The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin talks about Madden ratings with Adjuster Dustin Smith on this Saturday Special

Episode Date: July 20, 2019

In this exclusive podcast Colin talks to Dustin Smith, the leader of the Madden Ratings Adjustor team. They talk about NFL players getting upset every year at their ratings and which players actually reach out to him and his team to complain. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season, and I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed.

You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in to her, he's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to our Saturday morning podcast. Great to have you in. Took Friday off in Utah, as I do in the summer. Madden NFL 20. Coming out, released on August 2nd. So in our Saturday morning podcast, we thought we'd bring out Dustin Smith, the Madden NFL ratings team leader. He gives the ratings, the creation and weekly updates for the ratings of every player in every game, leads the Madden ratings adjuster team. And Dustin Smith is joining us.

Let's start with this. I ask every player this week, NFL guy on my show, do Madden ratings matter? And unequivocally, inarguably, they all say, oh, absolutely. they matter. How often, Dustin, does somebody reach out to you in the NFL about their rating? I would say it's relatively frequent. I mean, even if it's

not directly to me, somebody's tweeting about it, somebody's sending it at it, tagging me in it. Tony Jefferson sent me, you know, some private messages before. Odell Beckham's reached out and FaceTime us. Josh Norman just reached out and FaceTime us. I mean, there's plenty of guys that love to

reach out, talk about, say maybe where we disrespect to them. You know, if I ever ask them if we got something too high, they're not usually too quick to say yes. So, I mean, it's a fun, fun little gig to have players upset with you, but, you know, fans get upset with them too, so it kind of feels like the same thing. Top four overall rated players this year, none were quarterbacks, Aaron Donald, DeAndre Hopkins, Khalil Mac, Bobby Wagner, all got a 99 rating. There was no quarterbacks in the top four, including Mahomes.

Danny Cannell came on my show and said, you know, quarterbacks have to be the highest rating they have the greatest influence. How do you come about the ratings for a defensive player who doesn't have near the impact generally on points, certainly? Vegas doesn't consider any defensive player worth more than half a point or maybe a point. How do you come about those 99 ratings? So that's a fair question. I mean, I think one of the things is, is right, we take into account how great you are

at your position. So that's why a lot of those other guys have kind of reached their peak and their pinnacle at their position. And while as quarterback, you know, Brady's had, he was a 99 last year, deservedly so, he went to another Super Bowl, won it. As far as this year, Mahomes makes our cover, he makes MVP, he had a phenomenal year. Mahomes probably would have had the best shot at it, but to be in the 99 club in our game, you have to prove that over at least one year.

That's got at least be two to three years of production of saying you're the best at your game, bar not, right? You have to hit the pinnacle. For Mahomes, we love what he does, but it's only been a season, right? But he still has a huge arm, that's under pressure in the NFL, for the adjusted completion percentage. So he gets a little bit higher rate of rating than Brady, but, you know, he still got that. He might hit 99 during the season, but as right now, we're happy with him in 97.

So you got Patrick at 97, Brady at 96, Philip Rivers at 94. And that's the head of Andrew Luck, Russell, Wilson, Aaron Rogers, Big Ben. Explain Philip Rivers because I love him. I watch him every week. I'm in Los Angeles. I think he's underappreciated, but some fans will say, how is Rivers higher than Bree's luck, Wilson, and Rogers? Same.

Like, I think Rivers made some incredible tight window throws. He had a very, very good ball placement. He also had to work with no help on the offensive line. I mean, they haven't given him hardly anything out there to work with. So I think on top of all that, then to be able to go and get as far as he did in the playoffs, beating a team like the Chiefs in the regular season. and all of the tough things that he plays through, having to deal with kids, you know, 1,700 kids that he has at home.

I don't know how he does this, right? Like, I think it was an incredible year, despite what some people might look at numbers, you know, and all that specifically, hey, this number doesn't match up versus this number. How come someone so's higher? I think if you've watched Philip Rivers' body working, you literally just go put on the tape and enjoy it,

you would walk away just as big a fan, I think, as we are this year. You have a wider rating stretch in players this year. A Holmes or a Brady can get a 97 or 96. Mitch Trubisky's rated it as 75. I don't disagree with that, by the way. I'm a skeptic on Trubisky's arm talent. But you do have a wider rating stretch in players this year. That's generating a lot of conversation from players and fans.

Discuss that. It is. I would say, like, the perfect key example, right, was DeMarcus Lawrence, super upset with an 89, which is the fourth best at his position, which is, we're saying he's a top player. But I think for the past few years, people have come to expect that the third or second or even fourth best player at the position is usually 93,

94, 95. So by taking this stretch and trying to explain it to everybody, I think it'll take a little while to set in, to be honest, because you've set the bar to thinking that there's more guys in the 90s. We've taken that down to only 72 this year. So we're saying, hey, this is, even the 90s is now getting to be a lot more of an elite club. We really wanted to focus on how the game plays within those ratings. And I would say everybody, based on feedback within the building, everybody loves how much more the game plays this year with these ratings.

It's not so much to focus on a number because like when you go look at DeMarcus Lores individual stats, they're top three in like pass first moves, pursuit, block, sheds. all those things, right? He is still one of the highest rate of players. I try and just drive a focus on. You don't need to focus on necessarily the overall. It's more about where you rank at your position that's the most important thing. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls,

we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more,

Follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, 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 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? 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. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast.

Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee.

We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, rep, mom, I'm a one. I want you to wave at her.

What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help!

Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, hope from a hypocrite,

I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream.

Cream a chicken suit. This is help from a hair. Hippocrat, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coulthura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. By the way, I don't disagree with Aaron Donald, DeAndre Hopkins, Khalil Mack and Bobby Wagner getting 99 ratings. Bobby Wagner, I'm from Seattle. You know, I've watched his growth. He's just absolutely looks like a linebackers don't

look like him in the league. They don't play like him. He's on every tackle. and Donald is unblockable. Imagine if Hopkins played with a veteran quarterback instead of a young Deshawn Watson who has a bad old line, and Khalil Mack is obviously a force. DeAndre Hopkins, though, is interesting because he hasn't been as good as long as Julio Jones. He's not as flashy as Antonio Brown. He's not as newsworthy as Odell Beckham. So I like the fact you gave him a 99.

And I actually think what you don't mention is the Texans O line is so bad. it's remarkable he's as productive as he is with that offensive front. That's a big one, right? And I think for us it kind of came down between DeAndre and Julio, who was going to get the 99. Julio had a little bit more struggles than usual in contested catch situations last year, an area where he's usually dominant. And DeAndre didn't.

DeAndre caught apparently, based on, you know, I guess the numbers can vary, but based on everything we've seen, he caught every catchable target thrown his way this past season, which is unheard of. You just don't see that. For us, I mean, that's 99 spec, you know, really high catch in traffic. Everything he's done has just been incredible based on the, you know, the opportunities afforded to him, right? Dustin Smith is the Madden NFL ratings team leader.

It is being released on August 2nd. Now, let's go to the team rating rankings. Now, this is interesting. Whereas some players are dominant and spectacular, the Eagles are the highest team rating, but it's only in the 80s, 89, followed closely by their division rival in Dallas, an 88. I think you have the Cowboys a bit high. Then it's Patriot Saints Packers 87. This is what's interesting.

You only have the Browns at an 83, and all I hear is how great the Brown. In fact, you have the Browns on level with the Redskins in the 49ers, so you're not high on the Browns. So we created a new formula for the team overall ratings that it weights each position. and like quarterbacks weighted really high. And since Baker is like, I think, an 83 or so, that's not going to help it climb so far so far. Wide receiver matters, tight end matters. And then we made offensive line matter

and the team overall, too. That's an area where they still have some room to go. Their defensive line matter, so that's going to bring them back up. But, you know, I wouldn't say their secondary is phenomenal. They could still use some work. Their linebackers could still use some work. So we waited every position kind of like,

almost kind of like a, NFL team ranks their contracts, right? How important is that position to the team? We rate that into the formula. And then it, you know, since we do the players just based on literally individual performance and talent, that rating that they get then goes into the team overall. And then the formula pumps it out, pumps out a number for us. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. Every episode we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live there. them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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 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 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 I want you to just really be a good person 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. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th.

And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff, like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to. wave at her. What? Come out. Quarterback on office blue of 42. Hey, Brett. My mama want you to wave at her. What?

Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor.

a comedian and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice.

one ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I think the most underrated team in the league is the Tennessee Titans who, frankly, I think will upset Cleveland at Cleveland. I already bet that plus four and a half.

Titans offensive line is one of the best in the league. They had the fewest penalties. They're very well coached. Corey Davis can be spectacular on the outside. They ran for over 2,000 yards. They have a very solid pass rush. And I thought they made really interesting acquisitions with slot receiver Adam Humphreys and Saffold the offensive lineman. Tennessee, to you, is in the low 80s.

That would be the one team I'd push back a little on. What held them back? man I say that's tough I say Marriota is a piece of it because he's been so up and down yeah and since quarterbacks waited heavily and I love I love watching Marriota because you get so excited for a week and then all of a sudden the next week it gets like seven completions free interceptions like what is going on here right we all we really I mean for our ratings what we mostly care about is consistency so if you're consistent the higher the rating goes hence the Brady, you know, Moms this past year,

luck, right. So if you're consistent, you know, your rating shoots to the roof. I think that's just been the biggest issue for Tennessee has been consistency. You know, they can come out, but every other week with Brable putting out some crazy, need of looking defense on you, you've got a middle linebacker

safety standing up over the center, and sometimes he doesn't. And whatever they throw, it, sometimes it works, and it works incredibly well. And other times they just get gashed. Like, you never know what you're going to get out of them. Yeah, they, they blow. out New England and Dallas, actually beat four playoff teams. And if Marriota plays week 17, they maybe make the playoffs.

Dustin Smith, Madden, NFL. It's going to be released Madden NFL 20 August 2nd. By the way, they've got features like unique playbooks, run-pass option plays, on-field trainer, new pump fake mechanic, superstar-driven play calling, new celebrations, over 20 new TD and first-down celebrations. So it's a fun game, and players are incredibly sensitive. about it. Dustin, good luck to you and the folks at Madden NFL 20. Thank you, man. Thank you for having me.

Feel free to give me a follow. Equipment underscore guru on Twitter if you want to yell at me. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where sports slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlicse on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicel Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Cliver Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref.

My mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Rhett, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker.

Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on to Ernie. Stewart, the chip. I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boeke.

On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines, the biggest decisions, and the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. Listen, Inside American Soccer

with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.