September 16, 2025 • 41 mins
Colin believes Baker Mayfield has found his perfect with the Buccaneers after another game winning drive to start the season 2-0 and why things fell apart for the former #1 overall pick with the Browns.
Jim Harbaugh has officially transformed the Chargers.
Colin defends AJ Brown for not being happy in Philadelphia.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Here we go. It is a Tuesday, A lot to
talk about Herd. Hire a herkye. Will the chiefs be
in it? The dynasty? Do they make it in?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
It's the Herd? Wherever you may be and however you
may be listening.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Thanks for making us part of your team ten two
and OH teams ten Oho and two teams. I do
think the chiefs of the OH and two teams will
be fine. They'll get healthy, not great, very good.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
J Mac.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
You know, Baker Mayfield and I are friendies, and I
told you I offered him a podcast on my Little
Company a couple of years ago. He said, no, that's
a but I do. I don't hold grudges. Thankfully, Baker
doesn't hold grudges. I would love to get him on
the show. But was that fun to watch last night
or what not?
Speaker 4 (01:11):
If you were holding a Houston Texans ticket and expecting
the win. But that's two weeks in a row. Bakers
come through.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
In Niklutch Collins, We've talked about this with the Bears
fit coach quarterback, and Baker Mayfield is a great illustration
of what fit means. So think about Baker Mayfield gets drafted,
goes to Cleveland, chip on his shoulder, out of Oklahoma,
a little bit of an attitude, and then he deals
with Hugh Jackson and his ego, and Greg Williams and
his ego, and he's got to John Dorsey, the former
(01:39):
player of the GM his ego, and the impulsive owner boy.
It was a tender box and Baker Mayfield in Cleveland
was the spark. Even the media in Cleveland has a
chip on their shoulder for years and years of losing.
Then it wasn't until Kevin Stefanski showed up in Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Ivy League.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Cerebro understated, Baker goes eleven and five, gets into the playoffs,
wins a game, but everything just didn't feel right. There
too many fires started by Baker and those guys just
Andrew Berry. Stefanski said, we're going to start over. Easy
to say now, but then at the time it was
just it was just too much sparks and he felt
(02:20):
like it needed a fire extinguisher every fifteen minutes for
a press conference in Cleveland with Baker, then he grows up,
he bounces around.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
He ends up in Tampa.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
No ego with that coach Todd Bowles, even Keel gm
great one, Jason Light The owners stay out of the
business the media. In Tampa, they've got Super Bowls. They're
not bitter, they're supportive, and there's no pressure. And in
sleepy Tampa, Baker mayfield the last two weeks. First of all,
he leads the NFL in passing touchdowns since he got
to Tampa, game winning drives last two weeks, he's been great.
(02:54):
He didn't have to battle the media. He didn't have
to battle Hugh Jackson or Greg Williams to win. The
room doesn't have to remake an organization. Tampa's always had players.
They just could never get the quarterback right, even as
top receiver Mike Evans, Mecca Buca, no ego, easy going guys.
Remember Obj in Cleveland, the dad gets involved, they're releasing
(03:16):
stuff to the media. Just didn't work. So Tampa is
a perfect fit for Baker. It's always been a little sleepy.
I've worked there years ago. Ebar city, fun town, but
you know, Miami gets all the glare down south and
Atlanta up north, and Tampa just sits there, and you know,
it's got an older fan base and very loyal and
(03:38):
they kind of under the radar and they've been dominating
this division. They've always had talent, but they could never
get the quarterback right. And they go Brady to Baker
and it's a perfect fit. You know. It's again, nobody
in Tampa's got a chip on their shoulder. In Cleveland,
the GM, the owner, the interim coach, the media, everybody
had a chip on their shoulder. So it doesn't matter
(03:59):
if it's sports or business or relationships. It's all about fit.
And since he arrived in Tampa, he's got the most
passing touchdowns. He's top five or six in everything else.
That inner turmoil it's gone. He's got a certain quiet
resolve and confidence and peace about him. It is perfect.
(04:20):
Remember when he signed there, it was a one year,
proven deal. That feels like a decade ago. This is
his team, his town, his city, his locker room, his division.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
It feels perfect.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
And this is what we say about Chicago to the
coach and the quarterback personality scheme fit in Tampa, Todd
Bowles quiet, understated, no ego, he lets he's had a
couple of different coordinators, they're all working. The GM is
one of the best in the sport. The personnel is good,
the owners stay away, the media supportive. They didn't even
(04:53):
play that well the first two weeks and they're two
and zero. Here's Baker.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
It's good to see that we haven't even played to
our best ball in all three phases, and we're still
finding ways to win on the road. And that's really
important is to not lose sight of that we're finding
ways to win, but also we do need to get
things fixed. Some of these games can make it easier
on ourselves and try and put teams away earlier. But
this is a good team that we played, so let's
(05:18):
we expected an art fought battle. But yeah, it's nice
to be on the right side of it.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
By the way, look at him, handsome, he's happy. He's
in great shape. If you can go on the road
in the NFL, get a punt blocked, give up a
huge return, not play particularly well, but you have a
goal line stand, you get Baker the ball with a
couple of minutes left, They're gonna win this division again.
(05:44):
And Baker's the reason why Baker Mayfield finally found the
perfect fit. Even when he got hurt here, when he
got banged up his ankle, then didn't stay down too long.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
You wanted to get.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Out and get Chatty's And I'm here for it now,
at least in Tampa.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
I am okay. How about the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Beating the Raiders so twenty games ago, It's hard to believe.
Twenty games ago the Chargers were mess. They have the
thirty second ranked defense in the NFL. Here comes Harbaugh
and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Twenty games later, a few tweaks.
It is the stickiest secondary in the league. It's the
(06:27):
number one rated defense in the league. And once again,
all Harbaugh teams look the same, big, strong, physical, I mean,
Geno Smith isn't great, but zero for ten on balls
downfield and three picks. Gino's better than that. In two
weeks against the Chiefs and the Raiders, opposing quarterbacks have
a sixty one passer rating, best in the league. I
(06:49):
don't know if they'll be able to keep Jesse min
Or the defensive coordinator. Justin Herbert feels like a perfect fit.
Take out the playoff game in the regular season. The
nineteen games he's played with Harbor three picks.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
So they're a little bit like Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
They've got their star quarterback, they've got their offensive coach,
Joe Alt has not surrendered a sack or even a pressure.
They're just a big, massive, physical team, kind of the
opposite of Miami. Miami hired an offensive coach. It's all flash,
no steak. This is all substance, tough and physical. I
(07:25):
mean Keenan Allen thirty three years old, still delivering on
third down. So they just squeeze you. Herbert doesn't make
any big mistakes. He'll make one or two huge throws.
They are the opposite of the team that Jim Harbaugh
took over. Powerful, predictable, physical, and it's why Justin hurt
by the way, smalltown Oregon kid. You don't get any ego.
(07:49):
He just wants to win. He lives in la and hides.
We don't see him anywhere. He's super quiet, and it's
just perfect for hardball. Like heartball. He would go with
a quarterback that needed constant attention or needed validation. Herbert's
very secure in who he is. And listen the offense,
it's still it feels like they're probably a receiver. Shy
(08:13):
Lad mcconkey's their one, Quinton Johnson's their big play receiver.
It feels like Keenan Allen's been the most valuable. Could
they use another receiver, We don't know, if a Mario Hampton,
Nause Harris.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
It's good.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
It hasn't been spectacular, but as Hardball said after the
win over the Raiders, it is all about this defense.
Speaker 6 (08:32):
Defense guardians of victory today. I mean they had our
back or front or side, and it was a just
a tremendous defensive performance. The turnovers, three interceptions, the fourth
down stops, I mean, a incredible stop on the twenty
play drive. You know, over eleven minutes. We had a
(08:55):
ball once in the third quarter. They had it once
in the third quarter, and you know, to stop him
to three points there and just guys just playing like uh,
I mean, it just meant everything to him.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
And that's the thing with Harball, It's not just the
offensive stuff. Obviously he's cleaned up Herbert, but this team
is the opposite from the one he took over. And
for years and years, the Chargers just didn't spend money
on the head coach, right they had, They had some
good coaches, but you always felt like, man, could they
just go out and spend the big boy money.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well they have and this is what you get.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
This is what you get if you're going to hire
Urban Meyer to run your college football team, or Nick
Saban run your college football team, or you hire you know,
you hire Jim Harbaugh to coach your NFL team, or
Andy Reid to coach your NFL team. It's not just
about changing the plays, it's changing the culture. And I
for personnel, I don't know. They were missing a defensive
back last night. And again we all know Gino Smith
(09:54):
by the fifteenth best quarterback in the league, zero for
ten throwing balls downfield. I mean that defense was everywhere.
There's just no space, no blown coverages. Khalil Max banged up.
He'll be back before the end of the season. But
Jay mcka had to be impressed. I thought it was
going to be a closer game. But it is interesting
a couple in his first draft, Hardball went and spent
(10:16):
you know, two fifth round picks. He went and got
a couple of cornerbacks obviously that he had recruited or
played against in Michigan. They both hit. So it's just
I look at him. How good is their personnel?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
It's good.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
But when you lead the NFL the last twenty games
in defense, a lot of that is culture and coaching.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
I totally agree that Jesse Minter stuff. You know, he's
going to be a hot commodity that defense. They got
a lot of no name dudes out there, and Khalil
Mack went down. I was like, oh, wow, Raiders are
gonna have a shot here. They couldn't do anything. Just
a quick note on Harball Colin. Remember last week I
was bemoaning the Chiefs. They looked like the same team
the last few years. They haven't changed or reinvented themselves.
(10:55):
I'm watching the Chargers. Last year they were doing heavy sets,
a lot of two tight ends.
Speaker 7 (11:00):
They were throwing of guys like Will.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Disley's Stone smart, you know, random tight ends. This year
wide receivers, and it's Keenan Allen who looked so good.
By the way, he was available on the market for
like two months. Anybody could have gone and got Keenan Allen,
well and the Chargers pick him up.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
We talk about fit. He was in Chicago, didn't do anything. Yeah,
he comes back to the Chargers with Justin Herbert and
he's fantastic. So he's a guy that's thirty three multiple surgeries.
He remains I would say Mike Evans in the NFC,
Keenan Allen and the AFC have been these all time
great third down, big play, red zone wide receiver. He's
a tough matchup. He doesn't run particularly well as not
(11:38):
as well as he used to. But again with this offense,
they got the they got the twitchy guy and Ladd mconkey.
They've got the over the top guy in Quinton Johnson,
and then they've got the dependable third down guy in
Keenan Allen. So everybody on their receiving corps has a role.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
It's not about it.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
It's not the fastest or the deepest, but everybody's got
a third down guy, a quick slot guy, and over
the top big guy, and Herbert delivers to all of them.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
I know we're gonna do the Herd hierarchy in forty
five minutes, but Colin, I you look at the AFC
It kind of sort of feels like Baltimore and Buffalo
at the top, and the Chargers are right there.
Speaker 7 (12:13):
I don't know who's better than them in the AFC
right now.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Well, here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
They have a much better defense than Buffalo and Baltimore
kill right now. They don't have the explosiveness on offense
of those two teams, but I would say they have
arguably the best coach of it and the best defense
that you can't dispute.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
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Speaker 7 (12:40):
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(13:06):
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Speaker 1 (13:10):
You know, I was thinking about this with Aj Brown
of the Philadelphia Eagles, who's unhappy. But let me defend
the star wide receiver. Now there's a lot of receivers.
I will not defend. It's an ego position. But if
you were an attorney, and you are a great young attorney,
you're a hot shot, came out of the IVY League.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
You go to a law firm and you just can't.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
They don't give you any of the good cases, and
after about two or three years you're like, listen, man,
I got other places where I can be potentially a
partner and a star. We would totally understand if you
took your career elsewhere. When Jalen Brunson was with a
Mavericks and couldn't get the ball in his hands because
a Luca he went to the Knickson, we all understood.
AJ Brown I would have no problem if he asked
(13:51):
for a trade. Philadelphia is run first, run second, and
tight end friendly. I mean they since the beginning of
last year, no team has thrown fewer passes and when
they do. Devonte Smith on the other side is also great.
So this year he's got six catches for thirty five yards.
And to double down on that, this is a guy
(14:11):
that's not only playing in the most run centric offense
in the league for the last year. He came from Tennessee, who,
previously to the Eagles was the most run centric offense
with Derrick Henry. So this is he's like an NBA
player that he's a star and he can't get shots.
We would be okay Jalen Brunson. He needs to go
to New York, he needs to run the show, and
(14:32):
we're okay with that. But in football, everybody get in line.
Everybody be a team guy. Like Philadelphia, He's a luxury
for somebody that doesn't need him. I mean, he's a
heated seats in Phoenix or an Olympic sized backyard pool
and Anchorage. I mean, it's just like he's not needed
for Philadelphia and they need another corner to be on
the other side of Mitchell. So I mean, like Philadelphia
(14:54):
is not a perfect team. And by the way, even
when Jalen Hurts does throw down the field this morning,
you know this grind run first team Jalen Hurts is
like two for eight passing ten plus yards downfield. They
don't throw it downfield well, and they don't throw it
downfield much, and so I totally get him. It's it's
not like, it's not like this Tyreek Hill situation. In Miami,
(15:17):
they threw the ball Tua. He was the number one
part of the offense. They didn't have a great old
line in Miami, they didn't have a great run game.
Philadelphia has got the best run game arguably in a decade.
And they have a quarterback that is not a deep
ball thrower. He's not necessarily your traditional quarterback. Their number
one offensive play is a tush push. All right, It's
(15:38):
not a deep ball. So I get it. And A
and AJ's been a good guy. He's trying to be
a nice guy. But I'm gonna defend him. We would
understand in the NBA if a guy just didn't get
shots and he was a great player.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
A J.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Brown, I mean, he's in a short list with Justin
Jefferson and Jamar Chase Omar on Saint Brown, he is
on a short list of eight receivers in this league.
So he's talking about here. He is on the Eagles
kind of sluggish offensive.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Start it go just to win the game.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
So you know, no matter what that looks like, I
think the reason why people may talk about it because
they want to know if he's substantial you know, and
can you should find that throughout the season. So, you know,
I think that's fair. I think that's the fair thing
to talk about. But you know, our job is continued
to try to find a way don't win.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
So Jalen hurts his dead last and pass attempts going
back to the beginning of last season, and Philadelphia is
twenty and three in those games.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
So they're not going to change for him.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
They've got their they've got their culture. The good news
for AJ Brown is just the best trading team in
the league. And I know Howie Roseman wants him over
in the AFC. And I don't know if Baltimore maybe
is looking at something or Buffalo. Maybe it's not a
great team. I don't know what it is. Maybe the
Chargers give a call. But I feel for him. He
(16:57):
is he is an unbelievable talent. He's right in the
middle of his prime. And he goes from me run
centric Titans to the even more run centric Eagles. And
I don't blame him at all for being disappointed. He's
a pro athlete, he's not an attorney. You can't do
this for fifty years, right, He's got about three to
four more years of prime and you got to feed him.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You want to eat J Mack with the news.
Speaker 7 (17:23):
Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
This is the herd Line News.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Let's get started, Colin with your Chicago Bears. They are
zero to two. We probably only got a couple more
weeks to talk about them before we put them on
the shelves since they.
Speaker 7 (17:35):
Have appear to stink.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Obviously everybody's talking about Caleb Williams didn't.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
Have a great game against Detroit.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
However, his coach Ben Johnson said he saw some growth
on Sunday.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
How about that.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
I did see significant growth. It's it's not perfect yet.
Speaker 10 (17:52):
There's there's still a number of plays where our eyes
are quite in the right position, or we're holding onto
the ball just to tick longer. Then we'll we're coaching.
But I did see tremendous growth in terms of going
through the progression. I did think he got better from
week one to week two. I'm encouraged by what I
saw and I'm hopeful that we'll continue to see another
(18:12):
leap here this week.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I thought game one and game two were the same,
great opening drive, too much freelancing after that, and it
looked disoriented. Too many balls thrown up for grabs, So
I know, I don't know. I watched it, you watched it,
really good opening drive, but the further he gets away
from the script, it just unravels way too fast for me.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Yeah, I'm trying to make sense of this line. Why
are the Bears favored in this one against the Cowboys?
Speaker 6 (18:40):
What is that?
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Well?
Speaker 1 (18:41):
That and this is the first time I've seen it
this year. And this will happen occasionally where you will
get a line. It happens somewhere four times a year,
and it doesn't make any sense. And by the way,
I thought the Eagles Chiefs, you're like one and a
half point spread, Like, is Kansas City going to be
able to move the ball with are worthy.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
At that game?
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Was a little bit like shouldn't Philly be favored by
like two.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
And a half? Three and a half?
Speaker 1 (19:05):
I get that, And also Kansas City got humiliated, so
like I got that and it it, But I did
think the line was a little small considering Philly's got
a much better roster. So to me, Vegas knows something.
There is a match up here, and I think here's
what it is. This is Chicago season. I mean, if
they go all in three all of a sudden, you
(19:25):
have to start really answering some questions here in a big, loud,
Chicago market, whereas Dallas is won and one they're feeling good. Also,
Dallas went to overtime, Dallas played a lot of snaps.
Dallas's defense was on the field for four hours that
you could get a little fatigued cowboy team in the
second half.
Speaker 7 (19:44):
That's a great point.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
I was just going to check how many actual plays,
because you know, the magic number for plays is eighty.
If a defense is on the field for eighty plays,
that's real bad news the following week.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Historically, don't think that would because the Giants had so
many over the top deep balls, they had shorter drives.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Yeah. Actually, actually the Giants defense, oh boy, they got
a face mahomes. They were on the field for eighty
three plays. So file that away. But I don't know
what to do with this game. I have nothing, no
action on this. But I'm just thinking, you're right. If
Caleb can't shred this secondary, they just got lit up
by Russell Wilson, who remember a week ago, Hey, is
Russ gonna get Ben's for Jackson dark? Now he thought
(20:22):
us for four hundred and thirty yards. It's like, whoa Caleb,
you need to shine here. It does feel like maybe
a shootout, Colin you think in Chicago.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
I mean, if it's a shootout, I'm gonna take Dak
because Dak's playing really well.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Right now.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Who's getting stopped here? Bears defense didn't get any stops.
They haven't looked good.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah, I tend to think there's gonna be a lot
of sellers on the Bears. So maybe Vegas had to
create a better number to elicit some Everybody was going
to bet Dallas, so the market saying, listen, nobody wants
to bet the Bears after they got humiliated. So how
do we make people bet the Bears. I'm trying to
(21:00):
figure out the line. I tend to guess the lines.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I would have.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Guessed Dallas minus four.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
That's what it feels like to me.
Speaker 7 (21:08):
On the road. So remember Bland was out.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Apparently he's like a superstar Bland in the secondary.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
I don't know, is he going to be back? We
got to look. I don't know what to do with this,
but I think your overall point is right.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
If Caleb Williams can't show out here, we're probably gonna
get legit calls.
Speaker 7 (21:22):
He let's see what Tyson Bagen.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Could do, right, yep? See reasonable?
Speaker 7 (21:25):
Yeah, all right.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
Next up is the Baltimore Ravens, Colin. They smashed the
Browns forty one to seventeen on Sunday. Baltimore has nine
offensive touchdowns so far. However, Mark Andrews and Rashad Bateman
have a combined six catches.
Speaker 7 (21:42):
Is everybody getting involved?
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Here's John Harbaugh on trying to do that.
Speaker 6 (21:47):
That's kind of a blessing, you know, but it's also
a dilemma and we're working through it. But hopefully it's
the time of the Lama that puts a lot of
points on the board. That's what we're hoping for.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Yeah, it's They've got a lot of play makers, so
I think they're gonna be fine.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Their defense is my concern, not their offense.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Yeah, Colin, I didn't watch a lot of this game.
It was boring, a blowout. You know, Browns were never
in it. I don't know what do you do with
the Ravens at this point. Obviously, listen, they're gonna they're
favored against the Lions.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
But it's like you remember those old Atlanta Braves teams,
when No had a great pitching Glavin and Maddox, and
you just penciled them in they were gonna win their division.
You didn't know what they would do in the postseason matchups,
but you would just say, Okay, Atlanta's gonna win their division.
Bobby Cox, the manager, John Suurholtz was a GM. They
had a great farm system, and they had great pitching
for years and years and they won Wooden World Series.
(22:39):
And I kind of feel like that with Baltimore because
I'm a homes and Reed and Buffalo and now Harvon Herbert.
They're gonna win a super Bowl. But in the end,
in the interim, I just put them down for winning
their division. They have a better owner than anybody in
their division. They have a better quarterback who's healthier more
often in the division. Their roster overall is the best division.
(23:00):
They're the Braves. Pencil them down, win their division, probably
end up with a Super Bowl in the next five years.
But clearly the criticisms of Lamar in the postseason are
fair because he has not been the same quarterback.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Interesting, Derreck Henry was kind of plotting against the Browns. Listen,
he's getting up there. Once you cross thirty as a
running back. You know, I know Henry was amazing in
the opener, but that was off what seven months rest,
Colin Henry Bear's watching because things quickly will fall apart
if Derrick Henry is one of these like three yards
and a cloud of dust, guys. Final story, Let's go
(23:33):
to Sunday Night football, that game where JJ McCarthy got
injured late Colin.
Speaker 7 (23:39):
It's worse than expected.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
He's out two to four weeks, kind of got rolled
up on.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
There's some debate whether or not it was a hip
drop tackle. Carson Wentz is going to be taken over.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Kevin O'Connell addressed McCarthy's injury yesterday.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
For JJ.
Speaker 11 (23:54):
You know, he's in a long process, a long journey
right now where there's going to be some ups and down.
There's not not any aspect of this. This is a pure,
purely medical medical base thing that you know we're dealing
with right now.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Okay, So let's see he comes in, he gets injured
I think in the preseason, and then they have to
have a second surgery on him, and then he sits
out a year, and then he comes back and he's
out after two weeks. I mean, so again, this goes
back to something we talked about yesterday. People get uncomfortable
about it, but there are athletes that are injury prone,
and there are athletes that don't do a great job
(24:34):
of protecting themselves. And so in the end, right now,
I have a quarterback. I saw a stat yesterday on
the internet that if he had grounded the ball thirty
seven times instead of dropping back to pass, he would
have had a higher passer rating. So he's had seven
of eight of his quarters have been I mean, he
looks overwhelmed.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Okay, I'll just the only small defense of him is
two primetime games to start your NFL career. That's difficult. Okay,
I'm not. Again, he has not looked great, but those
are tall orders, Colin. I thought this would have been
a great spot for him to get right against the
sad sack Bengals. That being said, Carson Wentz is gonna
step in as as the starter. I know we're out
(25:16):
on Carson Wentz, Colin. Do you remember two years ago
her cousins had the Achilles Yes, and they went through
Nick Mullens, Josh Dobbs, the pastronaut, Jaren Hall, and Kevin
O'Connell kind of sort of thrived with them, the same
way Lafleur bought Anderson.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Wentz will be fine.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
I do think I think I like the Vikings this
week against the Bengals.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Let me say this though, this whole thing about JJ.
McCarthy played two big games. Hey played in three Ohio
State Michigan games, which get the same ratings as NFL games.
It can't be that he is just Listen. You can
see Michael pennix first series in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
He's not overwhelmed.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
You can see Pennick is just handing it off to
b Jon rodin Bone.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
If you look at Pennix's first passes last year, gets
rid of the ball, big, tall, lanky, good arm, quick release.
Pennix is not overwhelmed. Bonix didn't win much. You know
that first September last year, was not overwhelmed. Caleb can
be overwhelmed. Drake may looked a little overwhelmed. But there
is something to be said. When the bright lights come on,
(26:21):
do you look the part McCarthy doesn't look the pulse.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
Yeah, listen, I get that. I will say Pennix is
like twenty five, he's older. Remember JJ McCarthy's youngest quarterback
in Week one, youngest starter in the league.
Speaker 7 (26:34):
So just take it easy on the kid.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
I know you want to pump up Caleb and bash
a divisional quarterback.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
I don't want to. I'm Caleb. Caleb doesn't look overwhelmed.
He looks like a terrible fit with this coach and
wild and ab living.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
That's different. I can live with that.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
I do think Caleb had found a coach that didn't
draft him, and it doesn't feel like it's a perfect marriage.
I said this yesterday. You can be great people and
get divorced and you find happiness elsewhere. I mean, how
many times do we see in business a business merger
and the two companies don't work. It's like, yet your
culture and our culture, most mergers don't work. And the
(27:12):
truth is Shanahan loved Kirk, Cousins loves brock Purty loves
mac Jones.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
They run his plays.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
And there are certain coaches now Matt Lafleur is willing
to let his quarterback add lib more. Also, Green Bay
drafts receivers and tight ends very well, so all coaches
have sensibilities and styles. Andy Reid's always been okay with
Donovan McNabb moving and Mahomes moving. Shanahan likes it his way,
So I just think there's different styles. And I don't
(27:41):
think Caleb's overwhelmed. I think he's lost. But his horsepower
is undeniable, which he looks He just doesn't look like
he works.
Speaker 7 (27:51):
At all, which is worse overwhelmed or lost.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Neither's great.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Jack with the news, Well that's the news, and thanks
for stopping by.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
The herd line.
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Heard hierarchy top of next hour. I'm sitting there.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I you know, I think Kansas that he's going to
be fine. I don't have him in the Herd hierarchy.
I had them number eleven. I've got Denver twelve. So
you know, I was sitting there watching Geno Smith. The
Raiders thing is interesting. So Pete Carroll gets the job
with Chip Kelly and they know justin Herbert's the division,
(28:30):
BOENICKX and Sean Payton, Mahomes and Andy Reid. So the Raiders, no,
we got to get the quarterback right, so they went.
I think Geno Smith and Pete Carroll are a weird pairing.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Pete hates interceptions and.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Gino is caroless he always has been. If you speed
him up last night three picks. So they wanted Matt Stafford.
They offered him a hundred million. Stafford said no, I'm
going to stay with the Rams for less. And then
I think they kind of wanted Sam Darnold. But Tom Brady,
part owner of the said no on Sam Darnold. So
I think it was a marriage of convenience. Chip Kelly
(29:05):
was very familiar with Geno Smith. Pete Carroll was familiar
with Geno Smith, but I don't think he was their
first or second choice. So you know, Tom Brady's like
reportedly it was out there, no to Darnald and and
they Matt Stafford considered it, probably for about a day,
and he said no. So Gino sins twenty twenty two
(29:25):
leads the NFL in interceptions, and Donald's younger, he's more athletic,
he's closure to his prime. And I think Sam Donald
was coming off an amazing year between Shanahan's mentoring and
Kevin O'Connell's coaching. Donald was going to come to Vegas
with a lot of confidence. But when I watched it
(29:46):
last night, I mean, already this year Gino's got doesn't
have really a number one receiver. Jacoby Myers is a
two brock Bauers, a great tight end. They should probably
give the ball more to Ash than Genty. They really should.
But in the end, he's already third in the NFL
right now in aggressive throw.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
So that's Gino. If you speed Gino.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Up, he makes some bad decisions, and in New York
he was a disaster. In Seattle it was reclamation and
a great story. But a great story doesn't mean a
great quarterback. So I think Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly
are a little trapped here. They wanted Stafford. I think
privately they'd never admit it. They probably thought, darnold, you know,
younger in his prime, with some career momentum. But you know,
(30:24):
this is what they've got, the fourth best quarterback in
the division. Again, Chip Kelly knew him from Ohio State.
Apparently they had a relationship. He recruited him. Pete Carroll
had him in Seattle. They like him, he's a likable guy.
But last night you're watching that game, and my takeaway
is you're a fourth place team in that division with
that offense currently, and here's Pete on gino struggles.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
He had a lot of.
Speaker 12 (30:48):
Time back there. You know, he had a chance to
look and see, didn't like what he saw underneath, and
gave those guys some shots down the field, which he's
tremendous at doing. We were impatient with the throwing game,
and that's why the ball went down the field so far.
And I don't think we needed to do that. It's disappointing.
I know that the picture of a big issue, but
that's not my concern. My concern is why we didn't
get the ball throwing a cat underneath.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Yeah, I mean zero for ten throwing downfield.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Some of it is in fairness, some of it is
this The Chargers defense is really good.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
That's part of it.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
But it'll be interesting because you know, Pete has a
history Marshawn Lynch, Lyndale White, Reggie Bush. They draft Ashton
gent like Pete likes a strong running game, and so
Pete's got a marriage Mary. You know his offense and
his philosophy with Chip Kelly. They're both smart guys. I
think it'll be fine, But watching that game last night,
I thought this has got to be driving Pete Carroll
(31:40):
crazy because when they won a Super Bowl with Russell Wilson,
I think Russell Wilson could go look it up. That
year was like twenty second in pass attempts. Like that
was the perfect team, play defense, special teams, run the ball,
and some big throws downfield over the top. That's kind
of that was always sort of the USC in Seattle
prescription for Pete. Big plays over the top, run the ball,
(32:02):
control the clock, very few turnovers. So all this stuff
with the Raiders is baking. They've got a good coach,
a great offensive coordinator, they've got some playmakers. But it's
part of the rebuild the young GM people like we'll
see Herd hierarchy top of the hour, and you know,
I'm watching the Chargers last night. As bad as New
(32:23):
York football is, is as great as LA football is.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
That's coming up now.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newone eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Sunday, a Fox NFL doubleheader starts with a rematch of
last year's playoff classic between the Rams and the Eagles
or other regional action. Then it's America's Game of the
Week as Deak and the Cowboys take on Caleb Williams
and the Bears or Cardinals, Niners. Check local listings for
the games in your area only on Fox.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
I've talked about this before that when you hire a
head coach, it's not just about the x's and o's.
That's what your coordinators are for. You are hiring a CEO.
And I'm reminded. And when I think of Los Angeles
football now with Sean McVay and Jim Harbaugh, there is
an argument they are the two best culture creators in
(33:20):
football LA football right now, I mean think about La foot.
They didn't have an NFL team, not that long ago,
right didn't have a team. I'm going to argue that
Harbon McVeigh ever watched Departed Frank Costello, that Jack Nicholson
character has a great line in That has a great
(33:41):
line in that movie. I don't want to be a
product of my environment. I want my environment to be
part of me. That's McVeigh and Harball. Their teams are themselves.
I mean the Rams with McVeigh are intense, buttoned up,
least penalized team in the NFL. Sean McVay always looks
like he pressed his shirt five minutes before the press Conference.
(34:03):
McVeigh is all details, totally organized, crazy about it has
like Stephen Hawking, recall, it's unbelievable. His team last year
was the youngest defense in the NFL and yet the
least penalize. They are him and Jim Harbaugh. Even his
handshakes are firm. Remember the Jim Schwartz pat in the back.
That's Harball. His teams are big. Jim's big, and he's physical,
(34:27):
and he's relentless. And that's the Chargers. It's amazing how
good LA football is right now. I hope people appreciate it.
What's in Sofi Stadium. The Rams have the great owner,
the great GM, the great coach, and the great quarterback.
And the Chargers again, it's a coach quarterback league. Herbert Harball,
(34:47):
McVeigh and Stafford and both draft very well. So I mean,
and then you look at the New York teams so
far this year. They're zero to four, minus forty in
point differential, give up thirty one points a game, and
opposing quarterbacks have a one or old repasser rating. I mean,
you may have a better park and better bagels, but
when it comes to the beach in football, LA is humming.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Right now.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
It is unbelievable. And you know, I'm sitting there thinking
this morning, I looked it up. Pro football did not exist.
It did not exist in Los Angeles in twenty fifteen,
ten years later. Hall of Fame, Coaches, Hall of Fame quarterbacks,
hall of Fame, pass rush talent. It's unbelievable how bad
New York football is. And I think it all comes
back to ownership. Spanos family pretty much keeps Dean kind
(35:32):
of keeps out of it, lets his football people run
the show. And you know, I think we all know
Stan Kronkey one of the richest guys, also one of
the most private billionaires in the country. And you know,
we watched the HBO Hard Knocks with a giant ownership
that was shaky. The Johnson family with the Jets. You
know they're going to argue, we let our coaches, We
let our coaches last much longer. Robert Slid been here
(35:55):
several years, and they always feel like their stuff working
on behind the scenes. So all I'm saying is, I
look at the two biggest cities in the country, It
is unbelievable how good LA football is right now. I
mean the idea that one city has arguably the two
best coaches and the two best cultures. Now there is
another great culture and coach in this league, and it's
(36:16):
Andy Reid. I think Kansas City is going to be fine.
There are ten to zero to two teams in this league,
and if you look at the I was looking at
the teams this morning, it's the Giants and the Jets
in Cleveland, and Chicago, in Carolina and New Orleans and
Tennessee and a lot of teams that are annually at
the top of the draft in April. There's two or
(36:36):
three reasons why Kansas City's going to be fine. Number
one is Xavier Worthy probably a number two receiver is
coming back. Rashi Rice is coming back in a month.
The New York Giants are on the schedule. And the
truth is it is a head coach, quarterback and pass
rush league, and Kansas City is good at those. So
(36:56):
you got two receivers coming back. You lost to Philly
and the Chargers. How do we know those aren't the
two best teams in the NFL right now? They kind
of look like it. So there's a couple of tough games,
But you got Jacksonville in Detroit and the New York
Giants and the Raiders. I think they're going to be fine.
I would say if you take out Baltimore Buffalo and
the Chargers, the AFC feels more wide open than the NFC.
(37:19):
And if you look at the schedule again, Baltimore Buffalo
at Denver, those are tough games, a lot of wins,
a lot of average offensive lines, not a lot of
great quarterbacks. It's oh and to, but it doesn't feel desperate.
Last year the Rams started oh and too, the Ravens
started oh and too, and Denver started oh and too,
(37:39):
and they all made the playoffs. The Chiefs are going
to make the playoffs. And here's Andy Reid.
Speaker 13 (37:46):
I trust this group. I mean, this group's a good group,
good leadership, and they'll stay together, it's you know. And
they'll work hard on cleaning things up. There's nobody more
aware of it.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Than the guy.
Speaker 13 (38:01):
So and we'll make sure we get back to the
drawing board. Like I said, this game here was more
on the offensive side. We've got to take care of them.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Yeah, and they will. They'll get the receivers back.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
But again, Ravens, last year, Denver Rams zero and to.
They're fine. You know, I think when you watch it.
I think it's Patrick Mahomes doing everything he can offensively
to make plays. The defense is fine, the coaching is good,
and the schedule gets easier. Now I think you look
at the Chargers right now, it's the best defense in
the league. In Kansas City's offense is struggling. That was
bound to be a problem. A lot of people like
(38:35):
the Chargers in that game in Brazil, and Philadelphia's got
the best roster in the league.
Speaker 3 (38:39):
So j Mac, I always do this.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
Starting Tuesday, I put the NFL Week three schedule up,
and I ask you, yes, I ask you give the
audience a little bit of an early feel on a
guaranteed w and an upset. Now a lot of people
are saying Buffalo Thursday, Miami's got an upset written all.
Speaker 7 (38:58):
Over whoa who is it?
Speaker 3 (39:00):
That's people that have been drinking too much.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Because short week, short week games, big advantage to the
star quarterback and the home team. So I think Buffalo
Rails spread is thirteen. You are out of your mind
if you're betting Miami in that one. You know the
Green Bay Packers are favorite anywhere from seven to nine
on the road in Cleveland. Now, Michael Parson's a company.
Speaker 7 (39:24):
Extra rest.
Speaker 4 (39:25):
They're gonna get after Joe Flacco, who's a statue. But
nine is a lot of points on the road, Colin
in the NFL, is it not?
Speaker 3 (39:34):
It is?
Speaker 4 (39:34):
I mean, that's a big number. My Jets look like,
you know, we don't know if it's Justin Fields or
Tyrod Taylor, but they look like they're gonna be seven
point dogs in.
Speaker 7 (39:43):
Tampa against Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Yeah, I think the game that you have to look
at is Dallas at Chicago.
Speaker 7 (39:49):
But that's a close spread though though.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
Right what I'm saying is if I ask people about
that game, you would think Dallas after watching the first
two weeks of DAK they should have beaten Philadelphia Ceedee
Lamb dropped a deep ball, and they did beat the Giants.
Your takeaway would be, oh, Chicago's in chaos. That line
is telling you something. That line is telling you. The
Cowboys defense was on the field a lot. Now they
(40:14):
go on the road. They've had big, high profile games
rival Giants, Philadelphia Eagle back to back in division rivalry games.
Now it's lousy to Chicago. And you know my rule,
if you get humiliated in the NFL and you have
good personnel. You just got humiliated almost oh as you
(40:36):
play well the following week, agreed. Miami, by the way,
got humiliated. They had a chance to beat New England.
Miami button things up.
Speaker 4 (40:44):
I have three games a bet so far. I like
the Atlanta Falcons. I got them at three and a half.
It's up to five in Carolina. That should be they
should be fine. You know, I'm on the Baltimore Ravens
against Detroit.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
Yeah, I'm on that.
Speaker 7 (40:55):
This one is a bit of a surprise. I think
we'll do a lot on it.
Speaker 4 (40:57):
Colin I took the Ram getting three and a half
in Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
Yeah, so my part.
Speaker 4 (41:04):
Of the logic we could talk about it later in
the week is Jalen hurts.
Speaker 7 (41:07):
His face like no pressure.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
In the first two weeks, right, Cowboys can't get to
the quarterback, and the Chiefs cannot do anything without blitzing
the raven Sorry, the Rams defensive front is nasty. I
mean they are gonna probably control the line of scrimmage.
I think there's a low scoring game. I'm taking the
Rams getting three and a half.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
Also, you know, Eagles may have to play from behind,
which they don't do frequently. So also coming off of
Big Kansas City National TV Game of Note, Get Home,
Little Breathere Right, I'm with you on that one.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
Nick Wright heard hierarchy Net
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
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.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Here we go. It is a Tuesday, A lot to
talk about Herd. Hire a herkye. Will the chiefs be
in it? The dynasty? Do they make it in?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
It's the Herd? Wherever you may be and however you
may be listening.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Thanks for making us part of your team ten two
and OH teams ten Oho and two teams. I do
think the chiefs of the OH and two teams will
be fine. They'll get healthy, not great, very good.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
J Mac.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
You know, Baker Mayfield and I are friendies, and I
told you I offered him a podcast on my Little
Company a couple of years ago. He said, no, that's
a but I do. I don't hold grudges. Thankfully, Baker
doesn't hold grudges. I would love to get him on
the show. But was that fun to watch last night
or what not?
Speaker 4 (01:11):
If you were holding a Houston Texans ticket and expecting
the win. But that's two weeks in a row. Bakers
come through.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
In Niklutch Collins, We've talked about this with the Bears
fit coach quarterback, and Baker Mayfield is a great illustration
of what fit means. So think about Baker Mayfield gets drafted,
goes to Cleveland, chip on his shoulder, out of Oklahoma,
a little bit of an attitude, and then he deals
with Hugh Jackson and his ego, and Greg Williams and
his ego, and he's got to John Dorsey, the former
(01:39):
player of the GM his ego, and the impulsive owner boy.
It was a tender box and Baker Mayfield in Cleveland
was the spark. Even the media in Cleveland has a
chip on their shoulder for years and years of losing.
Then it wasn't until Kevin Stefanski showed up in Cleveland.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Ivy League.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Cerebro understated, Baker goes eleven and five, gets into the playoffs,
wins a game, but everything just didn't feel right. There
too many fires started by Baker and those guys just
Andrew Berry. Stefanski said, we're going to start over. Easy
to say now, but then at the time it was
just it was just too much sparks and he felt
(02:20):
like it needed a fire extinguisher every fifteen minutes for
a press conference in Cleveland with Baker, then he grows up,
he bounces around.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
He ends up in Tampa.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
No ego with that coach Todd Bowles, even Keel gm
great one, Jason Light The owners stay out of the
business the media. In Tampa, they've got Super Bowls. They're
not bitter, they're supportive, and there's no pressure. And in
sleepy Tampa, Baker mayfield the last two weeks. First of all,
he leads the NFL in passing touchdowns since he got
to Tampa, game winning drives last two weeks, he's been great.
(02:54):
He didn't have to battle the media. He didn't have
to battle Hugh Jackson or Greg Williams to win. The
room doesn't have to remake an organization. Tampa's always had players.
They just could never get the quarterback right, even as
top receiver Mike Evans, Mecca Buca, no ego, easy going guys.
Remember Obj in Cleveland, the dad gets involved, they're releasing
(03:16):
stuff to the media. Just didn't work. So Tampa is
a perfect fit for Baker. It's always been a little sleepy.
I've worked there years ago. Ebar city, fun town, but
you know, Miami gets all the glare down south and
Atlanta up north, and Tampa just sits there, and you know,
it's got an older fan base and very loyal and
(03:38):
they kind of under the radar and they've been dominating
this division. They've always had talent, but they could never
get the quarterback right. And they go Brady to Baker
and it's a perfect fit. You know. It's again, nobody
in Tampa's got a chip on their shoulder. In Cleveland,
the GM, the owner, the interim coach, the media, everybody
had a chip on their shoulder. So it doesn't matter
(03:59):
if it's sports or business or relationships. It's all about fit.
And since he arrived in Tampa, he's got the most
passing touchdowns. He's top five or six in everything else.
That inner turmoil it's gone. He's got a certain quiet
resolve and confidence and peace about him. It is perfect.
(04:20):
Remember when he signed there, it was a one year,
proven deal. That feels like a decade ago. This is
his team, his town, his city, his locker room, his division.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
It feels perfect.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
And this is what we say about Chicago to the
coach and the quarterback personality scheme fit in Tampa, Todd
Bowles quiet, understated, no ego, he lets he's had a
couple of different coordinators, they're all working. The GM is
one of the best in the sport. The personnel is good,
the owners stay away, the media supportive. They didn't even
(04:53):
play that well the first two weeks and they're two
and zero. Here's Baker.
Speaker 5 (04:57):
It's good to see that we haven't even played to
our best ball in all three phases, and we're still
finding ways to win on the road. And that's really
important is to not lose sight of that we're finding
ways to win, but also we do need to get
things fixed. Some of these games can make it easier
on ourselves and try and put teams away earlier. But
this is a good team that we played, so let's
(05:18):
we expected an art fought battle. But yeah, it's nice
to be on the right side of it.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
By the way, look at him, handsome, he's happy. He's
in great shape. If you can go on the road
in the NFL, get a punt blocked, give up a
huge return, not play particularly well, but you have a
goal line stand, you get Baker the ball with a
couple of minutes left, They're gonna win this division again.
(05:44):
And Baker's the reason why Baker Mayfield finally found the
perfect fit. Even when he got hurt here, when he
got banged up his ankle, then didn't stay down too long.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
You wanted to get.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Out and get Chatty's And I'm here for it now,
at least in Tampa.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
I am okay. How about the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Beating the Raiders so twenty games ago, It's hard to believe.
Twenty games ago the Chargers were mess. They have the
thirty second ranked defense in the NFL. Here comes Harbaugh
and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Twenty games later, a few tweaks.
It is the stickiest secondary in the league. It's the
(06:27):
number one rated defense in the league. And once again,
all Harbaugh teams look the same, big, strong, physical, I mean,
Geno Smith isn't great, but zero for ten on balls
downfield and three picks. Gino's better than that. In two
weeks against the Chiefs and the Raiders, opposing quarterbacks have
a sixty one passer rating, best in the league. I
(06:49):
don't know if they'll be able to keep Jesse min
Or the defensive coordinator. Justin Herbert feels like a perfect fit.
Take out the playoff game in the regular season. The
nineteen games he's played with Harbor three picks.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
So they're a little bit like Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
They've got their star quarterback, they've got their offensive coach,
Joe Alt has not surrendered a sack or even a pressure.
They're just a big, massive, physical team, kind of the
opposite of Miami. Miami hired an offensive coach. It's all flash,
no steak. This is all substance, tough and physical. I
(07:25):
mean Keenan Allen thirty three years old, still delivering on
third down. So they just squeeze you. Herbert doesn't make
any big mistakes. He'll make one or two huge throws.
They are the opposite of the team that Jim Harbaugh
took over. Powerful, predictable, physical, and it's why Justin hurt
by the way, smalltown Oregon kid. You don't get any ego.
(07:49):
He just wants to win. He lives in la and hides.
We don't see him anywhere. He's super quiet, and it's
just perfect for hardball. Like heartball. He would go with
a quarterback that needed constant attention or needed validation. Herbert's
very secure in who he is. And listen the offense,
it's still it feels like they're probably a receiver. Shy
(08:13):
Lad mcconkey's their one, Quinton Johnson's their big play receiver.
It feels like Keenan Allen's been the most valuable. Could
they use another receiver, We don't know, if a Mario Hampton,
Nause Harris.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
It's good.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
It hasn't been spectacular, but as Hardball said after the
win over the Raiders, it is all about this defense.
Speaker 6 (08:32):
Defense guardians of victory today. I mean they had our
back or front or side, and it was a just
a tremendous defensive performance. The turnovers, three interceptions, the fourth
down stops, I mean, a incredible stop on the twenty
play drive. You know, over eleven minutes. We had a
(08:55):
ball once in the third quarter. They had it once
in the third quarter, and you know, to stop him
to three points there and just guys just playing like uh,
I mean, it just meant everything to him.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
And that's the thing with Harball, It's not just the
offensive stuff. Obviously he's cleaned up Herbert, but this team
is the opposite from the one he took over. And
for years and years, the Chargers just didn't spend money
on the head coach, right they had, They had some
good coaches, but you always felt like, man, could they
just go out and spend the big boy money.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Well they have and this is what you get.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
This is what you get if you're going to hire
Urban Meyer to run your college football team, or Nick
Saban run your college football team, or you hire you know,
you hire Jim Harbaugh to coach your NFL team, or
Andy Reid to coach your NFL team. It's not just
about changing the plays, it's changing the culture. And I
for personnel, I don't know. They were missing a defensive
back last night. And again we all know Gino Smith
(09:54):
by the fifteenth best quarterback in the league, zero for
ten throwing balls downfield. I mean that defense was everywhere.
There's just no space, no blown coverages. Khalil Max banged up.
He'll be back before the end of the season. But
Jay mcka had to be impressed. I thought it was
going to be a closer game. But it is interesting
a couple in his first draft, Hardball went and spent
(10:16):
you know, two fifth round picks. He went and got
a couple of cornerbacks obviously that he had recruited or
played against in Michigan. They both hit. So it's just
I look at him. How good is their personnel?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
It's good.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
But when you lead the NFL the last twenty games
in defense, a lot of that is culture and coaching.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
I totally agree that Jesse Minter stuff. You know, he's
going to be a hot commodity that defense. They got
a lot of no name dudes out there, and Khalil
Mack went down. I was like, oh, wow, Raiders are
gonna have a shot here. They couldn't do anything. Just
a quick note on Harball Colin. Remember last week I
was bemoaning the Chiefs. They looked like the same team
the last few years. They haven't changed or reinvented themselves.
(10:55):
I'm watching the Chargers. Last year they were doing heavy sets,
a lot of two tight ends.
Speaker 7 (11:00):
They were throwing of guys like Will.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
Disley's Stone smart, you know, random tight ends. This year
wide receivers, and it's Keenan Allen who looked so good.
By the way, he was available on the market for
like two months. Anybody could have gone and got Keenan Allen,
well and the Chargers pick him up.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
We talk about fit. He was in Chicago, didn't do anything. Yeah,
he comes back to the Chargers with Justin Herbert and
he's fantastic. So he's a guy that's thirty three multiple surgeries.
He remains I would say Mike Evans in the NFC,
Keenan Allen and the AFC have been these all time
great third down, big play, red zone wide receiver. He's
a tough matchup. He doesn't run particularly well as not
(11:38):
as well as he used to. But again with this offense,
they got the they got the twitchy guy and Ladd mconkey.
They've got the over the top guy in Quinton Johnson,
and then they've got the dependable third down guy in
Keenan Allen. So everybody on their receiving corps has a role.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
It's not about it.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
It's not the fastest or the deepest, but everybody's got
a third down guy, a quick slot guy, and over
the top big guy, and Herbert delivers to all of them.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
I know we're gonna do the Herd hierarchy in forty
five minutes, but Colin, I you look at the AFC
It kind of sort of feels like Baltimore and Buffalo
at the top, and the Chargers are right there.
Speaker 7 (12:13):
I don't know who's better than them in the AFC
right now.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Well, here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
They have a much better defense than Buffalo and Baltimore
kill right now. They don't have the explosiveness on offense
of those two teams, but I would say they have
arguably the best coach of it and the best defense
that you can't dispute.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 7 (12:40):
It's me Rob Parker.
Speaker 8 (12:43):
Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for
twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk featuring the
biggest names the newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe
in analytics or the I test, We've got all the
bases covered. New episodes every Thursday, So do yourself a
favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker
(13:06):
on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
You know, I was thinking about this with Aj Brown
of the Philadelphia Eagles, who's unhappy. But let me defend
the star wide receiver. Now there's a lot of receivers.
I will not defend. It's an ego position. But if
you were an attorney, and you are a great young attorney,
you're a hot shot, came out of the IVY League.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
You go to a law firm and you just can't.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
They don't give you any of the good cases, and
after about two or three years you're like, listen, man,
I got other places where I can be potentially a
partner and a star. We would totally understand if you
took your career elsewhere. When Jalen Brunson was with a
Mavericks and couldn't get the ball in his hands because
a Luca he went to the Knickson, we all understood.
AJ Brown I would have no problem if he asked
(13:51):
for a trade. Philadelphia is run first, run second, and
tight end friendly. I mean they since the beginning of
last year, no team has thrown fewer passes and when
they do. Devonte Smith on the other side is also great.
So this year he's got six catches for thirty five yards.
And to double down on that, this is a guy
(14:11):
that's not only playing in the most run centric offense
in the league for the last year. He came from Tennessee, who,
previously to the Eagles was the most run centric offense
with Derrick Henry. So this is he's like an NBA
player that he's a star and he can't get shots.
We would be okay Jalen Brunson. He needs to go
to New York, he needs to run the show, and
(14:32):
we're okay with that. But in football, everybody get in line.
Everybody be a team guy. Like Philadelphia, He's a luxury
for somebody that doesn't need him. I mean, he's a
heated seats in Phoenix or an Olympic sized backyard pool
and Anchorage. I mean, it's just like he's not needed
for Philadelphia and they need another corner to be on
the other side of Mitchell. So I mean, like Philadelphia
(14:54):
is not a perfect team. And by the way, even
when Jalen Hurts does throw down the field this morning,
you know this grind run first team Jalen Hurts is
like two for eight passing ten plus yards downfield. They
don't throw it downfield well, and they don't throw it
downfield much, and so I totally get him. It's it's
not like, it's not like this Tyreek Hill situation. In Miami,
(15:17):
they threw the ball Tua. He was the number one
part of the offense. They didn't have a great old
line in Miami, they didn't have a great run game.
Philadelphia has got the best run game arguably in a decade.
And they have a quarterback that is not a deep
ball thrower. He's not necessarily your traditional quarterback. Their number
one offensive play is a tush push. All right, It's
(15:38):
not a deep ball. So I get it. And A
and AJ's been a good guy. He's trying to be
a nice guy. But I'm gonna defend him. We would
understand in the NBA if a guy just didn't get
shots and he was a great player.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
A J.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Brown, I mean, he's in a short list with Justin
Jefferson and Jamar Chase Omar on Saint Brown, he is
on a short list of eight receivers in this league.
So he's talking about here. He is on the Eagles
kind of sluggish offensive.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Start it go just to win the game.
Speaker 9 (16:10):
So you know, no matter what that looks like, I
think the reason why people may talk about it because
they want to know if he's substantial you know, and
can you should find that throughout the season. So, you know,
I think that's fair. I think that's the fair thing
to talk about. But you know, our job is continued
to try to find a way don't win.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
So Jalen hurts his dead last and pass attempts going
back to the beginning of last season, and Philadelphia is
twenty and three in those games.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
So they're not going to change for him.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
They've got their they've got their culture. The good news
for AJ Brown is just the best trading team in
the league. And I know Howie Roseman wants him over
in the AFC. And I don't know if Baltimore maybe
is looking at something or Buffalo. Maybe it's not a
great team. I don't know what it is. Maybe the
Chargers give a call. But I feel for him. He
(16:57):
is he is an unbelievable talent. He's right in the
middle of his prime. And he goes from me run
centric Titans to the even more run centric Eagles. And
I don't blame him at all for being disappointed. He's
a pro athlete, he's not an attorney. You can't do
this for fifty years, right, He's got about three to
four more years of prime and you got to feed him.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You want to eat J Mack with the news.
Speaker 7 (17:23):
Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
This is the herd Line News.
Speaker 4 (17:26):
Let's get started, Colin with your Chicago Bears. They are
zero to two. We probably only got a couple more
weeks to talk about them before we put them on
the shelves since they.
Speaker 7 (17:35):
Have appear to stink.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Obviously everybody's talking about Caleb Williams didn't.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
Have a great game against Detroit.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
However, his coach Ben Johnson said he saw some growth
on Sunday.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
How about that.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
I did see significant growth. It's it's not perfect yet.
Speaker 10 (17:52):
There's there's still a number of plays where our eyes
are quite in the right position, or we're holding onto
the ball just to tick longer. Then we'll we're coaching.
But I did see tremendous growth in terms of going
through the progression. I did think he got better from
week one to week two. I'm encouraged by what I
saw and I'm hopeful that we'll continue to see another
(18:12):
leap here this week.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
I thought game one and game two were the same,
great opening drive, too much freelancing after that, and it
looked disoriented. Too many balls thrown up for grabs, So
I know, I don't know. I watched it, you watched it,
really good opening drive, but the further he gets away
from the script, it just unravels way too fast for me.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Yeah, I'm trying to make sense of this line. Why
are the Bears favored in this one against the Cowboys?
Speaker 6 (18:40):
What is that?
Speaker 4 (18:41):
Well?
Speaker 1 (18:41):
That and this is the first time I've seen it
this year. And this will happen occasionally where you will
get a line. It happens somewhere four times a year,
and it doesn't make any sense. And by the way,
I thought the Eagles Chiefs, you're like one and a
half point spread, Like, is Kansas City going to be
able to move the ball with are worthy.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
At that game?
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Was a little bit like shouldn't Philly be favored by
like two.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
And a half? Three and a half?
Speaker 1 (19:05):
I get that, And also Kansas City got humiliated, so
like I got that and it it, But I did
think the line was a little small considering Philly's got
a much better roster. So to me, Vegas knows something.
There is a match up here, and I think here's
what it is. This is Chicago season. I mean, if
they go all in three all of a sudden, you
(19:25):
have to start really answering some questions here in a big, loud,
Chicago market, whereas Dallas is won and one they're feeling good. Also,
Dallas went to overtime, Dallas played a lot of snaps.
Dallas's defense was on the field for four hours that
you could get a little fatigued cowboy team in the
second half.
Speaker 7 (19:44):
That's a great point.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
I was just going to check how many actual plays,
because you know, the magic number for plays is eighty.
If a defense is on the field for eighty plays,
that's real bad news the following week.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Historically, don't think that would because the Giants had so
many over the top deep balls, they had shorter drives.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Yeah. Actually, actually the Giants defense, oh boy, they got
a face mahomes. They were on the field for eighty
three plays. So file that away. But I don't know
what to do with this game. I have nothing, no
action on this. But I'm just thinking, you're right. If
Caleb can't shred this secondary, they just got lit up
by Russell Wilson, who remember a week ago, Hey, is
Russ gonna get Ben's for Jackson dark? Now he thought
(20:22):
us for four hundred and thirty yards. It's like, whoa Caleb,
you need to shine here. It does feel like maybe
a shootout, Colin you think in Chicago.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
I mean, if it's a shootout, I'm gonna take Dak
because Dak's playing really well.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Right now.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
Who's getting stopped here? Bears defense didn't get any stops.
They haven't looked good.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Yeah, I tend to think there's gonna be a lot
of sellers on the Bears. So maybe Vegas had to
create a better number to elicit some Everybody was going
to bet Dallas, so the market saying, listen, nobody wants
to bet the Bears after they got humiliated. So how
do we make people bet the Bears. I'm trying to
(21:00):
figure out the line. I tend to guess the lines.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
I would have.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Guessed Dallas minus four.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
That's what it feels like to me.
Speaker 7 (21:08):
On the road. So remember Bland was out.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
Apparently he's like a superstar Bland in the secondary.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
I don't know, is he going to be back? We
got to look. I don't know what to do with this,
but I think your overall point is right.
Speaker 4 (21:19):
If Caleb Williams can't show out here, we're probably gonna
get legit calls.
Speaker 7 (21:22):
He let's see what Tyson Bagen.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Could do, right, yep? See reasonable?
Speaker 7 (21:25):
Yeah, all right.
Speaker 4 (21:26):
Next up is the Baltimore Ravens, Colin. They smashed the
Browns forty one to seventeen on Sunday. Baltimore has nine
offensive touchdowns so far. However, Mark Andrews and Rashad Bateman
have a combined six catches.
Speaker 7 (21:42):
Is everybody getting involved?
Speaker 4 (21:43):
Here's John Harbaugh on trying to do that.
Speaker 6 (21:47):
That's kind of a blessing, you know, but it's also
a dilemma and we're working through it. But hopefully it's
the time of the Lama that puts a lot of
points on the board. That's what we're hoping for.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Yeah, it's They've got a lot of play makers, so
I think they're gonna be fine.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Their defense is my concern, not their offense.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
Yeah, Colin, I didn't watch a lot of this game.
It was boring, a blowout. You know, Browns were never
in it. I don't know what do you do with
the Ravens at this point. Obviously, listen, they're gonna they're
favored against the Lions.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
But it's like you remember those old Atlanta Braves teams,
when No had a great pitching Glavin and Maddox, and
you just penciled them in they were gonna win their division.
You didn't know what they would do in the postseason matchups,
but you would just say, Okay, Atlanta's gonna win their division.
Bobby Cox, the manager, John Suurholtz was a GM. They
had a great farm system, and they had great pitching
for years and years and they won Wooden World Series.
(22:39):
And I kind of feel like that with Baltimore because
I'm a homes and Reed and Buffalo and now Harvon Herbert.
They're gonna win a super Bowl. But in the end,
in the interim, I just put them down for winning
their division. They have a better owner than anybody in
their division. They have a better quarterback who's healthier more
often in the division. Their roster overall is the best division.
(23:00):
They're the Braves. Pencil them down, win their division, probably
end up with a Super Bowl in the next five years.
But clearly the criticisms of Lamar in the postseason are
fair because he has not been the same quarterback.
Speaker 4 (23:12):
Interesting, Derreck Henry was kind of plotting against the Browns. Listen,
he's getting up there. Once you cross thirty as a
running back. You know, I know Henry was amazing in
the opener, but that was off what seven months rest,
Colin Henry Bear's watching because things quickly will fall apart
if Derrick Henry is one of these like three yards
and a cloud of dust, guys. Final story, Let's go
(23:33):
to Sunday Night football, that game where JJ McCarthy got
injured late Colin.
Speaker 7 (23:39):
It's worse than expected.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
He's out two to four weeks, kind of got rolled
up on.
Speaker 7 (23:44):
There's some debate whether or not it was a hip
drop tackle. Carson Wentz is going to be taken over.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Kevin O'Connell addressed McCarthy's injury yesterday.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
For JJ.
Speaker 11 (23:54):
You know, he's in a long process, a long journey
right now where there's going to be some ups and down.
There's not not any aspect of this. This is a pure,
purely medical medical base thing that you know we're dealing
with right now.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
Okay, So let's see he comes in, he gets injured
I think in the preseason, and then they have to
have a second surgery on him, and then he sits
out a year, and then he comes back and he's
out after two weeks. I mean, so again, this goes
back to something we talked about yesterday. People get uncomfortable
about it, but there are athletes that are injury prone,
and there are athletes that don't do a great job
(24:34):
of protecting themselves. And so in the end, right now,
I have a quarterback. I saw a stat yesterday on
the internet that if he had grounded the ball thirty
seven times instead of dropping back to pass, he would
have had a higher passer rating. So he's had seven
of eight of his quarters have been I mean, he
looks overwhelmed.
Speaker 4 (24:53):
Okay, I'll just the only small defense of him is
two primetime games to start your NFL career. That's difficult. Okay,
I'm not. Again, he has not looked great, but those
are tall orders, Colin. I thought this would have been
a great spot for him to get right against the
sad sack Bengals. That being said, Carson Wentz is gonna
step in as as the starter. I know we're out
(25:16):
on Carson Wentz, Colin. Do you remember two years ago
her cousins had the Achilles Yes, and they went through
Nick Mullens, Josh Dobbs, the pastronaut, Jaren Hall, and Kevin
O'Connell kind of sort of thrived with them, the same
way Lafleur bought Anderson.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Wentz will be fine.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
I do think I think I like the Vikings this
week against the Bengals.
Speaker 1 (25:35):
Let me say this though, this whole thing about JJ.
McCarthy played two big games. Hey played in three Ohio
State Michigan games, which get the same ratings as NFL games.
It can't be that he is just Listen. You can
see Michael pennix first series in the NFL.
Speaker 3 (25:52):
He's not overwhelmed.
Speaker 4 (25:54):
You can see Pennick is just handing it off to
b Jon rodin Bone.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
If you look at Pennix's first passes last year, gets
rid of the ball, big, tall, lanky, good arm, quick release.
Pennix is not overwhelmed. Bonix didn't win much. You know
that first September last year, was not overwhelmed. Caleb can
be overwhelmed. Drake may looked a little overwhelmed. But there
is something to be said. When the bright lights come on,
(26:21):
do you look the part McCarthy doesn't look the pulse.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
Yeah, listen, I get that. I will say Pennix is
like twenty five, he's older. Remember JJ McCarthy's youngest quarterback
in Week one, youngest starter in the league.
Speaker 7 (26:34):
So just take it easy on the kid.
Speaker 4 (26:36):
I know you want to pump up Caleb and bash
a divisional quarterback.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
I don't want to. I'm Caleb. Caleb doesn't look overwhelmed.
He looks like a terrible fit with this coach and
wild and ab living.
Speaker 3 (26:48):
That's different. I can live with that.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
I do think Caleb had found a coach that didn't
draft him, and it doesn't feel like it's a perfect marriage.
I said this yesterday. You can be great people and
get divorced and you find happiness elsewhere. I mean, how
many times do we see in business a business merger
and the two companies don't work. It's like, yet your
culture and our culture, most mergers don't work. And the
(27:12):
truth is Shanahan loved Kirk, Cousins loves brock Purty loves
mac Jones.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
They run his plays.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
And there are certain coaches now Matt Lafleur is willing
to let his quarterback add lib more. Also, Green Bay
drafts receivers and tight ends very well, so all coaches
have sensibilities and styles. Andy Reid's always been okay with
Donovan McNabb moving and Mahomes moving. Shanahan likes it his way,
So I just think there's different styles. And I don't
(27:41):
think Caleb's overwhelmed. I think he's lost. But his horsepower
is undeniable, which he looks He just doesn't look like
he works.
Speaker 7 (27:51):
At all, which is worse overwhelmed or lost.
Speaker 3 (27:55):
Neither's great.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Jack with the news, Well that's the news, and thanks
for stopping by.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
The herd line.
Speaker 1 (28:03):
Heard hierarchy top of next hour. I'm sitting there.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
I you know, I think Kansas that he's going to
be fine. I don't have him in the Herd hierarchy.
I had them number eleven. I've got Denver twelve. So
you know, I was sitting there watching Geno Smith. The
Raiders thing is interesting. So Pete Carroll gets the job
with Chip Kelly and they know justin Herbert's the division,
(28:30):
BOENICKX and Sean Payton, Mahomes and Andy Reid. So the Raiders, no,
we got to get the quarterback right, so they went.
I think Geno Smith and Pete Carroll are a weird pairing.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Pete hates interceptions and.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Gino is caroless he always has been. If you speed
him up last night three picks. So they wanted Matt Stafford.
They offered him a hundred million. Stafford said no, I'm
going to stay with the Rams for less. And then
I think they kind of wanted Sam Darnold. But Tom Brady,
part owner of the said no on Sam Darnold. So
I think it was a marriage of convenience. Chip Kelly
(29:05):
was very familiar with Geno Smith. Pete Carroll was familiar
with Geno Smith, but I don't think he was their
first or second choice. So you know, Tom Brady's like
reportedly it was out there, no to Darnald and and
they Matt Stafford considered it, probably for about a day,
and he said no. So Gino sins twenty twenty two
(29:25):
leads the NFL in interceptions, and Donald's younger, he's more athletic,
he's closure to his prime. And I think Sam Donald
was coming off an amazing year between Shanahan's mentoring and
Kevin O'Connell's coaching. Donald was going to come to Vegas
with a lot of confidence. But when I watched it
(29:46):
last night, I mean, already this year Gino's got doesn't
have really a number one receiver. Jacoby Myers is a
two brock Bauers, a great tight end. They should probably
give the ball more to Ash than Genty. They really should.
But in the end, he's already third in the NFL
right now in aggressive throw.
Speaker 3 (30:01):
So that's Gino. If you speed Gino.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Up, he makes some bad decisions, and in New York
he was a disaster. In Seattle it was reclamation and
a great story. But a great story doesn't mean a
great quarterback. So I think Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly
are a little trapped here. They wanted Stafford. I think
privately they'd never admit it. They probably thought, darnold, you know,
younger in his prime, with some career momentum. But you know,
(30:24):
this is what they've got, the fourth best quarterback in
the division. Again, Chip Kelly knew him from Ohio State.
Apparently they had a relationship. He recruited him. Pete Carroll
had him in Seattle. They like him, he's a likable guy.
But last night you're watching that game, and my takeaway
is you're a fourth place team in that division with
that offense currently, and here's Pete on gino struggles.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
He had a lot of.
Speaker 12 (30:48):
Time back there. You know, he had a chance to
look and see, didn't like what he saw underneath, and
gave those guys some shots down the field, which he's
tremendous at doing. We were impatient with the throwing game,
and that's why the ball went down the field so far.
And I don't think we needed to do that. It's disappointing.
I know that the picture of a big issue, but
that's not my concern. My concern is why we didn't
get the ball throwing a cat underneath.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
Yeah, I mean zero for ten throwing downfield.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
Some of it is in fairness, some of it is
this The Chargers defense is really good.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
That's part of it.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
But it'll be interesting because you know, Pete has a
history Marshawn Lynch, Lyndale White, Reggie Bush. They draft Ashton
gent like Pete likes a strong running game, and so
Pete's got a marriage Mary. You know his offense and
his philosophy with Chip Kelly. They're both smart guys. I
think it'll be fine, But watching that game last night,
I thought this has got to be driving Pete Carroll
(31:40):
crazy because when they won a Super Bowl with Russell Wilson,
I think Russell Wilson could go look it up. That
year was like twenty second in pass attempts. Like that
was the perfect team, play defense, special teams, run the ball,
and some big throws downfield over the top. That's kind
of that was always sort of the USC in Seattle
prescription for Pete. Big plays over the top, run the ball,
(32:02):
control the clock, very few turnovers. So all this stuff
with the Raiders is baking. They've got a good coach,
a great offensive coordinator, they've got some playmakers. But it's
part of the rebuild the young GM people like we'll
see Herd hierarchy top of the hour, and you know,
I'm watching the Chargers last night. As bad as New
(32:23):
York football is, is as great as LA football is.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
That's coming up now.
Speaker 2 (32:29):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newone eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
Sunday, a Fox NFL doubleheader starts with a rematch of
last year's playoff classic between the Rams and the Eagles
or other regional action. Then it's America's Game of the
Week as Deak and the Cowboys take on Caleb Williams
and the Bears or Cardinals, Niners. Check local listings for
the games in your area only on Fox.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
I've talked about this before that when you hire a
head coach, it's not just about the x's and o's.
That's what your coordinators are for. You are hiring a CEO.
And I'm reminded. And when I think of Los Angeles
football now with Sean McVay and Jim Harbaugh, there is
an argument they are the two best culture creators in
(33:20):
football LA football right now, I mean think about La foot.
They didn't have an NFL team, not that long ago,
right didn't have a team. I'm going to argue that
Harbon McVeigh ever watched Departed Frank Costello, that Jack Nicholson
character has a great line in That has a great
(33:41):
line in that movie. I don't want to be a
product of my environment. I want my environment to be
part of me. That's McVeigh and Harball. Their teams are themselves.
I mean the Rams with McVeigh are intense, buttoned up,
least penalized team in the NFL. Sean McVay always looks
like he pressed his shirt five minutes before the press Conference.
(34:03):
McVeigh is all details, totally organized, crazy about it has
like Stephen Hawking, recall, it's unbelievable. His team last year
was the youngest defense in the NFL and yet the
least penalize. They are him and Jim Harbaugh. Even his
handshakes are firm. Remember the Jim Schwartz pat in the back.
That's Harball. His teams are big. Jim's big, and he's physical,
(34:27):
and he's relentless. And that's the Chargers. It's amazing how
good LA football is right now. I hope people appreciate it.
What's in Sofi Stadium. The Rams have the great owner,
the great GM, the great coach, and the great quarterback.
And the Chargers again, it's a coach quarterback league. Herbert Harball,
(34:47):
McVeigh and Stafford and both draft very well. So I mean,
and then you look at the New York teams so
far this year. They're zero to four, minus forty in
point differential, give up thirty one points a game, and
opposing quarterbacks have a one or old repasser rating. I mean,
you may have a better park and better bagels, but
when it comes to the beach in football, LA is humming.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Right now.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
It is unbelievable. And you know, I'm sitting there thinking
this morning, I looked it up. Pro football did not exist.
It did not exist in Los Angeles in twenty fifteen,
ten years later. Hall of Fame, Coaches, Hall of Fame quarterbacks,
hall of Fame, pass rush talent. It's unbelievable how bad
New York football is. And I think it all comes
back to ownership. Spanos family pretty much keeps Dean kind
(35:32):
of keeps out of it, lets his football people run
the show. And you know, I think we all know
Stan Kronkey one of the richest guys, also one of
the most private billionaires in the country. And you know,
we watched the HBO Hard Knocks with a giant ownership
that was shaky. The Johnson family with the Jets. You
know they're going to argue, we let our coaches, We
let our coaches last much longer. Robert Slid been here
(35:55):
several years, and they always feel like their stuff working
on behind the scenes. So all I'm saying is, I
look at the two biggest cities in the country, It
is unbelievable how good LA football is right now. I
mean the idea that one city has arguably the two
best coaches and the two best cultures. Now there is
another great culture and coach in this league, and it's
(36:16):
Andy Reid. I think Kansas City is going to be fine.
There are ten to zero to two teams in this league,
and if you look at the I was looking at
the teams this morning, it's the Giants and the Jets
in Cleveland, and Chicago, in Carolina and New Orleans and
Tennessee and a lot of teams that are annually at
the top of the draft in April. There's two or
(36:36):
three reasons why Kansas City's going to be fine. Number
one is Xavier Worthy probably a number two receiver is
coming back. Rashi Rice is coming back in a month.
The New York Giants are on the schedule. And the
truth is it is a head coach, quarterback and pass
rush league, and Kansas City is good at those. So
(36:56):
you got two receivers coming back. You lost to Philly
and the Chargers. How do we know those aren't the
two best teams in the NFL right now? They kind
of look like it. So there's a couple of tough games,
But you got Jacksonville in Detroit and the New York
Giants and the Raiders. I think they're going to be fine.
I would say if you take out Baltimore Buffalo and
the Chargers, the AFC feels more wide open than the NFC.
(37:19):
And if you look at the schedule again, Baltimore Buffalo
at Denver, those are tough games, a lot of wins,
a lot of average offensive lines, not a lot of
great quarterbacks. It's oh and to, but it doesn't feel desperate.
Last year the Rams started oh and too, the Ravens
started oh and too, and Denver started oh and too,
(37:39):
and they all made the playoffs. The Chiefs are going
to make the playoffs. And here's Andy Reid.
Speaker 13 (37:46):
I trust this group. I mean, this group's a good group,
good leadership, and they'll stay together, it's you know. And
they'll work hard on cleaning things up. There's nobody more
aware of it.
Speaker 3 (38:01):
Than the guy.
Speaker 13 (38:01):
So and we'll make sure we get back to the
drawing board. Like I said, this game here was more
on the offensive side. We've got to take care of them.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
Yeah, and they will. They'll get the receivers back.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
But again, Ravens, last year, Denver Rams zero and to.
They're fine. You know, I think when you watch it.
I think it's Patrick Mahomes doing everything he can offensively
to make plays. The defense is fine, the coaching is good,
and the schedule gets easier. Now I think you look
at the Chargers right now, it's the best defense in
the league. In Kansas City's offense is struggling. That was
bound to be a problem. A lot of people like
(38:35):
the Chargers in that game in Brazil, and Philadelphia's got
the best roster in the league.
Speaker 3 (38:39):
So j Mac, I always do this.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
Starting Tuesday, I put the NFL Week three schedule up,
and I ask you, yes, I ask you give the
audience a little bit of an early feel on a
guaranteed w and an upset. Now a lot of people
are saying Buffalo Thursday, Miami's got an upset written all.
Speaker 7 (38:58):
Over whoa who is it?
Speaker 3 (39:00):
That's people that have been drinking too much.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Because short week, short week games, big advantage to the
star quarterback and the home team. So I think Buffalo
Rails spread is thirteen. You are out of your mind
if you're betting Miami in that one. You know the
Green Bay Packers are favorite anywhere from seven to nine
on the road in Cleveland. Now, Michael Parson's a company.
Speaker 7 (39:24):
Extra rest.
Speaker 4 (39:25):
They're gonna get after Joe Flacco, who's a statue. But
nine is a lot of points on the road, Colin
in the NFL, is it not?
Speaker 3 (39:34):
It is?
Speaker 4 (39:34):
I mean, that's a big number. My Jets look like,
you know, we don't know if it's Justin Fields or
Tyrod Taylor, but they look like they're gonna be seven
point dogs in.
Speaker 7 (39:43):
Tampa against Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Yeah, I think the game that you have to look
at is Dallas at Chicago.
Speaker 7 (39:49):
But that's a close spread though though.
Speaker 1 (39:51):
Right what I'm saying is if I ask people about
that game, you would think Dallas after watching the first
two weeks of DAK they should have beaten Philadelphia Ceedee
Lamb dropped a deep ball, and they did beat the Giants.
Your takeaway would be, oh, Chicago's in chaos. That line
is telling you something. That line is telling you. The
Cowboys defense was on the field a lot. Now they
(40:14):
go on the road. They've had big, high profile games
rival Giants, Philadelphia Eagle back to back in division rivalry games.
Now it's lousy to Chicago. And you know my rule,
if you get humiliated in the NFL and you have
good personnel. You just got humiliated almost oh as you
(40:36):
play well the following week, agreed. Miami, by the way,
got humiliated. They had a chance to beat New England.
Miami button things up.
Speaker 4 (40:44):
I have three games a bet so far. I like
the Atlanta Falcons. I got them at three and a half.
It's up to five in Carolina. That should be they
should be fine. You know, I'm on the Baltimore Ravens
against Detroit.
Speaker 3 (40:54):
Yeah, I'm on that.
Speaker 7 (40:55):
This one is a bit of a surprise. I think
we'll do a lot on it.
Speaker 4 (40:57):
Colin I took the Ram getting three and a half
in Philadelphia.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
Yeah, so my part.
Speaker 4 (41:04):
Of the logic we could talk about it later in
the week is Jalen hurts.
Speaker 7 (41:07):
His face like no pressure.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
In the first two weeks, right, Cowboys can't get to
the quarterback, and the Chiefs cannot do anything without blitzing
the raven Sorry, the Rams defensive front is nasty. I
mean they are gonna probably control the line of scrimmage.
I think there's a low scoring game. I'm taking the
Rams getting three and a half.
Speaker 1 (41:23):
Also, you know, Eagles may have to play from behind,
which they don't do frequently. So also coming off of
Big Kansas City National TV Game of Note, Get Home,
Little Breathere Right, I'm with you on that one.
Speaker 3 (41:36):
Nick Wright heard hierarchy Net
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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