January 8, 2026 • 33 mins
More on the Dolphins firing their head coach and the impact this will have on the league
Colin gives this thoughts on the Eagles vs the 49ers and what will give the Niners a better chance to win, and previewing the rest of the NFL games this wild card weekend
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
All right, welcome back.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Greg Cosell has got really interesting stuff. Forty six years
NFL films on the weekend matchups, and let's invite Greg in.
I think there's so many in these young quarterbacks. There's
fits and starts, and they get hot and they're uneven.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
But packers at the bear.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
So Chicago was held scoreless first three quarters against Detroit
week eighteen, only managed three points through three quarters in
week sixteen, the last time they faced Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
So when you study the.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Tape, how much of that falls just on Caleb Williams
the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Let me ask you this, Colin, do you think every
one of these games that just the quarterback is playing.
It's not always just about the quarterback, I believe it
or not. This game on that side of the ball,
to me is one of the most fascinating games of
the weekend, because what you have here is you have
Ben Johnson's pass game, which in terms of spacing and
(01:23):
creating to find looks for the quarterback is as good
as there is in the league, versus Jeff Hafley's defense,
which is among the very very best in the league
at changing the picture pre snap to post snap.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
He is so good with late rotation.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
So to me, that's really the matchup in this game
is how the Bears and Caleb and that pass game
will handle all the moving parts at the snap of
the ball that Jeff Hafley is so good at. There
have been fits and starts in that regard. There have
been plays where the Packers have won the down. There
have been plays where the Bears have won the down.
(01:59):
So it'll just that'll be a significant part of this game.
And one thing to keep in mind for the last
couple of weeks, the Bears have not run the ball
as well as they did earlier in the season, and
I would think that Ben Johnson would like that run
game to be a bigger factor against that Packers front
than it's been the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah, and there's reports of snow and thirty mile an
hour win. Gus So, I that's one of the reasons
I like Chicago is they have the better ole line
and the more consistent run game between these two teams,
and the Christian Watson running deep ball patterns doesn't seem
to me terribly effective. The weather's going to absolutely play
a role in this.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
To me, well, the slot corner for the Bears will
be interesting because Kyler Gordon is practicing as you and
I are speaking, he has He's only played three games
this year. Looks like Gardner Johnson who has been their
slot and he's really not a slot corner in a
strict sense and was burned when they played Week fourteen.
So I think that that's the spot to look at
in this game. How the Packers attack the slot corner
(02:58):
of the Bears.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Bills at the Jags.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Since Week eleven, the Chaguars are averaging thirty four yeh
points a game. Why what that offense is on fire?
Explain to me?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Why?
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yeah? What do you see when you watch the tape
for a couple of things. Number one, and don't forget
Liam Cohen spent a lot of time with Sean McVay,
So what you see a lot of are reduced splits
with the wide receivers tighter to the formation. And what
has changed in terms of Trevor Lawrence is he is
working the middle of the field between the numbers in
this eight game winning streak as well as any quarterback.
Speaker 5 (03:37):
In the league.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
So now you get this against the Sean McDermott defense,
and I think Sean McDermott is one of the absolute
best in the league at situational football, at understanding how
to deploy his people. I think that the two safeties
Cole Bishop and Jordan Poyer will be critical players in
this game in understanding the route concepts that work between
the numbers. But you're dealing with sewn who's you know,
(04:00):
this is not his first rodeo, and they've gotten better
on defense as the year has gone. On their run game,
their run defense at times can be leaky, but it's
certainly been better lately.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
But it's it'll be.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Interesting because they're going to have to get pressure on
Trevor Lawrence in those critical third down situations. But I
think Sean McDermott another coordinator that's really good at changing
the picture and showing quarterbacks different looks.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Once the ball is snapped.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
All right, forty nine ers Eagles could be won for
the ages. How much of the San Francisco Shanahan offense
relies on scheme versus winning individual matchups.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Oh a high percentage. They don't really have an individual winner.
And if Ricky Piersoll can't go, he's their best one
on one route runner. And if he can't go, they
don't really have that guy. Now, obviously Kittle can win,
but he's not an outside receiver, so they don't really
have that guy. So they rely heavily on scheme, heavily
on motion. They use motion a ton. Fic Fangio will
(05:08):
be well aware of that. I would expect that you'll
see the Eagles line up a lot in that quarter
shell that for across where it's a balanced defensive look
and you don't really have to react to motion because
you're balanced defensively. So this, to me, you know, it'll
be interesting. The Niners have to find a way to
(05:28):
run the ball with some sustainability in this game against
a Eagles defense that's been playing at a really high
level for the last six seven weeks.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
What defines today last four weeks, what defines Philadelphia's offense
when you look at the film today.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
That's a tough question.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
I mean, I think what their identity still is is
running the football.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
They just haven't done it as well. I've got a
stat for you that will blow you away. Okay.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Last year, okay, four in the second half of this
of games, the second half only the second half, Saquon
Barkley gained over seventeen hundred and fifty yards just in
the second half. This year, in the second half of games,
he's gained just over five hundred yards. That's a difference
(06:19):
of twelve hundred yards. That's a ridiculous difference. They've not
been able to close out games running the ball. But
I think structurally and conceptually, in many ways, their defense,
excuse me, their offense is what it is. They're a
run first football team, and I think now that they're
in the playoffs, I think you've got to get Jalen
Hurts involved in the design run game because of the
(06:41):
impact it has on defensive structures.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
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Speaker 1 (07:23):
Chargers go cross country to the Patriots. Patriots had a
very easy schedule, best team they played with stuffalo.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
When you look at New England's.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Offense before the year started, we thought it lacked explosiveness,
but there have been sidelined big, big plays over the top.
Their big play offense is pery effective. What makes it
work is it just Drake made the deep ball because
the old line is not dominant, he doesn't get the
best pass pro What what makes New England's offense to
(07:54):
you dangerous?
Speaker 5 (07:56):
I think there's a lot of factors.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
It includes the quarterback for sure, because he is as
tough as they come in the pocket. He does not
disrupt plays by leaving the pocket. He allows the play
designed to work because he will stand in the face
of pressure, when the pocket gets muddy, noisy, dirty, he
stays there. Plus, I think schematically they're very good, particularly
in the red zone. They're very very creative with what
(08:20):
they do in the red zone, with their deployment of personnel, informations,
and they've been outstanding over the last five six weeks,
which is one reason they've scored so many touchdowns. Now
on the other side, one thing the Patriots have done
a lot over the last month six weeks is a
lot of pressure on defense and a lot of man coverage,
and I think you're going to see that against the Chargers.
(08:43):
They're going to make Herbert have to beat them throwing
the ball under duress against man coverage, and I think
that's going to be a selling part of this game.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
I don't think you can win multiple playoff games when
you have the lowest rated offensive line. I think if
they want in New England, you'd feel really great about,
you know, not having their tackles. When you watch the
throw on the Chargers, I think it's remarkable that they're
eleven and six with this old line.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
They were down to a third running back.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, it feels like to me Herbert is a lot
of the magic is no, maybe not to the level
of a Josh Allen, But what do you see with
Herbert on film in regards relative to what his protection is.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Well, there's certainly a toughness to his game. He is
a stand and deliver quarterback. He doesn't fly out of there.
He lets plays develop. He's willing to make tough throws
with pressure in his face. And you know, that is
something that's very hard for people to really quantify, because
what that means is is you're allowing the routes to develop.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Quarterbacks that leave the.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Pocket early Colin, they don't allow the routes to develop,
and so there are throws that end up being there
that quarterbacks never get to. We spoke about that with me.
Herbert's the same way. They allow the play to develop
to its fullest. And obviously he can pull the trigger
and drive the football even just sitting on his back foot.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
He does not need space, he does not need to
step into throws.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
But your point about their on line is a good one,
and that's why I think you'll see the Patriots, who've
clearly increased their pressure quotion over the last six weeks.
I think you'll see that in this game?
Speaker 1 (10:25):
All right, Texan Steelers Monday night, I said, I think
we look at Pittsburgh over the last several years and
more like seven years, can't trust the on line, can't
trust the run game. I actually like Jalen Warren. I
think this is the best the offensive line has been
in several years. Gain Well has been a nice addition.
(10:50):
Firemooth's obviously a very talented tight end. Is this offense
the Steelers when you watch it now dk Metcalf comes back,
does it have a little more juice? And if it does,
is that an Aaron component? I mean, Aaron obviously has
seen every defense. I just feel like when I watch
(11:11):
Gainwell and Warren and I'm like, maybe they've got a
little more energy than I do. On credit for what's
the film? What's the film say? On the Steelers offense?
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Well, Iron's gonna have to throw some one on ones
outside and he does, That's the way he plays. And
they're gonna have to connect on those because the problem
when you face Houston is this Houston And it will
be the case in this game. Because Dylan Cooks the
left tackle for the Steelers, and well, he's played well,
you know, he's not their starting left tackle. What happens
when you play Houston is you're almost forced to keep
(11:41):
a back and or a tight end in either as
chippers or as primary pass protectors. And the Texans are
a predominant high percentage four man d line pass rush,
so that means they play with seven in coverage. So
what often happens on critical down and distance since Colin
is they have seven in coverage and you're sending out
(12:03):
three primary wide receivers, so they have seven to play three,
so they win the numbers game, and they can still
get to the quarterback even when you're blocking with six
or seven.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
So it's very.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Difficult to really throw the ball with any kind of
real consistency against them. That's why you've got to make
quick throws. And by the way, Rogers has been in
empty formations far more than any quarterback in the league,
and it wouldn't surprise me to see them do that
and have him just make quick throws to try to
negate the pressure.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Okay, Rams are a massive road favorite ten and a half.
That's very rare in the NFL to be a huge
playoff favorite, but especially on the road. So how much
of the Rams offense is about personnel and pre snap
movement and McVeigh and how much is just Matt Stafford
being great.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Well, it obviously helps when your quarterback is really good.
But they are a thirteen personnel offense. Beginning week seven,
forty four percent of their offensive snaps at three tight
ends on the field, one back and three tight ends. Now,
with Adams back this week, we'll see if that changes.
But it presents problems for a defense as to how
(13:17):
you want to play it because they don't just run
these three tight ends to run the football. Stafford's pass
game numbers colin at if three tight ends are off
the charts. He's dropped back over one hundred and thirty
times with three tight ends on the field and has
twenty touchdown passes out of three tight ends on the field.
So this is not just let's hand the ball off.
(13:38):
And by the way, Corman Williams both have crazy good
numbers running out of three tight ends. So I'm curious
to see how Carolina wants to play this because they
have two base defenses, basically a five to two front
and what we call big nickel. So who are they
going to put out there and how are they going
to try to counter this three tight end offense, and
(13:58):
they're so good with it. You know, they score touchdowns
every week. And I think that's the play I wanted
to show because they had a staple touchdown last week
against Arizona which was exactly what they do at a
three tight ends, particularly when they get just right to
the red zone area. This is technically just outside the
red zone, but this is what they do and they're
(14:18):
so so good at it. So you're going to see
that they're in thirteen personnel and as I said, that
means one back in three tight ends on the field.
That's what thirteen personnel is. Then they have one wide
receiver here it happens to be Mumford. He split to
the boundary side. So what they do here, and this
is a staple, they go hard run action to the
(14:38):
field and you'll see that it has a tremendous impact
on those two stacked linebackers. So then what they do
as far as the routes is Momfield's going to run
vertically and he's going to remove the corner in the
safety and then Parkinson will run the shallow cross underneath
off the zone run action and you can see how
well this works. Look at the linebackers hit that run
(14:59):
out a hard you're gonna see momfield. He's going to
remove the corner and a big void gets created and
it's foot action by Stafford. They've scored a number of
touchdowns on this very play once they get into the
red zone area, and it's just beautiful football. And you know, again,
we know Stafford's great, but they do such a good
job schematically as well. I think we all agree that
(15:22):
Sean McVay schematically is one of the best around. And
they're so good with their formations. They are incredibly multiple
and diverse at a three tight ends, it's just a
very hard offense to play against.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Greg Cosel as OHA's great fifteen minutes forty six years
at NFL Films. Thanks Greg, Thanks Colin, appreciate it. Kevin Donson,
by the way, their best offensive lineman guard has been
ruled out against Carolina. But they've got their They've got
the full complement of weapons, that's for sure. So for
(15:55):
all the regulated levels of violence and football, it's the
Rams are gonna be missing one guard. Like by and large,
the safety measures over the last several years, a lot
of these teams. Philadelphia is ready to roll. I think
San Francisco if Trent Williams plays. I mean they lost
(16:16):
Bosa and Warner. They're really the team that is like
off the rails physically. Like the Niners are one of
those teams. I can't quite explain their injuries. Some of
it is they're really really old. By the way, Washington
had a ton of injuries this year. Washington was the
first or second oldest team. So Green Bay, Seattle, Seattle's healthy,
(16:36):
Seattle's very young. Rams defense healthy, Rams defense, very young.
That helps j Mack with the news.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
This is the Herdline News.
Speaker 7 (16:48):
All right, let's go to Eagles Niners. Really good game
Sunday on Fox. Colin, I'm fired up about it. We've
examined both of the quarterbacks. You know, this is the
non first round pick playoff game. Party was the mister
irrelevant in his draft, and Nick Sirianni knows he still
has the game plan for brock Perty.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
He's a winner. You know, he's won everywhere he's went,
and you know, really good football player, does a really
good job with with the system that they run, has
the ability to extend plays, his ability to find guys
that are that are open and find the right receiver.
It's tough. You know, he's tough. So there's a reason
(17:29):
they've been you know, obviously all the really good players
that have and and good coaching that they have is
why they've had sustained success. But they've had a really
a steady quarterback through that time as well.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Also helps for the record.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
They may have the best backup quarterback along with the
Green Band in the league.
Speaker 9 (17:46):
You seeing that screen there, a big guy, he goes
up to five and a half.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Well, I think that's selling Niners. That's the Ricky Piersall,
Trent Williams.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
I mean, the offense did not look good without them,
but it was against Seattle. I'd say the Eagles are
in that Seattle class. They're not quite as good and loaded,
but their front, I mean, Jordan Davis and car Jalen Cart.
You can't run on those guys up the middle. Yeah,
five and a half is that it's a little disrespectful
to Kyle and Brock.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I mean, I think the Niner game comes down to
is Ricky Parasol and Trent Williams available. If it is,
they got a shot. If it's not, they're not winning
the game.
Speaker 9 (18:24):
There are some numbers.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
Vick Fonngio has faced Kyle Shanahan I think four or
five times, and Shanahan has not top twenty points against him. Now,
some of that is like without good quarterbacks, but still
that's a tough one. Eagles sneaky Super Bowl pick in
the NFC. Keep an eye on him. All right, Let's
move on to Packers Bears. Colin, this is the game
you are fired up about now. Jordan Love, who's can
(18:47):
cuss in their last meeting and sat out the final
two games. He's back and ready to go ahead of
the wildcard game. He's confident rust will not be a factor.
Speaker 10 (18:57):
It doesn't really, you know, I think still just all
week and uh, you know, staying locked in and uh
you know obviously was suited up last week, was ready
to go. But yeah, you know it's been a couple weeks.
But uh no, it doesn't feel like that. I think,
you know, just staying with it in practice.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
By the way, Roma Dunzee is officially off the injury report.
Roman Dunzae is gonna show up. He's gonna be uh
playing for the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 9 (19:21):
What about Luther burden. Do we know what's going on.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Won't even be necessary, so he's they gonna need weapons.
Speaker 7 (19:28):
Other people have pointed this out, and I think we
mentioned earlier. Both these teams got the early buy. Bears played,
they're full guys all last week against the Lions.
Speaker 9 (19:37):
Packers rested everybody. I think Lafleur has an edge.
Speaker 7 (19:40):
Remember this Ben Johnson's first playoff game, first playoff week,
Caleb Williams first playoff game, first playoff week. No pressure
on the Bears, little pressure, first home playoff game since
the Double dwink, remember that one.
Speaker 9 (19:52):
It's gonna be a juiced up scene there. I'm surprised
you're not front row.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
I am dead at home in front of your television
sofa front row.
Speaker 7 (19:59):
That makes sense, All right, final story, Colm, Let's go
to John Harbaugh, and the question is who's going to
replace it. I think Jesse Minterer is a slam dunk
the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Well, he definitely not only does he know the culture,
but he was great there. He's been great with the Chargers.
So you feel like you're getting some of Harbaugh's sort
of culture building.
Speaker 9 (20:17):
Yeah, now you see we have odds here.
Speaker 7 (20:20):
It's low level stuff, but The interesting name is Todd
Munkin at three the OC.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I didn't think I don't think he and Lamar. I
think he and Lamar butt heads, don't they.
Speaker 7 (20:31):
There was claim that someone I don't know how credible
it is, like hey, Harball, you gotta fire the OC.
We need to fix this Lamar situation. And Harball was like,
I'm not doing that supposedly. I don't even know Monk
is going to be there next year.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I don't think Monk.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
I know Mounkin's not to make nothing against him, but
I think Mentor and Stefanski are easily the top two guys.
Speaker 9 (20:53):
Kevin Stefanski go, what's that going?
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Like?
Speaker 9 (20:55):
From like a Hyundai Sonata to a Ferrari?
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Can you imagine there's you Cleveland got?
Speaker 11 (21:01):
You know?
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Cleveland thinks, oh, we're pretty sharp. He goes to Baltimore
and Stefanski owns you for a decade.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
That'd be so Cleveland. It would be so Cleveland.
Speaker 9 (21:11):
I think the Browns job is the worst one out
there right now.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
No Jets is pretty bad.
Speaker 7 (21:15):
Well it's just not open yet, but yeah, this would
be This would be a big loss for Harbor.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Coincidence that Cleveland's been bad forever. It's not the media,
it's not who's upstairs ownership.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
Yeah, man can't get coach or quarterback right, they just can't.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
Can I interest you in Cliff Kingsbury for this job
or No, Ravens have a strong culture.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I don't see Kingsbury as a head coach. He and
Adam Peters. I have it sourced now by two different people.
Adam Peters the GM and Cliff Kingsbury did not see I'd.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
On now at the same time, this is a front
office and ownership group that Ben Johnson was like, no,
thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Ben Johnson flew to Washington. Peters is an NBA guy,
and Ben Johnson's take, reportedly I read this yesterday was
Ben thought that Adam Peters and the Washington basketball people
had too strong a football opinions. Thought they knew a
little more about football than they actually knew about football.
Speaker 9 (22:13):
Josh Harrison, the ownership group, they had.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Big, strong opinions that Ben's like, yeah, you're basketball guys.
Yeah you're not really a football guy.
Speaker 8 (22:21):
We're not.
Speaker 7 (22:22):
So this whole Kingsbury thing, I'm not gonna blame Kingsbury.
If these guys who Ben Johnson wanted nothing to do
with said no, and now he's thriving.
Speaker 9 (22:31):
Maybe this is the best for Kingsbury. I don't know.
I don't know why I like Kingsbury. I don't text him.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I like I like Kingsbury too, but I don't know
if I mean. I guess Cliff would be a head
coach potentially, but I think his psychology and his personality
is to be a great coordinator.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
It's possible.
Speaker 11 (22:48):
Yeah. Jmack with the news, Well that's the news, and
thanks for stopping that. The Herd Line news Aroma Dunde
is gonna play another weapon for the great Caleb William
mind me Hurricanes ol miss tonight. I'm taking the Hurricanes.
I think they're going to physically bully him a little
bit in LA.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
It's the Herd.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newon Eastern a EM Pacific.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
So it's third meeting Packers Bears, So you're not going
to fool anybody. Tom Brady came on about an hour ago,
an hour and a half ago, and I and I
asked him, would would you prefer to face a team
for the first time or is it okay if you're
facing kind of a rival, you're both familiar with each other.
(23:43):
Where do you land on that?
Speaker 5 (23:45):
This is what you love about it. These two teams
know each other so well.
Speaker 12 (23:49):
Guys are coming out of you know, some unherlded receivers
from the Bears have made some plays late in these games.
So it is a super tight matchup for this game.
This one of the more intriguing games in the weekend.
I can't wait to see how both teams played. And look,
they know each other so well. So now it really
does come down to the fundamentals.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, I mean the games like this come down generally
who doesn't make the big mistake late. That's the old
Jimmy Johnson. You lose more games than you win Bears Packers.
For all the matchups, who doesn't turn it over, who
doesn't fumble, who doesn't throw the pick? You know, in
(24:31):
windy weather, I doubt you have a ton of field goals.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
I think Chicago's big edge is better.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Online, better run game with thirty mile an hour gusts
that and being at home. I think that's a big
edge for Chicago. But there's a reason, you know, Chicago
is the underdog. Green Bay's been here a lot. I
like Chicago, the market tends to favorite Green Bay. Also,
(25:00):
you know the other game. It's interesting we were joking
about Brady's first game. His first playoff game was the
Tuck Rule game, the snowy cold game, which Brady said
years ago on this show. I think it was this
year last year. He liked snow games because he knew
corners didn't have their footing and pass rushers didn't get
a great push. So he at least knew offensively, offensive
(25:23):
guys know where they're going and so slippery, wet, snowy
weather is an advantage to the offense as long as
it's not too windy, not to the defense. But we
talked about kind of the first of you know, Drake
May heading into his first big playoff game against Justin Herbert.
Speaker 12 (25:40):
Look, I love Drake May and what he's done in
his second You're working with Josh McDaniels, who's another tremendous
coach and has done such a great job kind of
understanding what Drake's capable of it. I just see Matt
Stafford as a Hall of Fame level quarterback that has
played his best season of football, and he's done it
against you in any conditions, forty six touchdown passes. He's
(26:02):
just been incredible.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
By the way, that's Brady talking about the MVP race.
I you know, it's funny. When I watched Brady in
that snow game against the Raiders that, Honest to god,
it feels like forty years ago. I remember one of
the first things I noticed about when I watched Brady
play is that, and it matters. Playing at Michigan probably
(26:27):
helped because he's from California.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Brady was a great cold weather quarterback.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And that's why I've noted this before. There's never been
a warm weather NFL dynasty. Shula and Marino got there early,
didn't get back together. Go find all the dome and
warm weather dynasties in the NFL, maybe in college, not
in pro football, And you know, there's just there isn't it.
(26:57):
I mean, let's be honest about Jacksonville. But what if
Jacksonville has to go eventually to see you see the
weather in Chicago this weekend, that's a huge disadvantage. I
remember Dan Fouts having to go play Cincinnati and it
was like minus nine degrees. So I do think there's
an advantage to be Seattle in Chicago and Philly and Denver.
(27:18):
I think it's an advantage to play in crappy weather.
Speaker 9 (27:20):
Do the nineties Cowboys count as warm weather.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Or Dallas's weather is it can be hot in the summer.
I'm not denying that. I don't consider Dallas to be
your classic warm weather team.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Dallas gets cold.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Last Super Bowl I was at in Dallas, there were
sheets of ice falling off.
Speaker 7 (27:36):
Jctuary is tricky. Nowhere is super warm in January forty
nine Ers in the eighties. I mean you got to
go back like forty years again.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
When I think of warm weather, I think of Chargers, Rams, Arizona, Cardinals.
I think Houston of warm weather, not Dallas. I think
Houston's more warm weather. I think of Miami, Jacksonville, and
Tampa that like eight teams. Those are warm weather teams.
Dallas gets really cold for four months.
Speaker 7 (28:07):
Ye Southern California has not been a power. I mean,
La Rams had what Jim Elbrett and a couple wide receivers,
but they were never like a no.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
I listen, the NFL college football was built on bowl
games in warm weather, the Rose Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl,
the Sugar Bowl. That's the NFL its history is you
have to basically to be a super Bowl champ when
three or four almost always outside of the super Bowl,
three or four five big cold weather games to either
(28:43):
get into the playoffs, secure better seating, get home field advantage.
That's a huge disadvantage for Miami Jacksonville.
Speaker 7 (28:53):
Possible to build a legit contender, to be a dynasty
in a warm.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Weather you can do it. If you go look at
the Cowboys Emmitt Smith. They had a great run game.
So if you're going to consider Dallas, you could say, well,
I don't consider San Francisco warm weather. I mean, go
to a Giants game in the summer. It's foggy and cold.
So I think there's about eight what I would call,
you know, Dodger games in the summer. You can get
(29:20):
ninety degrees a lot. It's not the Bay Area, So
I don't know. I think there's ways to build it.
Like I always said, if you go look at the
history of like cold weather, Brady was a great cold
weather quarterback, So was Big Ben and Bradshaw and Flaco
and Farv and Rogers. Start look at Maholmes big arm,
(29:44):
you know, like Lamar Jackson is not a big arm.
Guy in Baltimore. Now, his arm is fine, but he's
not a big arm guy. So I mean just the
history of I mean of Northern tier football is big now.
San Francisco and Dallas are not. They're not blizzard Weather.
So brock Purty doesn't have a huge arm. It's you
could win a Super Bowl. He's a you know, he's
(30:07):
not gonna Also, in the AFC, a lot of your
best owners and best organizations are north, I mean forever
variable for the next ten years. New England's going to
be in the playoffs for a decade straight. Buffalo with
Josh Allen's going to be in the playoffs for the
next seven years. Baltimore historically makes the playoff. Kansas City
makes the playoffs all right now more than ever, the
(30:29):
AFC goes through crappy weather.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
The only guy I think that could build one in
warm Weather now is McVeigh. He's got a great system.
They are run first to set up the play action.
He's got the MVP quarterback. But to build a dynasty,
you'd need that bridge from Stafford and finding a quarterback.
That's not easy, but they are built for it. The
defensive line is nasty, it's really I was thinking about this.
If you're the Rams.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
And it's a weak quarterback class, you're not gonna get
Dante Moore Mendoza. If Dante comes out and you're not
getting Ty Simpson, somebody's gonna reach. He's not going to
last at the end of the first round. He'll get
picked up at the fifteenth. If you're the Rams, do
you just say, instead of drafting a quarterback, just stack
the roster Stafford one more year, then go get one
(31:15):
next year. I thought about that. Why waste a draft,
Because let's say you say, okay, we're gonna go get
Ty Simpson. You probably have to give up a third
of fifth a sixth to move up. And my take is,
just stack the roster for Stafford.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
They got that Falcons pick, and I think that's what
I'm saying something.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
They needs a corner, a safety, a tackle because they could.
Speaker 9 (31:34):
Win the Super Bowl.
Speaker 7 (31:34):
And Stafford says, I'm out, I'm retiring on top, goodbye.
Speaker 9 (31:38):
What you gotta draft Mike Simpson at that point?
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Right Well, at that point, my take though, I look,
if I ran the Rams, I would go to Stafford
and I if they win and say, listen, we'll give
you a little bit more money because what we're not
going to draft a quarterback. We're going to take this
and we're just going to do all we can to
get playmakers and hip makers. Because they have two ones,
(32:03):
a two, and a three. That's four players. Say we
will not draft the quarterback this this draft, it's a
week quarterback draft.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
All four of those.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
We're gonna go get you a first round tackle, a
first round corner, a second round receiver, and a third
round playmaker and say, now we'll give you an extra
year on your contract. It's got to be team friendly,
but we'll give you an extra year because I think
if Stafford won it, my take is, why.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
Draft the quarterback?
Speaker 5 (32:29):
Why?
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Because to get a quarterback that you think could potentially play,
you're gonna have to move up because they're at the
end of the first round.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Why waste draft picks on that.
Speaker 7 (32:38):
I just remember Stafford coming in August, remember how bad
his back was. People were like, is he even going
to start the season?
Speaker 9 (32:44):
What's the MVP. I don't know what they're given him.
Speaker 7 (32:46):
He may just not have wanted to practice an audist
some horse tranquilizers. Maybe, I don't know what's going on.
He's fine, he's playing amazing.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Yeah, Tom Brady, Greg cosel bowstop buy money, love that
will see you tomorrow and enjoy the Hurricanes and all
miss tonight
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 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 3 (00:25):
All right, welcome back.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Greg Cosell has got really interesting stuff. Forty six years
NFL films on the weekend matchups, and let's invite Greg in.
I think there's so many in these young quarterbacks. There's
fits and starts, and they get hot and they're uneven.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
But packers at the bear.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
So Chicago was held scoreless first three quarters against Detroit
week eighteen, only managed three points through three quarters in
week sixteen, the last time they faced Green Bay.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
So when you study the.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Tape, how much of that falls just on Caleb Williams
the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Let me ask you this, Colin, do you think every
one of these games that just the quarterback is playing.
It's not always just about the quarterback, I believe it
or not. This game on that side of the ball,
to me is one of the most fascinating games of
the weekend, because what you have here is you have
Ben Johnson's pass game, which in terms of spacing and
(01:23):
creating to find looks for the quarterback is as good
as there is in the league, versus Jeff Hafley's defense,
which is among the very very best in the league
at changing the picture pre snap to post snap.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
He is so good with late rotation.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
So to me, that's really the matchup in this game
is how the Bears and Caleb and that pass game
will handle all the moving parts at the snap of
the ball that Jeff Hafley is so good at. There
have been fits and starts in that regard. There have
been plays where the Packers have won the down. There
have been plays where the Bears have won the down.
(01:59):
So it'll just that'll be a significant part of this game.
And one thing to keep in mind for the last
couple of weeks, the Bears have not run the ball
as well as they did earlier in the season, and
I would think that Ben Johnson would like that run
game to be a bigger factor against that Packers front
than it's been the last couple of weeks.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah, and there's reports of snow and thirty mile an
hour win. Gus So, I that's one of the reasons
I like Chicago is they have the better ole line
and the more consistent run game between these two teams,
and the Christian Watson running deep ball patterns doesn't seem
to me terribly effective. The weather's going to absolutely play
a role in this.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
To me, well, the slot corner for the Bears will
be interesting because Kyler Gordon is practicing as you and
I are speaking, he has He's only played three games
this year. Looks like Gardner Johnson who has been their
slot and he's really not a slot corner in a
strict sense and was burned when they played Week fourteen.
So I think that that's the spot to look at
in this game. How the Packers attack the slot corner
(02:58):
of the Bears.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
Bills at the Jags.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Since Week eleven, the Chaguars are averaging thirty four yeh
points a game. Why what that offense is on fire?
Explain to me?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Why?
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yeah? What do you see when you watch the tape
for a couple of things. Number one, and don't forget
Liam Cohen spent a lot of time with Sean McVay,
So what you see a lot of are reduced splits
with the wide receivers tighter to the formation. And what
has changed in terms of Trevor Lawrence is he is
working the middle of the field between the numbers in
this eight game winning streak as well as any quarterback.
Speaker 5 (03:37):
In the league.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
So now you get this against the Sean McDermott defense,
and I think Sean McDermott is one of the absolute
best in the league at situational football, at understanding how
to deploy his people. I think that the two safeties
Cole Bishop and Jordan Poyer will be critical players in
this game in understanding the route concepts that work between
the numbers. But you're dealing with sewn who's you know,
(04:00):
this is not his first rodeo, and they've gotten better
on defense as the year has gone. On their run game,
their run defense at times can be leaky, but it's
certainly been better lately.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
But it's it'll be.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
Interesting because they're going to have to get pressure on
Trevor Lawrence in those critical third down situations. But I
think Sean McDermott another coordinator that's really good at changing
the picture and showing quarterbacks different looks.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Once the ball is snapped.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
All right, forty nine ers Eagles could be won for
the ages. How much of the San Francisco Shanahan offense
relies on scheme versus winning individual matchups.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Oh a high percentage. They don't really have an individual winner.
And if Ricky Piersoll can't go, he's their best one
on one route runner. And if he can't go, they
don't really have that guy. Now, obviously Kittle can win,
but he's not an outside receiver, so they don't really
have that guy. So they rely heavily on scheme, heavily
on motion. They use motion a ton. Fic Fangio will
(05:08):
be well aware of that. I would expect that you'll
see the Eagles line up a lot in that quarter
shell that for across where it's a balanced defensive look
and you don't really have to react to motion because
you're balanced defensively. So this, to me, you know, it'll
be interesting. The Niners have to find a way to
(05:28):
run the ball with some sustainability in this game against
a Eagles defense that's been playing at a really high
level for the last six seven weeks.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
What defines today last four weeks, what defines Philadelphia's offense
when you look at the film today.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
That's a tough question.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
I mean, I think what their identity still is is
running the football.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
They just haven't done it as well. I've got a
stat for you that will blow you away. Okay.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Last year, okay, four in the second half of this
of games, the second half only the second half, Saquon
Barkley gained over seventeen hundred and fifty yards just in
the second half. This year, in the second half of games,
he's gained just over five hundred yards. That's a difference
(06:19):
of twelve hundred yards. That's a ridiculous difference. They've not
been able to close out games running the ball. But
I think structurally and conceptually, in many ways, their defense,
excuse me, their offense is what it is. They're a
run first football team, and I think now that they're
in the playoffs, I think you've got to get Jalen
Hurts involved in the design run game because of the
(06:41):
impact it has on defensive structures.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Speaker 6 (06:53):
Hey, it's Rob Parker and Calvin Washington from The Odd
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us live nice from seven to ten pm Eastern on
Fox Sports Radio. We are excited to announce brand new
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Speaker 2 (07:07):
That's Right.
Speaker 7 (07:08):
You can now watch The Odd Couple live on YouTube
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Speaker 6 (07:13):
All you gotta do search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube
again YouTube, Just search Odd Couple FSR. Check us out
on YouTube and subscribe.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Chargers go cross country to the Patriots. Patriots had a
very easy schedule, best team they played with stuffalo.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
When you look at New England's.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Offense before the year started, we thought it lacked explosiveness,
but there have been sidelined big, big plays over the top.
Their big play offense is pery effective. What makes it
work is it just Drake made the deep ball because
the old line is not dominant, he doesn't get the
best pass pro What what makes New England's offense to
(07:54):
you dangerous?
Speaker 5 (07:56):
I think there's a lot of factors.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
It includes the quarterback for sure, because he is as
tough as they come in the pocket. He does not
disrupt plays by leaving the pocket. He allows the play
designed to work because he will stand in the face
of pressure, when the pocket gets muddy, noisy, dirty, he
stays there. Plus, I think schematically they're very good, particularly
in the red zone. They're very very creative with what
(08:20):
they do in the red zone, with their deployment of personnel, informations,
and they've been outstanding over the last five six weeks,
which is one reason they've scored so many touchdowns. Now
on the other side, one thing the Patriots have done
a lot over the last month six weeks is a
lot of pressure on defense and a lot of man coverage,
and I think you're going to see that against the Chargers.
(08:43):
They're going to make Herbert have to beat them throwing
the ball under duress against man coverage, and I think
that's going to be a selling part of this game.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
I don't think you can win multiple playoff games when
you have the lowest rated offensive line. I think if
they want in New England, you'd feel really great about,
you know, not having their tackles. When you watch the
throw on the Chargers, I think it's remarkable that they're
eleven and six with this old line.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
They were down to a third running back.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, it feels like to me Herbert is a lot
of the magic is no, maybe not to the level
of a Josh Allen, But what do you see with
Herbert on film in regards relative to what his protection is.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Well, there's certainly a toughness to his game. He is
a stand and deliver quarterback. He doesn't fly out of there.
He lets plays develop. He's willing to make tough throws
with pressure in his face. And you know, that is
something that's very hard for people to really quantify, because
what that means is is you're allowing the routes to develop.
Speaker 5 (09:50):
Quarterbacks that leave the.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Pocket early Colin, they don't allow the routes to develop,
and so there are throws that end up being there
that quarterbacks never get to. We spoke about that with me.
Herbert's the same way. They allow the play to develop
to its fullest. And obviously he can pull the trigger
and drive the football even just sitting on his back foot.
Speaker 5 (10:10):
He does not need space, he does not need to
step into throws.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
But your point about their on line is a good one,
and that's why I think you'll see the Patriots, who've
clearly increased their pressure quotion over the last six weeks.
I think you'll see that in this game?
Speaker 1 (10:25):
All right, Texan Steelers Monday night, I said, I think
we look at Pittsburgh over the last several years and
more like seven years, can't trust the on line, can't
trust the run game. I actually like Jalen Warren. I
think this is the best the offensive line has been
in several years. Gain Well has been a nice addition.
(10:50):
Firemooth's obviously a very talented tight end. Is this offense
the Steelers when you watch it now dk Metcalf comes back,
does it have a little more juice? And if it does,
is that an Aaron component? I mean, Aaron obviously has
seen every defense. I just feel like when I watch
(11:11):
Gainwell and Warren and I'm like, maybe they've got a
little more energy than I do. On credit for what's
the film? What's the film say? On the Steelers offense?
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Well, Iron's gonna have to throw some one on ones
outside and he does, That's the way he plays. And
they're gonna have to connect on those because the problem
when you face Houston is this Houston And it will
be the case in this game. Because Dylan Cooks the
left tackle for the Steelers, and well, he's played well,
you know, he's not their starting left tackle. What happens
when you play Houston is you're almost forced to keep
(11:41):
a back and or a tight end in either as
chippers or as primary pass protectors. And the Texans are
a predominant high percentage four man d line pass rush,
so that means they play with seven in coverage. So
what often happens on critical down and distance since Colin
is they have seven in coverage and you're sending out
(12:03):
three primary wide receivers, so they have seven to play three,
so they win the numbers game, and they can still
get to the quarterback even when you're blocking with six
or seven.
Speaker 5 (12:15):
So it's very.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Difficult to really throw the ball with any kind of
real consistency against them. That's why you've got to make
quick throws. And by the way, Rogers has been in
empty formations far more than any quarterback in the league,
and it wouldn't surprise me to see them do that
and have him just make quick throws to try to
negate the pressure.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
Okay, Rams are a massive road favorite ten and a half.
That's very rare in the NFL to be a huge
playoff favorite, but especially on the road. So how much
of the Rams offense is about personnel and pre snap
movement and McVeigh and how much is just Matt Stafford
being great.
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Well, it obviously helps when your quarterback is really good.
But they are a thirteen personnel offense. Beginning week seven,
forty four percent of their offensive snaps at three tight
ends on the field, one back and three tight ends. Now,
with Adams back this week, we'll see if that changes.
But it presents problems for a defense as to how
(13:17):
you want to play it because they don't just run
these three tight ends to run the football. Stafford's pass
game numbers colin at if three tight ends are off
the charts. He's dropped back over one hundred and thirty
times with three tight ends on the field and has
twenty touchdown passes out of three tight ends on the field.
So this is not just let's hand the ball off.
(13:38):
And by the way, Corman Williams both have crazy good
numbers running out of three tight ends. So I'm curious
to see how Carolina wants to play this because they
have two base defenses, basically a five to two front
and what we call big nickel. So who are they
going to put out there and how are they going
to try to counter this three tight end offense, and
(13:58):
they're so good with it. You know, they score touchdowns
every week. And I think that's the play I wanted
to show because they had a staple touchdown last week
against Arizona which was exactly what they do at a
three tight ends, particularly when they get just right to
the red zone area. This is technically just outside the
red zone, but this is what they do and they're
(14:18):
so so good at it. So you're going to see
that they're in thirteen personnel and as I said, that
means one back in three tight ends on the field.
That's what thirteen personnel is. Then they have one wide
receiver here it happens to be Mumford. He split to
the boundary side. So what they do here, and this
is a staple, they go hard run action to the
(14:38):
field and you'll see that it has a tremendous impact
on those two stacked linebackers. So then what they do
as far as the routes is Momfield's going to run
vertically and he's going to remove the corner in the
safety and then Parkinson will run the shallow cross underneath
off the zone run action and you can see how
well this works. Look at the linebackers hit that run
(14:59):
out a hard you're gonna see momfield. He's going to
remove the corner and a big void gets created and
it's foot action by Stafford. They've scored a number of
touchdowns on this very play once they get into the
red zone area, and it's just beautiful football. And you know, again,
we know Stafford's great, but they do such a good
job schematically as well. I think we all agree that
(15:22):
Sean McVay schematically is one of the best around. And
they're so good with their formations. They are incredibly multiple
and diverse at a three tight ends, it's just a
very hard offense to play against.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Greg Cosel as OHA's great fifteen minutes forty six years
at NFL Films. Thanks Greg, Thanks Colin, appreciate it. Kevin Donson,
by the way, their best offensive lineman guard has been
ruled out against Carolina. But they've got their They've got
the full complement of weapons, that's for sure. So for
(15:55):
all the regulated levels of violence and football, it's the
Rams are gonna be missing one guard. Like by and large,
the safety measures over the last several years, a lot
of these teams. Philadelphia is ready to roll. I think
San Francisco if Trent Williams plays. I mean they lost
(16:16):
Bosa and Warner. They're really the team that is like
off the rails physically. Like the Niners are one of
those teams. I can't quite explain their injuries. Some of
it is they're really really old. By the way, Washington
had a ton of injuries this year. Washington was the
first or second oldest team. So Green Bay, Seattle, Seattle's healthy,
(16:36):
Seattle's very young. Rams defense healthy, Rams defense, very young.
That helps j Mack with the news.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
This is the Herdline News.
Speaker 7 (16:48):
All right, let's go to Eagles Niners. Really good game
Sunday on Fox. Colin, I'm fired up about it. We've
examined both of the quarterbacks. You know, this is the
non first round pick playoff game. Party was the mister
irrelevant in his draft, and Nick Sirianni knows he still
has the game plan for brock Perty.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
He's a winner. You know, he's won everywhere he's went,
and you know, really good football player, does a really
good job with with the system that they run, has
the ability to extend plays, his ability to find guys
that are that are open and find the right receiver.
It's tough. You know, he's tough. So there's a reason
(17:29):
they've been you know, obviously all the really good players
that have and and good coaching that they have is
why they've had sustained success. But they've had a really
a steady quarterback through that time as well.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Also helps for the record.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
They may have the best backup quarterback along with the
Green Band in the league.
Speaker 9 (17:46):
You seeing that screen there, a big guy, he goes
up to five and a half.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Well, I think that's selling Niners. That's the Ricky Piersall,
Trent Williams.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
I mean, the offense did not look good without them,
but it was against Seattle. I'd say the Eagles are
in that Seattle class. They're not quite as good and loaded,
but their front, I mean, Jordan Davis and car Jalen Cart.
You can't run on those guys up the middle. Yeah,
five and a half is that it's a little disrespectful
to Kyle and Brock.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I mean, I think the Niner game comes down to
is Ricky Parasol and Trent Williams available. If it is,
they got a shot. If it's not, they're not winning
the game.
Speaker 9 (18:24):
There are some numbers.
Speaker 7 (18:25):
Vick Fonngio has faced Kyle Shanahan I think four or
five times, and Shanahan has not top twenty points against him. Now,
some of that is like without good quarterbacks, but still
that's a tough one. Eagles sneaky Super Bowl pick in
the NFC. Keep an eye on him. All right, Let's
move on to Packers Bears. Colin, this is the game
you are fired up about now. Jordan Love, who's can
(18:47):
cuss in their last meeting and sat out the final
two games. He's back and ready to go ahead of
the wildcard game. He's confident rust will not be a factor.
Speaker 10 (18:57):
It doesn't really, you know, I think still just all
week and uh, you know, staying locked in and uh
you know obviously was suited up last week, was ready
to go. But yeah, you know it's been a couple weeks.
But uh no, it doesn't feel like that. I think,
you know, just staying with it in practice.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
By the way, Roma Dunzee is officially off the injury report.
Roman Dunzae is gonna show up. He's gonna be uh
playing for the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 9 (19:21):
What about Luther burden. Do we know what's going on.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Won't even be necessary, so he's they gonna need weapons.
Speaker 7 (19:28):
Other people have pointed this out, and I think we
mentioned earlier. Both these teams got the early buy. Bears played,
they're full guys all last week against the Lions.
Speaker 9 (19:37):
Packers rested everybody. I think Lafleur has an edge.
Speaker 7 (19:40):
Remember this Ben Johnson's first playoff game, first playoff week,
Caleb Williams first playoff game, first playoff week. No pressure
on the Bears, little pressure, first home playoff game since
the Double dwink, remember that one.
Speaker 9 (19:52):
It's gonna be a juiced up scene there. I'm surprised
you're not front row.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
I am dead at home in front of your television
sofa front row.
Speaker 7 (19:59):
That makes sense, All right, final story, Colm, Let's go
to John Harbaugh, and the question is who's going to
replace it. I think Jesse Minterer is a slam dunk
the Chargers.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Well, he definitely not only does he know the culture,
but he was great there. He's been great with the Chargers.
So you feel like you're getting some of Harbaugh's sort
of culture building.
Speaker 9 (20:17):
Yeah, now you see we have odds here.
Speaker 7 (20:20):
It's low level stuff, but The interesting name is Todd
Munkin at three the OC.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
I didn't think I don't think he and Lamar. I
think he and Lamar butt heads, don't they.
Speaker 7 (20:31):
There was claim that someone I don't know how credible
it is, like hey, Harball, you gotta fire the OC.
We need to fix this Lamar situation. And Harball was like,
I'm not doing that supposedly. I don't even know Monk
is going to be there next year.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I don't think Monk.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
I know Mounkin's not to make nothing against him, but
I think Mentor and Stefanski are easily the top two guys.
Speaker 9 (20:53):
Kevin Stefanski go, what's that going?
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Like?
Speaker 9 (20:55):
From like a Hyundai Sonata to a Ferrari?
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Can you imagine there's you Cleveland got?
Speaker 11 (21:01):
You know?
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Cleveland thinks, oh, we're pretty sharp. He goes to Baltimore
and Stefanski owns you for a decade.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
That'd be so Cleveland. It would be so Cleveland.
Speaker 9 (21:11):
I think the Browns job is the worst one out
there right now.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
No Jets is pretty bad.
Speaker 7 (21:15):
Well it's just not open yet, but yeah, this would
be This would be a big loss for Harbor.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Coincidence that Cleveland's been bad forever. It's not the media,
it's not who's upstairs ownership.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
Yeah, man can't get coach or quarterback right, they just can't.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
Can I interest you in Cliff Kingsbury for this job
or No, Ravens have a strong culture.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
I don't see Kingsbury as a head coach. He and
Adam Peters. I have it sourced now by two different people.
Adam Peters the GM and Cliff Kingsbury did not see I'd.
Speaker 7 (21:47):
On now at the same time, this is a front
office and ownership group that Ben Johnson was like, no,
thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Ben Johnson flew to Washington. Peters is an NBA guy,
and Ben Johnson's take, reportedly I read this yesterday was
Ben thought that Adam Peters and the Washington basketball people
had too strong a football opinions. Thought they knew a
little more about football than they actually knew about football.
Speaker 9 (22:13):
Josh Harrison, the ownership group, they had.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Big, strong opinions that Ben's like, yeah, you're basketball guys.
Yeah you're not really a football guy.
Speaker 8 (22:21):
We're not.
Speaker 7 (22:22):
So this whole Kingsbury thing, I'm not gonna blame Kingsbury.
If these guys who Ben Johnson wanted nothing to do
with said no, and now he's thriving.
Speaker 9 (22:31):
Maybe this is the best for Kingsbury. I don't know.
I don't know why I like Kingsbury. I don't text him.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I like I like Kingsbury too, but I don't know
if I mean. I guess Cliff would be a head
coach potentially, but I think his psychology and his personality
is to be a great coordinator.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
It's possible.
Speaker 11 (22:48):
Yeah. Jmack with the news, Well that's the news, and
thanks for stopping that. The Herd Line news Aroma Dunde
is gonna play another weapon for the great Caleb William
mind me Hurricanes ol miss tonight. I'm taking the Hurricanes.
I think they're going to physically bully him a little
bit in LA.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
It's the Herd.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newon Eastern a EM Pacific.
Speaker 1 (23:20):
So it's third meeting Packers Bears, So you're not going
to fool anybody. Tom Brady came on about an hour ago,
an hour and a half ago, and I and I
asked him, would would you prefer to face a team
for the first time or is it okay if you're
facing kind of a rival, you're both familiar with each other.
(23:43):
Where do you land on that?
Speaker 5 (23:45):
This is what you love about it. These two teams
know each other so well.
Speaker 12 (23:49):
Guys are coming out of you know, some unherlded receivers
from the Bears have made some plays late in these games.
So it is a super tight matchup for this game.
This one of the more intriguing games in the weekend.
I can't wait to see how both teams played. And look,
they know each other so well. So now it really
does come down to the fundamentals.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Yeah, I mean the games like this come down generally
who doesn't make the big mistake late. That's the old
Jimmy Johnson. You lose more games than you win Bears Packers.
For all the matchups, who doesn't turn it over, who
doesn't fumble, who doesn't throw the pick? You know, in
(24:31):
windy weather, I doubt you have a ton of field goals.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
I think Chicago's big edge is better.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Online, better run game with thirty mile an hour gusts
that and being at home. I think that's a big
edge for Chicago. But there's a reason, you know, Chicago
is the underdog. Green Bay's been here a lot. I
like Chicago, the market tends to favorite Green Bay. Also,
(25:00):
you know the other game. It's interesting we were joking
about Brady's first game. His first playoff game was the
Tuck Rule game, the snowy cold game, which Brady said
years ago on this show. I think it was this
year last year. He liked snow games because he knew
corners didn't have their footing and pass rushers didn't get
a great push. So he at least knew offensively, offensive
(25:23):
guys know where they're going and so slippery, wet, snowy
weather is an advantage to the offense as long as
it's not too windy, not to the defense. But we
talked about kind of the first of you know, Drake
May heading into his first big playoff game against Justin Herbert.
Speaker 12 (25:40):
Look, I love Drake May and what he's done in
his second You're working with Josh McDaniels, who's another tremendous
coach and has done such a great job kind of
understanding what Drake's capable of it. I just see Matt
Stafford as a Hall of Fame level quarterback that has
played his best season of football, and he's done it
against you in any conditions, forty six touchdown passes. He's
(26:02):
just been incredible.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
By the way, that's Brady talking about the MVP race.
I you know, it's funny. When I watched Brady in
that snow game against the Raiders that, Honest to god,
it feels like forty years ago. I remember one of
the first things I noticed about when I watched Brady
play is that, and it matters. Playing at Michigan probably
(26:27):
helped because he's from California.
Speaker 3 (26:30):
Brady was a great cold weather quarterback.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And that's why I've noted this before. There's never been
a warm weather NFL dynasty. Shula and Marino got there early,
didn't get back together. Go find all the dome and
warm weather dynasties in the NFL, maybe in college, not
in pro football, And you know, there's just there isn't it.
(26:57):
I mean, let's be honest about Jacksonville. But what if
Jacksonville has to go eventually to see you see the
weather in Chicago this weekend, that's a huge disadvantage. I
remember Dan Fouts having to go play Cincinnati and it
was like minus nine degrees. So I do think there's
an advantage to be Seattle in Chicago and Philly and Denver.
(27:18):
I think it's an advantage to play in crappy weather.
Speaker 9 (27:20):
Do the nineties Cowboys count as warm weather.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Or Dallas's weather is it can be hot in the summer.
I'm not denying that. I don't consider Dallas to be
your classic warm weather team.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Dallas gets cold.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Last Super Bowl I was at in Dallas, there were
sheets of ice falling off.
Speaker 7 (27:36):
Jctuary is tricky. Nowhere is super warm in January forty
nine Ers in the eighties. I mean you got to
go back like forty years again.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
When I think of warm weather, I think of Chargers, Rams, Arizona, Cardinals.
I think Houston of warm weather, not Dallas. I think
Houston's more warm weather. I think of Miami, Jacksonville, and
Tampa that like eight teams. Those are warm weather teams.
Dallas gets really cold for four months.
Speaker 7 (28:07):
Ye Southern California has not been a power. I mean,
La Rams had what Jim Elbrett and a couple wide receivers,
but they were never like a no.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
I listen, the NFL college football was built on bowl
games in warm weather, the Rose Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl,
the Sugar Bowl. That's the NFL its history is you
have to basically to be a super Bowl champ when
three or four almost always outside of the super Bowl,
three or four five big cold weather games to either
(28:43):
get into the playoffs, secure better seating, get home field advantage.
That's a huge disadvantage for Miami Jacksonville.
Speaker 7 (28:53):
Possible to build a legit contender, to be a dynasty
in a warm.
Speaker 1 (28:58):
Weather you can do it. If you go look at
the Cowboys Emmitt Smith. They had a great run game.
So if you're going to consider Dallas, you could say, well,
I don't consider San Francisco warm weather. I mean, go
to a Giants game in the summer. It's foggy and cold.
So I think there's about eight what I would call,
you know, Dodger games in the summer. You can get
(29:20):
ninety degrees a lot. It's not the Bay Area, So
I don't know. I think there's ways to build it.
Like I always said, if you go look at the
history of like cold weather, Brady was a great cold
weather quarterback, So was Big Ben and Bradshaw and Flaco
and Farv and Rogers. Start look at Maholmes big arm,
(29:44):
you know, like Lamar Jackson is not a big arm.
Guy in Baltimore. Now, his arm is fine, but he's
not a big arm guy. So I mean just the
history of I mean of Northern tier football is big now.
San Francisco and Dallas are not. They're not blizzard Weather.
So brock Purty doesn't have a huge arm. It's you
could win a Super Bowl. He's a you know, he's
(30:07):
not gonna Also, in the AFC, a lot of your
best owners and best organizations are north, I mean forever
variable for the next ten years. New England's going to
be in the playoffs for a decade straight. Buffalo with
Josh Allen's going to be in the playoffs for the
next seven years. Baltimore historically makes the playoff. Kansas City
makes the playoffs all right now more than ever, the
(30:29):
AFC goes through crappy weather.
Speaker 7 (30:31):
The only guy I think that could build one in
warm Weather now is McVeigh. He's got a great system.
They are run first to set up the play action.
He's got the MVP quarterback. But to build a dynasty,
you'd need that bridge from Stafford and finding a quarterback.
That's not easy, but they are built for it. The
defensive line is nasty, it's really I was thinking about this.
If you're the Rams.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
And it's a weak quarterback class, you're not gonna get
Dante Moore Mendoza. If Dante comes out and you're not
getting Ty Simpson, somebody's gonna reach. He's not going to
last at the end of the first round. He'll get
picked up at the fifteenth. If you're the Rams, do
you just say, instead of drafting a quarterback, just stack
the roster Stafford one more year, then go get one
(31:15):
next year. I thought about that. Why waste a draft,
Because let's say you say, okay, we're gonna go get
Ty Simpson. You probably have to give up a third
of fifth a sixth to move up. And my take is,
just stack the roster for Stafford.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
They got that Falcons pick, and I think that's what
I'm saying something.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
They needs a corner, a safety, a tackle because they could.
Speaker 9 (31:34):
Win the Super Bowl.
Speaker 7 (31:34):
And Stafford says, I'm out, I'm retiring on top, goodbye.
Speaker 9 (31:38):
What you gotta draft Mike Simpson at that point?
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Right Well, at that point, my take though, I look,
if I ran the Rams, I would go to Stafford
and I if they win and say, listen, we'll give
you a little bit more money because what we're not
going to draft a quarterback. We're going to take this
and we're just going to do all we can to
get playmakers and hip makers. Because they have two ones,
(32:03):
a two, and a three. That's four players. Say we
will not draft the quarterback this this draft, it's a
week quarterback draft.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
All four of those.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
We're gonna go get you a first round tackle, a
first round corner, a second round receiver, and a third
round playmaker and say, now we'll give you an extra
year on your contract. It's got to be team friendly,
but we'll give you an extra year because I think
if Stafford won it, my take is, why.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
Draft the quarterback?
Speaker 5 (32:29):
Why?
Speaker 1 (32:30):
Because to get a quarterback that you think could potentially play,
you're gonna have to move up because they're at the
end of the first round.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Why waste draft picks on that.
Speaker 7 (32:38):
I just remember Stafford coming in August, remember how bad
his back was. People were like, is he even going
to start the season?
Speaker 9 (32:44):
What's the MVP. I don't know what they're given him.
Speaker 7 (32:46):
He may just not have wanted to practice an audist
some horse tranquilizers. Maybe, I don't know what's going on.
He's fine, he's playing amazing.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Yeah, Tom Brady, Greg cosel bowstop buy money, love that
will see you tomorrow and enjoy the Hurricanes and all
miss tonight
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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