January 1, 2026 • 33 mins
FOX Sports Radio hosts Rob Parker and Kerry Rhodes are in for Colin, and the guys tell us why the Baltimore Ravens absolutely have to start Lamar Jackson on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Plus, Big Ten Network analyst Yogi Roth swings by to discuss all the biggest headlines around the College Football Playoff, and FOX Sports Radio Weekend host and Marquee Sports NFL analyst Carmen Vitali swings by to discuss all the biggest headlines around the NFL heading into Week 18.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
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dot com, or stream us live every day on the
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
All right.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Now, let's welcome in Yogi Roth from the Big ten
Network of course analysts and the host of the y
Option podcast and Yogi Happy New Year.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Say hello to Kerry Rhoads here on the Herd. What's happening?
Speaker 5 (00:41):
A lot's happening. Happy to hear to YouTube as well.
Thanks for having me on, big fan of all the
work that y'all do. And it is a is a
beautiful morning. I'll be at a little rainy. We just
finished our pregame show as you refersent the Big ten
Network out here at the Roseolt and just kind of
getting going here with the organ game. So it's gonna
be a fun New Year's Day.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
How many why options can you still run?
Speaker 6 (01:01):
Right now?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
You still can run a couple of those, you know.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
I can get past the sticks and I'll get down
that's all I got.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
But I'm in all right, yogi.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Let's go to last night's game, and you know, Miami dominated.
Should have been probably leading by three scores in the
first half.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
They're up by two. They dominated that game.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
And here's Ohio State hadn't played in twenty five days,
the number one seed. All that out the window, and
we look at it and now teams with the buys
are now zero to five in this new format. Is
this a problem in college football or not?
Speaker 5 (01:36):
Yeah, it's a cool question. I still don't think we
have all the data. I mean, talk to me at
the end of the night. You know, maybe it's a
different answer. I think that we do have in college football.
Number one. I think we got to give Miami a
ton of credit, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
No doubt, they dominated, They earned that win. I'm not
even trying to pooh pooh.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
Yeah, no, I know that, and you've always been that way.
I think what stood out to me in that game
for Ohio State earth was their last two games, they've
had moments. Their margin for error has just the surprising part,
it has been so small. Right Indiana, they had two
or three runs that almost broke They would have won
the game. If they make one of those plays, they
don't throw that pick six, who knows what happens in
(02:16):
the second half. But I'm with you, that was surprising
for me. I thought Ohio State would go and have
a chance to repeat.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
They don't.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
To your point on the layoff, we just got done
talking about Indiana's now twenty six days. Texas Tech they're
down early twenty six days, and I think it speaks
more to the calendar of we should be playing that's
the title game right now. Like you know, I started
thinking about it last night. The NFL, like the top
seeds still get buys, but they're only off for a week.
You know, they're not off for three almost a month,
(02:46):
So I think that they're going to look at this.
I think the calendar is getting just too much momentum
from coaches. I mean, look at the game you're watching
now in Oregon. Tash Lupoy, will Stein just get their
dream jobs to be head coaches, and they're coordinating a
team and all their folks is there. Brian Hartline last night, Yeah,
Ohio State, you could put your focus there, but you
also have to put it elsewhere. And I just think
(03:07):
it doesn't make a lot of sense. And what's going
to happen if we play this thing out of my
eyes in five years is college football just doesn't become
entertaining anymore outside of the games, and the NFL is
entertaining outside of the games. We love free agency, we
love the drafts, we love the portal. If you will,
I think college foot buck can learn a thing or
two from that, and I hope they do make those
necessary changes.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
Yeah, yo, Yeah, that's a great point. I mean we
kind of glossed over the Brian the heartline not being
able to call plays last night because of his new
job affiliation, and you know Day going back to play
call and do you think that had any effect on
the slow start or do you just attribute it to
the twenty five days off?
Speaker 5 (03:46):
I think it all contributes to it. I think Brian
Day is so accomplished as a play caller it's hard
to criticize him based on just his pedigree and what
he's always done. But it's been two years. It's a
fair thing to bring up when you add in the
twenty five days off, the injuries on the offensive line
they dealt with ad a different starting offensive line group,
and then they had to change excuse me again at
(04:06):
the half due to an injury. So I mean you
combine all those things plus Miami's strength was their front seven.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yes, yes, I mean them in.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Indiana in Oregon. I mean you kind of talk a
lot of the CFP teams, but it's an explosive, violent group.
I mean that is their strength defensively. And two weeks
in or two games in a row, rather Ohio State
got exposed up front, and that was the thing that
I was most looking forward to in the game, because
you guys know this, when a coach finds a flaw
(04:33):
within themselves like Ohios Date did they give up five
sacks against Indiana? I think the six all season heading
into the Big Ten title game and they gave up
a bunch more again last night. I thought they would
have found ways to shore that up. They tried to
with tempo and getting the ball out, but ultimately it
just wasn't enough.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
How about Miami where are they now? Can they really
upset the Apple CARDA?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Was this a one off?
Speaker 5 (04:56):
I'll tell you what, My favorite graphic thus far in
the CFP that we saw on TV last night was
since that game in two thousand and two, two thousand
and three, the national title game between those two teams.
I think Miami's only had four to ten win seasons
and Ohio State had something like eighteen. Wow, And that
I wrote it down somewhere that's clearly not in front
of me now, I apologize, but it was crazy to
(05:19):
see that. And you know, I've known coach crystal Ball
as you guys have for a long time, and I
think there is something that's cliche but accurating college football
when the U is back, when the Trojans are rolling like,
there is something to the to the blue blood's being
really blue because it's so easy to take shots at
him when they're down. It's also amazing to watch Indiana
(05:40):
and Texas Tech have this crazy elevation that they've never
seen in their historic programs, respectively. But overall, yeah, I
think it's real watching Mario rebuild Oregon within the trenches
and then pass it off to Dan Lanning who's taken
it to another level. And then when he left to
take over his alma mater, a just a program that
we all remember. I have no idea what Miami was
(06:01):
like back in.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
The day, wild guys, wild Yogi.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Either I remember playing against Roll and Sean Taylor and
Jonathan Willmo like that what Ken Dor say? We played
those Jeremy Shockey It was awesome that back in the
old Big East. So yeah, I think I think they're
real and we'll see how this thing shakes out. But
can you imagine Oregon Miami, Like, how much song would
that be with Mario Christoball and Dan Lanning just for
the drama college football in the national title game?
Speaker 3 (06:26):
It would be.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Our guest is Yogi Roth from the Big Ten Network,
of course, an analyst and host of the y Option podcast,
joining us here on the Herd. Rob Parker Kerry Rhoades
in for Colin on this New Year's Day.
Speaker 7 (06:39):
Yogi with me, you cover the Big ten a lot,
and obviously when we look at the Big Ten in football,
I mean we think about Ohio State, Michigan. Obviously, Indiana's
kind of jumped in in that party in that mix up,
I'm runing against Indiana.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
We're gonna talk about that coming up. They're not the
little engine that couldn't They're not.
Speaker 7 (06:57):
No, no, no, but any other jointed the party with those two.
But we always talked about the Big ten and the
SEC being the pillars of college football, and I just
I think we put too much credence in that, and
I think individually some of these teams deserve a little
bit more credit, Like do you really think that the
Big Ten in SEC is heading shoulders above it? When
we talk about the full body of work of these
(07:17):
of these conferences.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Head and shoulders, I think is aggressive. And from the
lens of yeah, I used to work for the PAC twelve,
I know what it was like to be the only,
you know, one of the very few people you're.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Kind of fighting for a little exactly.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Try to talk about the strength. And when I look
at the Big Twelve, I see the old PAC twelve
of a bunch of really good teams that you know,
beat each other in one score, high scoring games exactly.
When I look at the ACC, I'm a pit alum.
You know, it's still weird for me to think a
pit in the AECC and it's been almost damn here
twenty years for them being in that league. I think,
here's the truth that I've learned in the last two
(07:51):
seasons calling all Big Ten games and really even betting
myself within that league. And I say the same for
the SEC to go in nine conference games for the
Big Ten SEC thankfully think the Lord will go there
next year and get out of that week week eleven
game that majority of them have. It's brutal, it's just hard.
I mean, Minnesota is a tough out, sc a tough out,
(08:15):
Washington a tough out like That's the challenge. I think
as the years go on. And if you asked me
last year your biggest takeaway at the Big Ten, I
would have said, Man, I didn't think the quarterback play
was as good as I wanted it to be. This season,
it's been the best in the history of the Big Ten.
And I've checked that with Jered DeNardo, who's been a
Big Ten network analyst for nearly twenty years, and he
(08:37):
took co sign on that. And you look up and
down the league. Look at whether it's Demon Williams or
Dante more Mayava, Dylan Rayola at the time when he
was at Nebrass Gary. Look at Mark Ronowski what he
just did against Tennessee at Iowa like you start looking
at it. Drake Lindsay at Minnesota will not get a
lot of play, but he'll be drafted in two years.
He needs a big time pocket passer, so I started
(08:57):
looking at that and then when I talked to guys
in the portal, Fernanda Mendoza being one of them, they
want to come play in this league, in the Big
Ten or the SEC. So it's becoming the power too.
And I'll finish with this. What is surprising most in
my sidebar conversations with coaches and athletic departments is there's
a desire to get as they've called to the power too.
(09:17):
And I never thought i'd hear that, but that whether
that's resources, whether that's exposure, whether that's media, whatever it is.
But to me, the Big Ten is that they different
and it will surprise you. And then I guess the
last part was the fan bases, like the care factors
through the roof. I mean, it's crazy, man. I'm calling
Rutgers Purdue winless Big Ten teams in late September and
(09:38):
it's sold out, Wow West Lafayette Like that is a
really cool element. So I do think the diversity of players, scheme,
the quarterbacks and now finding their way coaches want to
coach in this league. The money resources have a part
to do with that, and then the tradition of course
carries it. So head and shoulders. No, but are they separating?
I think so. I feel that being embedded in it.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
All right, And Yogi, I would be remiss when I'll
ask you who you're named after?
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Oh yo, thanks for asking me. Yeah, often people think
it's Yogi Bear.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Well, well there's only two Yogi's Yogi Bear and Yogi
bearra right, there's only two.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Well, well, I'll at a thirteen. So my family, my
parents studied Eastern philosophies forever, so every kid got a
Hindu name as there as one of their either first
or middle name, and then the other one was Hebrew
because my mom was born and raised in the Middle East,
in Israel. So, uh, Yogi is like if you practice yoga, right,
if you're trying to bring some union to the world
(10:39):
in this chaotic world raw arguing, Right, you go to
yoga class, you get centered. They decided to give me
that name and tried to shake it early on because
the person near a kid in an athlete. Right, But
I'm really proud of it now and hopefully I can
do that and you know every part of my life.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Well, thank your parents for me, yes, thank you. Well,
that's awesome. And I always when I hear names that
you know you don't hear that often.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I always want to ask, you, know what I mean,
where they came from.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
But Yogi roth Man, we appreciate you. Thanks for joining
us here on the Herd. Thank you, Yogi heck you.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Happy New Year, enjoy and keep Kellen's enjoy watching you guys.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter n Am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 8 (11:22):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning
on my podcast, straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't
your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down
your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions
on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help
you win big at the sportsbook, and all the best guests.
(11:43):
Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with
Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
All right, Carmen Vitally, she's joining us now of course.
Fox Sports Radio Weekend hosts Carbon Happy New Year, Say
hello to Kerrie road. Is Rob Parker here on the herd.
What's happening?
Speaker 9 (12:06):
Hi, guys, Happy New Year, Happy New Year, Carmen, what's shaking?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Did you have a good New Year's Eve? Anything special?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (12:16):
No, not incredibly special, though. We did go over to
a friend's house. She had a lovely house party and
it was wonderful, just kind of ringing in the new
year with friends. And now I'm parked on the couch
watching these Bowl games. There you go, these playoff games.
I should say, they're not just bol games.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
That's right. Things have changed, all right.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Let's talk about the NFL, And so Lamar Jackson is
practicing and people still questioning whether or not what they
should do at quarterback, which I just can't understand.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
But well, where are you on this? Should should Lamar play?
Speaker 4 (12:51):
If he's seventy percent or sixty five percent regardless?
Speaker 6 (12:55):
I mean, I think you need to evaluate if sixty
five seventy percent Lamar is better than any other option
for you, because if it is, and I don't think
it's a it's just a question, right, And I think
the answer is probably yes. So I would I get
that you know, he's he's not one hundred percent, but
at this point, nobody in the season is one hundred percent,
(13:15):
So throw him out there.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
This is what you play for, colemin.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
Do you think if the winner of that Pittsburgh Baltimore
raven game, you know, obviously the winner wins division gets
in the playoffs, actually, you know, hosts a home playoff game,
But do you think either one of those teams can
actually win a playoff game. And if either one of
those teams can win the playoff game, which one would
you rather throw in the mix to be a disruptor
(13:41):
in the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (13:42):
You know, it's interesting because the Ravens, there was a
large part of this season where you know, it was
almost thought to be a lost season, and then all
of a sudden, you know, they're in this position where
they're winning in they're winning like they could win the
division still, and a lot of things have gone right
for them. And it's been my experience with teams that
the ones that can make the most noise in the
playoffs aren't necessarily the ones where things have gone well
(14:06):
for them. They were out the season where it's been
sunshine and rainbows, and there's been you know, it's kind
of a smooth sailing It's always been the teams that
have to overcome something and they have some grit to
them and some fight to them, and they know that
they're not out of it until they're out of it.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
So I don't know.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
I think I think both of these teams are capable
because of you know, they have good Like the Ravens
defense hasn't been what you want it to be, but
they've shown the ability to turn it on here and there. Pittsburgh,
I mean, defense wins championships and I think in the
postseason it becomes even more important. But I don't know.
I just I think the Ravens they've been able to
(14:42):
figure it out and get to this spot when we
didn't think that that was the case six weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
So I'm going to go with the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
There you go.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
They heard I just and I just got admitted. All
year they haven't been able to put it together. And
I just every year ends up like like if they
would have lose to Pittsburgh on a fumble or something
at some point that would that would be so fitting.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Because it just has been that way.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
What about the Houston Texans, they have a defense to
go to the Super Bowl I'm not sure about the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
And I'm gonna be honest, Yeah you said that. I'm
that serious about c J. Stroud.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
I've seen some glimpses, but I've seen the droughts as well.
Where are you on the Texans? And remember after his
rookie year, they all crowned c J. Stroud and now
they're going to the super Bowl and all that. Last year,
it took a step back in year two and this
year has been uneven. He was hurt some his numbers
aren't great, and they were winning with the backup quarterback
(15:39):
in their Carmen.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Where are you on the Texans?
Speaker 6 (15:41):
I mean, what was different about this year? It was
that the Texans didn't have who was starting for them
on the offensive line until Week one. I mean, I
kind of go towards all right, what caused you know?
Speaker 10 (15:53):
C J.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
Stroud injury could have been mitigated. I know it's been
up and down for him, but we saw his ability
in that first year. I don't think that that just
goes away. And I understand teams kind of figure you
out and all that, but I've.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Seen second years.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Jane Daniels won the same like like they do, they
figure out what your strengths are, and you have to
make another adjustment. That's all I'm saying, And not that
he's going to be a bum or anything, but but
there's a difference.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
People can't get crowned too.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Early, No they can't, and nor can they be given
up on too early either, which I think we've seen
a bunch of times. And I think that you know,
the process of becoming an elite NFL quarterback isn't a
linear one and it's one that you need to have
patients with, and these teams really can't afford patients in
a lot of cases because of ownership pressure, this, that
the other. There's a ton of different factors. But I
(16:44):
think we as an NFL community really expect too much
too soon for too long with these guys, whereas we've
seen so many examples of five six years into their
career then they're they're you know, they clearly have command
of an offense and that you know, these these quarterbacks
don't enter their prime until they're thirty. And how far
away from thirty is CJ. Stroud. So I think that
(17:06):
there's adjustments that need to be that are needed in Houston,
for sure, But I mean that defense, and I mean
Will Anderson and Neil Hunter are just two of the best,
and if they can keep you in games, which they can,
I think that the Texans could still make some noise.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Carmen Vitali joining us here on the herd of course
Fox Sports Radio Weekend hosts, and I do want to.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Slide in here.
Speaker 7 (17:31):
There's a so right now, somebody has to win the
NFC South, Carmen, and obviously Carolina has the upper upper
hand here. They kind of control their own destiny. They
win their in even if they lose. In Tampa Bay
wins and Atlanta wins, they went off with tie breaks scenario,
so there's some strange things happen in there. But if
Carolina gets in the playoffs, we've seen them beat some
(17:53):
really good teams and then obviously obviously have letdowns against
lesser teams or equal teams in their world. Well, but
do you see this team actually having a chance to
make make a run in the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (18:05):
I don't know about this year, to be quite honest.
I think there's still some glaring holes there. And I
do think that, yeah, well, like they have the capability
to beat better teams, but I think that also kind
of came out of nowhere for those teams, you know,
like that was not the narrative for that for the
Panthers early in the season at least. And then I
think more people have taken notice of the Panthers as
the season has gone on and they have beat some
(18:26):
of these teams. But then you think about what the
environment is once you get to the postseason and how
nobody's underestimating anybody at that point, you know, yeah, and
the margin for error gets that much smaller, and I
think that that's where some of those glaring holes in
that Carolina team would come. But like to your point,
somebody has to win the NFC salth and none of
these teams. It seems like a couple of years ago
(18:47):
where the Bucks and it was a fout Bucks and
Falcons like literally losing games trying to give the division
to one another. And you're just like, all right, like
someone has to step up here. And I don't know
that any of those teams are built right now to
do much in the postseason. But we've been wrong.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Before speaking of the postseason. Is this a big postseason
for Sam Donald? Because very seldom do you win fourteen
games like he did with Minnesota and them not being
interested in keeping a guy right out a quarterback. He
goes to Seattle and he's had a really good year.
There's been some bumps, but he's had a really good year.
(19:25):
And where they are and people are still waiting because
in that game against the Rams, he turned in a
stinker in the first half, and people are like, there
we go.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
That's not oh, the narrative on him. No, it's not
a narrative.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
This is a fact, Like in these big games he
hasn't played well, but they came back, they won the game,
and whatnot. How important is it for him to win
a playoff game if you're Seattle and for people to
get off of the Sam Donald can't win a big
game talk.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
I think there's something to be said for the legitimization
of Sam Donald by winning a playoff game. I really do,
just because if you look at, you know, other good
quarterbacks when they have bad games, nobody's saying, you know,
they're they're they're they're a terrible quarterback. I mean, Matthew
Stafford turned in a sinker last week and people are
just like, well, he's still in the MVP conversation, still
deserving it.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
That'll be, that'll be seen. I mean, we got to
wait and see because you got to watch the mouth.
You can't talk about Matthew.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
I'm so Matthew Stabbord. I'm just saying, Matthew Stafford has
put together a body of work that lets you, you know,
he gets you get the benefit of the doubt with that.
With Matthew Staffert, Sam Donald doesn't have that luxury because
he doesn't have that body of work yet. And so
I think going going into the playoffs with as strong
of a team as Seattle has, with as strong of
a defense as Seattle has, and winning a playoff game
(20:45):
can go a long way into giving Sam Donald the
benefit of the doubt and saying, no, he is a
good quarterback. Sure can he turn in you know, some
some stinkers every now and again. Of course every quarterback can.
But do we actually think that Sam Donald is a
good quarterback? And postseason sixcess is the quickest route to that?
Speaker 7 (21:01):
All right, Carmen, I'm gonna put you on the spot
a little bit here, and I'm gonna tall, I'm gonna
I'm going to ask you to pick your represent representatives
of the NFC and AFC in the championship in the
Super Bowl?
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Do you who do you have?
Speaker 6 (21:14):
Listen, I had this pick going into the season. This
this Super Bowl matchup is still on the table, so
I don't feel as confident about it. But I'm not
one to back down from something that's still possible. I had.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
I had build Packers, Bill's Packers.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
About that, I'm not saying that I don't you should
change your pick, right, I'm just saying, right.
Speaker 6 (21:40):
I don't feel good about it, however, because it's still possible,
like I mean, and especially if it actually happens, then,
I mean, bragging rights would be infinite at that point.
I would never shut up about it.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
So no, you always got to stick to your pick.
Because I had the Packers and the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
That was my original pick. But he's picking Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
The I'm picking Pittsburgh because of what the Ravens have
done all year.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
You think you think pitt is going to get out
of the AFC.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
No, But I'm no, No, I mean, I'm picking Pittsburgh
to beat Baltimore, so that you know what I mean,
eliminates my pick, right, and like like normally you wouldn't
do that, but I just I really don't feel like
Baltimore has been able to put it together. And then
you're telling me Lamar is not going to be totally healthy.
You know, if he's a healthy Lamar, then then yeah,
I'm all in. I just don't know what I'm what
(22:27):
I'm gonna get. What was your original pick? I'm Ravens
and Rams?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Okay? Yeah, and you still feel good about the Rams
the last couple of weeks, Yes, they stink. They waiting
for they had the number one. Carmen had the number one,
see locked up ten days ago, and look at.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Where they are now.
Speaker 6 (22:46):
If you want to someone else, y'all didn't even bring
up the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Oh no, we did not. But he's but Carmen, he's
he's a big believer in Caleb Williams. So am I,
But he's I.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Was on the Caleb Williams believing when everybody I was
talking about all he's going to be benched to half
the midway in the season and Ben Johnson doesn't like
him and all this other stuff.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
He's put together an unbelievable season.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
I mean, from what we've heard at the podium these
last couple of weeks, actually like it really seems like
something is clicked for Caleb where he's in command of
this offense, not just along for the ride anymore. And
everything we've heard from Caleb too is that they didn't
really like each other in the beginning, and that's consistent
with how Ben Johnson and Jared Goff's relationship developed as well.
Speaker 11 (23:27):
Ben is the exact.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
Same person every single day, from the first day you
meet him to you know, day one hundred into your relationship,
and that can rub people that's the wrong way sometimes
because he comes in very intensely and you know, he
has really high expectations and it takes a while to
kind of trust that. And Caleb kind of admitted to
that the last week, I believe when he was talking
about it, and so their relationship wasn't there, but it
(23:50):
is now and now that that relationship has gotten so
much better, and you can tell that Caleb is starting
to kind of see the field the way Ben wants
him to and the way Ben himself does. I mean,
this is a really good It looks like it's going
to end up being a really good pairing. Now, if
only the Bears can figure out their path rush and
their run defense, then then we can start talking about
real postseasons Chicago Paper.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
All right, hey, Carmen, we appreciate you joining us here
on the Herd. Carmen Vitality of course. Fox Sports Radio
Weekend host, thank you so much. Happy New Year, Carmen, Happy.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
New Year, Happy New Year, guys, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newon Eastern AM Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio FS
one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
One of the biggest games, of course is Sunday Night football,
right the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
That's in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Correct, That game is in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, and
the winner wins the division and gets the playoff and a.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Home game and gets a host of game, I mean
host a game.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
So somebody's coming to Pittsburgh or Baltimore, yes, for that
game and Rob g lay it out here because there's
a lot of stuff talking.
Speaker 10 (24:56):
There's some consternation in Baltimore. That word, that's a big word.
That is learned that from Southern Connecticut Tech State University whatever,
home of the fighting Rob Parkers in the best.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Box, Southern Connecticut State University.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
In New Haven. That's right, Okay, so big game.
Speaker 10 (25:11):
Of course, now the Ravens have had must win games
each of the last two weeks. That had win last
week to set up this week. Lamar hurts his back
in week sixteen, Snoop Huntley starts in Green Bay, must
win god to have a game, plays great sixteen of
twenty two oh seven and a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
He ran for a others sixty yards.
Speaker 10 (25:28):
The big story, of course, Derrick Henry back runs thirty
six carries shout out nineteen nineties football rights.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Then thirty six.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
Carries in the week before that. Would they didn't even
give him the ball in the second half.
Speaker 10 (25:41):
They didn't give the ball the last drive yet, right,
and then he didn't touch the ball after they got
up by I think eleven points. Yep, thirty six carries
to sixteen four touchdowns. So flash forward to this week.
Lamar Jackson gets his first Wednesday practice in about two months,
comes back from his back injury. We don't know exactly
how much he did.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
They haven't said that. Yeah, we do know.
Speaker 10 (26:00):
He's wearing a big flat jacket to prevent protect his
back in his midsection.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
I thought that was a fashion statement. Okay.
Speaker 10 (26:07):
So and even as of today Thursday at two pm Eastern.
John Harbass still has not said who is gonna start
on Sunday, Lamar Jackson or Snoop Huntley. But if you
ask mutual friend of ours, friend of the show, Shinning Sharp,
he has an answer what he thinks should happen.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Take a listen. I'm starting Huntley.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
What what you're playing?
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Maddenpe each about real life?
Speaker 11 (26:30):
Yep?
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Man, please trick.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Just run the same form me.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
There's no need to start.
Speaker 11 (26:34):
Huntley because I know he's back there, so I'm gonna
ask him to do more. Is Lamar gonna be able
to get out of arms weight like Huntley did last
night when Green Bay? Has he looked like Lamar Jackson
since he's gotten back.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
No, not one not because he's coming off injury. So
therefore start Huntly.
Speaker 11 (26:49):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Oh my goodness, all right and there you go. My
thing is is cutting dry? Is that another turnover?
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (27:00):
By Texas text stripsack, unbelievable? Where were they? Oregan is
gonna have the ball in the red zone?
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (27:08):
At the five, I think, yeah, it's gonna be ballgame here.
Probably yeah, let's go a touchdown here? Ball game?
Speaker 4 (27:13):
But but here here I am if Lamar's hurt. Carry,
I don't want him to play if he's not. If
he's hurt, Yeah, what does hurt mean to you? I
mean he can't perform like like he's out there like
you're trying to like, is a touchdown?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Is a touchdown? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (27:31):
It looks like touchdown. Okay, so it's finally they broke through.
And what I mean is he really shouldn't be out
there playing. And I'll give you an example, Kevin Kevin
uh Durant in the NBA Finals.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Yes, okay, we all knew he shouldn't have been out there.
Would you agree with that? I agree with that.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
I don't think like they claimed all all the doctors
cleared him and all that. I'm like, well, who are
the doctors take their degrees? Because everybody was like, what
is he doing out there? And of course it happens
he wound up getting hurt. If he's seventy percent sixty
five seventy percent, I'm going to play him over hunt
I am. Yes, I'm sorry, I'm going to play him
(28:14):
and I'll try to protect him. Try to make sure,
you know, get the running game in there as much
as we can establish it, and then you know, what
I mean where I'm not asking him to be Superman,
but I want my two time MVP quarterback to play
him at seventy percent, is still better than Huntley?
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Yes, yes, right, and.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
Specifically going into this game where if Baltimore doesn't know
the blueprint for them to win right now, this isn't
last year. This isn't the year before where they were
an unstoppable, unstoppable offense and they had an unstoppable player
in Lamar Jackson where he could do things that other
guys can do. He had a ridiculous, unreal last year.
This isn't that year. So you played last week and
(28:56):
the must I gotta have a game. You ran Derrick
Henry thirty six thirty seven times and you won the game.
You're telling me a seventy percent Lamar Jackson can turn
around and hand the ball off and and steal more
fear and give more fear to the defense with him
being back there, even if he's not like this stuff
coming out about playing Tyler Huntley over Lamar Jackson, even
(29:19):
if he's seventy percent doesn't make any sense coming from
players coming from Shannon sharp Man, Please be quiet, I
agree that's making any sense I can't get over because
if you don't win that game, you can't live with yourself, Rob,
if you don't. If they don't win this game, wholesale
(29:39):
changes are coming, and I think they're coming anyway.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
But the Ravens that we know or have known the
last few years winning seventy seventy three percent of Lamar's game,
this is gonna all change. Yes, okay, this is this
is so I want to go down with my two
time MVP quarterback now, like again, if he he really
can't play and it's oh, of course injured, I'm not
(30:03):
putting the guy out if I really know. But he's
at practice, Like if he didn't practice all week and
you're trying to play him on Sunday's anah, yes you
know this. Yes, you're not practicing all week. You can't
play on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
I'm sorry. You gotta practice, you gotta practice. So he
practiced on Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Rob jeven said it, first time in a couple of
months he's had a Wednesday practice.
Speaker 9 (30:25):
I gotta feel like he's going to play. He's gonna play, right.
The fact that Hardball hasn't said it yet, that's just
and if that's for them, and if.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
They lose, it's okay. It's okay from the standpoint. You
put your best people in and it wasn't your night,
and you you lose. And now maybe this was the
ending of what we had here.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
We failed.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
We didn't get to the super Bowl. We didn't you know,
it didn't even give our chance. So it's a chance.
I told you I picked him the last three years.
I know you've been picking them because on paper, on paper,
they should win. When I remember Week one and they
go to Buffalo and put up forty points and lose
that game, do you remember, like of course, I remember
looking at the score going, oh my god, like you know,
(31:07):
like this this is the second year of Derrick, Henry
and Lamar together and they went up to Buffalo and
the opener and put up a forty piece and loss.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
And then wind up losing that game. Yeah, no, this team,
we know it.
Speaker 7 (31:22):
We both watched them very very intently, and we know
the makings and the inner workings of that team and
the organization those players, And this would be this would
be an abysmal loss and abysmal season if they don't
win this game, Robin make the playoffs. And so this
I'm going out with my with my top guns too.
(31:43):
If there's no way, if he's seventy percent, I'm not
playing them.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
If they don't win the game, regardless to who's the quarterback,
John Harbard has to be fired.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I agree.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
I just think it's time. And and he won a
Super Bowl. They've won a lot of games, but every
year has been disappointing. And Mike Tomlin too. Mike Tomlin
is another guy who enough with the finishing above five
hundred records whatever.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
They haven't won a playoff game since twenty eighteen. Dude,
that's a long time.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
You can't keep living off of the one Super Bowl,
which I'm not taking away from him or whatever. And
it doesn't mean you can't go somewhere else and and
be a new voice. And when Tony Dungee got fired
in Tampa Bay and won in Indianapolis, and it doesn't
make you a bad coach, No, it doesn't. It just
means that the time here, everything has an expiration date.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
Yeah right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
I was drinking the milk and then I realized it
was a little lumpy, and then I looked on the
date and I realized it had expired.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
If you if it took you that long.
Speaker 7 (32:43):
To realize, then that's the real problem.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
I couldn't have I couldn't imagine drinking lumpy milk. I
like Sarah.
Speaker 7 (32:54):
Am I right, no, And that's the thing, Rob, you
just need a breath of fresh as a new voice,
a new voice, and they're tired of hearing the same message.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
And how many times can you change it with you
still being authentic to who you are? Right? Yeah, And
that's where it is.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
And John Harborne said they've had way too many disappointments
for you to feel good about it.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Every way you can be disappointed, Rob,
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 (00:26):
All right.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
Now, let's welcome in Yogi Roth from the Big ten
Network of course analysts and the host of the y
Option podcast and Yogi Happy New Year.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Say hello to Kerry Rhoads here on the Herd. What's happening?
Speaker 5 (00:41):
A lot's happening. Happy to hear to YouTube as well.
Thanks for having me on, big fan of all the
work that y'all do. And it is a is a
beautiful morning. I'll be at a little rainy. We just
finished our pregame show as you refersent the Big ten
Network out here at the Roseolt and just kind of
getting going here with the organ game. So it's gonna
be a fun New Year's Day.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
How many why options can you still run?
Speaker 6 (01:01):
Right now?
Speaker 3 (01:01):
You still can run a couple of those, you know.
Speaker 5 (01:04):
I can get past the sticks and I'll get down
that's all I got.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
But I'm in all right, yogi.
Speaker 4 (01:11):
Let's go to last night's game, and you know, Miami dominated.
Should have been probably leading by three scores in the
first half.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
They're up by two. They dominated that game.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
And here's Ohio State hadn't played in twenty five days,
the number one seed. All that out the window, and
we look at it and now teams with the buys
are now zero to five in this new format. Is
this a problem in college football or not?
Speaker 5 (01:36):
Yeah, it's a cool question. I still don't think we
have all the data. I mean, talk to me at
the end of the night. You know, maybe it's a
different answer. I think that we do have in college football.
Number one. I think we got to give Miami a
ton of credit, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
No doubt, they dominated, They earned that win. I'm not
even trying to pooh pooh.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
Yeah, no, I know that, and you've always been that way.
I think what stood out to me in that game
for Ohio State earth was their last two games, they've
had moments. Their margin for error has just the surprising part,
it has been so small. Right Indiana, they had two
or three runs that almost broke They would have won
the game. If they make one of those plays, they
don't throw that pick six, who knows what happens in
(02:16):
the second half. But I'm with you, that was surprising
for me. I thought Ohio State would go and have
a chance to repeat.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
They don't.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
To your point on the layoff, we just got done
talking about Indiana's now twenty six days. Texas Tech they're
down early twenty six days, and I think it speaks
more to the calendar of we should be playing that's
the title game right now. Like you know, I started
thinking about it last night. The NFL, like the top
seeds still get buys, but they're only off for a week.
You know, they're not off for three almost a month,
(02:46):
So I think that they're going to look at this.
I think the calendar is getting just too much momentum
from coaches. I mean, look at the game you're watching
now in Oregon. Tash Lupoy, will Stein just get their
dream jobs to be head coaches, and they're coordinating a
team and all their folks is there. Brian Hartline last night, Yeah,
Ohio State, you could put your focus there, but you
also have to put it elsewhere. And I just think
(03:07):
it doesn't make a lot of sense. And what's going
to happen if we play this thing out of my
eyes in five years is college football just doesn't become
entertaining anymore outside of the games, and the NFL is
entertaining outside of the games. We love free agency, we
love the drafts, we love the portal. If you will,
I think college foot buck can learn a thing or
two from that, and I hope they do make those
necessary changes.
Speaker 7 (03:27):
Yeah, yo, Yeah, that's a great point. I mean we
kind of glossed over the Brian the heartline not being
able to call plays last night because of his new
job affiliation, and you know Day going back to play
call and do you think that had any effect on
the slow start or do you just attribute it to
the twenty five days off?
Speaker 5 (03:46):
I think it all contributes to it. I think Brian
Day is so accomplished as a play caller it's hard
to criticize him based on just his pedigree and what
he's always done. But it's been two years. It's a
fair thing to bring up when you add in the
twenty five days off, the injuries on the offensive line
they dealt with ad a different starting offensive line group,
and then they had to change excuse me again at
(04:06):
the half due to an injury. So I mean you
combine all those things plus Miami's strength was their front seven.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yes, yes, I mean them in.
Speaker 5 (04:13):
Indiana in Oregon. I mean you kind of talk a
lot of the CFP teams, but it's an explosive, violent group.
I mean that is their strength defensively. And two weeks
in or two games in a row, rather Ohio State
got exposed up front, and that was the thing that
I was most looking forward to in the game, because
you guys know this, when a coach finds a flaw
(04:33):
within themselves like Ohios Date did they give up five
sacks against Indiana? I think the six all season heading
into the Big Ten title game and they gave up
a bunch more again last night. I thought they would
have found ways to shore that up. They tried to
with tempo and getting the ball out, but ultimately it
just wasn't enough.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
How about Miami where are they now? Can they really
upset the Apple CARDA?
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Was this a one off?
Speaker 5 (04:56):
I'll tell you what, My favorite graphic thus far in
the CFP that we saw on TV last night was
since that game in two thousand and two, two thousand
and three, the national title game between those two teams.
I think Miami's only had four to ten win seasons
and Ohio State had something like eighteen. Wow, And that
I wrote it down somewhere that's clearly not in front
of me now, I apologize, but it was crazy to
(05:19):
see that. And you know, I've known coach crystal Ball
as you guys have for a long time, and I
think there is something that's cliche but accurating college football
when the U is back, when the Trojans are rolling like,
there is something to the to the blue blood's being
really blue because it's so easy to take shots at
him when they're down. It's also amazing to watch Indiana
(05:40):
and Texas Tech have this crazy elevation that they've never
seen in their historic programs, respectively. But overall, yeah, I
think it's real watching Mario rebuild Oregon within the trenches
and then pass it off to Dan Lanning who's taken
it to another level. And then when he left to
take over his alma mater, a just a program that
we all remember. I have no idea what Miami was
(06:01):
like back in.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
The day, wild guys, wild Yogi.
Speaker 5 (06:05):
Either I remember playing against Roll and Sean Taylor and
Jonathan Willmo like that what Ken Dor say? We played
those Jeremy Shockey It was awesome that back in the
old Big East. So yeah, I think I think they're
real and we'll see how this thing shakes out. But
can you imagine Oregon Miami, Like, how much song would
that be with Mario Christoball and Dan Lanning just for
the drama college football in the national title game?
Speaker 3 (06:26):
It would be.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Our guest is Yogi Roth from the Big Ten Network,
of course, an analyst and host of the y Option podcast,
joining us here on the Herd. Rob Parker Kerry Rhoades
in for Colin on this New Year's Day.
Speaker 7 (06:39):
Yogi with me, you cover the Big ten a lot,
and obviously when we look at the Big Ten in football,
I mean we think about Ohio State, Michigan. Obviously, Indiana's
kind of jumped in in that party in that mix up,
I'm runing against Indiana.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
We're gonna talk about that coming up. They're not the
little engine that couldn't They're not.
Speaker 7 (06:57):
No, no, no, but any other jointed the party with those two.
But we always talked about the Big ten and the
SEC being the pillars of college football, and I just
I think we put too much credence in that, and
I think individually some of these teams deserve a little
bit more credit, Like do you really think that the
Big Ten in SEC is heading shoulders above it? When
we talk about the full body of work of these
(07:17):
of these conferences.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Head and shoulders, I think is aggressive. And from the
lens of yeah, I used to work for the PAC twelve,
I know what it was like to be the only,
you know, one of the very few people you're.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Kind of fighting for a little exactly.
Speaker 5 (07:30):
Try to talk about the strength. And when I look
at the Big Twelve, I see the old PAC twelve
of a bunch of really good teams that you know,
beat each other in one score, high scoring games exactly.
When I look at the ACC, I'm a pit alum.
You know, it's still weird for me to think a
pit in the AECC and it's been almost damn here
twenty years for them being in that league. I think,
here's the truth that I've learned in the last two
(07:51):
seasons calling all Big Ten games and really even betting
myself within that league. And I say the same for
the SEC to go in nine conference games for the
Big Ten SEC thankfully think the Lord will go there
next year and get out of that week week eleven
game that majority of them have. It's brutal, it's just hard.
I mean, Minnesota is a tough out, sc a tough out,
(08:15):
Washington a tough out like That's the challenge. I think
as the years go on. And if you asked me
last year your biggest takeaway at the Big Ten, I
would have said, Man, I didn't think the quarterback play
was as good as I wanted it to be. This season,
it's been the best in the history of the Big Ten.
And I've checked that with Jered DeNardo, who's been a
Big Ten network analyst for nearly twenty years, and he
(08:37):
took co sign on that. And you look up and
down the league. Look at whether it's Demon Williams or
Dante more Mayava, Dylan Rayola at the time when he
was at Nebrass Gary. Look at Mark Ronowski what he
just did against Tennessee at Iowa like you start looking
at it. Drake Lindsay at Minnesota will not get a
lot of play, but he'll be drafted in two years.
He needs a big time pocket passer, so I started
(08:57):
looking at that and then when I talked to guys
in the portal, Fernanda Mendoza being one of them, they
want to come play in this league, in the Big
Ten or the SEC. So it's becoming the power too.
And I'll finish with this. What is surprising most in
my sidebar conversations with coaches and athletic departments is there's
a desire to get as they've called to the power too.
(09:17):
And I never thought i'd hear that, but that whether
that's resources, whether that's exposure, whether that's media, whatever it is.
But to me, the Big Ten is that they different
and it will surprise you. And then I guess the
last part was the fan bases, like the care factors
through the roof. I mean, it's crazy, man. I'm calling
Rutgers Purdue winless Big Ten teams in late September and
(09:38):
it's sold out, Wow West Lafayette Like that is a
really cool element. So I do think the diversity of players, scheme,
the quarterbacks and now finding their way coaches want to
coach in this league. The money resources have a part
to do with that, and then the tradition of course
carries it. So head and shoulders. No, but are they separating?
I think so. I feel that being embedded in it.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
All right, And Yogi, I would be remiss when I'll
ask you who you're named after?
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Oh yo, thanks for asking me. Yeah, often people think
it's Yogi Bear.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Well, well there's only two Yogi's Yogi Bear and Yogi
bearra right, there's only two.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Well, well, I'll at a thirteen. So my family, my
parents studied Eastern philosophies forever, so every kid got a
Hindu name as there as one of their either first
or middle name, and then the other one was Hebrew
because my mom was born and raised in the Middle East,
in Israel. So, uh, Yogi is like if you practice yoga, right,
if you're trying to bring some union to the world
(10:39):
in this chaotic world raw arguing, Right, you go to
yoga class, you get centered. They decided to give me
that name and tried to shake it early on because
the person near a kid in an athlete. Right, But
I'm really proud of it now and hopefully I can
do that and you know every part of my life.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Well, thank your parents for me, yes, thank you. Well,
that's awesome. And I always when I hear names that
you know you don't hear that often.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I always want to ask, you, know what I mean,
where they came from.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
But Yogi roth Man, we appreciate you. Thanks for joining
us here on the Herd. Thank you, Yogi heck you.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Happy New Year, enjoy and keep Kellen's enjoy watching you guys.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter n Am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 8 (11:22):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning
on my podcast, straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't
your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down
your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions
on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help
you win big at the sportsbook, and all the best guests.
(11:43):
Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with
Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (11:54):
All right, Carmen Vitally, she's joining us now of course.
Fox Sports Radio Weekend hosts Carbon Happy New Year, Say
hello to Kerrie road. Is Rob Parker here on the herd.
What's happening?
Speaker 9 (12:06):
Hi, guys, Happy New Year, Happy New Year, Carmen, what's shaking?
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Did you have a good New Year's Eve? Anything special?
Speaker 2 (12:15):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (12:16):
No, not incredibly special, though. We did go over to
a friend's house. She had a lovely house party and
it was wonderful, just kind of ringing in the new
year with friends. And now I'm parked on the couch
watching these Bowl games. There you go, these playoff games.
I should say, they're not just bol games.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
That's right. Things have changed, all right.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
Let's talk about the NFL, And so Lamar Jackson is
practicing and people still questioning whether or not what they
should do at quarterback, which I just can't understand.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
But well, where are you on this? Should should Lamar play?
Speaker 4 (12:51):
If he's seventy percent or sixty five percent regardless?
Speaker 6 (12:55):
I mean, I think you need to evaluate if sixty
five seventy percent Lamar is better than any other option
for you, because if it is, and I don't think
it's a it's just a question, right, And I think
the answer is probably yes. So I would I get
that you know, he's he's not one hundred percent, but
at this point, nobody in the season is one hundred percent,
(13:15):
So throw him out there.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
This is what you play for, colemin.
Speaker 7 (13:19):
Do you think if the winner of that Pittsburgh Baltimore
raven game, you know, obviously the winner wins division gets
in the playoffs, actually, you know, hosts a home playoff game,
But do you think either one of those teams can
actually win a playoff game. And if either one of
those teams can win the playoff game, which one would
you rather throw in the mix to be a disruptor
(13:41):
in the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (13:42):
You know, it's interesting because the Ravens, there was a
large part of this season where you know, it was
almost thought to be a lost season, and then all
of a sudden, you know, they're in this position where
they're winning in they're winning like they could win the
division still, and a lot of things have gone right
for them. And it's been my experience with teams that
the ones that can make the most noise in the
playoffs aren't necessarily the ones where things have gone well
(14:06):
for them. They were out the season where it's been
sunshine and rainbows, and there's been you know, it's kind
of a smooth sailing It's always been the teams that
have to overcome something and they have some grit to
them and some fight to them, and they know that
they're not out of it until they're out of it.
Speaker 3 (14:20):
So I don't know.
Speaker 6 (14:21):
I think I think both of these teams are capable
because of you know, they have good Like the Ravens
defense hasn't been what you want it to be, but
they've shown the ability to turn it on here and there. Pittsburgh,
I mean, defense wins championships and I think in the
postseason it becomes even more important. But I don't know.
I just I think the Ravens they've been able to
(14:42):
figure it out and get to this spot when we
didn't think that that was the case six weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (14:47):
So I'm going to go with the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
There you go.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
They heard I just and I just got admitted. All
year they haven't been able to put it together. And
I just every year ends up like like if they
would have lose to Pittsburgh on a fumble or something
at some point that would that would be so fitting.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
Because it just has been that way.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
What about the Houston Texans, they have a defense to
go to the Super Bowl I'm not sure about the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
And I'm gonna be honest, Yeah you said that. I'm
that serious about c J. Stroud.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
I've seen some glimpses, but I've seen the droughts as well.
Where are you on the Texans? And remember after his
rookie year, they all crowned c J. Stroud and now
they're going to the super Bowl and all that. Last year,
it took a step back in year two and this
year has been uneven. He was hurt some his numbers
aren't great, and they were winning with the backup quarterback
(15:39):
in their Carmen.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
Where are you on the Texans?
Speaker 6 (15:41):
I mean, what was different about this year? It was
that the Texans didn't have who was starting for them
on the offensive line until Week one. I mean, I
kind of go towards all right, what caused you know?
Speaker 10 (15:53):
C J.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
Stroud injury could have been mitigated. I know it's been
up and down for him, but we saw his ability
in that first year. I don't think that that just
goes away. And I understand teams kind of figure you
out and all that, but I've.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Seen second years.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
Jane Daniels won the same like like they do, they
figure out what your strengths are, and you have to
make another adjustment. That's all I'm saying, And not that
he's going to be a bum or anything, but but
there's a difference.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
People can't get crowned too.
Speaker 6 (16:22):
Early, No they can't, and nor can they be given
up on too early either, which I think we've seen
a bunch of times. And I think that you know,
the process of becoming an elite NFL quarterback isn't a
linear one and it's one that you need to have
patients with, and these teams really can't afford patients in
a lot of cases because of ownership pressure, this, that
the other. There's a ton of different factors. But I
(16:44):
think we as an NFL community really expect too much
too soon for too long with these guys, whereas we've
seen so many examples of five six years into their
career then they're they're you know, they clearly have command
of an offense and that you know, these these quarterbacks
don't enter their prime until they're thirty. And how far
away from thirty is CJ. Stroud. So I think that
(17:06):
there's adjustments that need to be that are needed in Houston,
for sure, But I mean that defense, and I mean
Will Anderson and Neil Hunter are just two of the best,
and if they can keep you in games, which they can,
I think that the Texans could still make some noise.
Speaker 4 (17:22):
Carmen Vitali joining us here on the herd of course
Fox Sports Radio Weekend hosts, and I do want to.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Slide in here.
Speaker 7 (17:31):
There's a so right now, somebody has to win the
NFC South, Carmen, and obviously Carolina has the upper upper
hand here. They kind of control their own destiny. They
win their in even if they lose. In Tampa Bay
wins and Atlanta wins, they went off with tie breaks scenario,
so there's some strange things happen in there. But if
Carolina gets in the playoffs, we've seen them beat some
(17:53):
really good teams and then obviously obviously have letdowns against
lesser teams or equal teams in their world. Well, but
do you see this team actually having a chance to
make make a run in the playoffs.
Speaker 6 (18:05):
I don't know about this year, to be quite honest.
I think there's still some glaring holes there. And I
do think that, yeah, well, like they have the capability
to beat better teams, but I think that also kind
of came out of nowhere for those teams, you know,
like that was not the narrative for that for the
Panthers early in the season at least. And then I
think more people have taken notice of the Panthers as
the season has gone on and they have beat some
(18:26):
of these teams. But then you think about what the
environment is once you get to the postseason and how
nobody's underestimating anybody at that point, you know, yeah, and
the margin for error gets that much smaller, and I
think that that's where some of those glaring holes in
that Carolina team would come. But like to your point,
somebody has to win the NFC salth and none of
these teams. It seems like a couple of years ago
(18:47):
where the Bucks and it was a fout Bucks and
Falcons like literally losing games trying to give the division
to one another. And you're just like, all right, like
someone has to step up here. And I don't know
that any of those teams are built right now to
do much in the postseason. But we've been wrong.
Speaker 4 (19:03):
Before speaking of the postseason. Is this a big postseason
for Sam Donald? Because very seldom do you win fourteen
games like he did with Minnesota and them not being
interested in keeping a guy right out a quarterback. He
goes to Seattle and he's had a really good year.
There's been some bumps, but he's had a really good year.
(19:25):
And where they are and people are still waiting because
in that game against the Rams, he turned in a
stinker in the first half, and people are like, there
we go.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
That's not oh, the narrative on him. No, it's not
a narrative.
Speaker 4 (19:38):
This is a fact, Like in these big games he
hasn't played well, but they came back, they won the game,
and whatnot. How important is it for him to win
a playoff game if you're Seattle and for people to
get off of the Sam Donald can't win a big
game talk.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
I think there's something to be said for the legitimization
of Sam Donald by winning a playoff game. I really do,
just because if you look at, you know, other good
quarterbacks when they have bad games, nobody's saying, you know,
they're they're they're they're a terrible quarterback. I mean, Matthew
Stafford turned in a sinker last week and people are
just like, well, he's still in the MVP conversation, still
deserving it.
Speaker 4 (20:15):
That'll be, that'll be seen. I mean, we got to
wait and see because you got to watch the mouth.
You can't talk about Matthew.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
I'm so Matthew Stabbord. I'm just saying, Matthew Stafford has
put together a body of work that lets you, you know,
he gets you get the benefit of the doubt with that.
With Matthew Staffert, Sam Donald doesn't have that luxury because
he doesn't have that body of work yet. And so
I think going going into the playoffs with as strong
of a team as Seattle has, with as strong of
a defense as Seattle has, and winning a playoff game
(20:45):
can go a long way into giving Sam Donald the
benefit of the doubt and saying, no, he is a
good quarterback. Sure can he turn in you know, some
some stinkers every now and again. Of course every quarterback can.
But do we actually think that Sam Donald is a
good quarterback? And postseason sixcess is the quickest route to that?
Speaker 7 (21:01):
All right, Carmen, I'm gonna put you on the spot
a little bit here, and I'm gonna tall, I'm gonna
I'm going to ask you to pick your represent representatives
of the NFC and AFC in the championship in the
Super Bowl?
Speaker 3 (21:12):
Do you who do you have?
Speaker 6 (21:14):
Listen, I had this pick going into the season. This
this Super Bowl matchup is still on the table, so
I don't feel as confident about it. But I'm not
one to back down from something that's still possible. I had.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
I had build Packers, Bill's Packers.
Speaker 4 (21:35):
About that, I'm not saying that I don't you should
change your pick, right, I'm just saying, right.
Speaker 6 (21:40):
I don't feel good about it, however, because it's still possible,
like I mean, and especially if it actually happens, then,
I mean, bragging rights would be infinite at that point.
I would never shut up about it.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
So no, you always got to stick to your pick.
Because I had the Packers and the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
That was my original pick. But he's picking Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
The I'm picking Pittsburgh because of what the Ravens have
done all year.
Speaker 6 (22:03):
You think you think pitt is going to get out
of the AFC.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
No, But I'm no, No, I mean, I'm picking Pittsburgh
to beat Baltimore, so that you know what I mean,
eliminates my pick, right, and like like normally you wouldn't
do that, but I just I really don't feel like
Baltimore has been able to put it together. And then
you're telling me Lamar is not going to be totally healthy.
You know, if he's a healthy Lamar, then then yeah,
I'm all in. I just don't know what I'm what
(22:27):
I'm gonna get. What was your original pick? I'm Ravens
and Rams?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Okay? Yeah, and you still feel good about the Rams
the last couple of weeks, Yes, they stink. They waiting
for they had the number one. Carmen had the number one,
see locked up ten days ago, and look at.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Where they are now.
Speaker 6 (22:46):
If you want to someone else, y'all didn't even bring
up the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 7 (22:49):
Oh no, we did not. But he's but Carmen, he's
he's a big believer in Caleb Williams. So am I,
But he's I.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Was on the Caleb Williams believing when everybody I was
talking about all he's going to be benched to half
the midway in the season and Ben Johnson doesn't like
him and all this other stuff.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
He's put together an unbelievable season.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
I mean, from what we've heard at the podium these
last couple of weeks, actually like it really seems like
something is clicked for Caleb where he's in command of
this offense, not just along for the ride anymore. And
everything we've heard from Caleb too is that they didn't
really like each other in the beginning, and that's consistent
with how Ben Johnson and Jared Goff's relationship developed as well.
Speaker 11 (23:27):
Ben is the exact.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
Same person every single day, from the first day you
meet him to you know, day one hundred into your relationship,
and that can rub people that's the wrong way sometimes
because he comes in very intensely and you know, he
has really high expectations and it takes a while to
kind of trust that. And Caleb kind of admitted to
that the last week, I believe when he was talking
about it, and so their relationship wasn't there, but it
(23:50):
is now and now that that relationship has gotten so
much better, and you can tell that Caleb is starting
to kind of see the field the way Ben wants
him to and the way Ben himself does. I mean,
this is a really good It looks like it's going
to end up being a really good pairing. Now, if
only the Bears can figure out their path rush and
their run defense, then then we can start talking about
real postseasons Chicago Paper.
Speaker 4 (24:11):
All right, hey, Carmen, we appreciate you joining us here
on the Herd. Carmen Vitality of course. Fox Sports Radio
Weekend host, thank you so much. Happy New Year, Carmen, Happy.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
New Year, Happy New Year, guys, thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and newon Eastern AM Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio FS
one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (24:31):
One of the biggest games, of course is Sunday Night football,
right the Ravens.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
That's in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Correct, That game is in Pittsburgh against the Steelers, and
the winner wins the division and gets the playoff and a.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Home game and gets a host of game, I mean
host a game.
Speaker 4 (24:46):
So somebody's coming to Pittsburgh or Baltimore, yes, for that
game and Rob g lay it out here because there's
a lot of stuff talking.
Speaker 10 (24:56):
There's some consternation in Baltimore. That word, that's a big word.
That is learned that from Southern Connecticut Tech State University whatever,
home of the fighting Rob Parkers in the best.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Box, Southern Connecticut State University.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
In New Haven. That's right, Okay, so big game.
Speaker 10 (25:11):
Of course, now the Ravens have had must win games
each of the last two weeks. That had win last
week to set up this week. Lamar hurts his back
in week sixteen, Snoop Huntley starts in Green Bay, must
win god to have a game, plays great sixteen of
twenty two oh seven and a touchdown.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
He ran for a others sixty yards.
Speaker 10 (25:28):
The big story, of course, Derrick Henry back runs thirty
six carries shout out nineteen nineties football rights.
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Then thirty six.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
Carries in the week before that. Would they didn't even
give him the ball in the second half.
Speaker 10 (25:41):
They didn't give the ball the last drive yet, right,
and then he didn't touch the ball after they got
up by I think eleven points. Yep, thirty six carries
to sixteen four touchdowns. So flash forward to this week.
Lamar Jackson gets his first Wednesday practice in about two months,
comes back from his back injury. We don't know exactly
how much he did.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
They haven't said that. Yeah, we do know.
Speaker 10 (26:00):
He's wearing a big flat jacket to prevent protect his
back in his midsection.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
I thought that was a fashion statement. Okay.
Speaker 10 (26:07):
So and even as of today Thursday at two pm Eastern.
John Harbass still has not said who is gonna start
on Sunday, Lamar Jackson or Snoop Huntley. But if you
ask mutual friend of ours, friend of the show, Shinning Sharp,
he has an answer what he thinks should happen.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
Take a listen. I'm starting Huntley.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
What what you're playing?
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Maddenpe each about real life?
Speaker 11 (26:30):
Yep?
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Man, please trick.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Just run the same form me.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
There's no need to start.
Speaker 11 (26:34):
Huntley because I know he's back there, so I'm gonna
ask him to do more. Is Lamar gonna be able
to get out of arms weight like Huntley did last
night when Green Bay? Has he looked like Lamar Jackson
since he's gotten back.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
No, not one not because he's coming off injury. So
therefore start Huntly.
Speaker 11 (26:49):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (26:50):
Oh my goodness, all right and there you go. My
thing is is cutting dry? Is that another turnover?
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Yeah?
Speaker 9 (27:00):
By Texas text stripsack, unbelievable? Where were they? Oregan is
gonna have the ball in the red zone?
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (27:08):
At the five, I think, yeah, it's gonna be ballgame here.
Probably yeah, let's go a touchdown here? Ball game?
Speaker 4 (27:13):
But but here here I am if Lamar's hurt. Carry,
I don't want him to play if he's not. If
he's hurt, Yeah, what does hurt mean to you? I
mean he can't perform like like he's out there like
you're trying to like, is a touchdown?
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Is a touchdown? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (27:31):
It looks like touchdown. Okay, so it's finally they broke through.
And what I mean is he really shouldn't be out
there playing. And I'll give you an example, Kevin Kevin
uh Durant in the NBA Finals.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Yes, okay, we all knew he shouldn't have been out there.
Would you agree with that? I agree with that.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
I don't think like they claimed all all the doctors
cleared him and all that. I'm like, well, who are
the doctors take their degrees? Because everybody was like, what
is he doing out there? And of course it happens
he wound up getting hurt. If he's seventy percent sixty
five seventy percent, I'm going to play him over hunt
I am. Yes, I'm sorry, I'm going to play him
(28:14):
and I'll try to protect him. Try to make sure,
you know, get the running game in there as much
as we can establish it, and then you know, what
I mean where I'm not asking him to be Superman,
but I want my two time MVP quarterback to play
him at seventy percent, is still better than Huntley?
Speaker 3 (28:31):
Yes, yes, right, and.
Speaker 7 (28:34):
Specifically going into this game where if Baltimore doesn't know
the blueprint for them to win right now, this isn't
last year. This isn't the year before where they were
an unstoppable, unstoppable offense and they had an unstoppable player
in Lamar Jackson where he could do things that other
guys can do. He had a ridiculous, unreal last year.
This isn't that year. So you played last week and
(28:56):
the must I gotta have a game. You ran Derrick
Henry thirty six thirty seven times and you won the game.
You're telling me a seventy percent Lamar Jackson can turn
around and hand the ball off and and steal more
fear and give more fear to the defense with him
being back there, even if he's not like this stuff
coming out about playing Tyler Huntley over Lamar Jackson, even
(29:19):
if he's seventy percent doesn't make any sense coming from
players coming from Shannon sharp Man, Please be quiet, I
agree that's making any sense I can't get over because
if you don't win that game, you can't live with yourself, Rob,
if you don't. If they don't win this game, wholesale
(29:39):
changes are coming, and I think they're coming anyway.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
But the Ravens that we know or have known the
last few years winning seventy seventy three percent of Lamar's game,
this is gonna all change. Yes, okay, this is this
is so I want to go down with my two
time MVP quarterback now, like again, if he he really
can't play and it's oh, of course injured, I'm not
(30:03):
putting the guy out if I really know. But he's
at practice, Like if he didn't practice all week and
you're trying to play him on Sunday's anah, yes you
know this. Yes, you're not practicing all week. You can't
play on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (30:16):
I'm sorry. You gotta practice, you gotta practice. So he
practiced on Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
Rob jeven said it, first time in a couple of
months he's had a Wednesday practice.
Speaker 9 (30:25):
I gotta feel like he's going to play. He's gonna play, right.
The fact that Hardball hasn't said it yet, that's just
and if that's for them, and if.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
They lose, it's okay. It's okay from the standpoint. You
put your best people in and it wasn't your night,
and you you lose. And now maybe this was the
ending of what we had here.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
We failed.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
We didn't get to the super Bowl. We didn't you know,
it didn't even give our chance. So it's a chance.
I told you I picked him the last three years.
I know you've been picking them because on paper, on paper,
they should win. When I remember Week one and they
go to Buffalo and put up forty points and lose
that game, do you remember, like of course, I remember
looking at the score going, oh my god, like you know,
(31:07):
like this this is the second year of Derrick, Henry
and Lamar together and they went up to Buffalo and
the opener and put up a forty piece and loss.
Speaker 3 (31:17):
And then wind up losing that game. Yeah, no, this team,
we know it.
Speaker 7 (31:22):
We both watched them very very intently, and we know
the makings and the inner workings of that team and
the organization those players, And this would be this would
be an abysmal loss and abysmal season if they don't
win this game, Robin make the playoffs. And so this
I'm going out with my with my top guns too.
(31:43):
If there's no way, if he's seventy percent, I'm not
playing them.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
If they don't win the game, regardless to who's the quarterback,
John Harbard has to be fired.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I agree.
Speaker 4 (31:52):
I just think it's time. And and he won a
Super Bowl. They've won a lot of games, but every
year has been disappointing. And Mike Tomlin too. Mike Tomlin
is another guy who enough with the finishing above five
hundred records whatever.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
They haven't won a playoff game since twenty eighteen. Dude,
that's a long time.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
You can't keep living off of the one Super Bowl,
which I'm not taking away from him or whatever. And
it doesn't mean you can't go somewhere else and and
be a new voice. And when Tony Dungee got fired
in Tampa Bay and won in Indianapolis, and it doesn't
make you a bad coach, No, it doesn't. It just
means that the time here, everything has an expiration date.
Speaker 3 (32:33):
Yeah right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
I was drinking the milk and then I realized it
was a little lumpy, and then I looked on the
date and I realized it had expired.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
If you if it took you that long.
Speaker 7 (32:43):
To realize, then that's the real problem.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
I couldn't have I couldn't imagine drinking lumpy milk. I
like Sarah.
Speaker 7 (32:54):
Am I right, no, And that's the thing, Rob, you
just need a breath of fresh as a new voice,
a new voice, and they're tired of hearing the same message.
Speaker 3 (33:01):
And how many times can you change it with you
still being authentic to who you are? Right? Yeah, And
that's where it is.
Speaker 4 (33:07):
And John Harborne said they've had way too many disappointments
for you to feel good about it.
Speaker 3 (33:13):
Every way you can be disappointed, Rob,
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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