September 17, 2024 • 32 mins
Colin gives the Falcons big time props for their comeback win over the Eagles and why they're silencing all their critics from the offseason. He gives you his top 10 NFL teams in the Herd Hierarchy with a shocking 0-2 team finding their spot in the rankings. Colin also talks to NFL insider Albert Breer to get some insight on Sam Darnold's resurgence with the Vikings and why the Jets offense is turning things around after a slow start
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of 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
Foxsportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on
the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
No Ride. It is Tuesday, after a great Monday night
live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may
be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making
us part of your day. Appreciate you stopping by. Maybe
I'll get my hair together by the end of the show.
What a wild Monday night. Okay, So all game, you're
(00:48):
like Philadelphia, They're home. I'm posting w and all of
a sudden you look up and you're like, what just happened?
You know what just happened? Jamac her Cousin's happened?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Nick Sirianni at this morn Oh my god, what was
he doing?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Holy cat? So I want to start with it. It
was exactly April twenty fifth, the Atlanta Falcons drafted Michael Pennix,
y'all went crazy. They were universally lambasted because they'd already
signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, so when they drafted
Michael Pennix, y'all freaked out. There was just one voice
(01:28):
in America who defended Atlanta, a beloved sportscaster here in
Los Angeles me and last Night's why my quote at
the time was, let me get this straight. Having a
four time Pro Bowl quarterback and the best backup potentially
in the league is a bad place to be in
(01:49):
all the Belichick siicaphans, and the fan boys because he
didn't get the Atlanta job. Oh, they came porn in
an avalanche criticism. Do you watch Kirk Cousins in the
second half last night on the road off the surgery
thirteen to sixteen, hundred and sixty sixty yards, two touchdowns
over one hundred and forty nine passer rating. Michael Pennix
ain't win in that game. Kirk Cousins is. Michael Pennix
(02:13):
also hadn't taken a beating like Jayden Daniels bo Nicks.
He'll be better on the bench than on his back.
He's not getting his confidence shattered I told you at
the time, and I'll say it again, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams.
I mean, these guys sound different after a two to
three game losing streak. They sound different. Pennix'll be fine.
(02:35):
This is very Mahomes, Alex Smith and Atlanta's good by
the way O line last night controlled the second half
run game, maybe the best running back room in the league,
tight end wide receiver strong and Kirk Cousins further record
in the last I mean second half last night was insane.
But if you go look at Kirk Cousins between Minnesota
(02:58):
and Atlanta his last ten Star arts, He's got a
one h two passer rating, completing almost seventy percent of
his throws. The dudes made four Pro Bowls. He's the
best quarterback in my opinion. I like Baker, but the
best quarterback in his division. Come on now, the move
always made sense. It is never bad in the NFL
to have arguably the best quarterback in a division. He
(03:20):
didn't sign a Dak contract, he didn't sign a Mahomes
or a he didn't sign one of those contracts. If
he starts this year and a chunk of next year,
you can move off it and move if he wants
to play. But it's amazing. There's a reason Belichick's on
TV and not coaching because he ran out of quarterbacks.
Atlanta's got two, So it's not the end of the world.
(03:41):
Philadelphia lost. This is a team that has a chance
to win their division. And for the record of c J.
Stroud is an outlier. Mahomes sat for a year, Lamar
sat for ten games. Kirk Cousins in two years, played
four games to start. You're seeing these older quarterbacks. You're
seeing people who are pushed to the side, they're doing fights.
(04:02):
The young guys that are man overboard. You think Penix
wins that game, you want Pennix on his back.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I don't so.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Atlanta's got an excellent offensive line at excellent running backs,
above average weapons. I like their coach, and a veteran
quarterback who controlled the game in the second half on
the road. Every fan base, I mean every single fan base.
There's no patience in this league, right and if if
your moves don't pay off immediately, every fan base in
(04:29):
the NFL would take a top outside of maybe Kansas City,
would take a top ten quarterback, top twelve quarterback in
the league and the best backup, and you're all freaking out.
Atlanta's good. Green base done it three times. This is
what Green Bay does. They draft a really good guy,
let him sit and watch football for a few years.
I don't know, Farv Rogers, Jordan Love. It's paid off
three times, so.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I watched this game last night. Everybody's freaking out. I
picked Atlanta to win twelve games. I picked him to
arguably fight for number one seed. The first win. It
was a disadvantage because their former coach was the Steelers
offensive coordinatory knew all their personnel. That was a coaching disadvantage.
But last night my staff made fun of me. Yesterday
I came into the morning meeting, I'm like, I like
(05:13):
Itlanta to win. I think Atlanta and they're all like,
don't say that on the air. Literally, don't say it
on the air. I think Atlanta can play. I think
they have, arguably after Detroit, the best offensive line in
the league. And everybody always craps on Kirk Cousins. You
watched the second half, he said, who watched that final draft?
Bang bang bang bang bang touchdown game over? Here's Kirk
after you.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Know, it's so important to find ways to win. And
that's how you put together a great season is you know,
when you have these games that could go either way,
you find a way to have it break your way.
And that's the way this league is. And so when
we can find those inches, it can really change the
tail of the season. So we're gonna have more of
those up ahead, and we're gonna have to keep Bud,
(05:54):
you know, as a whole team, finding ways to make
the place to get it done.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Okay, now let's talk Philadelphia, a very popular team. I'm
actually concerned about the state of Pennsylvania. You do realize,
if you look at all the polling, you're going to
decide the presidential election. We need adults in the room here,
not throwing a tantrum every time you lose a football game. Folks,
(06:19):
Saquon catches the football, you're two to zero. You beat
a team if he catches the football in Green Bay
that could win their division and Atlanta could win theirs.
Kirkcuzes is good. It happens. It's football. Your division's a mess.
Giants Washington don't look very good. Dallas is typical Dallas
roller coaster. You'll be fine, now, Nick Sirianni's not Andy Reid.
(06:39):
Who is? There's one people even complain this weekend about
Kyle Shanahan, Sean mcvazo and two John harbaughzoh and two. Yeah,
you don't have Andy Reid, but Aj Brown, your number
one receiver, did not play. That is a thing. You
can defend Philadelphia much differently when Aj Brown's not on
the field for most of the game, you look like
the better team. You also have a very expensive offense,
(07:04):
and because of that, there's some liabilities or weaknesses on
the back end. You know what you really are and
you should take pride in this. You're really the opposite
of the Steelers. You're great at quarterback. You spend your
money on offense, but you're not probably don't trust your
defense to win a Super Bowl. Would rather be the
(07:24):
Steelers who spend all their money on defense and that
quarterback room is just not good enough. Two to zero start, Yeah,
check back in eight weeks. So it's I mean, Philadelphia
is going to win their division, I would imagine, and
then ultimately at some point late in the season they're
gonna lose a game in January or maybe February. They
just can't make a stop. Okay, but that's because nobody
(07:48):
is stopping Patrick Mahomes right. No, as Cincinnati a really
good team with a great pass rush, they couldn't stop
enough to win. So Jalen Hurt, Let's look at the
good news. Jalen Hurts back to being dynamic. Jalen Hurts
was something A J. Brown's returning. Saquon Barkley. Say whatever
you want to say about Saquon Barkley, clearly a really
(08:11):
good player who just dropped a ball. Your offensive lines
top five in the league. You're deciding our democracy. I
need you to take a deep breath. Everything is going
to be okay. Now we'll check back on November fifth
on your decision, but everything is going to be okay.
Saquon catches it. You're two to zero over two teams
(08:32):
that could win a division.
Speaker 6 (08:33):
Here's the coach we wanted to They were they were
running a certain defense and they're junking it up in
the middle. So we're trying to go on around the outside,
and you know it didn't work. With it being fourth
and three to go for I thought, you know, with
them not having any timeouts, I wanted to be down
a touchdown and see if they could drive the field
(08:54):
and they did. Hats off to them.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah, it hats off to Atlanta. You know it's funny
about this is that there are certain quarterbacks. Look who
is doing well at quarterback in this league. Sam Darnold,
Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr last night, Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith,
lot of reps. Older guys been around the league in
the first two weeks of the season. When you know
(09:16):
no starters are playing in the preseason, offensive lines are
out of rhythm. Atlanta was a tough, tough game last night. Okay,
you know who is flourishing veteran quarterbacks who have been
around the block since no starters are playing in the preseason.
The Bakers and Sam Darnold's they look pretty good. Geno's
(09:37):
doing well, and Kirk Cousins last night with a good
offensive line. That was a tough game for Philadelphia. Atlanta's.
Don't pushover, but take a deep breath. Nick Seriani has
been to a Super Bowl. He can't be that terrible.
Not a lot of terrible coaches end up there. He's
not a top five coach. They're not terrible. Listen in Dallas,
they don't like their coach in New York. They got
(10:00):
good coach. They don't like. They don't like Brian da
bol like it's an epidemic. Take a deep breath. You're
gonna be fine, all right, j Mac. That first of all,
wildly entertaining football game.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Wildly entertaining opening ramp from you, huh, Falcons everything fine.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
They were like they should be zero to two this morning.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
We would be laughing at them for letting the Jagles
walk up and down the field.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
This is not a should be league. I know, it
is a what's the final score league? Pittsburgh's two and
o Ravens oh and two? It should be Pittsburgh's oh
and two And the Ravens are two and oh by
a toe but and they led the Raiders late. But
it's not a should be league.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
And Pittsburgh looks like it's headed too three and oh
if you've seen this justin Herbert update where he's definitely
not mobile and not looking good.
Speaker 7 (10:45):
And now Pittsburgh might be three and oh and they have.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
One offensive touchdown?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
What a league?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
What a start to the season? Banana? Last night was
it was hey, here, listen, Jalen Hurts look good, Yeah,
Jalen Hurts look good. He's fine.
Speaker 7 (10:58):
He did with no AJ Brown.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
By the way, I'm an any deep passes. Did they
complete passes over twenty yards last night? None? No offense
without a J.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Brown.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
That's right, so they'll be good.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Here's our hurd hierarchy.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Heard Hierarchy time Now, No go the top ten NFL
teams according to College Number ten.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Yeah, their next four opponents are one and seven. The
Bengals are fined at zero and two. If you can
go to arrowhead against maybe the best defense in the league, arguably,
Andy Reid has extra time mahomes and shut down Travis
Kelcey and outplay the Chiefs double their yards in the fourth,
you're fine. Zach Taylor's teams don't do well in September.
(11:48):
Joe Burrow doesn't do well again. I'll say it again
about the time pumpkin spice lattes are available at Starbucks.
That's when they're good. T Higgins coming back. I like
this team, quarterback, pass rush weapons, I like him. I
don't care they're all in two. That team can beat
anybody anywhere, Anywhether I do think they missed Joe Mixon
(12:09):
a little bit, we'll see. I like the team Fangals.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Ten number nine.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Listen, the Niners have the second highest graded offense in
the league. Now, they're beat up offensively. That's why I
put him back at nine. Here's what I really worry about.
Brock Perty's been sacked eight times in two games. And
I don't look at the Vikings as having one of
the better pass rushes. So they're beat up and they're
not protecting brock Purty. But thank god, you know, they
(12:33):
still have a very good deck without Deebo and Christian McCaffrey.
Shanahan's remarkable, but they're not the same team without McCaffrey
and Deebo. They're not. That's why I put them nine.
Number eight. I don't know what to do with the Seahawks.
Gino Smith, to his credit, like Baker Mayfield playing really well.
Dude's completing seventy four percent of his throws. Well, he's
played this team and he's played that team. Here's all
I know. The last two drafts were excellent. In fact,
(12:55):
I could argue the last three drafts are excellent, and
I'm seeing this young defensive code. It's like a Demico.
Ryans do really cool things. DK Metcalf, Jackson Smith and
Jigba are tremendous, and Tyler Lockett I love their weapons
running back, tight end, wide receiver, and I've been critical
at Gino Smith. You can win a lot of games
in this league when your quarterback is a big guy
(13:17):
that's accurate at seventy four percent. I put them at
eight number seven. The Bucks. I buy into it again.
Baker's playing his butt off eight and two over his
last ten starts. He and Chris Godwin are totally connecting now.
The Denver game this week is sneaky and they're you
know right now. Though, to go to Detroit, I own.
(13:37):
They went in there all banged up, an injury riddled,
and they won. So I buy Tampa. I buy Baker.
He's playing with a ton of confidence. I've always thought
Todd Bowles a good defensive coach in New York. He
just I didn't think he was quite ready for New York.
If his first job would have been in Tampa may
have been different. But in New York they're impatient. I
like the coach, and I like the quarterback. I have
them at seven number six. The Vikings, I don't know
(13:58):
how long it's gonna last. I mean they leave the
NFL with eleven sacks. I don't think that's gonna last
over the course of a season. But they are nine
to zero under this head coach, Kevin O'Connell when they
tie or win the turnover battle. So I mean he's
cleaned up Sam Donald significantly. That's what he does. He
is the quarterback whisper the tall Sean McVay. He is
Sam Darnald. I mean even the Fred Warner interception. Fred
(14:21):
Warner is the best linebacker in football. How many other
linebackers get that ball? I mean, Donald led a game winning,
clinching drive without Jefferson Addison and TJ. Hawkinson. I think
we may have the best young coach in football in Minnesota.
I have the Vikings at six, number five. I like
the Saints. Let's not go crazy. I need one more
week of the Saints. Derek Carr. I gotta give him credit. Though.
(14:47):
The run game, Alvin Kamara is a beast and they
are leaning on it heavy. They have the highest rushing
percentage sixty four percent. In the NFL through the first
two weeks in Clint Kubiak again from the Niner system.
These quarterbacks get the Niners system and they look different.
Alvin Kamar has been a beast. It's just a new
(15:08):
team that's shocking everybody. I want one more week, but
I have him at five, number four. You know what
I like about the Bills. First time in seven eight years,
they have a star running back. They can run the
football now nine and two since offensive coordinator Joe Brady arrived.
So Josh Allen has been very dependent on offensive coordinators
to clean him up. This is a new offense. The
(15:30):
tight ends are excellent, receivers don't have a star, but
they have depth. And James Cook's a baller. So he
is one of two quarterbacks in the league. If I'd
have told you there's two quarterbacks in the league without
a turnover, one of them's Josh Allen. Again, he's very
coordinator dependent. Mahomes isn't. I don't think Joe Burrow is.
Allen is and he looks good. They're at four, number three.
(15:54):
I buy the Chargers. They're tackles. Joe Alt and Rashaun
Slater were the two highest quitted tackles in the entire league.
The only flaw with Kansas City is their strengths. JK.
Dobbins looks like Buckeye JK. Dobbins. Herbert, for the record,
is eighteen to zero when his team allows less than
(16:16):
twenty points. He just needs to coach now. I don't
think their defense will remain this viable. But they have
two pass rushers, two elite tackles, a run game. That
bus receiver Quintin Johnson, Uh oh, he can play. This
is a real team. I think this is a real
deep Kansas City good, not yet, but a real team.
(16:37):
Number two I buy the Texans. I didn't even think
they played well against Chicago. They're young, and I could
see them getting too the AFC Championship and making a
silly play and losing to Kansas City. C. J. Stroud
is insane. That kid is the most effortlessly accurate guy
outside of maybe Burrow and Mahomes in the league. Nico
Collins his size and they're comparing him to Andre Johnson.
(16:59):
They got multiple DEFs, a great left tackle, the quarterback,
the coach, the culture of their defense right now, a
lot of sacks again, Chargers, Texans I buy Saints. I
kind of buy Steelers at two and zero. Don't make
the hierarchy and number one number one. Listen, I do worry.
I don't think they're very good at tackle. They they
were not very good on third down against the Bengals.
(17:21):
They got to clean that up where they go get
somebody at the trade deadline they are it's it is
hard to win a Super Bowl, even with Mahomes if
you don't love the offensive line, and I don't, But
I think they're coaching their structure, their defense. Chris Jones
now Travis Kelcey, I don't worry too much about because
he was invisible for spots last year. Then like Gronk
(17:43):
arrived when it mattered. I don't worry about that. I
also think they've even though Hollywood Brown's not gonna be
back for a while, I think their weapons feel significant upgrades.
To me, there's the top ten.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone easternn a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 8 (18:03):
Hey, we're Covino and Rich Fox Sports Radio every day
five to seven pm Eastern. But here's the thing we
never have enough time to get to everything we want
to get.
Speaker 9 (18:12):
To, and that's why we have a brand new podcast
called over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun
in our two hour show. We never get to everything,
honestly because this guy is over promising things we never
have time for. Yeah, you blubber list lame in me.
Speaker 8 (18:26):
Well you know what it's called over promise. You should
be good at it because you've been over promising women
for years.
Speaker 9 (18:30):
Well, it's a Cavino and Rich after show and we
want you to be a part of it. We're gonna
be talking sports, of course, but we're also gonna talk
life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing
about something or we didn't have enough time, it will
continue on our after show called over Promised.
Speaker 8 (18:44):
Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make
sure you check out over Promised and also Uncensored by
the way, so maybe we'll go at it even a
little harder. It's gonna be the best after show podcast
of all time.
Speaker 9 (18:54):
There you go, over Promising, and remember you could see
on YouTube, but definitely join us. Listen over Promised with
Cavino and Rich on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts or
wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
He's a senior NFL reporter Monday Morning quarterback cover in
the NFL for almost twenty years. He's joining us live
on a busy day. Albert Breer. By the way, I said, listen, Pennsylvania,
you're gonna decide the country's democracy going forward. Stop panicking
and acting like an eight year old. It didn't get
(19:27):
your own way. If Saquon catches that, you're two and
oer over the Packers and the Falcons, who could both
win their division. That's my takeaway is that they've spent
more money on offense than defense. They're gonna lose some
games like this. This is they're the opposite of the Steelers.
They're great offensively, some limitations defensive. That's my perception. Do
you sense panic in Philly?
Speaker 7 (19:46):
No, I don't think so. I mean, I think they're
sort of where they expected to be. No aj Brown
last night. Obviously that's a factor, you know. But the
big thing, Colin is they're still really strong at the
lines of scrimmage. And I think if you if you
look at last night, that wasn't a problem for them.
Could the run defense have been a little bit better. Sure,
is there some transition moving from Fletcher Cox to Jordan
(20:09):
Davis and Jalen Carter. Absolutely same thing on offense with
Jason Kelcey gone and Cam Jurgens in as the center.
But they've invested so many resources in the offensive and
defensive lines that's going to keep them in every game.
And they were right in this one till the very end.
And the good news is they should get better outside
of those areas. You know, again, like aj Brown wasn't
(20:30):
out there last night. What does it look like with
Jahan Dottson having a month or two under his belt
as the number three receiver? And then on defense, like
how young that secondary is? Guys like Quinyin Mitchell. Maybe
it's not you know, Darius Slay covering Drake London. If
this is two or three months from now, maybe Mitchell's
out there covering him, you know, their first round pick.
(20:50):
Maybe Cooper de Jean's playing a bigger role. So look
like they're still really good in the areas you need
to be good in, and I think they're going to
get better over the course of the season everywhere else.
They beat a really good Packers team in Brazil. This
was a coin flip game. They'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Listen, they didn't have Jordan Addison, TJ Hawkinson at the end,
Justin Jefferson and Sam Donald ate San Francisco for lunch.
Do you think even Minnesota and we're seeing guys like
Gino and Baker and Sam kind of a reboot for
these veteran guys with a lot of snaps if they
get decent protection. You think Kevin O'Connell, you talked to
(21:27):
him in the camp, is a little surprised by how
good it's gone for Donald.
Speaker 7 (21:33):
You know, I actually talked to him on Sunday and
I don't think he really is. And I know that
sounds weird, but like they looked at how Donald finished
his last season in Carolina playing for Ben Nakadoo, and
then how he played last year in Kyle Shanahan now
was very limited the action he got.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
But go back and look at that Christmas.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
Night game against the against the Ravens for San Francisco
now is a blowout. Baltimore won by a mill but
Donald got in there in the fourth quart And if
you go and you really watch Donald play, he looks
like a different player.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
He does, and he's an excellent fit for.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
What Kevin O'Connell wants to do. He's got a big arm,
put the ball wherever he wants, and he's athletic. He's
got all the traits that he had when he was
a third overall pick. In fact that I would argue
if you go back and you look at his history,
go back and look at what happened.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
With the Jets.
Speaker 7 (22:21):
He played for Adam Gase, and Adam Gase was trying
to put it in an offense that worked for Peyton Manning.
Donald came in the league as somebody who was very raw, athletic,
like almost the antithesis of what we think of when
we think of se quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
That's what he was.
Speaker 7 (22:35):
He needed a lot, he needed time, and he needed
a simpler offense. And you know, I think what's happened
over the last couple of years is he's gotten into
offenses that are simpler, that get him playing faster, that
takes some of the mental load off of him and
allow him to go out there and be an athlete.
And I think we really saw that on Sunday. This
is a really good fit for him in Minnesota. Maybe not,
(22:56):
maybe it's not a long term fit because JJ McCarthy's there.
But I think he's going to play really well the
rest of the year. I know Kevin thinks he's gonna
play well the rest of the year, and he's gonna
set himself up if he does to play somewhere in
twenty twenty five, whether it's in Minnesota or elsewhere.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
So listen, I said, that's one thing that there's red
flags that surface with Caleb Williams. It's all the red
flags coaching competency, Keenan Allen's health, regression of old line,
lack of accuracy, not staying with instructure. And I've said this,
you can go back to Lamar and Mahomes and Josh Allen.
It was strong coaching and coordinating that took these improvisational
(23:34):
talents put them get back in the fairway. Let's clean
your game up with Josh Allen. Josh Allen with Dave
ol and Brady's a different quarterback right. So strong coaching,
good coordinator, they can take these wildly gifted quarterbacks who
can get a little ad libby a little offscript, pull
them back in the fairway. My question is in cayleb
(23:56):
is Chicago's infrastructure set up do they have have the
ability to get an improvisational start on the fairway.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
You know, it's interesting you bring that up, Colin, because
and you bring up Josh Allen specifically, because I remember
talking to Brian Dave All about this when he first
got Alan, and he had him watch a lot of
tape of Tom Brady. Now Brady, of course was together
with Dave Ball in New England two separate times, and
Dave Ball's offense is New England's offense. So what he
wanted Josh to look at was how many easy throws
(24:27):
Brady made, how many layups he took. And he was
trying to impress on Josh Allen. So much of what
Tom Brady is is doing the easy stuff. It's taking
the easy things, it's taking the easy money. And he
eventually got through to him, and that's really what got
Josh to buy into what they were trying to do.
I think you're starting to see that with Caleb Williams.
(24:47):
And there are two pieces to this, right Like there's
the first piece, which is the improvisational stuff, which Caleb's
going to go through a process now and has been
going through a process the last couple of weeks of
figuring out what he can and cannot get away with.
Then there's the other piece, which is playing within structure
and learning to do the easy stuff. And that's what
Shane Waldron in the offensive staff in Chicago had been
(25:09):
trying to do. And I actually think if you watched
that broadcast, right, you watch back what Chris collins Were said.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
I think we all thought Chris.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
Maybe went a little overboard when you know, I think
Caleb completed a little slamt in the second quarter. Yeah,
and Chris Collinsworth was acting like he was like reinventing
the wheel, like, oh my god, we.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Didn't see this last week.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
Well, Chris was in the production meeting with all the coaches, right,
That's what they're trying to get him to do. They're
trying to get him to do the easy stuff. And
after what Caleb went through last year with the offensive
line being what it was at sc and everything else,
like he kind of got off track with that stuff.
So they're trying to get him back on those rails.
Like you said, and you know, again, it's about taking
(25:48):
the easy stuff, and we saw little glimpses of it
against Houston. We're going to need to see a whole
lot more of it. The good news is the Bears
are good enough on defense and special teams to keep
him in games while he's fixed bring it out.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
So I have to be very cautious with my Jets'
opinions because old j Matt gets hyper sensitive. But but
my takeaway through two games is that Aaron's mobility is
closer to Kirk Cousins than Kyler Lamar, Josh Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Yeah, he doesn't move. That's fair.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Okay, that's number one. Number two is Matt Hackett is
not a top ten coordinator. They have very little motion.
I was told years ago that Aaron doesn't like a
lot of motion. He's not a fan of it. He
wants to see the defense. That's fine. But the best
offensive coaches in this league Saints. Now with Kubiak, they're moving.
It's it is deception and slight of hand. Everybody thinks
(26:46):
this is a defense first, and that Aaron's a savior,
but he's now a forty year old that doesn't move
in the pocket, an okay offensive line and not a
highly deceptive offense. Have we kind of overhyped? Yeah, this
whole Aaron's the savior thing. I think this offense is
a breeze hall sprained ankle from remedial.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Well, let me explain to you, like why he doesn't
want motion. First of all.
Speaker 7 (27:13):
Okay, like this is this goes back and look like
Matt Lafleur's from the Kyle Shanahan, Mike Shanahan Sean McVay
school of offense. They love motion, they love movement, and
Lafleur basically cut it out of the offense because Aaron
didn't want that. The reason why Aaron doesn't want it
the same reason Peyton Manning didn't want it, which is
they want to see the field and they want to
move guys around on their own so they can figure
(27:35):
out what the coverages and make their decisions accordingly. So
that's an Aaron Rodgers thing. Some veteran quarterbacks like it
that way. That's why Aaron wants it that way. So,
you know, like they have to do things to create
you know, open receivers, to create a running game without
the motion, and that's a process too, and they're going through.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
That right now.
Speaker 7 (27:56):
I think if there's one encouraging sign from the game
against the Titans on Sunday, it's the big run that
Brailn Allen broke at the end of twenty yard run
at the very end of the game that wound up
being the game winner. Was Brailen Allen's second touchdown. Right,
He's a big, burly back out of Wisconsin, twenty years old.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
That was the result of.
Speaker 7 (28:16):
Them chipping away and chipping away and chipping away with
the run game. And I think over time, what we're
going to see is that they're going to lean a
lot on the run game. They're going to lean a
lot on their defense. They are trying to set this
up so Aaron doesn't have to be the savior. They
want set up like Tampa had it with Tom where
they can win lots of different ways. In the first
(28:37):
two weeks have been about trying to build that sort
of team, So the run game, Burley didn't get untracked
against San Francisco, much better against Tennessee. And the hope
is now you're going to go into the New England
game on Thursday, and you're going to be able to
see something that's a lot more versatile and a team
that can win a lot of different ways. So you know,
I always hesitate to call the first month of the
(28:58):
season an extended preseason. That's sort of the way the
NFL sets up now, and the Jets are still building
the offense for Aaron Rodgers, and I think such a
big part of the offense is what they're doing with
that run game, what they're doing defensively as well. And
I think the very end of that Titans game, when
Braillen Allen breaks that run off at the very end
and what Bryce Hall was able to do earlier in
(29:20):
the game, is a sign of where they're going offensively,
and maybe we'll see a bigger view of what the
vision's going to be for the offense on Thursday against
the Patriots.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I don't want to spend too much time in the
Carolina Panthers, but Bryce Young, is there a possibility they're
just done? They're moving off, they're moving in. But the
trade deadline, I mean, I'm sorry, but two weeks in
tells you this offensive coach sees nothing. I mean, Andy
has been out of his prime for seven years? Is
it over for Bryce Young?
Speaker 4 (29:52):
Can I see?
Speaker 7 (29:52):
I'll tell you what opponents are seeing, because I think
that that's really that can be really informative as far
as where the Panthers.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
Are with him, right now the pants.
Speaker 7 (30:01):
The opponents of the Panthers right now are seeing a
guy who is very reluctant to push the ball downfield,
who isn't seeing the middle of the field, which could
be a symptom of the fact that he's five foot ten.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
And worst of all, a guy's whose eyes are dropping,
who's looking at the rush, and that means.
Speaker 7 (30:18):
He's already at the point in his second year where
he's taken enough hits where.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
He doesn't want to take any more. And I think
that's part of.
Speaker 7 (30:25):
Why Dave canallyss is in this position where he had
to sit him down, because remember Dave Canalys is in
year one of his program there and he's still earning
the trust of the players, and a big part of
that's going.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
To be what are you doing to help the team win?
What are you helping to do me individually? What are
you helping me do in the.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Long run that's going to help me get paid? And
if there's a player in there that's holding everybody back,
that's holding the group hostage, well then it's on the
coach to get that player out of there. And I
think players have some understanding of Okay, well, it's a
young quarterback. He's coming along, But if other player payers
aren't seeing the progress at least incrementally being made, well,
(31:04):
then that can create.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
A problem for a coach with the rest of the
locker room.
Speaker 7 (31:08):
And I've got a sneaking suspicion that's where Dave Canalis
is right now Bryce Young that he needs to get
him back to a point where he can sell the
guy to the locker room. And you know, if you
want to talk about a potential trade happening, I just
I mean Colin right now, basically, the investment that they've
made in him, I don't know where some team is
(31:28):
going to come along and offer them something that's going
to make it worse worth it for them to move
off of him, right Like, I don't think they can
give up on them this early, but I do think
like the way it's gone the first two weeks has
made it so it's difficult for Canalis to sell the
quarterback back to the locker room. And if you're a
first year coach two games in and you can't sell
(31:48):
your quarterback to the veteran players in your locker room
who aren't concerned about your three year plan, who are
more concerned about where they are individually, Well, then you
know you.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
Got to do what you do. I think that's where
Canalis is right now.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Albert Bird, nobody better. Monday morning quarterback is always, buddy.
Great seeing you all right.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Thanks calling
Thanks for listening to the Best of 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
Foxsportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on
the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
No Ride. It is Tuesday, after a great Monday night
live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may
be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making
us part of your day. Appreciate you stopping by. Maybe
I'll get my hair together by the end of the show.
What a wild Monday night. Okay, So all game, you're
(00:48):
like Philadelphia, They're home. I'm posting w and all of
a sudden you look up and you're like, what just happened?
You know what just happened? Jamac her Cousin's happened?
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Nick Sirianni at this morn Oh my god, what was
he doing?
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Holy cat? So I want to start with it. It
was exactly April twenty fifth, the Atlanta Falcons drafted Michael Pennix,
y'all went crazy. They were universally lambasted because they'd already
signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, so when they drafted
Michael Pennix, y'all freaked out. There was just one voice
(01:28):
in America who defended Atlanta, a beloved sportscaster here in
Los Angeles me and last Night's why my quote at
the time was, let me get this straight. Having a
four time Pro Bowl quarterback and the best backup potentially
in the league is a bad place to be in
(01:49):
all the Belichick siicaphans, and the fan boys because he
didn't get the Atlanta job. Oh, they came porn in
an avalanche criticism. Do you watch Kirk Cousins in the
second half last night on the road off the surgery
thirteen to sixteen, hundred and sixty sixty yards, two touchdowns
over one hundred and forty nine passer rating. Michael Pennix
ain't win in that game. Kirk Cousins is. Michael Pennix
(02:13):
also hadn't taken a beating like Jayden Daniels bo Nicks.
He'll be better on the bench than on his back.
He's not getting his confidence shattered I told you at
the time, and I'll say it again, Bryce Young, Caleb Williams.
I mean, these guys sound different after a two to
three game losing streak. They sound different. Pennix'll be fine.
(02:35):
This is very Mahomes, Alex Smith and Atlanta's good by
the way O line last night controlled the second half
run game, maybe the best running back room in the league,
tight end wide receiver strong and Kirk Cousins further record
in the last I mean second half last night was insane.
But if you go look at Kirk Cousins between Minnesota
(02:58):
and Atlanta his last ten Star arts, He's got a
one h two passer rating, completing almost seventy percent of
his throws. The dudes made four Pro Bowls. He's the
best quarterback in my opinion. I like Baker, but the
best quarterback in his division. Come on now, the move
always made sense. It is never bad in the NFL
to have arguably the best quarterback in a division. He
(03:20):
didn't sign a Dak contract, he didn't sign a Mahomes
or a he didn't sign one of those contracts. If
he starts this year and a chunk of next year,
you can move off it and move if he wants
to play. But it's amazing. There's a reason Belichick's on
TV and not coaching because he ran out of quarterbacks.
Atlanta's got two, So it's not the end of the world.
(03:41):
Philadelphia lost. This is a team that has a chance
to win their division. And for the record of c J.
Stroud is an outlier. Mahomes sat for a year, Lamar
sat for ten games. Kirk Cousins in two years, played
four games to start. You're seeing these older quarterbacks. You're
seeing people who are pushed to the side, they're doing fights.
(04:02):
The young guys that are man overboard. You think Penix
wins that game, you want Pennix on his back.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I don't so.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Atlanta's got an excellent offensive line at excellent running backs,
above average weapons. I like their coach, and a veteran
quarterback who controlled the game in the second half on
the road. Every fan base, I mean every single fan base.
There's no patience in this league, right and if if
your moves don't pay off immediately, every fan base in
(04:29):
the NFL would take a top outside of maybe Kansas City,
would take a top ten quarterback, top twelve quarterback in
the league and the best backup, and you're all freaking out.
Atlanta's good. Green base done it three times. This is
what Green Bay does. They draft a really good guy,
let him sit and watch football for a few years.
I don't know, Farv Rogers, Jordan Love. It's paid off
three times, so.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I watched this game last night. Everybody's freaking out. I
picked Atlanta to win twelve games. I picked him to
arguably fight for number one seed. The first win. It
was a disadvantage because their former coach was the Steelers
offensive coordinatory knew all their personnel. That was a coaching disadvantage.
But last night my staff made fun of me. Yesterday
I came into the morning meeting, I'm like, I like
(05:13):
Itlanta to win. I think Atlanta and they're all like,
don't say that on the air. Literally, don't say it
on the air. I think Atlanta can play. I think
they have, arguably after Detroit, the best offensive line in
the league. And everybody always craps on Kirk Cousins. You
watched the second half, he said, who watched that final draft?
Bang bang bang bang bang touchdown game over? Here's Kirk
after you.
Speaker 5 (05:34):
Know, it's so important to find ways to win. And
that's how you put together a great season is you know,
when you have these games that could go either way,
you find a way to have it break your way.
And that's the way this league is. And so when
we can find those inches, it can really change the
tail of the season. So we're gonna have more of
those up ahead, and we're gonna have to keep Bud,
(05:54):
you know, as a whole team, finding ways to make
the place to get it done.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Okay, now let's talk Philadelphia, a very popular team. I'm
actually concerned about the state of Pennsylvania. You do realize,
if you look at all the polling, you're going to
decide the presidential election. We need adults in the room here,
not throwing a tantrum every time you lose a football game. Folks,
(06:19):
Saquon catches the football, you're two to zero. You beat
a team if he catches the football in Green Bay
that could win their division and Atlanta could win theirs.
Kirkcuzes is good. It happens. It's football. Your division's a mess.
Giants Washington don't look very good. Dallas is typical Dallas
roller coaster. You'll be fine, now, Nick Sirianni's not Andy Reid.
(06:39):
Who is? There's one people even complain this weekend about
Kyle Shanahan, Sean mcvazo and two John harbaughzoh and two. Yeah,
you don't have Andy Reid, but Aj Brown, your number
one receiver, did not play. That is a thing. You
can defend Philadelphia much differently when Aj Brown's not on
the field for most of the game, you look like
the better team. You also have a very expensive offense,
(07:04):
and because of that, there's some liabilities or weaknesses on
the back end. You know what you really are and
you should take pride in this. You're really the opposite
of the Steelers. You're great at quarterback. You spend your
money on offense, but you're not probably don't trust your
defense to win a Super Bowl. Would rather be the
(07:24):
Steelers who spend all their money on defense and that
quarterback room is just not good enough. Two to zero start, Yeah,
check back in eight weeks. So it's I mean, Philadelphia
is going to win their division, I would imagine, and
then ultimately at some point late in the season they're
gonna lose a game in January or maybe February. They
just can't make a stop. Okay, but that's because nobody
(07:48):
is stopping Patrick Mahomes right. No, as Cincinnati a really
good team with a great pass rush, they couldn't stop
enough to win. So Jalen Hurt, Let's look at the
good news. Jalen Hurts back to being dynamic. Jalen Hurts
was something A J. Brown's returning. Saquon Barkley. Say whatever
you want to say about Saquon Barkley, clearly a really
(08:11):
good player who just dropped a ball. Your offensive lines
top five in the league. You're deciding our democracy. I
need you to take a deep breath. Everything is going
to be okay. Now we'll check back on November fifth
on your decision, but everything is going to be okay.
Saquon catches it. You're two to zero over two teams
(08:32):
that could win a division.
Speaker 6 (08:33):
Here's the coach we wanted to They were they were
running a certain defense and they're junking it up in
the middle. So we're trying to go on around the outside,
and you know it didn't work. With it being fourth
and three to go for I thought, you know, with
them not having any timeouts, I wanted to be down
a touchdown and see if they could drive the field
(08:54):
and they did. Hats off to them.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Yeah, it hats off to Atlanta. You know it's funny
about this is that there are certain quarterbacks. Look who
is doing well at quarterback in this league. Sam Darnold,
Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr last night, Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith,
lot of reps. Older guys been around the league in
the first two weeks of the season. When you know
(09:16):
no starters are playing in the preseason, offensive lines are
out of rhythm. Atlanta was a tough, tough game last night. Okay,
you know who is flourishing veteran quarterbacks who have been
around the block since no starters are playing in the preseason.
The Bakers and Sam Darnold's they look pretty good. Geno's
(09:37):
doing well, and Kirk Cousins last night with a good
offensive line. That was a tough game for Philadelphia. Atlanta's.
Don't pushover, but take a deep breath. Nick Seriani has
been to a Super Bowl. He can't be that terrible.
Not a lot of terrible coaches end up there. He's
not a top five coach. They're not terrible. Listen in Dallas,
they don't like their coach in New York. They got
(10:00):
good coach. They don't like. They don't like Brian da
bol like it's an epidemic. Take a deep breath. You're
gonna be fine, all right, j Mac. That first of all,
wildly entertaining football game.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Wildly entertaining opening ramp from you, huh, Falcons everything fine.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
They were like they should be zero to two this morning.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
We would be laughing at them for letting the Jagles
walk up and down the field.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
This is not a should be league. I know, it
is a what's the final score league? Pittsburgh's two and
o Ravens oh and two? It should be Pittsburgh's oh
and two And the Ravens are two and oh by
a toe but and they led the Raiders late. But
it's not a should be league.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
And Pittsburgh looks like it's headed too three and oh
if you've seen this justin Herbert update where he's definitely
not mobile and not looking good.
Speaker 7 (10:45):
And now Pittsburgh might be three and oh and they have.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
One offensive touchdown?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
What a league?
Speaker 1 (10:50):
What a start to the season? Banana? Last night was
it was hey, here, listen, Jalen Hurts look good, Yeah,
Jalen Hurts look good. He's fine.
Speaker 7 (10:58):
He did with no AJ Brown.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
By the way, I'm an any deep passes. Did they
complete passes over twenty yards last night? None? No offense
without a J.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
Brown.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
That's right, so they'll be good.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Here's our hurd hierarchy.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Heard Hierarchy time Now, No go the top ten NFL
teams according to College Number ten.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Yeah, their next four opponents are one and seven. The
Bengals are fined at zero and two. If you can
go to arrowhead against maybe the best defense in the league, arguably,
Andy Reid has extra time mahomes and shut down Travis
Kelcey and outplay the Chiefs double their yards in the fourth,
you're fine. Zach Taylor's teams don't do well in September.
(11:48):
Joe Burrow doesn't do well again. I'll say it again
about the time pumpkin spice lattes are available at Starbucks.
That's when they're good. T Higgins coming back. I like
this team, quarterback, pass rush weapons, I like him. I
don't care they're all in two. That team can beat
anybody anywhere, Anywhether I do think they missed Joe Mixon
(12:09):
a little bit, we'll see. I like the team Fangals.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
Ten number nine.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
Listen, the Niners have the second highest graded offense in
the league. Now, they're beat up offensively. That's why I
put him back at nine. Here's what I really worry about.
Brock Perty's been sacked eight times in two games. And
I don't look at the Vikings as having one of
the better pass rushes. So they're beat up and they're
not protecting brock Purty. But thank god, you know, they
(12:33):
still have a very good deck without Deebo and Christian McCaffrey.
Shanahan's remarkable, but they're not the same team without McCaffrey
and Deebo. They're not. That's why I put them nine.
Number eight. I don't know what to do with the Seahawks.
Gino Smith, to his credit, like Baker Mayfield playing really well.
Dude's completing seventy four percent of his throws. Well, he's
played this team and he's played that team. Here's all
I know. The last two drafts were excellent. In fact,
(12:55):
I could argue the last three drafts are excellent, and
I'm seeing this young defensive code. It's like a Demico.
Ryans do really cool things. DK Metcalf, Jackson Smith and
Jigba are tremendous, and Tyler Lockett I love their weapons
running back, tight end, wide receiver, and I've been critical
at Gino Smith. You can win a lot of games
in this league when your quarterback is a big guy
(13:17):
that's accurate at seventy four percent. I put them at
eight number seven. The Bucks. I buy into it again.
Baker's playing his butt off eight and two over his
last ten starts. He and Chris Godwin are totally connecting now.
The Denver game this week is sneaky and they're you
know right now. Though, to go to Detroit, I own.
(13:37):
They went in there all banged up, an injury riddled,
and they won. So I buy Tampa. I buy Baker.
He's playing with a ton of confidence. I've always thought
Todd Bowles a good defensive coach in New York. He
just I didn't think he was quite ready for New York.
If his first job would have been in Tampa may
have been different. But in New York they're impatient. I
like the coach, and I like the quarterback. I have
them at seven number six. The Vikings, I don't know
(13:58):
how long it's gonna last. I mean they leave the
NFL with eleven sacks. I don't think that's gonna last
over the course of a season. But they are nine
to zero under this head coach, Kevin O'Connell when they
tie or win the turnover battle. So I mean he's
cleaned up Sam Donald significantly. That's what he does. He
is the quarterback whisper the tall Sean McVay. He is
Sam Darnald. I mean even the Fred Warner interception. Fred
(14:21):
Warner is the best linebacker in football. How many other
linebackers get that ball? I mean, Donald led a game winning,
clinching drive without Jefferson Addison and TJ. Hawkinson. I think
we may have the best young coach in football in Minnesota.
I have the Vikings at six, number five. I like
the Saints. Let's not go crazy. I need one more
week of the Saints. Derek Carr. I gotta give him credit. Though.
(14:47):
The run game, Alvin Kamara is a beast and they
are leaning on it heavy. They have the highest rushing
percentage sixty four percent. In the NFL through the first
two weeks in Clint Kubiak again from the Niner system.
These quarterbacks get the Niners system and they look different.
Alvin Kamar has been a beast. It's just a new
(15:08):
team that's shocking everybody. I want one more week, but
I have him at five, number four. You know what
I like about the Bills. First time in seven eight years,
they have a star running back. They can run the
football now nine and two since offensive coordinator Joe Brady arrived.
So Josh Allen has been very dependent on offensive coordinators
to clean him up. This is a new offense. The
(15:30):
tight ends are excellent, receivers don't have a star, but
they have depth. And James Cook's a baller. So he
is one of two quarterbacks in the league. If I'd
have told you there's two quarterbacks in the league without
a turnover, one of them's Josh Allen. Again, he's very
coordinator dependent. Mahomes isn't. I don't think Joe Burrow is.
Allen is and he looks good. They're at four, number three.
(15:54):
I buy the Chargers. They're tackles. Joe Alt and Rashaun
Slater were the two highest quitted tackles in the entire league.
The only flaw with Kansas City is their strengths. JK.
Dobbins looks like Buckeye JK. Dobbins. Herbert, for the record,
is eighteen to zero when his team allows less than
(16:16):
twenty points. He just needs to coach now. I don't
think their defense will remain this viable. But they have
two pass rushers, two elite tackles, a run game. That
bus receiver Quintin Johnson, Uh oh, he can play. This
is a real team. I think this is a real
deep Kansas City good, not yet, but a real team.
(16:37):
Number two I buy the Texans. I didn't even think
they played well against Chicago. They're young, and I could
see them getting too the AFC Championship and making a
silly play and losing to Kansas City. C. J. Stroud
is insane. That kid is the most effortlessly accurate guy
outside of maybe Burrow and Mahomes in the league. Nico
Collins his size and they're comparing him to Andre Johnson.
(16:59):
They got multiple DEFs, a great left tackle, the quarterback,
the coach, the culture of their defense right now, a
lot of sacks again, Chargers, Texans I buy Saints. I
kind of buy Steelers at two and zero. Don't make
the hierarchy and number one number one. Listen, I do worry.
I don't think they're very good at tackle. They they
were not very good on third down against the Bengals.
(17:21):
They got to clean that up where they go get
somebody at the trade deadline they are it's it is
hard to win a Super Bowl, even with Mahomes if
you don't love the offensive line, and I don't, But
I think they're coaching their structure, their defense. Chris Jones
now Travis Kelcey, I don't worry too much about because
he was invisible for spots last year. Then like Gronk
(17:43):
arrived when it mattered. I don't worry about that. I
also think they've even though Hollywood Brown's not gonna be
back for a while, I think their weapons feel significant upgrades.
To me, there's the top ten.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone easternn a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 8 (18:03):
Hey, we're Covino and Rich Fox Sports Radio every day
five to seven pm Eastern. But here's the thing we
never have enough time to get to everything we want
to get.
Speaker 9 (18:12):
To, and that's why we have a brand new podcast
called over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun
in our two hour show. We never get to everything,
honestly because this guy is over promising things we never
have time for. Yeah, you blubber list lame in me.
Speaker 8 (18:26):
Well you know what it's called over promise. You should
be good at it because you've been over promising women
for years.
Speaker 9 (18:30):
Well, it's a Cavino and Rich after show and we
want you to be a part of it. We're gonna
be talking sports, of course, but we're also gonna talk
life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing
about something or we didn't have enough time, it will
continue on our after show called over Promised.
Speaker 8 (18:44):
Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make
sure you check out over Promised and also Uncensored by
the way, so maybe we'll go at it even a
little harder. It's gonna be the best after show podcast
of all time.
Speaker 9 (18:54):
There you go, over Promising, and remember you could see
on YouTube, but definitely join us. Listen over Promised with
Cavino and Rich on the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts or
wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
He's a senior NFL reporter Monday Morning quarterback cover in
the NFL for almost twenty years. He's joining us live
on a busy day. Albert Breer. By the way, I said, listen, Pennsylvania,
you're gonna decide the country's democracy going forward. Stop panicking
and acting like an eight year old. It didn't get
(19:27):
your own way. If Saquon catches that, you're two and
oer over the Packers and the Falcons, who could both
win their division. That's my takeaway is that they've spent
more money on offense than defense. They're gonna lose some
games like this. This is they're the opposite of the Steelers.
They're great offensively, some limitations defensive. That's my perception. Do
you sense panic in Philly?
Speaker 7 (19:46):
No, I don't think so. I mean, I think they're
sort of where they expected to be. No aj Brown
last night. Obviously that's a factor, you know. But the
big thing, Colin is they're still really strong at the
lines of scrimmage. And I think if you if you
look at last night, that wasn't a problem for them.
Could the run defense have been a little bit better. Sure,
is there some transition moving from Fletcher Cox to Jordan
(20:09):
Davis and Jalen Carter. Absolutely same thing on offense with
Jason Kelcey gone and Cam Jurgens in as the center.
But they've invested so many resources in the offensive and
defensive lines that's going to keep them in every game.
And they were right in this one till the very end.
And the good news is they should get better outside
of those areas. You know, again, like aj Brown wasn't
(20:30):
out there last night. What does it look like with
Jahan Dottson having a month or two under his belt
as the number three receiver? And then on defense, like
how young that secondary is? Guys like Quinyin Mitchell. Maybe
it's not you know, Darius Slay covering Drake London. If
this is two or three months from now, maybe Mitchell's
out there covering him, you know, their first round pick.
(20:50):
Maybe Cooper de Jean's playing a bigger role. So look
like they're still really good in the areas you need
to be good in, and I think they're going to
get better over the course of the season everywhere else.
They beat a really good Packers team in Brazil. This
was a coin flip game. They'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Listen, they didn't have Jordan Addison, TJ Hawkinson at the end,
Justin Jefferson and Sam Donald ate San Francisco for lunch.
Do you think even Minnesota and we're seeing guys like
Gino and Baker and Sam kind of a reboot for
these veteran guys with a lot of snaps if they
get decent protection. You think Kevin O'Connell, you talked to
(21:27):
him in the camp, is a little surprised by how
good it's gone for Donald.
Speaker 7 (21:33):
You know, I actually talked to him on Sunday and
I don't think he really is. And I know that
sounds weird, but like they looked at how Donald finished
his last season in Carolina playing for Ben Nakadoo, and
then how he played last year in Kyle Shanahan now
was very limited the action he got.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
But go back and look at that Christmas.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
Night game against the against the Ravens for San Francisco
now is a blowout. Baltimore won by a mill but
Donald got in there in the fourth quart And if
you go and you really watch Donald play, he looks
like a different player.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
He does, and he's an excellent fit for.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
What Kevin O'Connell wants to do. He's got a big arm,
put the ball wherever he wants, and he's athletic. He's
got all the traits that he had when he was
a third overall pick. In fact that I would argue
if you go back and you look at his history,
go back and look at what happened.
Speaker 4 (22:20):
With the Jets.
Speaker 7 (22:21):
He played for Adam Gase, and Adam Gase was trying
to put it in an offense that worked for Peyton Manning.
Donald came in the league as somebody who was very raw, athletic,
like almost the antithesis of what we think of when
we think of se quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
That's what he was.
Speaker 7 (22:35):
He needed a lot, he needed time, and he needed
a simpler offense. And you know, I think what's happened
over the last couple of years is he's gotten into
offenses that are simpler, that get him playing faster, that
takes some of the mental load off of him and
allow him to go out there and be an athlete.
And I think we really saw that on Sunday. This
is a really good fit for him in Minnesota. Maybe not,
(22:56):
maybe it's not a long term fit because JJ McCarthy's there.
But I think he's going to play really well the
rest of the year. I know Kevin thinks he's gonna
play well the rest of the year, and he's gonna
set himself up if he does to play somewhere in
twenty twenty five, whether it's in Minnesota or elsewhere.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
So listen, I said, that's one thing that there's red
flags that surface with Caleb Williams. It's all the red
flags coaching competency, Keenan Allen's health, regression of old line,
lack of accuracy, not staying with instructure. And I've said this,
you can go back to Lamar and Mahomes and Josh Allen.
It was strong coaching and coordinating that took these improvisational
(23:34):
talents put them get back in the fairway. Let's clean
your game up with Josh Allen. Josh Allen with Dave
ol and Brady's a different quarterback right. So strong coaching,
good coordinator, they can take these wildly gifted quarterbacks who
can get a little ad libby a little offscript, pull
them back in the fairway. My question is in cayleb
(23:56):
is Chicago's infrastructure set up do they have have the
ability to get an improvisational start on the fairway.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
You know, it's interesting you bring that up, Colin, because
and you bring up Josh Allen specifically, because I remember
talking to Brian Dave All about this when he first
got Alan, and he had him watch a lot of
tape of Tom Brady. Now Brady, of course was together
with Dave Ball in New England two separate times, and
Dave Ball's offense is New England's offense. So what he
wanted Josh to look at was how many easy throws
(24:27):
Brady made, how many layups he took. And he was
trying to impress on Josh Allen. So much of what
Tom Brady is is doing the easy stuff. It's taking
the easy things, it's taking the easy money. And he
eventually got through to him, and that's really what got
Josh to buy into what they were trying to do.
I think you're starting to see that with Caleb Williams.
(24:47):
And there are two pieces to this, right Like there's
the first piece, which is the improvisational stuff, which Caleb's
going to go through a process now and has been
going through a process the last couple of weeks of
figuring out what he can and cannot get away with.
Then there's the other piece, which is playing within structure
and learning to do the easy stuff. And that's what
Shane Waldron in the offensive staff in Chicago had been
(25:09):
trying to do. And I actually think if you watched
that broadcast, right, you watch back what Chris collins Were said.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
I think we all thought Chris.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
Maybe went a little overboard when you know, I think
Caleb completed a little slamt in the second quarter. Yeah,
and Chris Collinsworth was acting like he was like reinventing
the wheel, like, oh my god, we.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
Didn't see this last week.
Speaker 7 (25:27):
Well, Chris was in the production meeting with all the coaches, right,
That's what they're trying to get him to do. They're
trying to get him to do the easy stuff. And
after what Caleb went through last year with the offensive
line being what it was at sc and everything else,
like he kind of got off track with that stuff.
So they're trying to get him back on those rails.
Like you said, and you know, again, it's about taking
(25:48):
the easy stuff, and we saw little glimpses of it
against Houston. We're going to need to see a whole
lot more of it. The good news is the Bears
are good enough on defense and special teams to keep
him in games while he's fixed bring it out.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
So I have to be very cautious with my Jets'
opinions because old j Matt gets hyper sensitive. But but
my takeaway through two games is that Aaron's mobility is
closer to Kirk Cousins than Kyler Lamar, Josh Mahomes.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
Yeah, he doesn't move. That's fair.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Okay, that's number one. Number two is Matt Hackett is
not a top ten coordinator. They have very little motion.
I was told years ago that Aaron doesn't like a
lot of motion. He's not a fan of it. He
wants to see the defense. That's fine. But the best
offensive coaches in this league Saints. Now with Kubiak, they're moving.
It's it is deception and slight of hand. Everybody thinks
(26:46):
this is a defense first, and that Aaron's a savior,
but he's now a forty year old that doesn't move
in the pocket, an okay offensive line and not a
highly deceptive offense. Have we kind of overhyped? Yeah, this
whole Aaron's the savior thing. I think this offense is
a breeze hall sprained ankle from remedial.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
Well, let me explain to you, like why he doesn't
want motion. First of all.
Speaker 7 (27:13):
Okay, like this is this goes back and look like
Matt Lafleur's from the Kyle Shanahan, Mike Shanahan Sean McVay
school of offense. They love motion, they love movement, and
Lafleur basically cut it out of the offense because Aaron
didn't want that. The reason why Aaron doesn't want it
the same reason Peyton Manning didn't want it, which is
they want to see the field and they want to
move guys around on their own so they can figure
(27:35):
out what the coverages and make their decisions accordingly. So
that's an Aaron Rodgers thing. Some veteran quarterbacks like it
that way. That's why Aaron wants it that way. So,
you know, like they have to do things to create
you know, open receivers, to create a running game without
the motion, and that's a process too, and they're going through.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
That right now.
Speaker 7 (27:56):
I think if there's one encouraging sign from the game
against the Titans on Sunday, it's the big run that
Brailn Allen broke at the end of twenty yard run
at the very end of the game that wound up
being the game winner. Was Brailen Allen's second touchdown. Right,
He's a big, burly back out of Wisconsin, twenty years old.
Speaker 4 (28:14):
That was the result of.
Speaker 7 (28:16):
Them chipping away and chipping away and chipping away with
the run game. And I think over time, what we're
going to see is that they're going to lean a
lot on the run game. They're going to lean a
lot on their defense. They are trying to set this
up so Aaron doesn't have to be the savior. They
want set up like Tampa had it with Tom where
they can win lots of different ways. In the first
(28:37):
two weeks have been about trying to build that sort
of team, So the run game, Burley didn't get untracked
against San Francisco, much better against Tennessee. And the hope
is now you're going to go into the New England
game on Thursday, and you're going to be able to
see something that's a lot more versatile and a team
that can win a lot of different ways. So you know,
I always hesitate to call the first month of the
(28:58):
season an extended preseason. That's sort of the way the
NFL sets up now, and the Jets are still building
the offense for Aaron Rodgers, and I think such a
big part of the offense is what they're doing with
that run game, what they're doing defensively as well. And
I think the very end of that Titans game, when
Braillen Allen breaks that run off at the very end
and what Bryce Hall was able to do earlier in
(29:20):
the game, is a sign of where they're going offensively,
and maybe we'll see a bigger view of what the
vision's going to be for the offense on Thursday against
the Patriots.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I don't want to spend too much time in the
Carolina Panthers, but Bryce Young, is there a possibility they're
just done? They're moving off, they're moving in. But the
trade deadline, I mean, I'm sorry, but two weeks in
tells you this offensive coach sees nothing. I mean, Andy
has been out of his prime for seven years? Is
it over for Bryce Young?
Speaker 4 (29:52):
Can I see?
Speaker 7 (29:52):
I'll tell you what opponents are seeing, because I think
that that's really that can be really informative as far
as where the Panthers.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
Are with him, right now the pants.
Speaker 7 (30:01):
The opponents of the Panthers right now are seeing a
guy who is very reluctant to push the ball downfield,
who isn't seeing the middle of the field, which could
be a symptom of the fact that he's five foot ten.
Speaker 4 (30:12):
And worst of all, a guy's whose eyes are dropping,
who's looking at the rush, and that means.
Speaker 7 (30:18):
He's already at the point in his second year where
he's taken enough hits where.
Speaker 4 (30:22):
He doesn't want to take any more. And I think
that's part of.
Speaker 7 (30:25):
Why Dave canallyss is in this position where he had
to sit him down, because remember Dave Canalys is in
year one of his program there and he's still earning
the trust of the players, and a big part of
that's going.
Speaker 4 (30:37):
To be what are you doing to help the team win?
What are you helping to do me individually? What are
you helping me do in the.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Long run that's going to help me get paid? And
if there's a player in there that's holding everybody back,
that's holding the group hostage, well then it's on the
coach to get that player out of there. And I
think players have some understanding of Okay, well, it's a
young quarterback. He's coming along, But if other player payers
aren't seeing the progress at least incrementally being made, well,
(31:04):
then that can create.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
A problem for a coach with the rest of the
locker room.
Speaker 7 (31:08):
And I've got a sneaking suspicion that's where Dave Canalis
is right now Bryce Young that he needs to get
him back to a point where he can sell the
guy to the locker room. And you know, if you
want to talk about a potential trade happening, I just
I mean Colin right now, basically, the investment that they've
made in him, I don't know where some team is
(31:28):
going to come along and offer them something that's going
to make it worse worth it for them to move
off of him, right Like, I don't think they can
give up on them this early, but I do think
like the way it's gone the first two weeks has
made it so it's difficult for Canalis to sell the
quarterback back to the locker room. And if you're a
first year coach two games in and you can't sell
(31:48):
your quarterback to the veteran players in your locker room
who aren't concerned about your three year plan, who are
more concerned about where they are individually, Well, then you
know you.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
Got to do what you do. I think that's where
Canalis is right now.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Albert Bird, nobody better. Monday morning quarterback is always, buddy.
Great seeing you all right.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Thanks calling
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.