October 13, 2025 • 32 mins
Colin Cowherd breaks down why the Chiefs proved they're still the team to beat after a dominant win over the Detroit Lions. He also delivers a fresh edition of Where Colin Was Right, Where Colin Was Wrong — including why he nailed his prediction on Baker Mayfield’s breakout season, and admits he missed on Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense
3-time Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck joins the show to discuss why Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs look unstoppable, and what makes Chargers QB Justin Herbert one of the most elite talents in the NFL today
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Episode Transcript
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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
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Here we go our number one.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
I'm not sure we can get all this show into
the next three hours. We are live, we are in Chicago,
and it is the Herd one hour from now. Where
Colin was right, where Colin was wrong. I don't think
we should waste any time. Everybody's worst nightmare is now official.
(00:57):
The Kansasity Chiefs once again are the best team in
professional football. First three weeks, Mahomes was wobbly. They were
averaging twenty points a game, and in their last three
games they are now averaging thirty two points. Along with
that defense and along with those special teams. Sorry NFL,
(01:21):
they did it again. Kansas City. Only Andy Reid and
Patrick Mahomes. They're the only people in this league that
can take number two and number three wide receivers. They
can take Hollywood Brown and Jude ju Smith Schuster and
backup left tackles and okay, running backs and get into
(01:43):
the thirties. Xavier Worthy with any other team, would he
be this good? All they do is make it work.
Andy Reid is the great chef, He's the Gordon Ramsey.
Everything in the kitchen has a role. Let's just keep tinkering.
Let's keep figuring out a way to make everything work.
Put it into our ecosystem, and let's make it flourish.
(02:04):
By the way, this is what Kansas City does every year.
When you get into these big games. They play differently.
No penalties, no turnovers, one punt. Whine all you want
about the penalties. Well coached teams Belichick and Brady that
is for years they don't turn it over, and they
(02:24):
don't get penalized, and they don't pump much. The NFL
seasons are incredibly long. You can't overreact to zero to
two or three and three again. Get people healthy, make
everybody count in the kitchen. Three weeks ago, when they
beat Baltimore, everybody said, well the Ravens are beat up. Yeah,
(02:44):
right now, so is Tampa, so is San Francisco. A
lot of teams in the NFL are beat up. Doesn't
matter with this defense, this play calling, people get distracted.
The NBA is about talent and appeasing the star fellas,
about the O line, the defensive coordinator, about the entire system,
and it's about the culture. This is a locker room
(03:07):
of fifty three guys, not five that really really truly matter.
And here's Kansas City. They keep tweaking. Add a little salt,
make everything in the kitchen work. Prime example last night
when they're offensive line. The first couple of weeks offensive
line it was, it was messy, It was not very good.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
They had no running game.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
O line was bad last night despite the Detroit Lions
having a ten minute opening drive, Kansas City one time
of possession with this offensive line that was a bit
chaotic and a bit messy five weeks ago. And I
know you don't want to hear it, but Rashi Rice
is coming back. The receiving corps now, all right? Were
(03:46):
these a two juju Smith? Schuster's a three Hollywood Brown
as a gadget four? Oh that's a And with Mahomes
and Reid pulling the levers, that is a way above
average receiving court Travis Kelsey again in a big spot.
He arrives. So this is what Kansas City does. First
three weeks, very choppy. Last three games thirty two a game.
(04:11):
And Detroit's a really good team, but they were so
focused last night. Here's Patrick Mahomes on being the youngest
quarterback to ever get to three hundred touchdown passes.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
It's extremely cool. I mean, I've been blessed. I always
say it, and I mean it like I've been blessed,
Like I drafted here in Kansas City, a great community,
great ownership, and then getting one of the best football
coaches of all time and some of the greatest players
of all time around me. And so it makes my
job a lot easier when I'm going to throw to
some great ones. And let's keep let's continue it, let's
have some fun, and we've got a long career ahead
(04:42):
and we'll see how we can get to.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
That's the best team in the NFL right now, Kansas
City Chiefs, one punt, no turnovers, no penalties, dominating an
excellent Detroit Lions team. Okay, so the last couple of weeks,
Baker Mayfield has had to go on the road out
West se San Francisco. Good teams, and in both games,
Baker Mayfield was the difference.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
He's missing Mike.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Evans and Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving a Mecca Buca
got hurt in the game, Baker willed his team to
a w. As you guys all know, this league is
about toughness and resilience. Don't be a victim. Deal with it.
Baker's not the biggest, He's only six to one.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
He's not the.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Most athletic, but his fight picking up that first down
on the run is a plus plus. The dude was
missing his top four receivers. Instead, he needed Tez Johnson
pack of a catch and Cameron Johnson, who was an
undrafted D two athlete that was his receiving corps and
both caught their first career NFL touchdowns. Baker Mayfield a
(05:51):
lot of these quarterbacks, I don't even need to name them.
They get coordinators fired, Baker Mayfield's last two coordinators, he
got head coaching jobs. And again, there's a quality that
Baker Mayfield has that I wish everybody in America had.
He just not everything has to be perfect. He never
(06:12):
plays the victim. It's like, what do I gotta work with?
All right, let's go that. He's never pointing fingers. Baker's like,
get on my back. This is this is a guy pulling.
He's pulling a team right now. They are a mess. Offensively,
they are falling out. He's using D two receivers and
(06:34):
he's beating Seattle in Seattle. You see what Seattle did
on the road yesterday. You see what Seattle did. Are
the Steelers this year? He's beating San Francisco. All I hear, well,
brock perdies, guys are injured. Baker's like, yeah, what evs.
Let's go. I don't think right now that Tampa Bay
roster because I think of the second best team in
the NFL to Kansas City. But their rosters so beat up.
(06:55):
It's not a top ten roster. They're missing great players.
Pedal to the metal, head down. Don't point fingers. Tampa's
now five and one big win after big win with
Baker Mayfield. His resilience is completely contagious and redeemable. And
here he was after another w on the road.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
I truly genuinely trust the guys that are in there.
They're ready. We talked throughout the week guys are on
the same page. And that's real. I trust these guys,
even though some of them might not have played a
whole lot of ball. But if we're on the same page,
good things happen. You don't have to have the perfect
play when all your guys are fighting for each other
and are on the same page. And that's an example
of that. Defense played great special teams as well, And
(07:38):
so that's complimentary football.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
All right.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Right now, Baker Mayfield, I think he's got everybody's vote
as the most valuable player.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
To do it with that beleaguer roster.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
On the road, beating good teams, beating really good defensive
minds or defensive coordinators. Feel terrible for San Francisco. Fred
Warner is now injured. The whole team is falling up
at physically all their stars. But that's you know, we
often asked ourselves, you know, what's a franchise quarterback? What's
the difference? The difference is when things aren't right. I
(08:10):
hear this all the time. Well, I mean, yeah, you'll
hear it from you know, for years and years. Well,
you know, we don't have Caleb's missing this, or Jackson
Dart was missing that, Baker's missing everything.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
He's on the road.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Seattle and San Francisco were good, and he's willing his
team to win.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
He may not be the best athlete.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
But on that one run, he looked like it. That's
what a franchise quarterback is. You don't have your best
running back, you don't have your top three wide receivers,
you got a defensive coach, so it's your offense. That's
what an MVP looks like. That's what a franchise quarterback
looks like. It took Baker a while to get there
from Cleveland and Carolina and Los Angeles. Took him a
(08:51):
while to get there. Who cares some careers, You gotta
let him bake. But fantastic performance.
Speaker 6 (08:59):
Yeah, was great.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
J Mac gotta say this, by the way, that was
that was in Tampa? Was it in Tampa? Samford said,
I watched so many damn game yesterday. Yeah, I was
in Tampa, Tay My bad, My bad on that folks,
My bad. That wasn't it was in Tampa?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I got.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
I watched thirteen games yesterday and nine the day before.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
I'm lost.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
But I mean, the truth of the matter is Saul
is a great defensive coordinator to go to Seattle. You're
facing McDonald. I mean, look what he did the Trevor
Lawrence yesterday. You're talking about facing the best coordinators, smart,
young defensive guys, pass rushes, and for him to go
out there and pull that stuff is unbelievable.
Speaker 7 (09:35):
I mean, I think I saw stat after Fred Warner
went out Colin the Bucks average like seven point four
yards per place, something insane. Without Warner, the Niners have nothing,
no Bosa, no Warner. So I'm pumping the brakes on Baker.
He was fantastic again yesterday. Oh my god, he's phenomenal.
You could argue he's been the best quarterback in the
NFL this season.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
No, I don't even I don't even think. I think
you have to. You have to consider everything. You have
to consider it. You got to consider what you have.
I mean, the Seattle winds shocked us. I think you
and I thought it was our second favorite bet of
the weekend.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
By the way, how'd you I went four oh yesterday?
How'd you do? Two and two? Waiting on one more tonight?
Speaker 1 (10:10):
All right, I've got Washington tonight at home over Chicago.
Bears don't travel particularly well. I'm not sure if you
caught this to.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Mariners, your guy cal Rally.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Well, all right, we've got a lot to talk about.
Speaking of quarterback play, Justin Herbert, I thought that the
Baker run may have been the play of the day.
How about the Justin Herbert play to get the ball
to Lad mcconkee when we come back.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
That is all time stuff. We talk about this all
the time.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I like traits with quarterbacks, like big strong guys over
small guys.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
And by the way, Baker's not the.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Biggest guy, but he makes he plays bigger than himself, right,
bigger than his size. What Justin Herbert did yesterday in
one play, I looked at it this morning on social media,
switching hands during the play. We'll get to that. Plus
Aaron Rodgers only compliments. Dodgers are playing tonight. We have
(11:12):
got ourselves this next week, the next four or five
days are as good as America gets for sports.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Oh yeah, James Franklin got fired. I don't know what
to do with that.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app HI.
Speaker 8 (11:31):
This is Jay I'm the producer of the Paula and
Tony Fusco Show. Usually in these promos they asked you
to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you
please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two
absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports, imagicable.
Don't listen to the show so it can get camped.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
What the hell are you doing in our studio?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Get him, paul.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Ignore that fool. Listen to the Pauline Tony Fusco Show
on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
He's still moving.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Here we go. Colin right, Colin wrong.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
On a Monday where Colin was right, Well, when the
Eagles started four to oh, I said they got a
coaching issue. You can't tell me they're beat up and injured.
A lot of teams are beat up an injured. They
had a player's only meeting, and AJ Brown sort of
denied it.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I just don't.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I don't buy the Philadelphia Eagles. They are They're in
trouble right now. They're twenty eighth in yards per rush,
twenty fifth in the NFL in total offense.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Even when they were winning, I said this isn't going
to last.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
This is the drip, drip, drip, And last week we
saw the faucet burst where Colin was wrong firing James Franklin.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I don't know. I don't get it.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Apparently insiders at Penn State are saying it was untenable.
But I will tell you he'd won ten plus games
in three straight seasons. Are you telling if if he
beats UCLA at the end of the game, you'd keep him.
It feels very reactionary to me. Again, they're a playaway
(13:07):
from beaten notre name last year, what did they finish
fifth in the country. But this is the world we
live in. Get rid of the coach if there's any questions.
And I just don't like the way it looks I
was wrong. I would have never guessed this where Colin
was right. To Pittsburgh, Oh, MVP Baker Mayfield. Yeah, a
(13:29):
couple of weeks ago I said, I think he's MVP.
He's never been this good. And again, players get better,
players get worse, they regress. Look what's happen to Justin Field.
Baker is better now.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
He was good early. He didn't play with his confidence.
He's got nothing to work with.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Bucky Irby, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Abuca got hurt. I said,
two or three weeks ago, let's not get ourselves here.
This is what an MVP looks like. And I said, Cleveland,
it was a poor fit. It's a bitter fit and
an angry media poking them in the rips. Tampa's Chill,
Todd Bowles, high IQ high EQ opening all the doors
(14:09):
for him every weekend more and more. Baker's the MVP
of this league.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Where Colin was wrong?
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers four and one? Are they
going to wrap this division up in four to five weeks?
Aaron right now, smartly is getting rid of the ball
from snap to getting rid of the ball faster than
he has in his entire career. And I got to
tell you, with the size of his targets in Pittsburgh,
I think it's smart.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
There's no wow plays.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
He's not doing that. He's doing the back shoulder. He's accurate.
He's completing seventy three percent. This is an offense for
the last seven years, and this is not the best
aeron This is old, Aaron. This is an offense in
the last three weeks. He's got a one to twelve
passer rating. Now I know he's he's got an advantage.
That defense is hoppling up backup quarterbacks, but it looks
(15:02):
good to me. Where Colin was right, I said, New England,
watch out. They're gonna be the double the win total
team in the NFL. This will be my fourth year
in a row. If I hit this after the Raiders loss,
I said, slow down between free agents and draft picks.
They're they're starting like a dozen new guys. Don't freak out.
(15:24):
When they lost to Pittsburgh. Guy said, let it play out.
No team is starting more new bodies. Vrabel's brilliant, Guy,
Drake May's really good. And this this is one of
those things where not all opening losses are the same.
Detroit's obviously a good team. They got housed in the
first game. New England lost to the Raiders. I kept saying,
(15:45):
don't worry, they'll figure away. They're building a culture.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
And we were right.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Where Colin was wrong.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
I had Dante more as the number one pick last week.
He got out played by Fernando Mendoza and it wasn't
particularly close. Couple of minus twenty seven yards rushing.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Didn't see the.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Field particularly well sacked six times. Listen, Indiana's really good.
Indiana's a really good football team and really well coached.
But Dante Moore, it did not look great. Let's just
be honest about this. It was a really, really bad game.
Considering the quality of the staff and the quality of
Oregon talent, this.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Was a stinker.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Where Colin was right, Well, I said the Dolphins, I
don't trust the culture and the head coach here was
Tua after losing to the LA Chargers.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Listen to this.
Speaker 9 (16:39):
I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate
that for the guys, and then what we're expecting out
of the guys, Right, we're expecting this.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Are we getting that?
Speaker 6 (16:49):
Are we not getting that?
Speaker 9 (16:50):
We have guys showing up to only player only meetings late,
guys not showing up to player only meeting Like, there's
a lot that goes into that. It's a lot of
it's a lot of things of that nature that we
got to get cleaned up.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yeah, it's a little late.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Three picks had the game one toa basically saying is yeah,
we don't have a culture here of accountability.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Not good. Where Colin was right, Let's wrap it up
with this.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
The Mariners ta goo one on lead in the American
League Championship Series.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
I said two weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Despite having the number fifteen payroll, they are a more
balanced even team than the Yankees. They can defend. They
have good starting pitching. Right now, opposing hitters in the
playoffs are hitting a buck eighty three on Mariners pitching.
Mendoza is a great closer. They can hit for power
station to station baseball. They can do whatever you want.
It's a very complete team. You know, cal Rawly's their star.
(17:48):
There's no question. They're not as star studded as a
team like the Yankees, but the Yankees don't do a
lot well outside of hit home runs. Mariners, I believe
will make the World Series and they'll face the Brewers
when they get there. Colin Wright, Colin wrong on a Monday,
and let's go to Matt Hasselbeck.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Three Pro Bowls, eighteen years in the NFL. Love him
on a Monday.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I want to start with the Dolphins, which is not
the sexiest team. But when Tua calls out as coach,
it's like, Okay, what are we doing here? Like this
thing has gone sideways? What do you make I mean,
it's obviously they're gonna make big changes. They could change
the GM, the coach. Just let's just wrap a bow
on what is wrong with Miami.
Speaker 6 (18:27):
Well, I thought he called out himself. Really, I mean,
you're the franchise quarterback and you're saying that players don't
come to players only meetings, Like that's an indictment on you,
Like no offense. Sometimes when you're not like an alpha
personality as a quarterback, you kind of need an alpha
head coach. But if you're kind of like a soft spoken, Hey,
I'm not really that guy, then I don't know if
(18:48):
you can have a head coach that really isn't that
guy either. I'm just thinking about it like that, That
to me was as bad as it gets at the podium.
That's not the time, it's not the place. Listen, no
one likes players only meeting but sometimes they need to happen,
and it's kind of a tell the truth Monday situation
usually and you air it all out and it's uncomfortable.
(19:09):
But uh, but that that was just a bad look
all the way around. I'm embarrassed for him. I'm sure
he regrets it, and uh, you know, that's a team
that needs some leadership to step up. And it doesn't
have to be the guy that gets to call the
plays in the huddle. If it's got to be somebody else,
then it's got to be somebody else. But that was
that was a bad look.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd
weekdays and neon Easter not a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
So you know, I said them in the Kansas City
Chiefs or you know, a couple of weeks ago. We
looked at him and we said, you know, folks, I
don't want to hear about the Ravens injuries.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
It looks different.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Turn the sound on your TV down, watch the speed
they they're not letting people over the top. And I
watched last night and they no penalties, no turnovers in
one punt, Like you know what it felt like. Man,
you probably played on a veteran team at one point.
That was one of those where the veterans are like,
gu we have to play our cleanest game of the season.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
I mean, do you see an they look different than
four weeks ago? But I didn't play in the sport.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
What do you see?
Speaker 6 (20:10):
Well, I think there's a confidence that comes with having
a good offensive line. I think they feel really great
about this offensive line. There's also a confidence with the
teams that are still playing with their starting quarterback. And
then if you're starting quarterbacks one of the greatest quarterbacks
to ever play the game ever, and then you've got
the best offensive play caller designer in our era and
Andy Reid, like, literally, how are you gonna like? That
gives me confidence as a player. That gives me confidence
(20:33):
as a locker room and as a defense, like you
got Mahomes over here running like speed option like like
six young or something like, you got to defend it all.
And so listen, as they're getting healthy, they get worthy back,
they're getting rice back. You can tell that this is
a team. There's no panic, there's no players only meetings there.
You know they're they're three and three. The guy's not falling.
You know, they're like, hey, we're going to we're gonna go.
(20:54):
Want to know this week, you know we're probably like
a game out. We're good, Like we're absolutely good, And
I promise you there. Last week was tough. They might
maybe they did have to have players speak up, but
I don't think this is the kind of team that
needs coaches to leave the room when players want to
air out some stuff that they got to say, and so, like,
I just think the culture is there, the continuity's been there,
(21:14):
and you have you have alpha's at the head coach,
at the quarterback, at the tight end, at d line,
all over, good team, good franchise, top to bottom.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yeah, so you know, it'd be one thing if Baker
Mayfield's reboot in his career was based on like one
coach or one coordinator. The fact is the last two
coordinators under him left to get head coaching jobs. Some
quarterbacks get coordinators fired, He's getting them hired, and so
I would like to give other people credit, but a
(21:45):
lot of this is just Baker's will. Did you ever
think Baker Mayfield would be this good in the NFL?
Speaker 6 (21:53):
I thought he was a risky first overall pick, but no,
he hasn't it factor. And everyone said that from from
the get go. You know, they were a little concerned
it was too brash, it's too Brett Farv. But no,
he has exceeded I think everybody's expectations this. I mean,
his response to the MVP thing was great. We don't
need to crown an MVP after Week six. But listen,
(22:14):
he'd be the guy. Like, he'd absolutely be the guy.
The best thing you can say about a quarterback is
he makes the guys around him better. He's got you know,
all his you know, exciting weapons are out. He's throwing.
He threw two touchdowns yesterday to guys that it was
their first touchdown ever. Like he has put literally put
this team on his back. The personality that he has
is showing up on his team. And I believe that's contagious.
(22:35):
I really think it's contagious. And this is a team
that you don't want to face. Tampa is the is
the real deal, and it's because of Baker.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah, and there is value in winning these close games
time and time again. There you can't tell me there's not.
Some It's like a baseball team that keeps coming back
and winning. I think that stuff always has a redeemable quality.
Speaker 6 (22:53):
Yeah. And if I could just add one other thing
is he has become such a great deep ball thrower.
You know a lot of times quarterbacks that he's kind
of played safe. His eyes are way downfield the third
level of the defense and he's like, you know what,
I don't care if it's a little bit late. I'm
throwing it deep down in the middle of my guys
and giving you a chance. And I think that's been
one of the most dangerous parts about his game.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
So let's talk about his draft class in Sam Donald.
So I think what's impressive about Sam Donald? The Minnesota
team he was on had a veteran left tackle and
a veteran running back and a veteran wide receiver, and
Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
He goes to Seattle and its kids.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
It's the second youngest offense, and we were all like, boy, JSN,
is that a number one guy? Explain to me, now,
maybe JSN super mature. Explain to me how JSN and
Donald are this good together this quickly? You only have
so much practice time. How does it look like they've
been together for eight years?
Speaker 6 (23:50):
Well, I think they're bought into the system. I mean,
this is the same system that he threw thirty five
touchdowns in last year. And I think there's like with
the experience, now, there's a lot of wisdom, he says.
You know, he can come into JSN and be like, hey, listen,
this is how you know Justin Jefferson did it. You know,
what do you think and Klint Kubiak has you know,
really come from that same Kyle Shanahan tree. But I
(24:10):
think you also empower a guy when you give him
the contract that they gave Sam Donald and you say, hey,
you're the guy. And I think he's taken ownership of that.
He's playing great football. I think on both sides of
the ball. Listen in Seattle's defense, this is a team
that they've got length, they've got speed, they're very young,
they've got a young head coach. You know, when you're
given when your defense is creating seven sacks, that's going
(24:31):
to help your offense as well. So I don't think
this is a finished product team. I mean there's actually
areas where this offense can really improve. Third down would
be a great example they got to improve. But I
think what Donald has done such an amazing job of
is under center, play action, turn your back to the defense,
which marries up with the run game that they're trying
to establish. And JSN Literally, I think I've been saying
(24:54):
this for a long time. I think he's the most
underrated wide receiver in the entire NFL.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
So a lot of people didn't watch the Saints or Patriots,
but I remember during camp Mike Vrabel coming out and
it was one of those quotes that's kind of memorable.
He's like, you know, Drake's got to understand leadership is
seven days a week. It's not a great practice. You
got to be a leader seven days a week. And
it was kind of like, I really like this kid,
(25:21):
but he's he's young. And I always said, I think
it's so weird. You're twenty four years old. You walk
into a locker room with rich dudes that are thirty one,
and it's like, all right, you're the parent.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
It's like that is hard.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
But the last three or four weeks, you tell me,
it looks like Drake May is as good as any
quarterback in his class. He's not Jaden Daniels yet, but
I don't know, it feels special to me.
Speaker 6 (25:46):
No, he's not Jaden Daniels, but he outplayed Jaden Daniels
in those joint practices. When Frabel said that, and everyone
was trying to crown him as better than Jaden Daniels,
and Frabel was like, hey, in a Bill Parcell's kind
of way was like, hey, pump the brakes, but but no,
Drake May has everyone in New England excited, mostly because
of the huge win at Buffalo against Josh Allen. But
what I love what he's doing and Josh McDaniels is doing,
(26:09):
is they run so many different option routes. You know,
think about Josh Daniels and all the different guys that
ran option routes through you know when he was successful.
Drake has has an experience doing that at UNC. He's
got a great feel for Diggs and Pop Douglas and
all the different guys. So I believe that's one of
the harder things for quarterbacks is to really get on
the same page quick with the guys on option routes.
(26:30):
The other thing that Drake has done a great job
is before he uses his legs to scramble, he's using
the running back checkdown game again a Josh McDaniels staple.
So you know, is he ready to be crowned like
you know, the best quarterback in the AFC East, Or
is the next Tom Brady?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Like?
Speaker 6 (26:45):
No, But the excitement is super real, and I think
Vrabel understands having been teammates with Tom Brady, having been
around great quarterbacks. I think Vrabels in Josh McDaniels, it's
like a nice little tag team for this quarterback. And
don't be surprised, literally, do not be surprised if the
Patriots are a playoff team this year. Great call by you, Colin.
Colin was right.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Well, you know, get a couple of them.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
And by the way, I remind everybody when I hit
two times a year on being right, I make sure.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
That you're like a broken clock. You're like a broken clock,
you're right twice a day. Garrett's sit.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
So there are some guys, and I'm always kind of
amazed by this quality there are. And I saw it
last year with Jayden Daniels. Some guys just see the
field and some quarterbacks don't. And Herbert Yesterday is under
duress and he's running around, he's switching hands with the ball.
He throws it out to maconk and I'm like, some
of this is innate. I don't think you can coach
(27:40):
some of this quarterback stuff. Herbert Yesterday three backup, all linemen,
no number one receiver, number three running back. How do
you view I mean, he's obviously physically impressive, but I
just sometimes he makes throws and I it's just I
don't know, is it coaching is it scheme?
Speaker 3 (27:57):
What do you make of Herbert?
Speaker 6 (27:59):
Well, yeah, you can't coach that stuff. I mean, you know,
literally those are ball control, ball in the pocket drills,
escapability drills. But you need the tangibles.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
Listen.
Speaker 6 (28:09):
I feel like I talk about intangibles a lot with
the quarterback, but you also need the tangibles you get
around justin Herbert. He's every bit of franchise quarterback. I mean,
he looks like Drew Drew Bledsoe. He moves like Brett
Farv like he's really incredible, and he does it at
the moment, at the clutch moments. Now here, here's another
guy you mentioned, he's on his third string left tackle.
(28:29):
Will they make a trade? Until they make a trade,
he's gonna have to throw with great anticipation, anticipitation or
he's going to have to really be superman like you
saw in this game. Put the team on his back.
But you're not gonna be playing the Miami Dolphins every week,
and so this is a this is a situation where
I think he's gonna need a little bit of help.
I mean, you look at Lamar Jackson, he needed help.
(28:51):
He's one of the game's great quarterbacks. Justin Herbert's gonna
need help as well.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Finally, Aaron Rodgers and his whole has never let go
of the ball this quickly. And I'd make the argument
Pittsburgh strange. They have three tight ends that are giants.
One of them is the biggest tight end of the league.
Let's go left tackle. Then they have DK Metcalf And
this is not necessarily a throw the ball over the
top team. It is a We've got really large, six
(29:18):
foot six men who are strong, get the ball to
women matchups, let them break some tackles. And he's getting
crushed in all these analytic grading systems that he's having
a bad year. And I'm like, no, I kind of
get it. They don't have a Xavier Worthy. That's not
that they don't have these lad mcconkeys. They have six
seven receivers and tight ends. What do you make of
(29:39):
Aaron just get spitting that thing out. Is he worried
about getting sacked? Is it just eat that simple?
Speaker 6 (29:45):
He's smart. Listen, when I was starting, I think I
started eighty or nine games in my forties. I got
the ball out quick too. I wasn't like consciously trying
to do it. But I think maybe there is something
to like, Man, I'm good, I don't need to be
I don't need to show I'm John Wayne. I don't
need to take these hits. No, here's what they're doing.
He's getting the ball out really quick. But Arthur Smith
and Aaron Rodgers, they're moving the launch point. So the
(30:06):
quarterback is almost always like seven and a half or
nine and a half yards right behind the center. But
not Aaron Rodgers. Not this year. A lot of their
big plays are coming where the launch point is moving,
doesn't have to move too far. Could be in the
B gap, it could be in the sea gap. Maybe
it's all the way outside the hash, but that's buying
time within the design of the play, and even if
(30:27):
the defense covers it. That's where Aaron Rodgers has his
back shoulder throws, double moves, all the different stuff. So
I think this is a really really intentional game plan
by Arthur Smith, and it might be an unintentional thing
with Aaron Rodgers, like, it's all good, man, I can
play point guard. I don't need to be the shooting forward.
And that's great. That's what he really probably should have
(30:49):
been doing with the Jets. He's doing it great. This
is a nice fit. I think everyone was wondering how
the fit would be. But just notice the next time
you watch the Steelers, where that launch point is, where
he's letting the ball go for. It makes it difficult
on the defense and it protects a guy in his forties.
I'm a fan. I think they're doing great.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Yeah, it's more Chris Paul than Steph Curry. I can
hit the jumper, but I'm gonna get this ball out
because they have some unique body types.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
I mean, Washington is he's six seven and a half.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
I mean, they've got massive By the way you were
staff just said this. You were five and three as
a starter in your forties.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
That's probably banged all two and banged up. You know
that was a you know, I do think like as
a quarterback sometimes you know, sometimes when you're younger, you
don't know enough. But I'm sure Aaron Rodgers he knows
it all, and he's like, man, I don't trust this situation.
You know, we got a tight end blocking backside on
the defensive end, Like this ball's coming out quick, like
he's been through the fire, he's learned the mistakes. I
(31:51):
know that was true for me.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
Great Sanior Matt as always.
Speaker 6 (31:55):
Thanks Sikon all Right, I love that twenty
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Minutes with Matt Hasselbeck and Right and Wrong one of
my favorite twenty minutes of the week.
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
Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio
or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Here we go our number one.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
I'm not sure we can get all this show into
the next three hours. We are live, we are in Chicago,
and it is the Herd one hour from now. Where
Colin was right, where Colin was wrong. I don't think
we should waste any time. Everybody's worst nightmare is now official.
(00:57):
The Kansasity Chiefs once again are the best team in
professional football. First three weeks, Mahomes was wobbly. They were
averaging twenty points a game, and in their last three
games they are now averaging thirty two points. Along with
that defense and along with those special teams. Sorry NFL,
(01:21):
they did it again. Kansas City. Only Andy Reid and
Patrick Mahomes. They're the only people in this league that
can take number two and number three wide receivers. They
can take Hollywood Brown and Jude ju Smith Schuster and
backup left tackles and okay, running backs and get into
(01:43):
the thirties. Xavier Worthy with any other team, would he
be this good? All they do is make it work.
Andy Reid is the great chef, He's the Gordon Ramsey.
Everything in the kitchen has a role. Let's just keep tinkering.
Let's keep figuring out a way to make everything work.
Put it into our ecosystem, and let's make it flourish.
(02:04):
By the way, this is what Kansas City does every year.
When you get into these big games. They play differently.
No penalties, no turnovers, one punt. Whine all you want
about the penalties. Well coached teams Belichick and Brady that
is for years they don't turn it over, and they
(02:24):
don't get penalized, and they don't pump much. The NFL
seasons are incredibly long. You can't overreact to zero to
two or three and three again. Get people healthy, make
everybody count in the kitchen. Three weeks ago, when they
beat Baltimore, everybody said, well the Ravens are beat up. Yeah,
(02:44):
right now, so is Tampa, so is San Francisco. A
lot of teams in the NFL are beat up. Doesn't
matter with this defense, this play calling, people get distracted.
The NBA is about talent and appeasing the star fellas,
about the O line, the defensive coordinator, about the entire system,
and it's about the culture. This is a locker room
(03:07):
of fifty three guys, not five that really really truly matter.
And here's Kansas City. They keep tweaking. Add a little salt,
make everything in the kitchen work. Prime example last night
when they're offensive line. The first couple of weeks offensive
line it was, it was messy, It was not very good.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
They had no running game.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
O line was bad last night despite the Detroit Lions
having a ten minute opening drive, Kansas City one time
of possession with this offensive line that was a bit
chaotic and a bit messy five weeks ago. And I
know you don't want to hear it, but Rashi Rice
is coming back. The receiving corps now, all right? Were
(03:46):
these a two juju Smith? Schuster's a three Hollywood Brown
as a gadget four? Oh that's a And with Mahomes
and Reid pulling the levers, that is a way above
average receiving court Travis Kelsey again in a big spot.
He arrives. So this is what Kansas City does. First
three weeks, very choppy. Last three games thirty two a game.
(04:11):
And Detroit's a really good team, but they were so
focused last night. Here's Patrick Mahomes on being the youngest
quarterback to ever get to three hundred touchdown passes.
Speaker 4 (04:22):
It's extremely cool. I mean, I've been blessed. I always
say it, and I mean it like I've been blessed,
Like I drafted here in Kansas City, a great community,
great ownership, and then getting one of the best football
coaches of all time and some of the greatest players
of all time around me. And so it makes my
job a lot easier when I'm going to throw to
some great ones. And let's keep let's continue it, let's
have some fun, and we've got a long career ahead
(04:42):
and we'll see how we can get to.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
That's the best team in the NFL right now, Kansas
City Chiefs, one punt, no turnovers, no penalties, dominating an
excellent Detroit Lions team. Okay, so the last couple of weeks,
Baker Mayfield has had to go on the road out
West se San Francisco. Good teams, and in both games,
Baker Mayfield was the difference.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
He's missing Mike.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Evans and Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving a Mecca Buca
got hurt in the game, Baker willed his team to
a w. As you guys all know, this league is
about toughness and resilience. Don't be a victim. Deal with it.
Baker's not the biggest, He's only six to one.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
He's not the.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Most athletic, but his fight picking up that first down
on the run is a plus plus. The dude was
missing his top four receivers. Instead, he needed Tez Johnson
pack of a catch and Cameron Johnson, who was an
undrafted D two athlete that was his receiving corps and
both caught their first career NFL touchdowns. Baker Mayfield a
(05:51):
lot of these quarterbacks, I don't even need to name them.
They get coordinators fired, Baker Mayfield's last two coordinators, he
got head coaching jobs. And again, there's a quality that
Baker Mayfield has that I wish everybody in America had.
He just not everything has to be perfect. He never
(06:12):
plays the victim. It's like, what do I gotta work with?
All right, let's go that. He's never pointing fingers. Baker's like,
get on my back. This is this is a guy pulling.
He's pulling a team right now. They are a mess. Offensively,
they are falling out. He's using D two receivers and
(06:34):
he's beating Seattle in Seattle. You see what Seattle did
on the road yesterday. You see what Seattle did. Are
the Steelers this year? He's beating San Francisco. All I hear, well,
brock perdies, guys are injured. Baker's like, yeah, what evs.
Let's go. I don't think right now that Tampa Bay
roster because I think of the second best team in
the NFL to Kansas City. But their rosters so beat up.
(06:55):
It's not a top ten roster. They're missing great players.
Pedal to the metal, head down. Don't point fingers. Tampa's
now five and one big win after big win with
Baker Mayfield. His resilience is completely contagious and redeemable. And
here he was after another w on the road.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
I truly genuinely trust the guys that are in there.
They're ready. We talked throughout the week guys are on
the same page. And that's real. I trust these guys,
even though some of them might not have played a
whole lot of ball. But if we're on the same page,
good things happen. You don't have to have the perfect
play when all your guys are fighting for each other
and are on the same page. And that's an example
of that. Defense played great special teams as well, And
(07:38):
so that's complimentary football.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
All right.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Right now, Baker Mayfield, I think he's got everybody's vote
as the most valuable player.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
To do it with that beleaguer roster.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
On the road, beating good teams, beating really good defensive
minds or defensive coordinators. Feel terrible for San Francisco. Fred
Warner is now injured. The whole team is falling up
at physically all their stars. But that's you know, we
often asked ourselves, you know, what's a franchise quarterback? What's
the difference? The difference is when things aren't right. I
(08:10):
hear this all the time. Well, I mean, yeah, you'll
hear it from you know, for years and years. Well,
you know, we don't have Caleb's missing this, or Jackson
Dart was missing that, Baker's missing everything.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
He's on the road.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Seattle and San Francisco were good, and he's willing his
team to win.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
He may not be the best athlete.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
But on that one run, he looked like it. That's
what a franchise quarterback is. You don't have your best
running back, you don't have your top three wide receivers,
you got a defensive coach, so it's your offense. That's
what an MVP looks like. That's what a franchise quarterback
looks like. It took Baker a while to get there
from Cleveland and Carolina and Los Angeles. Took him a
(08:51):
while to get there. Who cares some careers, You gotta
let him bake. But fantastic performance.
Speaker 6 (08:59):
Yeah, was great.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
J Mac gotta say this, by the way, that was
that was in Tampa? Was it in Tampa? Samford said,
I watched so many damn game yesterday. Yeah, I was
in Tampa, Tay My bad, My bad on that folks,
My bad. That wasn't it was in Tampa?
Speaker 2 (09:11):
I got.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
I watched thirteen games yesterday and nine the day before.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
I'm lost.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
But I mean, the truth of the matter is Saul
is a great defensive coordinator to go to Seattle. You're
facing McDonald. I mean, look what he did the Trevor
Lawrence yesterday. You're talking about facing the best coordinators, smart,
young defensive guys, pass rushes, and for him to go
out there and pull that stuff is unbelievable.
Speaker 7 (09:35):
I mean, I think I saw stat after Fred Warner
went out Colin the Bucks average like seven point four
yards per place, something insane. Without Warner, the Niners have nothing,
no Bosa, no Warner. So I'm pumping the brakes on Baker.
He was fantastic again yesterday. Oh my god, he's phenomenal.
You could argue he's been the best quarterback in the
NFL this season.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
No, I don't even I don't even think. I think
you have to. You have to consider everything. You have
to consider it. You got to consider what you have.
I mean, the Seattle winds shocked us. I think you
and I thought it was our second favorite bet of
the weekend.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
By the way, how'd you I went four oh yesterday?
How'd you do? Two and two? Waiting on one more tonight?
Speaker 1 (10:10):
All right, I've got Washington tonight at home over Chicago.
Bears don't travel particularly well. I'm not sure if you
caught this to.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Mariners, your guy cal Rally.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Well, all right, we've got a lot to talk about.
Speaking of quarterback play, Justin Herbert, I thought that the
Baker run may have been the play of the day.
How about the Justin Herbert play to get the ball
to Lad mcconkee when we come back.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
That is all time stuff. We talk about this all
the time.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I like traits with quarterbacks, like big strong guys over
small guys.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
And by the way, Baker's not the.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Biggest guy, but he makes he plays bigger than himself, right,
bigger than his size. What Justin Herbert did yesterday in
one play, I looked at it this morning on social media,
switching hands during the play. We'll get to that. Plus
Aaron Rodgers only compliments. Dodgers are playing tonight. We have
(11:12):
got ourselves this next week, the next four or five
days are as good as America gets for sports.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
Oh yeah, James Franklin got fired. I don't know what
to do with that.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app HI.
Speaker 8 (11:31):
This is Jay I'm the producer of the Paula and
Tony Fusco Show. Usually in these promos they asked you
to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you
please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two
absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports, imagicable.
Don't listen to the show so it can get camped.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
What the hell are you doing in our studio?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Get him, paul.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Ignore that fool. Listen to the Pauline Tony Fusco Show
on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
He's still moving.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Here we go. Colin right, Colin wrong.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
On a Monday where Colin was right, Well, when the
Eagles started four to oh, I said they got a
coaching issue. You can't tell me they're beat up and injured.
A lot of teams are beat up an injured. They
had a player's only meeting, and AJ Brown sort of
denied it.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
I just don't.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I don't buy the Philadelphia Eagles. They are They're in
trouble right now. They're twenty eighth in yards per rush,
twenty fifth in the NFL in total offense.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
Even when they were winning, I said this isn't going
to last.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
This is the drip, drip, drip, And last week we
saw the faucet burst where Colin was wrong firing James Franklin.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I don't know. I don't get it.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Apparently insiders at Penn State are saying it was untenable.
But I will tell you he'd won ten plus games
in three straight seasons. Are you telling if if he
beats UCLA at the end of the game, you'd keep him.
It feels very reactionary to me. Again, they're a playaway
(13:07):
from beaten notre name last year, what did they finish
fifth in the country. But this is the world we
live in. Get rid of the coach if there's any questions.
And I just don't like the way it looks I
was wrong. I would have never guessed this where Colin
was right. To Pittsburgh, Oh, MVP Baker Mayfield. Yeah, a
(13:29):
couple of weeks ago I said, I think he's MVP.
He's never been this good. And again, players get better,
players get worse, they regress. Look what's happen to Justin Field.
Baker is better now.
Speaker 3 (13:42):
He was good early. He didn't play with his confidence.
He's got nothing to work with.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Bucky Irby, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Abuca got hurt. I said,
two or three weeks ago, let's not get ourselves here.
This is what an MVP looks like. And I said, Cleveland,
it was a poor fit. It's a bitter fit and
an angry media poking them in the rips. Tampa's Chill,
Todd Bowles, high IQ high EQ opening all the doors
(14:09):
for him every weekend more and more. Baker's the MVP
of this league.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Where Colin was wrong?
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers four and one? Are they
going to wrap this division up in four to five weeks?
Aaron right now, smartly is getting rid of the ball
from snap to getting rid of the ball faster than
he has in his entire career. And I got to
tell you, with the size of his targets in Pittsburgh,
I think it's smart.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
There's no wow plays.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
He's not doing that. He's doing the back shoulder. He's accurate.
He's completing seventy three percent. This is an offense for
the last seven years, and this is not the best
aeron This is old, Aaron. This is an offense in
the last three weeks. He's got a one to twelve
passer rating. Now I know he's he's got an advantage.
That defense is hoppling up backup quarterbacks, but it looks
(15:02):
good to me. Where Colin was right, I said, New England,
watch out. They're gonna be the double the win total
team in the NFL. This will be my fourth year
in a row. If I hit this after the Raiders loss,
I said, slow down between free agents and draft picks.
They're they're starting like a dozen new guys. Don't freak out.
(15:24):
When they lost to Pittsburgh. Guy said, let it play out.
No team is starting more new bodies. Vrabel's brilliant, Guy,
Drake May's really good. And this this is one of
those things where not all opening losses are the same.
Detroit's obviously a good team. They got housed in the
first game. New England lost to the Raiders. I kept saying,
(15:45):
don't worry, they'll figure away. They're building a culture.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
And we were right.
Speaker 2 (15:50):
Where Colin was wrong.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
I had Dante more as the number one pick last week.
He got out played by Fernando Mendoza and it wasn't
particularly close. Couple of minus twenty seven yards rushing.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Didn't see the.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Field particularly well sacked six times. Listen, Indiana's really good.
Indiana's a really good football team and really well coached.
But Dante Moore, it did not look great. Let's just
be honest about this. It was a really, really bad game.
Considering the quality of the staff and the quality of
Oregon talent, this.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
Was a stinker.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Where Colin was right, Well, I said the Dolphins, I
don't trust the culture and the head coach here was
Tua after losing to the LA Chargers.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Listen to this.
Speaker 9 (16:39):
I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate
that for the guys, and then what we're expecting out
of the guys, Right, we're expecting this.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Are we getting that?
Speaker 6 (16:49):
Are we not getting that?
Speaker 9 (16:50):
We have guys showing up to only player only meetings late,
guys not showing up to player only meeting Like, there's
a lot that goes into that. It's a lot of
it's a lot of things of that nature that we
got to get cleaned up.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Yeah, it's a little late.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Three picks had the game one toa basically saying is yeah,
we don't have a culture here of accountability.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Not good. Where Colin was right, Let's wrap it up
with this.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
The Mariners ta goo one on lead in the American
League Championship Series.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
I said two weeks ago.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Despite having the number fifteen payroll, they are a more
balanced even team than the Yankees. They can defend. They
have good starting pitching. Right now, opposing hitters in the
playoffs are hitting a buck eighty three on Mariners pitching.
Mendoza is a great closer. They can hit for power
station to station baseball. They can do whatever you want.
It's a very complete team. You know, cal Rawly's their star.
(17:48):
There's no question. They're not as star studded as a
team like the Yankees, but the Yankees don't do a
lot well outside of hit home runs. Mariners, I believe
will make the World Series and they'll face the Brewers
when they get there. Colin Wright, Colin wrong on a Monday,
and let's go to Matt Hasselbeck.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Three Pro Bowls, eighteen years in the NFL. Love him
on a Monday.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I want to start with the Dolphins, which is not
the sexiest team. But when Tua calls out as coach,
it's like, Okay, what are we doing here? Like this
thing has gone sideways? What do you make I mean,
it's obviously they're gonna make big changes. They could change
the GM, the coach. Just let's just wrap a bow
on what is wrong with Miami.
Speaker 6 (18:27):
Well, I thought he called out himself. Really, I mean,
you're the franchise quarterback and you're saying that players don't
come to players only meetings, Like that's an indictment on you,
Like no offense. Sometimes when you're not like an alpha
personality as a quarterback, you kind of need an alpha
head coach. But if you're kind of like a soft spoken, Hey,
I'm not really that guy, then I don't know if
(18:48):
you can have a head coach that really isn't that
guy either. I'm just thinking about it like that, That
to me was as bad as it gets at the podium.
That's not the time, it's not the place. Listen, no
one likes players only meeting but sometimes they need to happen,
and it's kind of a tell the truth Monday situation
usually and you air it all out and it's uncomfortable.
(19:09):
But uh, but that that was just a bad look
all the way around. I'm embarrassed for him. I'm sure
he regrets it, and uh, you know, that's a team
that needs some leadership to step up. And it doesn't
have to be the guy that gets to call the
plays in the huddle. If it's got to be somebody else,
then it's got to be somebody else. But that was
that was a bad look.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd
weekdays and neon Easter not a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
So you know, I said them in the Kansas City
Chiefs or you know, a couple of weeks ago. We
looked at him and we said, you know, folks, I
don't want to hear about the Ravens injuries.
Speaker 3 (19:41):
It looks different.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Turn the sound on your TV down, watch the speed
they they're not letting people over the top. And I
watched last night and they no penalties, no turnovers in
one punt, Like you know what it felt like. Man,
you probably played on a veteran team at one point.
That was one of those where the veterans are like,
gu we have to play our cleanest game of the season.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
I mean, do you see an they look different than
four weeks ago? But I didn't play in the sport.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
What do you see?
Speaker 6 (20:10):
Well, I think there's a confidence that comes with having
a good offensive line. I think they feel really great
about this offensive line. There's also a confidence with the
teams that are still playing with their starting quarterback. And
then if you're starting quarterbacks one of the greatest quarterbacks
to ever play the game ever, and then you've got
the best offensive play caller designer in our era and
Andy Reid, like, literally, how are you gonna like? That
gives me confidence as a player. That gives me confidence
(20:33):
as a locker room and as a defense, like you
got Mahomes over here running like speed option like like
six young or something like, you got to defend it all.
And so listen, as they're getting healthy, they get worthy back,
they're getting rice back. You can tell that this is
a team. There's no panic, there's no players only meetings there.
You know they're they're three and three. The guy's not falling.
You know, they're like, hey, we're going to we're gonna go.
(20:54):
Want to know this week, you know we're probably like
a game out. We're good, Like we're absolutely good, And
I promise you there. Last week was tough. They might
maybe they did have to have players speak up, but
I don't think this is the kind of team that
needs coaches to leave the room when players want to
air out some stuff that they got to say, and so, like,
I just think the culture is there, the continuity's been there,
(21:14):
and you have you have alpha's at the head coach,
at the quarterback, at the tight end, at d line,
all over, good team, good franchise, top to bottom.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
Yeah, so you know, it'd be one thing if Baker
Mayfield's reboot in his career was based on like one
coach or one coordinator. The fact is the last two
coordinators under him left to get head coaching jobs. Some
quarterbacks get coordinators fired, He's getting them hired, and so
I would like to give other people credit, but a
(21:45):
lot of this is just Baker's will. Did you ever
think Baker Mayfield would be this good in the NFL?
Speaker 6 (21:53):
I thought he was a risky first overall pick, but no,
he hasn't it factor. And everyone said that from from
the get go. You know, they were a little concerned
it was too brash, it's too Brett Farv. But no,
he has exceeded I think everybody's expectations this. I mean,
his response to the MVP thing was great. We don't
need to crown an MVP after Week six. But listen,
(22:14):
he'd be the guy. Like, he'd absolutely be the guy.
The best thing you can say about a quarterback is
he makes the guys around him better. He's got you know,
all his you know, exciting weapons are out. He's throwing.
He threw two touchdowns yesterday to guys that it was
their first touchdown ever. Like he has put literally put
this team on his back. The personality that he has
is showing up on his team. And I believe that's contagious.
(22:35):
I really think it's contagious. And this is a team
that you don't want to face. Tampa is the is
the real deal, and it's because of Baker.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yeah, and there is value in winning these close games
time and time again. There you can't tell me there's not.
Some It's like a baseball team that keeps coming back
and winning. I think that stuff always has a redeemable quality.
Speaker 6 (22:53):
Yeah. And if I could just add one other thing
is he has become such a great deep ball thrower.
You know a lot of times quarterbacks that he's kind
of played safe. His eyes are way downfield the third
level of the defense and he's like, you know what,
I don't care if it's a little bit late. I'm
throwing it deep down in the middle of my guys
and giving you a chance. And I think that's been
one of the most dangerous parts about his game.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
So let's talk about his draft class in Sam Donald.
So I think what's impressive about Sam Donald? The Minnesota
team he was on had a veteran left tackle and
a veteran running back and a veteran wide receiver, and
Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
He goes to Seattle and its kids.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
It's the second youngest offense, and we were all like, boy, JSN,
is that a number one guy? Explain to me, now,
maybe JSN super mature. Explain to me how JSN and
Donald are this good together this quickly? You only have
so much practice time. How does it look like they've
been together for eight years?
Speaker 6 (23:50):
Well, I think they're bought into the system. I mean,
this is the same system that he threw thirty five
touchdowns in last year. And I think there's like with
the experience, now, there's a lot of wisdom, he says.
You know, he can come into JSN and be like, hey, listen,
this is how you know Justin Jefferson did it. You know,
what do you think and Klint Kubiak has you know,
really come from that same Kyle Shanahan tree. But I
(24:10):
think you also empower a guy when you give him
the contract that they gave Sam Donald and you say, hey,
you're the guy. And I think he's taken ownership of that.
He's playing great football. I think on both sides of
the ball. Listen in Seattle's defense, this is a team
that they've got length, they've got speed, they're very young,
they've got a young head coach. You know, when you're
given when your defense is creating seven sacks, that's going
(24:31):
to help your offense as well. So I don't think
this is a finished product team. I mean there's actually
areas where this offense can really improve. Third down would
be a great example they got to improve. But I
think what Donald has done such an amazing job of
is under center, play action, turn your back to the defense,
which marries up with the run game that they're trying
to establish. And JSN Literally, I think I've been saying
(24:54):
this for a long time. I think he's the most
underrated wide receiver in the entire NFL.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
So a lot of people didn't watch the Saints or Patriots,
but I remember during camp Mike Vrabel coming out and
it was one of those quotes that's kind of memorable.
He's like, you know, Drake's got to understand leadership is
seven days a week. It's not a great practice. You
got to be a leader seven days a week. And
it was kind of like, I really like this kid,
(25:21):
but he's he's young. And I always said, I think
it's so weird. You're twenty four years old. You walk
into a locker room with rich dudes that are thirty one,
and it's like, all right, you're the parent.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
It's like that is hard.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
But the last three or four weeks, you tell me,
it looks like Drake May is as good as any
quarterback in his class. He's not Jaden Daniels yet, but
I don't know, it feels special to me.
Speaker 6 (25:46):
No, he's not Jaden Daniels, but he outplayed Jaden Daniels
in those joint practices. When Frabel said that, and everyone
was trying to crown him as better than Jaden Daniels,
and Frabel was like, hey, in a Bill Parcell's kind
of way was like, hey, pump the brakes, but but no,
Drake May has everyone in New England excited, mostly because
of the huge win at Buffalo against Josh Allen. But
what I love what he's doing and Josh McDaniels is doing,
(26:09):
is they run so many different option routes. You know,
think about Josh Daniels and all the different guys that
ran option routes through you know when he was successful.
Drake has has an experience doing that at UNC. He's
got a great feel for Diggs and Pop Douglas and
all the different guys. So I believe that's one of
the harder things for quarterbacks is to really get on
the same page quick with the guys on option routes.
(26:30):
The other thing that Drake has done a great job
is before he uses his legs to scramble, he's using
the running back checkdown game again a Josh McDaniels staple.
So you know, is he ready to be crowned like
you know, the best quarterback in the AFC East, Or
is the next Tom Brady?
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Like?
Speaker 6 (26:45):
No, But the excitement is super real, and I think
Vrabel understands having been teammates with Tom Brady, having been
around great quarterbacks. I think Vrabels in Josh McDaniels, it's
like a nice little tag team for this quarterback. And
don't be surprised, literally, do not be surprised if the
Patriots are a playoff team this year. Great call by you, Colin.
Colin was right.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
Well, you know, get a couple of them.
Speaker 1 (27:08):
And by the way, I remind everybody when I hit
two times a year on being right, I make sure.
Speaker 6 (27:13):
That you're like a broken clock. You're like a broken clock,
you're right twice a day. Garrett's sit.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
So there are some guys, and I'm always kind of
amazed by this quality there are. And I saw it
last year with Jayden Daniels. Some guys just see the
field and some quarterbacks don't. And Herbert Yesterday is under
duress and he's running around, he's switching hands with the ball.
He throws it out to maconk and I'm like, some
of this is innate. I don't think you can coach
(27:40):
some of this quarterback stuff. Herbert Yesterday three backup, all linemen,
no number one receiver, number three running back. How do
you view I mean, he's obviously physically impressive, but I
just sometimes he makes throws and I it's just I
don't know, is it coaching is it scheme?
Speaker 3 (27:57):
What do you make of Herbert?
Speaker 6 (27:59):
Well, yeah, you can't coach that stuff. I mean, you know,
literally those are ball control, ball in the pocket drills,
escapability drills. But you need the tangibles.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
Listen.
Speaker 6 (28:09):
I feel like I talk about intangibles a lot with
the quarterback, but you also need the tangibles you get
around justin Herbert. He's every bit of franchise quarterback. I mean,
he looks like Drew Drew Bledsoe. He moves like Brett
Farv like he's really incredible, and he does it at
the moment, at the clutch moments. Now here, here's another
guy you mentioned, he's on his third string left tackle.
(28:29):
Will they make a trade? Until they make a trade,
he's gonna have to throw with great anticipation, anticipitation or
he's going to have to really be superman like you
saw in this game. Put the team on his back.
But you're not gonna be playing the Miami Dolphins every week,
and so this is a this is a situation where
I think he's gonna need a little bit of help.
I mean, you look at Lamar Jackson, he needed help.
(28:51):
He's one of the game's great quarterbacks. Justin Herbert's gonna
need help as well.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Finally, Aaron Rodgers and his whole has never let go
of the ball this quickly. And I'd make the argument
Pittsburgh strange. They have three tight ends that are giants.
One of them is the biggest tight end of the league.
Let's go left tackle. Then they have DK Metcalf And
this is not necessarily a throw the ball over the
top team. It is a We've got really large, six
(29:18):
foot six men who are strong, get the ball to
women matchups, let them break some tackles. And he's getting
crushed in all these analytic grading systems that he's having
a bad year. And I'm like, no, I kind of
get it. They don't have a Xavier Worthy. That's not
that they don't have these lad mcconkeys. They have six
seven receivers and tight ends. What do you make of
(29:39):
Aaron just get spitting that thing out. Is he worried
about getting sacked? Is it just eat that simple?
Speaker 6 (29:45):
He's smart. Listen, when I was starting, I think I
started eighty or nine games in my forties. I got
the ball out quick too. I wasn't like consciously trying
to do it. But I think maybe there is something
to like, Man, I'm good, I don't need to be
I don't need to show I'm John Wayne. I don't
need to take these hits. No, here's what they're doing.
He's getting the ball out really quick. But Arthur Smith
and Aaron Rodgers, they're moving the launch point. So the
(30:06):
quarterback is almost always like seven and a half or
nine and a half yards right behind the center. But
not Aaron Rodgers. Not this year. A lot of their
big plays are coming where the launch point is moving,
doesn't have to move too far. Could be in the
B gap, it could be in the sea gap. Maybe
it's all the way outside the hash, but that's buying
time within the design of the play, and even if
(30:27):
the defense covers it. That's where Aaron Rodgers has his
back shoulder throws, double moves, all the different stuff. So
I think this is a really really intentional game plan
by Arthur Smith, and it might be an unintentional thing
with Aaron Rodgers, like, it's all good, man, I can
play point guard. I don't need to be the shooting forward.
And that's great. That's what he really probably should have
(30:49):
been doing with the Jets. He's doing it great. This
is a nice fit. I think everyone was wondering how
the fit would be. But just notice the next time
you watch the Steelers, where that launch point is, where
he's letting the ball go for. It makes it difficult
on the defense and it protects a guy in his forties.
I'm a fan. I think they're doing great.
Speaker 1 (31:07):
Yeah, it's more Chris Paul than Steph Curry. I can
hit the jumper, but I'm gonna get this ball out
because they have some unique body types.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
I mean, Washington is he's six seven and a half.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
I mean, they've got massive By the way you were
staff just said this. You were five and three as
a starter in your forties.
Speaker 6 (31:28):
That's probably banged all two and banged up. You know
that was a you know, I do think like as
a quarterback sometimes you know, sometimes when you're younger, you
don't know enough. But I'm sure Aaron Rodgers he knows
it all, and he's like, man, I don't trust this situation.
You know, we got a tight end blocking backside on
the defensive end, Like this ball's coming out quick, like
he's been through the fire, he's learned the mistakes. I
(31:51):
know that was true for me.
Speaker 3 (31:53):
Great Sanior Matt as always.
Speaker 6 (31:55):
Thanks Sikon all Right, I love that twenty
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Minutes with Matt Hasselbeck and Right and Wrong one of
my favorite twenty minutes of the week.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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