The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - Standout Rookie QB’s, Pay Or Trade Aiyuk? Oregon The Best In The Big Ten? Most Overrated/Underrated College Football Teams

Episode Date: August 17, 2024

Colin’s top takes of the week! First, he’s joined by John Middlekauff, host of “3 and Out” to talk NFL!  They start with standout debut preseason performances from both Denver Broncos quarter...back Bo Nix (4:15), and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (12:30). Then they debate whether the 49ers should pay up for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, whether Aiyuk has overplayed his hand and whether the Niners should trade him (26:00). Then Colin is joined by 'Always College Football' host Greg McElroy to share their thoughts on the upcoming college football season.  Colin & Greg start off with the importance of setting realistic expectations for coaches after changing programs like Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley (32:30), Colin breaks down why Oregon could be the top dog in the Big Ten (45:00) and they debate whether Ohio State football has an identity other than  “talented” (49:30). Finally, they pick the most overrated and underrated teams in college football (53:00)! (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates!  #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.
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Starting point is 00:01:10 This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes.
Starting point is 00:01:47 Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of Tontons and Wampas on the ice planet, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.
Starting point is 00:02:13 You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilts of coverage. conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The volume.
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Starting point is 00:03:59 Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. Deposit and eligibility restrictions apply. See eligibility terms and responsible gaming resources at dkng.combe. All right, we're ready to go. John Middlakov, three and out, former NFL scout. So my first take was, of all the young quarterbacks, Bo Nix looked exactly like I thought Bo Nix was going to look like.
Starting point is 00:04:28 and the Broncos quarterback out of Auburn and Oregon, because he had so many college starts, you kind of know what he is. And what I think, I mean, I think the Drew Breeze, because of Sean Peyton feels kind of accurate, he's certainly right now more mobile than Drew Breeze was at the end of his career. But my take on Bo Nix was,
Starting point is 00:04:46 that's exactly what Sean had texted me. That's exactly what I saw in college. No big surprises. You're a former scout. What'd you see? Yeah, I think him and Michael Pennix are two guys that played in college football for felt 10 years. And they played each other.
Starting point is 00:05:02 It felt like, what, four or five times over the last 18 months in massive games. And starting with Bo Nix, he got dinged a lot because of the offense he played in, right? Through it. Parallel to the line of scrimmage all the time. It used to happen forever with the Leach offensive guys, the spread offense, you know, Hawaii, Mike Leach, wherever he was, then Oklahoma started. You didn't need a big arm quarterback. I remember watching him in college going, I think his arm's a little bit better than the way he's getting, I would say, kind of pigeonholed as a player. And you watch him today.
Starting point is 00:05:37 Right. I don't want to say he's, you know, he's not Brett Farv or Josh Allen, but his arm strength is well above average in the NFL. And that touchdown pass he had was in and out of his hands in the corner of the end zone hitting the guy accurately at the front of the pylon. It doesn't get any better than that. The velocity, the accuracy, how quick it is. And then obviously you see, again, Patrick Willis isn't exactly chasing him. But clearly his athleticism moving around translates. And he's confident.
Starting point is 00:06:04 Like that was the thing with Trey Lance when the Niners got him. His athleticism, he wasn't confident in it because he had never been chased by the caliber of player. Bo Nix has been playing the best of the best, like I said, for 10 years in college. And athleticism, movement-wise, clearly what Sean Peyton wanted to do, and this didn't work out because he's not a quarterback, was a guy like Taseom, Hill who could move around and throw. You know, Drew Brees was stagnant in the pocket. Now, he's great at it. But the modern day football, you have to be able to move to throw.
Starting point is 00:06:35 I don't need you to be Lamar Jackson, but you've got to be able to keep plays alive. You notice all these rookie quarterbacks? They're all athletic and they all can throw on the move. And Bo Nicks clearly can. And I know Sean, kind of old school, not naming the starter, had them down. This thing's over. I don't even know who the Broncos play week one. He's your starting quarterback week one.
Starting point is 00:06:55 You agree with that? This thing will play itself out. You know, I think you want to make them earn it. Sean is not one of these new age, 38-year-old offensive coordinators. Yeah. But this thing played itself out today in front of everyone's eyes. Like, there's no point. It would be one thing if they had Peyton Manning or something.
Starting point is 00:07:10 This Jared Stid him. Like, this thing's a wrap. Come on. Well, and the other thing, he looked more comfortable in the pocket. One of his backups, Zach Wilson did in any game in New York. His feet were great. He was set. that's a lot of it just college starts.
Starting point is 00:07:27 And the other thing is he played in the SEC, so that's the best defensive conference easily. And then when he went to the PAC 12, that's probably the best the PAC 12 has been in my lifetime. I mean, Washington was good. Oregon was good. Utah could thump. Oregon State was good. USC could score. Arizona won seven in a row and beat Oklahoma in a bowl game.
Starting point is 00:07:46 The conference was really good. UCLA was good on defense these last couple years. They had a top 15 pass rusher. So, Bo Nicks, you know, you say, oh, we went to the Pact 12. No, this Pact 12, Arizona, the basketball school, reeled off seven straight and beat Oklahoma in a bowl game. It was a real common. Oregon State was really good at the end of the year. It's like, guys, this.
Starting point is 00:08:07 And, you know, the other thing about Bo, when I watched him twice, I saw him play Washington, Oregon in person. I saw him at the 40 end zone. And then I went two weeks later, I think it was, or whatever it was. I went to the Utah game. And I got like second row seats. I called a buddy. I got right down in the field. right behind the Oregon bench because I wanted to watch he and Pennix.
Starting point is 00:08:25 And he's more cut than you think. He's ripped. And he is really verbal on the sideline. Dad's a coach. And then I met him in person for about an hour, 45 minute interview, 40 minute interview before and after the show. I was just blown away by him. And then I got a couple early texts from Sean Payton.
Starting point is 00:08:41 And I was like, this kid's really working. And the other thing about him is there is something to be said about seeing the field. we've always said this with Zach Wilson and Justin Fields. They just don't see it. It just takes a beat too long. Bo sees the field. And some of this is, not only did he play at two schools, I believe he had five different coordinators in five years.
Starting point is 00:09:06 It could be four, but I think it's five. So, John, this kid has had to pick up. We've never seen this kid have the same system back-to-back years. Well, think about this, Colin, and we've talked about this many times. All the best quarterbacks right now in the NFL has, have struggled at points in time early in their career. A lot of them in college. Mahomes was on a team getting their ass kicked by any good team, right?
Starting point is 00:09:27 Did not have any. Josh Allen begged schools like Fresno State for a scholarship. They said no thanks. Lamar got drafted 32nd in a draft that a bunch of quarterbacks. His own team drafted another player before they drafted him. Justin Herbert was kind of an afterthought after Joe Burrow into a Tonga by Lolo. So you look at this class, Bo Nix got beat up bad when he was in the S. CC and had to transfer and clearly it changed his career.
Starting point is 00:09:53 Right. So you see a lot of these guys, you know, Caleb is one guy that had a lot of success. But I think this class is full of guys that had to struggle. And he to me is at the top of the way. Him and Pennix, I mean, had to transfer were not viewed as first round picks by any means at the time they transferred and really had to earn it. And both those two guys, I mean, Bo was awesome. I mean, in college.
Starting point is 00:10:16 Obviously, statistically, he was incredible. Now, it's a little inflated the way people play. It's why that any coach will tell you, okay, he throws a bunch, you know, parallel to the line of scrimmage. When I evaluate him, we don't watch those passes. I think Sean said that. I cut those out and we evaluate everything past the line of scrimmage, the timing, the rhythm, the accuracy. Yeah, I mean, I was pretty blown away. I mean, I was bullish on him just because of his coach.
Starting point is 00:10:42 But his physical skills, that's the other thing. Him and Caleb, right, aren't super tall. And it stands out when you see him. They're not six four, six five. Both of them are thick. Both of them are built. Russell, who's shorter than those guys, had that same thing early on. You're like, well, he looks like an NFL guy physically.
Starting point is 00:10:59 Kyler, who's even shorter in that also built. And that matters. And that's like watching Jaden very physically gifted, throws a beautiful ball, but God, he's skinny. And Bo Nix has this innate ability because he's been a runner his whole life. And he played in the SEC. He's not playing hero ball. Get out of bounds.
Starting point is 00:11:17 get down. Like I'm getting, Caleb yesterday had a great slide. Like you can't be running around. J.J. McCarthy yesterday had to run. There were two defenders. He kind of lowered his shoulders. Like, you can't do this.
Starting point is 00:11:29 And I understand John Lynch and Steve Atwater, the game has changed. But that's the only time when these defenders, they can't hit you all preseason because the starters don't play. Joint practices, there's no tackling. The regular season game for 17 of them, when you cross that line of scrimmage and you're erect, they're coming at you.
Starting point is 00:11:47 And I know these guys are a little smaller. They've never been faster. So these linebackers, now they don't weigh 260. They weigh 28 or 234. They're running 4-4s. And they will destroy. They'll break your collarbone. They'll break your leg.
Starting point is 00:12:01 Well, that's what happened to Baker Mayfield that when he got his collarbone broken, he tried to size up a safety, I think it was. They ran over him. Can't do it. I remember early on a Derek Carr's career, he tried a stiff arm Pac-Man Jones. He's lucky he didn't break his hand. He hurt his thumb. You cannot.
Starting point is 00:12:16 These guys, and I think Bo Nick's very unique situation, wouldn't you say, to go to a coach like this, what the experience he has. But to me, the physical skills were pretty, God, I guess I didn't quite realize how strong his arm was. It jumped off the TV this morning. So I want to talk about Caleb Williams of the Bears. So Jordan Palmer was on my show, I think it was Thursday. And I thought he made a really good point. I said, you know, my criticism, him, if I have one of Caleb, he can be a little erratic. I talked to two GMs in the league about Caleb. They didn't need him.
Starting point is 00:12:52 They have quarterbacks. And they both said, he can be a little erratic. You know, sometimes he gets a bit sloppy. Mahomes does or did early in his career. Mechanically, you know, Patrick's running around. He just gets a little backyard footbally. And both the GMs I talked to with Caleb said, he just has to get more in a rhythm, which he said, I think, in the pros, he won't run around as much.
Starting point is 00:13:14 He's smart kid. he'll figure out, I don't want to get hit. The second thing is sometimes he's a little bit of a playmaker, a little bit of an ad libber, but Jordan Palmer said, listen, he got bored with college. He was the Heisman winner, right? His first year at USC. And then USC can't stop anybody, his second year. And he's like, okay.
Starting point is 00:13:39 And the alliance terrible. Terrible. And he's like, we're not a national championship team. And Jordan said when I watched him, I saw a guy that was bored out of his mind. And I think there's a lot of truth to that. So when you get bored, you lose focus. When you lose focus in any job, you get a little sloppy. I thought Caleb was a little sloppy last year.
Starting point is 00:13:59 And I think sometimes Lincoln Riley, because of the offensive line, really struggled with what to call. And I heard that inside the program. It's like, Lincoln just didn't trust the protection. So he's like, I'm not getting Caleb Williams hurt. I'm not getting, you know, because Caleb was, he came all the way out to USC, first year, got pretty good protection, wins the highest. And I think Lincoln feels like, you know what, it's worth it. This is going to be great.
Starting point is 00:14:25 By the second year halfway through it, I think Lincoln, what I was told is Lincoln just, there's things Lincoln wouldn't call. He didn't want to get him hurt. And so I think go back to the previous year, that's the Caleb Williams you're going to see in Chicago, which is focused, runs the play. can ad-lib if he has to. But Jordan's whole point was, don't judge too much in the last five or six USC games.
Starting point is 00:14:48 Team was terrible. He was bored. Ad-lib and a little bit more than he probably will in real life. So what's your thought on that? Yeah, I mean, I think if you go and watch every play that he had in that preseason game, he showed every tool in the toolbox. I mean, my mother could see that play that he made rolling to his right that he threw to commit. That's as good as it gets.
Starting point is 00:15:07 I mean, that's Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes. but the play that he made the little dump off to Swift. I don't think we talk enough about instincts as a quarterback. Some guys have them and some guys don't. And that means feel in the pocket. That means to know when it's not going to go well and I got rid of the ball immediately or when I can keep a play alive.
Starting point is 00:15:25 And I think the new trait that every team looks for is the scramble to throw and keep plays alive. But to scramble to throw, you need a good arm. It's what Aaron Rogers built a Hall of Fame career on. He could throw outside the tackle box, ropes accurately. and that's what Caleb Williams can do in spades because let's face it, all these teams in the NFL now,
Starting point is 00:15:46 most teams have multiple sweet pass rushers. There aren't as many good offensive linemen in the league anymore. So you've got to be able to move. And he's accurate. And the arm strength is just elite. Like you said, he's going to have a little hero ball, but how can you not have hero ball if that's the skill that he has? I mean, Patrick Mahomes.
Starting point is 00:16:02 That's right. He had to get older and realize that we can play a little different. But early on, like I want him to bring that to the table because he's accurate throwing the ball down field if he has to move. Now there's a difference of something was open. You didn't need to do that. But nothing was there. Your guard gets smoked.
Starting point is 00:16:17 You got to move. But he did it all. He threw a sweet play, I think, on like the second or third pass of the game from the pocket. He had the crazy instinctive play to Swift. He had the play on the move. The other thing, and they, I don't know if you saw Hard Knocks yet, but they kind of did this silly thing where they brought it a slip and slide to teach the quarterbacks how to slide. I'm sorry that they were joking about it, but also kind of serious.
Starting point is 00:16:41 It's important. His right arm is the franchise, and he had a scramble where he slid. And he's going to have, I would say, depending on the game, anywhere from two to five, could be second and eight, could be third and eight. He can scramble for 10 yards and pick up a first down. But when you scramble and you're not by the sideline, you've got to fucking hit the ground. And you've got to slide because they can't touch you and the defenders know it. When you stay up at J.J. McCarthy did in the game, and a lot of quarterbacks do it,
Starting point is 00:17:07 you're going to get clipped and you're going to get clipped hard. So if you're doing that, he can stay healthy because he can avoid his short area quickness is just elite. And then the arm, he doesn't need much space to get that thing off. Oh, no, very Mahomes. Like cognitively, see, get rid of it fast. It's very Marino at USC. He sees it.
Starting point is 00:17:27 It's out fast. The other thing is Kyler and Russell Wilson were always great sliders because they were baseball players. Yeah. They were great. Lamar was terrible his first two years. I mean, he's still kind of plops. He's not natural at it.
Starting point is 00:17:39 He kind of jumps and sits. But he can't, but he learned how to avoid the hits. You can just get down. That's right. So I think some of that is Caleb is, it is, I mean, Russell Wilson and Kyler were just like, okay, they've slid in a second a lot. This is obviously the way they do it. Herbert was terrible his first two years.
Starting point is 00:17:55 Like, dude, you're 6'5. You can't go straight on an outside linebacker. I mean, he'd go shoulder high in a guy. Josh Allen still buzzed. Yeah. So, I mean, and the other thing. with Caleb. And by the way, this was Jordan Love. Jordan Love had a better year the year before he came out. And then he lost a coordinator. Remember that? He lost a coordinator. He lost a coach.
Starting point is 00:18:15 He lost people. He was not very good as awful. So the Packers went to the previous year video and went, yeah, that's who he is. And so you take the best of what you saw. Because obviously, if you lose a coach at Utah State, you may get, if you have three coordinators at Utah State, two may stink. One may be okay. So when he had his best coaches, Green Bay looks at that and goes, okay, that's what he can be because our coaches are great offensively. So I think with Caleb, you go back a year and go, when the old line was healthy, he'd come over and Lincoln was not afraid. Remember that year, if they beat Tulane, they went 12 games. They were really, really smoking that year. The second year, I think just, I mean, I was told this, Lincoln just, he didn't, he didn't,
Starting point is 00:18:59 it was a different play calling year, a different sensibility with Caleb. and it was he just wanted to make sure he didn't get hurt. I think a lot of people in one talking point in football always is his arm strength a little overrated. And then you watch Caleb play and you watch Mahomes and you watch Josh Allen or Herbert and you just go BS. It's just not. Now, Greg Maddox is one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
Starting point is 00:19:22 He did not throw that hard. But most of the other greats, Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Pedro was blowing 97. You kind of got to throw hard. And, you know, Purdy can get away with it a little bit. because his offensive scheme is so great, and he's a good athlete he can scramble. But Peyton Manning's one of the most accurate players in the history of the sport. Armstrong matters.
Starting point is 00:19:42 Yes. And it always has, and it always will. And you see these plays, and you only see it even more. Once the regular season starts, all these former quarterbacks talk about the kind of space in college relative to the NFL of what's open. Things happen quick. A lot of things get screwed up, and you've got to ad lib, and that even puts me. more pressure on your arm. It ultimately can be the downfall of some of these guys that can't scramble and don't have a great arm. Like cousins and golf are good examples. When it's perfect,
Starting point is 00:20:12 they can destroy you. They can have four or five touchdowns on you. But if you can throw them off, they can't move and then they can't throw very hard on the move. So it's a major problem. You watch the modern day football, the modern day football player who's having a lot of success. In the NBA, what is it? You got to shoot threes. You better be able to scramble and throw ropes. because all these young coaches want to get you on the move. And even when they're not getting you on the move, because more than likely you're going to have two or three offensive linemen that they would gladly replace if they could,
Starting point is 00:20:42 you're going to be running for your life. And a lot of these, the good ones, keep their eyes up, scramble and throw. And Caleb, it's like, geez. It was to get up on Saturday morning and watch in the bill, and the final score was like 33 to 6, the bills clearly didn't even care. But just to watch his physical.
Starting point is 00:21:01 physical attributes, you're like, wow. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.
Starting point is 00:21:26 I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.
Starting point is 00:21:42 You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.
Starting point is 00:22:14 The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or where you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford
Starting point is 00:22:35 and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.
Starting point is 00:22:47 What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down,
Starting point is 00:22:58 and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.
Starting point is 00:23:21 Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist,
Starting point is 00:23:43 Keer Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough
Starting point is 00:24:07 because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.
Starting point is 00:24:23 I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now.
Starting point is 00:24:39 Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of Tontons and Wampas on the Ice Planet Hot, or the practicality and corporate business.
Starting point is 00:25:01 sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I want to talk about San Francisco, the 49ers. So I think I told you, I was told by a player I trust two weeks ago, I was going to be a nineer. He's a, I wouldn't say, I don't know what the word is. He's young.
Starting point is 00:25:29 He's a kid. He's emotional. He's a receiver. And so he had told a friend of mine, I'm getting this thing. done, then something went sideways. He got pissed off. The Niners got pissed off at his. So my take was my source was probably right. And then Iyuk got pissed off. The Niners got upset. And it just blew up. Now it appears they've circled back. Is that what you're hearing? I think the Niners drew a line in the sand said, you want to dance, let's dance. They had two trades ready
Starting point is 00:26:00 to go with contracts ready for him. And he got cold feet slash, I don't want to play there, which I guess is his prerogative. But it's like, you, demand to trade, 31 teams can't trade for you. We have to get fair value. The Amari Cooper in a second round pick, that's a good deal. Amari Cooper's a pretty productive player. The Niners like, you go to Cleveland. They have $28 million. And then he says no. So to me, it feels like a guy who's gotten a little over his skis. Does he really want to leave San Francisco? Of course not, because you're a star with the Niners. And he's a West Coast guy. Grew up in Reno. When high school and Sack played at Arizona State has become a well-known name.
Starting point is 00:26:36 but got so emotional by this number. And let's face it, the Niners drive a hard bargain. They had a number and they didn't flinch. Because also, you're not a free agent. We don't have to trade you anywhere. I want to go to the Steelers. Well, yeah, they could get, in theory, I guess they could give you their first round pick.
Starting point is 00:26:53 But what good does that do us week one against the Jets? That's a player that does not exist for another eight months. First round picks, or having two of them are incredible in February, March, and April. They do good teams no good during the same. season. That's why ideally you make that trade before the combine. Well, guess what? The Niners probably tried. No one was offering that at the time. Why? Great wide receiver draft. Why am I going to trade you my first round pick? When I get a wide receiver is going to start at a number instead of
Starting point is 00:27:21 paying a guy, 28 million. I get the ideally, or in a perfect world, the similar player for four, right? Just basic economics. And I think he overplayed his hand and the Niners are like, listen, we had these deals. They were the ones we'd accept. Those are the teams. Everyone knows you're on the block. No one else is Colin. No one else has the money. You want to go to the Steelers. They have nothing to give us back. This has to be, it takes two to tango here. There's two sides. And we don't want their draft picks. They're not giving us T.J. Watt. So that ain't happening. Here's our number. What are you going to do? Not play. We want to give you a contract. No one feels bad for him. And he's emotional. I can't imagine being 24, 25, 26, have this money,
Starting point is 00:28:02 like the number that you think you're. His value on. their team is a lot different than some of these guys making $29.30 million. They don't play like that. And I just think they're kind of at a crossroads, but he does, I guess he has the leverage just not practice. He can demand a trade all he wants. But if John and Kyle don't want to trade him, he's not getting traded. Ideally, I think they want to avoid this, right?
Starting point is 00:28:25 They don't want this. But they're not just going to give him away because that's the easy thing to do. So he's kind of stuck. And they're pissed off. I know that obviously he's well established. that he's mad, they're mad. And this is kind of a joke now. Because at the end of the day,
Starting point is 00:28:41 Bosa was going to kind of get over on him. He had all the leverage. He's the best player. He was going to get a ton. They go, listen, you're really good. But DJ Moore's been a lot better than you for six years playing with coward and middle cough as his quarterback. You've had productive quarterbacks,
Starting point is 00:28:58 and you're never going to catch more than 80 balls here. So the ROI in our investment, if we give you $30 million, dollars is kind of a doesn't make a lot of sense. And that's where I think they're kind of stuck looking at each other. I still believe he's going to end up on the Niners. But I think he might be the first player in NFL history who signs like a four-year $100 million deal and is mad at the dais when he gives his press conference. Well, there's get ready for that.
Starting point is 00:29:25 Well, there's also a reality that receivers in this league not named Jefferson, Chase, Devante Adams, this league is furnished about 30 receivers a year out of college and about 10 are productive immediately. But every other team, I mean, if you go to the last decade, wide receivers are walking into this league out of college, guys like Puka Nakua, Tank Bell, mid-round guys. And you're like, shit, that guy's a one. And that guy's not even a two. He's a one.
Starting point is 00:30:04 So the reality is the one position that is literally expanding, you know, because there's a lot of families outside of a Texas that aren't playing as much football. There's not as many high school football players today as 10 years ago. There's not. Moms are like a lot of moms, Southern California, L.A., forget it. You're an outcast if you let your kid play high school football, especially if you're west of the 405 freeway, like all the, you know, all the high-end, flute and, you know, coastal towns. So.
Starting point is 00:30:33 Malibuay producing CD Lamb. Yeah, Hermosa, Manhattan Beach and Brentwood, Playa, there does not. So my take is, but if you start looking at that position, there's fewer good running backs. You get about one good left tackle a year, maybe two. One star quarterback, maybe two serviceable ones. I could argue, if I went back and looked in the last decade, do we have eight receivers a year that come in here and stick? it is hard unless you're like very top of the market. And by the way, if you're very top of the market, it's also discomforting.
Starting point is 00:31:09 These guys now make $30 million. Some GMs are like, I mean, you better be able to do that on the rookie contract. You can't pay your quarterback and a receiver 30 large, like unless he's Jamar Chase. So I think it's one of these situations where they just, if Trent Williams was in year three in his career and they had two more years not to pay him, I think you could be willing to push it. They can't win the Super Bowl, in my opinion, without Trent Williams. That's the roadblock here, too. Yeah, I think, like you hit it on the supply and demand.
Starting point is 00:31:41 Brandon Ayuk was drafted the end of the first round, 27. Debo, who carried them to the NFC championship three years, was a second round pick. I watched today I had the Colts game on in the background, and the kid from Texas is making place. He's a second round pick. So, like you said, every single year, obviously first rounders, second, third, and fourth rounders are making plays all season long at that position. They cost a million dollars. If this was a real estate deal, it would have been over weeks ago. The Niners, you know, they want two million. Niners are offering 1.6. We ain't budging. You're not budging. We go our
Starting point is 00:32:14 separate ways. And that's kind of what's happened, except he's stuck on their team because he's under contract. And their trump card is your fifth year options this year, and we have two franchise tags. We want to make this work. But this is our number. You're not a free agent. You are not a free agent so you can sit out to win the season you're going to pass up 14 million dollars that's like he acts and i think his side they think they got a bunch of leverage there aren't a bunch of teams with a lot to give back there was one the browns the niners like that offer amari cooper and a second round pick deal and then he's like no well you can't ask for a trade this isn't the NBA you're not going to dictate all the terms here and i think that's what's made him mad and the 49ers are mad because
Starting point is 00:32:55 he won't play bowl like we're offering you a ton of money you're immediately going to be the highest paid player on a highly paid team. So, yeah, DJ Morris, these guys make more. They do more for their team in terms of production. That's never good. Kyle Shanahan's not going to start playing like Andy Reid. Right. It's not how they're going to play.
Starting point is 00:33:13 They're going to run the ball. I think in a perfect world, Purdy has like 26 past attempts a game. That's what they're shooting for. They're not trying to play like 43 times. He's like, well, I could be a star receiver. Well, on this team, we're willing to pay.
Starting point is 00:33:29 and you're going to thrive and you can make a ton off. The 49ers are top two or three brand in the league. He makes a ton off the field. I'm going to bring in my guest, Greg McElroy, the host of Always College football, former Bama quarterback 2010 national champ. I've said that we need to temper not only expectations, but criticism of coaches when they go to schools. Look how long it took Dabo Sweeney or Jim Harbaugh.
Starting point is 00:33:53 So when Harbaugh and Lincoln Riley are interesting comps. So we know they're both good. coaches. Nobody disputes that. Jim had a longer resume. And obviously, the transfer portal is a more vigorous. I mean, there were people transferring 10 years ago, but not to the level now, the machine it is. Right. And I said, but if you really look at Brian Kelly and Harbaugh, you know, they doubled the wins very quickly. But it was sort of pseudo, not can't compete with Alabama, Georgia, but they won the games they should have won. And Brian Kelly gets to a natty and gets blown out. And Michigan, you know, would face Ohio State and it was fools gold.
Starting point is 00:34:32 It took both about seven years, eight years to stockpile talent where they could play a Georgia Obama and the games are good. And you could, on television, you're like, oh, there's pros on both sides. You know, the Manti Tao, Notre Dame team of the national championship, you know, it felt like it would have finished third in the PAC 12, but a lot of it's scheduling. So I say with Lincoln Riley, as bad as Notre Dame was and Michigan was, I don't think they were as bad as bad USC under Clay Hilton. Not only were they four and eight, but people inside the program believe they only had like 12 NFL, maybe late round
Starting point is 00:35:11 players, that it was Lincoln Riley identified after two practices. There's maybe 30 guys we can keep. And so by being a playaway from 12 wins in his first season was fairly remarkable for those of us closer to the program. And then the second year, they had injuries. Jordan Addison was gone. And frankly, they just know NFL players. It was Caleb. And they kind of shut him down once they lost a couple of games. They had a defensive coordinator completely over a ski. So my takeaway is this idea that USC was going to vie for a national championships, they were way better year one than expectations. That's not really who they were. They were an early Notre Dame or Harbaugh team.
Starting point is 00:35:56 You know, Harbaugh got from five to ten wins year one. That won the national championship team. USC couldn't beat any good teams. They were just beating the crappy teams on their schedule because of the wizardry of Caleb and the coaching of Lincoln. So my take is, I think we're being too unrealistic, even with a transfer portal to Brian Kelly right now in Lincoln, in that it's still, the sport still comes down to high school recruiting
Starting point is 00:36:20 and chemistry and culture. You can't do it in two years, your thoughts. The problem is you've had guys. that have ruined it for everybody. The Josh Heppels of the world that in year one, progress, year two, game changer, right? We've seen it with Urban Meyer.
Starting point is 00:36:38 His second year at Florida, I believe they won the national championship. And we've seen it a handful of other times, Nick Saban, in Alabama, 2007, 6 and 6, 7 and 6, 2008, 12,0 with a chance in the lead in the fourth quarter to go to the national title. So, yeah, you're right. in normal circumstances, I think it takes four years to get a real evaluation on the trajectory of your team.
Starting point is 00:37:02 That's my personal opinion. I understand that big dollars are in play here. And also, along with, I think tempers, flair and egos are involved. And the collective doesn't feel like they're getting what they have paid for. They're going to be quicker to pull the trigger. But at the same time, I completely agree with you. And those that have said that Lincoln Riley is not, he's not. He doesn't know what he's doing.
Starting point is 00:37:27 He doesn't, he sees way out of his, so far, I saw an analyst, a national analyst call him the other day, say, oh, his tenure at SC has been a, quote, disaster. Well, to be a win away from the college football playoff in year one with the Heisman trophy winner, sign me up for that disaster most of the week, most of the weeks. Two NFL players, one of them, Caleb was a sophomore. That team had no talent. Well, and he did a great job with him. The one thing that does concern me, and I've known Lincoln, when I was a commit to Texas Tech,
Starting point is 00:38:00 Lincoln picked me up at the airport. I've known him for 20 years. So it's a little bit close to home with me and followed him to his years at East Carolina, followed him in his time at obviously Oklahoma. So I'm wanting what's best for him as a fan of his and it's a fan of the sport. I think it's great when S.C.'s relevant. So I acknowledge all that he's done offensively, but I don't know, this is my observation from a distance.
Starting point is 00:38:26 I don't know if they practice the way they need to practice to be as good along both lines of scrimmage to compete for championships. And that's the only question I have. And will he be too proud to adjust maybe the amount of full contact periods that they have? Will they maybe do some things offensively in a drill setting that might give the defense a slight advantage? Will they do things like that to help attract more defensive personnel and to create a tougher, more physical mindset.
Starting point is 00:38:55 Because I saw last year, they were a little banged up in spring. This was spring of 23. They said after like nine practices, yeah, we're good. We're just going to do, you know, walkthroughs or whatever. At Georgia, they're like, I don't care if we have managers putting helmets on. We're practicing. So I think that's the mindset that I'm just a little concerned about. Sure.
Starting point is 00:39:13 I think the, I think the, hey, the jury's out right now. And I'd be, I'm actually really optimistic about SC this year more than most. Hey, what's up, everybody. John Middilkoff here from Three and Out Podcasts. The NFL season is right around the corner. And if you want some of the best football content out there, I got you covered. Training camp through the preseason, throughout the entire season. Subscribe and follow the Three and Out Podcast with me, John Middilcoff, on Apple, Spotify,
Starting point is 00:39:43 or wherever you listen to your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.
Starting point is 00:40:05 I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.
Starting point is 00:40:32 And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, personal health, personal health, personal. purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told,
Starting point is 00:40:59 and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.
Starting point is 00:41:17 Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English.
Starting point is 00:41:34 Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you're just so you, y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table
Starting point is 00:41:58 right now. So, you're finishing that sentence. And yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations
Starting point is 00:42:29 with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.
Starting point is 00:42:48 Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns. Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.
Starting point is 00:43:04 Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith
Starting point is 00:43:41 rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I think Oregon is something that we haven't seen out West since Pete Carroll and Ed Orgeron. They've just done it differently. They've purchased big bodies. So I think Oregon stacks up in the, I mean, they went out and they bought the best left tackle on the West Coast in the last several years, two years ago. He started. They went and Phil Knight has essentially said, before I die, I want a national championship and I'll spend whatever it takes. People talk about the Texas, NIL, Oregon's is unlimited. They'll just buy whatever they have to. That's really how it's done. USC's is 13 million. I have that on 13 million. Depending on the ascension of the program,
Starting point is 00:44:35 it could get to 15, but USC's fine. They're not, they're not Texas. They're not A&M. They're not Ohio State. They're not maybe not Georgia. They're not Oregon for sure. So I think Oregon has purchased, and I, this is not a criticism. This is all legal now, right? Right. it's um they've gone first of all their marketing is enhanced even with mario christobald they're recruiting to me is the best on the west coast the best on the west coast u sc's is consistently second because of the name brand um but oregon's been recruiting the west coast christaball landing very well if they want a receiver or a db they get them if there's a top edge rusher they they just get them uh if they own the northwest mostly for the players they want it's a very weak recruiting
Starting point is 00:45:17 year, in my opinion, in the West Coast this year, especially the Northwest. I think they match up fine. I think I test, Texas looks really big. When they faced Alabama last year, the last couple years, I looked at it and I thought, God, this is what Alabama looks like the last 10 years against everybody else. You're like, man, Texas passes the eye test. I think Oregon's going to beat Ohio State and Eugene. Yeah. Because I think Dan Lanning has done something that I didn't think a Southern guy was going to do with no head coaching experience. He's immediately, I know what Oregon is. I really do.
Starting point is 00:45:54 They play, they're a little Detroit Lions. Relentless, they play hard. They got, I think privately, they would admit, Kalin DeBoer outcoached him. And Washington had a bizarre set of great offensive talent, almost no NFL bodies. And they matched up with Oregon. I mean, frankly, Pennix, deep ball,
Starting point is 00:46:15 Rome, a dunce. Oregon wasn't getting beat because they were being fooled. It was just a bad matchup. I said it before. Washington was going to beat Texas. They were not going to beat Michigan. And so I think it was, I think I watched Oregon play Washington twice once live. I thought Oregon had more good players.
Starting point is 00:46:36 I just thought Washington was a terrible matchup. So I think Oregon matches up with Ohio State. And I think if you match up with Ohio State, you match up with everybody. I think Alabama's underrated. I think Kalin DeBoer is magnificent. I think he, you know what he is reminds me of? He's really Chris Peterson. Yeah, he does have some Peterson vibes for sure.
Starting point is 00:46:55 Where you're like, they will never be out-coached at Alabama, ever. There are games with Nick Saban where I felt if you had a quarterback that was good off-script, you could frustrate Nick. I didn't think he was out-coached. I thought there were things Nick did better than other coaches. Calan DeBore, it's almost magical. Like Washington's talent on the defensive side is they had an interior defensive lineman who I think the Rams got undrafted free agent. I mean, Tully, Latuli, Nassanoa.
Starting point is 00:47:28 He's just having any talent. So a lot of it was magical. And Chris Peterson gets the Huskies do a playoff. And you're like, how? They don't have Alabama's players. So I think Oregon has purchased, recruited, and developed. up to players. I think Lannning has a plan. I think they match up. I am not as confident with Ohio State because I just have felt for three years, and I'll ask you, Greg, it's not that Michigan beat
Starting point is 00:47:55 him, it's how they beat him. They just outrushed them. They took over all the second halfs. Ohio State's never been prettier, but they've never been more finesse. I'll ask you, What are they beyond talented? What are they? I think it's a look, they have been a sports car where winning the Big Ten the last couple years has required a big diesel vehicle, a duly, if you will. I don't want to say GMC or Ford and like tick people off. I would say Ford's, it's Michigan, so that feels fair, right?
Starting point is 00:48:30 Let's just go with that. They have an F-150 or an F-250. That was one in the Big Ten the last couple of years. It's just the reality. So I don't think that they're finesse, though. I don't know if that's entirely. And I understand the characterization and the way. By Ohio State standards, they're finesse.
Starting point is 00:48:47 Compared to the Urban Meyer version, 2015 Ohio State versions, that's finesse. But that was a group that was so outrageously talented. I remember watching that game in 2015 against Bama on New Year's Day, the first iteration of the College of Football playoffs was Zeke Elliott and Cardale Jones. Like, these guys are freaks. Not only can they fly, but these guys will pound you. They are so crazy physical.
Starting point is 00:49:12 And I think that the Big Ten has long been a league that was won with physicality. And then Ohio State found, hey, we can win with physicality, but we also have some high-octane machines on the outside that we need to feed. So I think they've kind of gotten away from themselves a bit. And that's why the hire of Chip Kelly was so massive. Because if you look, 23 consecutive years, the team that has outrushed the other in the game between Michigan and Ohio State wins the game.
Starting point is 00:49:41 You ain't going to outrush Chip Kelly. That's who he is. That's what he believes in. And while people will look at the Oregon nears and think, oh, they were finesse. No, they weren't. Just because they used tempo. It doesn't mean they were finesse. That's right.
Starting point is 00:49:53 Look at the UCLA years. Oh, because they wear the light blue, they're finesse. No, no, no. UCLA was far from finesse. UCLA ran it down the LSU's throat. Yep. In the Rose Bowl a couple years ago. He has gone out and prioritized running back.
Starting point is 00:50:05 they go out and go quench on Judkins. They already had Trayvion on Henderson. The offensive line is a question mark. But what Chip Kelly can do is they're going to play hard and they're going to get by a little bit running the football with smoke and mirrors. So I think they're traditional run sets that they've used the last couple of years. You're not going to beat Michigan with that because Michigan's got better D-Linman than you have O-Lignment. I don't know why.
Starting point is 00:50:27 They just do. And they've had that for years. And they're probably going to have it to begin this year based on what they bring back up front defensively. But if you have one side of the offensive line, one play, the left side of the office line blocking another play, two completely different plays. You're reading a guy right in the middle. You can't block them, so you might as well read them. And you got a pass play off of it. Now you're cooking with gas. So I think Chip Kelly being hired by Ryan Day, Ryan Day acknowledged that his run game was a blind spot. And that's a really hard thing for coaches to do too.
Starting point is 00:50:55 I mean, hey, I've won a lot of games. I've lost five games in my career as a head coach. Like, yeah, I got to acknowledge, though, that that's a little bit of a blind spot for me. I need Chip Kelly to come in. I'll handle the pass. concepts. He handles the run concepts. And now we're going to make this thing work together perfectly. So I really like Ohio State this year, but you're 100% right. I mean, Michigan had their number as a terrible matchup, much like you just talked about with Oregon and Washington. Terrible matchup for Ohio State. And I wasn't surprised at all to see Michigan win three straight against them. Okay. Let's do most overrated, underrated teams and close it out this way.
Starting point is 00:51:28 I think Michigan is the most overrated in the top 25. They lost not only depth. They lost like leaders. They lost like locker room leaders, you know, fifth year seniors. They also lost the best quarterback Harbaugh's had, who I watched him before he got hurt, meniscus tear, had a terrific debut. It's very difficult to lose not only quality starters, but veteran quality starters, like who were clubhouse leaders. I think Michigan will not be a top 20 team overrated. I think underrated, I don't know. I think Brian Kelly's going to figure it out. He's so good.
Starting point is 00:52:10 He's so good. He's so good. And I look at all those teams above them and I'm like, yeah, they're not going to beat Georgia, maybe Alabama, Ohio State. But people have them 11th, 12, 13th. I'm like, no, they're better than Utah. And I love Utah. They're better than Utah. Though Utah returns a guy that's, I think, has been starting quarterback for them for
Starting point is 00:52:31 11 years, Cam Rising. So a little underrated LSU, a little overrated, a lot overrated Michigan, what say you? Yeah, I'm good with the Michigan. We're on the same page there. My problem with Michigan is I've just heard a lot of buzz. And it's hard a little bit with that place to, all right, is this real or is it not? I've heard a lot of positive buzz about their offense and Alex Orgy and how much he's progressed. And I've seen him run.
Starting point is 00:52:56 I know he's a superstar with the ball on his hands, but I've also only seen him throw one pass. I've heard that he's got a monster arm and I tried to watch him in preseason or in pregame warmups every time I've called a Michigan game. And when I was on the field, I stood right behind him and watched him throw it. I thought Tuttle threw it pretty good too, by the way for Michigan. So I thought, hey, when JJ leaves, they'll probably going to be all right at quarterback regardless. But I just, I look at the rest of the top 10. Ohio State, they're going to be there, no doubt. So if you're going to quantify it as quote overrated, Ohio State's going to be there. George is going to be there.
Starting point is 00:53:33 They're a safe bet. I think Texas and Oregon are going to be there. I think Bam is going to be there. So the top five feel very, very safe. People have been saying Notre Dame, look at their schedule. Like Notre Dame, they could go nine and three and not be at a team ranked in the top 25. By the way, end the year on the road in L.A. And also, I don't know how good Riley Leonard is.
Starting point is 00:53:53 I have no idea what he is. I know that Mike Denbrock, their OC, though, did a pretty good job with Jaden Daniels, whose skill set was similar to Riley Leonard's when he arrived from Arizona State. So I think the development portion of bringing him along, Riley Lembert's been naturally kind of an inaccurate passer on the downfield throws.
Starting point is 00:54:13 That's got to grow. His whole career. His whole crazy wild. Yeah. Still optimistic, though, that it's in there because I've seen the underneath throws. If you can throw the underneath stuff, you can throw the intermediates,
Starting point is 00:54:22 you can throw the deeps. It's just changing the arm angle, changing the shoulders, changing the trajectory, all that. I think Den Brock will do a pretty good job with them. I really do because I think it's a comparable player to what they brought in with Jaden Daniels, and that obviously worked out very well. I can't take them out of the top 25, though.
Starting point is 00:54:41 Their schedule is too manageable. I mean, the toughest games book in the season, SC and A&M. And people say, well, Florida State, I think Florida State going to South Bend is a pretty good spot. People say maybe Louisville. Well, you don't think Notre Dame's had that one circled. They got blown out by Louisville last.
Starting point is 00:54:55 year at their place. So I think Notre Dame's appropriately ranked. Ole Miss, if people are not on their bandwagon, it's because they aren't familiar with what Lane Kiffin's done from talent acquisition standpoint. They're not overrated. They're appropriately rated. You're just not comfortable with seeing them ranked that high.
Starting point is 00:55:16 Then you look at Penn State. They're going to be rock solid. I am worried a little about their offense, but their defense will keep them in it, especially with their schedule they have. They're going to be fine. Their schedule is very manageable. in the Pact 12, or in the Big 10, I think.
Starting point is 00:55:28 Missouri, I think, is the other that I would say, maybe slightly over our skis there. So Missouri and Michigan, the two that I'm just not so sure about. Missouri, I think it's 11, Michigan at 9. As far as underrated. Now, you're going to say I'm crazy. I know this. I'm comfortable with this.
Starting point is 00:55:46 I've been singing the praises all offseason. I did this last year for a team and ended up working out. I love Miami this year. I love Miami this year. They come in at number 19. Now, a lot of people are going to sit there and say, well, it's Miami. We do this every year. You know, the same people that are saying that right now are the same people that said,
Starting point is 00:56:06 well, why are we building up Texas? Like, Texas hasn't done anything since 2009. Why are you continuing to say that they're going to be good this year? Because they were on paper, Texas going into last year was great. Now it's about allowing it to come to fruition. Miami on paper is great. now it's just about can they take the next step as a program and not beat themselves. This was one of the best teams in America in the first half of the season last year.
Starting point is 00:56:32 And they turned the ball over against Georgia Tech, give up the big play on the fumble and the couple touchdown, you know, then they end up that has a huge ripple effect throughout the rest of the season. Tyler Van Dyke can't shake the turnover woes and he gets benched. And they give Florida State all they want. And then their starter who replaced Van Dyke gets hurt. Van Dyke's back in the lineup. I mean, it was just a disastrous season last year. They've upgraded quarterback with Cam Ward.
Starting point is 00:56:56 He doesn't turn it over. They couldn't score in the red zone with any regularity last year. Well, what helps in the red zone quarterback run game? Cam Ward can run it. They went and got the best running back available in the portal in Damien Martinez. And that was kind of a revolving door of players last year with three or four different guys. We're all solid. None have rushed for 1,200 yards into season like Damien Martinez did last year.
Starting point is 00:57:15 The offensive line was a strength last year. It's strength again. They get their top two wide out the back. Defensively, they have the best. edge defender in the ACC, who's only going into his sophomore year in Rubin Bain. They added three more five stars and a couple guys in the portal. They are stocked. The one question mark is secondary.
Starting point is 00:57:32 And by all accounts, that group is playing well above what they anticipated at this point of the season. So I think Miami people are going to be, I think people are going to look at them and say, well, here we are again. We always pump up the blue bloods. I think Miami's extremely capable with the personnel they have. And I'd be surprised if they're not in the mix in the agency. and ultimately in the mix for the playoffs. The volume.
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