July 12, 2024 • 29 mins
Colin talks to Rams running back Blake Corum about playing for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan and his transition to the NFL
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 Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noone 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 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio now.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
He's the only college football player to score a touchdown
in every game. He was viewed as the top running
back in college football the last several years. And how
lucky is Blake Koram. The Rams are lucky to have him.
He goes Jim Harbaugh to Sean McVay, that's a pretty
good baton handoff, and Blake korm is joining us down.
You know, from the outside, Blake, they look like totally
(00:46):
different cats. Now, they're both athletic, they're both intense guys.
But is there anything about Sean that it feels a
little Jim Harball, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I would definitely say their enthusiasm for the game.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
You know, Coach Harbaugh always talked about enthusiasm unknown mankind.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
But you see that daily by coach mcday, like his energy.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
You know, it doesn't matter what time it is in
the morning, at what time it is in the evening.
Like he's the same guy each and every day, as
I saw through OTAs. I love playing for him so far,
and it's only been what maybe a month and a
half of OTA's I'm blessed.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
You know, a Harball it's it's it'll bit. It'll be
hard for you to not root for the other team
that plays at so far, the Chargers, because Jim really
made an impact on your life. Go back to when
Jim Harball recruited you at a high school and you
never played for him. He's kind of a different guy.
He's got a different personality. Did you instantly know, Blake,
(01:44):
that's my guy? Or you know, because a lot of
people meet Harball and they're like, man, he's intense, he
is different. Did you know instantly you were going to
go to Michigan.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I committed on spot. So I took two officials official visits.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
I wanted to commit for my senior year of high school,
and I took one to Ohio State and then I took.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
My next one to Michigan. I committed on spot.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
I went up to coach Rovall's office, I said, I'm
coming and it was because of you know, his coaching style,
his demeanor for the game, his love for the game,
his passion for his players.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
I was like, you know what, I'm gonna be a Wolverine.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, you know, Blake. It's interesting you have a lot
of power for your size. So does Kyron Williams, Notre
Dame running back who they took several years ago. It's interesting.
I look at you and you're obviously a fast guy,
but you'll lower your shoulder. Do you use your size
a bit as an advantage? When I watched you at
(02:41):
Michigan sometimes I thought you were good at kind of
hiding behind the line in pulling situations. Talk about that
because you know, everything in the NFL is measurables combine
size length. You've been great. Although you would be categorized
as a smaller back, but you don't play small. And
where did that come from?
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Right?
Speaker 5 (03:01):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I think that just comes from you know, my whole life.
You know, everyone always called me a smaller back. But
when it comes to strength wise or pound for pound,
like you know, there's not too many you know guys
that can you know, outlift me in the weight room
and things like that, So, uh, you know, I try
to use that to my advantage for sure, Like there'll
be linebackers in the game they're like, hey man, I
can't see them until you already the whole and so
(03:22):
like that's that's my advantage, you know, just staying patient
and then using my you know, speaking agility to hit it.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
At the last second and get up on them as
fast as I can.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So what was your you went to OTAs what was
your initial impression of going from college football for years
at Michigan to a professional ota Was it faster? Uh?
Tell me your impression of the difference.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Well, first, I just want to start off by saying,
the culture at the Rams is one of them. It's
truly amazing.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
You know, I love you know, playing for the Rams,
and like I said, I've only been there for a.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Short period of time.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But I would say the biggest difference for me coming
from college to the NFL, it's probably the speed of practice.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Everything is just so fast. You know, everyone's professional.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
So there's you know, obviously there's some mistakes, but there's
there are very few far between.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
But I'll say that was.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
The biggest difference. Uh, you know, coming in it's really
just to speed the game. And obviously, you know, I
had to learn to playbook pretty quick. You know, I
didn't want to let my teammates down by messing up. So,
you know, definitely the speed of practice, it's pretty fast.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
How long does it take you, Blake, You're a smart guy,
But how long does it take you that you feel
so comfortable with a playbook you don't have to think
about it? Is it? Is it a two week, three week,
two month process? How long does it take?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I think for me, I definitely had you know, majority
of the playbook after week one, but I was in
there grinding with Coach G great running back coach Man
just really a great, down to earth human being. I love,
you know, playing for him and him being my running
back coach. So I was in there, you know, just
I can hand to meet non stops trying to get
the playbook.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
So I said, two weeks.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I really had, you know, the whole playbook, but also
it comes with reps and so otis you know, I
was trying to get as many reps as I can
to really get those game like reps.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
And here the play calls coming from Matthew Stafford and
or JIMV. G Bheer I was in with and but
I would say for the most part, you know, I
kind of had the offense. But it's one of those
things where you know, I have to stay at it
every day.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
You know, I can't go a couple of days without
looking at my playbook because you know, I was at
Mischkip for four years, so I knew that offense, you know,
like the back of my hand. But this one, you know,
I don't know as good yet. So I'm into my
playbook every day, just trying to stay sharp.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
You know. It's interesting. I actually think it's an advantage
at Michigan. You're a workhorse running back. And I've said
this before, that's the one position in football if a
running back says, you know, I'm not going to play
in the bowl game, it's not a natty, I'm gonna
go to Pro. I got Leonard Fournette did that. McCaffrey.
I got no problem with it. There is a there
is a duration for running back. Were you ever worried
(06:00):
about it college that you got so many carries and
you were such a workhorse. Did you ever think to yourself, Man,
how many how many hits do I have on this body.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Nah, I never.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Worried about that.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
I was always like they coach, if you need me
to run it forty times or run it forty times.
I think it's all about a mindset. But I also
think it's about how you take care of your body. Obviously,
every running back has to chase longevity. But you know,
not everyone you know takes care of their body properly.
No one you know might not get a couple of
missiages a week or go in and get treatment, you know,
(06:33):
And so you know, I make sure I take care
of my body.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
So you know, if a team needs me to, you.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Know, carry the ball like Michigan did you know, twenty
plus times a game, you know, I can do it
and I can feel good about doing it. It's not
like my body's hurting after every game Saturday. So it
never you know, came to my mind that you know, yeah,
I got a lot of touches in college, but you know,
I still feel like I did, you know my freshman
year of college.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
You know feel good? You know, I feel like I'm me.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
What for a running back, what is a greater feeling
that you're in the open and you make a linebacker
or a corner completely miss you you put a great
move on him. Or is it a better feeling that
you hit somebody head on and rolling for a couple
extra yards? For you? What gets you more jacked up?
Speaker 5 (07:20):
What?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
In open space? What's a greater feeling?
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (07:26):
You know it.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Depends in the beginning of the game.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
You know, I kind of want them to feel me
a little bit, just so they know it's gonna be
a long day.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
But after I give him a little souther.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
There's no better feeling than, you know, catching a safety
or a dB or linebacker one and one open space
and they're just you know, stuck like a deer headlights.
You know, there's no better feeling than seeing that, just
knowing before you even get someone like, oh, yeah, I
got them.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
You know, I can't really pick one, but I love
them both.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Easter not a Empacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I What do you expect this year from your Worklord?
What will we see?
Speaker 6 (08:07):
Are?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Do you think you'll be used in the past game?
A lot of times they say past protection is where
rookie running backs struggle although Harball made you block. Are
there things you think you'll flourish with immediately?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
I think, you know, overall, I think flourish. But you know,
for me, just going into you know, our first season,
whatever the coaches need me to do, be'st believe I'm
gonna do well to be running, you know, you know,
catching the ball, blocking for sure, like playing special teams.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
You know, I'm here. You know, I'm here to help
the team win. As mis game.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
You know, we did set the team to team the team.
I'm carrying that right over to the NFL because that's
what matters.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
And I love to win.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
So you know, I think you can expect me, you know,
to do a little bit of everything obviously. You know,
we have a great running back room with Karen Williams,
you know, Boston guy who just came along, Ryan Rivers,
Zach Evans. You know, we have a really good running
back room. So I've definitely been picking those guys brains.
But for me, you know, it's just a you know,
day to day thing for me, just trying to get
better each and every day. But you know, I think,
(09:08):
you know, the coaches have seen through tasm all around back,
so you know, maybe I'll be doing a little bit
of everything.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Finally, I think, along with Mahomes, I think there's an
argument that Matt Stafford is the best arm talent in
the league. How many practices did it take for you
to go, oh, that's pretty good.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
It took one period. Took it took one period. It
took one period for me to know like, yeah, yeah,
he's different. You know, it doesn't matter if the DBS
only you linebackers on you. He's he's gonna put it
where only you can get it. You know, he'll be
looking left and throwing it right. It just does some
crazy things. But that's why you know, he's one of
(09:50):
the best to ever do it. You know, that's why
you know he's played for so long and he's still
playing at you know, one of the highest levels ever.
You know, he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
And I think he shows that each and every day
the way he comes to practice meetings.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
You know, he's attacking it like he's a rookie.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, yeah, he's a remarkable player. Hey, Blake, From Harbaugh
to McVeigh, that's the way to do it. Two offensive
lines that can maul people up front. Good luck to
you and the Rams.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
My friend.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Naw I appreciate it all right.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Blake Coreum Rams running back. Before the draft, the Rams
had told people, if we can get Blake Korum, it'll
be a great draft. That was who they targeted. I mean,
you know how you see sometimes the war room and
a fist pump. Let me tell you something when they
got Blake, because it wasn't a great running back draft, right,
there was like two backs people liked. That's who the
(10:42):
Rams wanted. And it doesn't work that way very often.
Once you get past the first round, you don't really
get who you want unless you have to give away
draft capital. For Blake Korum to land with this team,
the running back they wanted. That were stories written about it,
and he felt and it was a need. It was
the player fell right into their lap.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
Perfect for McVay.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
People think McVeigh is past happy. McVeigh actually sometime wants.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
They run the football once to run the football. And
by the way, Blake can really catch the football. Collin
and Williams canto to your point, I mean that's a
lethal one two punch.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Yeah, Jordan with the news.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Heard on the news, this is the herdline news All right,
Josh Jacob's calling moves from the Raiders to the Packers
and free agency this offseason.
Speaker 7 (11:31):
He played through a lot of dysfunction during his time
with the Raiders, and spoke recently about how the losing
culture in Vegas ultimately led to his departure.
Speaker 8 (11:40):
I remember coming to the league and losing my first
game and I was mad, not talking to nobody in
event come up to me and like this NFL, like
you gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
I'm like cool with Loise, Like you know what I'm saying.
Like it was, it was so it was so.
Speaker 8 (11:53):
Different, And then the most frustrating thing about it all.
I feel like, especially when you guy like me, you know,
say Max, you got guys that come in every day
and work hard and you don't get the results. You
be close, but every year you close, but it's not
you know, it's not winning. Yeah, that was a big
thing for me to man. I'm like, man, I want
me to come back on the discount and lose. I
(12:16):
don't know how I feel about that.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Yeah, going from Alabama to the Raiders, specifically saving to McDaniels,
that's the problem.
Speaker 7 (12:25):
I mean, if you ask anybody and I asked quite
a few guys last year in that locker room what
the difference was from Josh McDaniels to Antonio Pierce Night
and Death and the fact that he just mentioned Crosby
and Ted Crosby, Adam, those were the two guys that
vouched the most for Pierce, and that says everything I
need to know about why they ultimately kept Antonio Pierce
(12:46):
made him from intern to head coach. Now he has
to win, and we've talked about the deficiencies a quarterback
potentially with Minshew or AOC, but Colin. The Raiders finally feel,
at least from a coaching standpoint, like a professional organization,
and that's gonna matter.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
All I know is if I see Antonio appears wearing
a black hoodie in the Vegas Sun, you have to
respect that. I just saw a picture of him. I'm like, bro,
it's been one hundred and nineteen.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
I believe in AP What do you think.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
I don't know. I like him, I know him. I
think these are videos Ota So it wasn't one hundred
and nineteen yet, but it is Vegas. It's hot. I
don't know. I think Listen, the interim coach thing's tough
because you know, Dan Campbell was one of those guys
when you emotional coaches tend to do very well in
an interim right. Emotional coaches on a four year contract
(13:38):
who lean on emotion sometimes more than details, can get
into trouble. And so I think you know I've said
this about Dan Campbell. He goes heavy into emotion. I
don't always love the details Situationally, Antonio will get his
guys to play hard, that is without question. He's got
a Tomlin feel, a Dan Campbell field. That team will
play hard. I mean last year really a deficient team
(13:59):
at quarterback. They were taking everybody to the fourth quarter.
I don't worry about guys playing hard, playing with passion.
The question being, though, can he balance the emotion with
the details. That's always been my Dan Campbell thing. His
situational football.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
Eh, what was like against the Niners in the NFC Championship.
You know, the final five to ten minutes of that game.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Don't love it. So it's a balance and a lot
of ex players, Dan Campbell, Antonio Pierce, you know, they
are heavy on the emotion details winning this league on Sunday,
especially the later the season goes and you have an
injury riddled roster. Details become that's what's winning and losing games.
It's not personnel or it's not emotion. You guys can
(14:42):
only hear the raw ross feat so much. You get
late to December and January the details. The best coaches
are winning.
Speaker 5 (14:48):
Yeah, I'll tell you really quickly.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
One conversation I had with Justin Tuck, who played with
Peers with the Giants, and he told me that he
knew Pierce would be a successful head coach at the
NFL level because of how he relates to players. He
was always in at leader. To your point, you got
to have some x's and o's, But I think Dallas.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
You can get a lot of those x's and o's
from staff. Sure, you should not hire yourself. You should
hire people who do things differently. That's exactly right, and.
Speaker 7 (15:12):
It will always be the smartest person in the room.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
By the way, Dan Campbell's offensive coordinator understated, don't hear
from him, Dan jumps through the television set. So Dan
Campbell hired his opposite, which is a really smart move.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Yeah, you just mentioned Mike Tom and a lot of
eyes are on the Steelers calling. As we know, as always,
and what the offense is going to look like after
the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and Nazie.
Harris was recently asked about how the team will fare
next season and he's confident.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
About their outlook.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Harris said he's excited about the two quarterbacks after they
picked up and that Pittsburgh is going to have a
lot of good things happening in twenty twenty four. What's
your take on the Steelers, especially in the AFC North Well.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I mean, they'll be first of all, I feel like
I've seen this movie before. They're going to be very
good defensive team. They're gonna have a very good pass
rush with TJ.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
Watt.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
They're gonna be a very emotional, physical football team. I
feel like I've been waiting for years for them to
get the run game in the offensive game right. I
think they have a top five roster in the NFL,
and I think Russell Wilson will elevate them significantly from
Kenny Pikett. So they'll be a good football team. But
you start looking around the AFC, a good football team
(16:25):
does not guarantee the playoffs. It does in the NFC.
If you're good, you'll make the playoffs in the NFC.
You could be good and finished behind the Ravens and Bengals.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
If Joe Burrows, rounds are going to be pretty good.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
So it's I think. I think Pittsburgh's roster is great.
They're good at the right spots, they're good at edge. Rusher,
I think Russell's more than capable. You know, you can
say what you want about Russell, but if you go
look at Denver last year, it was the defense that
was the problem. Russell was fine, he was a b quarterback.
It wasn't a Russell issue. It was a defensive issue.
(16:56):
So now he finally gets an elite defense. He has
the best defense to Seattle Prime. Yeah, so my guess
is they're pretty good.
Speaker 7 (17:03):
Yeah, Harris, for what it's worth, last three games the
last year, three air and twelve yards, he's the only
running back in the NFL calling over the last three
years to have a thousand plus rushing every year.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Plus Jalen Warren is a good back.
Speaker 7 (17:15):
Just for a point of reference, nineteen hundred yards last
year combined four and a half yards per carrying twelve
t the's that's Harris had Warren.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Yeah, their talents not the issue. Offensively, it's been the
coordinator coaching. Like Pittsburgh's talents not the issue. They got
dudes everywhere.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (17:31):
Actually, staying in the AFC North, the Bengals had their
top two receivers heading into the twenty twenty four season.
T Higgins was given the franchise tag. Will play on
that one year deal. Jamar Chase is still waiting for
his contract extension. Could be the next receiver to lock
in a massive deal. So Colin, here's what I'll tell you.
Te Higgins, I'll tell you definitively, he's gonna play on
the tag. There's not going to be an extension. A
(17:52):
big reason why is because of Jamar Chase. Now he's
extension eligible for the first time. He's arguably the best
receiver in the NFL, one of the most expulsive in
the entire league. They just paid Joe Burrow, highest paid
quarterback in NFL history. You think about Jamar Chase coin
Justin Jefferson, his former teammate Lsu just got thirty five million.
Jamar Chase might get thirty five million to one dollar,
(18:13):
but he's not going to take anything less. He will
be in my opinion. The highest paid wide receiver in
league history deserves every penny.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And I'm really really excited.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
I told you earlier to see Jamar and Burrow healthy
this season. Not to mention to Higgins.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Jordan with the news.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by The Herd.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Line News back in a second live in LA, It's
the Herd.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon eastern nin a em Pacific.
Speaker 9 (18:41):
Pauli Foods gohead with Tony Foods Go Yeah, as everybody
knows onere of the hosts of the award winning Paully
and Tony foodsco Show. But instead of us telling you
how great we are, here's how Dan Patrick described us
when he came on our show.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Quick, knowledgeable and funny, opinionated.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
What are you doing interrupting our promo?
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Wasn't talking about you? You took those clips totally have context?
Speaker 9 (19:04):
Oh yeah, well after this promo, I'm gonna take you
out and beat you.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Let me put this into context.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Shut up.
Speaker 9 (19:10):
Yeah, anyway, just listening to the Paully and Tony Fusco
Show on IHOT Radio Apple Podcasts oherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yee Well.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
NFL camps Ravens open rookie camp tomorrow next week. Most
begin in Earnest. Mark Schlerath is joining us Live. Three
time Super Bowl champ, multiple time Pro Bowl. Let's start
with the team you know well you New Mornings in Denver,
the the Denver Broncos. I felt like last year when
Sean Payton got there, he had two assignments, clean up
the culture and revamp the offensive line. I think he
(19:42):
did a pretty good job at both. I even think
Russell Wilson was fine. I kind of feel like we
pay attention to Bo Nicks, but you got to solve
the defense in that division as well. What are realistic
expectations for Nicks and the team in your opinion?
Speaker 6 (19:58):
Mark, Yeah, I think for Nicks, I mean, I think
it's starting from day one and becoming an efficient quarterback.
And there's going to be growing pains, there's no question
about that. But when you talk to Sean about Bo Nicks,
he raves about his intelligence. He raves about how many
games he started in college, raves about his accuracy, his
(20:20):
quick decision making so and like his ability to.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Throw from a dirty pocket.
Speaker 6 (20:26):
He raves about his his not taking sax in college,
he raives about his red zone. So this is a
guy that certainly Sean Payton feels very comfortable with, feels
like he has got all the tools to be a
competent starter, and I think he expects that this year.
I don't think this roster is nearly as bad as
(20:47):
people think it is. And part of what Sean did
was purge this roster and get rid of not you know,
some of them obviously very talented players, but some of
them not fitting into that culture that you talked about
of the way we're going to work, the way we're
going to pay attention to detail, and all those type
of things. So I think the biggest the biggest component
(21:07):
to this Colin is I'll make an argument that bo
fell into the best fit of any of the six
quarterbacks they win the first round. He has got the
best fit. Remember the first four that went all for
defensive coaches. That never necessarily bodes well because defensive coaches
(21:27):
are always going to have a default mechanism that leans
back into how do I protect my defense?
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Right? And then the last.
Speaker 6 (21:34):
Two were offensive coaches, obviously in Kevin O'Connell of Minnesota,
and then Sean Payton here in Denver.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
You know Russell Wilson Well. I think the one thing
about Pittsburgh move I like is this is the best
defense he's had since the peak Pete Carroll days in Seattle.
And I think I think Russell needs a great defense
to be highly successful at this point. I don't think
asking him to save the Broncos defense last year. I
don't think that's what he is, and that's fine. I
actually think he's going to have some modicum of success
(22:02):
in Pittsburgh. The games will be low scoring, He's not
going to be in shootouts. It's a really good division.
I mean, the time in Denver was brief, he got
most of the heat. Is there still something left in
the tank for Russell to you?
Speaker 6 (22:17):
I think that if Russell actually is honest with himself
from the standpoint of what he is, but more importantly,
what he isn't. And I think that's been the biggest
issue is that he was having tons of success in Seattle.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
Obviously, he throws a great deep ball and he does a.
Speaker 6 (22:35):
Lot of things well, but he was having a ton
of success in Seattle because of Pete Carroll and the
way that Pete Carroll structured that football team, not in
spite and I think he thought he was having success
in spite of Pete Carroll. That's why the whole campaign
of let Russ Cook started up. So if you embrace
what you are, because you're not Drew Brees. You're not
(22:57):
a great pocket guy, you just aren't. You're not good
at getting through progressions quickly. That's not what you do well.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
So if you lean into that defense like you talked about, lean.
Speaker 6 (23:07):
Into that running game, let you know understand that that's
what you are. Set up your play action stuff, set
up your quick game outside the numbers. I think you
can thrive and you can have success. My question is
are you willing to do that or are you going
to get to the line of scrimmage and start checking
plays into things that you want to run that don't
fit with what the team has game plan. Because if
(23:28):
you get into that, then you know you're going to fail.
So it just depends on if Russell Wilson's willing to
accept kind of where he is in his career, what
he is. And most importantly, and this is for all
of us, it's incredibly important to know what your strengths are.
But probably more important to know what your weaknesses are
and then play accordingly. And that's what Russell Wilson I
(23:49):
think has to do generally.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
When a great quarterback leaves a team a Brady in
New England, Elway Marino, there is a significant drop off
not only of their skills but of their leadership. And
this is not to deny Aaron Rodgers' talent. He leaves,
(24:11):
I thought my Thanksgiving they were a better football team,
and then you were critical. Now I don't even think
you were critical, you were honest about him. My take
on Aaron is a little like a rod He's an
all time talent. I don't think he's a galvanizer necessarily
a great come from behind quarterback of fox old guy.
Is it a little alarming that he leaves and they
(24:32):
appear to be already better than they were with him.
What does that say? Elway? It took him thirty years
through it. They had to go by Peyton Manning to
replace Lway.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
Right.
Speaker 6 (24:43):
Yeah, I think there is that aspect of he is
an all time great. The guy is incredibly smart, and
he does connect with his teammates.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
I'll give him a ton of credit. He is a
connector that way. But you know when it comes down
to play time.
Speaker 6 (25:00):
I think part of it is cultural within the organization
you tend to And I think this is a big
issue that Josh Allen faces. When the game is on
the line, you get away from calling your offense and you.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
Say, go save us, right, go do something spectacular.
Speaker 6 (25:21):
And I think Buffalo does it all the time where
they're controlling line of scrimmage, they're controlling the playoff game
against Kansas City Chiefs. All of a sudden, Kansas City
starts making some plays and they say, hey, Josh Allen,
go win this.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Go win this game for us, And.
Speaker 6 (25:33):
You almost lose your mind from this is what we've
done all the way up to here to get us
to this point, and now in critical moments, we're just
gonna say, hey, take over for us, Aaron.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
And I think that's I mean, I think it's.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Easy to fall victim to that when you have one
of the all time greats, when you have a great
player at the quarterback position. But remember John Alway led
teams to the Super Bowl very much like that and
ended up getting trounced in all three of those Super
Bowls that he led his team to.
Speaker 5 (26:02):
It wasn't until later in his career. What he wasn't
that guy.
Speaker 6 (26:05):
When it wasn't all of a sudden, go hey John,
go win every game for us. It was, Hey, John,
we're gonna support you with a great running game. Hey John,
we're gonna support you with a good receiving core. Hey John,
we're gonna support you with a great defense. And John, now,
all of a sudden, you've got components. Hey, on third
downs and some critical situations, we're gonna ask.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
You to make some big throws.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
We're not gonna ask you to hoist the team on
your back like you've done for fifteen years and carry
him across the finish line. And I think really talented
players liking Aaron Rodgers oftentimes get put in situations, especially
critical situations, where they're asked to do everything. And you know,
I mean, the odds are when the rest of the
team is just waiting for you to do something great,
(26:45):
bad things are gonna happen. And I think that's I
think that's the problem with having kind of an all
time great talent playing quarterback, is we tend to just
rely on that guy to go fix things for us.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Bo Nicks, Russell Aaron smart stuff. Usually I feel guilty
bringing schlerethon because he wants to be out in his yard.
But since it's going to be one hundred degrees here,
I know he needs a break from the yard. So
stay inside, would you.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
No, I'm going to the York right now. Paul I
got stuff to do.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
He spends more.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
Only expert expert, arguably an expert in football, but long
care I am an expert.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
There's no question about that.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Great senior. My man is Oh it's Mark Slareth. He's
got a podcast which is crushing. Yeah, I'm with him.
I think Minnesota and Denver are better than they're over under.
Last year, Vegas Way undersold the Rams. You can't tell
me Denver can't go seven and ten. Sean Payton can't
(27:45):
go seven and ten. I like their offense. I like
their O line. I like their running back. Bow Nicks
has sixty one college starts. It was the defense last year.
I don't know. The over under on Minnesota and Denver
is strangely low. I think you can. I think you
could make an argument if Darnold is upright and healthy
(28:05):
by Thanksgiving, Minnesota's battling for a playoff spot. I think
Minnesota's gonna be fine. They're gonna score a lot of points.
I think Denver's got some limitations defensively, They're not going
to stop Kansas City much. But uh, those Denver and
the Vikings I think are undersold, like the Rams last year.
Chargers two, well, I don't I have to watch them play.
(28:26):
I think they have some deficiencies on the perimeter. If
they're young. Number second round draft pick from Georgia, the receiver.
If he's not productive early, they have to win a
certain way.
Speaker 7 (28:38):
Look on him was he would be though, hopefully?
Speaker 1 (28:40):
So Yeah, great avenue pleasure. My man j Mack is price.
He's flying the concord back. If we had a concord,
he'd be flying it back. So Jay Mack will be
joining us next week. Jordan Schultz, of course, is always welcome.
He's always great on this show. We had Danny Parkins
on today who pushed back on my Aaron Rodgers narrative
(29:02):
and I loved every second of it. We'll see you Monday.
Have a great weekend.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
It's the hurd
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noone 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 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio now.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
He's the only college football player to score a touchdown
in every game. He was viewed as the top running
back in college football the last several years. And how
lucky is Blake Koram. The Rams are lucky to have him.
He goes Jim Harbaugh to Sean McVay, that's a pretty
good baton handoff, and Blake korm is joining us down.
You know, from the outside, Blake, they look like totally
(00:46):
different cats. Now, they're both athletic, they're both intense guys.
But is there anything about Sean that it feels a
little Jim Harball, Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
I would definitely say their enthusiasm for the game.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
You know, Coach Harbaugh always talked about enthusiasm unknown mankind.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
But you see that daily by coach mcday, like his energy.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
You know, it doesn't matter what time it is in
the morning, at what time it is in the evening.
Like he's the same guy each and every day, as
I saw through OTAs. I love playing for him so far,
and it's only been what maybe a month and a
half of OTA's I'm blessed.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
You know, a Harball it's it's it'll bit. It'll be
hard for you to not root for the other team
that plays at so far, the Chargers, because Jim really
made an impact on your life. Go back to when
Jim Harball recruited you at a high school and you
never played for him. He's kind of a different guy.
He's got a different personality. Did you instantly know, Blake,
(01:44):
that's my guy? Or you know, because a lot of
people meet Harball and they're like, man, he's intense, he
is different. Did you know instantly you were going to
go to Michigan.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
I committed on spot. So I took two officials official visits.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
I wanted to commit for my senior year of high school,
and I took one to Ohio State and then I took.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
My next one to Michigan. I committed on spot.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
I went up to coach Rovall's office, I said, I'm
coming and it was because of you know, his coaching style,
his demeanor for the game, his love for the game,
his passion for his players.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
I was like, you know what, I'm gonna be a Wolverine.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, you know, Blake. It's interesting you have a lot
of power for your size. So does Kyron Williams, Notre
Dame running back who they took several years ago. It's interesting.
I look at you and you're obviously a fast guy,
but you'll lower your shoulder. Do you use your size
a bit as an advantage? When I watched you at
(02:41):
Michigan sometimes I thought you were good at kind of
hiding behind the line in pulling situations. Talk about that
because you know, everything in the NFL is measurables combine
size length. You've been great. Although you would be categorized
as a smaller back, but you don't play small. And
where did that come from?
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Right?
Speaker 5 (03:01):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:01):
I think that just comes from you know, my whole life.
You know, everyone always called me a smaller back. But
when it comes to strength wise or pound for pound,
like you know, there's not too many you know guys
that can you know, outlift me in the weight room
and things like that, So, uh, you know, I try
to use that to my advantage for sure, Like there'll
be linebackers in the game they're like, hey man, I
can't see them until you already the whole and so
(03:22):
like that's that's my advantage, you know, just staying patient
and then using my you know, speaking agility to hit it.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
At the last second and get up on them as
fast as I can.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
So what was your you went to OTAs what was
your initial impression of going from college football for years
at Michigan to a professional ota Was it faster? Uh?
Tell me your impression of the difference.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Well, first, I just want to start off by saying,
the culture at the Rams is one of them. It's
truly amazing.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
You know, I love you know, playing for the Rams,
and like I said, I've only been there for a.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Short period of time.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
But I would say the biggest difference for me coming
from college to the NFL, it's probably the speed of practice.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Everything is just so fast. You know, everyone's professional.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
So there's you know, obviously there's some mistakes, but there's
there are very few far between.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
But I'll say that was.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
The biggest difference. Uh, you know, coming in it's really
just to speed the game. And obviously, you know, I
had to learn to playbook pretty quick. You know, I
didn't want to let my teammates down by messing up. So,
you know, definitely the speed of practice, it's pretty fast.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
How long does it take you, Blake, You're a smart guy,
But how long does it take you that you feel
so comfortable with a playbook you don't have to think
about it? Is it? Is it a two week, three week,
two month process? How long does it take?
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I think for me, I definitely had you know, majority
of the playbook after week one, but I was in
there grinding with Coach G great running back coach Man
just really a great, down to earth human being. I love,
you know, playing for him and him being my running
back coach. So I was in there, you know, just
I can hand to meet non stops trying to get
the playbook.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
So I said, two weeks.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
I really had, you know, the whole playbook, but also
it comes with reps and so otis you know, I
was trying to get as many reps as I can
to really get those game like reps.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
And here the play calls coming from Matthew Stafford and
or JIMV. G Bheer I was in with and but
I would say for the most part, you know, I
kind of had the offense. But it's one of those
things where you know, I have to stay at it
every day.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
You know, I can't go a couple of days without
looking at my playbook because you know, I was at
Mischkip for four years, so I knew that offense, you know,
like the back of my hand. But this one, you know,
I don't know as good yet. So I'm into my
playbook every day, just trying to stay sharp.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
You know. It's interesting. I actually think it's an advantage
at Michigan. You're a workhorse running back. And I've said
this before, that's the one position in football if a
running back says, you know, I'm not going to play
in the bowl game, it's not a natty, I'm gonna
go to Pro. I got Leonard Fournette did that. McCaffrey.
I got no problem with it. There is a there
is a duration for running back. Were you ever worried
(06:00):
about it college that you got so many carries and
you were such a workhorse. Did you ever think to yourself, Man,
how many how many hits do I have on this body.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Nah, I never.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Worried about that.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
I was always like they coach, if you need me
to run it forty times or run it forty times.
I think it's all about a mindset. But I also
think it's about how you take care of your body. Obviously,
every running back has to chase longevity. But you know,
not everyone you know takes care of their body properly.
No one you know might not get a couple of
missiages a week or go in and get treatment, you know,
(06:33):
And so you know, I make sure I take care
of my body.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
So you know, if a team needs me to, you.
Speaker 4 (06:38):
Know, carry the ball like Michigan did you know, twenty
plus times a game, you know, I can do it
and I can feel good about doing it. It's not
like my body's hurting after every game Saturday. So it
never you know, came to my mind that you know, yeah,
I got a lot of touches in college, but you know,
I still feel like I did, you know my freshman
year of college.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
You know feel good? You know, I feel like I'm me.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
What for a running back, what is a greater feeling
that you're in the open and you make a linebacker
or a corner completely miss you you put a great
move on him. Or is it a better feeling that
you hit somebody head on and rolling for a couple
extra yards? For you? What gets you more jacked up?
Speaker 5 (07:20):
What?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
In open space? What's a greater feeling?
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Uh?
Speaker 5 (07:26):
You know it.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Depends in the beginning of the game.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
You know, I kind of want them to feel me
a little bit, just so they know it's gonna be
a long day.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
But after I give him a little souther.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
There's no better feeling than, you know, catching a safety
or a dB or linebacker one and one open space
and they're just you know, stuck like a deer headlights.
You know, there's no better feeling than seeing that, just
knowing before you even get someone like, oh, yeah, I
got them.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
You know, I can't really pick one, but I love
them both.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Easter not a Empacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
I What do you expect this year from your Worklord?
What will we see?
Speaker 6 (08:07):
Are?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Do you think you'll be used in the past game?
A lot of times they say past protection is where
rookie running backs struggle although Harball made you block. Are
there things you think you'll flourish with immediately?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
I think, you know, overall, I think flourish. But you know,
for me, just going into you know, our first season,
whatever the coaches need me to do, be'st believe I'm
gonna do well to be running, you know, you know,
catching the ball, blocking for sure, like playing special teams.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
You know, I'm here. You know, I'm here to help
the team win. As mis game.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
You know, we did set the team to team the team.
I'm carrying that right over to the NFL because that's
what matters.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
And I love to win.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
So you know, I think you can expect me, you know,
to do a little bit of everything obviously. You know,
we have a great running back room with Karen Williams,
you know, Boston guy who just came along, Ryan Rivers,
Zach Evans. You know, we have a really good running
back room. So I've definitely been picking those guys brains.
But for me, you know, it's just a you know,
day to day thing for me, just trying to get
better each and every day. But you know, I think,
(09:08):
you know, the coaches have seen through tasm all around back,
so you know, maybe I'll be doing a little bit
of everything.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Finally, I think, along with Mahomes, I think there's an
argument that Matt Stafford is the best arm talent in
the league. How many practices did it take for you
to go, oh, that's pretty good.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
It took one period. Took it took one period. It
took one period for me to know like, yeah, yeah,
he's different. You know, it doesn't matter if the DBS
only you linebackers on you. He's he's gonna put it
where only you can get it. You know, he'll be
looking left and throwing it right. It just does some
crazy things. But that's why you know, he's one of
(09:50):
the best to ever do it. You know, that's why
you know he's played for so long and he's still
playing at you know, one of the highest levels ever.
You know, he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
And I think he shows that each and every day
the way he comes to practice meetings.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
You know, he's attacking it like he's a rookie.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, yeah, he's a remarkable player. Hey, Blake, From Harbaugh
to McVeigh, that's the way to do it. Two offensive
lines that can maul people up front. Good luck to
you and the Rams.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
My friend.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Naw I appreciate it all right.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
Blake Coreum Rams running back. Before the draft, the Rams
had told people, if we can get Blake Korum, it'll
be a great draft. That was who they targeted. I mean,
you know how you see sometimes the war room and
a fist pump. Let me tell you something when they
got Blake, because it wasn't a great running back draft, right,
there was like two backs people liked. That's who the
(10:42):
Rams wanted. And it doesn't work that way very often.
Once you get past the first round, you don't really
get who you want unless you have to give away
draft capital. For Blake Korum to land with this team,
the running back they wanted. That were stories written about it,
and he felt and it was a need. It was
the player fell right into their lap.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
Perfect for McVay.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
People think McVeigh is past happy. McVeigh actually sometime wants.
Speaker 7 (11:09):
They run the football once to run the football. And
by the way, Blake can really catch the football. Collin
and Williams canto to your point, I mean that's a
lethal one two punch.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Yeah, Jordan with the news.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Heard on the news, this is the herdline news All right,
Josh Jacob's calling moves from the Raiders to the Packers
and free agency this offseason.
Speaker 7 (11:31):
He played through a lot of dysfunction during his time
with the Raiders, and spoke recently about how the losing
culture in Vegas ultimately led to his departure.
Speaker 8 (11:40):
I remember coming to the league and losing my first
game and I was mad, not talking to nobody in
event come up to me and like this NFL, like
you gonna lose.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
I'm like cool with Loise, Like you know what I'm saying.
Like it was, it was so it was so.
Speaker 8 (11:53):
Different, And then the most frustrating thing about it all.
I feel like, especially when you guy like me, you know,
say Max, you got guys that come in every day
and work hard and you don't get the results. You
be close, but every year you close, but it's not
you know, it's not winning. Yeah, that was a big
thing for me to man. I'm like, man, I want
me to come back on the discount and lose. I
(12:16):
don't know how I feel about that.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
Yeah, going from Alabama to the Raiders, specifically saving to McDaniels,
that's the problem.
Speaker 7 (12:25):
I mean, if you ask anybody and I asked quite
a few guys last year in that locker room what
the difference was from Josh McDaniels to Antonio Pierce Night
and Death and the fact that he just mentioned Crosby
and Ted Crosby, Adam, those were the two guys that
vouched the most for Pierce, and that says everything I
need to know about why they ultimately kept Antonio Pierce
(12:46):
made him from intern to head coach. Now he has
to win, and we've talked about the deficiencies a quarterback
potentially with Minshew or AOC, but Colin. The Raiders finally feel,
at least from a coaching standpoint, like a professional organization,
and that's gonna matter.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
All I know is if I see Antonio appears wearing
a black hoodie in the Vegas Sun, you have to
respect that. I just saw a picture of him. I'm like, bro,
it's been one hundred and nineteen.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
I believe in AP What do you think.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
I don't know. I like him, I know him. I
think these are videos Ota So it wasn't one hundred
and nineteen yet, but it is Vegas. It's hot. I
don't know. I think Listen, the interim coach thing's tough
because you know, Dan Campbell was one of those guys
when you emotional coaches tend to do very well in
an interim right. Emotional coaches on a four year contract
(13:38):
who lean on emotion sometimes more than details, can get
into trouble. And so I think you know I've said
this about Dan Campbell. He goes heavy into emotion. I
don't always love the details Situationally, Antonio will get his
guys to play hard, that is without question. He's got
a Tomlin feel, a Dan Campbell field. That team will
play hard. I mean last year really a deficient team
(13:59):
at quarterback. They were taking everybody to the fourth quarter.
I don't worry about guys playing hard, playing with passion.
The question being, though, can he balance the emotion with
the details. That's always been my Dan Campbell thing. His
situational football.
Speaker 7 (14:14):
Eh, what was like against the Niners in the NFC Championship.
You know, the final five to ten minutes of that game.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Don't love it. So it's a balance and a lot
of ex players, Dan Campbell, Antonio Pierce, you know, they
are heavy on the emotion details winning this league on Sunday,
especially the later the season goes and you have an
injury riddled roster. Details become that's what's winning and losing games.
It's not personnel or it's not emotion. You guys can
(14:42):
only hear the raw ross feat so much. You get
late to December and January the details. The best coaches
are winning.
Speaker 5 (14:48):
Yeah, I'll tell you really quickly.
Speaker 7 (14:49):
One conversation I had with Justin Tuck, who played with
Peers with the Giants, and he told me that he
knew Pierce would be a successful head coach at the
NFL level because of how he relates to players. He
was always in at leader. To your point, you got
to have some x's and o's, But I think Dallas.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
You can get a lot of those x's and o's
from staff. Sure, you should not hire yourself. You should
hire people who do things differently. That's exactly right, and.
Speaker 7 (15:12):
It will always be the smartest person in the room.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
By the way, Dan Campbell's offensive coordinator understated, don't hear
from him, Dan jumps through the television set. So Dan
Campbell hired his opposite, which is a really smart move.
Speaker 7 (15:25):
Yeah, you just mentioned Mike Tom and a lot of
eyes are on the Steelers calling. As we know, as always,
and what the offense is going to look like after
the additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and Nazie.
Harris was recently asked about how the team will fare
next season and he's confident.
Speaker 5 (15:40):
About their outlook.
Speaker 7 (15:41):
Harris said he's excited about the two quarterbacks after they
picked up and that Pittsburgh is going to have a
lot of good things happening in twenty twenty four. What's
your take on the Steelers, especially in the AFC North Well.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I mean, they'll be first of all, I feel like
I've seen this movie before. They're going to be very
good defensive team. They're gonna have a very good pass
rush with TJ.
Speaker 6 (16:03):
Watt.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
They're gonna be a very emotional, physical football team. I
feel like I've been waiting for years for them to
get the run game in the offensive game right. I
think they have a top five roster in the NFL,
and I think Russell Wilson will elevate them significantly from
Kenny Pikett. So they'll be a good football team. But
you start looking around the AFC, a good football team
(16:25):
does not guarantee the playoffs. It does in the NFC.
If you're good, you'll make the playoffs in the NFC.
You could be good and finished behind the Ravens and Bengals.
Speaker 7 (16:33):
If Joe Burrows, rounds are going to be pretty good.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
So it's I think. I think Pittsburgh's roster is great.
They're good at the right spots, they're good at edge. Rusher,
I think Russell's more than capable. You know, you can
say what you want about Russell, but if you go
look at Denver last year, it was the defense that
was the problem. Russell was fine, he was a b quarterback.
It wasn't a Russell issue. It was a defensive issue.
(16:56):
So now he finally gets an elite defense. He has
the best defense to Seattle Prime. Yeah, so my guess
is they're pretty good.
Speaker 7 (17:03):
Yeah, Harris, for what it's worth, last three games the
last year, three air and twelve yards, he's the only
running back in the NFL calling over the last three
years to have a thousand plus rushing every year.
Speaker 5 (17:13):
Plus Jalen Warren is a good back.
Speaker 7 (17:15):
Just for a point of reference, nineteen hundred yards last
year combined four and a half yards per carrying twelve
t the's that's Harris had Warren.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Yeah, their talents not the issue. Offensively, it's been the
coordinator coaching. Like Pittsburgh's talents not the issue. They got
dudes everywhere.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (17:31):
Actually, staying in the AFC North, the Bengals had their
top two receivers heading into the twenty twenty four season.
T Higgins was given the franchise tag. Will play on
that one year deal. Jamar Chase is still waiting for
his contract extension. Could be the next receiver to lock
in a massive deal. So Colin, here's what I'll tell you.
Te Higgins, I'll tell you definitively, he's gonna play on
the tag. There's not going to be an extension. A
(17:52):
big reason why is because of Jamar Chase. Now he's
extension eligible for the first time. He's arguably the best
receiver in the NFL, one of the most expulsive in
the entire league. They just paid Joe Burrow, highest paid
quarterback in NFL history. You think about Jamar Chase coin
Justin Jefferson, his former teammate Lsu just got thirty five million.
Jamar Chase might get thirty five million to one dollar,
(18:13):
but he's not going to take anything less. He will
be in my opinion. The highest paid wide receiver in
league history deserves every penny.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And I'm really really excited.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
I told you earlier to see Jamar and Burrow healthy
this season. Not to mention to Higgins.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Jordan with the news.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by The Herd.
Speaker 1 (18:32):
Line News back in a second live in LA, It's
the Herd.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon eastern nin a em Pacific.
Speaker 9 (18:41):
Pauli Foods gohead with Tony Foods Go Yeah, as everybody
knows onere of the hosts of the award winning Paully
and Tony foodsco Show. But instead of us telling you
how great we are, here's how Dan Patrick described us
when he came on our show.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Quick, knowledgeable and funny, opinionated.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
What are you doing interrupting our promo?
Speaker 2 (19:00):
Wasn't talking about you? You took those clips totally have context?
Speaker 9 (19:04):
Oh yeah, well after this promo, I'm gonna take you
out and beat you.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Let me put this into context.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Shut up.
Speaker 9 (19:10):
Yeah, anyway, just listening to the Paully and Tony Fusco
Show on IHOT Radio Apple Podcasts oherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
Yee Well.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
NFL camps Ravens open rookie camp tomorrow next week. Most
begin in Earnest. Mark Schlerath is joining us Live. Three
time Super Bowl champ, multiple time Pro Bowl. Let's start
with the team you know well you New Mornings in Denver,
the the Denver Broncos. I felt like last year when
Sean Payton got there, he had two assignments, clean up
the culture and revamp the offensive line. I think he
(19:42):
did a pretty good job at both. I even think
Russell Wilson was fine. I kind of feel like we
pay attention to Bo Nicks, but you got to solve
the defense in that division as well. What are realistic
expectations for Nicks and the team in your opinion?
Speaker 6 (19:58):
Mark, Yeah, I think for Nicks, I mean, I think
it's starting from day one and becoming an efficient quarterback.
And there's going to be growing pains, there's no question
about that. But when you talk to Sean about Bo Nicks,
he raves about his intelligence. He raves about how many
games he started in college, raves about his accuracy, his
(20:20):
quick decision making so and like his ability to.
Speaker 5 (20:25):
Throw from a dirty pocket.
Speaker 6 (20:26):
He raves about his his not taking sax in college,
he raives about his red zone. So this is a
guy that certainly Sean Payton feels very comfortable with, feels
like he has got all the tools to be a
competent starter, and I think he expects that this year.
I don't think this roster is nearly as bad as
(20:47):
people think it is. And part of what Sean did
was purge this roster and get rid of not you know,
some of them obviously very talented players, but some of
them not fitting into that culture that you talked about
of the way we're going to work, the way we're
going to pay attention to detail, and all those type
of things. So I think the biggest the biggest component
(21:07):
to this Colin is I'll make an argument that bo
fell into the best fit of any of the six
quarterbacks they win the first round. He has got the
best fit. Remember the first four that went all for
defensive coaches. That never necessarily bodes well because defensive coaches
(21:27):
are always going to have a default mechanism that leans
back into how do I protect my defense?
Speaker 5 (21:33):
Right? And then the last.
Speaker 6 (21:34):
Two were offensive coaches, obviously in Kevin O'Connell of Minnesota,
and then Sean Payton here in Denver.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
You know Russell Wilson Well. I think the one thing
about Pittsburgh move I like is this is the best
defense he's had since the peak Pete Carroll days in Seattle.
And I think I think Russell needs a great defense
to be highly successful at this point. I don't think
asking him to save the Broncos defense last year. I
don't think that's what he is, and that's fine. I
actually think he's going to have some modicum of success
(22:02):
in Pittsburgh. The games will be low scoring, He's not
going to be in shootouts. It's a really good division.
I mean, the time in Denver was brief, he got
most of the heat. Is there still something left in
the tank for Russell to you?
Speaker 6 (22:17):
I think that if Russell actually is honest with himself
from the standpoint of what he is, but more importantly,
what he isn't. And I think that's been the biggest
issue is that he was having tons of success in Seattle.
Speaker 5 (22:33):
Obviously, he throws a great deep ball and he does a.
Speaker 6 (22:35):
Lot of things well, but he was having a ton
of success in Seattle because of Pete Carroll and the
way that Pete Carroll structured that football team, not in
spite and I think he thought he was having success
in spite of Pete Carroll. That's why the whole campaign
of let Russ Cook started up. So if you embrace
what you are, because you're not Drew Brees. You're not
(22:57):
a great pocket guy, you just aren't. You're not good
at getting through progressions quickly. That's not what you do well.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
So if you lean into that defense like you talked about, lean.
Speaker 6 (23:07):
Into that running game, let you know understand that that's
what you are. Set up your play action stuff, set
up your quick game outside the numbers. I think you
can thrive and you can have success. My question is
are you willing to do that or are you going
to get to the line of scrimmage and start checking
plays into things that you want to run that don't
fit with what the team has game plan. Because if
(23:28):
you get into that, then you know you're going to fail.
So it just depends on if Russell Wilson's willing to
accept kind of where he is in his career, what
he is. And most importantly, and this is for all
of us, it's incredibly important to know what your strengths are.
But probably more important to know what your weaknesses are
and then play accordingly. And that's what Russell Wilson I
(23:49):
think has to do generally.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
When a great quarterback leaves a team a Brady in
New England, Elway Marino, there is a significant drop off
not only of their skills but of their leadership. And
this is not to deny Aaron Rodgers' talent. He leaves,
(24:11):
I thought my Thanksgiving they were a better football team,
and then you were critical. Now I don't even think
you were critical, you were honest about him. My take
on Aaron is a little like a rod He's an
all time talent. I don't think he's a galvanizer necessarily
a great come from behind quarterback of fox old guy.
Is it a little alarming that he leaves and they
(24:32):
appear to be already better than they were with him.
What does that say? Elway? It took him thirty years
through it. They had to go by Peyton Manning to
replace Lway.
Speaker 5 (24:43):
Right.
Speaker 6 (24:43):
Yeah, I think there is that aspect of he is
an all time great. The guy is incredibly smart, and
he does connect with his teammates.
Speaker 5 (24:52):
I'll give him a ton of credit. He is a
connector that way. But you know when it comes down
to play time.
Speaker 6 (25:00):
I think part of it is cultural within the organization
you tend to And I think this is a big
issue that Josh Allen faces. When the game is on
the line, you get away from calling your offense and you.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
Say, go save us, right, go do something spectacular.
Speaker 6 (25:21):
And I think Buffalo does it all the time where
they're controlling line of scrimmage, they're controlling the playoff game
against Kansas City Chiefs. All of a sudden, Kansas City
starts making some plays and they say, hey, Josh Allen,
go win this.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Go win this game for us, And.
Speaker 6 (25:33):
You almost lose your mind from this is what we've
done all the way up to here to get us
to this point, and now in critical moments, we're just
gonna say, hey, take over for us, Aaron.
Speaker 5 (25:43):
And I think that's I mean, I think it's.
Speaker 6 (25:45):
Easy to fall victim to that when you have one
of the all time greats, when you have a great
player at the quarterback position. But remember John Alway led
teams to the Super Bowl very much like that and
ended up getting trounced in all three of those Super
Bowls that he led his team to.
Speaker 5 (26:02):
It wasn't until later in his career. What he wasn't
that guy.
Speaker 6 (26:05):
When it wasn't all of a sudden, go hey John,
go win every game for us. It was, Hey, John,
we're gonna support you with a great running game. Hey John,
we're gonna support you with a good receiving core. Hey John,
we're gonna support you with a great defense. And John, now,
all of a sudden, you've got components. Hey, on third
downs and some critical situations, we're gonna ask.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
You to make some big throws.
Speaker 6 (26:24):
We're not gonna ask you to hoist the team on
your back like you've done for fifteen years and carry
him across the finish line. And I think really talented
players liking Aaron Rodgers oftentimes get put in situations, especially
critical situations, where they're asked to do everything. And you know,
I mean, the odds are when the rest of the
team is just waiting for you to do something great,
(26:45):
bad things are gonna happen. And I think that's I
think that's the problem with having kind of an all
time great talent playing quarterback, is we tend to just
rely on that guy to go fix things for us.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
Bo Nicks, Russell Aaron smart stuff. Usually I feel guilty
bringing schlerethon because he wants to be out in his yard.
But since it's going to be one hundred degrees here,
I know he needs a break from the yard. So
stay inside, would you.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
No, I'm going to the York right now. Paul I
got stuff to do.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
He spends more.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
Only expert expert, arguably an expert in football, but long
care I am an expert.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
There's no question about that.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Great senior. My man is Oh it's Mark Slareth. He's
got a podcast which is crushing. Yeah, I'm with him.
I think Minnesota and Denver are better than they're over under.
Last year, Vegas Way undersold the Rams. You can't tell
me Denver can't go seven and ten. Sean Payton can't
(27:45):
go seven and ten. I like their offense. I like
their O line. I like their running back. Bow Nicks
has sixty one college starts. It was the defense last year.
I don't know. The over under on Minnesota and Denver
is strangely low. I think you can. I think you
could make an argument if Darnold is upright and healthy
(28:05):
by Thanksgiving, Minnesota's battling for a playoff spot. I think
Minnesota's gonna be fine. They're gonna score a lot of points.
I think Denver's got some limitations defensively, They're not going
to stop Kansas City much. But uh, those Denver and
the Vikings I think are undersold, like the Rams last year.
Chargers two, well, I don't I have to watch them play.
(28:26):
I think they have some deficiencies on the perimeter. If
they're young. Number second round draft pick from Georgia, the receiver.
If he's not productive early, they have to win a
certain way.
Speaker 7 (28:38):
Look on him was he would be though, hopefully?
Speaker 1 (28:40):
So Yeah, great avenue pleasure. My man j Mack is price.
He's flying the concord back. If we had a concord,
he'd be flying it back. So Jay Mack will be
joining us next week. Jordan Schultz, of course, is always welcome.
He's always great on this show. We had Danny Parkins
on today who pushed back on my Aaron Rodgers narrative
(29:02):
and I loved every second of it. We'll see you Monday.
Have a great weekend.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
It's the hurd
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.