August 22, 2024 • 41 mins
“J-Mac’s 6 Pack”: 6 teams that will prevent the Chiefs from winning their 3rd straight Super Bowl
Has Mike Tomlin grown stale in Pittsburgh?
Guest: Warren Sharp
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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 (00:27):
Our number two year on the Herd.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
To meet Jason McIntyre in for vacationing Colin Coward.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I think he's eating lobster for breakfast somewhere on the
East Coast.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I'm joined as always by Alex Curry. Alex, you're getting
ready to go? Should I say where you're going this weekend?
Speaker 5 (00:45):
And that's fine?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
As you going to Wisconsin.
Speaker 6 (00:47):
I'm going to a Curry family wedding in Madison, Wisconsin.
Speaker 5 (00:51):
Kury, Honestly, I mean he's my cousin.
Speaker 6 (00:54):
I tell everybody that the amount of people that believe
me when I say that is just like Chef's kiss.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
But yeah, no, it's gonna be a wild weekend. Five
man plight. Oh coming in hot.
Speaker 6 (01:03):
I gotta make the festivities, Yeah, all the Creed festivities
that we're staying at the coolest place. My best friend
has this barn out there that is just like a
funhouse for big kids, Like built like a stadium style
pickleball court, bowling alley, teeky bar, arcade games like video
like movie screen style, like.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I think jacketing game plan. So jealous of your lifestyle. Yeah, anyways,
I'll be carting kids around as usual. Anyways, So we
got a great guest coming up in about five minutes,
Warren Sharp, NFL guru gambling fantasy hot takes. He's got
it all. But before we get to that, I pitched
the staff this morning. I was like, guys, I know
(01:44):
we got some Chiefs fans in this building, in our
building in New York, Nick, right, but they're going down
this year. They are going down. There will not be
a three peat for the Chiefs. You can lock that in.
I've said it many times, I'll say it all season. Okay,
the Chiefs team is acceptable. This year.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
I have got six teams for you.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
One of these six I guaranteed will knock the Chiefs
out of the playoffs or beat them in the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
So are you ready?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Here is my Jmax six pack of teams that can
take down the Kansas City Chiefs. There's only six of them.
Let's get started with the Sinson Nati BEng goals. Listen,
they've already done it, Okay, they took them down in
Arrowhead in a magnificent game. They've actually had Patrick Mahomes's
number in the regular season as well.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
And I think there's a recipe for beating the Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
You either have to have a a great quarterback who's
gonna make plays. Alah Tom Brady a la Joe Burrow
the only two quarterbacks to beat Mahomes in the playoffs,
right or you need an outstanding defense. The Niners nearly
got them in the Super Bowl. I'm telling you, I
think the Bengals. Bengals right now are my pick to
go to the Super Bowl. In the AFC, I think
the Bengals can take down the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Next up, let's go to the NFC.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Doctor Detroit Lyons, Folks, our next guest is gonna say
a lot of positive things about the Lions. I'm on
board as well. Okay, I think this is a really
strong team. Usually when you make a deep run, people say, oh,
there's gonna be regression and pull back.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Like you said with the Ravens.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Not so Detroit, bringing back basically the entire offense. The
defense is improved, and they kept Ben Johnson. I'm sorry
you guys. Don't go in to Vegas next week. One
of my bets last team undefeated and the Detroit Lions
ten and zero is in play for this team.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Get excited, Lions fans.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Next up, let's stick in the NFC San Francisco forty
nine ers. You know it, My guy Rock Party had
the Chiefs beat in the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Ah still hurts, It's painful. I'm a believer in Party.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Now there are some red flags or some yellow caution flags,
if you will.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
With the Trent Williams and what's going on without you.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
I mean, I thought we'd have this stuff resolved by now.
But trust the process.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Now.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Listen, the Niners schedule's tough. Warren Sharp, I was going
through his book last night. I'm just telling you there's
a lot of potholes for the Niners. I don't think
they're gonna eclipse their win total, but in the Super
Bowl they would take down the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Next up, I thought.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
We'd save him for last New York Jets. Yes, it's true.
The Jets can take down the Chiefs. They nearly beat
him last.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Year in the regular season after falling behind like twenty
two to nothing.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Anyways, good potentially great quarterback on Aaron Rodgers and the
defense is what I love about this Jets team having
a chance against the Chiefs. Nobody on Kansas City scares
you except Kelsey. Jets really great out well defending tight ends.
I think the offense can.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Do just enough Brease Hall Garrett Wilson.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
I'm sorry Jets will beat the Chiefs if they meet
in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Final two. First up, Houston Texans.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I will admit I was late to get on this
Texans bandwagon.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I was slow to react to c J.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Stroud.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I remember fading him in the opener and.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Saw how wide eyed he looked against Baltimore. I was like, ah,
there's nothing special. C J.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Stroud was cooking last year.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
I know a lot of games were comeback victories and
some late game heroics, and they beat a bunch of
bad teams. That being said, this team's got a lot
of talent. The defense is very good. They got a
lot of new faces. I don't think they'll be great
out of the gate, but later in the season, they will,
and then I'm a believer in CJ.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Stroud.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
I was late to the party. I apologize to mister Shroud.
He has been amazing. And they add Steph Diggs. Look
out Kansas City Chiefs. And finally another team that narrowly
lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think he's either of them. Are the Lions for me?
Coming out of the NFC. I know a lot of people,
Where's the Packers? Where's the Cowboys?
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
This Eagles team sa Kwon Barkley adding a dimension of
Christian McCaffrey dimension, if you will, And I'm sorry. The
loss of luxurious Snead in that chief secondary is massive.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Who's gonna jam aj Brown?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Who's gonna stuff DeVante Smith on all those crossing routes?
Speaker 4 (05:51):
The Eagles offense is going to be a machine this
year now that they have a real offensive coordinator. I
like the Eagles as my sixth team that can take
down the Kansas City Chiefs everyone else. That's it, right there, folks,
That's it. Other than that, I mean, who am I missing?
Don't tell me the Buffalo Bills, don't I will hear
nothing about the Ravens. That's not happening. Those are my six.
(06:12):
All right, let's bring in our guests. He's outstanding.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
You know him. He's written for Fox, He's written a
great book.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Warren Sharp the founder of Sharp Football Analysis, host of
the Sharp Angles podcast.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Warren, how are you, man?
Speaker 7 (06:26):
I am doing great seasons approaching. I'm super excited.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah, excellent.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Did I miss anybody from the list of the six
teams that can take down the Kansas City Chiefs and
prevent the three pet which nobody wants.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
No, I don't think so.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
I think those are the most likely culprits. But I
actually think that the Chiefs are so much more well
positioned this year to get back to the super Bowl
than they were last season. So to me, the only
thing that's going to take them down is injuries. I mean,
if we really want to discuss that, because if you
look at some of the stats from last season, in
terms of what this Chief's offense was deal with, they
average only five point two air yards per pass attempt.
(07:03):
That was the lowest in the NFL since two thousand
and six. And the reason was they did not trust
anybody down the field. They did not trust those wide receivers.
They bring in Xavier Worthy, they bring in Marquise Brown,
They're going to be pushing the ball down the field more. So,
the questions arise, like, do we really think that the
Chiefs are going to rank below average on early down
offense this season, which is what they did last year
(07:25):
and they still made it to the Super Bowl? Do
we really think that they're going to average only five
point two airyards per attempt? Are they really going to
score the fifth fewest second half points of any team?
I mean, this offense was terrible in the second half
of games last season, and that's why betting second half
unders with such a moneymaker last year on Kansas City
Chiefs game. This offense is going to be much better
(07:47):
this upcoming season than they were last year, and I
trust Steve Spagnolo will make those adjustments on the defense.
Even though they lost the Jerry Steed, they were turning
almost everybody else, So to me, it's just injuries is
really the only thing that's going to de throw in them.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
In I saw some numbers on turnovers. Their turnover margin
was like minus eleven and they were still somehow able
to get to the Super Bowl. I also saw in
a fumble luck. I don't know if you saw this
in the playoff games. There were eighteen fumbles in Chiefs games.
They were covered thirteen of them, which is just unheard of.
That fumble luck, Like, come on, that's not gonna happen.
That punt return in the Super Bowl felt like the
game changed right there.
Speaker 7 (08:23):
Yeah, and fumbles and turnovers generally are going to go
the opposite way the next year, or at least regress
to the mean, which is why we look at fading
teams that had significant advantage in that. Now, during the
regular season they did not, but you're right, during the
playoffs they had a little bit of that go their way.
But they also last year played six consecutive games late
in the season at arrest disadvantage, which sort of compounds
(08:44):
things made them more or less limp into the postseason.
That's not going to happen this upcoming season. So I
just think this team's in a really good position to
get right back there.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
All right, let's go to my favorite team, the New
York Jets for Lauren Jets fan, we haven't been in
the playoffs forever. Rodgers is healthy. They just said he's
not going to play in the final preseason game. I'm
just curious to any concern with Rogers coming off the
achilles being an old guy and oh, by the way,
zero preseason reps behind a rebuilt offensive line, like that's
(09:15):
a lot of newness. Not to mention a bad coach
in Robert Solla.
Speaker 7 (09:21):
Oh you think he's I don't know that I would
view him as a bad coach because I view the
fact that he's gotten this defense to play to the
level that they have to be able to win seven
games the last two years despite arguably the worst quarterback
play in the NFL. He's got this team bought in.
They are still playing hard for him. What I think
is a problem. I agree, I worry about Aaron Rodgers
(09:44):
long term health and the fact that you know, is
his achilles going to be close to one hundred percent
by the end of the season. That's a massive question mark,
just like the big question marks that surround Deshaun Watson.
But there are a lot of things to look at
that this team should regress on from last year. They
were the number sixth most injured roster. Last year, they
ranked number minus sixteen in sack margin, which was number
(10:07):
twenty eight in EP eight lost just due to sacks.
That's going to be better without Zach Wilson back there.
They were minus thirty one in penalty margin, which was
the worst in the NFL. They played the fourth toughest
schedule of opposing defenses. And here's a crazy stat for you,
Jamack on the Jets offense. You know the average first down.
You know you're thinking it's a first and ten. The
(10:27):
Jets averaged first and ten point two last year. They
averaged over ten yards on first down. Because they had
so many penalties last season, that average to go was
the highest since twenty eighteen. So average distance to go
on first down of ten point two yards. So this
team was just behind the sticks from the very beginning
that we're not making it up on second and third down.
(10:49):
My biggest concern from the coaching perspective is just Nate Hackett.
I don't love Nate Hackett whatsoever, but Aaron Rodgers seems
to and hopefully the two of them can get on
the same page and make them happened for you as
a Jets fan.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
All Right, that's a lot of positives. Let's stick in
the AFC East. Mike McDaniel to a lot of noise
this week about the Brian Florees stuff. I'm just looking
past that and don't I got a lot of questions
about this Dolphins team. I know they were running hot
last year and looked incredible. I just wonder will defenses
catch up to McDaniel a little bit.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
They lost a.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Ton on defense, A lot of questions on the offensive line.
I don't have Miami as a playoff team.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Where are you on the Dolphins.
Speaker 7 (11:29):
I do think that they're going to be a playoff team,
but I also agree that they're vulnerable and fragile to
an extent. They have to prove it. They have to
prove that they can actually beat the good teams on
their schedule. They have to prove that they can win
games in the cold.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Weather if they're going on the road.
Speaker 7 (11:43):
But the one thing that was amazing to me is
the adjustments that Mike McDaniel made from twenty twenty two
to twenty twenty three. Remember too was getting knocked out
and sacked and was missing time from those injuries, and
in twenty twenty three they improved things a ton. That
offense line last year ranked number thirty one in ESPN's
pass block win rate metric, but yet they ranked number
(12:06):
one in the lowest quarterback pressure rate. How does that happen?
How does a team have one of the worst offensive
lines at allowing defenders to get past them, but the
quarterback ranked number one and lowest pressure rate. It's because
they were getting rid of the ball at the fastest
time to throw in the NFL. But despite the fact
that they were throwing the ball so quickly in terms
of getting it released from Tua's hands, they were still
(12:28):
pushing the ball down the field. They averaged seven point
two yards per attempt to win to a threw the
ball in three seconds or less, which was the second
deepest distance to travel on passes thrown within that target
depth or within that timeframe. But they were still averaging
the third most completions on those in terms of their
highest completion rate.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
So this is a.
Speaker 7 (12:48):
Team that was getting rid of the ball quick but
still pushing it down the field and doing so accurately
and consistently, and it raised the ceiling of everything with
this offense number two in success rate number two and
epa per past the time. So I thought this offense
is Mike McDaniel is going to work this offense to
the weaknesses of the defense. It's just there does seem
(13:11):
to be something lacking with this team. They've got to
get more out of the running game and more consistency
there to support the passing attack. But as long as
two is healthy, I think this team is a playoff
caliber team. You're right, their defense does take a little
bit of a step back, but I still think that
the offense is more than capable of making up that ground.
With Mike McDaniel in the way that he orchestrates this.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
And listen, I'm a huge McDaniel fan, possibly because you've
been hyping him so much, but you started to see
them struggle against some of the elite defenses last year.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Let's remove the Jets, who could do nothing offensively.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
But like, the Ravens really did well against them, The
Bills did well against them. Hell, the Raiders kind of
slowed them down in a memorable game that I lost
a lot of money on.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
It.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Just it felt like maybe McDaniel's high octane offense people
will slowly under catch up to a d Would you
say there's anything there or no?
Speaker 7 (14:02):
No, I do think there's something there. That's why I
was just very happy with the way that he made
a bunch of modifications in terms of the run game,
in the outside zone game last year to start the season.
What they need to do is continue to tinker all
season long. They can't just use the offseason to come
with some new, flashy things, roll them out the first week,
surprise a lot of teams early in the first half
(14:23):
of the season, and then teams, like you said, will
catch up to that. They've got to continue to put
new things into play all throughout the season, week to week,
game to game two, attack opponents weaknesses. I think they
need to do that a.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Little bit more.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
That is one criticism that I will throw their way.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
I am curious pivot to the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
So you know, historically people will see and I'm talking
about like general fans, we'll see a team finish the
season strong on the finished six and one hor I
guess the Bears case was like five and three, and
they'll think that that's something to build on for the
next season. But you crunch the numbers all the time,
and I swear there's no correlation between ending one season
strong regular season that is, and starting the next season strong.
(15:02):
Right would you agree with that, and if so, how
do you handicap the Bears who have a rookie quarterback
in Caleb, a new oc A coach on the hot seat.
There's a lot of new good players in Chicago, But
how do you handle the Bears?
Speaker 7 (15:17):
Well, I'm excited about the Bears, just like the rest
of the NFL. You know, there's no real value in
betting the Bears because everybody is on this hype train,
especially with their appearances on hard knocks. But as it
relates to you know where, they're just dropping Caleb Williams
into This is one of the best situations in my opinion,
that a first round draft pick can get dropped into
(15:38):
a first overall pick because of the support system with
this receiving core. Now, I think the offensive line has
been improved. It's not like a top five, top ten
offensive line, but it's better than it's been in recent years.
And you look at that receiving core and who they
have added, like if you just pair and take like
DJ Moore and take Keenan Allen, Keenan Allen and DJ
(15:58):
Moore just supplement one another so nicely. DJ Moore is
that man coverage beater He's one of the best in
the NFL at beating man coverage, and that's one of
the biggest weaknesses of Keenan Allen's game, especially over the
last couple of years. He just could not have success
against man coverage. But the opposite is true as well.
Keenan Allen sits in those zones, finds those zones and
is one of the best receivers in the NFL there
(16:19):
whereas DJ Moore struggles tremendously. So you pair these two
guys together, I think no matter what the coverage is,
Caleb will be able to look one way or another
and find a guy who's going to be getting open.
And then you supplement that with the number nine overall,
picking Roma Dunday at wide receiver, You've got great tight
ends there as well. I think they can be balanced
(16:40):
with their multi tight end sets if they want to
go that direction. I think the run game is going
to be fine for them. So offensively, I think this
team is in a pretty good position. Now, will a
young quarterback make some mistakes, of course he will do.
I expect the Chicago Bears to go to the playoffs. No,
I don't, but I think this team is going to
improve in leaps and bounds from what they've been. And
you know, think about it, this team has been a
(17:02):
team that's played pretty well early in games. You know,
two years ago they had one of the best opening
drive rates in the NFL in terms of scoring points.
They've just crumbled late in games. They've fallen apart late
in the season in some years, and so I don't
think that they're building on what they had last year.
I agree with your point there, but I absolutely believe
(17:23):
that this team is more than capable of getting close
to fighting for that winning record. I think their win
total is appropriate.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
So people who are listening to you closely, some gambling
stuff will have just been triggered. So I heard you
say Bears are a little overvalued. Everybody wants to bet
him right. And then I love this stuff about the
zone and the man, and I read that in your
book last night. Let's apply that to Tennessee Titans at Chicago.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Bears Week one.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
And you're probably not ready for this, but I just
looked up with the Titans defensive coordinators Denard Wilson.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
I don't know that much about it. I'm trying to
as a gambler.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
I'm trying to look at the tendencies because I saw
Caleb Williams is a five point favorite at home, which
is the largest spread in Week one for a rookie
quarterback in like twenty some odd years.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
How do you handicap a game like that?
Speaker 4 (18:07):
There's so much unknowns with how the Bears offense is
going to look under Caleb to this new Titans defense.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I mean, they added.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Snead and a bunch of dudes, But like, how do
you handicap a game like that a Week one for
the gamblers?
Speaker 7 (18:21):
Yeah, Well, the first place that I'd probably be looking
towards is the total in that one, and I'd be
probably looking to go over the total simply because you
look at the Titans. You just mentioned their poor defense.
I think the Chicago Bears offense can be somewhat explosive.
One of the most dangerous weapons are dangerous aspects that
a quarterback can possess is their ability to keep place
(18:41):
alive and to use their legs, especially downfield. Now we
know Justin Fields was able to do that for the
Chicago Bears in years past, but he didn't have the
pocket presence in the arm to make things positive happen.
And the other thing that Justin Fields did a ton
of is take just crippling sacks on third bounds, which
Caleb Williams maybe is a little bit more poised like
(19:02):
avoiding those. I also think playing at home Chicago, in
front of that home crowd might be looking to roll
up the score a little bit if they are so
fortunate to do so. Then you look at the other
side of the ball with will Lovis is a brand
new offense. They really haven't put much on film. They
got Brian Callahan, they got a new o line coach
in there, and I think that's a good old line coach.
I think that that's a good receiving core that they
(19:23):
have down in Tennessee. Will Levis loves to chuck the
ball down the field as well, So we could see
a number of explosive plays coming out of this game.
And you take into a consideration, you know, this new
kickoff rule, average starting field position a little bit better,
That's probably where I'd be looking first and foremost.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
That's great stuff.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
All right, final question, Warren, Let's go to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I don't want to put people to sleep there so
boring right now, but I got I gotta ask, like,
is this a quarterback controversy? It sounds like Russ they
just announced, is gonna play in preseason week three, which seems.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Unheard of for I think he's the only starter in
the entire league playing in week three. Just your thoughts
on Russ versus fields and then Mike Hemmeline situation.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
Well, to me, the Russ versus fields thing is Russ's
the guy, and then you pivot to fields if you
need to. I do think that this offense is going
to look similar to last year, and that they're going
to run the ball at a high rate because that's
what Arthur Smith loves to do. But they're going to
look different from how they visually are appear on the field.
They're gonna use a lot more two to three tight
(20:23):
end sets, heavier personnel. You know, the Pittsburgh Steelers use
some of the highest rates of eleven personnel. Last year,
Atlanta with Arthur Smith used some of the lowest rates
of eleven personnel. They used the highest rates of two
tight end sets. I think that's gonna help us a
little bit with some support on the ground and the
ability to throw the ball when the defense might be
playing run. Those types of things should benefit We also
(20:43):
saw the Steelers historically use one of the lowest rates
of play action, Arthur Smith one of the highest rates
of play actions, so we're gonna get a lot more
play action passing down the field out of this one.
Maybe some moon balls coming up out of Russell Wilson
down the field. But I do think they're lacking a
talent at the receiver position. I think that they're going
to have some strength at the tight end position. I
think Friarmouth is an interesting guy for fantasy football because
(21:05):
I think he's going to get a lot of targets
in this one. But you know, I still have my
limitations and concerns about the Pittsburgh Steelers as it relates
to their quarterback position. But one thing I will say,
their quarterbacks aren't worse than what they've had and their
offensive coordinator. Say what you want about Arthur Smith, he's
much better than what they've had there in terms of
Matt Canada and his predecessor. So I think the Pittsburgh
(21:28):
Steelers offense is going to be a little bit better
this season than it's been in years past, but it's
being viewed the exact opposite way because of just the
stigma associated with Russell Wilson.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Dang, yeah, I'm one of those guys. I'm not a
fan right now. But Warren Sharp amazing stuff. Follow him
on social media at Sharp Football and the book Sharp
Football announces great stuff. Thanks a lot, Warren. Thank you
all right, Warren Sharp, really good stuff. That's gonna his
Steelers take just now. Is kind of going to dump
some water on what I'm about to say coming up
(22:00):
out of the break listen. I think Mike Tomlin's time
in Pittsburgh is ooh not great? Can he write the
ship this season? That's next here on.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
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Speaker 3 (22:40):
Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
This is the herd Line News.
Speaker 6 (22:43):
Well, Jay Mac, let's start with the Broncos, because Sean
Payton officially announced yesterday that Bonix will be Denver's Week
one starter at quarterback. Now, Nicks will be the first
Week one rookie quarterback to start for the Broncos since
Hall of Famer John Elway. And here's Nick's talking about
what that means to him.
Speaker 8 (23:01):
Obviously, that's, you know, great to share with such a
great player like John Elway.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
You just want to get out there.
Speaker 8 (23:09):
And get the first win and ultimately compete at a
high level and give your team the best chance possible.
And so that's what my goal is at the beginning,
is just to give our team the best chance to
go out there and win games.
Speaker 6 (23:21):
Now, I'm happy for the Broncos and Sean Payton that
this this match is going to work, because it needs
to work for Sean Payton. You have to remember they
chose him over Russell Wilson. They're still paying Russ thirty
nine million dollars to play for another team. I was
talking to my girlfriend from NFL Network, Cynthia Freelan, who's
been covering the Broncos during the preseason, and she said,
(23:41):
Nicks just kind of walks around practice the facility with
such a confidence and such a swagger that you would
almost think that he was a veteran. It feels like
he's been there for a while. So just knowing that
he's already like as a rookie, having that kind of confidence,
having that connection with his coaches, with the guys on
the field, is kind of exactly what you want to
(24:02):
hear heading into the season. But we also heard from
Sean Payton, I think it was last week when he
shared when he knew that this was his guy, and
he said, what sixteen throws into the practice that he
had him there. So if they're connecting on this level
already right out of the gates preseason, Sean's one of
(24:24):
the greatest coaches of our generation, and now he has
a chance to mold and kind of elevate his guy.
He chose this guy, this was this this has to
work for Sean and the Broncos.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
And hearing that story about Nick's walking around, it's like
the stories of Russell Wilson were like he would kind
of go to his office and hang out.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Oh, he wasn't a locker room guy. Wasn't a teammate.
Guy did his own thing.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
But we heard that from Seahawk teammates and Bronco teammates.
He wasn't easily accessible. He was kind of what he
had an office, a like where the coaches offices were.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
And he would like send his underlings ideas and thoughts
to the offensive corner. They would like take the notes
to the OC. You got to be a people person,
I know. Not everybody's built like that.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
You have it if you are the leader of a team,
a leader of this franchise. The quarterback has to be
able to connect with everybody on the team. And we've
we heard stories about Tom Brady and how great he
was and how he was calling the guys, taking him
out outside.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Of the facility practices like that.
Speaker 6 (25:27):
That's the kind of connection that you want to see
from a veteran quarterback.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
But like he's he's a rookie and he's already.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
And listen again, not everybody is mister outgoing, vibrant personality.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
But like I got two young kids and I'm trying
to teach them. Hey listen, Yeah, you're meeting a lot
of parents around here. They could be giving you internships
in ten years. Hey, you got the outgoing or talk.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
I think public speaking is such an important thing and storytelling.
And you know Russ gets to the podium and talks
to the media, but is he talking to his teammates
does he not?
Speaker 6 (25:58):
Then that's when you ask is it a performs like right,
because there's been a lot of is it an act?
Is he playing the part of what it's supposed to be?
But there's not that actual internal connection behind the curtains,
Like he goes on stage and it's this amazing, like
eloquent like speech, like what he tells you what you
want to hear? Right, But are the guys that matter,
(26:20):
that are helping you get the job done? Are they
getting that same kind of attention and that same kind
of effort to build that relationships?
Speaker 3 (26:26):
Good to hear bo Nix is doing it that way,
and I'm rooting for him.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
You know, that opener against Seattle is a really tough spot,
and then week two against Pittsburgh and a tough defense
at Tampa at the Jets, like listen, don't bail, don't
sell bo Nick Stock.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
If they started out going four yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
Or even one in three, that's that's that's top and
then the Raiders have Wilkins and Crosby coming at breathing
down his neck.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Like, I'm just telling that McDonald defense in Seattle.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
Is going to be scary this year. People don't realize that.
I think they're a little under that interesting.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
But as we were talking about with the last guest stealers,
they could be a little shaky, could be in the
quarterback situation.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
We don't know what's gonna happen there.
Speaker 6 (27:07):
But yeah, no, it's not an easy schedule out of
the gates for Nicks. But let's move to Miami and
talk about Tua because his comments on former head coach
Brian Flores made news this week, calling him a terrible
person for his approach to coaching. Now, Flora's responded saying
how hurtful those words were.
Speaker 5 (27:23):
And how he's grown since then.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
Now, after this story made headlines, tua's new coach, Mike
McDaniels was asked if this will be a distraction, to
which he said absolutely not and honestly, why would this
be a distraction for Tua. He now has everything that
he wanted. He has the support, he has the belief
(27:45):
from his coach, and he just got paid I'm happy
for Tua for finally sharing his story, because that's not
easy to come out and be like, yeah, my former
coach told me I sucked and it hurt myself as
theme like that. That's a really hard position to be in.
And when you listen to his interview talking about it's like, yeah,
you start to believe it when someone tells you that
(28:06):
every single day, and you personally have to get yourself
out of it. And he got the perfect coach to
do that with Mike McDaniel, who believed in him, fought
for him probably to get this mega contract, and now
he has the support, he has the ability to win.
So now you go into the season, just be a goldfish,
have a short memory, forget this whole media situation going
(28:28):
around with Flores, and go out there and have that
prove them wrong.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
Mentality.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
I mean, we've all worked with somebody who's a total jerk, Yeah,
talks you down, and I haven't worked with somebody here
like a while back who was just.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Totally negative about everything.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
Would call me on the way on from a show off, Dude,
what were you thinking today?
Speaker 3 (28:45):
Saying that that that? And I was like, what all thinking?
Me saying it's like, come on, but you got to
be positive.
Speaker 4 (28:51):
And like, wait, I don't know if Flora's at all.
I think he'll bounce back from this.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
But yeah, like it's one thing like Alex, I think.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
We're all wired differently obviously, huh. But like, I know
this's gonna sound silly. I feel like I'm kind of
sort of impervious to criticism and like, if somebody tells
me out Jane, you've no idea what you're talking about,
I think you're wrong. And here's why. Like, I not
that I'm always right, but I don't let it bother me.
So now I'll screw up. Obviously, everybody makes mistakes. I
got you get stuff wrong, but like I just I don't.
(29:21):
I don't put a lot of stock in what some
people say about it.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
But it's also having that confidence. When you've been in
whatever industry you're at for a certain amount of time,
you personally have to get to the place where you're like, oh,
I don't care what you say. I know I'm great
at what I do. Like you can have your opinion
doesn't matter to me. Let it brush wide off, especially
in our age, in this age of social media where
everybody has an opinion, and usually if they're coming at you,
it's going to be a negative opinion. So it's just
(29:46):
you got to create that little positive circle around yourself.
Like no, Like if you wouldn't ask that person for advice,
why are you going to listen to their criticisms? Like
that's that's the kind of the bound that you need
to set with people in your life. And it's interesting
to hear Brian Flores say that he's grown since then,
so kind of admitting that, yeah, okay, I wasn't probably
(30:09):
the greatest leader that I could have been for my
player at that time.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
So it's the other thing is and it takes a
while to realize, but in the moment, I'm sure too.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
It was like, I don't suck. What are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (30:22):
Look who's still thriving in the league. And look who
is now? Brian floor is again he's doing all right.
Defensive coordinator, being a head coach, He's gonna have to
work to it. And so it just got paid.
Speaker 6 (30:32):
I got the coach, he has the support, he has
the belief, he's got great weapons, and this whole team
has swagger.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
From Tyree to Tua to McDaniel.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
The people criticizing you, What are they doing? And then
what are they doing? A couple of years later, They're
not anywhere? Like it's over for him.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
This is his support now, which I love because Mike
mcdainia's whole thing is just being so authentically yourself, like
just live out loud. I wish more people could have
the mentality and outlook on life that Mike McDaniel has
because he just goes out there. He enjoys what he's doing.
As you can tell, he doesn't really care what anyone
else thinks. He has his own like kind of way
(31:10):
of going about things. I just I love this man.
I love everything about this is.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
There almost a mclov and vibe going on with him,
like total nerd and then all of a sudden mclovey
gets a fake IV. He's dancing with the ladies at
the party. Dude, remember that Superman's rat. Oh so nerds rule,
j Matt. Yeah, I like to like to nerd rule. Yeah,
nerds are smart and make money. Yeah, it's a good
(31:36):
place to be.
Speaker 5 (31:37):
All right, let's move to San Francisco because Brandon.
Speaker 6 (31:40):
Ayut Holden continues as we draw closer to the regular season. Now, yesterday,
his head coach Kyle Shanahan gave a bleak update, if
you could call it that.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
Take a listen.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Oh so much has change? No, I'm just choking.
Speaker 8 (31:53):
No new updates.
Speaker 9 (31:54):
I'm sorry to keep being boring with that, but yeah,
I wish I was saying something different, but nothing's changed yet.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
Now, the good news for forty nine Ers fans is
that Ayuk is doing a hold in, meaning that he's
around camp.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
He's around the team now.
Speaker 6 (32:09):
I had forty nine Ers beat reporter Tracy Sandler on
my Fox Sports radio show this week and she shared
that everyone on the team feels confident.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Now.
Speaker 6 (32:19):
It's gone back and forth, but the feeling recently is
they're confident that they'll be able to get a long
term feel done. And then we heard Deebo Samuels on
up in Adams with k Adams and she asked him,
is this team a super Bowl winning team without Brenn
and Ayuk? And the way that Devo responded was, I don't.
I don't even think we have to worry about that
(32:40):
because Ayuk's going to be on this team. So when
you hear people that are in and around the organization
kind of have that mentality. And again, Ayuke's on campus, he's.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Doing a hold in, he is there.
Speaker 6 (32:51):
I think that kind of gives everybody the confidence that
they need that hopefully they get a deal done.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
I think it was a popular song when we were
probably a little younger in college or whatever.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
I think the singers of Vichy wake me up.
Speaker 6 (33:06):
That's that's just one of my that's like one of
my favorite ms. Let's say to that on my car
right in now.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
Anytime the forty nine ers come up as a topic,
just wake me up when it's over. When Brandon I
Yuka signed and Trump Williams is signed, just wake.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
Me up that.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
That's a good take in my head.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
It's a little bit if you listen to the lyrics.
Uh well, because I know the story.
Speaker 6 (33:24):
Yeah, he's all right, pe we mess this get let's
get back to positive.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Alex Curry with the news.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping that the
herd Line news.
Speaker 4 (33:35):
All right, Yeah, sorry to take us that little turned
a little detour coming up next to Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Not great.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
My things are happening in Pittsburgh that are not good.
Steelers fans lock in. But first Fox Sports Radio and
Tire reck are giving away a set of four new
tires every two weeks this summer. To enter and get rules,
visit Foxsports Radio dot com furnished by time Iraq tireraq
dot com.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
The way tire buying should be.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 10 (34:13):
Hey, it's Ben hosting The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller
with me and a lot to have you join us
on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking, what in God's
name is the Fifth Hour? I'll tell you It's a
spin off of that Ben Maler show, a cult hit
overnights on FSR.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Why should you listen?
Speaker 10 (34:28):
Picture if you will, a world where we chat with
captains of industry in media, sports, and more every week
explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen
to The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 6 (34:42):
Pease All Night in America on Fox as Bryce Harper
and the Phillies take on the NL East rival Braves
Or Hose alt Ay leads the Astros against Gunner Henderson
and the O's. It all begins tonight at seven eastern
on Fox. Check for the game in your area.
Speaker 4 (34:58):
All right, Pittsburgh Steeler are one of the most storied
franchises in NFL history, but they've hit a bit of
a rough patch. I'm looking at their seasons here online.
They haven't won a playoff game since defeating the Chiefs
eighteen sixteen in twenty sixteen.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
Obviously that was pre Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
So it's been a rough go for the Pittsburgh Steelers
and Mike Tomlins specifically. They had a great run and
now it's over and petering out.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
So they're trying the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
Room with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields not that inspiring.
I was looking this morning, absolutely stunned that the Pittsburgh
Steelers since Roethlisberger's left, they haven't really drafted a ton
of quarterbacks. Nothing's panned out. And folks, I know Warren
Sharp said some nice things earlier. I'm just telling you
the wheels are coming off this season in Pittsburgh. Here
(35:52):
is Russell Wilson about playing in the preseason finale.
Speaker 9 (35:58):
Yeah, we're all playing. I'm excited, excited to get back
on the field. You know what, last week was great
to be out there for the first time, you know,
putting the pads on and everything else, and and uh
and you know, obviously we didn't get to win and
everything else. But I think the big thing for us
is just you know, executing and and us making our
plays and doing our thing.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
Hmm. We're all playing with a smirk. You think they
want to be playing preseason Game three, guys, Mike Tomlin
had a good formula. It was working, it was thriving.
Ben Roethlisberger let it in the defense. The formula work.
Speaker 4 (36:31):
But you gotta pivot, you gotta change, you got to adapt.
Speaker 3 (36:34):
So a little story time with Jason.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
As you guys know, I'm a very accomplished youth basketball coach.
I got my kids. I think coaching your kids is
one of the most fun things you can do. So
I'm coaching them in hoops. And you know there's a
rule you can't full court press. So I'm like, all right, well,
half court press, and listen, it's youth basketball. Not everybody's
ready to handle the basketball. So I set up a
(36:57):
one two two press. As soon as you cross.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
I've got the.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
Fastest kid on our team wreaking havoc. I've got the
best athlete in the middle behind him stealing the passes,
and this worked.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
We rolled, Okay.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
So the next season, you think I'm gonna trot out
the same damn thing again. Now I started with it,
but everybody was ready. But I knew they were ready.
So what do I do In season two? I pivot
and I had options. We'll drop to a one to
three to one. We worked on that one three one
half court pressure. Then we got the two three zone,
which really confuses a lot and not a lot of
people can dribble into this zone. But bottom line, I'm
(37:31):
ready to adapt and the real wrinkle. Youth basketball coaches
take note, Manda man on four guys don't guard kind
of their least experienced player and have like your biggest
guys just roaming in the middle of the block shots
and rebound. It works, trust me, But bottom line, you've
got to adapt and have a lot of options ready.
You can't keep trotting out the same formula and expecting
(37:53):
it to work.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Enter Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
So Ben Roethlisberger, it worked, the defense, it worked. It
ain't working anymore. Mike, come on, man, don't be stubborn.
These numbers are staggering. I didn't notice this until the
commercial break.
Speaker 8 (38:10):
Just now.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
This is how many points the Steelers gave up in
each of their last five playoff losses. Thirty six to
the Patriots, forty five to the Jaguars, forty eight to
the Browns, forty two to the Chiefs. Are you sensing
a theme here, Mike, Tomlin? And then last year thirty
(38:33):
one to the Bills. So you're winning with defense for
fifteen years.
Speaker 3 (38:39):
It's not working anymore.
Speaker 4 (38:41):
This is an offensive league, Mike, Come on, man, what
are we doing? I looked this up from a Warren
Sharp's book that I was reading last night.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
Damn it, I can't find the exact nume. Oh here
it is. Here is guess you had the oldest defense
in twenty twenty three in the NFL. Take a guess?
Speaker 4 (38:56):
Wow, guess yeah, Pittsburgh winning with defense for the last
fifteen years. No, you're not winning anymore, Mike, Like Tomlin
is a smart guy. What's the quote that everybody says
he's forgotten more football than I'll ever know?
Speaker 3 (39:11):
Fine, I get it? Whatever, Okay, cool? Wonderful? Why aren't
you adapting? Things have gotten stale and if you really.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
Want to get bleak And I don't know how Stealers
fans aren't on this, Hey, front office, What the hell
are you guys doing?
Speaker 3 (39:26):
The new model?
Speaker 4 (39:27):
And I maybe I'll go along on this tomorrow. The
new model is draft a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Every freaking year.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
Okay, these are the last two quarterbacks the Steelers have drafted.
Kenny Pickett, okay, twenty twenty. Like an idiot, I thought
he could be decent.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
Last year.
Speaker 4 (39:44):
He's a backup somewhere, and then you got to go
back to Mason Rudolph in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 3 (39:49):
So let me get this straight.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
Ben Roethlisberger leaves, there's no secession playning a quarterback, and
in the last five years you've drafted two quarterbacks. What
are we doing in And again, I know the Steelers fans.
I got a couple buddies who are Steelers fans. They
always text me literally during the show. Oh, Jame, you
guys are being so hard on the Steelers. I'm just
(40:11):
being real here Again. The numbers and the data don't lie.
Mike Tomlin needs to tweak his formula and he's got
to do this pretty damn quickly. And I had a
bit of a hot take in the meeting this morning
about the Steelers. So Russell Wilson, We're just gonna go
ahead and guess he ain't the guy. You know, maybe
he will control the football and not turn it over
(40:32):
a lot, and it'll work great, and the Steelers will
win six games. Eventually, Justin Fields is gonna see some time.
And then what you're gonna realize is like Justin Fields
is a good athlete, but probably not the guy.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Here's who the guy is. To keep an eye on.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
If somehow magically the Steelers tread water and are lurking
and they need to make a move at quarterback, I
would just keep an eye on Ryan Tannehill, who's currently unemployed.
But but Mike Tomlin and the Steelers just watched another
unemployed guy, Joe Flacco, come off the sofa last year
(41:08):
and lead the Browns to the playoffs. Keep an eye
on Ryan Tannehill. You'll never guess who he has a
connection with. The new OC Okay in Pittsburgh, Arthur Smith.
There's a connection there. So at Pittsburgh fans, listen, man,
it's getting bleak. A couple other numbers. They were nine
and two in close games last year. That is total
luck and that flips all the time. Last three years
(41:29):
games decided by seven or less twenty nine, ten and one. Folks,
they're not duplicating that. It's over, Pittsburgh, start over, get
a new formula. Final Hour coming up, Lamar Jackson, he's
been feeling to heat this offseason.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
I'll tell you why he deserves it. That's next
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 (00:27):
Our number two year on the Herd.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
To meet Jason McIntyre in for vacationing Colin Coward.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
I think he's eating lobster for breakfast somewhere on the
East Coast.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I'm joined as always by Alex Curry. Alex, you're getting
ready to go? Should I say where you're going this weekend?
Speaker 5 (00:45):
And that's fine?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
As you going to Wisconsin.
Speaker 6 (00:47):
I'm going to a Curry family wedding in Madison, Wisconsin.
Speaker 5 (00:51):
Kury, Honestly, I mean he's my cousin.
Speaker 6 (00:54):
I tell everybody that the amount of people that believe
me when I say that is just like Chef's kiss.
Speaker 5 (00:59):
But yeah, no, it's gonna be a wild weekend. Five
man plight. Oh coming in hot.
Speaker 6 (01:03):
I gotta make the festivities, Yeah, all the Creed festivities
that we're staying at the coolest place. My best friend
has this barn out there that is just like a
funhouse for big kids, Like built like a stadium style
pickleball court, bowling alley, teeky bar, arcade games like video
like movie screen style, like.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
I think jacketing game plan. So jealous of your lifestyle. Yeah, anyways,
I'll be carting kids around as usual. Anyways, So we
got a great guest coming up in about five minutes,
Warren Sharp, NFL guru gambling fantasy hot takes. He's got
it all. But before we get to that, I pitched
the staff this morning. I was like, guys, I know
(01:44):
we got some Chiefs fans in this building, in our
building in New York, Nick, right, but they're going down
this year. They are going down. There will not be
a three peat for the Chiefs. You can lock that in.
I've said it many times, I'll say it all season. Okay,
the Chiefs team is acceptable. This year.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
I have got six teams for you.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
One of these six I guaranteed will knock the Chiefs
out of the playoffs or beat them in the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
So are you ready?
Speaker 4 (02:08):
Here is my Jmax six pack of teams that can
take down the Kansas City Chiefs. There's only six of them.
Let's get started with the Sinson Nati BEng goals. Listen,
they've already done it, Okay, they took them down in
Arrowhead in a magnificent game. They've actually had Patrick Mahomes's
number in the regular season as well.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
And I think there's a recipe for beating the Chiefs.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
You either have to have a a great quarterback who's
gonna make plays. Alah Tom Brady a la Joe Burrow
the only two quarterbacks to beat Mahomes in the playoffs,
right or you need an outstanding defense. The Niners nearly
got them in the Super Bowl. I'm telling you, I
think the Bengals. Bengals right now are my pick to
go to the Super Bowl. In the AFC, I think
the Bengals can take down the Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Next up, let's go to the NFC.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Doctor Detroit Lyons, Folks, our next guest is gonna say
a lot of positive things about the Lions. I'm on
board as well. Okay, I think this is a really
strong team. Usually when you make a deep run, people say, oh,
there's gonna be regression and pull back.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Like you said with the Ravens.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Not so Detroit, bringing back basically the entire offense. The
defense is improved, and they kept Ben Johnson. I'm sorry
you guys. Don't go in to Vegas next week. One
of my bets last team undefeated and the Detroit Lions
ten and zero is in play for this team.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Get excited, Lions fans.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Next up, let's stick in the NFC San Francisco forty
nine ers. You know it, My guy Rock Party had
the Chiefs beat in the Super Bowl.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Ah still hurts, It's painful. I'm a believer in Party.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Now there are some red flags or some yellow caution flags,
if you will.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
With the Trent Williams and what's going on without you.
Speaker 4 (03:51):
I mean, I thought we'd have this stuff resolved by now.
But trust the process.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Now.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Listen, the Niners schedule's tough. Warren Sharp, I was going
through his book last night. I'm just telling you there's
a lot of potholes for the Niners. I don't think
they're gonna eclipse their win total, but in the Super
Bowl they would take down the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Next up, I thought.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
We'd save him for last New York Jets. Yes, it's true.
The Jets can take down the Chiefs. They nearly beat
him last.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Year in the regular season after falling behind like twenty
two to nothing.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Anyways, good potentially great quarterback on Aaron Rodgers and the
defense is what I love about this Jets team having
a chance against the Chiefs. Nobody on Kansas City scares
you except Kelsey. Jets really great out well defending tight ends.
I think the offense can.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Do just enough Brease Hall Garrett Wilson.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
I'm sorry Jets will beat the Chiefs if they meet
in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
Final two. First up, Houston Texans.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I will admit I was late to get on this
Texans bandwagon.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I was slow to react to c J.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Stroud.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I remember fading him in the opener and.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Saw how wide eyed he looked against Baltimore. I was like, ah,
there's nothing special. C J.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Stroud was cooking last year.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
I know a lot of games were comeback victories and
some late game heroics, and they beat a bunch of
bad teams. That being said, this team's got a lot
of talent. The defense is very good. They got a
lot of new faces. I don't think they'll be great
out of the gate, but later in the season, they will,
and then I'm a believer in CJ.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Stroud.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
I was late to the party. I apologize to mister Shroud.
He has been amazing. And they add Steph Diggs. Look
out Kansas City Chiefs. And finally another team that narrowly
lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think he's either of them. Are the Lions for me?
Coming out of the NFC. I know a lot of people,
Where's the Packers? Where's the Cowboys?
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (05:33):
This Eagles team sa Kwon Barkley adding a dimension of
Christian McCaffrey dimension, if you will, And I'm sorry. The
loss of luxurious Snead in that chief secondary is massive.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Who's gonna jam aj Brown?
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Right?
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Who's gonna stuff DeVante Smith on all those crossing routes?
Speaker 4 (05:51):
The Eagles offense is going to be a machine this
year now that they have a real offensive coordinator. I
like the Eagles as my sixth team that can take
down the Kansas City Chiefs everyone else. That's it, right there, folks,
That's it. Other than that, I mean, who am I missing?
Don't tell me the Buffalo Bills, don't I will hear
nothing about the Ravens. That's not happening. Those are my six.
(06:12):
All right, let's bring in our guests. He's outstanding.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
You know him. He's written for Fox, He's written a
great book.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Warren Sharp the founder of Sharp Football Analysis, host of
the Sharp Angles podcast.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Warren, how are you, man?
Speaker 7 (06:26):
I am doing great seasons approaching. I'm super excited.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah, excellent.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Did I miss anybody from the list of the six
teams that can take down the Kansas City Chiefs and
prevent the three pet which nobody wants.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
No, I don't think so.
Speaker 7 (06:40):
I think those are the most likely culprits. But I
actually think that the Chiefs are so much more well
positioned this year to get back to the super Bowl
than they were last season. So to me, the only
thing that's going to take them down is injuries. I mean,
if we really want to discuss that, because if you
look at some of the stats from last season, in
terms of what this Chief's offense was deal with, they
average only five point two air yards per pass attempt.
(07:03):
That was the lowest in the NFL since two thousand
and six. And the reason was they did not trust
anybody down the field. They did not trust those wide receivers.
They bring in Xavier Worthy, they bring in Marquise Brown,
They're going to be pushing the ball down the field more. So,
the questions arise, like, do we really think that the
Chiefs are going to rank below average on early down
offense this season, which is what they did last year
(07:25):
and they still made it to the Super Bowl? Do
we really think that they're going to average only five
point two airyards per attempt? Are they really going to
score the fifth fewest second half points of any team?
I mean, this offense was terrible in the second half
of games last season, and that's why betting second half
unders with such a moneymaker last year on Kansas City
Chiefs game. This offense is going to be much better
(07:47):
this upcoming season than they were last year, and I
trust Steve Spagnolo will make those adjustments on the defense.
Even though they lost the Jerry Steed, they were turning
almost everybody else, So to me, it's just injuries is
really the only thing that's going to de throw in them.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
In I saw some numbers on turnovers. Their turnover margin
was like minus eleven and they were still somehow able
to get to the Super Bowl. I also saw in
a fumble luck. I don't know if you saw this
in the playoff games. There were eighteen fumbles in Chiefs games.
They were covered thirteen of them, which is just unheard of.
That fumble luck, Like, come on, that's not gonna happen.
That punt return in the Super Bowl felt like the
game changed right there.
Speaker 7 (08:23):
Yeah, and fumbles and turnovers generally are going to go
the opposite way the next year, or at least regress
to the mean, which is why we look at fading
teams that had significant advantage in that. Now, during the
regular season they did not, but you're right, during the
playoffs they had a little bit of that go their way.
But they also last year played six consecutive games late
in the season at arrest disadvantage, which sort of compounds
(08:44):
things made them more or less limp into the postseason.
That's not going to happen this upcoming season. So I
just think this team's in a really good position to
get right back there.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
All right, let's go to my favorite team, the New
York Jets for Lauren Jets fan, we haven't been in
the playoffs forever. Rodgers is healthy. They just said he's
not going to play in the final preseason game. I'm
just curious to any concern with Rogers coming off the
achilles being an old guy and oh, by the way,
zero preseason reps behind a rebuilt offensive line, like that's
(09:15):
a lot of newness. Not to mention a bad coach
in Robert Solla.
Speaker 7 (09:21):
Oh you think he's I don't know that I would
view him as a bad coach because I view the
fact that he's gotten this defense to play to the
level that they have to be able to win seven
games the last two years despite arguably the worst quarterback
play in the NFL. He's got this team bought in.
They are still playing hard for him. What I think
is a problem. I agree, I worry about Aaron Rodgers
(09:44):
long term health and the fact that you know, is
his achilles going to be close to one hundred percent
by the end of the season. That's a massive question mark,
just like the big question marks that surround Deshaun Watson.
But there are a lot of things to look at
that this team should regress on from last year. They
were the number sixth most injured roster. Last year, they
ranked number minus sixteen in sack margin, which was number
(10:07):
twenty eight in EP eight lost just due to sacks.
That's going to be better without Zach Wilson back there.
They were minus thirty one in penalty margin, which was
the worst in the NFL. They played the fourth toughest
schedule of opposing defenses. And here's a crazy stat for you,
Jamack on the Jets offense. You know the average first down.
You know you're thinking it's a first and ten. The
(10:27):
Jets averaged first and ten point two last year. They
averaged over ten yards on first down. Because they had
so many penalties last season, that average to go was
the highest since twenty eighteen. So average distance to go
on first down of ten point two yards. So this
team was just behind the sticks from the very beginning
that we're not making it up on second and third down.
(10:49):
My biggest concern from the coaching perspective is just Nate Hackett.
I don't love Nate Hackett whatsoever, but Aaron Rodgers seems
to and hopefully the two of them can get on
the same page and make them happened for you as
a Jets fan.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
All Right, that's a lot of positives. Let's stick in
the AFC East. Mike McDaniel to a lot of noise
this week about the Brian Florees stuff. I'm just looking
past that and don't I got a lot of questions
about this Dolphins team. I know they were running hot
last year and looked incredible. I just wonder will defenses
catch up to McDaniel a little bit.
Speaker 3 (11:21):
They lost a.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
Ton on defense, A lot of questions on the offensive line.
I don't have Miami as a playoff team.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Where are you on the Dolphins.
Speaker 7 (11:29):
I do think that they're going to be a playoff team,
but I also agree that they're vulnerable and fragile to
an extent. They have to prove it. They have to
prove that they can actually beat the good teams on
their schedule. They have to prove that they can win
games in the cold.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Weather if they're going on the road.
Speaker 7 (11:43):
But the one thing that was amazing to me is
the adjustments that Mike McDaniel made from twenty twenty two
to twenty twenty three. Remember too was getting knocked out
and sacked and was missing time from those injuries, and
in twenty twenty three they improved things a ton. That
offense line last year ranked number thirty one in ESPN's
pass block win rate metric, but yet they ranked number
(12:06):
one in the lowest quarterback pressure rate. How does that happen?
How does a team have one of the worst offensive
lines at allowing defenders to get past them, but the
quarterback ranked number one and lowest pressure rate. It's because
they were getting rid of the ball at the fastest
time to throw in the NFL. But despite the fact
that they were throwing the ball so quickly in terms
of getting it released from Tua's hands, they were still
(12:28):
pushing the ball down the field. They averaged seven point
two yards per attempt to win to a threw the
ball in three seconds or less, which was the second
deepest distance to travel on passes thrown within that target
depth or within that timeframe. But they were still averaging
the third most completions on those in terms of their
highest completion rate.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
So this is a.
Speaker 7 (12:48):
Team that was getting rid of the ball quick but
still pushing it down the field and doing so accurately
and consistently, and it raised the ceiling of everything with
this offense number two in success rate number two and
epa per past the time. So I thought this offense
is Mike McDaniel is going to work this offense to
the weaknesses of the defense. It's just there does seem
(13:11):
to be something lacking with this team. They've got to
get more out of the running game and more consistency
there to support the passing attack. But as long as
two is healthy, I think this team is a playoff
caliber team. You're right, their defense does take a little
bit of a step back, but I still think that
the offense is more than capable of making up that ground.
With Mike McDaniel in the way that he orchestrates this.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
Yeah, that's a good point.
Speaker 4 (13:34):
And listen, I'm a huge McDaniel fan, possibly because you've
been hyping him so much, but you started to see
them struggle against some of the elite defenses last year.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
Let's remove the Jets, who could do nothing offensively.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
But like, the Ravens really did well against them, The
Bills did well against them. Hell, the Raiders kind of
slowed them down in a memorable game that I lost
a lot of money on.
Speaker 8 (13:54):
It.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
Just it felt like maybe McDaniel's high octane offense people
will slowly under catch up to a d Would you
say there's anything there or no?
Speaker 7 (14:02):
No, I do think there's something there. That's why I
was just very happy with the way that he made
a bunch of modifications in terms of the run game,
in the outside zone game last year to start the season.
What they need to do is continue to tinker all
season long. They can't just use the offseason to come
with some new, flashy things, roll them out the first week,
surprise a lot of teams early in the first half
(14:23):
of the season, and then teams, like you said, will
catch up to that. They've got to continue to put
new things into play all throughout the season, week to week,
game to game two, attack opponents weaknesses. I think they
need to do that a.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Little bit more.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
That is one criticism that I will throw their way.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
I am curious pivot to the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
So you know, historically people will see and I'm talking
about like general fans, we'll see a team finish the
season strong on the finished six and one hor I
guess the Bears case was like five and three, and
they'll think that that's something to build on for the
next season. But you crunch the numbers all the time,
and I swear there's no correlation between ending one season
strong regular season that is, and starting the next season strong.
(15:02):
Right would you agree with that, and if so, how
do you handicap the Bears who have a rookie quarterback
in Caleb, a new oc A coach on the hot seat.
There's a lot of new good players in Chicago, But
how do you handle the Bears?
Speaker 7 (15:17):
Well, I'm excited about the Bears, just like the rest
of the NFL. You know, there's no real value in
betting the Bears because everybody is on this hype train,
especially with their appearances on hard knocks. But as it
relates to you know where, they're just dropping Caleb Williams
into This is one of the best situations in my opinion,
that a first round draft pick can get dropped into
(15:38):
a first overall pick because of the support system with
this receiving core. Now, I think the offensive line has
been improved. It's not like a top five, top ten
offensive line, but it's better than it's been in recent years.
And you look at that receiving core and who they
have added, like if you just pair and take like
DJ Moore and take Keenan Allen, Keenan Allen and DJ
(15:58):
Moore just supplement one another so nicely. DJ Moore is
that man coverage beater He's one of the best in
the NFL at beating man coverage, and that's one of
the biggest weaknesses of Keenan Allen's game, especially over the
last couple of years. He just could not have success
against man coverage. But the opposite is true as well.
Keenan Allen sits in those zones, finds those zones and
is one of the best receivers in the NFL there
(16:19):
whereas DJ Moore struggles tremendously. So you pair these two
guys together, I think no matter what the coverage is,
Caleb will be able to look one way or another
and find a guy who's going to be getting open.
And then you supplement that with the number nine overall,
picking Roma Dunday at wide receiver, You've got great tight
ends there as well. I think they can be balanced
(16:40):
with their multi tight end sets if they want to
go that direction. I think the run game is going
to be fine for them. So offensively, I think this
team is in a pretty good position. Now, will a
young quarterback make some mistakes, of course he will do.
I expect the Chicago Bears to go to the playoffs. No,
I don't, but I think this team is going to
improve in leaps and bounds from what they've been. And
you know, think about it, this team has been a
(17:02):
team that's played pretty well early in games. You know,
two years ago they had one of the best opening
drive rates in the NFL in terms of scoring points.
They've just crumbled late in games. They've fallen apart late
in the season in some years, and so I don't
think that they're building on what they had last year.
I agree with your point there, but I absolutely believe
(17:23):
that this team is more than capable of getting close
to fighting for that winning record. I think their win
total is appropriate.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
So people who are listening to you closely, some gambling
stuff will have just been triggered. So I heard you
say Bears are a little overvalued. Everybody wants to bet
him right. And then I love this stuff about the
zone and the man, and I read that in your
book last night. Let's apply that to Tennessee Titans at Chicago.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Bears Week one.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
And you're probably not ready for this, but I just
looked up with the Titans defensive coordinators Denard Wilson.
Speaker 3 (17:53):
I don't know that much about it. I'm trying to
as a gambler.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
I'm trying to look at the tendencies because I saw
Caleb Williams is a five point favorite at home, which
is the largest spread in Week one for a rookie
quarterback in like twenty some odd years.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
How do you handicap a game like that?
Speaker 4 (18:07):
There's so much unknowns with how the Bears offense is
going to look under Caleb to this new Titans defense.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
I mean, they added.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Snead and a bunch of dudes, But like, how do
you handicap a game like that a Week one for
the gamblers?
Speaker 7 (18:21):
Yeah, Well, the first place that I'd probably be looking
towards is the total in that one, and I'd be
probably looking to go over the total simply because you
look at the Titans. You just mentioned their poor defense.
I think the Chicago Bears offense can be somewhat explosive.
One of the most dangerous weapons are dangerous aspects that
a quarterback can possess is their ability to keep place
(18:41):
alive and to use their legs, especially downfield. Now we
know Justin Fields was able to do that for the
Chicago Bears in years past, but he didn't have the
pocket presence in the arm to make things positive happen.
And the other thing that Justin Fields did a ton
of is take just crippling sacks on third bounds, which
Caleb Williams maybe is a little bit more poised like
(19:02):
avoiding those. I also think playing at home Chicago, in
front of that home crowd might be looking to roll
up the score a little bit if they are so
fortunate to do so. Then you look at the other
side of the ball with will Lovis is a brand
new offense. They really haven't put much on film. They
got Brian Callahan, they got a new o line coach
in there, and I think that's a good old line coach.
I think that that's a good receiving core that they
(19:23):
have down in Tennessee. Will Levis loves to chuck the
ball down the field as well, So we could see
a number of explosive plays coming out of this game.
And you take into a consideration, you know, this new
kickoff rule, average starting field position a little bit better,
That's probably where I'd be looking first and foremost.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
That's great stuff.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
All right, final question, Warren, Let's go to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I don't want to put people to sleep there so
boring right now, but I got I gotta ask, like,
is this a quarterback controversy? It sounds like Russ they
just announced, is gonna play in preseason week three, which seems.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Unheard of for I think he's the only starter in
the entire league playing in week three. Just your thoughts
on Russ versus fields and then Mike Hemmeline situation.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
Well, to me, the Russ versus fields thing is Russ's
the guy, and then you pivot to fields if you
need to. I do think that this offense is going
to look similar to last year, and that they're going
to run the ball at a high rate because that's
what Arthur Smith loves to do. But they're going to
look different from how they visually are appear on the field.
They're gonna use a lot more two to three tight
(20:23):
end sets, heavier personnel. You know, the Pittsburgh Steelers use
some of the highest rates of eleven personnel. Last year,
Atlanta with Arthur Smith used some of the lowest rates
of eleven personnel. They used the highest rates of two
tight end sets. I think that's gonna help us a
little bit with some support on the ground and the
ability to throw the ball when the defense might be
playing run. Those types of things should benefit We also
(20:43):
saw the Steelers historically use one of the lowest rates
of play action, Arthur Smith one of the highest rates
of play actions, so we're gonna get a lot more
play action passing down the field out of this one.
Maybe some moon balls coming up out of Russell Wilson
down the field. But I do think they're lacking a
talent at the receiver position. I think that they're going
to have some strength at the tight end position. I
think Friarmouth is an interesting guy for fantasy football because
(21:05):
I think he's going to get a lot of targets
in this one. But you know, I still have my
limitations and concerns about the Pittsburgh Steelers as it relates
to their quarterback position. But one thing I will say,
their quarterbacks aren't worse than what they've had and their
offensive coordinator. Say what you want about Arthur Smith, he's
much better than what they've had there in terms of
Matt Canada and his predecessor. So I think the Pittsburgh
(21:28):
Steelers offense is going to be a little bit better
this season than it's been in years past, but it's
being viewed the exact opposite way because of just the
stigma associated with Russell Wilson.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
Dang, yeah, I'm one of those guys. I'm not a
fan right now. But Warren Sharp amazing stuff. Follow him
on social media at Sharp Football and the book Sharp
Football announces great stuff. Thanks a lot, Warren. Thank you
all right, Warren Sharp, really good stuff. That's gonna his
Steelers take just now. Is kind of going to dump
some water on what I'm about to say coming up
(22:00):
out of the break listen. I think Mike Tomlin's time
in Pittsburgh is ooh not great? Can he write the
ship this season? That's next here on.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
The Herd one more Herd. The Herd streams twenty four
hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app,
Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaker 4 (22:18):
During home emergencies, every second counts. That's why you need
Simply Safe Home Security with simply Save twenty four to
seven monitoring agents act within five seconds of receiving your alarm.
Visit simplysafecolin dot com to save twenty percent. Today, there's
no safe like simply Safe. Let's go to Alex Curry
with the news.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
This is the herd Line News.
Speaker 6 (22:43):
Well, Jay Mac, let's start with the Broncos, because Sean
Payton officially announced yesterday that Bonix will be Denver's Week
one starter at quarterback. Now, Nicks will be the first
Week one rookie quarterback to start for the Broncos since
Hall of Famer John Elway. And here's Nick's talking about
what that means to him.
Speaker 8 (23:01):
Obviously, that's, you know, great to share with such a
great player like John Elway.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
You just want to get out there.
Speaker 8 (23:09):
And get the first win and ultimately compete at a
high level and give your team the best chance possible.
And so that's what my goal is at the beginning,
is just to give our team the best chance to
go out there and win games.
Speaker 6 (23:21):
Now, I'm happy for the Broncos and Sean Payton that
this this match is going to work, because it needs
to work for Sean Payton. You have to remember they
chose him over Russell Wilson. They're still paying Russ thirty
nine million dollars to play for another team. I was
talking to my girlfriend from NFL Network, Cynthia Freelan, who's
been covering the Broncos during the preseason, and she said,
(23:41):
Nicks just kind of walks around practice the facility with
such a confidence and such a swagger that you would
almost think that he was a veteran. It feels like
he's been there for a while. So just knowing that
he's already like as a rookie, having that kind of confidence,
having that connection with his coaches, with the guys on
the field, is kind of exactly what you want to
(24:02):
hear heading into the season. But we also heard from
Sean Payton, I think it was last week when he
shared when he knew that this was his guy, and
he said, what sixteen throws into the practice that he
had him there. So if they're connecting on this level
already right out of the gates preseason, Sean's one of
(24:24):
the greatest coaches of our generation, and now he has
a chance to mold and kind of elevate his guy.
He chose this guy, this was this this has to
work for Sean and the Broncos.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
And hearing that story about Nick's walking around, it's like
the stories of Russell Wilson were like he would kind
of go to his office and hang out.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Oh, he wasn't a locker room guy. Wasn't a teammate.
Guy did his own thing.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
But we heard that from Seahawk teammates and Bronco teammates.
He wasn't easily accessible. He was kind of what he
had an office, a like where the coaches offices were.
Speaker 4 (24:59):
And he would like send his underlings ideas and thoughts
to the offensive corner. They would like take the notes
to the OC. You got to be a people person,
I know. Not everybody's built like that.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
You have it if you are the leader of a team,
a leader of this franchise. The quarterback has to be
able to connect with everybody on the team. And we've
we heard stories about Tom Brady and how great he
was and how he was calling the guys, taking him
out outside.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Of the facility practices like that.
Speaker 6 (25:27):
That's the kind of connection that you want to see
from a veteran quarterback.
Speaker 5 (25:32):
But like he's he's a rookie and he's already.
Speaker 4 (25:34):
And listen again, not everybody is mister outgoing, vibrant personality.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
But like I got two young kids and I'm trying
to teach them. Hey listen, Yeah, you're meeting a lot
of parents around here. They could be giving you internships
in ten years. Hey, you got the outgoing or talk.
Speaker 4 (25:48):
I think public speaking is such an important thing and storytelling.
And you know Russ gets to the podium and talks
to the media, but is he talking to his teammates
does he not?
Speaker 6 (25:58):
Then that's when you ask is it a performs like right,
because there's been a lot of is it an act?
Is he playing the part of what it's supposed to be?
But there's not that actual internal connection behind the curtains,
Like he goes on stage and it's this amazing, like
eloquent like speech, like what he tells you what you
want to hear? Right, But are the guys that matter,
(26:20):
that are helping you get the job done? Are they
getting that same kind of attention and that same kind
of effort to build that relationships?
Speaker 3 (26:26):
Good to hear bo Nix is doing it that way,
and I'm rooting for him.
Speaker 4 (26:29):
You know, that opener against Seattle is a really tough spot,
and then week two against Pittsburgh and a tough defense
at Tampa at the Jets, like listen, don't bail, don't
sell bo Nick Stock.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
If they started out going four yeah.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
Or even one in three, that's that's that's top and
then the Raiders have Wilkins and Crosby coming at breathing
down his neck.
Speaker 5 (26:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Like, I'm just telling that McDonald defense in Seattle.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
Is going to be scary this year. People don't realize that.
I think they're a little under that interesting.
Speaker 6 (26:58):
But as we were talking about with the last guest stealers,
they could be a little shaky, could be in the
quarterback situation.
Speaker 5 (27:06):
We don't know what's gonna happen there.
Speaker 6 (27:07):
But yeah, no, it's not an easy schedule out of
the gates for Nicks. But let's move to Miami and
talk about Tua because his comments on former head coach
Brian Flores made news this week, calling him a terrible
person for his approach to coaching. Now, Flora's responded saying
how hurtful those words were.
Speaker 5 (27:23):
And how he's grown since then.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
Now, after this story made headlines, tua's new coach, Mike
McDaniels was asked if this will be a distraction, to
which he said absolutely not and honestly, why would this
be a distraction for Tua. He now has everything that
he wanted. He has the support, he has the belief
(27:45):
from his coach, and he just got paid I'm happy
for Tua for finally sharing his story, because that's not
easy to come out and be like, yeah, my former
coach told me I sucked and it hurt myself as
theme like that. That's a really hard position to be in.
And when you listen to his interview talking about it's like, yeah,
you start to believe it when someone tells you that
(28:06):
every single day, and you personally have to get yourself
out of it. And he got the perfect coach to
do that with Mike McDaniel, who believed in him, fought
for him probably to get this mega contract, and now
he has the support, he has the ability to win.
So now you go into the season, just be a goldfish,
have a short memory, forget this whole media situation going
(28:28):
around with Flores, and go out there and have that
prove them wrong.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
Mentality.
Speaker 4 (28:32):
I mean, we've all worked with somebody who's a total jerk, Yeah,
talks you down, and I haven't worked with somebody here
like a while back who was just.
Speaker 3 (28:40):
Totally negative about everything.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
Would call me on the way on from a show off, Dude,
what were you thinking today?
Speaker 3 (28:45):
Saying that that that? And I was like, what all thinking?
Me saying it's like, come on, but you got to
be positive.
Speaker 4 (28:51):
And like, wait, I don't know if Flora's at all.
I think he'll bounce back from this.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
But yeah, like it's one thing like Alex, I think.
Speaker 4 (28:58):
We're all wired differently obviously, huh. But like, I know
this's gonna sound silly. I feel like I'm kind of
sort of impervious to criticism and like, if somebody tells
me out Jane, you've no idea what you're talking about,
I think you're wrong. And here's why. Like, I not
that I'm always right, but I don't let it bother me.
So now I'll screw up. Obviously, everybody makes mistakes. I
got you get stuff wrong, but like I just I don't.
(29:21):
I don't put a lot of stock in what some
people say about it.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
But it's also having that confidence. When you've been in
whatever industry you're at for a certain amount of time,
you personally have to get to the place where you're like, oh,
I don't care what you say. I know I'm great
at what I do. Like you can have your opinion
doesn't matter to me. Let it brush wide off, especially
in our age, in this age of social media where
everybody has an opinion, and usually if they're coming at you,
it's going to be a negative opinion. So it's just
(29:46):
you got to create that little positive circle around yourself.
Like no, Like if you wouldn't ask that person for advice,
why are you going to listen to their criticisms? Like
that's that's the kind of the bound that you need
to set with people in your life. And it's interesting
to hear Brian Flores say that he's grown since then,
so kind of admitting that, yeah, okay, I wasn't probably
(30:09):
the greatest leader that I could have been for my
player at that time.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
So it's the other thing is and it takes a
while to realize, but in the moment, I'm sure too.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
It was like, I don't suck. What are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (30:22):
Look who's still thriving in the league. And look who
is now? Brian floor is again he's doing all right.
Defensive coordinator, being a head coach, He's gonna have to
work to it. And so it just got paid.
Speaker 6 (30:32):
I got the coach, he has the support, he has
the belief, he's got great weapons, and this whole team
has swagger.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
From Tyree to Tua to McDaniel.
Speaker 3 (30:43):
The people criticizing you, What are they doing? And then
what are they doing? A couple of years later, They're
not anywhere? Like it's over for him.
Speaker 6 (30:50):
This is his support now, which I love because Mike
mcdainia's whole thing is just being so authentically yourself, like
just live out loud. I wish more people could have
the mentality and outlook on life that Mike McDaniel has
because he just goes out there. He enjoys what he's doing.
As you can tell, he doesn't really care what anyone
else thinks. He has his own like kind of way
(31:10):
of going about things. I just I love this man.
I love everything about this is.
Speaker 4 (31:15):
There almost a mclov and vibe going on with him,
like total nerd and then all of a sudden mclovey
gets a fake IV. He's dancing with the ladies at
the party. Dude, remember that Superman's rat. Oh so nerds rule,
j Matt. Yeah, I like to like to nerd rule. Yeah,
nerds are smart and make money. Yeah, it's a good
(31:36):
place to be.
Speaker 5 (31:37):
All right, let's move to San Francisco because Brandon.
Speaker 6 (31:40):
Ayut Holden continues as we draw closer to the regular season. Now, yesterday,
his head coach Kyle Shanahan gave a bleak update, if
you could call it that.
Speaker 5 (31:48):
Take a listen.
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Oh so much has change? No, I'm just choking.
Speaker 8 (31:53):
No new updates.
Speaker 9 (31:54):
I'm sorry to keep being boring with that, but yeah,
I wish I was saying something different, but nothing's changed yet.
Speaker 6 (32:01):
Now, the good news for forty nine Ers fans is
that Ayuk is doing a hold in, meaning that he's
around camp.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
He's around the team now.
Speaker 6 (32:09):
I had forty nine Ers beat reporter Tracy Sandler on
my Fox Sports radio show this week and she shared
that everyone on the team feels confident.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
Now.
Speaker 6 (32:19):
It's gone back and forth, but the feeling recently is
they're confident that they'll be able to get a long
term feel done. And then we heard Deebo Samuels on
up in Adams with k Adams and she asked him,
is this team a super Bowl winning team without Brenn
and Ayuk? And the way that Devo responded was, I don't.
I don't even think we have to worry about that
(32:40):
because Ayuk's going to be on this team. So when
you hear people that are in and around the organization
kind of have that mentality. And again, Ayuke's on campus, he's.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Doing a hold in, he is there.
Speaker 6 (32:51):
I think that kind of gives everybody the confidence that
they need that hopefully they get a deal done.
Speaker 4 (32:57):
I think it was a popular song when we were
probably a little younger in college or whatever.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
I think the singers of Vichy wake me up.
Speaker 6 (33:06):
That's that's just one of my that's like one of
my favorite ms. Let's say to that on my car
right in now.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
Anytime the forty nine ers come up as a topic,
just wake me up when it's over. When Brandon I
Yuka signed and Trump Williams is signed, just wake.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
Me up that.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
That's a good take in my head.
Speaker 3 (33:19):
It's a little bit if you listen to the lyrics.
Uh well, because I know the story.
Speaker 6 (33:24):
Yeah, he's all right, pe we mess this get let's
get back to positive.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Alex Curry with the news.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping that the
herd Line news.
Speaker 4 (33:35):
All right, Yeah, sorry to take us that little turned
a little detour coming up next to Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 3 (33:43):
Not great.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
My things are happening in Pittsburgh that are not good.
Steelers fans lock in. But first Fox Sports Radio and
Tire reck are giving away a set of four new
tires every two weeks this summer. To enter and get rules,
visit Foxsports Radio dot com furnished by time Iraq tireraq
dot com.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
The way tire buying should be.
Speaker 2 (34:04):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 10 (34:13):
Hey, it's Ben hosting The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller
with me and a lot to have you join us
on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking, what in God's
name is the Fifth Hour? I'll tell you It's a
spin off of that Ben Maler show, a cult hit
overnights on FSR.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
Why should you listen?
Speaker 10 (34:28):
Picture if you will, a world where we chat with
captains of industry in media, sports, and more every week
explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen
to The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller on the iHeartRadio app,
Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 6 (34:42):
Pease All Night in America on Fox as Bryce Harper
and the Phillies take on the NL East rival Braves
Or Hose alt Ay leads the Astros against Gunner Henderson
and the O's. It all begins tonight at seven eastern
on Fox. Check for the game in your area.
Speaker 4 (34:58):
All right, Pittsburgh Steeler are one of the most storied
franchises in NFL history, but they've hit a bit of
a rough patch. I'm looking at their seasons here online.
They haven't won a playoff game since defeating the Chiefs
eighteen sixteen in twenty sixteen.
Speaker 3 (35:18):
Obviously that was pre Patrick Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
So it's been a rough go for the Pittsburgh Steelers
and Mike Tomlins specifically. They had a great run and
now it's over and petering out.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
So they're trying the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (35:31):
Room with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields not that inspiring.
I was looking this morning, absolutely stunned that the Pittsburgh
Steelers since Roethlisberger's left, they haven't really drafted a ton
of quarterbacks. Nothing's panned out. And folks, I know Warren
Sharp said some nice things earlier. I'm just telling you
the wheels are coming off this season in Pittsburgh. Here
(35:52):
is Russell Wilson about playing in the preseason finale.
Speaker 9 (35:58):
Yeah, we're all playing. I'm excited, excited to get back
on the field. You know what, last week was great
to be out there for the first time, you know,
putting the pads on and everything else, and and uh
and you know, obviously we didn't get to win and
everything else. But I think the big thing for us
is just you know, executing and and us making our
plays and doing our thing.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
Hmm. We're all playing with a smirk. You think they
want to be playing preseason Game three, guys, Mike Tomlin
had a good formula. It was working, it was thriving.
Ben Roethlisberger let it in the defense. The formula work.
Speaker 4 (36:31):
But you gotta pivot, you gotta change, you got to adapt.
Speaker 3 (36:34):
So a little story time with Jason.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
As you guys know, I'm a very accomplished youth basketball coach.
I got my kids. I think coaching your kids is
one of the most fun things you can do. So
I'm coaching them in hoops. And you know there's a
rule you can't full court press. So I'm like, all right, well,
half court press, and listen, it's youth basketball. Not everybody's
ready to handle the basketball. So I set up a
(36:57):
one two two press. As soon as you cross.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
I've got the.
Speaker 4 (37:00):
Fastest kid on our team wreaking havoc. I've got the
best athlete in the middle behind him stealing the passes,
and this worked.
Speaker 3 (37:08):
We rolled, Okay.
Speaker 4 (37:09):
So the next season, you think I'm gonna trot out
the same damn thing again. Now I started with it,
but everybody was ready. But I knew they were ready.
So what do I do In season two? I pivot
and I had options. We'll drop to a one to
three to one. We worked on that one three one
half court pressure. Then we got the two three zone,
which really confuses a lot and not a lot of
people can dribble into this zone. But bottom line, I'm
(37:31):
ready to adapt and the real wrinkle. Youth basketball coaches
take note, Manda man on four guys don't guard kind
of their least experienced player and have like your biggest
guys just roaming in the middle of the block shots
and rebound. It works, trust me, But bottom line, you've
got to adapt and have a lot of options ready.
You can't keep trotting out the same formula and expecting
(37:53):
it to work.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Enter Mike Tomlin and the Steelers.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
So Ben Roethlisberger, it worked, the defense, it worked. It
ain't working anymore. Mike, come on, man, don't be stubborn.
These numbers are staggering. I didn't notice this until the
commercial break.
Speaker 8 (38:10):
Just now.
Speaker 4 (38:11):
This is how many points the Steelers gave up in
each of their last five playoff losses. Thirty six to
the Patriots, forty five to the Jaguars, forty eight to
the Browns, forty two to the Chiefs. Are you sensing
a theme here, Mike, Tomlin? And then last year thirty
(38:33):
one to the Bills. So you're winning with defense for
fifteen years.
Speaker 3 (38:39):
It's not working anymore.
Speaker 4 (38:41):
This is an offensive league, Mike, Come on, man, what
are we doing? I looked this up from a Warren
Sharp's book that I was reading last night.
Speaker 3 (38:50):
Damn it, I can't find the exact nume. Oh here
it is. Here is guess you had the oldest defense
in twenty twenty three in the NFL. Take a guess?
Speaker 4 (38:56):
Wow, guess yeah, Pittsburgh winning with defense for the last
fifteen years. No, you're not winning anymore, Mike, Like Tomlin
is a smart guy. What's the quote that everybody says
he's forgotten more football than I'll ever know?
Speaker 3 (39:11):
Fine, I get it? Whatever, Okay, cool? Wonderful? Why aren't
you adapting? Things have gotten stale and if you really.
Speaker 4 (39:18):
Want to get bleak And I don't know how Stealers
fans aren't on this, Hey, front office, What the hell
are you guys doing?
Speaker 3 (39:26):
The new model?
Speaker 4 (39:27):
And I maybe I'll go along on this tomorrow. The
new model is draft a quarterback.
Speaker 3 (39:31):
Every freaking year.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
Okay, these are the last two quarterbacks the Steelers have drafted.
Kenny Pickett, okay, twenty twenty. Like an idiot, I thought
he could be decent.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
Last year.
Speaker 4 (39:44):
He's a backup somewhere, and then you got to go
back to Mason Rudolph in twenty eighteen.
Speaker 3 (39:49):
So let me get this straight.
Speaker 4 (39:50):
Ben Roethlisberger leaves, there's no secession playning a quarterback, and
in the last five years you've drafted two quarterbacks. What
are we doing in And again, I know the Steelers fans.
I got a couple buddies who are Steelers fans. They
always text me literally during the show. Oh, Jame, you
guys are being so hard on the Steelers. I'm just
(40:11):
being real here Again. The numbers and the data don't lie.
Mike Tomlin needs to tweak his formula and he's got
to do this pretty damn quickly. And I had a
bit of a hot take in the meeting this morning
about the Steelers. So Russell Wilson, We're just gonna go
ahead and guess he ain't the guy. You know, maybe
he will control the football and not turn it over
(40:32):
a lot, and it'll work great, and the Steelers will
win six games. Eventually, Justin Fields is gonna see some time.
And then what you're gonna realize is like Justin Fields
is a good athlete, but probably not the guy.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Here's who the guy is. To keep an eye on.
Speaker 4 (40:45):
If somehow magically the Steelers tread water and are lurking
and they need to make a move at quarterback, I
would just keep an eye on Ryan Tannehill, who's currently unemployed.
But but Mike Tomlin and the Steelers just watched another
unemployed guy, Joe Flacco, come off the sofa last year
(41:08):
and lead the Browns to the playoffs. Keep an eye
on Ryan Tannehill. You'll never guess who he has a
connection with. The new OC Okay in Pittsburgh, Arthur Smith.
There's a connection there. So at Pittsburgh fans, listen, man,
it's getting bleak. A couple other numbers. They were nine
and two in close games last year. That is total
luck and that flips all the time. Last three years
(41:29):
games decided by seven or less twenty nine, ten and one. Folks,
they're not duplicating that. It's over, Pittsburgh, start over, get
a new formula. Final Hour coming up, Lamar Jackson, he's
been feeling to heat this offseason.
Speaker 3 (41:43):
I'll tell you why he deserves it. That's next
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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