December 30, 2025 • 42 mins
Colin unveils his Herd Hierarchy for the week, with a power vacuum as the Rams fall on Monday night. Joel Klatt joins Colin to discuss the college football playoffs – what does Miami have to do to beat Ohio State? Plus, the fallout continues from USC and Notre Dame’s breakup. Colin discusses who he thinks are the best head coach candidates for this hiring cycle, including a surprise from the college ranks.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Here we go. It's our two Rams. Come back and
make it close. Stafford play as well. They win Stafford Struggles.
They lose eleven and five on the season. McVeigh did
say he's gonna play the starters in week eighteen. Good
to have you today. So the college football playoff tomorrow. Miami.
(00:50):
I liked him to get into the playoff over and
over Dame. I liked him over Texas, A and M
I think they keep it close here. Can they move
the ball consistently at least win some field position battles
against Ohio State. I think Ohio State will struggle to
move the ball. Really good pass rush. Miami is old
(01:12):
school physical, but I think the Buckeyes have so many
interesting perimeter weapons Brian Hartlin's recruiting they'll kind of outlast
them over the course of time. They'll just make a
couple of big plays down the sideline. So here we
do it, the herd hierarchy. As we head into week eighteen,
here we go.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Heard hierarchy time.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Now go the top ten NFL teams according to College
number ten.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Yeah, I'll put Buffalo once again at ten. They've trailed
in each of their last nine games, three of their
five losses that come to Philadelphia, the Texans and the Patriots.
I don't think they're going to be able to beat
top end teams consistently. They can't defend the run, they
fall into holes. I don't trust them situationally. In big spot.
(02:00):
They'd won five straight division titles, and my guests going forward,
Drake May and Mike Vrabel are going to own the division.
I have the Bills at ten, number nine. Yet, I
do think the Texans could play for the AFC Championship.
Eight game winning streak, best fourth quarter differential in the league.
They wear you out physically and can pull away in
(02:21):
the final quarter. Now, they've scored twenty or fewer points
this year, but that's because if what he marks doesn't play,
I don't know if I trust their offense. I've always
liked CJ. Stroud, But I like this team. I would
not want to face this team in the playoffs, would
not at all. Texans nine number eight are the Bears.
(02:42):
They lead the NFL in big plays on offense, but
they've allowed the third most on defense, so they don't
turn it over. Caleb does not turn the ball over.
They don't take sacks nearly as much as last year.
I think Caleb's had a very good season. I think
Ben Johnson in an argument for Coach the Year. The
last two games, Caleb Williams has almost six hundred and
(03:04):
fifty yards, a bunch of touchdowns, no sacks, no turnovers,
and a passer rating at one hundred. I like what
I see the Bears.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
At eight.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Number seven, Denver Broncos clinch their first AFC West title
since twenty fifteen. They are seven and one at home
and have been a great home team since Sean Payton arrived.
They're twelve and one the last two years at home.
Many of them close, come from behind wins in the
fourth quarter. They are four teams that play them are
(03:36):
four and eleven the following week. That matters to me.
What it says is Denver beats you up. Physically, you
better strap the helmet on and be ready to play.
I have Denver at seven. Number six. Philadelphia hard team
to figure out. They are number one in the red
zone and they've been the number one scoring defense since
(03:58):
they traded for linebacker Jalen Phillips from Miami. He's a
good player, obviously. Here's an interesting one with Jalen Hurts.
Do you know he is seven and zer against Mahomes,
Alan Burrow, Lamar Jackson over the last three years. He
just he and Philadelphia maybe uneven. They have a way
of beating good teams.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Homer Away number five.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
The Rams don't trust their special teams lost three of five,
have not been a good one score game. All five
losses this year in one score games. And their defense
maybe it's beat up. I don't know, but their defense
is regressing. You saw it last night. Could not stop
Bjon Robinson. They're very dependent on how Matt Stafford plays.
(04:43):
When he throws picks. They don't, which is discouraging because
Seattle wins when Darnold throws picks. I've watched San Francisco
win when Brock Purty throws picks or Mac Jones plays.
If Stafford struggles, the Rams lose number four, the Jags
seven game winning streak during that streak outscoring people by
seventeen a game, and Trevor Lawrence's last five games one
(05:08):
oh nine point seven passer rating. They're for real. I mean, listen,
if you don't watch them, here's all you need to know.
They've hammered good teams. They go on the road and win.
I know it's a odd franchise. I got the Jags at.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Four, number three.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
I worry about the O line and the run game
a little, but I want to put the Patriots there.
Only team in the league top five offense, top five defense.
I mean, Drake may is going to win the MVP,
and should he just? I mean he had had a
bad game I think on the road against Pittsburgh about
three months ago. But they got a lockdown corner and
Christian Gonzales. They don't run the ball consistently, but they
(05:51):
run it good enough. I have them at three, number
two niners. I know, six game winning street. Do they
have a whole yeah? Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating
of one on one. Caleb Williams had his best game
as a pro, so Robert Sulla has done a great job.
They got a blitch to create pressure. They've got a
(06:11):
massive hole, but offensively right now they are on fire.
And George Kittle didn't even play against Chicago. I got
him at two. Number one. Seattle four and two against
winning teams. Donald's the winningest quarterback in the NFL the
last two years. Seattle may not be great at anything,
(06:35):
They're not bad at anything. They don't have to have
Donald play great to win. They don't have to have
a bunch of sacks to win. They went on the road,
they win at home again in the playoffs. You can't
be bad at stuff because the coaching's so good, they'll
expose it. They remind me a little bit of New England.
(06:56):
What's New England bad at?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I wish?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
I wish the Patriots ran the ball more consistently, But
New England's not bad at anything. The only other team
I can say that about is the Seahawks. I have
them at number one.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
J Mack thoughts, three teams in the NFC West make
your top five.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
That is insane. Colin.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
If I had said the Jags.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Would be number four in the Hurt hierarchy heading into
Week eighteen, you probably would have kicked.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Me off the show.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Jacksonville, that is an unbelievable story. I was just doing
some research here. Did you know they lead the NFL
and drop passes this year?
Speaker 5 (07:36):
What?
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:38):
They crazy?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
See?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Jacksonville is one of those teams if you know you can't,
it just goes to show. I mean, Chicago hires a
new offensive coach, Jacksonville hires a new offensive coach. San
Francisco Rams offensive coach. We do like the Texans because
their defense is by far and away the best in
the league. And again Vrabels, Drake may is gonna work.
(08:02):
Josh McDaniels a little bit of a secret sauce here
with Brady and mcgae. It's a lot of offensive guys
engineering it. Jean Payton in Denver. I mean, say what
you want about Philadelphia, but I mean that offense Jalen Hurts,
doesn't turn it over, doesn't take a lot of sacks.
I'll tell you a way, if Philadelphia played the Rams.
You mentioned this earlier, the game plan is going to
(08:22):
be real obvious. You throw to AJ Brown fifteen times.
Because I don't think the Rams match up at all.
I think Philadelphia is a tough matchup for the Rams.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
By the way, Colin, on your list here, I'm counting
four quarterbacks on the rookie deal, Drake May, Bo Nicks.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
C J.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Stroud, and KAYLEB Williams. Interesting.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
No Mahomes, no Burrow, no Lamar. The tide has turned
in the NFL pretty quickly. Huh.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Oh my gosh, let's bring in Joel Klatt, Voice of
College Football become the Holiday Bowl Friday in San Diego. Okay.
So it's Miami and Ohio State. I think it's low scoring.
I think it's close. What would Miami have to do
to beat the Buckeyes.
Speaker 6 (09:06):
Well, they've got to get after the passer. You know
that front four, which is a great front four. You know,
I'll give them that rubyen Bain in particular. These guys
are active, they can create pressure on the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
They're going to need to do.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
So that was really what Indiana was able to do
against Ohio State and Julian saying, and it gave them
a lot of trouble. And Indiana's defensive front creates a
lot of pressure. And they opposing coaches call them slippery
when I talked to them. And so Miami is going
to need to be slippery against Ohio State. I think
that's that's first and foremost. And then on the opposite side,
(09:39):
they're gonna have to create some field position. I just
don't see this Miami team being able to drive the
length of the field against this Ohio State defense to
score points. So creating some field position, whether it's via
special teams, maybe a blocked kick, a turnover here or there.
Remember in the last two games, Julian saying Is thrown
(10:00):
really bad interceptions early in the game against Indiana gave
them a shortfield. Against Michigan gave them a short field.
So they're going to have to try, I think, to
get one of those short fields, in particular early and
try to get a lead.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Ryan Day is going to be calling plays, which he
hasn't done. I don't love it, but there are coaches
that do it. Wait wait, wait, why don't you wait?
Speaker 6 (10:22):
Why why don't you He's like one of the best
play callers in the country.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
No, no, I know. I like my head coach to
kind of be on the line of scrimmage macro, stay
off the noise on the headset. He is uniquely qualified
to be good at it, but I would prefer my
head coach kind of like being an NFL head coach,
kind of walk around, kind of feel the vibe of
the team. I think he's one of those guys that
(10:48):
can Like Lane Kiffin, he's a good play caller, but
I don't he didn't do it all year. Now he's
doing it. Does it bother you?
Speaker 6 (10:57):
Not only because I know that he was involved with
Brian hart Line pretty extensively. You know, whether it was
third downs or red zone.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
It doesn't bother me.
Speaker 6 (11:07):
And by the way, this is a lot better than
a situation where if a head coach was just a CEO,
had really no idea about the offensive system and let
an offensive coach kind of do what he needed to
do and then all of a sudden that offensive coach
had another job. Right Like, for instance, isn't Ohio State
in a better position with their coordinator getting another job
(11:28):
than like, let's say Oregon. I think that they are
because they have Ryan This So in this situation, I
would say that this is a huge benefit for Ohio
State in the situation where you're going to lose your
play caller or he's going to get another job, you know,
rather than trying to have him serve two masters and
have two jobs and continue to call plays. They can
(11:50):
lean on what I think is the best play caller
in college football him link Iff and Lincoln Riley. Those
are the thretty best play callers in the sport.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Okay, so you've called more Ohio State game games than
any sportscaster in America. In fact, that Columbus Columbus Dispatch
should start paying you and just do reporting. If last
if last year's Buckeye team faced this Buckeye team, what's
it look like? What's it looked like?
Speaker 6 (12:15):
You know, last year's buck Eye team was just so
uniquely talented from an NFL perspective. Look at all the
draft picks, right, what was it fourteen draft picks? The
running backs? I was just going to get to like,
that's the biggest difference to me is the is the
two running backs. Trevion Henderson has been incredible for New England.
He's been outstanding. I know Quincheon got hurt and that's unfortunate.
Quinshon Jupkins was a tremendous player. And also the one
(12:39):
thing that that last year's group maybe had over this
year's group is a quarterback that could be rugged and
short yardage really the only problem that has crept up
for Ohio State the entire season is short yardage run
game and the inability to capitalize. And we saw it
creep up against Michigan inside the five. We saw it
creep up against Inns. Really the reason that they lost
(13:01):
to Indiana. And you think back and Will Howard was
that guy last year in the playoffs. He's a big,
sturdy quarterback and he would get those third and shorts,
fourth and shorts, and they don't have that, with Julian
saying now they're more explosive throwing the football, but they
don't have that short yardage, and so that's the biggest difference.
I'm not saying last year's team was better. I think
this year's defense is better. I think it's better schematically
(13:24):
under Matt Patricia. And I do think that we underestimate
how good their linebackers and their safety Caleb Downs are.
Like these all three of these guys, Sunny Styles, rvel Reeves,
Caleb Downs, They're all going to be top fifteen to
twenty picks in in the NFL draft. That's pretty astounding.
And then they also have a first round defensive tackle
(13:45):
on Cayden McDonald you know, the last time a defense
in college football calin had four first round draft picks
right down the middle, tackle, linebacker, and safety, was those
great Miami teams in the early two thousands. So like
they're historically good this Ohio state.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
You know what one of the signs of a great
coach or a really good coach, your team gets better.
Mario Krystoball's taking heat for years, I didn't win a
lot of big games. This team got better. They beat
Notre Dame, they went on the road, and one when
the offense struggled. We got to be honest about Miami.
I think the country is sleeping on them. I think
(14:21):
they're the most physical team. I think they have a
shot to win this am I it's an offense good enough.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
I think that there's two ways to look at Miami
exactly how you're viewing them right now, that they've gotten
better and better and better, and then in particular on
the offensive line, that they've been able to form an
identity and a physical identity with Mark Fletcher run the football,
which he did so well against Texas A and m
The ability to not make mistakes in management games, manage
games on the road, which they really had an inability
(14:50):
to do in previous years, but this year one on
the road in November in pitt One on the road
in the playoff against Texas A and M. So there's
that way to view Miami. And then there's the other
view of Miami, which is they took advantage of a
team that was playing really poor football in Texas A
and M.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
You know, A and M. If you actually look at
their last.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
Four games in particularly against FBS opponents, it was really bad.
They were down thirty to South Carolina. They got beat
by Texas. Now they obviously got beat by Miami, and
that was a game that was pretty sloppy. And do
we really believe that Miami is all of a sudden
at Ohio States level, in particular with their offense and
their ability to potentially score points.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
So two different versions of Miami. Where do I sit?
Speaker 7 (15:34):
Well?
Speaker 6 (15:35):
I tend to sit a little bit on that last description.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I think that Miami.
Speaker 6 (15:40):
Had the benefit of playing against a team that was overmatched,
had an incredibly easy SEC schedule in Texas A and M,
and a quarterback that really played poorly, and they won
barely in a game in which they had to have
a pick right at the end in order to steal
the victory. So while that was impressive and I don't
want to take anything away from Miami, this Ohio State
(16:01):
team is different. You know, They've got absolute dudes on
the outside on the offensive side. They're going to have
a whole month to prepare. We saw what they did
in the playoffs a year ago. They've got a quarterback
that throws it accurately in a defense that's the best
defense since the twenty eleven Alabama team. You know, the
twenty eleven Alabama team gave up eight point two points
per game. That's exactly what Ohio State's given. That's the
best in the last twenty five years. Like, is Carson
(16:24):
Beck all of a sudden going to turn into a
world beater against this Ohio State defense?
Speaker 5 (16:29):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Maybe it's low scoring and they can win the game.
I have my doubts. Okay, So Thursday got Oregon at
Texas Tech. I think it's low scoring and close. Alabama Indiana.
I like Indiana Ole Miss Georgia. They played a close
game the first time I watched that. Georgia is gonna
win I think by about a touchdown. I think there
is some influence with Kiff and leaving the building. Let's
talk Oregon for a second. This is a really good,
(16:53):
physical defensive front. It's a step up in class for
Texas Tech. They haven't played a team like this. Here's
what I'm rooting for is that Dante Moore wins, but
he struggles and it becomes a one. You want to
see him come back? Well, I think he has to.
He's twenty years old with eighteen stars. Should he should?
(17:13):
Abs Now Mendoz is a different ballgame. Two years at
Cal getting beat up, goes to Indiana he and he
played really good in spots this year. Dantemore is a kid.
He is a kid. He should not be in the NFL.
If he got drafted by like somebody to the Jets,
he'd be like twenty twenty one years old in New York.
It's like, oh man overboard. That's a disaster. So Dante Moore,
(17:37):
I think is really good. What do you think happens
transpires in that game? Because this is a big boy
pass rush. Texas Tech has got Sunday dudes up front.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Yeah, they do.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
The defensive line is tremendous, Romelo height. I look at
this defensive front seven for Texas Tech, and I think
it's one of the best in the country. Jacob Rodriguez
the line, and they're going up against an offense in
Oregon that's the number two rush yards per per rush
offense in the country. They've been running the football in
(18:09):
particular in the back half of the year as well
as anybody, and so that's a good on good matchup
and I can't wait to see how it plays out.
To me, I think that Oregon has the ability to
be more explosive on offense, which is going to be
the difference in this game is that they can score.
They can score in a hurry now that Texas Tech can't.
But you said it there in your setup, and I
(18:32):
think that this is going to become kind of the
biggest issue in this game, and in particular early when
Texas Tech lines up in this game, they're going to
look across the field and they will have not seen
anybody like Oregon, not all year, not all year, all
due respect to Utah and byu, the best quarterback that
Texas Tech faced they lost to that was Sam Levitt
(18:54):
from Arizona State. Meanwhile, Oregon's gonna line up and they're
gonna be like, yeah, we've seen this, We've done this.
We just face Ohio Stton and the Rose Bowl last year,
we faced Indiana. This year, they're the number one team
in the country. He played in the wide Out. You know,
we played USC late in the season. We've seen these
type of players and I don't think they're going to
be overwhelmed. And I think Dan Lanning also as this team,
(19:16):
thinking about this game as a start to the season.
Remember it was twelve months ago they got run out
of the building at the Rose Bowl, and to them,
they've been waiting to get back to this point. This
is the start of Oregon season. And I don't know
if you can say that about Texas Tech, but man,
I do think this is going to be a good game,
a really good game.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Tech is an excellent team. Okay. I think Indiana is
going to beat Alabama because I watched Indiana play six
times and I got the exact same team every time.
I didn't the exact same team, exact same team. I
watched Alabama. I love Kayalin de Boor. I didn't see
a game where I got four consistent quarters. You get
good team or bad team. I think Indiana's kind of
being disrespected. The odds makers have said Indiana by a touchdown.
(19:57):
It's hard to fight anybody in the media that likes
Indiana to win. I think they can win. I think
they can win going away. Possibly possibly. Now I headed
a close game, I've got Indiana win this. I think
it was twenty four to twenty one.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
And the reason is because I think ty Simpson's elite Colin.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
He is an elite quarterback.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
You should see him on film because they don't protect
him very well. His footwork is incredible. He throws the
ball really well down the field, hyper accurate, big boy throws.
These are not just bubble screens on the outside that
you see. Some of these quarterbacks throw huge throws down
the field. And that's the only concern for Indiana is
(20:41):
the fact that ty Simpson in that passing game is elite.
Now in every other area of this game, Indiana has
the advantage. They've got great players that are going to
play in the NFL. I don't think they're going to
be overmatch from a personnel standpoint, you know. And there's
one other thing that I think normally when we get
to this type time of year, people start talking about
(21:04):
and in the past this was absolutely accurate, and I'm
sure you did the same. They They're like, well they
haven't seen that SEC speed, right, Well, look at what's
going on in the bowl season in the last two
and three years, is that the SEC has gone out
in bowl season and gotten drilled from around the comedy.
Virginia beat the SEC, you know, like everybody's beaten the SEC. Also,
(21:27):
I think they're two and four in bowl season and
last year. You know, they haven't played for a national
championship in the last couple of years. I think what's
what's fascinating for the media types, maybe us included, is
that we still look at the brand that's right, and
we don't look at the players. The fact of the
matter is is that Indiana is a is a better
(21:48):
football team, and probably by a substantial margin.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
I'll say it right now. I think Indiana blows Alabama out.
I think it's thirty three twenty three, and I don't
think I think it's a late Vama touchdown to make
get close. I think Indiana blows. If Indiana was called
Ohio State, you'd have Ohio State win in by three touchdowns.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
Yeah, of course you would of course you would. And
and by the way, Indiana is more balanced. And if
they get to the quarterback like they got to Dante
Moore and Julian saying it's over. Remember like Ohio State
and Oregon have given up no sacks, almost no pressure
calling all year until they faced Indiana. No one wants
to talk about the fact that Indiana is the second
best defense in the entire sport. So watch out for
(22:27):
that defensive front seven getting after the quarterback because if
ty Simpson is under duress, We've already seen that. Florida
State did that. You know a lot of teams have
done that to Alabama. So I think Indiana wins the game.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Yeah, I'm gonna say Indiana in a route, Indiana in
a route. Okay, I don't know if you caught the
courageous Lincoln Riley. I don't use CERR. I don't throw
courage out very often. But willingness to say because I've
I've defended. If you and I went into business and
(22:59):
I had a side deal that could literally, at the
end the conclusion of our business partnership, I could take
away your profits. Well I had a side deal, you'd
be like Colin, I'm not going into business with you,
the fact that I wouldn't like you, yeah, the fact
that USC is like we could be ten, you could
be twelve. You knock us out, we'll play you, but
(23:21):
it's going to be on our terms. You got side deals,
We're fully committed. You're not to your conference. I don't
even understand the argument. Every USC fan and donor is screaming,
I don't understand it. You would never go into business
with anybody with a side deal that could steal profits.
What am I missing? I don't think that that is inaccurate.
(23:46):
I mean, honestly, and listen, it does not behoove anybody.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
I can't believe I'm saying this, but like to schedule
Notre Dame because they have such an advantage over these
teams that are playing and in the Big ten in
the SEC's cases, much more difficult schedules. And now there's
this bar, like a minimum bar, where all Notre Dame
(24:15):
has to do is be in the top twelve with
their schedule.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
That's so that's crazy.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
Meanwhile, we have seen we have seen that in the
selection based model and the invitational that we have in
college football, it really comes down to just number of
wins and losses. We saw that last this year. We
saw it last year when those nine and three teams
in the SEC were left out, and similar this year.
(24:42):
And so if you're USC, you're like, hold on a second.
So we're gonna have to play nine Big Ten games, which,
by the way, the last two national championship champions came
from the Big Ten. They've got three, it could be
a third. You got three teams that have a potential
to be in the College football semi finals and we're
just going to add Notre Dame because and they have
(25:02):
this sweetheart deal.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
So I don't disagree with that.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
Now, there's a huge side of me that just says, like, no,
I just want to see the game. I want I
want to maintain this game. I'm sure there's a piece
of you that feels like.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
That years ago.
Speaker 6 (25:17):
Of course, of course, of course, but it doesn't make
any sense. It doesn't make any sense for USC and
because that they've got to look out for themselves. And
until I think Notre Dame should join a conference, And
I get a lot of heat for always saying that,
but it's time, it's time they I think that them
joining a conference would be better for college football.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
All right, it's good seeing you. I think we both
like Kyle Winningham. I wish it was fifty six, not
sixty six, But I still think it's a good year
for four years. Sure, but think about it now, you've
got to you're up against it. Timing wise, they had
to retain their play identity and yet reset the culture
in the building.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
That's very difficult to do all in one swoop, and
you get a guy that's a College Football Hall of
Famer and has won.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
I mean.
Speaker 6 (26:05):
That's about as good as they could do at the
back end of the carousel. And I mean, like I
thought that was a tremendous hire. Yeah, ethical tough.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
I always said Utah was the most big ten like
Pac twelve team for the last twenty years.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
Now he doesn't have to fight uphill, you know, like
he can go to a place where he can win.
Not that you talking win, but I'm talking about like
National championship point playoffs. He's He's never had a player
offensively as good as Underwood, just in terms of talent
or marsh you could make it right. Well, I mean
he did have hold on now, he did have end well.
(26:43):
The quarterback Alex Smith was the number one overall pick.
Pretty good, pretty good. It's good, all right, buddy.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Steve Smith was pretty good. So you're yeah, you got
me on that one. Steve's good. I'll give you that,
all right.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
All right, my man, I'll hear from Steve. Steve, I
got your back, I got your back.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Good. Steve was good, all right. Joel Klatt, great to
see you, brother, Good to see you. I'm glad. It's
crazy to me. I don't understand all this sentimentality. Notre
Dame gets to play five conference games and a weeker conference.
They can you know, I mean they can basically control
like half their schedule. USC gets to control like three
(27:24):
out of conference games. Notre Dame could put a buy
in front of every USC game in October. USC can't
do that. They play them when they play them. I
don't even understand it. I really don't. It's the hurd.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter not a em Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast Straight Fire
with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod, pushing
the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight
Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines,
accurate stats to help you win big at the sportsbook.
Speaker 5 (28:07):
And all the best guests.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with
Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
They are those speculating that was seven job openings or
eight There aren't enough good candidates. I would argue, we'll
have our coaching tree, our Christmas coaching Tree. I think
there are six or seven really good candidates and we'll
talk about that coming up. J Mack with the news.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
No turns, this is the headline news.
Speaker 5 (28:50):
I can't wait to see that list. Colin.
Speaker 4 (28:52):
Let's get started with Raven Steeler's Sunday Night Football. Usually
this history between these two teams is phenomenal, but this
one not great, especially because Lamar Jackson is TBD according
to John Harbaugh and whether or not he'll play following
the back contusion.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Here is Harball on his two time MVP.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
Well, it's to be determined, you know, I mean Stowe's
coming off he's coming off of very serious injury and.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
He's working at it. So I'm here today working at it.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
So I think we'll know a lot more on Wednesday.
I know you're mister tinfoil hat conspiracy theory guy.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
You want one?
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (29:33):
So remember before Christmas that story came out in Baltimore
about Lamar and practice habits and video games and all
the nonsense. Yeah, wasn't really addressed by Lamar Harball I
think tried to shoot it down. He gets hurt the
next day, right Christmas Day. Haven't heard much from Lamar since.
(29:54):
If he's fifty to fifty He's like, you know what,
screw these guys are.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
Planning stories about me in the media. I don't need this.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
You're a quiet quitting going on with Lamar Jackson thinking
I'm done in Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
I don't need this place anymore.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Would you read that somewhere?
Speaker 4 (30:09):
No, I just came up. I hatched it talking to
Zach here over what we're going to talk about, and
I'm like.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Did you get that with like Tucker Carlson is on
his Reddit board or something.
Speaker 5 (30:18):
I think it was JD Vance's finest work. I don't.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
I'm just kidding, but in all seriousness, like we know
that there is some kind of issue with Lamar. He
wanted that full money guarantee. Now he takes in need
of the back and he's and he's not back in miss.
This guy's a warrior, isn't he. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
I have to let that bake. I think he's hurt.
And Lamar's not somebody who seeks microphones, and I mean
he's not. He'd never been that kid. If you ask
him a question, he gives you a thoughtful answer, right,
I don't know. I think that that makes Lamar look
like he's deceptive and devious. And I think he likes
(30:58):
being a Raven. I think I would want to be
Raven if I was an NFL quarterback. I think it's
great ownership. I mean, I think it's a first class operation.
I can't believe he watched to get out of there
and go play for the Jets.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Well no, no, listen, by the way, stop pedaling Lamar
to my jets.
Speaker 5 (31:12):
Okay, two years.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Ago when I wanted it makes sense for them, not
after the Jets.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
What are we doing taking on the most expensive guy
in the league.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
What would I don't need that, Colin. I just don't.
This offseason is gonna be fun.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Maybe it's the media trying to gin up this game
with this Tomlin stuff. But between Tomlin, Lamar Kelsey leaving,
the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Demise two games this weekend. I can't wait to watch
that's one of them.
Speaker 4 (31:36):
Yeah, Unfortunately, I think I like the Steelers here and
my guy Aaron.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
I liked the three and a half. I like Baltimore
to win, but I'm taking the hook every time in
this game. It's gonna be close and low scoring.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
Yeah, this is too behut of a take. But if
you're the Steelers, do you want to face Snoopuntley or Lamar?
Speaker 1 (31:53):
I would rather face Snoop Huntley. But I like Snoop Puntley.
I think he's one of the better. I think the two.
There's three backups in this league that are good. Mac
Jones is a good backup, Malik Willis is a good backup,
and stup Huntley is a good backup. Those are pros.
You didn't win games with those guys. I like those guys.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
It's more than I mean. Davis Mills has been solid.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
He's been sawd. I'm saying, but I solid Kirk Cousins
maybe the starter going forward.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
Expensive, but yeah, no, there's a couple of Marcus Mariota
was okay at times.
Speaker 5 (32:21):
Anyways, all right, let's move on to the.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
Houston Texans colin one of the hottest.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Teams in the league.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Eight straight dubs for Demiico Ryans and company. Nice went over.
The Chargers kind of held on for victory. Remember they
started zero to three and they're headed to the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (32:34):
They could win the division.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
Demiko Ryans pinpointed the moment the season turned around.
Speaker 7 (32:39):
Here we go, from my viewpoint, the turning point for
our entire season. I go back to our Jacksonville game.
All right, for us to be down as far as
as far as it were in that game and for
to have our backup quarterback, Davis Mills right to have
such a clutch performance to get us into a position
to win game. I feel like that's the game that
(33:02):
flipped our season and just showed us like no matter
what we're up against, no matter who's on the field,
we stay stay together, stay connected, like we can overcome anything.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
He's young, how old is Demiko Ryans.
Speaker 4 (33:15):
He's got younger than both of us. That's really all
the matters. But how about this for a young guy
first three years in the league. Him and Stroud are
going to the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Oh pretty good. Not just that this was a bottom
three laughing stock in the league, that he's thirty one
years old. That dude's got his wits about him at
forty one, like Demiko is buttoned up at forty one.
That's a guy I'd want to play for. I mean,
that's one of the few defensive coaches. He's basically it's
Lebron forty one and Demiko Ryans.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
Lebron's birthday today. We'll talk about that in like you know,
three minutes, Colin. Just as of now, based on the standings,
the Texans would go to Pittsburgh on the fast round.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Pittsburgh couldn't score.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
That's I like him.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Now, if somehow Jacksonville slips against Tennessee and Houston gets
the three, they.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Would host the Chargers. That's still a great matchup for
the Texans.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
Colin.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
This is a dangerous team.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
I mean I think they I think Houston matches up
with everybody.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
So if we did a draft of teams that you
think would go to the Super Bowl out of the AFC.
Speaker 5 (34:18):
I mean I'll give you first pick.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
I mean my take. I think Jackson Devill take Denver.
Speaker 5 (34:23):
They send the buye.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
No, I mean New England, Houston and Jacksonville are a handful.
Denver is fascinating because they win a lot of close
games and they're great at home. So I mean we
keep we're glossing over this. Denver gets to play at
home the whole AFC playoffs. They've won twelve or thirteen
at home. They're great at home.
Speaker 5 (34:45):
Okay, so Denver would do your pick? Is that what
you're saying?
Speaker 4 (34:48):
Whatever, you're leaving Josh Allen on the board. The Houston
Texans defense.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Houston beats Buffalo three out of four times.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
Jacksonville just went to Denver and smoked him by two tuddies.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Now wait, wait till you go back to Denver and
it's snowing and you bring your board shorts from Jacksonville
and it's seven degrees blowing sideways.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Did jackson Dark go up and down the field to
gain against I'm just telling this.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
Denver defense is overrated. Big guy, just speak care I
know you're excited. Sean Payton blah, blah blah.
Speaker 4 (35:17):
I don't know about those Denver Broncos. Finally, con let's
wrap up with as you alluded to, the birthday forty
one for the big guy, Lebron James.
Speaker 5 (35:26):
Greatest player in NBA history.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
JJ Reddick called it remarkable what Lebron's doing at forty one. Colin,
this is insane, Lebron. This is season twenty three. He's
averaging twenty points, six assists, four rebounds on fifty percent shooting.
I mean, what will This is insane. A lot of
guys have struck.
Speaker 5 (35:48):
Around way too long. It's not too long for Lebron.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
Well, I do think this is I do think this
should be his last year.
Speaker 5 (35:54):
Boy, wait, hold on should be his last year? Or
you think it will be?
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Because those are two he's not declining to the point
that he's like a negative on the court.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
Well, let's be honest. In the next year, he's not
getting an extension, Brownie James, It's been a great story.
If Lebron left, Brownie's not necessary on the roster. The
former ownership has played in the Lebron. This ownership is
about JJ Reddick and Luca and maybe Austin Reeves. So
I think it's been a nice soft landing in La business. Browny,
(36:29):
I think it's gonna end. I think it's gonna end.
I think it's gonna end.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
I largely agreed. Let me opposit a scenario.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
The Lakers go to Lebron and say, Lebron, we can't
build a championship winning team with you at forty fifty million.
How low are you willing to go to stick around here? Well,
Lebron says, I'll play for the mid level exception, or
I'll play for a last four million years.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
He's not doing that wide And Secondly, they have defensive issues.
One of them is Lebron. They get to switch this
roster up and go at athletes and three and D guys.
They don't have enough three guys and they got no
three and D guys, So he at this point he
gets in the way defensively, I mean, just does he?
Hurst They have plenty of offense, Austin Reeves, Luca and
(37:14):
DeAndre Ayden if you kept him. I'm not sure he
loves basketball, but whatever offense is not the issue. The
issue is defensively. They have holes, and I think Lebron's
one of them.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
They just gotta get young Colin watching the Spurs and Thunder.
It's like, oh, young dudes running around.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
Young guys, Niger Woods, Tiger Woods fifty today?
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Who Tiger Woods.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
I'm just kidding. Congrats J mckle the news, Well that's
the news, and thanks for stopping by the.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Herd Line News.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
I think the coaching Tree is better than people think.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Next to Herd, be sure to catch live editions of
The Herd weekdays and Noone Eastern, non a em Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
People say there's going to be seven eight job openings.
Are there any good coaches out there? And so I thought,
you know what, many of you still have the Christmas
tree up. In fact, I asked, and when are we
taking the Christmas Tree down? And I think Friday's the day.
So here's our coaching Christmas Tree. I think there's a
lot of interesting presence in this one. Let's start with
(38:27):
what I view as the top candidate. That would be
Brian Flores. Now he's got a lawsuit currently against the Giants,
Broncos and Dolphins, so he's not getting the Giants Dolphins job.
But I think he was nineteen and fourteen over two
seasons with the Dolphins, he has been as capable as
any coordinator. I think Brian Flores he's the start at
(38:52):
the top of the tree. I say Robert Sala. Number
thirteen scoring defense this year, having Fret Warner and a
Bosa has got to be on that coaching tree. Mike
McCarthy twelve winning seasons and twelve playoff appearances has to
be on that coaching tree. Jesse Mentor, the defense was
(39:16):
the worst in the league. It's been number three in
the two years since he arrived after winning a Natty
with Harvad Michigan. Jeff Hafley, he's been a head coach
before Boston College, so he gets that. Not a guy
that wants to spotlight Halfley's really bright.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
You know.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
He lost Micah Parsons and Kenny Clark in a trade
That's not easy. But they have a top ten scoring
defense and the Green Bay historically doesn't do defense like
the new offense. And Brian Daball, who worked under Sabin
and Belichick, also won Coach of the Year in New York,
won a playoff game with Daniel Jones. I would keep
your eye on an interesting present that has not been
(39:55):
unwrapped yet. Ryan Day, Eagles and forty nine Ers assistant.
It's probably a year away from being open. But what
if he wins back to back Natties, He's conquered college football,
wants to take the next big career. Leap Flores, Salom McCarthy,
(40:18):
Mentor Halfley, Dave Ball, Ryan Day. I'd have no trouble
hiring any of these guys this year or next with
the Miami now. I also think that Kevin Stefanski should
keep his job in Cleveland. I think it's ridiculous. Hopefully
that went over Pittsburgh maintains the leadership between the GM
(40:39):
Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski. But I actually think there's
some really interesting coaches. Jeff Hafley was a head coach
at Boston College and said I want to go to
the next level and has crushed it. You know, it's
interesting that you'd give up Boston College money for coordinator money.
But the NFL coordinators now probably make as much as
a Boston College coach. I wonder if we see that
(41:01):
going for it. Chip Kelly said, I don't want to
be the coach at UCLA. I'm going to be a
coordinator at Ohio State and he won a national championship.
So that's interesting. Are you going to see some of
these college coaches at lower tier programs like BC say,
you know, we can't compete in the nil world. I'm
going to go be a coordinator at college for two
or three years with a stable operation. Green Bay certainly that,
(41:23):
and then I become a head coach. Jeff Hafley maybe
what a lot of coaches are seeing out there, like
why plan the nil world at Purdue? Go be a
coordinator with Demico Ryans in Houston or a you know,
like a high level guy like a Rabel in New England,
and then do it for two or three years and
become a head coach.
Speaker 4 (41:42):
Colin I'll just ask Halfley has been good with Michael Parsons.
I mean the Ravens ran up what three hundred yards
on the ground right as soon as mikel goes out
last week with a backup quarterback.
Speaker 5 (41:51):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (41:52):
You know, it's just an uninspiring list of candidates this year.
There's just not anybody great. I mean, Brian Floores at
the top. What's up with his lawsuit against the NFL?
How's that working out? Like I remember The Giants were
so serious about him that you know they interviewed also
Brian Dable and ended up picking Dable. Remember the whole
Belichick texting thing like I don't I don't think anybody's
(42:15):
touching floor as yet. Sounds like O'Connell thinks he's coming back.
It's just not a great year to fire your coach.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
Mike McCarthy.
Speaker 5 (42:23):
He's not doing a rebuild, though, is he. He's not
taking the Jets.
Speaker 1 (42:26):
They got no quarterback, not college rebuild called free agent money.
Keep your eye on Ryan Day.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Here we go. It's our two Rams. Come back and
make it close. Stafford play as well. They win Stafford Struggles.
They lose eleven and five on the season. McVeigh did
say he's gonna play the starters in week eighteen. Good
to have you today. So the college football playoff tomorrow. Miami.
(00:50):
I liked him to get into the playoff over and
over Dame. I liked him over Texas, A and M
I think they keep it close here. Can they move
the ball consistently at least win some field position battles
against Ohio State. I think Ohio State will struggle to
move the ball. Really good pass rush. Miami is old
(01:12):
school physical, but I think the Buckeyes have so many
interesting perimeter weapons Brian Hartlin's recruiting they'll kind of outlast
them over the course of time. They'll just make a
couple of big plays down the sideline. So here we
do it, the herd hierarchy. As we head into week eighteen,
here we go.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Heard hierarchy time.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
Now go the top ten NFL teams according to College
number ten.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Yeah, I'll put Buffalo once again at ten. They've trailed
in each of their last nine games, three of their
five losses that come to Philadelphia, the Texans and the Patriots.
I don't think they're going to be able to beat
top end teams consistently. They can't defend the run, they
fall into holes. I don't trust them situationally. In big spot.
(02:00):
They'd won five straight division titles, and my guests going forward,
Drake May and Mike Vrabel are going to own the division.
I have the Bills at ten, number nine. Yet, I
do think the Texans could play for the AFC Championship.
Eight game winning streak, best fourth quarter differential in the league.
They wear you out physically and can pull away in
(02:21):
the final quarter. Now, they've scored twenty or fewer points
this year, but that's because if what he marks doesn't play,
I don't know if I trust their offense. I've always
liked CJ. Stroud, But I like this team. I would
not want to face this team in the playoffs, would
not at all. Texans nine number eight are the Bears.
(02:42):
They lead the NFL in big plays on offense, but
they've allowed the third most on defense, so they don't
turn it over. Caleb does not turn the ball over.
They don't take sacks nearly as much as last year.
I think Caleb's had a very good season. I think
Ben Johnson in an argument for Coach the Year. The
last two games, Caleb Williams has almost six hundred and
(03:04):
fifty yards, a bunch of touchdowns, no sacks, no turnovers,
and a passer rating at one hundred. I like what
I see the Bears.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
At eight.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Number seven, Denver Broncos clinch their first AFC West title
since twenty fifteen. They are seven and one at home
and have been a great home team since Sean Payton arrived.
They're twelve and one the last two years at home.
Many of them close, come from behind wins in the
fourth quarter. They are four teams that play them are
(03:36):
four and eleven the following week. That matters to me.
What it says is Denver beats you up. Physically, you
better strap the helmet on and be ready to play.
I have Denver at seven. Number six. Philadelphia hard team
to figure out. They are number one in the red
zone and they've been the number one scoring defense since
(03:58):
they traded for linebacker Jalen Phillips from Miami. He's a
good player, obviously. Here's an interesting one with Jalen Hurts.
Do you know he is seven and zer against Mahomes,
Alan Burrow, Lamar Jackson over the last three years. He
just he and Philadelphia maybe uneven. They have a way
of beating good teams.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Homer Away number five.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
The Rams don't trust their special teams lost three of five,
have not been a good one score game. All five
losses this year in one score games. And their defense
maybe it's beat up. I don't know, but their defense
is regressing. You saw it last night. Could not stop
Bjon Robinson. They're very dependent on how Matt Stafford plays.
(04:43):
When he throws picks. They don't, which is discouraging because
Seattle wins when Darnold throws picks. I've watched San Francisco
win when Brock Purty throws picks or Mac Jones plays.
If Stafford struggles, the Rams lose number four, the Jags
seven game winning streak during that streak outscoring people by
seventeen a game, and Trevor Lawrence's last five games one
(05:08):
oh nine point seven passer rating. They're for real. I mean, listen,
if you don't watch them, here's all you need to know.
They've hammered good teams. They go on the road and win.
I know it's a odd franchise. I got the Jags at.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Four, number three.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
I worry about the O line and the run game
a little, but I want to put the Patriots there.
Only team in the league top five offense, top five defense.
I mean, Drake may is going to win the MVP,
and should he just? I mean he had had a
bad game I think on the road against Pittsburgh about
three months ago. But they got a lockdown corner and
Christian Gonzales. They don't run the ball consistently, but they
(05:51):
run it good enough. I have them at three, number
two niners. I know, six game winning street. Do they
have a whole yeah? Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating
of one on one. Caleb Williams had his best game
as a pro, so Robert Sulla has done a great job.
They got a blitch to create pressure. They've got a
(06:11):
massive hole, but offensively right now they are on fire.
And George Kittle didn't even play against Chicago. I got
him at two. Number one. Seattle four and two against
winning teams. Donald's the winningest quarterback in the NFL the
last two years. Seattle may not be great at anything,
(06:35):
They're not bad at anything. They don't have to have
Donald play great to win. They don't have to have
a bunch of sacks to win. They went on the road,
they win at home again in the playoffs. You can't
be bad at stuff because the coaching's so good, they'll
expose it. They remind me a little bit of New England.
(06:56):
What's New England bad at?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
I wish?
Speaker 1 (06:58):
I wish the Patriots ran the ball more consistently, But
New England's not bad at anything. The only other team
I can say that about is the Seahawks. I have
them at number one.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
J Mack thoughts, three teams in the NFC West make
your top five.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
That is insane. Colin.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
If I had said the Jags.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Would be number four in the Hurt hierarchy heading into
Week eighteen, you probably would have kicked.
Speaker 5 (07:27):
Me off the show.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Jacksonville, that is an unbelievable story. I was just doing
some research here. Did you know they lead the NFL
and drop passes this year?
Speaker 5 (07:36):
What?
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (07:38):
They crazy?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
See?
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Jacksonville is one of those teams if you know you can't,
it just goes to show. I mean, Chicago hires a
new offensive coach, Jacksonville hires a new offensive coach. San
Francisco Rams offensive coach. We do like the Texans because
their defense is by far and away the best in
the league. And again Vrabels, Drake may is gonna work.
(08:02):
Josh McDaniels a little bit of a secret sauce here
with Brady and mcgae. It's a lot of offensive guys
engineering it. Jean Payton in Denver. I mean, say what
you want about Philadelphia, but I mean that offense Jalen Hurts,
doesn't turn it over, doesn't take a lot of sacks.
I'll tell you a way, if Philadelphia played the Rams.
You mentioned this earlier, the game plan is going to
(08:22):
be real obvious. You throw to AJ Brown fifteen times.
Because I don't think the Rams match up at all.
I think Philadelphia is a tough matchup for the Rams.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
By the way, Colin, on your list here, I'm counting
four quarterbacks on the rookie deal, Drake May, Bo Nicks.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
C J.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
Stroud, and KAYLEB Williams. Interesting.
Speaker 4 (08:42):
No Mahomes, no Burrow, no Lamar. The tide has turned
in the NFL pretty quickly. Huh.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Oh my gosh, let's bring in Joel Klatt, Voice of
College Football become the Holiday Bowl Friday in San Diego. Okay.
So it's Miami and Ohio State. I think it's low scoring.
I think it's close. What would Miami have to do
to beat the Buckeyes.
Speaker 6 (09:06):
Well, they've got to get after the passer. You know
that front four, which is a great front four. You know,
I'll give them that rubyen Bain in particular. These guys
are active, they can create pressure on the quarterback.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
They're going to need to do.
Speaker 6 (09:17):
So that was really what Indiana was able to do
against Ohio State and Julian saying, and it gave them
a lot of trouble. And Indiana's defensive front creates a
lot of pressure. And they opposing coaches call them slippery
when I talked to them. And so Miami is going
to need to be slippery against Ohio State. I think
that's that's first and foremost. And then on the opposite side,
(09:39):
they're gonna have to create some field position. I just
don't see this Miami team being able to drive the
length of the field against this Ohio State defense to
score points. So creating some field position, whether it's via
special teams, maybe a blocked kick, a turnover here or there.
Remember in the last two games, Julian saying Is thrown
(10:00):
really bad interceptions early in the game against Indiana gave
them a shortfield. Against Michigan gave them a short field.
So they're going to have to try, I think, to
get one of those short fields, in particular early and
try to get a lead.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Ryan Day is going to be calling plays, which he
hasn't done. I don't love it, but there are coaches
that do it. Wait wait, wait, why don't you wait?
Speaker 6 (10:22):
Why why don't you He's like one of the best
play callers in the country.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
No, no, I know. I like my head coach to
kind of be on the line of scrimmage macro, stay
off the noise on the headset. He is uniquely qualified
to be good at it, but I would prefer my
head coach kind of like being an NFL head coach,
kind of walk around, kind of feel the vibe of
the team. I think he's one of those guys that
(10:48):
can Like Lane Kiffin, he's a good play caller, but
I don't he didn't do it all year. Now he's
doing it. Does it bother you?
Speaker 6 (10:57):
Not only because I know that he was involved with
Brian hart Line pretty extensively. You know, whether it was
third downs or red zone.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
It doesn't bother me.
Speaker 6 (11:07):
And by the way, this is a lot better than
a situation where if a head coach was just a CEO,
had really no idea about the offensive system and let
an offensive coach kind of do what he needed to
do and then all of a sudden that offensive coach
had another job. Right Like, for instance, isn't Ohio State
in a better position with their coordinator getting another job
(11:28):
than like, let's say Oregon. I think that they are
because they have Ryan This So in this situation, I
would say that this is a huge benefit for Ohio
State in the situation where you're going to lose your
play caller or he's going to get another job, you know,
rather than trying to have him serve two masters and
have two jobs and continue to call plays. They can
(11:50):
lean on what I think is the best play caller
in college football him link Iff and Lincoln Riley. Those
are the thretty best play callers in the sport.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Okay, so you've called more Ohio State game games than
any sportscaster in America. In fact, that Columbus Columbus Dispatch
should start paying you and just do reporting. If last
if last year's Buckeye team faced this Buckeye team, what's
it look like? What's it looked like?
Speaker 6 (12:15):
You know, last year's buck Eye team was just so
uniquely talented from an NFL perspective. Look at all the
draft picks, right, what was it fourteen draft picks? The
running backs? I was just going to get to like,
that's the biggest difference to me is the is the
two running backs. Trevion Henderson has been incredible for New England.
He's been outstanding. I know Quincheon got hurt and that's unfortunate.
Quinshon Jupkins was a tremendous player. And also the one
(12:39):
thing that that last year's group maybe had over this
year's group is a quarterback that could be rugged and
short yardage really the only problem that has crept up
for Ohio State the entire season is short yardage run
game and the inability to capitalize. And we saw it
creep up against Michigan inside the five. We saw it
creep up against Inns. Really the reason that they lost
(13:01):
to Indiana. And you think back and Will Howard was
that guy last year in the playoffs. He's a big,
sturdy quarterback and he would get those third and shorts,
fourth and shorts, and they don't have that, with Julian
saying now they're more explosive throwing the football, but they
don't have that short yardage, and so that's the biggest difference.
I'm not saying last year's team was better. I think
this year's defense is better. I think it's better schematically
(13:24):
under Matt Patricia. And I do think that we underestimate
how good their linebackers and their safety Caleb Downs are.
Like these all three of these guys, Sunny Styles, rvel Reeves,
Caleb Downs, They're all going to be top fifteen to
twenty picks in in the NFL draft. That's pretty astounding.
And then they also have a first round defensive tackle
(13:45):
on Cayden McDonald you know, the last time a defense
in college football calin had four first round draft picks
right down the middle, tackle, linebacker, and safety, was those
great Miami teams in the early two thousands. So like
they're historically good this Ohio state.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
You know what one of the signs of a great
coach or a really good coach, your team gets better.
Mario Krystoball's taking heat for years, I didn't win a
lot of big games. This team got better. They beat
Notre Dame, they went on the road, and one when
the offense struggled. We got to be honest about Miami.
I think the country is sleeping on them. I think
(14:21):
they're the most physical team. I think they have a
shot to win this am I it's an offense good enough.
Speaker 6 (14:27):
I think that there's two ways to look at Miami
exactly how you're viewing them right now, that they've gotten
better and better and better, and then in particular on
the offensive line, that they've been able to form an
identity and a physical identity with Mark Fletcher run the football,
which he did so well against Texas A and m
The ability to not make mistakes in management games, manage
games on the road, which they really had an inability
(14:50):
to do in previous years, but this year one on
the road in November in pitt One on the road
in the playoff against Texas A and M. So there's
that way to view Miami. And then there's the other
view of Miami, which is they took advantage of a
team that was playing really poor football in Texas A
and M.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
You know, A and M. If you actually look at
their last.
Speaker 6 (15:08):
Four games in particularly against FBS opponents, it was really bad.
They were down thirty to South Carolina. They got beat
by Texas. Now they obviously got beat by Miami, and
that was a game that was pretty sloppy. And do
we really believe that Miami is all of a sudden
at Ohio States level, in particular with their offense and
their ability to potentially score points.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
So two different versions of Miami. Where do I sit?
Speaker 7 (15:34):
Well?
Speaker 6 (15:35):
I tend to sit a little bit on that last description.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
I think that Miami.
Speaker 6 (15:40):
Had the benefit of playing against a team that was overmatched,
had an incredibly easy SEC schedule in Texas A and M,
and a quarterback that really played poorly, and they won
barely in a game in which they had to have
a pick right at the end in order to steal
the victory. So while that was impressive and I don't
want to take anything away from Miami, this Ohio State
(16:01):
team is different. You know, They've got absolute dudes on
the outside on the offensive side. They're going to have
a whole month to prepare. We saw what they did
in the playoffs a year ago. They've got a quarterback
that throws it accurately in a defense that's the best
defense since the twenty eleven Alabama team. You know, the
twenty eleven Alabama team gave up eight point two points
per game. That's exactly what Ohio State's given. That's the
best in the last twenty five years. Like, is Carson
(16:24):
Beck all of a sudden going to turn into a
world beater against this Ohio State defense?
Speaker 5 (16:29):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Maybe it's low scoring and they can win the game.
I have my doubts. Okay, So Thursday got Oregon at
Texas Tech. I think it's low scoring and close. Alabama Indiana.
I like Indiana Ole Miss Georgia. They played a close
game the first time I watched that. Georgia is gonna
win I think by about a touchdown. I think there
is some influence with Kiff and leaving the building. Let's
talk Oregon for a second. This is a really good,
(16:53):
physical defensive front. It's a step up in class for
Texas Tech. They haven't played a team like this. Here's
what I'm rooting for is that Dante Moore wins, but
he struggles and it becomes a one. You want to
see him come back? Well, I think he has to.
He's twenty years old with eighteen stars. Should he should?
(17:13):
Abs Now Mendoz is a different ballgame. Two years at
Cal getting beat up, goes to Indiana he and he
played really good in spots this year. Dantemore is a kid.
He is a kid. He should not be in the NFL.
If he got drafted by like somebody to the Jets,
he'd be like twenty twenty one years old in New York.
It's like, oh man overboard. That's a disaster. So Dante Moore,
(17:37):
I think is really good. What do you think happens
transpires in that game? Because this is a big boy
pass rush. Texas Tech has got Sunday dudes up front.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Yeah, they do.
Speaker 6 (17:48):
The defensive line is tremendous, Romelo height. I look at
this defensive front seven for Texas Tech, and I think
it's one of the best in the country. Jacob Rodriguez
the line, and they're going up against an offense in
Oregon that's the number two rush yards per per rush
offense in the country. They've been running the football in
(18:09):
particular in the back half of the year as well
as anybody, and so that's a good on good matchup
and I can't wait to see how it plays out.
To me, I think that Oregon has the ability to
be more explosive on offense, which is going to be
the difference in this game is that they can score.
They can score in a hurry now that Texas Tech can't.
But you said it there in your setup, and I
(18:32):
think that this is going to become kind of the
biggest issue in this game, and in particular early when
Texas Tech lines up in this game, they're going to
look across the field and they will have not seen
anybody like Oregon, not all year, not all year, all
due respect to Utah and byu, the best quarterback that
Texas Tech faced they lost to that was Sam Levitt
(18:54):
from Arizona State. Meanwhile, Oregon's gonna line up and they're
gonna be like, yeah, we've seen this, We've done this.
We just face Ohio Stton and the Rose Bowl last year,
we faced Indiana. This year, they're the number one team
in the country. He played in the wide Out. You know,
we played USC late in the season. We've seen these
type of players and I don't think they're going to
be overwhelmed. And I think Dan Lanning also as this team,
(19:16):
thinking about this game as a start to the season.
Remember it was twelve months ago they got run out
of the building at the Rose Bowl, and to them,
they've been waiting to get back to this point. This
is the start of Oregon season. And I don't know
if you can say that about Texas Tech, but man,
I do think this is going to be a good game,
a really good game.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Tech is an excellent team. Okay. I think Indiana is
going to beat Alabama because I watched Indiana play six
times and I got the exact same team every time.
I didn't the exact same team, exact same team. I
watched Alabama. I love Kayalin de Boor. I didn't see
a game where I got four consistent quarters. You get
good team or bad team. I think Indiana's kind of
being disrespected. The odds makers have said Indiana by a touchdown.
(19:57):
It's hard to fight anybody in the media that likes
Indiana to win. I think they can win. I think
they can win going away. Possibly possibly. Now I headed
a close game, I've got Indiana win this. I think
it was twenty four to twenty one.
Speaker 6 (20:12):
And the reason is because I think ty Simpson's elite Colin.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
He is an elite quarterback.
Speaker 6 (20:20):
You should see him on film because they don't protect
him very well. His footwork is incredible. He throws the
ball really well down the field, hyper accurate, big boy throws.
These are not just bubble screens on the outside that
you see. Some of these quarterbacks throw huge throws down
the field. And that's the only concern for Indiana is
(20:41):
the fact that ty Simpson in that passing game is elite.
Now in every other area of this game, Indiana has
the advantage. They've got great players that are going to
play in the NFL. I don't think they're going to
be overmatch from a personnel standpoint, you know. And there's
one other thing that I think normally when we get
to this type time of year, people start talking about
(21:04):
and in the past this was absolutely accurate, and I'm
sure you did the same. They They're like, well they
haven't seen that SEC speed, right, Well, look at what's
going on in the bowl season in the last two
and three years, is that the SEC has gone out
in bowl season and gotten drilled from around the comedy.
Virginia beat the SEC, you know, like everybody's beaten the SEC. Also,
(21:27):
I think they're two and four in bowl season and
last year. You know, they haven't played for a national
championship in the last couple of years. I think what's
what's fascinating for the media types, maybe us included, is
that we still look at the brand that's right, and
we don't look at the players. The fact of the
matter is is that Indiana is a is a better
(21:48):
football team, and probably by a substantial margin.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
I'll say it right now. I think Indiana blows Alabama out.
I think it's thirty three twenty three, and I don't
think I think it's a late Vama touchdown to make
get close. I think Indiana blows. If Indiana was called
Ohio State, you'd have Ohio State win in by three touchdowns.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
Yeah, of course you would of course you would. And
and by the way, Indiana is more balanced. And if
they get to the quarterback like they got to Dante
Moore and Julian saying it's over. Remember like Ohio State
and Oregon have given up no sacks, almost no pressure
calling all year until they faced Indiana. No one wants
to talk about the fact that Indiana is the second
best defense in the entire sport. So watch out for
(22:27):
that defensive front seven getting after the quarterback because if
ty Simpson is under duress, We've already seen that. Florida
State did that. You know a lot of teams have
done that to Alabama. So I think Indiana wins the game.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Yeah, I'm gonna say Indiana in a route, Indiana in
a route. Okay, I don't know if you caught the
courageous Lincoln Riley. I don't use CERR. I don't throw
courage out very often. But willingness to say because I've
I've defended. If you and I went into business and
(22:59):
I had a side deal that could literally, at the
end the conclusion of our business partnership, I could take
away your profits. Well I had a side deal, you'd
be like Colin, I'm not going into business with you,
the fact that I wouldn't like you, yeah, the fact
that USC is like we could be ten, you could
be twelve. You knock us out, we'll play you, but
(23:21):
it's going to be on our terms. You got side deals,
We're fully committed. You're not to your conference. I don't
even understand the argument. Every USC fan and donor is screaming,
I don't understand it. You would never go into business
with anybody with a side deal that could steal profits.
What am I missing? I don't think that that is inaccurate.
(23:46):
I mean, honestly, and listen, it does not behoove anybody.
Speaker 6 (23:54):
I can't believe I'm saying this, but like to schedule
Notre Dame because they have such an advantage over these
teams that are playing and in the Big ten in
the SEC's cases, much more difficult schedules. And now there's
this bar, like a minimum bar, where all Notre Dame
(24:15):
has to do is be in the top twelve with
their schedule.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
That's so that's crazy.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
Meanwhile, we have seen we have seen that in the
selection based model and the invitational that we have in
college football, it really comes down to just number of
wins and losses. We saw that last this year. We
saw it last year when those nine and three teams
in the SEC were left out, and similar this year.
(24:42):
And so if you're USC, you're like, hold on a second.
So we're gonna have to play nine Big Ten games, which,
by the way, the last two national championship champions came
from the Big Ten. They've got three, it could be
a third. You got three teams that have a potential
to be in the College football semi finals and we're
just going to add Notre Dame because and they have
(25:02):
this sweetheart deal.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
So I don't disagree with that.
Speaker 6 (25:06):
Now, there's a huge side of me that just says, like, no,
I just want to see the game. I want I
want to maintain this game. I'm sure there's a piece
of you that feels like.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
That years ago.
Speaker 6 (25:17):
Of course, of course, of course, but it doesn't make
any sense. It doesn't make any sense for USC and
because that they've got to look out for themselves. And
until I think Notre Dame should join a conference, And
I get a lot of heat for always saying that,
but it's time, it's time they I think that them
joining a conference would be better for college football.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
All right, it's good seeing you. I think we both
like Kyle Winningham. I wish it was fifty six, not
sixty six, But I still think it's a good year
for four years. Sure, but think about it now, you've
got to you're up against it. Timing wise, they had
to retain their play identity and yet reset the culture
in the building.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
That's very difficult to do all in one swoop, and
you get a guy that's a College Football Hall of
Famer and has won.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
I mean.
Speaker 6 (26:05):
That's about as good as they could do at the
back end of the carousel. And I mean, like I
thought that was a tremendous hire. Yeah, ethical tough.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
I always said Utah was the most big ten like
Pac twelve team for the last twenty years.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
Now he doesn't have to fight uphill, you know, like
he can go to a place where he can win.
Not that you talking win, but I'm talking about like
National championship point playoffs. He's He's never had a player
offensively as good as Underwood, just in terms of talent
or marsh you could make it right. Well, I mean
he did have hold on now, he did have end well.
(26:43):
The quarterback Alex Smith was the number one overall pick.
Pretty good, pretty good. It's good, all right, buddy.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
Steve Smith was pretty good. So you're yeah, you got
me on that one. Steve's good. I'll give you that,
all right.
Speaker 6 (26:56):
All right, my man, I'll hear from Steve. Steve, I
got your back, I got your back.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Good. Steve was good, all right. Joel Klatt, great to
see you, brother, Good to see you. I'm glad. It's
crazy to me. I don't understand all this sentimentality. Notre
Dame gets to play five conference games and a weeker conference.
They can you know, I mean they can basically control
like half their schedule. USC gets to control like three
(27:24):
out of conference games. Notre Dame could put a buy
in front of every USC game in October. USC can't
do that. They play them when they play them. I
don't even understand it. I really don't. It's the hurd.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter not a em Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.
Speaker 4 (27:50):
Join me every weekday morning on my podcast Straight Fire
with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod, pushing
the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight
Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines,
accurate stats to help you win big at the sportsbook.
Speaker 5 (28:07):
And all the best guests.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with
Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever
you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
They are those speculating that was seven job openings or
eight There aren't enough good candidates. I would argue, we'll
have our coaching tree, our Christmas coaching Tree. I think
there are six or seven really good candidates and we'll
talk about that coming up. J Mack with the news.
Speaker 7 (28:45):
No turns, this is the headline news.
Speaker 5 (28:50):
I can't wait to see that list. Colin.
Speaker 4 (28:52):
Let's get started with Raven Steeler's Sunday Night Football. Usually
this history between these two teams is phenomenal, but this
one not great, especially because Lamar Jackson is TBD according
to John Harbaugh and whether or not he'll play following
the back contusion.
Speaker 5 (29:09):
Here is Harball on his two time MVP.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
Well, it's to be determined, you know, I mean Stowe's
coming off he's coming off of very serious injury and.
Speaker 1 (29:19):
He's working at it. So I'm here today working at it.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
So I think we'll know a lot more on Wednesday.
I know you're mister tinfoil hat conspiracy theory guy.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
You want one?
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (29:32):
Sure?
Speaker 4 (29:33):
So remember before Christmas that story came out in Baltimore
about Lamar and practice habits and video games and all
the nonsense. Yeah, wasn't really addressed by Lamar Harball I
think tried to shoot it down. He gets hurt the
next day, right Christmas Day. Haven't heard much from Lamar since.
(29:54):
If he's fifty to fifty He's like, you know what,
screw these guys are.
Speaker 5 (29:57):
Planning stories about me in the media. I don't need this.
Speaker 4 (30:00):
You're a quiet quitting going on with Lamar Jackson thinking
I'm done in Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
I don't need this place anymore.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
Would you read that somewhere?
Speaker 4 (30:09):
No, I just came up. I hatched it talking to
Zach here over what we're going to talk about, and
I'm like.
Speaker 1 (30:14):
Did you get that with like Tucker Carlson is on
his Reddit board or something.
Speaker 5 (30:18):
I think it was JD Vance's finest work. I don't.
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
I'm just kidding, but in all seriousness, like we know
that there is some kind of issue with Lamar. He
wanted that full money guarantee. Now he takes in need
of the back and he's and he's not back in miss.
This guy's a warrior, isn't he. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
I have to let that bake. I think he's hurt.
And Lamar's not somebody who seeks microphones, and I mean
he's not. He'd never been that kid. If you ask
him a question, he gives you a thoughtful answer, right,
I don't know. I think that that makes Lamar look
like he's deceptive and devious. And I think he likes
(30:58):
being a Raven. I think I would want to be
Raven if I was an NFL quarterback. I think it's
great ownership. I mean, I think it's a first class operation.
I can't believe he watched to get out of there
and go play for the Jets.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Well no, no, listen, by the way, stop pedaling Lamar
to my jets.
Speaker 5 (31:12):
Okay, two years.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Ago when I wanted it makes sense for them, not
after the Jets.
Speaker 4 (31:16):
What are we doing taking on the most expensive guy
in the league.
Speaker 5 (31:19):
What would I don't need that, Colin. I just don't.
This offseason is gonna be fun.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Maybe it's the media trying to gin up this game
with this Tomlin stuff. But between Tomlin, Lamar Kelsey leaving,
the Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Demise two games this weekend. I can't wait to watch
that's one of them.
Speaker 4 (31:36):
Yeah, Unfortunately, I think I like the Steelers here and
my guy Aaron.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
I liked the three and a half. I like Baltimore
to win, but I'm taking the hook every time in
this game. It's gonna be close and low scoring.
Speaker 4 (31:48):
Yeah, this is too behut of a take. But if
you're the Steelers, do you want to face Snoopuntley or Lamar?
Speaker 1 (31:53):
I would rather face Snoop Huntley. But I like Snoop Puntley.
I think he's one of the better. I think the two.
There's three backups in this league that are good. Mac
Jones is a good backup, Malik Willis is a good backup,
and stup Huntley is a good backup. Those are pros.
You didn't win games with those guys. I like those guys.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
It's more than I mean. Davis Mills has been solid.
Speaker 1 (32:11):
He's been sawd. I'm saying, but I solid Kirk Cousins
maybe the starter going forward.
Speaker 4 (32:16):
Expensive, but yeah, no, there's a couple of Marcus Mariota
was okay at times.
Speaker 5 (32:21):
Anyways, all right, let's move on to the.
Speaker 4 (32:22):
Houston Texans colin one of the hottest.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Teams in the league.
Speaker 4 (32:25):
Eight straight dubs for Demiico Ryans and company. Nice went over.
The Chargers kind of held on for victory. Remember they
started zero to three and they're headed to the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (32:34):
They could win the division.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
Demiko Ryans pinpointed the moment the season turned around.
Speaker 7 (32:39):
Here we go, from my viewpoint, the turning point for
our entire season. I go back to our Jacksonville game.
All right, for us to be down as far as
as far as it were in that game and for
to have our backup quarterback, Davis Mills right to have
such a clutch performance to get us into a position
to win game. I feel like that's the game that
(33:02):
flipped our season and just showed us like no matter
what we're up against, no matter who's on the field,
we stay stay together, stay connected, like we can overcome anything.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
He's young, how old is Demiko Ryans.
Speaker 4 (33:15):
He's got younger than both of us. That's really all
the matters. But how about this for a young guy
first three years in the league. Him and Stroud are
going to the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
Oh pretty good. Not just that this was a bottom
three laughing stock in the league, that he's thirty one
years old. That dude's got his wits about him at
forty one, like Demiko is buttoned up at forty one.
That's a guy I'd want to play for. I mean,
that's one of the few defensive coaches. He's basically it's
Lebron forty one and Demiko Ryans.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
Lebron's birthday today. We'll talk about that in like you know,
three minutes, Colin. Just as of now, based on the standings,
the Texans would go to Pittsburgh on the fast round.
Speaker 1 (33:56):
Pittsburgh couldn't score.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
That's I like him.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
Now, if somehow Jacksonville slips against Tennessee and Houston gets
the three, they.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
Would host the Chargers. That's still a great matchup for
the Texans.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
Colin.
Speaker 5 (34:09):
This is a dangerous team.
Speaker 1 (34:11):
I mean I think they I think Houston matches up
with everybody.
Speaker 4 (34:14):
So if we did a draft of teams that you
think would go to the Super Bowl out of the AFC.
Speaker 5 (34:18):
I mean I'll give you first pick.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
I mean my take. I think Jackson Devill take Denver.
Speaker 5 (34:23):
They send the buye.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
No, I mean New England, Houston and Jacksonville are a handful.
Denver is fascinating because they win a lot of close
games and they're great at home. So I mean we
keep we're glossing over this. Denver gets to play at
home the whole AFC playoffs. They've won twelve or thirteen
at home. They're great at home.
Speaker 5 (34:45):
Okay, so Denver would do your pick? Is that what
you're saying?
Speaker 4 (34:48):
Whatever, you're leaving Josh Allen on the board. The Houston
Texans defense.
Speaker 1 (34:53):
Houston beats Buffalo three out of four times.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
Jacksonville just went to Denver and smoked him by two tuddies.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Now wait, wait till you go back to Denver and
it's snowing and you bring your board shorts from Jacksonville
and it's seven degrees blowing sideways.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
Did jackson Dark go up and down the field to
gain against I'm just telling this.
Speaker 5 (35:11):
Denver defense is overrated. Big guy, just speak care I
know you're excited. Sean Payton blah, blah blah.
Speaker 4 (35:17):
I don't know about those Denver Broncos. Finally, con let's
wrap up with as you alluded to, the birthday forty
one for the big guy, Lebron James.
Speaker 5 (35:26):
Greatest player in NBA history.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
JJ Reddick called it remarkable what Lebron's doing at forty one. Colin,
this is insane, Lebron. This is season twenty three. He's
averaging twenty points, six assists, four rebounds on fifty percent shooting.
I mean, what will This is insane. A lot of
guys have struck.
Speaker 5 (35:48):
Around way too long. It's not too long for Lebron.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
Well, I do think this is I do think this
should be his last year.
Speaker 5 (35:54):
Boy, wait, hold on should be his last year? Or
you think it will be?
Speaker 4 (35:58):
Because those are two he's not declining to the point
that he's like a negative on the court.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
Well, let's be honest. In the next year, he's not
getting an extension, Brownie James, It's been a great story.
If Lebron left, Brownie's not necessary on the roster. The
former ownership has played in the Lebron. This ownership is
about JJ Reddick and Luca and maybe Austin Reeves. So
I think it's been a nice soft landing in La business. Browny,
(36:29):
I think it's gonna end. I think it's gonna end.
I think it's gonna end.
Speaker 5 (36:33):
I largely agreed. Let me opposit a scenario.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
The Lakers go to Lebron and say, Lebron, we can't
build a championship winning team with you at forty fifty million.
How low are you willing to go to stick around here? Well,
Lebron says, I'll play for the mid level exception, or
I'll play for a last four million years.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
He's not doing that wide And Secondly, they have defensive issues.
One of them is Lebron. They get to switch this
roster up and go at athletes and three and D guys.
They don't have enough three guys and they got no
three and D guys, So he at this point he
gets in the way defensively, I mean, just does he?
Hurst They have plenty of offense, Austin Reeves, Luca and
(37:14):
DeAndre Ayden if you kept him. I'm not sure he
loves basketball, but whatever offense is not the issue. The
issue is defensively. They have holes, and I think Lebron's
one of them.
Speaker 4 (37:25):
They just gotta get young Colin watching the Spurs and Thunder.
It's like, oh, young dudes running around.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
Young guys, Niger Woods, Tiger Woods fifty today?
Speaker 2 (37:35):
Who Tiger Woods.
Speaker 5 (37:36):
I'm just kidding. Congrats J mckle the news, Well that's
the news, and thanks for stopping by the.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
Herd Line News.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
I think the coaching Tree is better than people think.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
Next to Herd, be sure to catch live editions of
The Herd weekdays and Noone Eastern, non a em Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
People say there's going to be seven eight job openings.
Are there any good coaches out there? And so I thought,
you know what, many of you still have the Christmas
tree up. In fact, I asked, and when are we
taking the Christmas Tree down? And I think Friday's the day.
So here's our coaching Christmas Tree. I think there's a
lot of interesting presence in this one. Let's start with
(38:27):
what I view as the top candidate. That would be
Brian Flores. Now he's got a lawsuit currently against the Giants,
Broncos and Dolphins, so he's not getting the Giants Dolphins job.
But I think he was nineteen and fourteen over two
seasons with the Dolphins, he has been as capable as
any coordinator. I think Brian Flores he's the start at
(38:52):
the top of the tree. I say Robert Sala. Number
thirteen scoring defense this year, having Fret Warner and a
Bosa has got to be on that coaching tree. Mike
McCarthy twelve winning seasons and twelve playoff appearances has to
be on that coaching tree. Jesse Mentor, the defense was
(39:16):
the worst in the league. It's been number three in
the two years since he arrived after winning a Natty
with Harvad Michigan. Jeff Hafley, he's been a head coach
before Boston College, so he gets that. Not a guy
that wants to spotlight Halfley's really bright.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
You know.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
He lost Micah Parsons and Kenny Clark in a trade
That's not easy. But they have a top ten scoring
defense and the Green Bay historically doesn't do defense like
the new offense. And Brian Daball, who worked under Sabin
and Belichick, also won Coach of the Year in New York,
won a playoff game with Daniel Jones. I would keep
your eye on an interesting present that has not been
(39:55):
unwrapped yet. Ryan Day, Eagles and forty nine Ers assistant.
It's probably a year away from being open. But what
if he wins back to back Natties, He's conquered college football,
wants to take the next big career. Leap Flores, Salom McCarthy,
(40:18):
Mentor Halfley, Dave Ball, Ryan Day. I'd have no trouble
hiring any of these guys this year or next with
the Miami now. I also think that Kevin Stefanski should
keep his job in Cleveland. I think it's ridiculous. Hopefully
that went over Pittsburgh maintains the leadership between the GM
(40:39):
Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski. But I actually think there's
some really interesting coaches. Jeff Hafley was a head coach
at Boston College and said I want to go to
the next level and has crushed it. You know, it's
interesting that you'd give up Boston College money for coordinator money.
But the NFL coordinators now probably make as much as
a Boston College coach. I wonder if we see that
(41:01):
going for it. Chip Kelly said, I don't want to
be the coach at UCLA. I'm going to be a
coordinator at Ohio State and he won a national championship.
So that's interesting. Are you going to see some of
these college coaches at lower tier programs like BC say,
you know, we can't compete in the nil world. I'm
going to go be a coordinator at college for two
or three years with a stable operation. Green Bay certainly that,
(41:23):
and then I become a head coach. Jeff Hafley maybe
what a lot of coaches are seeing out there, like
why plan the nil world at Purdue? Go be a
coordinator with Demico Ryans in Houston or a you know,
like a high level guy like a Rabel in New England,
and then do it for two or three years and
become a head coach.
Speaker 4 (41:42):
Colin I'll just ask Halfley has been good with Michael Parsons.
I mean the Ravens ran up what three hundred yards
on the ground right as soon as mikel goes out
last week with a backup quarterback.
Speaker 5 (41:51):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (41:52):
You know, it's just an uninspiring list of candidates this year.
There's just not anybody great. I mean, Brian Floores at
the top. What's up with his lawsuit against the NFL?
How's that working out? Like I remember The Giants were
so serious about him that you know they interviewed also
Brian Dable and ended up picking Dable. Remember the whole
Belichick texting thing like I don't I don't think anybody's
(42:15):
touching floor as yet. Sounds like O'Connell thinks he's coming back.
It's just not a great year to fire your coach.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
Mike McCarthy.
Speaker 5 (42:23):
He's not doing a rebuild, though, is he. He's not
taking the Jets.
Speaker 1 (42:26):
They got no quarterback, not college rebuild called free agent money.
Keep your eye on Ryan Day.
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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