happens, you look back, you do,
I do, we all do, and we go, oh how
I didn't see that coming. It's the year for them.
Mahomes down, Burrow hurt, Baltimore's good, but they're falling apart.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
I need to look at it. But I think Miami
Buffalo play one more time. Yeah in Miami hold on
and it could be Buffalo needs that win to get
in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, and Miami will be at home. But you know,
maybe for number one seed. Josh Allen has dominated nobody
like Miami. Well, they cannot stop him in the red zone.
They don't have the personnel.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Let's see if Fanngio's defense keeps getting healthy and the
offensive line. But I would say I would see Miami
more now than Buffalo.
Speaker 1 (21:50):
Wow. Disagreement, total absolute. Do not trust this speedboat the
Tanning Salon of the NFL stuff.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Did you see the video of McDaniel. By the way,
there's a video that's circulating.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
That guy is awesome. McDaniel or McDermott, who you got.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
Well, they're both more than capable Nun's offense. So I
lean there, let's not make McDermott into a bum. He's
he got Tyrod Taylor pre Josh Allen to the Super
to the playoffs and oh, by the way, he's no McDaniel.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Let's just cut it off, right.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Come on, Yale guy, forty line, Yale guy. This is
not the IVY League. It's football.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Come on, Colin, don't say stuff like that. Listen, this
is a guy who in the day, I'll tell you
I'm all in anybody in the city.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Hey, everybody, you just do you hear Ryan Fitzpatrick best
quarterback ever he went to Harvard.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
I'd be totally different. I want my coach smart. I
don't want him defensive minded like McDermott.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
I've worked with some IVY League people and yeah, and
that's exactly what I said.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
That's fired.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
Wow, Eastern Washington, the Harvard, the Yale God. Did you
know watch Gilbour Girls joking Dallas joke? No, I just
I just think we're gonna look back and we're gonna say, Oh,
Burrow was hurt. Lamar's team fell apart, Mahomes had all
these kids, Trevor Lawrence stepped back, Herbert didn't have the
(23:18):
right coach. C. J. Stroud wasn't ready. Titans were a mess.
All the barriers are falling for Buffalo, and they finally
in the last month have developed a run game. When
you beat Dallas like that, only two teams in the
league have gone up against Dallas and humiliated them physically,
San Francisco and Buffalo my new super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Hold on, Colin. That was a perfect spot.
Speaker 1 (23:44):
Can we take this? Is this taped?
Speaker 3 (23:46):
We're live?
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Yeah, Alex, is this taped? Buffalo? San Francisco?
Speaker 3 (23:50):
I'm in So just remember Dallas was coming off three
straight home games, had to go outdoors against a desperate Buffalo.
It was a perfect spot.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Don't read too much in the fall because you're a
each guy. You're falling into Miami. Me let me say
something about December and January. It's cold. Miami's shown no
ability to go in crappy weather, play physical teams and win.
Buffalo lives for that, brags about it, embraces it. It's
their DNA. I'm telling you Bill's Niners. I don't even
(24:19):
need to watch the games. Oh all right, the Super
Bowl numbers.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Buffalo in the AFC right now are which one?
Speaker 1 (24:26):
Is it? So what?
Speaker 3 (24:28):
They're not even in the playoffs. I know now they
could go there that they're ninth and they need help. Man,
they need help to get in.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
We all need help.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
No, no, no, they need other guys to lose, meaning
they're not like automatic that Miami game. Okay, damn it.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
They need help. We all need help, we all need it. Well,
I'm just listen. Anybody can say, hey, I like the
Niners and I like the Favorites. If I told you
pick a team not in the playoffs to shop people
and win multiple playoff games, nobody would deny Buffalo's it
(25:08):
without a doubt. Okay, so it's not a it's not
and they just crush Dallas.
Speaker 3 (25:12):
But non playoff teams currently are Houston with case Keenum, Buffalo,
Pittsburgh with Mason Rudolph, Denver Raiders with Aidan O'Connell, Come on,
those options are total crap and look at the Saints
to come on, Dennis Allen Falcons with Taylor Heinike Packers
with your boy Georgian.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
Let those team him boldens my Buffalo argument. There's one
team not in the playoffs that we all look at
and go, yeah, I don't want no part of them,
cold weather Buffalo. As we head into January.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Miami wins this weekend, Baltimore loses all of a sudden
number one seed up for grabs, Miami could could get
home field in the AFS.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
You think Buffalo is going to struggle to go in
January to Miami and win.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
Not be sure to catch live editions of the Herd
weekdays and Noon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
Greg Cosel joining us now live as he does Customer
early on Thursdays. So we're gonna look in the rear
view mirror a little before we look ahead, because there's
some really interesting Cowboys, Dolphins, Ravens, Niners rams I want
to talk about later. They played the Saints tonight, so
let's look back. I had said the last two weeks
(26:18):
with James cooking a run game is the first time
I really look at Buffalo and think that's what a
Super Bowl team looks like. The quarterback. It reminds me
of those big Ben Steeler teams. Early on. He wouldn't
throw thirty times, it was twenty. It was nineteen. Run game.
It was Jerome Bettis, I think initially, and later it
(26:40):
was Le'vian Bell. But the more they relied on Ben,
the Super Bowls dried up. It was a defensive, culture, toughness,
run game with a six to six giant who could
make three or throw transformational plays. I don't know what
the film says, but that Buffalo team, to me, could
make a long run and they're not even in the playoffs. Greg,
But what's the what's the film say?
Speaker 7 (27:03):
Well, I got to tell you it was one of
the most fun films I've watched, because you have to
think of it this way, Colin. When you put together
a run game, when coaches sit down and decide how
they want to run the football and a given week
against an opponent, what they look at is the defensive fronts.
What runs work best against the predominant tendency defensive front
(27:23):
to their opponent. We know football is a physical game.
That's just the nature of it. So of course you
have to block people, but it goes way beyond that.
And I thought that they took some of their staple runs,
for instance, a run called tackle trap in which they
pulled the tackle. Usually it's Dion Dawkins the left tackle.
Sometimes it's Bround the right tackle. They pull them across
the formation. That's a staple run. But they did such
(27:45):
a good job of attacking the defensive front alignments of
the Cowboys. The Cowboys line up very often what we
call an over front, meaning it shifted. The front is
shifted to the strength of the offensive side of the
ball to where the tight end is. Yes, that's what
an overfront is. And they did a great job attacking that,
running to the weakness of that front, and they had great,
(28:07):
great success. So this was a tactical game, Colin, as
much as it was. Hey, they just lined up and
they beat them up, which they did on occasion, but
it was far more tactical.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
So we had said going into the weekend, the two
teams we liked were the Bills over Dallas and the
Lions over Denver. I thought it was a tough matchup.
Jared Goff coming off an embarrassing performance goes home in
the Dome. This is a very fast, twitchy Lions offense.
Get you get them on a fast track, They're a handful.
(28:37):
It was a much worse matchup than I envisioned. What
did Detroit do that was so overwhelmingly positive?
Speaker 7 (28:46):
I think the Lions in many ways do a lot
of the same things on a weekly basis. You know,
their past game foundations are reduced splits, motion, great with spacing,
They worked between the numbers with their out concepts. They
use play action more than any team in the NFL,
and they put golf under center to run play action,
which is tougher for defense to deal with because it
(29:09):
creates conflict for players that have run pass responsibilities. And
they just executed really, really well. They ran some route
concepts that just put defenders in such conflict that they
weren't sure how to play them. And now that they
have a run game and they have two backs who
are totally different, I mean, what Gibbs gives this offense
(29:29):
is really especially. He is an explosive player and while
he may not be a quote unquote feature back, within
the context of what they do and how he's deployed,
he really gives them a lot of juice. And you're
seeing Jamison Williams now slowly become more involved in their
past game. And he's another guy with explosive trade. So
as long as they can protect and Jared Goff is
(29:52):
relatively comfortable in the pocket, this is a very difficult
pass game to defend.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Yeah, the rookie tight end Gibbs, Amaran Saint Brown william
Now is emerging. It's a lot and Jared's always thrown
one of the prettier balls in the league.
Speaker 7 (30:05):
So oh for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Yeah, you know we were saying earlier Georgia was really
good this year, but because of personnel losses the last
two years in the draft, they're not quite as good.
And we can we can talk about Philadelphia all we want.
They lost their best guard, their two best linebackers, a
top person in the secondary, a top defensive lineman, a
great offensive coordinator. Isn't part of Philly's issue. They're good,
(30:27):
but they lost. If you want have taken a non
playoff team and take all they lost and put all
those coaches and players on that non playoff team they lost,
a they could have, they would create a playoff team
like isn't part of Phillies' issues. They just lost great
coaches and players. They're not the same team.
Speaker 7 (30:45):
I mean, I'm sure you know you could argue that's
a part of it. But the tape, I think tells
you a lot. I think when you watch their offensive
tape in particular, you're seeing that Jalen Hurts right now
is just not seeing things the way he needs to
see things. The process isn't as sharp as it was
a year ago. We know he can do it, We've
seen him do it, but for whatever reason this year
(31:06):
and we don't know the answer to this, but he's
just not seeing it the right way. I mean, I
could show you watching the tape route concepts that are
basic that every team runs in the league, and he's
just not reading them correctly, and therefore the ball is
not coming out. There are throws that are there every
single week that he's simply not making. And I think
when your quarterback is struggling to execute basic concepts, it
(31:28):
really hurts your offense. And defensively, they simply cannot rush
the quarterback. Last week, on that ten play final drive
by the Seahawks, there were ten plays they rushed, with
four every snap, they didn't get near lock and they
played a lot of man coverage. That was a change
that was made with a new play caller. I guess
we don't want to say new coordinator the new play caller,
(31:50):
but they played a lot more man and they don't
really have players in the secondary at this moment in
time that can play man at a high level. So
they're not rushing the cour back. They're struggling to cover it.
It's a team right now that doing some of the
basic things they're not doing very well.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Okay, let's talk about this weekend. Let's start with the
Cowboys who are humiliated going to Miami Ite. I think
Dallas will have a very intense week of practice. I
think they'll establish physicality and beat Miami. But I want
to ask you about Tua when you look at defenses,
because the Cowboys can be hyper aggressive at times and
(32:29):
it can backfire, Yes, but how is Tua done against
defenses like Dallas that have a pass rush and can
be very aggressive on the back end. How does he
match up? Yeah?
Speaker 7 (32:40):
I think the key thing is the back end, because
when they're playing well on offense the Dolphins, that is,
the ball gets out, so I'm not suggesting there'll be
no pass rush and it won't be a factor at all,
But he doesn't take deep drops. He hits the back foot,
the ball gets out, Okay, So it's really more about
being aggressive from a coverage effective on the back end.
(33:01):
And the player I think they're going to go after
is Duran Bland. Now, Bland is really good. He's a
squatter and he's a sitter and he plays their pass rush.
So the large majority of his interceptions have come when
he's been able to do that. But we'll see how
they can play on the back end. I think you're
going to see double moves against Bland because this pass
(33:23):
game is really it's quick, it's rhythmic, and the ball
gets out. Now, obviously we're speaking about normal down in
distant situations. There's a run game element to Miami as
well that's very, very good, and you need to get them.
You can say this about any team, but it's particularly
the case with Miami column you need to get them
in long yardage where the pass rush then becomes a
(33:46):
factor because in normal down in distant situations it's coverage
before pass rush. You must be able to take away
those first window throws.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
So Miami's defense since week five, they're getting vic Fans
defense is getting a real pass rush. They have a
very productive sack total. Dak will face some pressure. How
does Dak line up against Fangio's defense and most notably
the pressure they're creating the last six seven weeks.
Speaker 7 (34:15):
Yeah, they will create pressure where I think they've improved dramatically.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Man.
Speaker 7 (34:21):
I haven't heard this talked about much, but I love
watching it on film. Is Jalen Ramsey Because Jayalen Ramsey.
People think of him. They probably remember him back in
the day in Jacksonville when he had great one on
one man to man matchups with DeAndre Hopkins. People remember
those things. They might think of him playing a lot
of slot when he was with the Rams. But he
is one of the absolute best zone corners in the NFL.
(34:44):
I mean he just his understanding of route concepts and
how to play them and how not to put himself
in conflict as a zone corner. I think since he's
been there, a lot has changed in a positive way
for the Dolphins and their defense has improved dramatically. Very
curious because Ramsey is one of those guys that believes
he can do anything. If he's not allowedbying Vic Fangio
(35:07):
all this week to say, put me on CD Lamb.
I don't care where he lines up, put me on
cdee Lamb. Now, I don't know if that will happen.
I think it could at times. I think a really
important player for Dallas this week if they're to have success,
is the tight end Jake Ferguson, who, for whatever reason,
they did not throw the ball to last week until
the second half.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Okay, let's go now to Ravens in the Bay Area
against San Francisco. Now, Lamar has owned NFC teams, and
my theory's always been if you don't see him regularly,
he is an avalanche. You just now that said, the
Niners do have the sort of twitchy, athletic linebackers that
they should be better than, like Detroit was perhaps against him. Yeah,
(35:52):
so let's talk about Lamar and the Niners defense. They're
uniquely athletic at linebacker. I do think that that helps
against Lamar.
Speaker 7 (36:03):
Yeah, I mean, I think we have to remember one thing.
You know, It's funny, for years we talked about Lamar
and hey, he's not a great passer and all that,
but you know, his impact on their run game cannot
be overstated. I mean he dictates the way defenses have
to play from an alignment standpoint or responsibility standpoint. He
forces defenders Colin to play almost against their natural instincts
(36:25):
of reacting quickly. Now, as a passer, will he leave
some throws on the field at times because he's not
truly a natural anticipation thrower. Sure, but with Jackson there's
a sliding scale because of his high level movement ability.
And keep one thing in mind, you hear all this.
You hear this all the time when coaches say we
want to keep someone in the pocket. They even say
(36:46):
that about Mahomes. Not because they think these guys can't
throw from the pocket. It's because they practice predictability. And
when a quarterback like Lamar goes three four seconds and
now he starts to move, the dictability of what you've
practiced all week, where you have you think you have
answers defensively, that all goes away. So, yes, they have
(37:08):
fast players, and I'm not saying Lamar is gonna eat
them up, but he's a very difficult player to defend.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
So the Ravens defense, first of all, they went and
grabbed a linebacker from the Bears, and he's you know,
he's an remarkable player, and so they're they're just a
better defense. Some of their injuries are on offense. Their
their defense is pretty stout. Uh. They create a consistent
pass rush. Ravens football has been physical since Forever brought
(37:35):
pretty against this defense. Has he faced anything similar to it?
What do you expect?
Speaker 4 (37:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (37:41):
Well what?
Speaker 7 (37:42):
Look? I think to me, the key to this defense
is is Kyle Hamilton and the two linebackers Queen and Smith.
I think those are the keys to the defense in
the way they're in which they're deployed, the way, but
what they do as well as any team in the
league is show you pressure fronts which you have to
account for, and then late rotation to coverage. Okay, now,
(38:02):
for a lot of quarterbacks, that's a problem. Rock Purdy,
this is one of his best traits. He has shown
just a remarkable ability to handle late rotation and still
play within the structure of what he's seen. People may
remember the thirty five yard completion last week to George Kittle.
That was a great example of that. I know it
was against the Cards, but tactically the Cards did a
(38:26):
lot of what the Ravens do on that particular play.
So this is a really interesting matchup to me as
far as the disguise, the rotation, what the Ravens do,
and how it's handled by Purdy and the Niners offense.
And one of the players worth mentioning who's having the
best year of his career, hands down, is to Daveon Clowney.
(38:47):
He has become a true edge pass rusher, which quite frankly,
he was not prior to this year.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
Yeah, that's a great point, Chase Young Clowney. They got
a lot of size and dudes up front. Okay, in
the offseason, I said it's a coach quarterback league. You
can't convince me the Rams are a five win team.
That's what Vegas thought. I said, they're going to win
eight or nine if Stafford's upright, Higbee Cooper Cup. I
didn't know Pooka Nakua was going to be this but
(39:14):
their old lines got a good right tackle, workable left tackle.
I'm like, they're not going to be a disaster of
Stafford's healthy. Well, they're better than I thought. They're on
a heater. I just I think McVeagh is brilliant. Before
we get to a big play. Just your overwhelming, your
overreaching thoughts on the team playing tonight, the Rams, your
thoughts what the film says on them.
Speaker 7 (39:36):
Yeah, I think they've run the ball extremely well. I
think McVeigh has understood what Kyron Williams is. He's not
a great back, but they get him on the perimeter.
They run more of what we call duo than they
ever ran before. But in the past game. I love
what they do a ton of motion. The second highest
motion team in the league behind the Dolphins. I love
what they do with stacks and bunches. They sort of
(39:59):
wor to the game and figure out how you're going
to defend all their bunch looks, and then they attack it.
McVeigh is a master at that. And you know, and
I know you agree with this, Colin, but Matthew Stafford
is just an elite thrower of football. There's a lot
of games in this league and and you know, he's
not really fool. He'll throw a bad one here and there,
you know, but that's because he's an aggressive thrower. But
(40:21):
for the most part, you know, this is a really,
really well schemed offense with a really good trigger man.
And you know, we're going to get to the play.
We're seeing highlights now from the Commander's game a week ago,
and we'll get to the play right now because it's
a touchdown from the Commander's game last week, which came
early in the fourth quarter, by the way, So if
we can get to the play, we're looking at it
(40:42):
actually right now. So let's see, you know, how we
break this down. Stafford's in the guns third down, by
the way, So Stafford's in the gun. And as I said,
bunch is what you're seeing here to the wide side
of the field. They had done this a lot during
the game, and they knew how it was going to
be played. What did the commanders do? First of all,
there's from Marcus Robinson, he's the point man in the bunch.
But what did the commanders do? They played what we
(41:03):
call four over three bocks. It's a zone concept where
they're matching routes as they develop. Okay, so it's not
pure man. What they want to get here is Robinson
on that safety on the route that he's going to run.
You'll take a wide receiver run a safety every time,
So you've got to control that corner. If you're going
to run a corner route, and how do they do
(41:24):
that with Cooper Cup. Now he's going to release vertically
and attack that corner. It's the corner's responsibility in this
coverage to play outside. So you see that Cup eats
up the corner, and now what do you have. You
have Robinson, a wide receiver running a vertical route against
a safety. That's exactly what you want. And he's going
(41:45):
to run a corner route. And now with the defensive
corner sitting low playing Cup, there's no one who can
do this and who can cover this, And it's just
beautifully designed. They had set this up all game long, because,
as I said, they did this in the ear in
the fourth quarter, after probably being in Trip's bunch, oh
I don't know nine ten times in the game and
(42:06):
seeing exactly how the commanders would play it. That, to
me is what McVeigh is so good at. Shanahan's so
good at. They play a four quarter game, they see
how you play, and then they attack it.
Speaker 1 (42:18):
Yeah, and DeMarcus Robinson suddenly has become a very important
piece with Nakua Higbee Cup. It's amazing everybody's contributing to
this really interesting football team they play tonight. Greg is
always happy holidays, great seeing.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
You be sure to catch live editions of the Herd
weekdays and noon Easter not a em Pacific.
Speaker 1 (42:35):
So the Ravens are eleven and three, they go to
the Bay Area, the Niners are eleven and three, and
yet the Niners are five and a half point favorite.
It's Kyle Hamilton, who's having a very very good year
at safety for the Ravens, says, what's the deal with that?
Speaker 4 (42:50):
The eleven and threes are not created equal right now
in terms of the forty nine ers versus us, and
we feel a little disrespected by that. I feel like
we are the best team in the league and got
an opportunity in front of the country show it.
Speaker 3 (43:04):
So.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
John Harbaugh is a great underdog coach. I expect a
very close game. But we do this before the biggest
game of the weekend maybe four or five times a year.
We go and say here are the top ten players. Now.
I think the Niners should be favored. I think it's
going to be twenty eight to twenty four San Francisco.
I would take the points in Baltimore, but they are
(43:26):
banged up. They just lost Mitchell, another very very twitchy
athlete on offense. So if we listed the top ten players,
here's how I would list him in this game. Now
it will come off well, I'll just list the players.
So the best player I would say is Christian McCaffrey.
Leads the NFL six games over one hundred yard rushing.
(43:48):
I mean, he's going to have twenty total touchdowns. I
think he's one of the best running backs in league history,
up there with Walter Payton, Barry Sanders. He's having a
remarkable year. I think McCaffrey would be IMBP. So he
is the best player in this game. I would say
the second best player is the best left tackle maybe
in a decade, Trent Williams, who's not allowed to sack
(44:10):
since Week thirteen of last year. When he's healthy, they win.
You know, the great left tackles Tyron Smith of the
Cowboys and Trent Williams. They will make great pass rushers.
They'll engulf them. So there are very few people on
the planet that have his scythe in his feet. He's
the second best player in this game. Third best player
to me is Lamar Jackson, on pace to become the
(44:31):
first quarterback with thirty seven hundred passing yards and nine
hundred rushing yards. He's just having a great year. And
by the way, when I say he's third, you know
these top three private players McCaffrey, Trent Williams, and Lamar
Jackson are top players in the league at their positions, right,
So like it's inches not feet, then it gets really
(44:52):
really close. Number four, I think the NFL's best chess
piece is Deebo Samuel. He's one of two players in
the entire league with five plus receiving touchdowns and five
plus rushing touchdowns. The other is McCaffrey. So I just
think he is just too big for corners, a two
faster linebackers. I think he's a chess piece and he
has the perfect coach. He starts running and gets steam.
(45:17):
None of those dvs won a piece of that. Just
he's like a tight end, but thicker and faster. I
think the number five player is Nick Bosa, who second
most pressures in the NFL behind Micah Parsons. When he's healthy,
he's just like TJ. Watt Miles Garrett. Just you're not
gonna block him, you know, you just you got about
(45:38):
a second and a half to have an edge on him,
and then it's it's over. Number six is the best
linebacker in the game. Fred Warner, who is the highest
graded linebacker according to PFF insane range. I almost wonder
sometimes you can put him on offense and have and
do something in Kyle's system. He's just an insane athlete.
Has four interceptions, so there's there's nobody else on the
(46:01):
planet quite like him. Number seven Rokwan Smith, to me,
is the second best linebacker in the NFL. He has
transformed this defense ten plus pressures, five plus pass breakups.
Just a great player, Hall of Fame talent. Georgia Bulldog
great with the Bears that the Bears had to get
offensive help for justin Field, so they moved off him.
And at the time, I'm like, that's a lot of
(46:21):
money to play a linebacker. But he and Fred Warner
are the two linebackers in the NFL. You should just pay.
Number eight George Kittle, who's the highest grated tight end
in football this year, blocks physical red zone after the catch,
Hall of Fame talent. I don't think there's any denying
that Kittle's great. Number nine brought perty he's having a
(46:45):
great year. He is not Lamar is a talent, but
he is having leads the NFL in a passer rating
at one nineteen. He is a good player. Some would argue, great,
I'm not there. This is not a knock. These are
the two best teams in the league. You got like
twelve Hall of famers in this game. This is not
a knock on brock Purty. I don't see him as
a Hall of Fame talent. Number ten was tough. I
(47:06):
went with Kyle Hamilton or Brandon Auk and I went
with IU gover Kyle Hamilton because he touches the ball,
so people will take a receiver over a safety in
a draft. I think Kyle's having a great year, and
Kyle's arguably the best safety in football. He's eleven, but
I uke second straight thousand yard season, not as consistent
as Kyle Hamilton. He can disappear a little bit because
they have so many weapons. But I mean to tell
(47:27):
you how good these teams are. Kyle Hamilton's by eleven,
and I think he's probably the best safety in football.
And so Kyle's great. But again, if you're asking me
to take a safety or a receiver, I'd probably take.
Now you look at that and you think oh, it's
a blowout. But again, eleven would be Kyle Hamilton. If
Mark Edwards was healthy, he would be in my top six.
(47:49):
The tight end for and Mark Andrews, he would be
top six. I think he's the only guy with Kittle
and Travis Kelcey in that class, right, I.
Speaker 3 (47:58):
Had to jump in here. Don't freak out. Okay, I
just got a text. Did Cowherd put McCaffrey in the
same sentence as Barry Sanders and Walter Payton?
Speaker 1 (48:08):
Better receiver than but better receiver than both? That kind
of matters in twenty twenty three. Gosh, I don't know
if you so.
Speaker 3 (48:15):
You also on the list of the top players in
a football game. I'm gonna start with this. What is
the most important position in football? Just answer that, don't
go anywhere else.
Speaker 1 (48:24):
Quarterback?
Speaker 3 (48:25):
Okay, how on earth do you have a quarterback, brock Party,
who's leading every quarterback in every category behind two linebackers.
Come on, man, that's off brand for you. You gotta
put a quarterback ahead of linebackers. Warner's awesome, ro Quatson,
it's very good. If one of them is out for
the game, line's barely budgeing. Brock Purty, all of a
sudden hurt. You gotta go to Sam Darnold, Ravens are favored.
(48:48):
Get Purty up the list. Colin the disrespect here, I
see that smirk. I know what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
I'm not doing this. I'm not ranking position important. These
are the top ten players. It's actually a compliment to
put brock Purty over Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton's the best safety
in the game, a high school All American, a college
All American, a first round pick.
Speaker 3 (49:10):
Says, I don't care when he did it, Notre Dame.
Speaker 1 (49:11):
Well does brock Purty second season if he doesn't lose
any games and his numbers are off the charts. He
actually does. When Deebo doesn't play, he doesn't have the
when he doesn't have the the All Star cast, and
he's missing occasionally debot, he loses.
Speaker 3 (49:26):
So we said that, I'm kind of sort of done
with the Jets. If the forty nine ers send me
a brock Purty jersey, send me one. I will wear
it on the air the week they're going to the
super Bowl, not two weeks, but the week leading up
to the Super Bowl. I'll wear it on the air
one day.
Speaker 1 (49:39):
Permission. Sure, all right, that's not seahawk tattoo going. I'm
just saying, you see, as a criticism, this game has
put that list up again. Yeah, barring injuries. Barring injuries.
McCaffrey's a Hall of Famer, Trent Williams a Hall of Famer,
Lamar will get a lot of vote. Sol Depot Bosa
(50:02):
is a Hall of Famer, Warner's a Hall of Famer,
ro kwand Smith a Hall of Famer, Kittles a Hall
of Famer. Yeah, and Kyle. Now I'm not saying I'm
not saying they are. Now, I'm saying, barring injuries, those
are Hall of Fame players. So to have those guys
ahead of Iowa States brought purty is not a criticism.
I don't think it's a Hall of Fame talent. I
(50:23):
think Kyle Hamilton, they don't put a lot of safeties
in the Hall of Fame. If Kyle plays for the
next ten years like this year, he's a Hall of Famer.
Speaker 3 (50:29):
I would put Za Flowers ahead of Kyle.
Speaker 1 (50:33):
No. Eleven was Hamilton, twelve was a Flower.
Speaker 3 (50:36):
Okay, do you remember You probably don't, but do you
remember the discussion we had about Deebo Samuel. Remember I
said he was it top five or top ten, I
don't remember, but it was like you were just like, oh,
he's not there.
Speaker 1 (50:48):
He did remember early in his career he had an injury.
Speaker 3 (50:52):
He had some injuries, you know, because he's tough as
hell and goes over the middle and yack them. Deebo
Samuel is so good. I don't want to hear this
like he's not a top five receiver. You're starting now.
Speaker 1 (51:01):
I say he's the best chess piece. He's not like
everybody else. I always use the late Aaron Hernandez when
Belichick had him, Gronk was the better tight end, Randy
was the better receiver, Tom was the best player. Aaron
Hernandez was the league's best chess piece. They could move
him all over the offense. Deebo's the league's best chess piece.
(51:25):
And with this coach would what would a defensive coach
do with him? I'm not sure, but when you give
arguably the best guy with a canvas the best chess piece,
you know, Shanahan like Deebo is a hand. Like when
you if you're a defensive coordinator, you can figure out
ways to defend a great tight end. You look at
Deebo and you're like, the hell do I do with that?
(51:45):
How do I defend that?
Speaker 3 (51:46):
Listen, you talk about the favorite players in the league.
Debo's in my top ten. I mean he is a
bad bad boy. Like love him. I mean he runs
over to remember he called Bradbury trash leading up to
the Eagles game. Bradbury is lit up. I see it,
like the dude knows football. He's this toy ninerty. How
can you now love them?
Speaker 1 (52:04):
They're fun? Who says I don't
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.